I manage to sleep all night, no bad dreams, no waking up in cold sweats. And it's all because of him. His arms make me feel safe, they always have, from day one. I stir, trying to get up to go to the bathroom and he holds me tighter. "Just five more minutes, please Lor" he begs. "In five more minutes I'll have peed the bed Jon" I laugh. He smiles, opening his eyes and looking at me. "I've missed that laugh" he says quietly. I nod. "I've missed you" I whisper. "Jon, can I try something?" He frowns but nods, watching me warily. I take a deep breath and kiss his lips softly. I pull away slowly, watching him as I back off. "Was it bad?" he asks. I shake my head. "No" I whisper. "Can I do it again?" "You don't have to ask, Lor" he whispers. I nod and move back down to kiss him again. This time, I put some feeling into it, licking along his bottom lip until he moans and opens his mouth, my hands roaming up his chest and finally settling in his hair, grabbing at it as he finally kisses me back. He pulls me down to him and holds me tightly, kissing me softly and moaning as I tug at his hair. "Stop Lora" he whispers finally. I pull away from him and look him in the eyes. "Did I hurt you?" I ask quietly. He shakes his head. "No" he whispers. "It was good. It was nice. But I don't want to rush and hurt you." I nod, letting his hair go and moving away from him slowly. "Where are you going?" he asks quietly. "Bathroom" I say, walking away and not looking back. I lock the door behind me, sit on the toilet, and cry.
He's sat on the edge of the bed when I go back out. "Lora" he whispers. I look up at him, my heart melting when I see the pain in his eyes. "My turn" he says. "Can I try something?" I nod, freezing on the spot when he stands up and walks to me. I watch as he wraps his arms around me then dips his head to mine, kissing me hungrily. I moan, I can't help it, and wrap my arms around him as he kisses me harder. "I love you" he whispers, resting his forehead against mine. "Forever and always, Lora." "I love you too dumbass" I whisper back. He smiles. "Breakfast" he says, taking my hand and leading me to the lounge.
He makes me sit on the sofa while he busies himself in the kitchen, finally reappearing with coffee and toast. "Is this ok?" he asks, suddenly unsure of himself. I nod, taking it from him gratefully. "Thank you" I whisper. He smiles. "No thanks needed, doll" he says, sitting opposite me and watching as I eat. "It's just good to have you back." I smile weakly and concentrate on eating. He takes the plate from me as soon as I finish and heads for the kitchen. I catch up to him just as he starts to wash it up. "Let me?" I ask quietly. His fingers brush mine gently as I take the cloth from him and before I know it my mouth is on his again and my fingers are dancing their way up his chest. "Lora" he whispers. I put my finger on his lips, smiling as he kisses them. "I'm gonna go shower" I whisper. "Can we go out? Just drive, head anywhere that nobody knows where we are?" He gulps visibly. "Is that what you want?" he asks. I nod. "Ok" he agrees. "If that's what you really want to do, that's what we'll do." I smile. "Thank you" I whisper, heading for the bedroom and the shower.
I lock the bathroom door behind me and pull the business card out of my pocket along with my phone. The policewoman answers on the first ring. "Hi Lora" she says cheerfully. "How's things?" "Ok I think" I admit. "I, uh, I need to ask something." "Sure" she says. "Anything. Ask away." "Oh jeez" I groan. "This sounded so much easier in my head. The, uh, rape kit..." "Clean" she says. "They didn't touch you Lora, not in that way, anyway. Is that what you've been worried about?" "Kinda" I admit. "Jon and I, well, I didn't want to in case they'd, you know?" "I know" she says quietly. "Listen, any time you need to talk, you just call me, ok?" "Thank you" I whisper, ending the call. I put the phone on the counter and start the shower, stripping slowly before climbing under the warm spray. My bruises were starting to fade now, not so purple and angry anymore. I wash quickly and get out, dressing in a short skirt and a crop vest. I pull my hair into a messy bun and head back out to Jon.
"Ready?" I ask, creeping up behind him as he stands looking out of the kitchen window. He spins around quickly, hand over his heart. "Jeez Lor" he groans. "You scared me! Wow! Look at you! Uh yeah, I guess I'm ready when you are." I smile and grab my flip flops, pulling them on as I throw him the keys to the rental Joe left for him. "Let's go then" I say, smiling as he races after me. He laughs as we race to the car. Well, truck. Joe left us a truck. Jon grins and opens the door, letting me slide across the long seat as he gets in. "Anywhere in mind?" he asks, starting the truck. "Desert" I say suddenly. "Take me out into the desert where nobody can bother us." "Your wish is my command, dear wife" he says pulling out of the parking lot and heading for the desert.