Dark Night, Hold Tight, part 22
A/N: Put the kids to bed, and crank up the fan.
Summer and Seth walked back to her apartment arm-in-arm. He took her arm at the first cross-walk, ostensibly to help her cross, and then took the opportunity to just not let her go. For once, Summer didn't mind. It was an old habit, oddly familiar and comfortable; like easing one's feet into the warm winter slippers that have been neglected all summer. They were unable to stare and giggle about passersby as they once had, but Summer enjoyed the inability to be tacky towards others. Sometimes frustrating, but refreshing.
Once they arrived back at the loft, Seth helped Summer out of her coat.
"Don't forget," he warned, "the band plays again tonight and I promised them we would be there by nine."
"Sure," Summer smiled before slipping down the hall towards her room. "I'm going to take a shower and change."
"Excellent." Seth padded into the living room, frowning. If Summer was going to shower, he at least an hour and a half to kill before she'd be ready to go. He would have rolled his eyes if he weren't just grateful she was speaking to him. He decided to straighten the paintings on the wall in the living room; with all of the recent door-slamming, several were pitifully askew. Almost as soon as he had found his balance on the pillowy cushions of the sofa, he heard Summer's grunt of frustration, followed by:
"Seth…could you come and help me please?"
Sighing, he climbed down from his perch on the top of the couch, and made his way down the hall towards Summer's room. He stopped short in the doorway, staring at his love. She was clearly having trouble with the buttons down the back of her blouse, and he could immediately see why she required his assistance. Gone was the angry, defensive Summer who wouldn't even let him touch her. "Seth?" she called again, sensing his presence.
"Hi," he said softly, stepping into her room.
"Hi," she smiled back. "I need help with these buttons, please," she presented her backside to him and he approached her slowly, a bit apprehensively. She drew in a sharp breath as he reached up with trembling fingers to unbutton the button at the top of her neck. His hand brushed her nape and Summer shivered as a low coil of desire began to unwind deep in her belly. She concentrated on breathing, just breathing.
It had been so long since she'd felt this way. Since she'd allowed herself to feel this way... Outside the window, gusts of wind were howling around the eaves of the building, making Summer feel even more restless.
Seth took a deep breath, reaching for the next button, letting his finger just barely caress the bare skin where the fabric had already parted. Summer sucked in a breath and waited impatiently for him to continue.
Three more buttons were unclasped in the same manner—slowly, deliberately slowly—Seth lightly teasing her skin, lingering, longing, Summer tensing with anticipation each time his calloused fingertips brushed against her skin.
Finally he reached the last button and with an rough, uneven voice, said, "that's it."
Summer fluttered beneath his hands, and her voice cracked when she said his name.
He leaned in close over her shoulder to answer her, whispering into her ear, "yes?"
She felt powerless, compelled by something deeper than her need for distance; something more primal than her deep-seated instinct to push everyone away. She moaned and melted backwards into his solid chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling his head closer. It was an awkward move, but Seth didn't seem to notice in the slightest. He pulled her blouse away just enough to dust kisses across her neck and shoulders, sucking at her skin, leaving delicious little bruises with his hot tongue.
She turned in his arms and reached for him; he complied, stepping into her embrace. He held her close enough to make her breathless; desperate to be one with her. He brought his mouth to hers aggressively, holding her up as he dove in again and again, making her blissfully incoherent.
"Summer," he moaned against the taut skin of her throat as she threaded her fingers through his curls. Seth moved his legs slowly, almost dragging her along with him; backed her up until they were up against her bed, pressing into the mattress, still kissing madly. Summer hoisted herself up onto the top of the bed, shedding the pesky blouse and beckoning Seth forward.
He followed immediately, straddling her hips and then pulling her up to crush her chest to his own, reveling in the feel of her after so long. His nimble fingers reached for the button of her jeans and he flicked it open easily. He pulled them down her legs, and she helped kick them off. They went sailing to the floor, joining her blouse. She lay spread beneath him now, her emerald-green bra and matching underwear hugging her curves delightfully. Seth almost fainted at the sight of her. He lovingly traced the contours of her hips and thighs with his hands, pulling her close to kiss her again. She groaned into his mouth, falling backwards limply when he began to rub his fingers across her painfully aroused nipples. He unlatched her bra for better access and she arched into his touch.
It had been so long since she'd been touched by anyone in any way, much less Seth, her Seth, who was the only man she would ever love. He had just about perfected the art of making love to her nipples with his artist's hands when he stepped it up a notch and closed his hot mouth around her right breast.
A cracked sob of pleasure left her throat and Seth smiled into the skin he was in the process of demoralizing. After several careful minutes of laving each nipple with the loving care he felt they both deserved, his nervous fingers reached for the hem of her panties.
"Ahhhh," Summer was gasping for breath, the sensations rioting across her flesh, making her incapable of rational thought. She lifted her hips to assist him in the removal of her clothing and shuddered as he gently spread her legs. His first, tentative touch was electric, and Summer almost came on the spot. She felt the bed shift as Seth adjusted his position.
When his tongue unexpectedly touched her clit she practically screamed in delicious agony, and her fingers clenched involuntarily against his scalp.
"Easy!" he yelped, and Summer let out a nervous, giddy giggle. "Easy," he whispered again, this time against the silken skin of her inner thigh. She obligingly released him, curling her fingers in the tangle of covers underneath her. Seth began again, delicately licking across her folds, dipping in with his tongue to arouse her like no one else ever had, or ever would.
She'd taught him well, he still knew all of her favorite tricks, and when he started that old familiar pattern of lick, flutter, suck, she began bucking her hips uncontrollably.
"Come for me," Seth urged, and Summer nodded in response, wanton. Her cheeks were flushed a deep pink, and Seth couldn't help but fall madly in love with her all over again. When his fingers gently pushed into her body, Summer cried out in abandonment and came hard, clenching around his hand tightly. She rode the wave of her ecstasy until she was exhausted, and then threw her head back to gasp for breath. Seth waited until her breathing had slowed somewhat, and then removed his fingers, gently kissing her thighs and belly.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his lips brushing her heated, sweat-slicked skin. "You smell so good, I can't stand it. I want you so badly."
Summer, for the first time since she'd called Seth to her room, was flooded with guilt and shame. Before she could even protest, both she and Seth were startled by frantic pounding against the front door. Seth shushed her, and instructed her to remain in her room. He closed her bedroom door behind him, and hurried to the foyer, unnerved by the insistent knocking. Looking in the peephole provided a fish-eye view of Ryan, who was raising his fist for another assault against the dark cherry wood. Seth flung the door open, out of breath.
Ryan stepped back, stared at Seth's disheveled appearance; then grinned, a little lecherously.
"Dude, what the hell?"
Ryan sobered quickly. "Your uncle called... Nana collapsed."
"No way, dude," Seth was shaking his head. "We were just over there, like...an hour ago."
"I've been trying your phone for thirty minutes, at least. That's why I came over here," Ryan held up his own cell phone, as if that were all the evidence he would ever need.
Seth fumbled. "I must have turned it off...left it in my coat..." he trailed off.
"Well, they took her to the hospital, so get Summer and we'll go down there together."
Seth scratched the back of his head... "Um, I'm not sure Summer will want to come..." he wasn't even able to finish before a fully-clothed and styled Summer gracefully glided to a stop at his side.
"Of course I want to go," she insisted, and the way she almost-glanced at Ryan made him nervous. He shifted from his left foot to his right.
"Well, get your coat, then," he instructed gruffly.
Summer went around Seth's backside and he forced himself to concentrate long enough to assist her.
The ride to the hospital was uncomfortably silent. Ryan stared out the window at passing buildings; Seth sat with his head between his knees, trying to remain calm; and Summer meditated despite the loud crackle coming from the CB radio in the front seat of the cab. Seth was kicking himself. Not only had he taken advantage of Summer, but the sly look on Ryan's face as he had opened the door told Seth that he'd known exactly what they'd been up to. As if his Nana's scrutiny weren't enough.
Summer cringed when she thought about how she must smell. Good call, she congratulated herself mockingly. Have total slutty sex with Cohen and then rush to the hospital to see his ailing grandmother without even taking a shower. She probably reeked of sex. At least she hadn't been drinking.
Ryan, ever perceptive to the shifting moods and manners of those around him, felt the guilt and heartache pulsing in the small space like a sonar. It was like being with Marissa all over again; the best and worst years of his life, and all because of her.
Seth met his cousins Lauren and Esther in the parking lot of the hospital, each dragging a bedraggled child with them.
"How is she?"
Esther adjusted her ponytail, glanced at Ryan and Summer. "She's stable. They think she had a stroke, but she hasn't woken up, so they say they can't be sure."
Lauren wrapped Seth in a long hug. "How are you, kiddo?"
"I'm good. Good. This is my brother Ryan, and Summer...my...well, you remember Summer."
"Yes, of course," Lauren replied graciously. "This is Emma," she stooped to pick up the little girl that was clinging to her hand like a lifeline. "And Katie," she gestured to the child that was holding on to Esther. "Dan's been in Boston all week...I didn't have anyone to watch the children."
"I'll babysit."
All four Cohens turned to Summer, surprised.
Lauren looked dubious. "Are you sure?"
"Sure. I lost my sight a couple of years ago in an accident...but as long as I can keep them at my house, I should be able to manage."
Lauren glanced at Esther. "Well, that would be fine, Summer. They've both been sick, so they'll be pretty easy to handle. They will probably sleep most of the time."
"I'll take Summer and the girls home, if you want to go back in," Ryan offered.
"That would be great," Esther sighed gratefully, relinquishing Katie into Ryan's waiting arms.
Summer reached her hands out for Emma, and Lauren handed her over, pausing to kiss her youngest daughter on the forehead. Seth beamed with pride as Summer tucked Emma's downy head under her chin.
Ryan placed his hand at the small of Summer's back, and guided her towards a waiting taxi. He turned to Seth at the last second, "I'll be back soon."
Seth waved and jogged to catch up with Lauren and Esther, who had turned back towards the formidable gray building. Summer and Ryan didn't speak on the ride back to the apartment. Summer cradled Emma in her arms, and Ryan followed her easily, guiding her towards the elevator, and then towards the front door of her apartment. Both girls were sleeping, Ryan placed Katie on one end of the couch, covered her with a blanket, and placed the decorative pillows so as to prevent her from rolling off the sofa in her sleep. He took Emma from Summer's arms and repeated the procedure. After he was done, he came to Summer and carefully hugged her. After a stiff moment of hesitation, she hugged him back, and he kissed her forehead.
"I've programmed my number into your phone, call me if you need anything."
Summer nodded, "I will." She waited for Ryan to leave, then bent over both girls on the sofa to make sure they were both still asleep and breathing deeply. Satisfied that they could be left for a few minutes, she escaped back to her bedroom and shed her clothing.
Feeling unsettled, and unsure of where she stood with Seth, Summer barricaded herself in the bathroom and pulled the shower curtain around the tub as if she could hide away there forever. She turned the water on, hotter than she would have wanted had she been thinking straight. She stood there, allowing the water to beat against the skin of her back mercilessly.
What would he expect from her now that she'd allowed herself to be carried away by foolish emotions? And how could she deny it to him after relinquishing it once already? Her heart ached at the thought of him... shy, earnest Seth, who so obviously wanted nothing more than to please her. He didn't know what he was trying to offer her. It would be so easy to just forget, to ignore her fears and fall in love with Seth again.
But more frightening than the idea that she was just a temporary novelty was the notion that she would look up at thirty three and be so miserable that she felt the desire to drown herself in a swimming pool, or worse. What if she chose Seth because of obvious lack of options, and made them both miserable? What kind of a life would that be? For either of them?
Mindful of the sleeping children in the next room, Summer quickly finished showering and towel-dried her wet hair. She slipped into a clean pair of sweats and found the book she had been reading. Curling up on the couch between the two sleepy children, Summer found that she was rather drowsy herself. She pulled the sea-blue chenille throw from the back of the sofa and draped it across her legs. She would doze, just for a while.
Hours later, when Seth finally returned from the hospital, he found all three girls cuddled together on the couch, fast asleep, and he smiled.
To Be Continued...