Chapter 89: Goodbye House

Late the next day, I got on the boards. David had been busy, letting everyone know about the train wreck, but that I was OK. I scrolled through my PMs and called for Ang, who came running.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Look!” I exclaimed, pointing a shaky finger at the screen. Lucy was driving to LA from Chicago, and had stopped to PM us that Richie had been stopped last night and arrested for suspicion of DUI. There were two kids in the car, and another woman (Ava’s nanny) and he didn’t even bother to tell Lucy about it; she had to hear about it on the news. She was livid, and I don’t blame her.

Of course, we shifted into girlfriend mode, and told Lucy to let Richie explain everything to her before she got all pissed off at him. She was talking about getting out to LA as quickly as possible, and driving out to Nebraska and catching a flight. I told her in no uncertain terms was she to drive. She asked me what she should do with her car. I just looked at Ang.

“Ang, you thinking what I’m thinkng?” I asked her.

“Already ahead of you,” she said, running to go pack. She passed David in the hall. ‘Did you know about this?” she accused him.

“Know about what?” He genuinely looked confused.

“Go talk to Hath,” Ang called, as she ran downstairs.



David went into the bedroom, and saw Hath typing furiously, with her wireless headset on. She held up a finger while she finished her conversation.

“OK, so she’s confirmed then? Yes, she’ll have the credit card, but it is in my name.” Hath paused and listened, typing more on her computer. “OK, she’ll have that. Thanks.” Hath pressed a button and looked up at David.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Hath gave him a withering look. “Don’t tell me you don’t know,” she said. Ang came back up stairs.

“OK, I’m ready,” Ang said.

“The car will be here in ten. Take this,” Ang took a piece of paper from Hath’s hand, “and grab my MasterCard from my wallet. You need to show those and your passport at the first class gate.”

“Didn’t know what?” David asked, looking between the two women. “Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on? Ang is packed to leave, you’re pissed at me for something – somebody talk to me, dammit!”

“Swear to me you didn’t know about Richie, and I’ll believe you,” Hath said, looking at him.

David did a double take. “What happened to Richie?”

“You really don’t know?” Hath said, and motioned him over. “Look at this.”

David read the messages Hath had gotten from Lucy and sat hard on the bed. “I swear to you, Hath, I didn’t know anything about this.” He took out his phone started to dial.

“What are you doing?” Hath asked him.

“Calling the asshole,” David said. Hath took the phone from him.

“Don’t do that, baby,” Hath said. David just looked at her, so she continued. “You’ve got a mad on, this is not the time to talk to him. Call him in a few hours when you can be his friend.”

“What am I now?” David asked hotly.

“His angry brother. He’s gotta be angry enough for the both of you right now. Cool off, then call him.” Hath gave David back his phone. “Trust me on this. I know you know him better than I do, but I know emotions better.” She gave David a look, and he remembered all the proof of that he’s seen over the past five months.

“Okay, darlin’, I’ll listen to you about this, but I will be calling Rich later,” David said.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Ang met up with Lucy, and took the keys to the Lexus and Gypsy. She drove Lucy to the airport the next day, and while Lucy jetted off to LA, Ang started the trek across the western half of the country. While that was going on, Hath’s belongings, and Ang’s, were packed up into the moving truck, and her personal stuff stowed in her car for the trip.

Hath went to work Thursday; her normal early schedule. She got lots of curious looks from people, and lots of looks of recognition. She was horrified to find out that her picture was in the newspaper. Apparently, being a decent human being was newsworthy, and there was a shot of her holding that other woman in her arms at the accident. She shook her head. There were very few things for her to do, other than to mentor Ethan. Going home to an empty house was heartbreaking. David was there, of course, but the house itself was empty.

Hath had to laugh when she got into the living room. David had set up sleeping bags and pillows, and put candles in the bay window, and had a take-out feast laid out on the floor. He silently took Hath into his arms and kissed her for long minutes. “I know this is hard, baby, but I am so glad you are doing it.”

“I am too, sweetheart,” she answered. “You just gotta let me mourn this for a minute, then I’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t we say goodbye in grand style,” David said, taking Hath’s jacket from her. He dropped it to the floor, and dipped his head to kiss her neck, holding her head firmly. When she tried to turn her head he held fast, and her heart quickened. Her hands came up to grip David’s arms, and he smiled against her lips. “What are you doing, baby?” David asked, releasing her head to grip Hath’s arms.

“I want to touch you,” Hath whispered, struggling to reach him.

“Uh-uh, baby,” David said. “You don’t get to do that yet.”

Hath’s heart stopped for a minute. He never played this particular game with her before. She trusted him implicitly, though, so she was up for it. “Why not?” she asked him, her voice shaking with excitement.

“Because I said so,” David said sternly, his eyes dancing with delight. He looked at her. “All you have to do is say ‘stop’ and I’ll stop,” David said.

“I know,” Hath said, and raised her head to nip at his lips.

David growled and spun Hath around, pulling her roughly to him. He turned her head away from him and latched onto her shoulder, almost but not quite marking her. When she tested his strength, he tightened his hold on her; wrapping an arm high around her chest. She pulled at him, but he held fast, looking at her. Hath’s eyes were closed, and her mouth parted, the corners turned up slightly.

He pulled her backwards toward the wall, then pushed her back up against it. He nudged her legs apart and wedged his leg between them, rubbing up against her while he nibbled and licked at her neck. After several long minutes and kisses that left Hath breathless, David pulled Hath with him to the floor. He rolled her beneath him, pinning her with his weight. Smiling, he stripped her blouse and bra from her, and held her hands over her head, raking her naked torso with his gaze. He could see the swell of his babies in her abdomen, and the extra-heaviness of her breasts. They were tender to the touch, and the slightest feather-light grazing had Hath mewling and squirming.

David kissed a path from Hath’s neck to her belly, stopping to lave delicately at her breasts. When Hath moved to reach for David, he took her bra and bound her hands, set them firmly on the floor over her head, and placed a nearly-full glass of water in them. Hath looked at David with questioning eyes.

“Don’t spill the water, Hath,” David said softly. If she tried to move her hands to touch him, the glass would upend, spilling water all over the floor.

David reached under Hath to unzip her skirt, and pulled it off of her. He groaned when he saw she wore stockings instead of hose. He knew she did that for him; that she preferred hose, and that knowledge made it all the more exciting. He took off her sneakers and socks slid her panties down and off, and looked his fill. Hath tried to cover up somewhat by raising her knees, but David was having none of it. He pushed them down and leaned across her thighs, effectively immobilizing her.

He propped his head up and stroked at the babies with his other hand. Hath started to relax, and when she did, David’s hand started to drift lower. He rose off her thighs and spread them, then settled in between. He stroked her with gentle strokes, just grazing the skin and curls. Hath’s eyes closed, and she gave over to the feeling of being cherished and loved.

As the waves of pleasure slowly built, Hath’s breathing got shallower. Small mewling noises came from the back of her throat, and her head thrashed from side to side. The glass started to tremble in her hands, but she was not going to let it go; she was going to play the game as long as she could.

David kept his touch light, driving her nuts. Her arms were straining and bowing a little from the floor. “What’s the matter, baby?” David asked Hath.

“You’re driving me mad,” Hath said breathlessly.

“Oh, sorry, should I stop?”

“Not on your life,” Hath answered.

David chuckled, and dipped first one finger, then two into her tight, wet core, and she groaned loudly. David leaned in to nibble on her clit, and Hath screamed. She bowed from the floor, sending the glass flying across the room as her hands came down to grab David’s head, holding him fast when he would have backed off.

The splash of water on her flesh as it arced through the room wasn’t felt by Hath; all she felt was David’s mouth on her. The sound of glass breaking as the tumbler hit the wall was lost to Hath. All she heard was the blood pounding in her head.

She tugged on David’s hair so hard, he actually winced, but followed her lead now, and slinked up her body to kiss her again. Hath’s bound hands looped around David’s neck, and she held on tight. While he sipped from her lips, he slipped into her body. David groaned as her vice closed around him. He tried to stroke gently, but Hath was having none of it. She raised her hips, meeting David’s thrusts, and he picked up the pace, slamming into her. Their voices were one as they shouted their release.

Sated, David rolled off Hath and untied her hands. He tucked her into his shoulder and chuckled. “You spilled the water,” David said.

Hath laughed outright. “Don’t care, it isn’t my rug anymore.” David hugged her, and they gingerly sat up to eat, not bothering to dress. After they finished and cleaned up, they played on the board for a while, then made love slowly and tenderly, and fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.