Champagne and Candlelight

Jarrod was convinced Amber was avoiding him, but he wasn’t sure why. He couldn’t think of anything he’d done, but ever since Dr. Merar had pronounced her fit enough for the ride home, he hadn’t been able to catch her alone. Either she pleaded work to catch up on after being away from the office for so many days, or errands that needed to be run that very minute, or she pretended to be asleep before he could even get into bed. For the first couple days, Jarrod tried to be understanding, knowing she was still recovering from the accident, but now he was starting to get frustrated. He craved the intimacy that was so much a part of their relationship, even the soft kisses and heated glances they often exchanged over the course of a day were missing.
Finally deciding to confront her, Jarrod heard the sounds of gentle splashing coming from the bathroom. He opened the door and found Amber stepping out of the tub. His flesh rose as his eyes took in the luscious curves of her body, but Amber just gasped in dismay and snatched up her towel, hurriedly wrapping it around herself.

“Jarrod---“ she exclaimed, but he took the one step needed to reach her and cut her off with a fervent kiss. Amber started to respond, but then her body stiffened and she pulled away.

“Amber, what’s wrong?” Jarrod asked, unable to keep the hurt out of his voice. He missed her and he loved her and he didn’t understand. “Why won’t you let me touch you? Did I do something or say something? Please, sweetheart, I love you, if I did something to upset you let me know so I can make it right.”

Amber heard his pleading tone and looked into his brilliant blue eyes, so full of pain, and knowing she was causing that pain seared her soul. Amber slowly dropped the towel and bared herself to his eyes, ugliness and all. Better to have him look at her body in disgust that to cause her beloved any hurt. She kept her gaze on the floor, unwilling to see the distaste on Jarrod’s face.

“Amber?” She heard the confusion in his voice and looked up to find an equally puzzled expression on his face, at odds with the dark desire in his eyes.

“How can you want to touch something that looks like this?” Amber said, her voice a strangled whisper.

Jarrod saw the tear trickle down her cheek and the anguish on her face. As his eyes took in the form of the woman he so loved and desired, he noticed her hand unconsciously trying to cover the still-red welt across her stomach and finally understood.

“Oh, Amber,” he said tenderly, pulling her close, “you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Placing another searing kiss on her lips, Jarrod lifted her into his arms and carried her into their bedroom, where he laid her on the bed and sat beside her. His fingers lightly traced the path of the large gash down to her hip. “You really thought this would matter to me?” Amber bit her lip and blinked tightly, trying to clear the moisture from her eyes. Jarrod took her hand and drew it to the aching hardness straining against his pants, his body proving what his words were trying to say.

“I’m sorry, Jarrod,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Don’t be.” Jarrod leaned down and kissed her, his tongue gently exploring hers. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t even realize…”

Amber smiled through her tears. “Don’t apologize for thinking I’m still beautiful, Jarrod.”

“I won’t,” he promised, “because you are and always will be.” Jarrod’s lips moved down her throat and over her breasts, then he took the time to slowly kiss each and every mark that ran across her body, not stopping until he reached her inner thigh. He only stopped there because the velvet folds of her womanhood beckoned and his lips moved to kiss their silky sweetness. His tongue danced around her soft flesh and probed into her warmth, hands sliding up her stomach to caress her breasts. His fingers kneaded and tweaked the taut peaks and Amber let out a gasp that was half sob.

Jarrod moved back up to find her face wet with yet more tears. “Amber?” he asked, concerned he might have caused her pain.

“I’m just being silly, Jarrod,” she said, eyes bright but full of love. “I just… I never thought…”

Jarrod silenced her with another kiss and quickly removed his clothes before resting his weight on top of her. “You’re not silly,” he assured her as he slipped his hard length inside her. He continued kissing her as his thrusts grew deeper, more intense and this time Amber’s moan was one of pure pleasure.

“Oh, Jarrod,” she breathed, and her movements beneath him became more frantic, almost desperate. Jarrod continued covering her face with kisses, the need to show her how much he loved and wanted her almost overwhelming. As her orgasm burst over her, Jarrod felt her muscles clamp down around his throbbing manhood and Amber clung to him as she shuddered with release. He paused and kissed her tenderly, brushing her hair off her face as he felt her relax. So near his own climax, Jarrod only waited a moment before resuming his motions and with a few more thrusts, his world exploded in a burst of light and sensation as his seed shot deep within her.

“I love you, Amber. The fact that you’re so beautiful is only a bonus. And I’ll have you know I’ll still think you’re beautiful fifty years from now when you’re grey and wrinkled.”

“How did I ever get so lucky?” Amber asked, snuggling next to him as he held her in his arms.

“Just the Barkley luck, I guess,” Jarrod informed her, relishing the feel of her against him. “But you do realize we’ve probably used up more than our share in finding each other.”

“As long as there’s enough left to keep us together,” Amber whispered as she relaxed further into Jarrod’s strong embrace, “it was worth it.”