Chapter 17: Jacob’s First Time with Amy

Tuesday, February 7, 2023, 7:45 p.m.

After a delicious steak dinner, Melanie had an inspiration. She found tonight’s book and handed it to Jacob; he started reading to Amy. Melanie stopped him after a few lines.

“Baby, is it OK with you if he keeps on reading to you instead of me?”

“Mama, I like the way he reads. I think he’s good at it.”

“Baby, you are right about that. He does voices and stuff better than I can. Would you like to stay up so he can read you an extra chapter tonight?”

“Oh yeah! Thank you Mama. Thank you, Jacob.”

Amy hugged him, spontaneously, then settled back into the pillows for more listening.

While he was reading, his ankles were throbbing with pain. But he kept his attention on reading the story as best he could. Watching her drift off to sleep, he quieted and slowed his voice until he was sure she was asleep.

Melanie carried her 35 lb. (16 kg) child across to her own bed and put her in the blankets with her stuffed animal (a lioness). As usual, Amy slept through the process, and her mother quietly returned to Jacob.

“That went really well. I’m glad Amy doesn’t seem to mind my coming here to stay with you.”

“Oh, yeah. She takes her cues from me. If I’m comfortable with you, she can tell, and we’re good. Do you need the bathroom? No? Then let’s shift you over to the mattress. Oof! I’ve read your list, sweetie. You’re feeling itchy?”

“I’m sorry, Melanie. The skin under the casts is really uncomfortable, and I’m worried that it’s going to get worse. I want to slip some powder in there if I can. And I’m overdue for my pain meds, which means I was really struggling towards the end of my reading time.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Let me get those for you right now ... There you go, and here’s some water. Let me grab your keys, and you just relax while I go get your stuff. Back in a jiffy!”

Melanie bustled out the door. First, in the lobby of the complex, she emptied Jacob’s full mailbox. Then she went upstairs to his apartment. Once his door was opened, she put aside the pizza flyer, merged the two collections of mail, and headed to his bedroom and bathroom for the other listed items. In his closet, she found a rolling luggage bag like you would commonly see in an airport.

Inside the bag went the t-shirts, briefs, powder, pills (she added a bottle of acetaminophen). She found and added his laptop computer and power adapter, and filled the remaining space with his collected mail. Bag zipped closed, lights off, and door locked, Melanie returned to her apartment pulling the rolling bag behind her.

“I got everything, sweetie, here you go. After you take your other pills, I’m going to undress you so we can get some powder in there. Oh, and something else from your list.”

Once again, she was on top of him and kissing him. Quite thoroughly. Passionately, even.

“In all of that writing you did before the hospital, you never told me how hot you were, Jacob. I hate that you’re in pain, but I am also thrilled that you are, so quickly, in my bed. Here’s a little more water for the pills you wanted. Good.”

One by one, she opened the buttons down the front of his shirt, then the two buttons on his cuffs. Pulling him up by his shoulder, she pulled the shirt off his torso and tossed it aside. Then she eased him back to lie on the mattress, while caressing the light spray of chest hair between his nipples.

“Perfect,” she breathed. Jacob was lean and fit, his body like that of a runner or a professional dancer. He seemed to be about her height and weight, not intimidating and certainly not muscle-bound or pudgy. In the present circumstances, it was helpful that she could manage his bulk and weight for transfers and positioning.

His complexion was intermediate, Caucasian but consistent with Mediterranean origins. Jacob’s hair was dark brown and wavy, his eyes were brown, and his facial hair was also brown. The injuries to his face were mostly internal. Despite the swelling, he was very handsome in Melanie’s eyes.

Moving her hands down, she started on the pajama pants which he had been issued by the hospital. Because of the large casts on his lower legs, the pants were fastened with zippers on the outer seams. In this way, the legs could be opened widely instead of trying to pull each leg and cast through a tube shape as with conventional pants.

Gently, she pushed and pulled until the garment was loose from underneath him and was removed.

For the first time in years, she was in bed with a naked man.

A beautiful, handsome, naked man.

But he was crying!

“Jacob! Oh, No! What’s wrong!”