2009

Before joining the Neighborhood, Mary was a dedicated and loving nurse at a busy hospital. She had always felt a calling to the medical profession—ever since she was young, she had been fascinated by the human body, the healing process, and the deep sense of fulfillment that came from helping others in their times of need. In her role, Mary went above and beyond to provide not only physical care but emotional support to her patients. She quickly earned a reputation as one of the most beloved nurses at the hospital. She was 35 now and looked in her late 20’s. She was old enough to be comfortable in her own skin. She loved physical activities that kept her body fit. And she oozed a genuine care, empathy, and patience that made it hard for anyone to dislike her. In fact the other nurses, mostly older, watched out for her. They ran interference from hormone laden med interns who just wanted to get into her pants But they couldn’t catch everything.

One particular patient, Tomas, came into her care one fateful day. He had been struck by a car while biking and had suffered multiple severe injuries. His physical condition was grave, and for the first few days, he was barely conscious, leaving Mary to carefully monitor his vitals and ensure his comfort. He had sustained extensive damage to his legs and torso, and his movement was limited.

Tomas groaned softly as he shifted in the hospital bed, trying to adjust his position without aggravating his injured back. The post-surgery haze was wearing off, replaced by a dull, persistent ache that radiated through his entire body. His mobility was severely limited after the accident, and the doctors had warned him that recovery would be a slow, grueling process. Tomas didn’t doubt them—he felt every inch of the challenge in his stiff, uncooperative limbs.

Every day, though, Mary would walk into his room, her bright smile cutting through the monotony of his days like a ray of sunshine. She had been assigned as his nurse shortly after his surgery, and from the start, she had a way of making even the most painful moments tolerable. She had a warmth about her, a natural ease in the way she moved and spoke that put him at ease.

“Good morning, Tomas,” she greeted him one day, her cheerful tone making his groggy morning a little less dreary. “How are we feeling today? Still sore, or are you finally ready to run a marathon?”

He chuckled weakly, shaking his head. “Oh, I’m ready, Nurse Mary. I just need someone to carry me the whole way.”

Mary laughed, a genuine sound that made her green eyes sparkle. “Well, I do have strong arms, but I don’t think I’m that strong.”

Tomas smirked. “Don’t sell yourself short. You look like you could bench press a car. Maybe that’s why they put you on my case.”

“Flattery gets you nowhere, Tomas,” she teased as she adjusted the IV line. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Their daily exchanges often played out like this—lighthearted banter that made the sterile hospital room feel less bleak. Tomas discovered quickly that Mary had a sharp wit and a knack for putting him in his place when his humor veered too far into the absurd. What surprised him, though, was how much depth there was beneath her bubbly exterior.

She would linger a little longer than necessary after her rounds, pulling up a stool to chat while he ate his meals or worked through his physical therapy exercises. One day, as she was helping him stretch his legs, he asked, “So, what made you want to be a nurse? You could’ve done anything with that brain of yours.”

Mary looked up from where she was kneeling by the bed, her hands steady as she guided his leg through the motion. “Biology,” she said simply. “I’ve always loved it. The human body is fascinating—how it works, how it heals itself. I guess I just wanted to be part of that process.”

Tomas raised an eyebrow. “Biology? I pegged you more as a ... cheerleader-turned-nurse type. Don’t take that the wrong way.”

Mary laughed, shaking her head. “Yeah, I get that a lot. ‘Dumb blonde’ is the usual assumption. And yes, I am a cheerleader-turned-nurse. Proud of it. Cheer captain!”, she said glowingly, “But I was also the nerd in school. Straight A’s, science fairs, math club—the whole deal. I actually thought about going into research, but I wanted something more hands-on. Nursing felt ... personal, I guess. Like I could really make a difference. Helping people like yourself makes me so happy.”

Tomas’s respect for her deepened with every conversation. She wasn’t just beautiful—though he couldn’t deny that she was stunning with her radiant smile, long blonde hair, and a figure that seemed to light up the room. She was intelligent, driven, and endlessly compassionate. She had layers that he found himself eager to uncover.

As the weeks went on, Mary began to share more about her past. One afternoon, while helping him with his physical therapy, she mentioned that she’d grown up in the foster care system. Tomas, leaning heavily on a walker as he tried to take a few steps, looked at her in surprise.

“Foster care?” he asked, his tone gentle. “What was that like?”

Mary shrugged, though her expression softened. “Chaotic. I moved around a lot, never really had a permanent home. But it wasn’t all bad. I was usually one of the oldest in the houses I lived in, so I kind of took on the ‘older sister’ role. I looked after the younger kids when I could.”

“Sounds like you were a natural caregiver even back then,” Tomas said, pausing to catch his breath. “That’s ... admirable. A lot of people wouldn’t step up like that.”

Mary gave him a small smile, her cheeks pinking slightly. “It wasn’t always easy. Some of the kids I grew up with didn’t handle it well—being shuffled around, feeling unwanted. I think that’s what pushed me to work harder. I didn’t want to end up like that. I wanted something better.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?” Tomas said, his voice sincere. “What you’ve been through, what you’ve done for other people ... It’s inspiring.”

Mary looked away, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know about amazing. I just did what I thought was right.”

Their bond grew stronger with each passing day. Tomas found himself looking forward to Mary’s visits, her encouragement during his therapy, and her stories about her life. He admired her resilience and strength, and he found himself drawn to her nurturing side. She, in turn, was charmed by his wit, his quiet confidence, and the way he made her laugh with his nerdy jokes. He would often rattle off obscure facts about physics or tell pun-laden stories that left her groaning but secretly amused.

“You know,” he said one day as she helped him back into bed, “if we ever got stuck on a desert island, you’d probably be the one to save us. You’d build a raft out of coconuts and patch me up when I inevitably fell out of a tree.”

Mary rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. “And you’d be the one calculating the ocean currents and building a solar-powered still out of seashells.”

Tomas grinned. “Exactly. We’d make a great team.”

Mary laughed, her heart warming at the thought. “Yeah, Tomas. I think we would.”

Mary didn’t know exactly when her feelings for Tomas began to shift, but somewhere between their daily banter and his determined efforts in physical therapy, she realized she was looking forward to her shifts a little too much. It wasn’t just because she liked seeing her patients progress or because Tomas made her laugh with his endless stream of terrible science puns—though both were true. It was something more. She found herself lingering longer in his room than she probably should, checking on him more often than strictly necessary.

At first, she told herself it was because Tomas needed the extra encouragement. His injuries had been severe, and recovery was slow. Helping him stretch, making sure he got up for his short walks, and simply being there to support him seemed like the right thing to do. But as the days passed, she began to notice things she hadn’t before—how his piercing blue eyes lit up when he laughed, the subtle strength in his voice when he spoke, the sharp intelligence behind his nerdy humor.

Tomas, for his part, seemed to appreciate her attention. He always greeted her with a smile and a joke, even on his worst days. One afternoon, as she was helping him adjust his position in bed, he said, “You know, Nurse Mary, if they gave out medals for patience and kindness, you’d have a whole wall full of them.”

She blushed, brushing off the compliment with a wave of her hand. “It’s my job to be kind. Besides, you’re not that bad. I’ve had patients who are much grumpier than you.”

“I’m not grumpy because I have you,” he said, his tone so earnest that it made her heart skip a beat.

Mary felt her cheeks grow warm, and she quickly changed the subject. But later that evening, as she sat in the break room sipping coffee, his words replayed in her mind. She found herself smiling, a soft, secret smile that she quickly hid when one of her coworkers walked in.

She started putting a little extra effort into her appearance before her shifts. It was nothing overt—just a touch of mascara, a bit of gloss on her lips, and making sure her blonde hair was neatly tied back. She told herself it was purely professional, but deep down, she knew she wanted Tomas to notice her.

One morning, as she entered his room, she saw him sitting up in bed, flipping through a book. He looked up as she walked in, and his face broke into a grin. “Mary! Just the person I wanted to see.”

“Oh?” she said, setting her clipboard down and giving him a teasing smile. “What’s so urgent?”

“I’ve been working on a new joke for you,” he said, his expression mischievous. “Why did the nurse carry a red pen?”

Mary rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the grin that tugged at her lips. “Why?”

“In case she needed to draw blood.”

Mary groaned, shaking her head. “That’s terrible, Tomas.”

“Come on, you love it,” he said, his grin widening.

She laughed, and as their eyes met, she felt a spark—a warm, fluttering feeling in her chest that she couldn’t ignore. She looked away quickly, focusing on checking his chart, but her hands were trembling slightly, especially considering what she had come in to do.

“Um, it’s time for me to help you with your bath.” Usually the task was clinical. She would sponge bath men, women, young and old. If they were of the younger hormonal male type, one of the other nurses would step in automatically. She didn’t even need to ask. But she started bathing Tomas while he was unconscious for the first several days. By the time he was no longer constantly groggy, he was used to the routine. Yes, sometimes he had morning wood, but it was never more than that before. Similarly it was clinical for Mary. She had seen many naked men during her years as a nurse. Tomas was not particularly large. He wasn’t tiny, but his member was about average. And besides, she wasn’t one of those people who found a man’s appendage Itself to be very attractive. When she was most aroused was when a man latched to her heart. In the few relationships she’s had, the caress of a man’s penis turned her on because it was an intimate expression of her heart through her touch. Today she recognized the start of that emotional attraction for the first time.

Now if you’ve never had a sponge bath in the hospital, it’s not really a sexy thing. You keep the sheet covering your torso and privates for most of the process. Even so, Tomas started feeling his blood rush to his groin. He tried to quell the feeling, but the more he tried not to think about it, the harder he got. It noticeably moved his bedsheet. Instinctively Mary eyes moved to the movement before her brain registered what it was that moved. She quickly looked away and tried to suppress a smile and a blush. “I’m sorry,” Tomas apologized, completely embarrassed.

“No apologies. It happens, especially if when you need to urinate.”

“Yeah, if.”

Mary face turned even a brighter red.

She continued professionally, but each action just felt different. As she rubbed his chest, his penis twitched. When she washed his feet, it twitched. When she sponged back, it throbbed painfully.

She rolled him back to his back and tried to straighten out the bed sheet, that was engorged and caught on a fold. Pulling the spreadsheet jerked his cock. A groan escaped his lips before he could catch it. “I’m so sorry,” she said, with an instinctive comfort pat. “Oops. I didn’t mean to do that.” Her eyes widened at what she just did. Tears welled up. She turned away getting ready to leave before she regretted anything else.

Tomas touched her hand and tried to pretend nothing happened. “I think I was just lying a little bit wrong.” She looked back and met his eyes. A whole conversation exchanged between their eyes in that moment. She wasn’t alone in feeling a real connection. She picked up her sponge and slowly resumed. She sponged one leg. Usually she positions herself at his feet and work upwards, facing him. But this time she stood with her back side to him and worked from his toes to his knees and up so she could hide the huge smile that was on her face. She grazed his member with her elbow. Twitch. Strain. Soft moan. What had come over her? She was usually very reserved, but she felt confident in this connection. She sponged his inner thigh and paused just barely touching his sack. Twitch. Strain. Another moan. She repositioned the sheet to cover the leg she just cleaned. Again, she “accidentally” caught his cock on the sheet and gave it a couple tugs.

Instead of walking around to the other leg, she leaned across his body to pull the sheet up, her breasts nestling his rock hard cock. He was going wild. He had over a month of cum bottled up and ready to release. Again, she worked her way up his leg, then maticulously cleaned every inch of his upper thigh, scrubbing around his genitals. With two fingers of her hospital gloved hands, she pinched the head of his cock to pull it to one side then the other so that she could diligently clean around his base. She took a clean cloth and scrubbed his perenium repeatedly until it was squeaky clean, and until, she expected, he really needed a pause. One thing about being such a good student of the human body is that she could read his body so well.

Finally she needed to clean his genitals. She started with a warm towel on his scrotum. She’d done this dozens of times before but this time it held new meaning. Physically it relaxed his muscles, and helped him come off the edge. At the same time it increased his anticipation. He hungered for her to gripe his cock and stroke it to release.

She squeezed out the cloth then dipped it in cold water and applied it back to his balls. The sensation shot through is body. He squirmed at the touch. A giggle escaped Mary. She knew exactly what she was doing. It was driving him wild and also quite a thrill for Mary, too. Finally onto his shaft. She polished him up and down using just her sponge and cloth. It was a light touch like she usually would. She avoided additional touches directly with her hand or fingers. A slight extra pressure, under the rim of head of his cock. An extra scrub of the nerve nexus at the junction underneath the head. Then she pivoted around his cock so that she was facing him. He stared at her piercing eyes. When did she undo those two additional buttons? She leaned forward and spilled her cleavage out, he could see down between her breast to her flat stomach. The teasing, the almost touches, and now this perfect body in front of him was too much to hold back.

His cum exploded out from his dick. The first shot litterally sprayed from him, droplets hitting Mary on her face, in an eye and one rested on her upper lip. “Oh!” she squealed. She should have anticipated that but it took her by surprise anyways. Tomas looked at Mary with trepidation and fear in his eyes. Did he just ruin their relationship before it even had a chance to begin? Mary’s eyes twinkled. She wiped the cum from her eyes, her forehead and her cheek. She was about to wipe the drop from her lip but stopped and polished her lip clean with her tongue and swallowed.

It was just a drop. Mary had tasted cum before and didn’t particularly love it. It was the sentiment that she loved. It was sending a sentiment of her deep affection when she showed her lover his dollop of jizz disappear in her mouth. But this was barely a drop, and yet it sent a sensation like no over prior swallow gave her. It warmed her throat then tingled out to her extremities. She felt her own genitals ooze wetness in response. It must be the intensity of how strong the emotional connection with Tomas was. Perhaps it was even stronger than she realized.

In that encounger, Mary felt something she hadn’t felt in years. She had always been devoted to her patients, but Tomas was different. There was something in his gaze, in the way he touched her, that made her want to give in.

And so, she did. After that night, their relationship shifted rapidly from one of professional care to one of passionate connection. While he was still recovering, they would share stolen moments in his hospital room, each of them unable to resist the pull toward each other. Mary had never imagined she would allow herself to be so intimate with a patient, but Tomas wasn’t just any patient. He was charismatic, confident, and incredibly attractive to her, and it felt like everything she had been holding back was finally being unleashed.

Though their physical relationship began as a secret, neither of them could deny the deep emotional connection that was growing between them. They shared quiet moments together when no one was looking, their stolen kisses and touches a form of rebellion against the professional boundaries that separated them. Mary knew that what they had was forbidden, but she couldn’t help but feel alive in a way she hadn’t in years.

Mary didn’t have sponge bath duty for Tomas every day. The nurses rotated, and it would be too suspicious if she maneuvered herself to be his exclusive bather. But each turn she had, she milked him in a similar way. She used teasing techniques and her medical training to give him the most intense orgasms by slight adjustments to her professional bathing techniques. She learned his body well enough that she could get him half way to orgasm before she got to his thighs. Once the head nurse peeked in during a bath while Mary was washing his feet. Her motions looked outwardly totally professional. The only indication otherwise was the tent in the sheets. That made the head nurse more worried for Mary than about Mary. She called mary over.

“I saw that hard-on by your patient today. Georgeous girl like you, I’m sure that happens with every man you help. He didn’t do anything to you, did he?” she asked. “Do you want me to step in for you?”

“Tomas? No, he’s the perfect gentleman. In fact, he was embarrassed and apologized. It’s a normal human reaction. I’m good. At some level, I’m flattered”, Mary smiled and cast her eyes downward.

Mary was more than good. And when Tomas came, and she was cleaning up the mess she induced from him, she secreted away a taste of his cum. A little more than a drop this time. Non-chalantly as if she brushed her hair off her face, she licked it off her finger. Again she experienced the warmth then tingling sensation through her body. It lasted for a minute or two as she finished up, gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hurried out.

After the warmth subsided back to normal, she felt a slight craving for more. She couldn’t wait till it was her turn again.

As Tomas’s recovery progressed, so their secret bond. Mary would push the envelope for how long her checkins were with him and how often. They tried to maintain proper outward appearances. The intimacy grew in their conversations, their looks, and passing touches, but always limited.

It was during one of those tender moments, when Mary was adjusting his IV and leaning over him to ensure his comfort, that their first real kiss happened. The kiss, soft and tentative at first, quickly deepened into something more desperate—fueled by a need they could no longer deny. They had been growing closer, physically and emotionally, and now there was no turning back. Tomas’s hand slipped around the back of her neck, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss, his lips urgent, as if they had been waiting for this moment for far too long.

Mary felt a rush of emotions, excitement flooding her senses. She had been drawn to Tomas from the beginning—his self-confidence, his ability to push her limits in ways she never knew she needed—but now there was something more: the undeniable connection that had been building between them. She had cared for patients before, had seen many people in vulnerable states, but this felt different. Tomas wasn’t just a patient. He wasn’t just the man she was helping heal—he was a man she was falling for.

The kiss, though unexpected, felt like it had been years in the making. And when Tomas pulled back, his eyes glimmering with desire, Mary could see the mix of emotions in his gaze—longing, surprise, and something darker, more dominant.

“This is dangerous, Mary,” Tomas whispered, his voice low and steady. He understood the stakes—they were in a hospital, surrounded by people who would never approve of their growing attraction. He could lose his treatment team. She could lose her job. But even as he said the words, Mary’s lips curved into a small, teasing smile.

“Tomas,” she whispered, barely able to meet his gaze, “I shouldn’t be doing this.”

“I know, we should stop,” his voice thick with desire. He reached out, gently lifting her chin so their eyes locked. “Tell me to stop.”

Her lips parted, and for a moment, she struggled to find the words. She had always prided herself on being professional, on keeping her emotions in check, but with Tomas, it was impossible. The attraction was overwhelming, and it had been growing for weeks. She couldn’t deny it any longer. “I ... I don’t know what to do,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

And with that, the walls between them shattered. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his, then more urgent as Tomas responded. It quickly deepened as they both gave in to the chemistry between them. Tomas’s hands slid down her back, pulling her closer, while Mary’s hands wandered to his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the fabric of his hospital gown.

It was a kiss that spoke volumes—of the longing they had both been suppressing, of the emotional bond that had been forming in silence, and of the passion they could no longer hold back. The world outside of the hospital room seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in the moment.

As the kiss broke, Tomas looked at Mary with a mixture of admiration and hunger. “Are you sure about this?”

Mary’s heart raced in her chest, her mind torn between the overwhelming excitement of what was happening and the fear of what it meant. But in that moment, as she looked at Tomas, she knew what she wanted. She wanted him, she wanted to please him, and she wanted to be his.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’m sure.”

Tomas didn’t waste any more time. He guided her to sit on the edge of the bed, his hands exploring her body, learning the curves that had been so carefully hidden from him until now. Mary’s breath quickened as his hands moved to her blouse, slowly unbuttoning it with an almost unbearable tenderness. Each touch, each kiss, felt like a slow unraveling of the layers between them. The weight of the moment hung in the air as they gave in to the desire they could no longer ignore.

It was then that Tomas moved to kiss her neck, his hands drifting lower as he undid the clasp of her bra. The soft sound of it being removed was enough to send a wave of anticipation through both of them.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Tomas murmured, his lips brushing against her skin as he continued to explore. “I can’t believe we’re here.”

Mary’s mind was spinning, the sensation of Tomas’s hands and lips on her body overwhelming every thought she had. She had always been the one to give, to nurture, but now, in this moment, she was finally allowing herself to receive—to let go and experience the kind of intimacy she had been craving.

Tomas reached under her nurse’s skirt and found her soaked panties. He stroked her mound through the fabric until she started grinding on his hand. She reached down and pulled her panties aside. “Touch me, please”, she begged him. He inserted his fingers into her while she ground her clit on his palm. Weeks of fantasizing about this forbidden moment came rushing out in this moment as she came all over his hands. Her knees wobbled. She braced herself on his bed and kissed him until her contractions subsided.

Tomas, his arm draped over her, kissed her forehead softly. “You’re incredible, Mary.”

She smiled, her fingers tracing his chest as she spoke quietly. “So are you.”

As they held each other, Mary couldn’t suppress the huge smile on her face. Tomas seemed everything she wanted in a man.

As Tomas continued to recover from his accident and was released from the hospital, they continued to see each other. Their bond was undeniable, and connection evolved into something so meaningful—an unspoken understanding and an undeniable sense of peace when they were together. One of their favorite pastimes became cooking at Tomas’s apartment. Tomas, despite his physical injuries, took great joy in preparing meals, and Mary found solace in the simple act of sharing a meal with him. The kitchen was where they laughed, teased each other, and found comfort in each other’s company. There was one big thing in Tomas’s life that he knew he needed to share with Mary, but he didn’t know how to bring it up. It was about the Neighborhood. How does he explain something so unbelievable. How does he explain the relationship he has with the women there. How does he explain how real his feelings are for her and also how he feels for the other Neighbors. Tomas has always known he was polyamorous. He also realized most people aren’t. His feelings for Jane and the others were strong. But Mary was different somehow. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

It was one such evening that something unexpected happened, marking the next significant step in their journey. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe Tomas subconsciously wanted it to happen.

Mary had just finished setting the table, glancing over at Tomas as he puttered around in the kitchen. She loved how comfortable they had become in each other’s presence, how the quiet moments felt as significant as the more passionate ones. Tomas had just pulled a freshly baked loaf of bread out of the oven when he paused, looking at her with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, his voice casual, though Mary could see a glint of something—perhaps excitement, perhaps nervousness—in his eyes.

Before she could ask, he slipped out of the kitchen and disappeared down the hallway. Mary busied herself with arranging the meal when she suddenly heard a faint noise coming from below—almost like a door opening. She frowned, momentarily distracted by the odd sound. She stood up and walked over to the source of the noise, curious.

As she reached the basement door, she saw Tomas descending the stairs, carrying a basket filled with food. There was something strange about the way he was acting—he seemed unusually focused, almost as if he were on a mission. Mary’s heart fluttered with a mix of intrigue and suspicion. She hadn’t realized there was a door to a basement in Tomas’s apartment, let alone one that appeared to be leading to something ... hidden.

Tomas didn’t seem to notice she was following him until he reached the bottom of the stairs, where the light flickered on. As he set the basket down, he looked up and caught her gaze.

“Mary, I—” he started, but she was already standing at the top of the stairs, eyes wide with surprise.

“What is this?” she asked, her voice a little shaky. “Where are you going? What’s down there?”

Tomas hesitated, realizing he could no longer keep the secret from her. He turned back toward her, a mix of nerves and excitement on his face.

“I was going to bring some food to the others,” he explained, but his words seemed incomplete, as if he were unsure how to explain the full truth.

“Others?” she repeated, confused. “What are you talking about?”

Tomas walked back up the stairs slowly and stood before her, his expression both apologetic and earnest. “There’s something you don’t know about me, Mary. About the people I’m involved with. It’s a community ... a secret one. But I think it’s time you know the truth. I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but I can’t keep hiding it from you.”

Mary’s brow furrowed, her confusion deepening. “What kind of community? What are you involved in?”

“I think it’s better if I show you,” Tomas said after a beat. “You’ve seen how I’ve been acting, how I’ve been distant. There’s a reason for it, Mary. It’s a big part of my life.”