-Jason-Through some stroke of luck, I miraculously found my way to Joelle's place. Although I had encountered a delay in Frankfurt and missed my initial coach at the airport, I managed to catch another one just 30 minutes later. Eventually I'd found Joelle's place and called her to let her know I was behind her door. Things hadn't gone too well till now. She'd sworn at me for the first time ever and slapped me in the face, which was also a new one! What I didn't know was that things were about to get worse, much worse and my surprise visit would prove to be a somewhat of a flop on that particular evening.I can't say I didn't deserve to be slapped or sworn at. In an effort to avoid her calling me and picking up on my plan, I'd switched my phone off and didn’t switch it back on until I reached her place. She thought something had happened to me and when she saw me she'd sworn at me and slapped me in the face for scaring the life out of her. Eventually we went inside her apartment and
- Joelle -Bzzz Bzz… My phone buzzed. “I’m downstairs. Take your time,” he told me. I smiled. He really had no clue I was behind him. My hormones were telling me to flirt, my ego was telling me to stay composed. My hormones won. “I know, I’ve been ogling your back for the last five minutes or so,” I texted back. Holy cow! I thought as soon as I hit the send button. He turned around, looked in my direction and smiled. He grabbed his glass and headed towards me. That dimple whiped off any ounce of anger I might have still had. What the heck was in that wine, I thought. “Hey,” he told me as I stood up. We kissed on the cheeks and sat down. “Looking good Madam Zammit,” he told. Are you using Kevin’s lines? I wanted to tell him but instead told him he wasn’t looking too shabby himself. He flashed me a shy smile. When did he learn to be so charming? My hormones were in a frenzy and I hoped he hadn’t picked up on it. It was hard not to, I flirted shamelessly all evening. ******** - Jason
- Joelle -He had left me breathless. We laid there draped into each others arms. I think neither of us dared to speak. He had been amazing. Then again I didn’t have anyone to compare him to. Up until that evening I had been a virgin and I wondered if he’d noticed or if he knew. I had wanted my first time to be with him but I had no idea what had gotten into me that evening. I certainly didn’t think I would end up in bed with him the first time we kissed. What the heck had I been thinking. Then again, he wasn’t some random guy I’d just met. I felt like I’d known him all his life. I looked at him and he seemed pensive. I would have given anything to get a glimpse of his thoughts. He rolled on his side as I turned to look at him. “That was amazing,” he told me, his voice filled with sincerity. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted this and how many times I’ve thought about it,” he continued. I couldn’t help it. “You have no idea how perverted that sounded,” as I burst into laughter. “
- Joelle -I woke up to the delicious smell of toast and the sound of sizzling bacon. The bed was empty and cold. It seemed Jason had been up for a while. I got out of bed, following the enticing smells, and made my way towards the kitchen. There he was standing at my stove frying bacon shirtless. The smell was divine and the view heavenly. “That’s not a very smart move,” I told him. Frying bacon shirtless… what was he thinking? I quickly opened one of the drawers and retrieved one of my dad's t-shirts. Over the years, my dad had accumulated spare clothes at my place due to his frequent issues with lost luggage. I handed the t-shirt to Jason, who eyed me suspiciously before putting it on. He was a size larger than my dad, and the material stretched over his chest and back. I pulled him from his flanks and kissed him. “I might just hide your passport and keep you here under lock and key, I’m sure nobody would notice,” I told him. He smiled and kissed me back, then resumed tending to th
- Joelle -He moaned as I massaged his head, and his moaning turned me on. He turned around and kissed me and I found myself moving my hands all over his upper body. He left me breathless. My hands wondered further down as I stroked his shaft. He nibbled my ear, then went down to my neck and found the perfect spot. He held my head with one hand and played with my breasts with the other as he sucked and nibbled on my neck. I ached for him down there and he knew it. He moved his hand in attempt to slide a finger inside me. “No, I want all of you,” I whispered in his ear. He smiled. He lifted me up with one hand as I wrapped my legs around him. He guided his shaft inside me and I let out a moan as I whispered his name. This was amazing. He held me with one arm as he placed the other against the shower wall and trusted in and out somehow finding the perfect rhythm. It wasn’t long before I dug my fingers in his arm and he knew I was about to climax. He let go and we climaxed together. Aft
- Joelle -The final week before my return to Malta was a whirlwind of activity. With only three days between the end of my contract and my departure, I had numerous loose ends to tie up and people to see. My colleagues had kindly organized a farewell party for me, although it meant sacrificing valuable time for running errands. Thankfully, Kevin arrived a week before my flight and, as had become customary, he stayed with Aksel. Their relationship had grown increasingly serious, and it was heartwarming to witness Kevin finding someone who respected him and allowed him to be his authentic self in public. While Kevin was open about their relationship here, I suspected that very few people back home knew about Aksel. The fact that he hadn't even disclosed it to Jason, a close friend, concerned me. I empathized with Kevin's hesitation but hoped Aksel would be understanding if the truth ever came out. On the third day of his visit Kevin called me. He apologized for not calling earlier but
- Jason -What was I missing in the whole sitauation? I was aware nothing romantic was going on between Aksel and Joelle, if it had, she wouldn’t have answered my call while he was there, but it pissed me off that he was there in the first place. They were obviously close, otherwise he wouldn’t have been there helping her pack! And what was the deal with Kevin? Ever since she’d moved there they had become the best of friends. There were moments before Joelle and I started seeing each other when I felt replaced. I felt like I had lost my best friend to one of my other close friends. She had become closer to him than to me. Admittedly though, I had been in a relationship at the time and I myself had restricted contact. He appeared quite comfortable around this Aksel guy too. I assumed he knew what his role in her life was. I made a mental note to ask him about him the next time we met over a beer…. Rephrase…. I made a note to interrogate him about him the next time we met over a beer.
- Jason -“That was delicious,” Joelle said as she licked her fingers. She’d eaten an entire Ftira with tuna, olives and marinated vegetables. “I’d forgotten how much I missed this,” she continued as she sipped her cola. She looked at the time. “Right, I need to run. I’ll meet you guys here as soon as I’m done,” she told us, planting a tender kiss on my lips before setting off at a brisk pace. I watched her until she was out of sight. Then turned to Kevin. “Things seem to be going well between you,” he told me. I nodded. “Rumor has it you’re a jealous guy,” he continued. “Now wait a minute…” I interrupted. He lifted his eye brows as he sipped his beer. “Is this about Aksel?” I asked him. “Hmmmm…. Yes!” he answered. “Who is the dude anyway?” I asked trying to sound less interested than I was. He took another sip, pausing for a moment before answering. “Let’s put it this way,” Kevin said. “He has absolutely no interest in Joelle. Zero. Nothing. Nada. At least not in THAT way,” he emph
Joelle"So where does this leave us?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, as I took slow sips from my cup of coffee. "I don’t know," I replied, the words slipping out hastily, carrying the weight of my own confusion. "Us." The word echoed in my mind, carrying a weight that stretched far beyond its simple letters. Could there truly be an "us"? The past weeks had woven a tapestry of emotions, where he had become a haven, a sanctuary in the midst of my chaos. Each visit to him had turned into a lifeline, a respite from the challenges of reality. But was he more than that? Or was he merely that, an escape, a temporary refuge from my troubles? I felt butterflies in my stomach every time I was about to meet him. It was a familiar sensation, one that had surfaced years ago, igniting my memories and emotions. Without thinking further, I looked into his eyes, closed them, leaned closer to him and kissed him. He didn’t push me away and reciprocated. At that moment in time, it f
Chris Joelle's cheeks flushed as my words hung in the air like a bridge between the past and the present. In that moment, time seemed to fold back on itself, carrying me to a place of memories and emotions long buried. As she blushed I remembered what a brilliant student she had been, how I’d been unexpectedly drawn to her, the kiss we had shared and the hell that came after that. I knew it was time to apologize to her. I knew I would like never get another chance. “Joelle, I need you to hear me out,” I told her. “I’m sorry for…” I implored, my voice tinged with sincerity. My intention to apologize hovered in the air, caught between the gravity of past mistakes and the possibility of healing wounds. But before my words could find their path, she silenced me with the gentlest of gestures—two slender fingers pressed softly against my lips. Our eyes met, a silent exchange laden with emotions. There, within the depths of her gaze, I glimpsed not only pain but also a reservoir of kindness,
I spent the next two days in self care mode. I took some time for me, something I hadn’t done in months, ever since I’d come back from Norway in fact. I organized my room, spent hours in the bath and I visited the hairdresser. I asked her to add a hint of purple to my hair, and had it cut considerably shorter. The change felt invigorating and revitalizing. After that I went for a long walk by the sea and simply sat there hearing the waves, and watching the occasional seagull. I found solace in the soothing sounds of the waves and the graceful flight of seagulls. It was a moment of tranquility, a chance to clear my mind and reflect on recent events. I thought about Jason, Norway and the previous night in the ER when Chris came in. I reflected on all that happened during the past six months. Up until a couple of weeks ago life had been good. Then I’d had that argument with Jason and my life flipped itself over. I realized that I had been so busy with work that I hadn’t really had time
- Joelle -The first patient came in and he was passed on to the first resuscitation room where my senior, another colleague and a team of nurses were waiting for him. As soon as the first patient was transferred, the second patient was wheeled on a stretcher in the second resuscitation room. “Get started Joelle, you’ve got this. I’ll be with you ASAP,” my senior shouted from the adjacent room. Right, I thought. This is my day. The day I prove I can do this. I saw the patient coming in and in spite of him being wheeled in fast I swear I saw it happening in slow motion. Everything seemed to slow down, despite the urgency. “Forty five-ish year old male, involved in a high velocity head on collision. A and B were stable at all times. I am suspecting a femur, right lower limb externally rotated and shortened. Right upper limb severely deformed, and bleeding. Tender at T4 and T5. Also tender left upper quadrant, possible splenic trauma. Hypotensive at 100/60, tachycardic with a pulse rate
- Jason -“That was delicious,” Joelle said as she licked her fingers. She’d eaten an entire Ftira with tuna, olives and marinated vegetables. “I’d forgotten how much I missed this,” she continued as she sipped her cola. She looked at the time. “Right, I need to run. I’ll meet you guys here as soon as I’m done,” she told us, planting a tender kiss on my lips before setting off at a brisk pace. I watched her until she was out of sight. Then turned to Kevin. “Things seem to be going well between you,” he told me. I nodded. “Rumor has it you’re a jealous guy,” he continued. “Now wait a minute…” I interrupted. He lifted his eye brows as he sipped his beer. “Is this about Aksel?” I asked him. “Hmmmm…. Yes!” he answered. “Who is the dude anyway?” I asked trying to sound less interested than I was. He took another sip, pausing for a moment before answering. “Let’s put it this way,” Kevin said. “He has absolutely no interest in Joelle. Zero. Nothing. Nada. At least not in THAT way,” he emph
- Jason -What was I missing in the whole sitauation? I was aware nothing romantic was going on between Aksel and Joelle, if it had, she wouldn’t have answered my call while he was there, but it pissed me off that he was there in the first place. They were obviously close, otherwise he wouldn’t have been there helping her pack! And what was the deal with Kevin? Ever since she’d moved there they had become the best of friends. There were moments before Joelle and I started seeing each other when I felt replaced. I felt like I had lost my best friend to one of my other close friends. She had become closer to him than to me. Admittedly though, I had been in a relationship at the time and I myself had restricted contact. He appeared quite comfortable around this Aksel guy too. I assumed he knew what his role in her life was. I made a mental note to ask him about him the next time we met over a beer…. Rephrase…. I made a note to interrogate him about him the next time we met over a beer.
- Joelle -The final week before my return to Malta was a whirlwind of activity. With only three days between the end of my contract and my departure, I had numerous loose ends to tie up and people to see. My colleagues had kindly organized a farewell party for me, although it meant sacrificing valuable time for running errands. Thankfully, Kevin arrived a week before my flight and, as had become customary, he stayed with Aksel. Their relationship had grown increasingly serious, and it was heartwarming to witness Kevin finding someone who respected him and allowed him to be his authentic self in public. While Kevin was open about their relationship here, I suspected that very few people back home knew about Aksel. The fact that he hadn't even disclosed it to Jason, a close friend, concerned me. I empathized with Kevin's hesitation but hoped Aksel would be understanding if the truth ever came out. On the third day of his visit Kevin called me. He apologized for not calling earlier but
- Joelle -He moaned as I massaged his head, and his moaning turned me on. He turned around and kissed me and I found myself moving my hands all over his upper body. He left me breathless. My hands wondered further down as I stroked his shaft. He nibbled my ear, then went down to my neck and found the perfect spot. He held my head with one hand and played with my breasts with the other as he sucked and nibbled on my neck. I ached for him down there and he knew it. He moved his hand in attempt to slide a finger inside me. “No, I want all of you,” I whispered in his ear. He smiled. He lifted me up with one hand as I wrapped my legs around him. He guided his shaft inside me and I let out a moan as I whispered his name. This was amazing. He held me with one arm as he placed the other against the shower wall and trusted in and out somehow finding the perfect rhythm. It wasn’t long before I dug my fingers in his arm and he knew I was about to climax. He let go and we climaxed together. Aft
- Joelle -I woke up to the delicious smell of toast and the sound of sizzling bacon. The bed was empty and cold. It seemed Jason had been up for a while. I got out of bed, following the enticing smells, and made my way towards the kitchen. There he was standing at my stove frying bacon shirtless. The smell was divine and the view heavenly. “That’s not a very smart move,” I told him. Frying bacon shirtless… what was he thinking? I quickly opened one of the drawers and retrieved one of my dad's t-shirts. Over the years, my dad had accumulated spare clothes at my place due to his frequent issues with lost luggage. I handed the t-shirt to Jason, who eyed me suspiciously before putting it on. He was a size larger than my dad, and the material stretched over his chest and back. I pulled him from his flanks and kissed him. “I might just hide your passport and keep you here under lock and key, I’m sure nobody would notice,” I told him. He smiled and kissed me back, then resumed tending to th