Book Two: Fear and Love.

“Doctor! Doctor! I think something is wrong with her." The machine by the bedside continued to beep loudly. Henry was conflicted; he couldn’t figure out if he wanted to stay by her side or go call the doctor. Beads of sweat etched on his forehead trickled down his face, although the room was perfectly ventilated. Henry hit the alarm button so hard that it broke in two, but not before the loud noise filled the hallway; he could hear it from inside. He stared into Ashley’s terrified face. Her blue eyes were motionless orbs as they bore into his, and her eye sockets were deep, baggy, dark circles around her eyes. Her stare was cold as death; it made his skin crawl. She clutched on to him so tightly that if she wasn’t so frail and weak, his bones would have snapped. He would have been terrified of her if he wasn't so in love with her. Her whole frame shook violently. She was merely held back by the tubes put in place by the doctors. Henry glanced at the door frantically; no one had come through.

“I need help!” He screamed in a loud voice, and he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. His dark locks were sticking out at odd angles. “Someone help me! Please!”

A loud sob filled the room suddenly, and he turned to see it was from Ashley. The violent shudders had ceased. Her eyes were still soulless orbs as tears trickled down. She relaxed her grip on him. He stared at her at that moment, and his heart ached. Her golden blonde hair lacked the luster it usually had. It was shriveled. Her skin was paler than ever. He began to sob as he pulled her closer for a tight hug. They remained in each other’s arms for a moment before he slowly let go of her. He rushed towards the doors, pried them open with a force that threatened to tear them from the hinges, and peered out. The hallway was cleared out. There was no indication of anything. No people; no desks or waiting chairs; no gurneys carrying sick and injured people. There was no sign that it was a hospital; there was no sign of life. He stared in utter confusion. When he looked back at Ashley. He noticed she was in an awkward position. Panicked, he crossed the distance between them in a few strides. She was unmoving; he placed a finger under her nose, but he couldn’t feel her soft breath against his skin. He felt for her pulse; there was nothing.

There was a short pause before it came over him. Everything came with a force so strong that he could feel his heart shatter into many pieces.

“Ashley!” His voice was croaking, laden with unshed tears. “Wake up, Ashley!” He stared at the door hopelessly, knowing there was no one to come to their aid. He shook her body hard in a hopeless attempt to rouse her. When she wouldn’t budge, he slowly let go of her and dropped to the ground. His arms wrapped around himself in a hug, his frame racked violently, and he let out a loud, doleful wail. His sadness and grief filled the room and echoed in the deserted hallway. He stared at his beloved in death, wishing someone would wake him up from this ugly dream. This was not the woman he was in love with; how could he live without her?

“Babe...babe...”

He couldn’t hear the voice calling out to him at first.

“Henry...”

He looked up. It sounded like it was coming from a distance at first.

“Babe...”

His eyelids fluttered open as he felt soft lips press against them, and his tongue darted out and licked his lips. He could hear a soft giggle from a toddler and a woman—his woman. He slowly adjusted his gaze to the well-lit room. Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows. His confused face turned into a wide smile when he saw Ashley clad in a peach satin sleeveless dress that stopped high on her thigh. The color was a beautiful contrast against her skin. The sun's rays cast a beautiful glow on her long, golden blonde hair. It was let loose and cascaded down her back. Her blue eyes, like the beautiful skies, gleamed as she stared at him. Dimpled cheeks accentuated her pretty smile. She had Asher on one hip, and Asher was beaming with smiles as he stared back at her. Henry’s smile faltered as he remembered the dream he just had. He got up with a start and pulled them into a bear hug.

“Are you okay?” Ashley asked softly. “You gave me quite a scare when you wouldn’t budge.”

Henry reluctantly pulled away. His hands roamed her body. Ashley giggled in excitement. “Stop it, Henry; it’s ticklish."

He sighed deeply and kissed her hands fervently. She noticed the sad look in his eyes. She placed Asher on the bed, and he hurriedly rushed towards his father. Henry planted a kiss on his forehead. Her hands cupped his face as she held his gaze. “Are you okay?”

He shut his eyes, and a huge sigh escaped his lips. “I had the worst dream; for a moment I thought it was real. "I had... I had... lost you.” His eyes watered immediately, and his lips quivered. He took deep breaths.

She leaned forward and placed her head against his. “Babe, that’s all in the past. I promise you, that is over.”

His grip on her tightened. “I cannot lose you, Ash; my world would have no meaning without you in it."

“I cannot lose you either, Henry.” She shook her head. "Thankfully, that won’t happen ever.” She squeezed his hands. “I am here. Asher is here, Adrian is here, and we will all be here.”

He nodded, and his lips slowly curled into a smile. "Yes, of course you are here, and you will always be mine.”

She flashed him the diamond ring on her finger. “This gleaming diamond agrees.” The smile on her face widened, and there was a hint of pride in her voice.

He chuckled before nuzzling her hand. “It sure does. You’re mine, you’re going to be my wife.” As he said the words out loud, it seemed unbelievable to him. He was going to be married to the most amazing woman he knew. He got out of bed and picked her up in bridal style.

She yelped, startled. They had taken a couple of steps before he spun around. “Asher”

When they turned around. Asher was pouting, his arms folded. Henry chuckled at the expression on his face. Ashley got down from Henry’s hold and walked up to Asher. She stifled the laughter. She picked him up and kissed him affectionately. “Pay no attention to your father, my boy.”

Henry watched them in amusement. She was perfect—everything he wanted and more. His life was perfect, and he was thankful for it.

***

Their pleasured screams filled the air as they rode off the last moments of their orgasm. Her fingers dug into his back, and she let out a high-pitched moan. Adrian let out a deep breath before collapsing next to her. His hand was tucked underneath his head. "God! I do love you,” he uttered after a moment, disbelief clear in his voice.

Stephanie chuckled. “Maybe if you tell me some other time, not when you just had an orgasm, I might believe you."

Adrian grinned, and his fingers lightly caressed her arm. “Why don’t you believe me?”

She turned to him. Her expressive brown eyes peered into his green ones. She shrugged. “I don’t know, something about you telling me not to fall for you because you are a playboy on our first night out...”

Adrian shut his eyes and groaned aloud. “I wasn’t supposed to say that, and things have changed since then. In my defense, I was so nervous on our first date that I took alcohol before coming." He gawked at her naked body absentmindedly. “A lot has changed since then.”

She chuckled. “You are hilarious, Adrian,” she said, touching the tip of his nose. Adrian grabbed her hand before she got out of bed. “Come on...” He whined in a childlike voice.

“You know I would be late for my shift at the station."

“Fuck the station. I told you, you don’t have to do that anymore. Not ever...”

She leaned toward him. “While that seems like a really tempting idea, you know why I need to do this.”

He opened his mouth to speak.

She raised a finger. “And before you say it, I know you can take care of me. I just don’t want to be dependent on you for everything. I need to be able to...” Her lips curled into a smile. “Why do you have that look on your face? What are you thinking about?”

He bit his lower lip. “I am like, damn! I am in love with this woman.”

Her smile widened. When she stood to her feet, Adrian wailed aloud. “Do you really have to go today?”

“I do, Adrian. That's how you get paid at jobs.”

“Could you stay in today?" He pouted. "I want to cuddle you to sleep this night.”

“Saturday night?”

Adrian groaned in defeat as she sauntered into the bathroom. His eyes were fixated on her backside. His strong feelings hit him hard today, like they always did when he spent time with her. He had been taken by her the first time he saw her at the gas station. If Henry hadn’t gotten her number for him, he would have gotten it later. Unlike all the other girls he had hung out with. He realized it was harder with her. It took him a couple of weeks to call her, and he had embarrassed himself on their first date. It had never happened before, he was a smooth talker. Yet with her, he was unable to hold a simple conversation.

The door opened up, and his eyes darted towards her immediately. She let go of the robe that was draped around her. Adrian had his gaze fixated on the water droplets that trickled down her beautiful brown skin and her perky breasts that jiggled as she reached to tie her curly hair.

He bit down on his lips before letting out a groan. “Pretty please?”

She smiled at him as she put on her dress.

“It is going to be a lonely, cold night without you."

“You have Dino...”

He shot her a playful glare. “Would I ever hear the end of this?”

“I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that tough Adrian has a plush toy named Dino that he has had since he was a baby,” she teased.

“It hasn’t been that long." He whined. "You weren’t supposed to find out...”

She shrugged nonchalantly before leaning forward and capturing his lips in a short, passionate kiss. “Goodnight Adrian.”