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Double Take

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Chapter 94

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"Are you ready to turn in?" Richard asked Kori. It was only a bit after 9:00 PM, but they had a long day with an early start ahead of them.

Kori nodded. "Whenever you are ready."

"Why don't you go on ahead and get ready? I'm going to make sure the house is closed up for the night."

Kori gave him a shy smile and reached to him, squeezing his good hand. He held her gaze for a moment before drawing her body close. Hugging, touching was awkward with his wrapped right hand but Richard noted it was not due to residual misgivings. He'd explained his transgressions, he'd apologized.

Now they could finish healing and move forward.

Maybe with another woman it would be rehashed and he'd continue to pay for the mistakes he'd made, but Kori made it clear she wanted things to work out for them. Richard believed she wasn't the kind of woman who would rehash an issue over and over, to make him pay for his transgressions – that was too kind a term, she was far, far to generous - repeatedly placing him in a position to apologize, grovel, make amends. She knew that would leave him defensive, her forever resentful.

He may mean it when he said that he felt, at least at times, that he wasn't good enough for her but she had made it clear that she was there to stay and God, Richard wanted her to be. They'd taken a long enough time to get to where they were; he'd have to remember that.

Yes, with Kori the affection they shared and all they had gone through for all these year, for finding their way back to each other, they would get through this. Richard considered that perhaps they'd be even stronger for it as they moved forward.

He then felt a wave of nausea, not from the pain or a side effect from any medication, but due to remorse of his action with Barbara and what he could have lost, what he still could lose. Well, he needed time to get over his guilt... that couldn't be a bad thing.

Kori felt Richard's visceral... errr physical response as they embraced. Likely a combination of arousal and restraint and his injury she assessed. "Why don't I meet you upstairs? You can go up to bed first and I will do the closing up of the house and turning off of the lights."

Richard smiled but his discomfort showed to Kori. "Let's close up and head up together."

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As promised, Kori fluffed Richard's pillows and gave him numerous (if chaste) kisses as she arranged him in his bed. She'd made sure he'd had his pain meds, his arm was elevated and that his alarm was set. She'd made sure he was fine to get around once he'd had his medication, and then he went into the bathroom to change first. It wasn't that she ignored his plight, she just wanted to bring some lightness back to the situation. She read his cues and while she took her nursing duties seriously – she was a nurse after all – she was also being playful and acting like his girlfriend.

"Is there anything else I can do to make you more comfortable?"

"Yes, Kori there is."

"Name it."

"I need you to get in here a snuggle me."

"As I do not wish to sleep in the clothes I have on, I will need to change. I will be right back."

Kori fished into her bag for what she needed and went into the bathroom, changing her clothes, washing her face and brushing her teeth. Her cami and shorts were a new set she had ordered on line, the peach colored top was thinner and formfitting than she realized it would be and the way it was cut with a racer back it would look ridiculous with a bra on. Was it too much even after all their time together? It wasn't perhaps the most alluring thing she'd worn to bed, but unintentionally or not, it was more body conscious than she'd worn in awhile.

She brushed her hair out until it shown even more than it usually did as she considered her options. It wasn't meant to be provocative and it was all she had. She considered asking Richard for one of his t-shirts, but for all she knew he was already asleep. And if he were asleep, she might be up first and he wouldn't get a good look at what she had on.

"Kori?" Richard called out in question. She had taken a while getting ready for bed which she never did, and he was anxious to hold her, take comfort in her nearness.

So he wasn't asleep. "I will be right there Richard." She turned out the bathroom light and scurried to bed, all but diving into the big bed and under the covers, burrowing in next to her edge of the bed.

The little cami and short set did get his attention. The bounce did not go unnoticed nor was it unappreciated, not that he needed to more turned on by Kori than he was. He was used to tamping it down, but there were some times which were tougher than others... not that he'd act on things.

"C'mere."

Kori paused for a moment. Then, "Are you in pain Richard?"

"A bit, I'm sure the meds will kick in soon."

"You can take a second one, the directions say-"

"I don't need more medication, at least not yet. I'm getting a bit drowsy anyway. Just a couple minor adjustments and things will be perfect."

"Are you pillow not fluffy enough?"

"They are perfect," he responded with a chuckle, "care to share my pillow and see for yourself?"

"Is this 'the adjustment' of which you spoke?"

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"Let's give it a try. I need snuggles." He could hesitation. "Just snuggles, Star. Long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Kori shifted over in the bed, closing what had to be three feet between them, coming to rest next to his left side. He carefully wrapped his injured hand over her and she lay her head on his shoulder rather than the pillow. He wasn't going to complain.

Moments passed. He ached to touch her, hampered by his injured hand in a position to roam but unable to and his uninjured hand trapped between them. He dropped a kiss on the crown of her head. "Thank you for being here. Good night Kori."

"If you need me, you know who to call."

"Why do I feel that should be my line?"

Kori lifted herself on her elbow so she could look at him. "Hmm, perhaps... but relationships, caring for one another is mutual, is it not Richard? It is part of love."

"Yes. So as long as we're together, we'll be okay?" He offered a small smile.

Kori's smile was bright."Always."

Richard's smile brightened to match hers, something she knew he did rarely around anyone else "Yes, always."

Kori leaned in for a kiss. She smiled into Richard's lips as he rolled so they were side to side, their legs intertwined, his left fingers capturing her right ones between them.

He broke for a breath, panting, even though the kisses were intense in the shared sensuality. "I love you, Kori. So very, very much." He pressed his forehead to hers, not trying to hide his out of control breathing. He closed his eyes.

Kori stroked her thumb across Richard's palm, watching as his nostrils flared as he took in a sharp breath. His desire for her was melting her resolve; the injury fortunately stood in their way. It was certainly more than her outfit – he hadn't touched her and could have repositioned himself to be able to – it was more.

And it wasn't going to be discussed now. "Kori honey, the pain meds are finally kicking in. I'm crashing."

"Let me get you comfortable." Her words were unanswered as Richard's steady breathing of sleeps was distinguishable within seconds.

She was too energized to sleep. Kori lay side-by-side with Richard with fingers laced as he slept. She watched him for several hours thinking about their relationship, happy in her decision to stay together, and looking forward to the future. Everything would be fine as long as they were together, and they would stay together. It was going to work out, she knew it.

Finally Kori quieted her mind and relaxed, so she nudged Richard onto his back and snuggled onto his broad shoulder. She finally fell asleep very lightly for the several hours left before the alarm went off, when it was time to get up and go to the hospital for Richard's surgery.

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To be continued...

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