Saving Grace

Grace squinted her eyes repeatedly and slowly lifted her eye lids to embrace the sunlight but all she saw was darkness, a huge mass of darkness which was rock hard. She slowly shifted her head backwards and realized that it was Joshua’s chest. She gasped at the thin line of drool that settled on chest. Trepidation shot into her veins and her fingernails were instantly in her mouth. She reached to wipe it with her thumb but curiosity got the best of her. She couldn’t see him clearly the previous night because of the darkness but now she could.

His chest shone almost competing with the sun and she trailed her fingers over his chest. It was smooth and hard and at a point, she could hear his heart beat. Dirty thoughts flew into her head and her hand travelled farther. She unbuckled his belt gently and dipped her hand into his pants. She felt his morning wood through his boxers and stroked it with her hand. It was hard and she massaged it back and forth.

She heard Joshua stir and she immediately pressed her lips to his. It took a few seconds before Joshua responded, gliding his tongue into hers. Her hand was still clutching his morning wood, reluctant to let go. Joshua broke away from the kiss and pressed small kisses on her neck and instantly Grace removed her hold from his morning wood.

“Keep doing that.” Joshua pleaded as he guided her hand towards his morning wood but Grace slapped his arm away.

“I was just teasing you, consider that the best way to say good morning.” Grace laughed, pressing a soft kiss on his left cheek.

“Damn, you really are a crazy woman.” Joshua laughed aloud.

“Shouldn’t you be on your way, it’s 9pm.” Grace pointed at the wall clock.

She giggled as Joshua jumped down from the bed in a hurry and began to wear his shirt.

“Shouldn’t you take a bath before wearing that?” Grace asked.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Shut it, woman.”

And Grace laughed aloud.

“Won’t you give me a goodbye kiss before leaving?” Grace asked again, as Joshua made to leave.

“Dammit!” he responded, taking quick strides towards Grace and he pressed his lips to hers, grabbing her by the neck. He tilted her head and kissed her slowly, savoring everything in her mouth. Grace closed her eyes and drew him closer to her. Before he released her from the hot kiss, he kneaded her breasts with his free hand, circling her nipples. Grace knew that he wasn’t going to let go so she pushed him gently on the chest.

“Have a great day.” Joshua winked, giving her nipple a tight squeeze before he walked out of the door, bolting it behind him.

Grace felt tingles of warmth in her heart and she hugged herself. In the past two weeks, she had been loved, desired and cared for by Joshua. She smiled to herself and shifted her head on the pillow, his cologne still had a fresh smell on the bed. She reached out and gripped the sheets with her hands. She imagined the sheets to be Joshua and concluded one thing in her heart.

She wasn’t going to let him go.

The door opened once more and Grace squealed like a little child, expecting candy. She thought it was Joshua until when she saw black heels, heels that she could recognize in her sleep. She lifted her head and her eyes met with her mother’s. Her mother was wearing a white hugging dress and surprisingly, she had no makeup on.

“Grace darling, I came here to–” her mother began, advancing towards the rails of the bed.

“Get out!”

“But I came here to reason with you, my beautiful daughter. Just listen to–” her mother held the railings and held out her hand to cup Grace’s face but Grace shot up a arm and slapped her mother’s hand away before it reached her cheek.

“Get the hell out of here, Jane.” Grace yelled.

“Why are you calling me by my first name? I am your mother for goodness’s sake. Do you realize how hard it was for me to actually come here? You are so–” her mother started but paused, trying to suppress her anger.

“I am so what? Annoying? Stupid? Crazy?” Grace raised a brow.

“I never said that, Grace.”

“You said it yourself, I’m not your daughter and you are definitely not my mother so get out.” Grace shot her a death glare.

“Just listen to me, Grace.” Her mother repeated, gesticulating with her hands.

“Did you ever listen to me for once in your life?” Grace asked.

“No, but–” her mother started again but was interrupted by Grace.

“Get the hell out of here, Jane. I am warning you.” Grace screamed louder.

“When did you become like this? When did you become so harsh and wicked?” her mother shook her head in confusion.

“I guess I took after the woman who gave birth to me.” Grace replied icily.

“Grace, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

“Yes, it has to be this way. Get the hell out of here.” Grace shouted.

“I know my daughter well, she’s kind and she has a good heart. I may be a bad mother but you aren’t bad like me. Grace, I just need you to listen to me.” Her mother pleaded with tears threatening to fall.

“Are you deaf? Get the freaking hell out of here.” Grace repeated.

She watched as her mother walked out, slowly with obvious fear written all over her. Grace knew that her mother was tough but she had never seen her like this before. Her eyes were now misty and her vision was blurry.

Grace wiped away the tears from her eyelids and muttered, “Why am I crying? She deserved it. ”

But guilt overpowered her as she recollected the way her mother stared at her, it was like she was staring at another person entirely but Grace knew that it was too late to mend their broken relationship. It was too late to fix what was already broken.

*******

After several aching rounds around the hospital wards, Joshua flexed his muscles and squinted his eyes to look through the window. He then noticed a tap and walked towards it. On opening the faucet, he immediately bathed his face with water.

He then raised up his head slowly and turned off the tap. He checked his watch and shook his head. He wanted to see Grace by all means. Talking to her would take all the stress away from his body. He touched his lips and grinned. He wanted her lips. He looked at his groin, his morning wood was completely gone. Not even the young nurses whose backside could raise the dead from the grave could seduce him.

He began walking, his right hand holding his phone. He suddenly felt a hand blocking his path and he looked up to see Helen chuckling, with her left hand holding two boxes of pizza.

“Hey best friend.” Helen winked.

“Hey idiot.” Joshua winked back.

“I am not an idiot.” Helen objected.

“But you are, a cute one.” Joshua pinched her nose playfully.

“Are you hungry?” Helen asked, holding out the box of pizza.

“Yeah.” Joshua took a box of pizza.

“So let’s talk after you eat.” Helen suggested with a shrug.

“Alright idiot.” Joshua answered with a wink.

“Gosh, you’re so annoying.” Helen gritted her teeth.

“And you like me like that.” Joshua winked and turned back on his heels.

The smell of the pizza was do tantalizing that he nearly lost his senses.

He turned again and noticed that Helen was rooted on the spot where he left her.

“Thank you for the pizza. ” Joshua shook his head, embarrassed that he forgot to thank her.

“You’re welcome idiot. ” Helen answered and ran, her heels making annoying noises with the floor.

Joshua smiled to himself and watched as Helen ran like a child being chased by an adult. He glanced at the box of pizza in his hand and began walking.

In his heart, he knew his destination.

He was so focused on his phone that he didn’t notice he had bumped into someone. He then gasped on realizing that it was a woman, she was wearing a white gown and because of the intensity of the bump, she was already on the floor and her blond hair was disarranged, covering her entire face.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Joshua bent his knees and reached out to help her. As soon as she raised her head, Joshua flinched. He gulped on realizing that it was Grace’s mother.

“You!” she attacked him with her index finger.

“You are that crazy doctor.” She continued.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean those words. It was because you made your daughter cry.” Joshua explained.

“Guess what, my daughter just made me cry.” She yelled.

“What?” Joshua was confused.

“Just leave me alone.” She asked, rising up on her feet.

Her legs wobbled and Joshua held her hand instantly.

“Let go of me, you crazy doctor.” She commanded.

“You wanted to settle your misunderstandings with Grace, that’s why you are here right?” Joshua inquired, breathing heavily.

“That’s none of your business, young man.” She replied.

“What if I can talk to her? What if I explain what you want to reason with her?” Joshua continued.

“And why on earth would you do that?” she raised a brow while dusting her dress.

“It’s just a gesture.” Joshua lied. He already saw Grace’s mother as his mother in law already and he was willing to get on her good side regardless of how she might treat him.

“I don’t trust you.” She spat.

“You should, because I’m special to Grace.” Joshua stated, burying his hand into his pocket.

“Excuse me? What did you just say?” she tilted her head, anger evident in her voice.

“Nothing ma’am, I’ll go talk to her. Goodbye.” Joshua replied hastily and turned on his heels in without looking back. He knew he shouldn’t have said that. He could feel her burning gaze at the back of his head. He didn’t understand why he was nervous and soft towards her, probably because he felt sorry for her.

“Thank you.” Joshua heard her say and he stopped on track . He couldn’t believe it, so he examined her. She was smiling at him with admiration. He smiled to himself and continued walking.

He glanced at his watch and scoffed. With hasty steps, he ran towards Grace’s room.