No Safeword: Matte - Happily Ever After (Safewords) (22 page)

Sam interrupted. “No, it’s your house, too. You can invite people without asking me.”

“Even if he’ll be here a couple of months?”

She looked at him a few seconds before saying, “Okay, it would’ve been nice if you’d asked, but I’m still okay with it, if it’s what we have to do to get you ready.”

Ethan took off to drive her to the doctor, and they both watched the ultra-sound screen nervously, with no idea what they were looking at.

The doctor pointed out various things, but Sam had to take his word that the blobs meant she was healing but still had a ways to go. When he was finished and she was dressed, they talked in his office.

“I know you have a heated pool, and I think it’d be good for you to spend some time underwater and begin straining your lungs under pressure. You can also start to work on a good bit more range of motion in the water. Don’t attempt to freestyle just yet, but when you’re completely underwater you can work towards something approaching a breaststroke. Hold your breath and work up to what you used to do.”

Ethan asked him about taking her to his neuromuscular massage therapist in Atlanta, and the surgeon nodded approval. “I’ll send along some ultrasound pictures and notes, so he has an idea of what he’s dealing with. If he’s helped you work through injuries he should be able to help Sam, too.” He looked to Sam and added, “I know you aren’t using the pain meds very often, but you may want to consider taking them before he works on you. He’ll be able to get deeper and create more range of motion for you if you can stand to let him.”

“Can I start using weights to work out? How much can I push the range of motion?”

“I’ll send instructions to your physical therapist, and for now I don’t want you doing more than he shows you, except in the pool where you can work on a fully submerged breaststroke.”

“So, you’re going to let me work on up-and-down movements, but you don’t want me pulling my arm back too far, yet?”

He nodded. “Exactly. Your physical therapist will let you use weights in a couple of configurations, but it’s important you don’t go beyond what he says is okay.”

Overall, Sam was happy with the news as they left the doctor’s office. Ethan called and made an appointment for her late Friday afternoon with his massage therapist in Atlanta, and told her he’d drive her.

“There’s no sense both of us missing a half-day of work; I can drive myself.”

“You’ll be hurting when he’s done with you. Why don’t we make hotel reservations for Friday night and maybe do the aquarium or the zoo Saturday? Have some fun while we’re there?” Sam wasn’t convinced and he said, “Okay, how about I stay with you while he works on you, and then take you to the hotel so you can nap while I run by the office and give them a surprise visit? It’s nice to keep them on their toes, never knowing when the boss might make an appearance.”

Sighing in defeat, Sam nodded. She’d have to think of something to make this up to him.

* * * *

Ethan and the surgeon hadn’t been exaggerating when they talked about how bad this was going to fucking hurt. It felt like the massage therapist was scraping nerves with a frozen ice pick, and it was all Sam could do to stay relaxed under his onslaught.

“You’re doing great,” the therapist encouraged. “Breathe in through your nose, and blow it out through your mouth. Clean air in, tension out.
Excellent
.”

When the hour was up, Sam wasn’t sure her legs would support her to walk across the room. Ethan came in as she was staring at her shirt and wondering how she might go about getting it on.

“How are you feeling?”

“God, you’re a sadist for bringing me to him. I’m not sure I can walk.”

“I know it’s rough, but he works wonders with the rehab process.” He looked appropriately sympathetic, which was good, because Sam may have burst into tears if he’d looked any other way.

Ethan lifted her shirt. “Can I help you get dressed?”

Sam’s voice cracked, and she had to fight the tears trying to form as she said, “Please?”

“Let’s skip the bra, your blouse is thick enough you can get away with it, plus you’ll have your jacket on, and we’re only going to the hotel from here. Left side first…that’s it.”

He talked her through getting dressed and she let him, unsure of why she was so quick to capitulate, but Ethan answered her unasked question.

“He got the endorphins flowing, and those combined with the pain meds have you woozy. Not quite subspace, but not too far from it.”

Sam nodded her agreement, but had to wonder how bad she’d be hurting without the pain meds or endorphins.

“I’ll put you to bed and make sure you’re asleep before I go to the shop, and when I return and you wake up, we’ll make use of the room’s hot tub. I know you don’t believe me now, but it’ll feel better tomorrow and you’ll be able to move your arm easier.”

“If this helps then I’ll do it twice a week until I’m back to normal, no matter how bad it hurts.”

“I don’t think he’ll want to do it more than once a week. You need to heal between times.”

* * * *

Ethan was right; Sam had much better range of motion the next day, despite being sore from all the poking and prodding. The hot tub the night before had helped, and he’d insisted she get back into it again first thing this morning.

She braced for the usual pain when she donned her t-shirt after her shower, and was surprised when it went on easier, with half the pain.

“Explain this to me, please?” Ethan looked at her and she used her right hand to touch her shoulder. “Touching it hurts much worse than before he worked on it.” She moved her arm back, down, up, and forward — not terribly far, but a noticeably bigger range than yesterday. “And yet moving it hurts less?”

“He went deep, so there’s going to be some bruising and tenderness. But he manipulated the muscles, attachments, and nerves enough so they’re working in tandem now and not against each other. He also showed you where you’re holding onto the pain, as well as the tension and anxiety. You’ve stored it in the muscles for so long you’ve forgotten how to let it go, and he helped remind you.”

He rested his hand on the back of her good shoulder, and when she smiled he leaned forward and kissed her nose before adding, “You didn’t know specifically what you needed to relax until he poked and prodded every single muscle and attachment, to show you.”

* * * *

The two enjoyed the Aquarium, and then browsed through a few adult toy stores. When they came to a mannequin in an armbinder Ethan tried to walk her past it, but she stopped and made a point of looking at it.

“This is still the goal, you know,” she said without looking at him. “The bastard didn’t take this from us, just postponed it.”

Ethan turned her towards him and put a finger under her chin so she couldn’t look down. “If it never happens, it’s okay. We’ll find other things to challenge you, other ways I can push you when you’re ready. Maybe we’ll want to explore this eventually, but there’s no way I can even consider—” He broke off, pulled his hand away, and turned away from her.

Unsure of what to do, or even how to go about talking about it, Sam turned the other direction and moseyed down an aisle they’d already browsed. She couldn’t even begin to argue with him about being ready now, but she was determined to be sure he didn’t let it go. He wanted to see her in a single sleeve, and she wasn’t going to allow a bullet wound to keep it from happening.

Sam napped on the drive home, and was ready to move and expend some energy when they finally pulled into the driveway.

“I want to get in the pool,” she said as they got out of the car. “It’s the only place I’m cleared to work on pulling my arm over my head.”

He looked at the sky, then back at her. “It’s dark.”

He clearly didn’t want to swim, but she did. Using her calm, rational voice, she said, “There are lights under the water and outside the house.”

He rolled his eyes. “Fine, we’ll swim. Jerrod emailed me earlier today and I’d like to respond to him first, then I’ll meet you outside.” He pulled her to him. “Stay in the shallow end until I come out.” She nodded her agreement and he added, “After we swim, I can’t promise a full blown scene but you
will
bend over for me and take whatever I need to give you.”

Her blood pulsed and her heart sped. “Yes, Sir.”

He smile was cocky as he popped her on the ass. “Upstairs with you, weren’t you going to put your bathing suit on?”

She came back to herself, realized he didn’t want her now, and turned to go into the house. He popped her on the bottom again just before she stepped away, and she smiled as she hoped there’d be more spanking later.

* * * *

When Ethan finally came outside, she called out, “Look what I can do!” before floating to her back and resting both arms out to her side. She stayed in place about thirty seconds, and came up, excited. “It’s totally relaxed, out to my side! I can’t believe how much the massage helped!”

His smile went practically from ear to ear. “A little better every day, right? Some days it’s a lot better, some days it doesn’t feel like much, but whether you realize it or not, you get stronger and more flexible every day.”

She stood and raised her arms over her head. “It’s still pretty uncomfortable, but I think I can get them up enough to try a dive. I wanted to wait until you were out here, to be safe.” And because she’d agreed to stay in the shallow end. She was sure she’d be fine but Ethan worried about her, so she’d promised.

“Thanks for waiting. I know you think I’m being silly, but give me a little longer to be sure you’ll be okay swimming alone.”

“We can go downstairs now, if you want?” she asked. And Sam
wanted
.

“I believe you were going to attempt a dive, now that you can get your arms over your head?”

She rolled her eyes, blew him a kiss, climbed the ladder one handed, and walked to the diving board. It still hurt to raise her arm and she wasn’t certain she was ready for this, but she missed diving in and knifing her way through the water.

She walked to the end of the board and dove at an angle, so she could get away with having her arms more in front of her face than over the top of her head. It worked, and she stayed underwater until she reached the steps.

Ethan was there when she came up, and gently pulled her into a congratulatory hug. Sam had her right arm around his neck, her left down at her side.

“I’m going to hug you, promise to be careful?” she asked.

“Of course.”

She wrapped her left arm around his torso, and they stood, wrapped around each other, for an eternity.

When she finally pulled back, he ran his fingers under the strap of her bathing suit top. “I love seeing you in this bathing suit. Can’t wait to take you inside and get you out of it.” He reached for a noodle. “Show me your underwater breast stroke.”

She rolled her eyes at him, but didn’t call him a tease. She loved having this part of Ethan back.

“Dave,” Ethan said, as he opened the door and offered his hand. “I trust you had a good trip?”

“More layovers than I’d have liked, but not bad.” Jerrod followed Dave in, and he and Ethan gave each other a fist bump.

Ethan put his arm around Sam and said, “This is my wife, Sam.”

“Yes,” Dave said, “and apparently she wears the pants in the family?”

Sam was considering the best response when Ethan narrowed his eyes at Dave and said, “She wears pants, skirts, dresses, bathing suits — pretty much whatever she wants.”

Jerrod interjected. “Dave, stop trying to bait her.” He looked to Sam. “I’ve seen some of your films, and I’m impressed. I assume you’re just as good of an attorney and we have our work cut out for us in negotiations.” He looked at Ethan. “Before we start talking terms and timetables, you mentioned you have a gym area you thought would suffice for our needs?”

Sam followed the men downstairs and stayed in the background as they looked through the workout room and then moved to the garage, where Ethan had cleared out two bays and put mats down.

When Dave started talking specifics about the fight, Sam finally stepped forward and spoke. “Let’s move the discussion upstairs, if you don’t mind.”

Ethan smiled, stepped to her, and put his hand on the back of her good shoulder. “Sam will want to take notes and get organized. Plus, it’s a lot more comfortable in the house.”

As they walked back through the basement, Dave noted the fancy lock on the playroom door. “What’s behind the door?”

Ethan clapped his hand on Dave’s back and said, “If I wanted people to know, I wouldn’t have splurged for the lock.”

Sam had the distinct impression Ethan didn’t especially like Dave. She hadn’t reached her own conclusions about him just yet, but found it interesting her easygoing, laid-back husband seemed to dislike him.

Ethan went to get beer for the men and some water for her while the rest took a seat in the living room. Sam let the men choose their seats, one in an armchair and another on a sofa, before she chose the empty sofa. She sat a little to the side, so Ethan could sit beside her and they could form a unified front.

Her husband set the stage as he handed out the beer and said, “As I’ve already made clear, Sam will be part of my coaching team and will be heavily involved in strategy. I realize I’ll need a head coach familiar with this level of competition, and I’m pleased Jerrod feels I’m worth his time. However, if either of you have an issue working with Sam then we may as well stop before we begin.”

He was looking at Dave when he spoke, but Jerrod answered. “I told you before; I discovered her skills when I researched you, and I believe she’ll be an asset to the team. I am curious, though, why she helped Tom Thomason instead of you?”

Ethan sat next to Sam, and his look told her he wanted her to join the conversation, so she said, “I met Ethan backstage at the regionals, after the Friday night fights.” She looked up at Ethan and smiled. “He tried to hit on me, but I told him he was likely to be my friend’s competition.”

Ethan laughed. “Yeah, and I double-checked to see if she was there for a friend or a boyfriend.” He shook his head. “I asked her out after Sunday’s fight, and she turned me down
again
.”

Dave leaned back and placed his ankle on his knee, and Sam recognized it as a negotiation tactic, letting them know he was about to speak. “We can probably use some of this as promo, especially if Sam is around backstage, and if we can get some footage of her helping out with his training.”

He seemed to be feeling Sam out, so she smiled and said, “I know how it works. The more of a following you can get, the more TV cage time Ethan’s likely to see. He can probably get a huge following without me, but if my presence can get more attention I’m not opposed.”

Negotiations happened fast, and when they were over Sam had a grudging respect for Dave and was glad he’d be on Ethan’s side from here on out.

She looked over Jerrod’s proposed calendar for the two and a half months until the fight and shook her head. “I’ll be a lot stronger in ten weeks, but I may still need to pace myself during the week leading up to the big event. I don’t see a problem with being by his side for any of the rest of the weekend stuff, and it sounds like Jerrod will train him from here as much as possible during the week.”

* * * *

Having another person in the house took some getting used to. Jerrod was an excellent houseguest, but spontaneous sex was a thing of the past.

Sam was feeling a little left out by the second weekend. Jerrod rode a bike to follow Ethan on his morning runs, and Sam wasn’t up to steering a bicycle yet. She looked in on their afternoon training sessions, and was in the room a good part of the time riding the stationary bike, but didn’t have much to add during this part of training.

Ethan took her out for a nice dinner Friday night and asked how she felt about Jerrod staying with them.

“I knew things would change while you trained. It’s only nine more weeks.” She shrugged. “I like him, he’s a nice guy and a great coach. You’re lucky to have him and incredibly fortunate he’s willing to practically move here instead of making you uproot.”

“The bouts he’s preparing me for…you know if I win it’ll catapult me up in the ranks. Dave is talking about me making it to a pay-per-view special within the first eight months.”

His eyes were caring, compassionate, and she loved him for making sure she was okay with the direction he was heading.

Sam smiled. “It’s what you want and I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there like this. I told you before; I’ll do whatever I can to support you.”

He shook his head. “I feel bad about being away from you so much. We used to have time together while we ran.” He paused, considering. “You’re in the room, at least, for part of my evening training, but you aren’t part of it. It isn’t the same.”

“I’m working with Luca two evenings a week now anyway, and I’m hoping to able to run with you at least part of the time in the mornings, sooner rather than later.” She smiled. “I’m thinking when I get clearance, you can run a few miles and then make a circuit by the house and pick me up so I can run a mile or two with you.”

He returned her smile. “I can certainly do that. I have a surprise for you tomorrow, though.”

Sam loved the way his eyes twinkled, and she smiled and squeezed his hand. “You’re going to give me so many orgasms I pass out?”

“No, that’s after dinner tonight. Tomorrow, I’ve rented the two-person bike again, and we’re riding up Monteagle.”

“Jerrod’s on board with this?”

Ethan nodded. “He’s going to ride my bike, and if you’re pushing hard we may put him on front of the tandem bike so I can use my own power to climb the mountain.” Ethan leaned forward. “I don’t trust anyone else to pilot you back down the mountain though, so we’ll get to enjoy the wild ride down, together.”

“So, if I’m dead weight you’ll carry me up, if I’m pushing hard you’ll let me carry Jerrod while he steers?”

“Something like that. Are you okay with Jerrod steering? I’ve watched him ride for the past two weeks while I’m running, or I wouldn’t trust him with you.”

“Sure.” She hesitated, unsure if she should bring up her doctor’s appointment and her own frustrations while Ethan was in the middle of getting himself ready for such a huge event.

His thumb rubbed over her hand as his fingers gave a small squeeze. “What is it? You know we have to keep communication open. I feel like I’m being selfish, changing our dynamic the way I have—”

Sam interrupted. “No, you aren’t being selfish. If I had this kind of opportunity I know you’d be behind me.” She shrugged. “Who knows, once I’m back to one hundred percent, maybe I’ll try to get into the women’s division.”

Ethan smiled. “That’s right, they opened it up last year and it’d be the perfect venue for you.” He rubbed his thumb over her hand again. “You still haven’t told me what’s bothering you.”

“Not bothering me, I just didn’t want to bring the conversation down by talking about my doctor’s appointment next week, but I kind of want to talk about it because I’m hoping I’ll finally get the all-clear.”

“Jerrod’s been impressed with your drive. He’s mentioned it a few times on my morning runs.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You may not see your progress day to day, but watching you from a distance, seeing what you could do last week versus what you’re doing this week — it’s impressive.”

“I still have a long ways to go, but…thanks. I guess I needed to hear it.”

“I’ll go into work early Tuesday, leave in time to pick you up and take you to the doctor, and then I’ve taken the rest of the day off. If you get the all clear we’re going to celebrate by going to the indoor rock climbing gym. If you don’t, your consolation prize will be the afternoon and evening in the playroom.”

Sam was touched he’d made plans for the day, but remembered something she’d meant to bring up. “Jerrod doesn’t have any ridiculous ideas about not having sex while you’re training, does he?”

“He hasn’t mentioned it, but I like to refrain for a week to ten days before a fight.”

“I can handle a week, but ten weeks?” She smiled. “Sorry, I’d have to draw the line.”

As promised, Ethan gave her orgasm after orgasm after orgasm a few hours later. They locked themselves in the playroom and stayed until morning.

When they came upstairs to breakfast, Jerrod was cooking steak and eggs. “I haven’t inquired about the locked room because Dave seemed to tick you off by asking, but you’ve gotta know I’m curious.”

“And curious you shall stay.” Ethan said.

Sam decided to change the conversation. She didn’t want Jerrod knowing anything about their playroom.

“What’ve you been doing with your days, Jerrod? I know you’re on your laptop a good bit, but I can recommend some spots with nightlife if you want to get out and have some fun in the evenings.”

He shook his head. “I researched some hiking trails, and have spent a good bit of time in the woods while Ethan’s at work. I’ll probably take in the Aquarium and a few other touristy places at some point, but I have no interest in going out at night.” He looked at Ethan. “We have early mornings during training.”

When they hit the mountain, Sam’s goal was to pedal hard enough for Ethan to put Jerrod on the bike with her.

A quarter of the way up, Ethan noted Jerrod slowing behind them and suggested they swap. Once the switch was made Sam tried hard to keep up with Ethan, though she realized he was likely slowing for them.

When they made it to the top Ethan pointed them towards a restaurant. They chained the bikes out front and went in.

“Your wife pretty much carried us both up the last mile or so of the mountain,” Jerrod told Ethan. “I know she’s in no condition to consider organized fights right now.” He shifted his gaze and looked into Sam’s eyes. “But if you weren’t recovering I’d be interested in taking you on, too.”

“You haven’t even seen me fight.”

“I’ve seen clips from the past, and I’ve seen your drive since I’ve been here. It’s a moot point right now, but something to consider for the future.”

They ate, practically flew back down the mountain, put the bikes in the back of Ethan’s truck, and made their way to turn the rental bike in before heading home.

Jerrod declined their offer to swim at first, but Sam said, “If we want time alone we’ll tell you, or we’ll just disappear for a while. If we invite you to swim with us, we mean it.”

“Fair enough.”

Sam swam her laps and pushed as hard as she dared. She was using her right arm to massage the back of her left shoulder when Jerrod stepped behind her and said, “Allow me?”

Sam moved her right hand away, motioned for him to go ahead, and he used two thumbs and one pointer finger to make her shoulder go completely numb.

She closed her eyes and groaned, and heard Jerrod say, “You don’t mind? I hope?”

She opened her eyes and saw an odd look on Ethan’s face, and realized he might not be okay with Jerrod touching her.

“He apparently knows what he’s doing,” she told Ethan. “I pushed a little harder than I should and he seems to know exactly where to apply pressure to make it better.”

Ethan smiled and looked at Jerrod. “If Sam has a problem with what you’re doing she’ll let you know. She also knows what I’ll take issue with, so if she says it’s okay…go with it.”

He seemed fine, but Sam needed to be certain. “You weren’t sure at first. What’s up?”

“Just caught me off guard.” He shook his head. “As someone who hasn’t known you long, it seemed odd, but as a coach who knows how to relieve pain? It’s perfectly normal.” He looked to Jerrod. “If you want to help her while you’re here, I’m grateful.”

Jerrod had been moving his thumb in a line along the muscle, and when he made it to the tendon he let up pressure before he reached the bone, and stepped away.

“I’ve watched you work on range of motion,” Jerrod told Sam, “and I don’t want to step in until the doctor gives the all clear, but while I have Ethan working on drills next week I can show you some exercises I think’ll help.”