8. Grey

Her voice is sopeaceful and relaxing that I don't remember falling asleep and not sure what woke me up. Good thing is my headache is totally gone, and I thank God 'cause it was a really bad one. Hit me without warning. If I can feel one coming, I pop a pill as quickly as possible to stop it from getting out of hand and bringing me to my knees.

Feeling something on my arm, I go to push it off when I realize it's long hair. What the hell is Spirit doing in bed with me? Maybe she was worried. Then the soft smell of flowers and fruit hits my nose, and that's when I realize it's not Spirit but Abigale next to me. She's curled toward me, that's why her hair is on my arm. How the hell did we end up like this? Please don't tell me we, well shit, don't want to know if we did it because if we had sex and I don't remember it at all, I'll be so pissed at myself.

"Calm down, Grey, we didn't do it. God, just like a guy, a woman is in their bed and automatically they think with their sex brain. I was worried and thought if I lay down beside you, maybe you'd be able to fall asleep, which you did. But so did I, so that's how I ended up in bed with you. I'll get out of your hair. Need anything before I leave?"

Reaching out, I grasp on to her lightly, though enough so she knows I don't want her to leave. Feeling my hand, she stops getting up and falls back into the bed, her hair whispering all over me. The smell of berries fills my nose. It's so refreshing and light, I immediately fall in love with it. Not a surprise as I really like everything there is about Abigale Styeeks.

"Stay, Abigale, please? After one of those migraines everything is foggy and I hate being alone. Thanks for helping me out, though if I remember correctly, Spirit kind of pushed you into it. Sorry she's a force of nature to say the least."

"Actually, no, she didn't. I finally pulled on my big girl panties and took a shot. It helped you weren't one-hundred-percent so you couldn't push me away like you always do."

Shocked she thinks I'd do that; it dawns on me that's exactly what I've been doing since we got here. If not shoving her away, I was being a plain old grouchy bastard. Only with her, not Trudy or the two kids. And she realized it and thought it was her fault. Yeah, total asshole.

"Abigale, it's not you. I've got some issues and, apparently, it seems that I've been taking them out on you. Woman, I'd be lucky if you shared that gorgeous smile with me any day of the week. I'm a bear on a good day so don't go taking on my bullshit. Push back, don't let me bulldoze ya 'cause I appreciate all you've done. Hey, wait a minute, was that you singing to me? You did Jelly Roll, right? Damn, you got one sweet voice, Abigale."

I look down to see she's grinning. Good, don't want her to feel like she's done something wrong 'cause she hasn't.

"So now what? It's been forever since I actually wanted to spend time with a woman and get to know her. So what do we do? Play truth or dare or make something like twenty questions? Or don't folks do that anymore? Been out of the market for a long time, just letting you know. And seems like my achy foggy head has loosened my mouth. Didn't even ask if you're interested in a get-to-know."

"Grey, don't do that. You know I'm interested as I've given you some pretty obvious signs and clues. It's you who was closing—nope, slamming—the door on me. So since you were the big jerk, I get to ask all the personal nosy questions first."

As Abigale starts shooting off question after question, it dawns on me that Spirit set me up. And next time I see her, got to first sincerely thank her then make sure she knows how much I owe her. Something shifted with this last migraine, not sure what, but I'm sick of being alone. It can't hurt if Abigale and I get to know each other. Worst case, we could end up being just friends. Can't have too many friends or that's what my therapist is always trying to tell me. Since we've been staying here, I've had two Zoom calls with my therapist. One thing I can't stop doing is my therapy, so Ollie figured out a way for me to continue with it without driving to Billings.

Not sure how long we've been going back and forth with our questions game, but I know Abigale's favorite color is turquoise. She loves all the seasons but especially winter, which is good living in Montana. Her dad died when she was a teenager from cancer. Trudy met her second husband when Abigale went to college. Guess it was a pretty bad relationship from the little Abigale shared, but she's glad she got something good from it. Her half siblings. Well, she calls them her brother and sister. She's thirty-one turning thirty-two in a few months. Never married and when I asked why, she smirked. She said something about being a brainiac and guys not really goin' for that type. Well, shit, she graduated high school early, was accepted into college, got her bachelor of science degree than went on further for her master's.

When it was my turn to answer one of her questions Abigale listened fully to me. Never interrupted or asked questions, just let me speak. She has a way about her that draws me to her. I've shared more with her than with anyone since I came to Timber-Ghost, Montana. Well, except Ollie, I've told him just about everything. And now I'm doing the same with Abigale. I've just finished telling her about my last mission, the men we lost and my personal injuries.

"Hey, I know it's a lot, don't worry, Abigale. I'm blessed, as just about a third of my team didn't return from that last battle. That's what gets me through on a bad day or days. I'm learning how to deal with life in general and my situation and limitations. All I can do is keep pushing along. As a way to honor all of those men and women who didn't return like I did."

When she reaches over and grabs my hand, I intertwine our fingers together and we lie like this, neither of us wanting to break the peaceful feeling between us. This is the last thing I remember before I fall asleep and for the first time in a long time, I sleep without nightmares or fears of one haunting my unconscious mind.

My hand is squeezingsomething soft with a hard tip. Shit, I have Abigale's tit in my hand and it's been there a while if her tight nipple is any evidence. Her breath is shallow too.

"Damn it, Abigale, I'm so sorry…."

"Don't say that, Grey. Please just stop. Probably not what ends up in your bed, normally, but this is something for me. Let me get up so I can go to my room now."

Again, I fucked up with this woman. Pulling my hand back, I grab her shoulder so she's flat on her back on the bed. Then I lean over her, looking into her eyes, which makes me realize someone—probably her turned—the bedside lamp on low. Those hazel eyes are watching everything I do so I softly press my lips to hers briefly. When I lift, she follows me so I again kiss her with a bit more pressure, still closed-mouth. When her arms wrap around my neck, I press small kisses all over her lips before pulling up.

"Let's make a promise not to jump to any more conclusions about each other. We're doing it all the time, which shows our inexperience in relationships. One day, no…one hour at a time. Now I'll let you up if you truly want to go to your room, but I'd love for you to stay. To sleep, I mean. I like having you in bed with me. I don't know how long I slept but it's the best sleep I've had that I can remember. You fit so well in my arms, woman. For some reason, I feel at peace when I'm with you, though that's not the only reason I like being around you. For one, you're gorgeous from the top of that pretty head of yours to those long legs and elegant feet you tend to hide beneath thick socks. You have the cutest laugh and can give a look to kill. Or a look showing me how much you like what you see."

She tries to move her head, though I won't let her. I nibble on her lower lip and she sighs and relaxes.

"Abigale, are you with me on this or did I just make a total jackass of myself? You've been pretty quiet, so please don't keep me hanging. Give it to me honestly, but give it to me, woman."

At first nothing, then she giggles before she lifts her head and kisses me. I take over and we spend the next couple of minutes plain old, closed-mouth kissing. I get the feeling Abigale hasn't been with many men and I'm not complaining, so don't want to rush her. When I pull away, she hangs on to my arms, her eyes sparkling, and her lips swollen and pink.

"So let's try and get some sleep. We can pick this up in the morning."

"Grey, are we picking up on our questions or the kissing? If I get a vote, I choose the kissing."

Chuckling, I shift back down and she rolls to her side, putting her back to my front. I spoon behind her, though not too close, as I can feel my dick is not only hard but leaking too. It's been way too long, but this woman in my arms trusting me is worth the wait.

"Night."

"Good night, Grey, sleep good."

With that I wait until I feel Abigale relax toward me and her breathing is steady. Then I let myself fall into a deep sleep, my arms wrapped around a beautiful woman, her smell surrounding me. These are my last thoughts before sleep takes over again with her close by.