Understanding You *Completed*

Twenty Four

Jocelyn groaned as she sat in the tub filled with hot water and epsom salt. Within the last two weeks Miles had been relentless.

They had sex before she went to work, during her breaks, when she got off. On her off days, the man seemed to jump her any chance he could get. Had she not put her foot down he'd have been right in the tub with her.

She had originally chalked it up to him wanting to make up for lost time, but something told her there was more to this newfound hunger for sex. Jocelyn wasn't complaining too much considering she eagerly agreed to his advances each time.

"Jocelyn?" Miles questioned outside the door with a soft knock.

"Yeah?"

"...can I come in?" He mumbled knowing exactly why she'd locked the door.

"If you can keep it in your pants." They shared a laugh while she stood from the tub and unlocked the door. Miles made himself comfortable on the floor next to the tub, his left hand skimming the bubbles while his right remained behind her head.

"Sorry," he chuckled before leaning forwards to peck her softly. The hand behind her head kept her lips pressed to his own as the peck turned into her shoving her tongue down his throat.

Just as he dipped his hand between her thighs, Jocelyn pulled her head back. "You think you're slick, huh?"

"A man can try." He laughed before kissing the corner of her mouth and pulling back.

"How are you feeling?" Jocelyn questioned. So far they'd only experienced occasional migraines, double vision, and a changing appetite.

"I'm good actually. I haven't felt any energy differences but those migraines are killer." He groaned as he remembered the last incident.

Sometimes they were so bad Jocelyn had to leave the penthouse to give him absolute silence. It pained her to know she couldn't do anything but be there for him.

"I'm sorry, baby." She cooed as she rubbed her hand through his hair. "Have you asked your doctor if there's anything you can have for pain management?"

"They're just going to give me opioids. I'd rather just deal with it." He shrugged as he drew along the surface of the water. "Are you sure I can't come in?"

"Miles, you horny bastard! Get out." She laughed as she swatted away his grabbing hands.
...

Jocelyn hurriedly ran downstairs at the sound of a large crash, her heart raced and she nearly slipped on the stairs. "Miles!"

"I'm okay! I just dropped the food." His voice fell off into a sad grumble. Jocelyn rounded the corner into the kitchen to see a large casserole dish filled with food shattered across the oven and floor.

He was cradling his hand and Jocelyn felt relieved to know he was okay. "Let me see. What happened?"

"I didn't think it would be that hot. I just put it in there like 5 minutes ago." He groaned as she eyed the redness growing along his palm.

"It's a 400 degree oven, Miles." Pulling out a cup, she got ice from the fridge before putting it in a ziplock and wrapping it in a towel. "Here."

Placing it on his hand, he sighed at the cooling feel of the ice. "What would I do without you?"

"Clean this up." She laughed before returning upstairs.

Jocelyn couldn't help but expect the worst each time something happened. The smallest of incidents that would have normally been brushed off now sparked fear in her core.

Was he experiencing delirium or was it truly an honest mistake? Chills ran across her skin but she shook it away. No matter what, she was in it till the end.

Once dressed, she checked her phone to see a call from Annie. "Hey, sorry I didn't even hear my phone ring."

"That's okay. I hardly answer my phone on off days either." The woman laughed.

"Is everything alright?" Jocelyn questioned since they rarely spoke outside of the office.

"Oh! Yes, of course. I was just calling to let you know about your vacation days. You haven't used any since 2018 and you know they roll over. You've got about 200 under your belt."

"I know. I just feel like it's a disservice to my clients if I'm taking days and days off at a time." Jocelyn shrugged as if the woman could see her.

"Well, we still have Lauren and I here. We can split your case load just like you'd do for us. Jocelyn I've never seen someone work as hard as you do. You deserve some time to yourself."

She was right. Jocelyn couldn't remember the last time she truly had time to herself outside of an off day. Maybe she could take time off to be with Miles.

"Just think about it, hun. Whenever you're ready you say the word and it's done." Annie dismissed before they hung up.

"Jocelyn!"

"Yeah?" She yelled back as she slipped on a pair of socks.

"Can you bring me my phone?" He yelled back. She navigated her way to the device sitting on the nightstand before making her way downstairs.

"Here you go."

"Thank you." Before she could head back upstairs, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Jocelyn accepted the soft kiss feeling the way he cherished her like a delicate rose.

"So, what's on the agenda?" She questioned once they pulled away.

"Well since I screwed up lunch how about we order something then I figured we could paint together." Miles smiled nervously at the suggestion.

"That sounds like fun! But you better not make fun of my painting Mr. Picasso." She pointed a finger into his chest.

"Mmm, no promises." He laughed, dodging her playful slaps to his arms.
...

"Would you get away?" Jocelyn giggled as Miles once more hovered over her canvas to eye what she was doing.

They had brought lunch into the studio so they could paint and eat. Jocelyn made sure to pour herself a drink knowing it would help her imagination.

"What are you gonna do in that space?" He questioned as he pointed to the large white space in the middle of the painting.

"Mind my business." Pointing her brush at him, she used it to shoo him away.

They continued painting for another few minutes before Jocelyn moved to take another bite of her burger. Miles moved as well, his nosy eyes glued to her painting once again.

"Damn, do you want to paint it?" She chuckled over the food in her mouth. Taking a sip of her drink, she watched as he studied the piece.

"I like this. A lot." He mumbled, a certain look in his eyes she couldn't place.

If Jocelyn was being honest she wasn't even trying. The expensive paint just glided across the canvas so easily that she lost herself in the feeling. It was less about what it was but how it felt.

"Thank you." She smiled over her cup. "Can I see yours?"

"Yeah," he hesitated before turning the canvas so she could see. Jocelyn's mouth fell open at the realistic painting of herself on the canvas. He'd painted her as she focused on her own painting.

"Well I'll be damned." She laughed as she realized he'd been so nosy because he replicated her painting in his own.

"D-do you like it?" The stutter was filled with anticipation as he watched her eye the painting.

"It's beautiful, Miles."
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