Love Hurts

Seven

Camilla,

"Thank you," I tried to regain my composure after nearly breaking down over a plate of spaghetti. Memories of Alan's violent reaction to my clumsiness came rushing back. But Hoss was different. He laughed it off and tried to uplift me. Instead of putting me down and making me feel worse, he asked if I was okay, showing genuine concern.
        When he calls me "baby," it stirs up emotions within me. However, this only applies if he is not too perfect to be real. Camilla, my dear, did someone hurt you before?" Hoss asked you.
      "Crap!"
      "No, I'm just really clumsy sometimes. I hope I didn't ruin your shirt," I apologize.
     Hoss stands up from his chair and approaches me. He bends down and plants a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Look at me," he says, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. "It's just a little spilled spaghetti. It's a memory we will laugh about years from now." Hoss tells me then leans in and kisses my cheek.
   I smile back at him, feeling a sense of warmth and connection. "You're right," I say, "spilled spaghetti and all, this will be a memory we'll cherish." I lean in and give him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Let's not let a little mess ruin our evening. Now, let's enjoy our dinner together."  
    He nods and replies, "Yes, ma'am."
    After finishing our meal, we bring our wine glasses to the couch and engage in a meaningful conversation. It's a refreshing change to have a genuine exchange with someone, unlike Alan, who only focused on criticizing and demanding improvements from me. As Hoss leans in, he plants a tender and affectionate kiss on my lips. The way he kisses me is filled with gentleness and care, making me feel like the most special woman in the world.
    "Why don't you show me your room?" Hoss says out of the blue.
     I chuckle and reply, "Hmm, well Rena, that sounds like a plan."
     Hoss grabs me and pulls me onto his lap in one swift move. I giggle and say, "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. But I love that name." I lean in to kiss him. He lifts me up and carries me to the bedroom, laying me down on the bed.
     He wasted no time in removing our clothes. He is very tender and loving when we are intimate. He begins by kissing my forehead and slowly moves down to my toes. Then he moves back up, caressing my thighs and gently parting my folds with his hands.
     Hoss asks if I'm okay, and I reply breathlessly that I am. He then proceeds to pleasure me with his mouth, using his tongue to stimulate my clitoris with swift and hard strokes. The pleasure is so intense that I can't help but scream his name. Hoss then sits up on his knees and positions himself at my entrance, slowly and gently pushing into me. Despite his larger size compared to Alan, it doesn't hurt like it did with Alan. Hoss continues to make sweet and passionate love to me for hours.
      After we have both satisfied our desires, Hoss turns onto his back, pulling me along with him, and embraces me tightly for a prolonged period.
                                                                                                                       ♾️
       Later on that night after Hoss left for the night, I decided to call my best friend Kim. When she answered the phone, she asked me what I was up to. I told her that I had just had an incredible night with a wonderful guy who I could see myself having a relationship with. However, he doesn't know the real me or the struggles I've been through in the past five years. I was unsure of what to do in this situation.
      I also mentioned to Kim that I missed her and asked if she could come down to visit me in the next couple of weeks. Thankfully, she agreed and said that she could come down.
      "It is important to have a conversation with him. You won't know how it will go unless you express your thoughts and feelings. However, I would advise to ask about him showing you how to handle a gun, and self-defense classes."
      "Kim, you know how much I dislike firearms."
     "Yes, we've had this conversation countless times, Cam, and it's important that you listen to me this time. It could potentially be a matter of life or death in the future. I don't want to frighten you, but there is a possibility that someone dangerous might come after you. I understand your fears of guns, but you will overcome them. Just have a conversation with Hoss, Cam."
                                                                                                       ♾️
      The next morning, I felt a renewed sense of purpose, so I walked into work with a smile on my face. Olivia approaches me and says, "Alright sister, spill it."
      "Spill what?" I ask innocently. "I can tell you're hiding something," Olivia insists.
      "Get back to work."  I warn her.  She simply smiles in response.
    "Last night, Hoss and I had dinner at my place and then we spent a couple of hours talking on the couch." I tell Olivia smiling the whole time.
     "I'm sure there is probably more to the story, I'll let it slide this time." Olivia tells me giving me her best stank eye.
      Olivia and I plan to have lunch and continue our conversation, but for now we have an emergency situation coming in. "There has been a three-car pileup, and we need to be prepared. One ambulance is bringing a mother and daughter. The daughter has minor injuries, so Doctor Phillips and Jasmine, please go to triage two with her. The mother's condition is more serious, so Doctor Omar and Stella, please go to Baghdad. Lastly, Doctor Felipe and Olivia, there is a sixteen-year-old with a broken arm coming in."
        "Additionally, there will be a lady with a cut on her head. I will take her to triage three and clean her wound. Once one of the doctors is available, they can come and check the wound."
        After everyone receives their assignments, I proceed to triage three. I then approach Mrs. Tiffany and ask her about her current location. She informs me that she is at the hospital.
       "Sure, I can tell you what happened." Mrs. Tiffany tells me. According to her, she thought she had stopped at a red light, but it turned out to be green. And that's when everything happened. It must have been a very scary experience for her.
      "Yes, it was an accident, but fortunately, I didn't get as hurt as the mom and daughter who were behind me. They hit me from behind. Another car, traveling at a high speed hit them." Mrs. Tiffany explains to me.
      "I will have the cut above your eye cleaned up, and a doctor will assess if it requires stitches. Do you have anyone I can contact to come and pick you up from here?" I ask her.
      "My daughter." She tells me.
     "No problem once I'm done, you can call your daughter to let her know you're here and see if she can come get you." Mrs. Tiffany was discharged within an hour of being here.
      Stella expressed her astonishment, saying, "Wow, that daughter is quite a character," as Mrs. Tiffany and her daughter exited the hospital. The daughter was complaining about the inconvenience of having to come and pick her up, questioning how someone could no longer distinguish between red and green. She even threatened to report her and have her driver's license revoked. Stella remarked, "I wish I could just smack people like that." Jasmine agreed, saying, "Girl, I feel the same way."
     But then, a person who is incredibly attractive enters the room, and all the worries and troubles oh the world fades away. As I glance up, I realize that Jasmine is talking about the one I have a crush on. "That's mine get your own." I tell her. It's amazing how just the thought of them can make me feel so happy. My face lights up with a big smile as they walk towards the nurse's desk.
     I ask Hoss, "What brings you here?"
     He replies, "I'm here to take my girl to lunch."
    "Oh, really? Hey Jaz, your man is here to take you to lunch," I say over my shoulder.
    "Haha," Hoss says. "I mean, if you don't want tacos today, then I'm sure Jaz will love to go."
   "You two stop fooling around and leave," Stella chastises us.
    "Alright, let's get going," he says. I walk over to the nurse's desk and hold his hand, giving him a kiss on the cheek. I then turn to Stella and say, "You three can decide who wants to go to lunch first and take your hours." Stella nods and replies, "Yes, ma'am, we'll do that."
     As we walk to the park, there is a quiet atmosphere as I remain silent. I am contemplating how to share the events of the past five years with Hoss. I believe discussing it over lunch today would be a good idea. That way, if he reacts negatively, I can easily escape to the hospital. Hoss brings our tacos back to the bench, our usual spot. "Hey, there penny for your thoughts?"
     "Alright, here it goes. I have something to tell you, and I need you to listen before you respond. Can you do that for me?" I ask Hoss.
     "Of course, darling, I'm all ears," he assures me.
     I inhale deeply. "Okay, here it goes. I'm married," I blurt out.
     I raise my hand to interrupt Hoss before he can speak. "Please, let me finish first," I say. "For the past five years, I have been married to a man named Alan Taylor. He is a lawyer in New York. Initially, our marriage was like any other, filled with happiness. However, everything changed about three years ago. Alan became mentally and physically abusive towards me. I felt trapped, with no way out. I attempted to confide in my parents about the situation, but Alan discovered my intentions. He threatened to kill them in front of me and make it appear as though I was responsible if I ever tried to involve them again. As a result, I stopped seeking their help. After I became pregnant, he underwent a significant change for about three months. One day, he returned home in a terrible mood and started accusing me of not wanting to attend an office party because I was supposedly cheating on him and neglecting the house and my own body during my pregnancy. Alan became physically violent, punching me and then kicking me in the stomach, causing me to fall down a flight of stairs. He left thinking I was dead as he went to his office party. I mustered enough strength to crawl to my phone and dialed my friend Kim's number. She rushed to my aid and drove me to the hospital where I worked. It was there that Kim and our mutual friend Gracie came up with the plan to fake my death. I hope this revelation doesn't change your perception of me, Hoss. I felt trapped and saw no other option. If I had stayed, he would have either killed me or harmed my family."
     Hoss remained silent for what felt like an eternity.
     'Oh no, he's about to lose control!' I'm sweating waiting for his reaction.
     "Are you going to arrest me now?" I ask, fearing the worst.
    "Why would I arrest you, baby? You haven't done anything wrong. I'm sorry you had to resort to such drastic measures to escape your abusive husband, but I can assist you in filing for a divorce," Hoss surprises me with his response.
      Hoss is bombarding me with questions and my head is spinning. He asks if I know any self-defense and if I can shoot a gun. I respond by saying that I don't know any self-defense techniques and that I hate guns. However, I did take a boxing class when I was younger, but I haven't done anything since then.
     Hoss then informs me that starting tonight, we will be training at the gym and going to the gun range on weekends. This news makes me even more anxious, and I ask if I have to file for divorce right away. I explain that my husband will know I'm not dead and he will also know where I am.
       Hoss understands my concerns and reassures me that we will hold off on filing for divorce for a couple of weeks to give me some peace of mind. I express my relief and tell him that this will make me feel better.
       Hoss stands up and walks towards me. He reassures me, saying that everything will be alright, and leans in to kiss me. I had kept a secret for a long time, fearing that I would be arrested for faking my death and using someone else's identity. Hoss finds it amusing and tells me that I can't be arrested for trying to escape a dangerous situation, unless there was fraud involved.
      Later in the day, we go to the gym as planned. Hoss tells me that we will start with a warm-up and gradually introduce different exercises each day until I feel comfortable.
      "Alright, let's begin. I understand that you may have some reservations about our sessions, but I assure you that my goal is to provide you with the support and guidance you need. Please feel free to express any concerns or discomfort you may have throughout our sessions. Are you ready to start?" Hoss asks me.
      "Nope!"
    Hoss grabs me by the waist and pulls me close, kissing me passionately. I suggest skipping the training and continuing what we're doing all night. He chuckles and playfully swats me on the butt, saying we can't do that. He then explains the first step of the training, instructing me to drop quickly and elbow him with full force.
      "But what should I do if you're holding me around my waist?" I ask Hoss.
      "You need to convince yourself that I am stronger than this person. They will not overpower me," Hoss advises.
      "Alright, let's give it a shot," I say, lacking confidence.
     Hoss wraps his arms around me from behind, and I can't help but feel weak in his embrace.
     He chuckles at my reaction.
     "Camilla, as much as I desire to engage in intimate activities with you in this moment, it is evident that the owners would not approve of such behavior. Furthermore, engaging in such actions would not contribute to our training. Therefore, I kindly request that you focus on the task at hand for the sake of my sanity," Hoss request.
      "Apologizing." I tell him with a smirk.
      Hoss attempts his maneuver once again, but this time I successfully counter by dropping and elbowing him in the stomach.
     Exhilarated, I pump my fist in the air as Hoss loses his breath and falls to the ground.
     I swiftly turn around, pushing Hoss to the ground and then straddling him.
    "Gotcha!" I tease him.
   With a mischievous glint in his eyes and a wicked smile on his face, he says, "but do you!" Before I know it, I find myself flat on my back, with him hovering over me. Now, who has whom?
    "Jerk!"
   He smiles at me, pulling me up from the ground. "Okay, now that you've got the first step, let's move on to something a bit more challenging. We're going to practice the groin kick."
     "You want me to kick you in the groin?" I respond in a high-pitched voice.
     "No, baby, it's just for practice," he reassures me.
     I ask him, "But what if I accidentally kick you?"
    He responds with a smirk, "Then you can make it up to me."
     I flush a deep red in embarrassment.
     God, he makes me feel like such a teenager again.
    "Now, face me head-on. Place one leg in front of the other and raise your arms." Hoss tells me. "That's right, just like that."
    Hoss instructs, "Extend your right leg as if you're about to kick me in the groin." I follow his instructions and kick out with my right leg. Hoss continues, "Now, I'm going to block that kick with my hand. When I do, I want you to follow up with a punch to my nose."
     As Hoss deflects my kick, I swiftly punch him in the nose. Blood spurts out, and Hoss mutters obscenities under his breath.
    "Hoss, I'm so sorry I didn't judging my aim correctly," I say, seeking his forgiveness.
    "You did a fantastic job, baby," Hoss reassures me.
    After finishing we clean up in the bathroom. When Hoss emerges from the bathroom, his nose is stuffed with tissues.
     "Oh, Hoss, I feel so sorry for you."
     "Don't worry, it's fine. You did an excellent job, and it reassures me to know that you have a powerful punch."
    "I certainly do!"
    "Yes," he says, pointing to his nose. I can't help but smile smugly. I shouldn't have done that. Hoss had me on the mat in no time. Now let's see you get out of this move, smarty pants. I try my hardest to wiggle out of his hold, but he is too strong. So, I do the next best thing: I kiss him to submit. 'You're not playing fair,' he says, hauling himself up off me. 'I believe that's the other way around, sir.'"
     We make our way to the trucks when my phone starts ringing. I quickly answer it, realizing it's Kim, my good friend from New York.     "Hey Kim, what's up?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
     "Hey Cam, did you tell your cop friend about your true identity yet?" Kim asks, her voice filled with curiosity.
     "Yeah, I actually did today," I reply, feeling a sense of relief. "He's been really helpful, teaching me some self-defense moves. Tomorrow, we're even planning to go to the gun range."
      "Why are you asking about this, Kim? You're starting to worry me. Did something happen?" I inquire, my voice trembling slightly.
      "Not yet, but your husband is starting to ask some suspicious questions," Kim reveals, her tone serious.
      "Oh, um, like what kind of questions?" I ask, my voice shaky with anxiety.
      He hasn't explicitly said that he believes you're alive yet. However, he is intelligent and will likely figure it out soon. But don't worry, he won't be able to find out where you are. You made a clever choice in selecting a location he would never think to look. He will probably go to your parents' house first.
     Thank you for calling me and giving me a heads up. I'm going to end the conversation here and explain to Hoss what you told me. Maybe we can find a way to stop him before he gets too close to uncovering the truth that his wife is not actually dead.
    Okay, babe. I love you. Stay safe. Kim tells me.
    I love you too. Please take care of yourself. I plead with her.

                              Author's Note, Hello lovely's I hope you are enjoying the book so far. Feel free to leave a comment on how you feel about the book, and if your are loving the book don't forget to hit the star and vote for the book. Much Love!

@Crystal Steadman 2023