Bought Together by a Storm

Chapter 3

The rain was bucketing down outside with seemingly no end in sight.  Crashing claps of thunder sounded like they were right over the house.  Lightning was everywhere lighting up the sky.

Sam's POV

Poor Josh i'm trying to be a gracious host but this weather has me all jittery.  Every time a loud thunderclap goes off i put my hand over my heart sure i'll have a heart attack. 

He smiles across the table at me then, with a look of concern says 'Have storms always freaked you out this much'.

'No' i say 'just really bad ones.  When i was younger i saw my Grandfather out in the yard. He'd just got the horses into the stable and locked it.  Lightining hit a nearby tree and he was killed by a falling branch'.  'Can't help thinking about it sometimes, just need to keep my mind distracted'.  'Sorry Josh i don't mean to freak you out'.

'Nah, i'm ok but i am worried about you though'. 'what do you usually do in a storm to keep your mind distracted'.  he asks.

'Watch a movie with...Oh this is kind of embarrasing to admit but, i watch one of your movies and i feel better.  I don't even think about the storm really'.  I look down at my hands nervously twitching in my lap.

'Feels like your my knight in shining armour, something about you just kind of calms me down' i look up and across the table to meet his gaze.  'Sounds silly hey'.

I get a huge smile from Josh.  He shakes his head and says 'No that's not silly at all.  I'm glad i can be your knight in shining armour.  But since you have no power you have to put with the real me.  Hope that's ok' he says and then flashes me that famous smile again.

The night was still early so we decided to sit in front of the fireplace and play a board game.  There's not much else you can do during a storm with no power.  Sitting across from Josh playing scrabble, no one would believe me i'm sure.   After a while we started making up silly words and had to use them in a sentence.  I had forgotten about the raging storm outside because Josh was making me laugh so hard.  That was until i came back from the bathroom, and a huge clap of thunder shook the house so hard i was thrown backwards by my own fear and twisted my ankle bringing a vase smashing down in the process.

'Damn it glass everywhere' i think.

'Sam are you ok did you break something' Josh calls out.

'Yeah knocked a vase over and Ahhhhh!' i scream out as i try to stand up but fall to the floor in defeat.

Josh came running into the hallway.  'Jesus what happened can you walk'. he asked.

'I don't think so, i think i twisted my ankle when i fell'.  

Before i could say anything else Josh scooped me up into his arms and carried me back out to the living room to assess my ankle.

'Well nothings broken but i think you may have twisted it.  Do you have any bandages i'll wrap it for you' he says sympathetically.

'Yeah in the kitchen the top shelf just inside the door.

'Thank's for doing this i feel so stupid' i say. Josh just grins and shakes his head.

 'It's cool don't worry about it'.  'I like coming to the aid of a pretty girl in need'.  He smiles that adorable smile.

 'I'll try to be gentle' he said as he carefully wraps my ankle.

His fingers were sending a heat like flickering fingers of flame up my leg and i inhaled a quick sharp breath.

'Did i hurt you, i'm really sorry but, i'm almost done'. he said

'No it's ok you've been very gentle'.  'Thank you Josh for doing that'.  i smile at him and he ties off the bandage and leans towards me.

'My pleasure'.  He says as he kisses my cheek.

'I should probably get some sleep now it's getting late'. i say as i start to stand up.

Josh scoops me up before i have a chance to protest.  ' I'm ok i can hobble'.

'Nonsence let me help you, your light as a feather and you need to rest your ankle'.

'Thanks Josh your really sweet',  'Goodnight' i say.

'Goodnight Sam, call if you need me'  he smiled and then said 'For Anything'.

Josh went into the spare room and i lay in my bed listening to the steady rain outside.