Chapter 31 Chapter Thirty-One - Gabriella
After getting the all-clear, I race into the emergency room and find Derrick lying in one of the beds looking pale and exhausted while Wyatt holds his hand and affectionately strokes his hair. Seeing Derrick like this makes my chest ache. Why the fuck didn’t I think to grab my shit before leaving the club?
“I’m so, so, so sorry,” I chant, rushing over and enveloping Derrick in a big hug, but being careful with the pressure. “I forgot my bag at the club last night and didn’t get it back till this morning. I came right over as soon as I saw the texts. How are you feeling? What’s wrong?” I ask with rapid-fire, pulling back to look at him.
“I was starting to worry about you; you never go anywhere without your phone and after what Wyatt said…” says Derrick, looking me over searching for something.
I look between them, Wyatt avoiding eye contact. “Why the fuck are you worrying about me? You’re the one in hospital. What happened?” I ask, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding his hand in mine.
He sighs. “My MDS is getting worse. I was in so much pain I couldn’t even move. Wyatt found me in the bathroom this morning–”
“The idiot was in there for God only knows how long because he didn’t want to bother me. The moment I found him I called an ambulance,” he says, giving Derrick an exasperated look.
“That was incredibly stupid and dangerous, Derrick,” I say with strong disapproval, “What did the doctors say?”
“They called in my doctor and after a few scans, he says he really wants to schedule surgery, otherwise this is going to keep happening and the pain will probably get worse,” he says with a reluctant sigh.
“This is your health. You have to do what’s best, even if it’s scary. Wyatt and I will be there for you and help you through this. I’ll even get Wyatt a cute nurse outfit to wear for you,” I say brightly.
Derrick chuckles. “That could be fun.”
“Just don’t include those stupid nurse’s hats. I don’t want it messing up my curls,” says Wyatt, fluffing his hair.
“Deal,” I say with a wink. I rub Derrick’s hand gently, being cautious of the cannula in his arm. “Have they given you anything for the pain?”
“Morphine and fluids. They said my blood pressure was pretty low so they’re pumping me full of fluids and the morphine has helped with the pain, so I feel alright. Just tired.”
I lift his hand and kiss the back of it. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I promise to make sure my phone is on me at all times, no matter what.”
“I’m just glad you simply forgot it and not that you were being prevented from using it,” he says with relief.
“Eh?” I squeak in confusion.
“Wyatt told me about what happened with your boyfriend at the club. Are you okay?” he asks with concern.
I look over at Wyatt in shock, “What did you tell him?”
“That your boyfriend looked like he wanted to kill me, and it scared the shit out of me, and given how he looked when you two left I was worried about you,” he says unashamedly.
“Ella, are you in an abusive relationship?” Derrick carefully asks.
“Why do I feel like I just walked into an intervention?”
“Gabriella, I’m serious. You know I support you, but if this guy isn’t as great as he seems, then I have a right to worry; you’re my family,” he says forcefully, squeezing my hand.
“I’m fine,” I say looking at the both of them. “He and I talked about what happened, and he apologised for how he behaved. He saw me and Wyatt holding each other and got the wrong idea, but after I explained the situation, he was ashamed and apologetic. I know he seemed angry, but… there was so much pain in his eyes and when we were talking I could hear it in his voice. He cares about me a great deal, but I can tell he has some major walls I need to break down. I’m not sure what caused them and he’s not ready to tell me, but you have to believe me that he hasn’t done anything to make me feel like I’m anything but safe with him,” I tell them, doing my best to reassure them.
They look at each other, weighing up my words. I feel like the Tribal Council is deliberating on my relationship. They don’t even know him. Their feelings are valid, but it’s all out of context without all the facts and I can’t give them all the facts. I’m stuck between a rock and a God, and it kinda sucks.
“Okay, we believe you. I trust that you would never let yourself get into that situation, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to worry about you,” says Derrick warmly.
“We just want you to be okay,” reiterates Wyatt.
“I’m great,” I say brightly, my face slowly dropping when I realise that’s a lie. “Actually, there is one problem, and I’m not sure how to address it. I could really use advice from both of you.”
“Happy to be of service. Especially because I’m bored as fuck and the sounds of beeping machines and people pressing call buttons are driving me nuts,” Derrick huffs in frustration.
“His highness is a bit grumpy over the accommodations,” Wyatt teases.
I chuckle. “This does not surprise me.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Derrick asks, sitting up a bit with some help from Wyatt.
“Well, you see last night… you know that Lil’ Kim song ‘How Many Licks?’”
Derrick’s brows knit together as a mask of deep confusion takes over his face. “Um, yeah… and anyone who doesn’t, needs to be evaluated. Why do you ask?”
“Well, that line where she says, ‘he ate my pussy from dark till the mornin’?”
“Yeah,” Derrick and Wyatt say in unison.
“I now know exactly what that’s like.”
They both let out a chortle. “Wait, your boyfriend gave you marathon oral and that’s a problem? Straight women are fucking weird,” says Derrick.
I smack his thigh. “No, jerk face, that’s not the problem. It was amazing. Life-alterin. And I’m pretty sure my body will need a month to recover.”
“So… he was too rough?” Wyatt cautiously guesses.
I sigh. “He won’t let me reciprocate.”
They both stare at me like the human embodiment of the shocked Pikachu face. It’s both adorable and awkward.
“Is he insane?” Derrick asks in bewilderment.
“Maybe he’s on the A-sexual spectrum?” Wyatt offers.
I shake my head. “Trust me, no human can match his sexual appetite. I tried to initiate sex last night, but he shut that down, and I was okay with that because sex is a big step. So I just thought I’d give him head or a handy and every single time he stopped me and distracted me with his tongue or fingers,” I say, feeling more irritated the more I think about it.
“I get it. You’re craving the D. Perfectly understandable. I crave it all the time,” says Derrick nonchalantly.
“And you get what you crave so it’s not the same thing,” I point out.
“I’m just saying, I don’t blame you. From the outline I saw that morning, that man is battling a monster in his trousers. Who wouldn’t crave that? Personally, I think anything under nine inches is inexcusable, which is why the universe blessed me with Wyatt, and when we want to indulge in a fun night he pulls out my favourite dildo,” he says with a broad grin. “It’s called Pipedream and is 13 inches,” he says with excitement while Wyatt shakes his head in amusement.
I stare at him in astonishment. “I can’t tell which is higher, your standards or your prostate.”
Wyatt throws his head back, slapping his knee as he cracks up laughing. “She’s got you pegged,” he says between laughs.
“And so do you, apparently,” I quip, turning my attention back to Derrick. “13 inches? Just how masochistic are you?”
“Don’t knock it till you try it.”
“If I did, I’d be the one in the hospital. I love anal, but obviously not as much as you do, it seems.”
“This is just one of the many reasons I love Derrick; he keeps things interesting,” says Wyatt, smiling at Derrick with nothing but adoration in his eyes.
Derrick smiles back at him, “I love you too, baby,” he coos as they lean in and meet with a slow kiss.
“I’m glad you’re both so in love, but we’re getting off track. I’m not cock hungry. I mean, yes, I very much want to have sex with him but it’s not about that. There’s this insane bond between us and yet he won’t let me touch him that way. I feel like he’s keeping me at arm’s length, and it’s starting to make me feel uncomfortable having him please me all the time. I don’t think one person in the relationship should be doing all the work. It should be equal. So, what do I do?” I ask pleadingly.
“Gabriella, you’re working yourself up too much,” says Wyatt consolingly, reaching out and taking my hand. “If that’s how you feel, just talk to him about it. I mean, the only guys I ever knew who were hesitant about that kind of stuff were just insecure about their quick-release issues. I get the feeling that’s not his problem, but you won’t know unless you ask.”
I sigh. “I just don’t want him to take it as an insult or make him feel inadequate in any way. Most guys aren’t comfortable talking about this stuff.”
“Hun, you’ve already said he’s not like any guy you’ve ever been with, and the fact he ate you out like he was trying to break a world record makes that abundantly clear. Just bring it up, and make it clear this is about you and your feelings and not about something he’s lacking, and you should be fine,” says Derrick with a reassuring smile.
I take in a deep breath. He’s right, as per usual. I’m nervous because of how my exes would get when I wanted to talk about our sex life, but Jartre isn’t like that. He answers any question I ask him. He’s extremely blunt and honest and he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s answered all my questions about Gods and supernaturals and even when he got uncomfortable, he still answered me while making his feelings known. I need to stop comparing Jartre to my past relationships. Shitty boyfriends do not compare to your soulmate. If you can’t talk about things like this with your soulmate, then who can you talk to?
I smile and squeeze Derrick and Wyatt’s hands, “I couldn’t be more grateful to have you both.”
“And I’m grateful that the drama in your life always distracts me when I need it most. You’re the gift that keeps on giving,” says Derrick with glee.
“Wow, and to think I was going to go and sneak you in your favourite food.”
“Wait! No! I’ll be good,” he says batting his eyelashes and pouting his lips, “I’ll be a good wittle boy,” he says in baby voice that has me recoiling.
“Babe, we’ve talked about the baby voice; it’s not attractive,” says Wyatt, like a disapproving parent.
“Fine, but I still promise to behave.”
I chuckle and get up planting a kiss on his cheek, “I’ll get you both something to eat, only because I love you guys and I am pretty sure neither of you has eaten since last night.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” says Wyatt with fervent gratitude.
“Don’t mention it. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
I make my way out of the E.R. on the hunt for some food to smuggle in for my guys, while I plan how to sit down with Jartre and have a talk. I never thought I’d find myself in a position where I needed to negotiate being able to please my partner, but I never thought I’d be magically bonded to a God either. My life makes no fucking sense right now.