Love's Secret Fight: Chapter 2

The next morning I awoke to the sound of rain against the windows and the roof of the house. I stretched, made the bed, and headed to the bathroom to get ready for a new day. I passed by the living room and I could hear Robert playing tug-of-war with our dog, Jasper. Jasper was a two year old black German Sheppard. Certified as a police dog, Robert had received him when Jasper was four months old. The two were inseparable, and once on the job, they become as one. Robert looked up. “Hey Liz, how’d you sleep last night?” He led Jasper into his corner for when it is raining outside and bounded over to me. Despite having played with the dog, he smelled of Old Spice and I breathed in deeply, savoring his smell. “I couldn’t have slept better.” I smiled up at him and he gave me his sideway smile that always give me butterflies. “I couldn’t sleep a wink, with all of your snoring.” He proceeded making snoring noises. I laughed loudly and snorted, covering my mouth quickly. It made Robert laugh, which made me laugh harder and snort more. We stopped laughing when the telephone rang. He beat me to the phone and made one last snoring noise before answering it. I turned to leave and Robert grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me toward him, trapping me in his strong one-armed bear hug. I relaxed and leaned against him, I could feel his muscles quivering under his sleeve. He gave a couple of yes’s and no’s, then handed me the phone. “It’s Racheal, Liz.” Racheal was my best friend. She was also a 911 dispatcher and former college roommate. Her husband, Mark, was Robert’s best friend, and partner at the police station. They both had been witnesses to me and Robert’s secret marriage in Romania. 1

“Hey, Rach.” I looked at my uneven nails, that I had finally stopped biting, much to Robert’s relief. Robert released me from his grip, and I staggered slightly, tripping backwards onto the coffee table, which shattered into a million pieces. “Liz, you okay!” Racheal shouted into the phone. “Shoot!” “Rach, I have to call you back.” I hung up the phone and pulled a piece of jagged glass from my arm. Jasper began barking frantically and Robert crouched by my side. I had a gash on my leg, which was bleeding onto the carpet. “I just cleaned the carpeting.” I mumbled. “Liz, you have got to be more careful!” Robert hurriedly brushed the broken glass off of me. “Come on; let’s get you cleaned up babe.” He dragged me to the bathroom and motioned for me to sit on the commode. “Sit.” He commanded and pulled a tube of antibiotic ointment out of the medicine cabinet. “Ouch, for Pete’s sake Robert, I’m a paramedic, I can do it myself!” He cringed, and dejectedly handed over the ointment. I shooed him out the bathroom, and began undressing for a shower. The hot water trickled over my cuts and stung for awhile. The steam calmed me down, and I stood there, letting the water wash away my thoughts. After ten minutes, I dried, applied some ointment and bandages to my wounds, got dressed, and headed to the living room where Robert was watching some television. He looked up at me and smiled, scooting over so that I could sit down next to him. I flopped down onto the couch and laid my head on Robert’s shoulder. I could see he had vacuumed the glass up and put down some carpet cleaner. Robert turned the television off and leaned his head up against mine. “Clumsy Lizzy,” he whispered. “broke the table into pieces.” His breath tickled my ear. “You’re so headstrong, Liz.” I felt bad for not letting him help me earlier. He kissed me on the head. “I would give you the world Liz, if you asked for it.” He took my face between his hands and looked at me.” “Do you believe it Liz?” I shook my head yes, too afraid that if I spoke, I would ruin the moment. He smiled and kissed me lightly. The rain was hitting the window harder, and the thunder boomed, shaking the house. Robert kissed me again, ferociously. I could feel the electricity going through my body. He pushed me down and was pulling off my sweater when the telephone rang and Jasper howled.2

“Let the answering machine pick up!” I pleaded. “It could be important babe.” He grabbed the cordless off the floor, and I sighed loudly. “It’s Racheal again.” I took the phone from him. “and try not to break anything this time.” I crossed my eyes at him and he chuckled, walking to Jasper’s corner, making cooing noises. I rolled my eyes. “Racheal this had better be good.” “Liz, why didn’t you call me back, are you okay?” “Yes, I just fell over on the coffee table and broke it.” “Mark,” I could hear Racheal yelling, “it was nothing, clumsy Lizzy struck again.” I could hear Mark’s faint laughter in the background. “I’m glad my painful faults, are so funny to you.” “Come on Liz, you know I’m only teasing.” I grunted. “In all seriousness though, I was scared out of my mind, I didn’t know what happened to you.” “I insisted Mark drive me over, and he had to calm me down.” I smiled; I could never stay mad at Racheal for more then a second. Racheal yawned. “Okay, since you are all right, I’ll let you go, see you at work on Monday Lizzie girl.” “Love you Rachie.” “Love you too girlie.” We both hung up at the same time. 3

I slumped down on the couch and my stomach growled. I poked it a couple of times, and decided to make some breakfast. In the kitchen, I pulled out some eggs and a couple of slices of ham. Jasper began to whimper from his corner. Looking to see if Robert was around, I grabbed a slice of ham and slowly crept to where Jasper was. Wagging his tail, he looked up at me, and my heart swelled up in my chest. “Shh.” I whispered, handing Jasper the piece of ham, which he gently took from my hand and chomped on. “Ah ha!” Robert jumped from behind the closet door. I yelled, startled. “Liz, how could you!” I looked defeated, caught in the act. “You know Jasper only gets treats when he does a good job, or when he’s training.” “Aw, but Robert, how can I resist those big, brown eyes of his?” Robert knew I had a soft spot for animals. “Easily.” I turned to retreat and Robert grabbed me and slung me over his shoulder. 4

He laughed deeply and began beating on his chest. “Robert, put me down!” He took me into the bedroom ad threw me on the bed. “Now where were we, before the phone rang?” He tickled my face with a piece of my hair. “Ah yes.” He kissed me on the ear, slowly sliding his lips across my face to my mouth, and then from my mouth to the other ear. “Robert, you’re such a tease.” “Am I?” He did his sideway smile, and I felt goose bumps rising on my arms. He stared at me for a moment. “What’s it like?” He asked me. ‘What’s what like?” “being so beautiful.” I could feel myself blushing and my ears burned. My stomach gurgled. “What,” Robert asked “was that?” emphasizing every word. I laughed and pointed to my stomach. He leaped off the bed and I stood on top of it, jumping up and down. “No fair!” Robert climbed on the bed and it groaned but didn’t give way. I bounced back down and Robert landed on top of me. “That was real mature of us.” I muttered. Robert didn’t say anything for awhile then suddenly he pinned my arms against the bed. He began kissing me down my neck and let go of my arms, sticking one hand up my sweater and unsnapping my bra. I froze, not knowing what to do. “Liz?” I could hear Robert’s breathing deepen. “Yes?” I barley whispered. “I love you so much.” “Yes.” I whispered again. He paused for a moment, than began to laugh. “Innocent Lizzy, you’re one of a kind, and all mine.” “Let’s get you something to eat.” He walked out of the room and waited for me. I sat on the bed dazed with what had just happened. I thought for a moment, then snapped my bra back up and glumly followed Robert to the kitchen.5