chapter 7

He was warm again, his nakedness somehow covered but for some reason he felt no shame in the realization she had seen him as he was and unbelievably was still here, tending him, humming softly as she worked on his scalp. He steadied himself as she instructed, holding on to her leg, above her knee he thought, squeezing, feeling the muscular youthfulness through the soft worn denim.

"Yes," he whispered, "You're right ...we haven't exactly been formally introduced. This is a hell of a way to meet new friends isn't it." He squeezed her leg again and found it gave him comfort as he lay there. "This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so darn fat," he sighed. "Lord that feels good, making me sleepy...yes, I would like to tell you about me...if you care that is...yes, that feels wonderful...so sleepy..."

And the room grew dark once again and he knew no more.

Hearing his breathing turn soft and regular, she knew he had fallen asleep. She carefully got up and left the room, shutting the door behind her. She went out to the car and brought in her luggage and set it on the couch in the big family room. The large fireplace seemed to be inviting and she drifted away in her head to an image of sitting in front of a fire with a Christmas tree in the corner. She was huddled up under a blanket with a mug in her hands. She smiled and turned to look up at Bill sitting beside her...

Oh no you don't, she thought as she shook her head. "What in blazes are you thinking.." She chastised herself out loud as she walks through the other rooms, trying to get a basic layout of the house. After a somewhat glancing look, feeling like she was snooping, she decided to check on the animals outside. She spent about an hour letting the foal run and walking the dogs as she enjoyed the crisp, fresh air. As she was putting the dogs back her stomach growled and she started wondering if William had a stocked kitchen. That would be a good surprise for him...

She went back inside and puttered around the kitchen, gathering what she needed for a good meal. She baked several chicken breasts in various spices, with green beans, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and greens. Finding a platter she fixed up a couple of plates, one heaped high, and headed up the stairs balancing both food and drink. She made her way back into the sleeping man's room and set the platter on a side table. She moved over to the window and opened it to let the fresh air in. Maybe that would help clear his head. Moving to his side, she gently laid a hand on the undamaged side of his face and whispered his name.

He slowly swam into consciousness, immediately noting 1. A decreased throbbing in his skull, 2. A comforting warm stroking on the undamaged part of his head, 3. A heavenly aroma of roasted chicken which sent his empty stomach into anticipatory convulsions and 4. his extremely discomfiting nakedness.

He opened his eyes to see an angelic face hovering over him wreathed in curly blonde curls and ringlets.

"I'm dead and in heaven" he whispered, then blushed as his memory came sweeping back.

"Cloe! You are amazing...' he sighed, his mouth salivating and his stomach rumbling at the delicious scents. He gingerly touched his head and noted immediately the swelling had gone down. "Cloe you really shouldn't have, I'm so sorry for putting you through this, I can't think of anything more embarrassing than to be naked and helpless AND as unattractive ...hell, might as well say it...as FAT as I am in front of a phenomenally gorgeous lady. The latter making the situation even worse." He smiled shyly.

He tried to sit up and as he did so the quilt slipped down, briefly exposing his huge protruding abdomen before he could pull it back up, and began blushing furiously.

Attempting to distract her gaze locked on his middle he gestured to the table and said "You made us dinner! I guess its dinnertime, I'm starving and it smells incredible. After years of ... I mean not having home cooked...heck Cloe. I'm overwhelmed."