Darcy sat in Monroe’s hospital room, watching her from his seat. Her face had begun to bruise, and her stitches were swollen as a neck brace held her head stiffly in place. He removed his glasses for a moment, letting tears flow from his eyes as he hid his face behind his hand. I can’t get it out of my head. The way she flew backwards. I’ll never be able to forget it.

A man with teal hair and almond skin came bursting through the door, he looked ragged, his expression wild. “Monroe!” He shouted.

“Who are you?” Darcy asked as he stood.

The man’s eyes looked panicked and rough. “I’m her father, Mario Félix. The hospital notified me, who are you?”

Darcy hesitated for a moment. What am I to her right now? Her friend? More than that? He tried to keep it simple for Mario’s benefit.  “I’m her…friend.”

Mario walked toward Darcy, regarding him with a frown. “Okay then, friend. What happened to my girl?” He said through a heavy Mexican accent.

“Hello?” Dave said as he peeked his head through the door.

Darcy felt fury ignite inside him at the sight of Dave. “He did.” He said angrily, as he cleared the room, swinging his arm back, and connecting his fist with Dave’s nose. Dave stumbled back nearly falling, feeling the might of Darcy’s punch. “He pushed her in front of a moving car!” Darcy explained.

Dave was bleeding, his nose swollen. “I deserve that but please you have to believe me, it was an accident!” He exclaimed.

Mario stared at him in disbelief as he shouted. “You pushed my baby girl in front of a car?!”

“If you ever come near her again, you and I will have words. Understood? Now leave!” Darcy shrieked.

Seeing he was outmatched, Dave turned around and left.

Darcy sat back down on the sofa, as Mario sat beside him.

“So…I take it you’re the fella Monroe was going to introduce me to.” Mario stated.

Darcy looked away, unable to meet Mario’s eyes. “Yes, I’m the man you were going to meet.”

Mario’s eyes regarded Darcy suspiciously as he spoke. “She never called me back to set the date.”

“We…had some issues.” Darcy said nervously.

Mario frowned as he considered his next question. He knew he wouldn’t like the answer. “Right. How old are you?”

“Um, I’m fifty-one.” Darcy answered.

Mario squinted his eyes at him. “I’m forty-three. You’re older than me.”

Darcy squirmed nervously beside him. Oh, dear he already hates me.

“I don’t like you.” Mario said flatly.

Darcy closed his eyes as he sighed. “Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t.”

Through the silence came a honeyed voice. Darcy turned his head toward Monroe as she spoke. “Darcy?”

“Mon?” He said as he made his way over to her, tears of joy overflowing onto his cheeks. “You’re awake.”

Mario stood at the foot of her bed, watching them quietly.

“What happened?” Monroe questioned.

Darcy brought his hand to the side of Monroe’s face gently, making sure he didn’t hurt her. “You were hit by a car.” He managed to choke out.

“That’s right. Dave…almost killed me.” She remembered. “It’s been such a horrible couple of months.” She said as she closed her eyes.

Darcy felt an ache in his chest. It had been a very difficult time for them. He regretted all the pain he had caused Monroe. “I’m so sorry, darling.”

Monroe turned to him, her neck aching slightly as she struggled against her neck brace. “Are we having that talk now?”

“Good grief, YES! I don’t want to lose you.” He said through his tears. “When I got out of rehab I went to see you. I wanted to talk to you…about us. But I saw you kissing him. I thought I lost you. To be frank with you, it broke my heart. I was a mess.”

“Wait, so you weren’t angry with me?” Monroe asked softly.

Darcy knotted his brows in confusion. “Why would I be angry with you?”

Monroe’s eyes fell to the side as she spoke. “I went to see you in rehab even though you didn’t want me there…I don’t know.”

“Of course I wanted you there, I was being an arse.” Darcy admitted. “I’ve never been good at accepting help. I shouldn’t have shut you out, but I felt ashamed. You had worked so hard to get better. I felt like a liability. Like I had to get better on my own to be able to be around you again. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too. This is all my fault, I tried to find comfort in Dave when you left. I allowed this to happen.” She said admonishing herself.

Darcy frowned. “No Monroe. This isn’t your fault. He threw you onto a moving vehicle. There’s no excuse for that. He’s a piece of shit.”

“God, Darcy, I missed you so much.” She said through a smile, her eyes glistening. She reached out to his face and held her hand on him softly.

Darcy leaned into her touch, feeling his heart flutter as she pierced him with her gaze. “I…I love you, Mon.” He said to her.

Monroe stared at him with wide eyes. He loves me? She thought as wonder filled her head. “I love you too.” She replied.

Darcy leaned in, pressing his lips on hers gently, making sure not to hurt her.

“Ahem.” Mario said clearing his throat.

Darcy broke the kiss, as they both turned to look at Mario. Damn, I forgot he was there. Darcy thought, as Mario eyed them with a flat expression on his face.

“The hospital called me.” Mario said to Monroe.

“Oh, well thank you for coming. This is Darcy.” Monroe announced.

Mario’s tone was irritated as he spoke. “Yeah, we met. I’m glad you’re okay, mija. I’ll let you get some rest. I’ll call you later.”

Monroe smiled at him, feeling grateful he stopped by. “Goodnight, papá.”

“It’s always a pleasure to meet Monroe’s loved ones.” Darcy said to Mario.

Mario stood by the door for a second, his eyes inspecting Darcy. “Likewise.” He said flatly as he closed the door behind him.

***

               Darcy opened his apartment door, as he welcomed Monroe inside. “Please come in. Make yourself at home.”

Monroe walked to his table and sat down, still feeling a bit weak. She had spent three days in the hospital. She was happy to be out. “Thank you for letting me stay here for a few days. I’m just not ready to be home yet. I’m worried Dave could be waiting for me.” She admitted. “I really don’t want to see him.”

“Have you thought of pressing charges?” Darcy asked, concern bleeding into his voice.

She dropped her gaze, unable to meet Darcy’s eyes. “It…was an accident. I’m not going to press charges.”

Darcy draped his hand over hers as he spoke, regarding her sternly. “Monroe, he almost killed you.”

Monroe shook her head slightly, her neck brace straining against her chin as she did. “Darcy, please, I don’t want to believe that someone I once cared about would do that to me on purpose. I just want to forget the whole thing.”

Darcy eyed her carefully. It was frustrating, he wanted to make sure Dave paid for what he had done, but he didn’t want to pressure Monroe, considering everything she had gone through. He sighed as he resigned himself. “Fine.” He said, grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips. “I’ll make you some food.” He lifted his body off the chair and began preparing dinner for her.

Monroe remained seated, noting a pack of cigarettes on the table. She grabbed them as she spoke.  “What is this pack doing here?”

“I took up smoking for a few days, to take the edge off.” Darcy said nervously.

“You? Smoking? But you’re always telling me how bad they are for me.” Monroe pointed out with an arched brow.

Darcy fidgeted anxiously with the pan as he continued cooking. “Like I said, I was a mess.”

Monroe stood up and made her way over to Darcy, standing behind him as her hands snaked onto his chest, wrapping him in an embrace. “I see you’re a reds man. I’m more of a menthols gal myself. Thank you for cooking me dinner.”

Darcy smiled. He felt giddy to have Monroe so close to him again. God, I love her so much. “It’s my pleasure. Afterwards, I’ll run you a nice bath to soothe those achy muscles.”

“Will you be joining me? I could scrub your back.” Monroe said teasingly, with a flirtatious voice.

Darcy didn’t want to hurt her. “Maybe when you get better, darling.”

She turned around and sat back down, feeling a little disappointed as she did. “Booo!”

***

               Monroe walked out of the bathroom in her birthday suit, with a towel draped around her head, as she walked towards Darcy’s bed. “You were right, that was a very relaxing bath.”

Darcy’s eyes shot up from the script he was holding toward Monroe. His mouth ran dry. Oh god. She looked beautiful, despite the bruises marking her body.

She sat on the bed in front of him, as she watched him intently. “What are you reading?” She asked as she crawled on his lap.

Darcy stiffened underneath her weight. “Well, I was reading a new script but that seems hardly important right now.” He said as he discarded the script, his hands travelling to Monroe’s waist.

Monroe stared at him with soft eyes as she spoke. “Darcy…I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“You always take care of me.” She said as she took his face between her hands.

Darcy maneuvered her off him, softly placing her on the bed, as he laid down beside her. “You don’t have to thank me; I do that because I love you.”

Monroe rolled on top of him, her leg pressing between his thighs as she sought more contact.

“Mon.” Darcy warned. “You’re hurt.”

“Make love to me Darcy, erase every trace of him from my body. Please.” She begged.

Darcy stared at her, searching her eyes. I want to. I want to please you. I want to erase the memory of him from your mind. “Mon, look at you, you’re bruised and battered. I want to make love to you. But I’m trying to show restraint.”

She leaned down and caught his lips, gently coaxing his mouth open as she explored it. She broke the kiss to catch her breath. “Then be gentle.” She ordered as she ran her hands through his chest hair, pressing her legs to his groin.

He felt himself harden under her touch. He took his boxers off and gently set Monroe on top of him. “If we’re going to do this then you’re going on top. It’s the best way to make sure I don’t hurt you.” Monroe nodded as she lowered herself on his cock. They both let out a gasp as they felt each other.

She rode him softly, moaning at the sensation. Darcy watched her for any signs of discomfort, as he thrust gently, feeling heat pool in his stomach. Monroe increased the pace, bouncing up and down wantonly, Darcy tried to get her to slow down, he didn’t want her to hurt herself. “Slow down, Mon.” He whispered breathlessly.

“It’s okay, I’m okay.” She said as she continued to ride his cock.

He buried his face in her breasts, kissing and licking at her nipples. She let out a loud moan. “Touch me, Darcy. I want to feel your hands all over my body.”

He obeyed as he began tracing her body with his hands. Monroe lowered herself on him harshly, enjoying the sting in her core. “This body belongs to you, Darcy.” She said through moans. “No one else can have it.”

He let out a low whine, feeling a possessive streak run through him. He gripped her ass tightly, as he continued fucking her.

“Ah, Darcy, I’m so close.” She said in a high-pitched voice. 

Darcy was close too, how could he not with Monroe riding him so expertly. “If this body belongs to me, then I belong to you too.” He said as he approached his release.

“I know.” Monroe said through a smile as she came crashing down on him, spasming as she rode him through her orgasm. “Ah! Darcy!” She screamed.

“Mon.” He whispered as he came deep inside her, pleasure rippling through his body.

She collapsed on top of him, her body suddenly feeling weak. She let out a quiet, happy hum as she played with his chest hair.

Darcy laid there, with Monroe on top of him. He felt a tightness in his chest. “I love you…so much.” He said softly.

Monroe turned up to look at him, her eyes pinning his. “You have no idea how much I love you.” She said to him as heat spread across her cheeks.

He brought his lips to her forehead, pressing a gentle kiss upon her. She lowered her head on his chest, and closed her eyes, feeling herself drifting away in his arms.

I could never love another person as I love you. He thought, as his eyes began to droop, falling asleep as he held Monroe close to his chest.