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It’s been three months since the conference in Boston, and nearly eight weeks since Samira officially became a night shift attending at PTMC. It’s also been the best three months of her life.
Samira had thought that her permanent transition to the nights would’ve had some bumps in the road, a few small hiccups at the very least, but the night shift has never felt more like a well-oiled machine. It’s so smooth that day shifters have been willingly volunteering to cover with zero bribes involved, something Samira thought she’d never see. She just hopes that their newfound love for working nights has something to do with how well she and Jack run it all.
It helps that they both know what the other wants before they even have to ask for it, often only speaking for the sake of the med students. It’s something that they’d started to learn long before they finally got together. Now they have that little trick down pat, their relationship ever strengthening their efficiency at work.
Jack had told Samira a myriad of times on the drive home from Boston that he was willing to tell everyone about their relationship as soon as they made it back to Pittsburgh, but he respected and understood Samira’s decision to wait. Neither of them wanted people’s opinions on the situation to have a chance to reflect badly on either of them. Gossip can have a certain way of transforming a story along the way that she’d certainly liked to avoid.
So instead, they’d kept their relationship low-key over the past few months, particularly for that first month, to avoid any questions about potential power imbalances. Only family and a few close friends were in on their secret while they waited for the right time to disclose their relationship at work.
Filling out the HR paperwork was something neither of them had been eager to get to, but by the time Samira had taken her place as an attending, Jack had been ready to shout about their relationship from the rooftops. She had taken pity on him and scheduled a meeting.
Even during the secrecy of their relationship, Samira had never felt so happy, and she feels it even more so now that they’re official at work too. Jack treats Samira a million times better than any other guy she’s dated. She’s never had anyone be like this with her before, and she loves it.
Jack buys her new flowers each time the old ones start to wilt. He takes her out to dinner on their days off and breakfast when they’re on shift, but he also knows her so well to be able to tell when she’d rather stay in without her needing to say anything at all. He takes Samira on dates to places she’d never even thought about going to but happen to be right up her alley anyway. Sometimes they sit in comfortable silence, and other times they talk for hours on end about anything from journal articles to plans for the future and everything in between. And then there’s also the fact that the sex is still as mind-blowing as it was in the hotel room in Boston.
He’s so good to her that sometimes she doesn’t know what to do with all of it, unused to being so utterly cared for by someone else.
Samira has also never loved someone like she loves Jack. He’s the first person she thinks to tell when something good happens, the person she goes to when it’s something bad. She thinks of him so often that, frankly, it feels a little detrimental to her concentration. She wants him so badly it’s like a physical tether between her body and his, constantly pulling her toward him.
Luckily, she doesn't have to be too far from him now since he’d asked her to move in.
At first she’d been wary of living together so soon, but her lease had been up at the start of July, and since she hadn’t initially planned to stay at PTMC, she’d had nowhere else lined up. So when Jack had offered, Samira had decided she would stay in his guest room until she could find somewhere else.
That had lasted all of five minutes before Jack had pulled her into his own bed.
The pretence of Samira looking for other places to live had lasted a little longer, but sharing space had come so easily to them that she didn’t want to leave and Jack didn’t seem to want to let her either. Not to mention that his accessible shower makes a great space for quick pre-shift sex.
Which is where Samira finds herself now.
It hadn’t been a conscious decision to initiate it, but she’d suddenly found herself in his lap, his strong thighs solid beneath her from his position on the built-in shower bench.
The falling water creates a smooth glide of skin on skin. Jack's hands settle on Samira’s waist to steady her. His already hardening cock slides against her entrance and his head falls back with a groan. Samira reaches down to wrap a hand around his length before he claims her mouth with his own. She strokes him languidly as her hips rock forward, arousal pooling low in her gut.
“So good for me,” Jack moans, sending a jolt of pleasure through Samira, which is only heightened as he thumbs her clit, making her hips stutter forward.
His hand travels downward, two fingers sliding into her with ease. Samira gasps as he curls them inside her, but she can’t help but want more. She needs his cock inside her now.
“Jack, please.” Samira isn’t above begging.
His fingers slide out of her, and Samira guides his cock to her entrance, impatient. The slow press inside makes her bite her lip to stifle a moan.
“Let me hear you, baby,” Jack pleads.
His thick cock presses deeper inside, and the small noises Samira lets out echo against the tile as he fills her, not slowing until she’s fully seated. It’s too much and not enough all at once.
Then he starts to move her, a firm grip on her hips as he lifts her, pulling out so he’s barely notched inside her and he thrusts up, deep and purposeful. Samira feels every inch dragging against her sensitive walls.
Her hands slide up Jack's chest, one coming to rest on his shoulder and the other gaining purchase in his curls. Samira tugs him by the hair, tipping his head back and exposing his neck. She trails a line of greedy, wet, open-mouthed kisses. It has the intended effect, causing Jack’s grip on her hips to loosen, allowing Samira to regain control, setting her own rhythm as she rides him.
Samira can feel the pressure building, and she clenches just to hear the delicious sounds Jack makes. She can tell he’s close too.
“Fuck, Samira, just like that.”
Samira braces one hand on the wall as Jack guides her into a rough grind, one of his hands finding her clit again.
“God, Jack. Keep going.”
The shower still cascades around them, water sluicing down Jack's chest, droplets drawn to the V of his hips before they slide away. Samira can’t look away.
His fingers tangle in her hair as he cups the back of her head, kissing her deeply. Samira has lost all coherent thought as their kisses slow, turning to merely panting into each other's open mouths. She tips over the edge, a broken cry tumbling from her mouth alongside Jack’s name as she comes.
Jack continues to thrust up into Samira, losing rhythm until he follows her over the edge, hips stuttering as he spills deep inside her.
Samira presses her forehead against his as they catch their breath, smiles wide on both their faces and ‘love you’s whispered between them.
Jack pulls out with a shudder, and she can’t help but whimper at the loss of him, cum dripping out and mixing with the water down the drain.
“I’ve got you. Let me clean us up,” Jack requests with a small kiss to Samira’s cheek.
He does so with practised ease, and a gentleness that always makes Samira melt. She feels a relaxed energy settle over their morning, and a small part of her wishes she could just stay in this moment with Jack’s gentle hands supporting her.
A notification buzzes on her phone from its place on the vanity. Samira wipes the shower glass to rid it of the condensation so that she can try to read whether it’s important. In doing so, she spots the time.
“Oh fuck, Jack, we’re gonna be late.”
The rest of their morning predictably ends up in a mad dash to get ready, scrambling for scrubs, badges, stethoscopes, and bags, before grabbing something quick for breakfast as they head out the door. They’ll just have to make do with eating in the car.
As they miraculously make it to the entrance with a couple of minutes to spare, Samira notices that they’ve picked up each other's badges. She laughs lightly, knowing that this is far from the first time this has happened, swapping them over quickly before they make it inside. It’s best to avoid having an easy target for ribbing from their coworkers.
There's been a bit of a mix-up on this week's scheduling, meaning that today’s night shift has three attendings, with both them and Shen on shift—not that Samira’s complaining, but Gloria might be.
They drop their bags at the lockers and make their way to the hub, finding Shen already waiting with coffee in hand, looking far too happy to be at work.
Handoff goes smoothly, and they all meet up at the hub again for Jack’s little chant that Samira would never admit to him but is completely endeared by. It does pump up the team and get them ready for a good shift; she’ll give him that.
Unfortunately, any hopes of an easygoing shift are shattered with Shen’s next words.
“Do you think it’ll be a quiet one today?” he asks after a long sip of his drink.
“Seriously, Shen. What is wrong with you?” Crus whacks him on the arm.
“What? It’s not real.” Shen shrugs, unbothered.
“Oh, you’ve done it now.” Lena groans from her place behind the desk. “Saying it is bad enough, but daring the curse to prove you wrong is a terrible idea.”
As if summoned, sirens sound from the ambulance bay and the phone begins to ring, bringing what Samira’s gut is telling her can only be some sort of complex trauma. She’s also willing to bet there will be an influx of patients in chairs any second now.
“Dude, how could you?” Mateo sighs as he passes them. “It was already looking too packed in chairs.”
“Alright, everyone, let’s get to work.” Jack claps, directing staff to the ambulance bay, patient rooms and triage.
Samira falls into step beside him, and the first few hours pass in a blur of patients and diagnoses. Of intubations, chest tubes, wound irrigation and stitches. It all comes to her with practised ease, she and Jack making an unstoppable team.
Things finally calm down around two. Samira’s waiting on discharge for a couple of her patients, the police to take a statement from the GBH victim in north five, and for labs to come back for her patient in twelve.
The officers pass them on their way to take the victim’s statement about the assault, weaving through the people in the hallway. Samira just hopes that they find the person who did it.
Suddenly Shen snaps his fingers with a smile on his face.
“I just remembered what I wanted to ask when you came back from the conference,” he says happily. “Did you guys visit the Boston cop slide?”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Shen?” Jack asks, not even looking up from the chart he’s reading, clearly used to hearing nonsensical questions from him.
“Samira, you must have seen the video, right?” Shen directs his questioning to her instead.
“I have no clue what video you mean either,” she admits.
“You guys are useless. I miss Ellis,” he bemoans.
“What are we, chopped liver?” Jack asks, offended.
“Incoming trauma, ETA two minutes,” Lena calls over to them, saving Shen from having to respond and digging a deeper hole for himself.
“Thanks, Lena.” Jack acknowledges the warning as he pushes himself up from his spot at the computer.
Samira makes a move to follow, but Mateo appears by her side, halting her in her tracks.
“Dr Mohan, here are the labs for your patient in twelve.” Mateo hands them over with a flourish.
Samira frowns down at them, not liking what she sees. Jack peers over her shoulder briefly before he speaks.
“We’ve got this, Mohan, go save your patient.” Jack gives her hand a squeeze before motioning for Shen to follow him.
Samira pulls Crus to assist with the patient. The labs show signs of hyperkalemia bordering on the more severe end, and she doesn’t hesitate to begin calling out orders to make sure the patient's heart is stabilised and to start the process of lowering the potassium levels. The others move around her with an easy flow, following her lead to get the infusion set up.
“We will have to keep you here to monitor you for the rest of the night. Dr Henderson here will be in to check on you, and we’ll give you instructions before you leave about how to keep your potassium levels down.” Samira informs the man with a kind smile before she exits the room.
She heads over to the hub and places her tablet back in the charging rack, debating whether to go assist with the trauma now that she’s free or whether it’s best to pick up another patient. Samira gives a quick scan of the board before turning her gaze to the trauma bay doors.
As if he senses her looking, Jack glances up and catches her eyes through the glass. Instead of beckoning her over, he just grins and gives her a thumbs-up through the door as if to say they have it covered. Samira can’t help but smile back before she watches him resume directing Nazley through the trauma.
“Dr Abbot is down bad for you,” Mateo teases, startling her. It seems he has a habit of doing that.
“I don’t know how anyone believes Abbot’s a womaniser; that man is a real wife guy.” Crus chimes in from the other side of the desk, as he sits down to chart.
“Wife guy?” Samira questions. She’s not as up to date on internet slang as the others her age seem to think she is.
“You know, he’s the type of guy who’s all in.” Crus shrugs as if it’s self-explanatory. “He’s probably ready for you guys to elope at any second.”
“Yeah, he’s like perfect husband material,” Mateo adds with a laugh.
Samira hadn’t even considered this. She wants to get married, yes, but her career has always been first in her mind. Now she can’t help but wonder if she’s wife material. She’s spent so long being reliant on herself that maybe she’s not made for this.
Over the last couple of months, she’s realised how nice it is to not have to be so solitary, so independent. It’s been wonderful to have someone in her corner. So Samira isn’t even sure why she’s panicking. Jack knows her on a level no one else does. He knows what she’s like; he wouldn’t be with her if he didn’t like it. But she’s never felt like this—so in love—and she desperately wants to be the type of person Jack deserves to marry.
Her spiral is fortunately cut short by said man appearing at her side.
“Patient stable?” she asks, world narrowing to just Jack in front of her.
“Yeah, yours?” he murmurs in response.
“All good now,” she confirms.
“Lovebirds, you’ve got patients to see,” Shen says, having procured another full Dunkin’ coffee from somewhere.
“Watch it, Shen,” Jack says in half-serious warning. “You’ve already invoked the wrath of the nurses for daring to speak the q-word; it’s thin ice you’re walking on. I’ll get you stuck on days for the next month if you’re not careful.”
“No, please, they’re all too serious on day shift. And Robby heavily judges my caffeine intake.” Shen complains. “I don’t know how Ellis does it.”
Samira filters out the rest of their bickering, scanning the board for her next patient as Jack's knuckles brush against hers on the counter.
The ambulance bay doors swinging open decide her next patient for her. She spots the prison jumpsuit on the patient and the cuffs chaining him to the gurney. She lets herself be wary, prepared for anything, but she won’t let it affect her patient care.
“What have we got?” She directs the question at either of the two prison guards hovering next to the patient. One of them looks like your typical tough guy in a position of power, and the other guy looks too meek and a little like it’s his first day on the job. Samira will have to keep an eye on them.
“The prisoner has a large gash that requires stitches.” The first guard takes charge, just as she expected. “All the medical staff are off sick. We were supposed to go to Presby, but there’s been an accident, so we had to come here instead.”
“Okay, stitches we can definitely do. What’s your name?” Samira asks the patient, the first guard looking displeased that she’s talking directly to the patient and not talking around him like he isn’t there.
“Adrian Laker,” the man says gruffly.
“Okay Adrian, let’s get you sorted out,” she responds, directing the gurney into one of the behavioural rooms. While she cannot make assumptions about the patient, she needs to think about the safety of her staff.
If she were still on day shift, Samira suspects that Robby would have followed, questioning her capability and whether she could handle this case. With the night shift, there’s none of that. Jack has remained at his spot by the hub, trusting her to help this patient without question. He knows she’s more than capable, and she loves him for that, for his unwavering support of her capabilities as a doctor. And it’s not just him. None of the night shift calls her ‘Slo-Mo’; none of them doubt her. That is the most notable difference Samira has felt over the last few months. She’s never been more grateful for the transition.
Mateo is already prepping the room, and Nazely follows just behind Samira, clearly hoping to soak up as much of this experience as she can.
Once the gurney is in Behavioural One, Samira requests that the guards remove the handcuffs so that the patient can move to the bed.
There’s no resistance from the patient, no hint of combativeness, and yet the first guard seems to have it out for him, the second one following his lead. There’s a roughness to their movements that Samira does not appreciate. She reads his chart as they resecure the patient to the bed. There’s no history of violence or any warnings within his paperwork about him being a danger.
“Excuse me,” Samira says to the guards, “I’d like you to wait outside until we are done.”
The first guard goes to argue, but Samira interrupts before he can say something undoubtedly rude. “Mr Laker cannot go anywhere. He cannot leave this room. He does not need you two hovering while I do his stitches.”
Both guards look unhappy about it, but they move to stand outside without further argument.
Samira goes about her work the same way she would with any other patient, treating him with compassion and dignity regardless of what he might’ve done to land him in prison. She talks Adrian through each step, beginning the first stitch when she confirms that the area has been numbed. He sits quietly as she works, and it’s not until the last couple of stitches that he speaks.
“Hey Doc, do you think someone can be good even after having done bad things?”
Samira contemplates the question for a moment, trying to gather her words into something coherent before she speaks.
“I think that sometimes, the environment someone grows up in, or the people that surround them, can influence decision-making and even limit the choices you make. But the choices someone makes to survive don’t necessarily define a person—I think it’s more so in the choices you make now to do better than you did the day before.”
“Kind of like soft determinism, right?” Adrian asks, and Samira nods, remembering that term from one of the psych classes she had in undergrad.
Nazely looks surprised at his knowledge, making Adrian laugh before he adds, “I’ve had a lot of time on my hands. Read a lot more books than I used to.”
“Yes,” Samira says, going back to his question. “People’s decisions aren’t set in stone, but when you have limited options in the moment, you’re more likely to do what's necessary even if it isn’t the right thing.”
Samira pauses, tying the final stitch, before she says, “But I think if you were truly a bad person, you wouldn’t be worried about it or about trying to be better, so it seems to me like you’re already on the right track.”
“Thank you for the stitches, and for not treating me differently.”
Samira smiles kindly. “I’ll try to make sure they stay outside until you’re discharged, and I’ll get that paperwork started now.”
Samira and Nazely return to the hub, and Abbot materialises beside her.
“Heard the guards were giving your patient trouble. Also heard you shut it down like a pro.”
Samira huffs out a laugh. “Just doing my job.”
“Exactly. Greatest doctor I know,” Jack says with total sincerity.
Samira can’t help the blush spreading over her cheeks.
“Alright, loverboy, tone it down on the compliments. You’ve got that trauma incoming, one minute out.” Lena reminds him.
Jack just grins wider, snapping on a pair of gloves and motioning for Samira to follow him out to the ambulance bay.
The rest of the shift is much of the same, a steady stream of patients from chairs and ambulance arrivals. And while the shift has been manic since Shen uttered the q-word, Samira survives the rest of the shift with no casualties, which is as good as it can get. Now all she needs is to go home to their bed, sleep already calling her.
—
Jack takes Samira’s bag from her as soon as she opens her locker. She looks dead on her feet standing next to him, and he’s glad he was the one to drive them in today. It wasn't a bad shift, but it was non-stop, and he would like to get them home as soon as possible.
Jack had handed off to Al-Hashimi with an efficiency he knew she appreciated. Before Samira, he would’ve likely hung around for longer, always spending more time at the hospital than he did at home, but now he has someone to go home with. Being with her has truly worked a miracle on his work-life balance.
They step out into the bright mid-August morning, and he guides Samira to his car, her hand warm in his. The energy in the car is muted, but there’s a comfortability Jack knows he wouldn’t get with anyone else, content to let them both sit in their tiredness.
Both he and Samira had managed to get the next two shifts off, thankfully allowing them to get some sleep before Samira meets his family. It also means that they won’t have to leave the barbecue early to get back in time for work. Technically, they now have three free days. Their sleep schedule might get slightly messed up after this, but that’s the price you have to pay when you’re on night shift. Jack knows that all too well.
They make it home in record time, dragging themselves to bed after speed-eating reheated leftovers, and practically succumbing to sleep before their heads even hit the pillows.
Jack wakes from the much-needed rest in the early afternoon, still probably not enough hours, but more than he used to get before Samira moved in. He’ll take the small wins when he can get them.
He leaves her to sleep a little longer, kissing Samira’s temple as he gently slides himself from her embrace. Usually, he wouldn’t bother reattaching his prosthetic, typically using crutches to get around without it, but Jack has a plan for breakfast that requires his hands free. He slides on the liner and secures the leg before he makes his way to the kitchen, beelining for the coffee machine.
It’s not even five minutes later that Samira enters the kitchen looking sleep-rumpled and entirely put out by Jack's absence from their bed.
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Your alarm wouldn’t have gone off for a while. We still have time to get stuff done this afternoon,” Jack reassures. “I was going to make you breakfast in bed.”
He holds up the pan to emphasise. Samira makes no move to go back to their room—in fact, she steps closer to Jack as if she doesn’t want him to stray too far.
“Well, you weren’t in bed,” she mumbles, face now pressed into his side as her arms come around to hold him.
“You could get back in bed, and we can pretend I’m still surprising you with breakfast,” he tries. “I won’t be long.”
He can tell she’s about to argue that she’s already in the kitchen and that there’s no point, so he adds, “Pretty please.”
“Fine,” she relents with a small smile, “but be quick, or I’m coming back out here.”
And with that she turns on her heel, grabbing a printed journal article from the table as she goes.
He scraps his elaborate plan and keeps breakfast simple, not wanting to keep Samira from his presence any longer than he has to. He assembles the bacon and egg sandwiches, putting the plates on a tray alongside the glasses of orange juice.
Samira lights up when he enters the room and places the tray in front of her, careful not to spill the drinks. He puts the glasses of juice on his nightstand before they have any spills on the sheets.
“Thank you, Jack. Love you.” She gives him a quick kiss before picking up her plate.
“Anything interesting?” Jack asks, gesturing at the article on her nightstand.
“Probably, but I couldn’t focus on it,” she says in between bites. “I reread the first two lines like five times and then gave up.”
Jack knows Samira, and he knows she’s been secretly stressing about meeting his family tomorrow for weeks now. He’d already had to stop her from looking up recipes yesterday and trying to bake something to bring with them, when they both know Samira hates baking.
The last time she’d tried to make cookies, they’d melted into one big interconnected blob in the oven, and whilst they were delicious, they had been very ugly, which was clearly not acceptable in Samira’s book. That night, a very dejected Samira had sworn off baking, and Jack hadn’t argued. So why she would want to do that again just for Jack’s parents was beyond him, but they’d come up with an alternate solution.
He takes her hand, thumb stroking in a calming rhythm over her knuckles. “Samira, baby. I know my family won’t care about whether you bring anything, but I know it will make you feel better not turning up empty-handed. We have until six thirty to get to the florist. We’re good.”
Samira squeezes his hand in acknowledgement. “Yeah, you’re right, I know. We have plenty of time. I’m calm.”
Jack can’t help but laugh at how untrue that last part is, and she gives him a scowl in return. He uses that as an excuse to plant kisses all over her face until she’s smiling again.
The afternoon light streams through the kitchen window as they go about their morning routines. Jack washes the dishes, getting Samira to pick a record to play to stop her from trying to help. He’s not sure his attempts at making her relax have been working so far—maybe music will help. Sounds of Neil Young’s Harvest carry them through their tasks until the record stops just as they're putting on their shoes.
Jack happens to be a regular at this particular florist they’re headed to. He’s been coming here since he moved to this part of Pittsburgh, but it’s the first time he’s brought Samira here.
He’d initially met the owner, Gina, at the hospital years ago when she’d come in with a sprained ankle. Coincidentally, her store had been the one he’d visited not long after that in search of flowers to bring to the cemetery.
Since then they’d struck up an odd sort of friendship. Gina’s dry sense of humour was something Jack had appreciated, even in the midst of his grief, and despite being only twenty-something, she had a level of insightfulness he didn’t see in a lot of people.
Eventually, when his loss began to feel less raw, he’d started sharing things about his late wife. Gina herself had also experienced significant loss, and so they’d begun to trade stories each time he came in to buy more flowers.
At some point down the line, the stories about his life moved from past to present, and he couldn’t help it when Samira’s name kept coming up. Gina and her girlfriend had apparently noticed immediately and were more than delighted when he came back from Boston and finally told them he was buying flowers for her. They’d practically interrogated him, not that he needed much prompting to talk about how great Samira is.
The bell jingles as he holds the door open for Samira, stepping into the store behind her.
“Oh hello, Dr Abbot!” Gina waves at him from behind the counter, her recently dyed hair matching the dark red flowers of the bouquet in front of her.
“Hello, Gina. Is Clara here too?”
“Yeah, she’s out back,” she says, still half-focused on arranging the flowers until she looks up again and realises Jack isn’t alone. “Wait. Clara, get out here!”
She’d called out over her shoulder in the direction of the beaded curtain that leads out back, but her full attention is now turned to the two of them in between the flower displays.
“You must be the wonderful Samira Mohan,” Gina says with what must only be described as pure glee.
Clara pushes through the beaded curtain, halting in her tracks at what she sees. Jack resigns himself to their inevitable gushing.
“Oh my god,” Clara says, just as giddy as her girlfriend. “You are beautiful. We’ve heard so much about you.”
Samira takes it all in stride, only a slight flush to her cheeks. “Hi! Gina and Clara, right?”
She knows the story of how he became a regular here, but Jack might’ve failed to mention how much her name comes up in conversation.
“Oh, so he does have the ability to talk about someone other than you,” Gina teases lightheartedly. “You should hear him. Literally everything he says always comes back to you somehow.”
“It’s very sweet,” Clara chimes in. “It’s nice to finally put a face to a name.”
“Likewise. Your flowers are always lovely.”
“I’ll take partial credit, but he’s surprisingly good at picking flowers for you. Usually men need so much guidance. They’re useless at choosing. Jack here is a keeper,” Gina says conspiratorially.
If he and Samira weren’t already together, Gina would make one hell of a wingwoman.
“Surely you’re not going to buy Samira flowers in front of her? It would ruin the surprise,” Clara questions, pulling herself up to sit on the counter, wisps of blonde hair falling free of her updo.
“No, I'm meeting Jack's family tomorrow and want to bring flowers for his mother.”
“Ooh, okay. Hold on,” Gina says with a twinkle in her eye. “I’ve got some options that are perfect for this.”
Jack and Samira watch as she traverses the small store, picking up bouquets as she goes. He’s never seen someone with such a spring in their step. In the end, Gina places five different arrangements on the counter, each a beautiful array of flowers of different sizes and colours.
Samira seems to be immediately drawn to the pink and white bouquet. She picks it up gently to get a better look.
On closer inspection, Jack sees a mix of pink and white carnations, light pink peonies and a few purple irises scattered within. Both women at the counter seem to think Samira has made a good decision.
“A wonderful choice,” Gina says. “The carnations express gratitude. Irises often symbolise wisdom and can be a way to convey respect and admiration. Peonies symbolise prosperity and good fortune and can be a statement of appreciation. So this is the perfect sort of combination for meeting Jack's mom.”
“She’ll definitely love them,” Jack agrees.
“Okay, this one it is,” Samira says, sounding relieved that they’d found the right flowers.
Jack pays before Samira can, and as much as she protests, he doesn’t feel bad in the slightest.
“I think if I missed even a week of paying for flowers here, they’d cancel my card for suspicious activity,” he jokes, and he knows he’s got her when a small smile breaks through in Samira’s attempt to not laugh.
To make up for it, on the walk back, Jack drags Samira into stores he knows she secretly wants to go in. They browse bookshelves, record crates and thrift store rails. He even convinces Samira to spend some of her new attending salary on things she wants but doesn’t need—the best kind of purchase in his opinion.
As they get closer to Jack’s, they walk past a jewellery store, and he sees Samira’s eyes catch on the wedding rings on display. For a moment, he worries that she somehow knows, before he dismisses that idea. He’s done nothing to give it away, and there’s no way she’s found it already.
Jack knows that it might be a little crazy, but after a shift without Samira that ran long, he’d driven past a jewellery store not far from the hospital. Before he could blink, he’d parked the car and made his way inside. It was like he’d been pulled toward it, like it was where he was meant to be, his feet moving before his brain had time to catch up.
He had left that store with a ring he could picture perfectly sliding into place on Samira’s ring finger. He’s not even sure he’d looked at the price, just gave the woman behind the counter his card, and accepted the ring box placed into his palm.
The ring has remained hidden in his room since then. Not in the typical sock drawer location—their laundry is always mixed together, so it would be more than likely that she would find it if she went to put his clean socks away. No, instead, Jack hid it in a place he knows she’ll never look. It sits in an old toolbox on the top shelf in the breaker cupboard. And there it will stay until the right time.
Jack can’t help but feel a little antsy, though, when Samira looks back again at the display as they pass.
“Would you want to marry me?”
It comes out of her like she hadn’t quite meant to say it aloud. By the wide-eyed look on her face, it’s clear her mouth moved before her brain could catch up. She definitely doesn’t know about the ring then. Jack loves her so much.
“Yes, I want to marry you, Samira,” he says with no doubt in his mind. “But I know your career is the most important thing for you, so I have no plans to rush this.”
“Oh, okay,” she breathes out, sounding adorably relieved.
“Is this something you’ve been worried about?” he asks softly.
“No, I mean, maybe. I’ve just never had this before, you know, where I’m thinking about the future with someone else in it too. I wasn’t sure I would get this. I just wanted to be sure that was something you wanted, with me.”
Jack hears the slight self-deprecation in that last part. That won’t do at all.
“Samira, sweetheart, you’re it for me. I am certain about you, about wanting you to be my wife. But this is not an impulsive thing, and I am not an impatient man, so I will wait until it is the right time for us before I propose.”
“Jack, you can’t just say something so romantic in the middle of the street where I can’t do anything about it.”
“Well, let’s get home then, shall we?” Jack laughs, and if they walk home a little faster than normal, that’s nobody's business but their own.
—
Samira wakes up after less sleep than she would like before such an important event, but that’s the problem with being so used to night shift hours. Now that she’s so adjusted to waking up in the late afternoon, it no longer feels natural to wake up in the morning light.
She leaves Jack to sleep, disentangling herself from his hold. She’s reluctant to leave the warmth of their bed, but she needs enough time to shower before they hit the road.
By the time she exits the bathroom, hair still damp around her shoulders, Jack is sitting up in bed, looking bleary-eyed. His curls are unruly from sleep, and Samira has never seen a more beautiful sight.
“Hello, handsome,” she greets him, moving to stand in front of him as he swings his leg over the side of the bed.
“Hi, beautiful,” Jack replies, voice still gravelly and rough from sleep.
He pulls her closer until she’s standing between his thighs, and Samira leans down to give him a chaste kiss. Before his hands can travel any further up her bare legs and under her towel, she steps out of his reach with a smile.
“We don’t have time for that,” she laughs, ignoring his pout. “You need to hurry up and get ready. It’s going to be at least a three-hour drive to Harrisburg, and we need to get there by twelve.”
“Aye aye, Captain,” Jack says, giving her a mock salute with a cheeky smile.
Samira rolls her eyes, suppressing her own smile as he grabs his crutches and heads into the bathroom. She pulls the white knee-length summer dress with the little orange flowers from the wardrobe and slips it on.
From the bathroom, Jack gives her a double thumbs-up with his toothbrush still in his mouth. She loves him so much. She wishes they did have more time before they have to leave, but she absolutely will not be late to meet his family.
She dries her hair, deciding to leave it down in her natural curls. Jack moves around the room behind her, attaching his prosthetic before putting on a plain white short-sleeve shirt and moss green shorts.
As soon as they’re both ready, Jack drives them to pick up some coffee and breakfast to eat on the way, and Samira settles in for the drive.
She doesn’t quite know what to expect from the afternoon. Samira and her mother aren’t close like Jack is with his parents, and being an only child, Samira’s never experienced the closeness of siblings the way he has.
Samira and her mother, Kamala, had never quite gotten back to the relationship they’d had before her father died. At first she hadn’t really understood why her mother's grief widened the distance rather than bringing them together, but Samira thinks it probably didn’t help that she looked so much like him.
Samira had come to realise that reminders of her dad had been everywhere for her mother just like they had for Samira herself, but the problem was that Kamala couldn’t get away from all of it because Samira was the biggest reminder of all. She couldn’t get distance from all those things that triggered her grief without pushing away her own daughter. And whether intentional or not, that is what she did.
Samira once overheard her mother say that whenever she looked at her, she couldn’t help but see his face, and the thing Samira remembers the most is how her mother had sounded when she’d told whoever was on the end of the phone that night about how much she couldn’t stand it sometimes. That’s when Samira understood that things would likely never be the same again.
There had been times when it was hard and times when it was better, but by the time Samira had finished med school, they’d drifted further apart until they only rarely talked on the phone. But despite all that, Samira still loved her mother, and it had been just the two of them together against the world, no matter how apart they’d truly been. And it’s not like any of her other family members made an effort to be there for the two of them.
Everything to do with the rocky relationship she has with her mother, and the lack of other family members to turn to over the years, has only made her more nervous for today. That and the fact that Samira has had exactly zero experience with meeting someone’s family like this before. None of her previous relationships had ever been that serious or made it that far if they were. It’s been just Samira and her mother for so long that she’s not used to having any sort of normal family gatherings at all.
Frankly, she’s terrified of how today might go, especially now as they’re pulling into park on his parents' drive. The fear only worsens as they make their way up the front path, her heart in her throat as Jack brings his hand up to knock. She’s wildly unprepared.
As if sensing her internal panic, Jack brings their interlocked fingers up to his mouth to press a reassuring kiss to the back of her hand. It calms her for all of two seconds before the door swings open and her heart rate skyrockets again.
The smiling face of Jack’s mother greets her, the seventy-year-old woman pulling her into a hug immediately. Samira stiffens slightly before relaxing into it, relieved at such a warm welcome.
“It’s so lovely to finally meet you, Samira. We’ve heard so much about you. Come in, come in.” Mandy pulls back from the hug and ushers them inside.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Mandy.” Samira had already been briefed by Jack that his parents wouldn’t accept being called Mr and Mrs Abbot, so first-name basis it was. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“These are for you,” Samira adds, handing Mandy the bouquet that Jack has promised she’ll love.
“You didn’t have to do that, Samira, but thank you.” Mandy smiles happily as she takes the flowers. “These are lovely.”
Samira follows Mandy down the hallway, eyeing the framed family photos as she goes. In every picture, the family are sporting big grins. Samira can tell Jack grew up surrounded by a lot of love.
Mandy turns back to look at Samira and Jack with the same big grin Samira can see in the photos, clearly excited to have her son home and to be able to meet Samira too. She guides them into the kitchen, placing the flowers in a vase before offering Samira a drink. She readily accepts, taking the glass of lemonade from Mandy with a thank you.
Jack immediately opens the fridge to look for something to eat, evidently a regular occurrence when he visits, given the exasperated look his mother gives him.
“Seriously, Jack. It won’t be long until food is ready. Don’t be delving through the fridge. There’s enough barbecue food out there to feed a small army. Stop it.” Mandy smacks his hand away with no real force, shutting the fridge in an attempt to stop his pilfering.
Jack looks rather pleased with himself, even after the admonishment from his mother, having managed to swipe a brownie before the fridge door closed. He takes a bite before his mother can protest, looking victorious until she sends a glare his way.
“Jack Abbot, get out of my kitchen so I can finish the potato salad,” Mandy says with no real heat behind the words, clearly suppressing a smile. “Samira, keep him out of trouble for me, will you, dear?”
Jack laughs boyishly, pulling Samira after him into the living room. It’s nice to see him so unguarded here with his family.
“Already getting into trouble, are we, Jack?” Walsh greets them, with Jack's younger sister, Kate, at her side. “How’s the hospital going to survive without the three of us? I’m surprised we all got last night off, and none of us got shafted by admin. I mean, I could’ve rocked up sleep-deprived and powered through, but I’m glad we didn’t have to.”
“I had to cash in on a favour I had from Ellis to make this work.” Jack laughs. “Luckily everyone loves Samira, even admin, so she had nothing to worry about.”
“Hi Samira, it’s so lovely to finally get to meet you in person,” Kate says before hugging her in greeting. They’d meant to organise meeting up sooner since Kate lived with Walsh in Pittsburgh, but none of them had found the time, so they’d had to wait for today.
“Lucy is around here somewhere,” Kate adds. “She’s excited to see you.”
“I’m excited to see her too. Hopefully I can make a good second impression in person,” Samira responds.
“Oh, you have nothing to worry about. That phone call was delightful. I like you already.” Kate says the last part as though she’s letting Samira in on a secret. It makes Samira wish she’d had a sister of her own. She thinks that would’ve been nice.
At least after having spoken to both Kate and Lucy over the phone while she and Jack were in Boston, it had made coming here today feel slightly less daunting for Samira. She had, however, yet to speak to Jack’s older sister, Andrea. That was a first impression she was really hoping to nail.
Jack leads her outside onto the patio. She spots Lucy and her two cousins at the end of the garden in the playhouse, and Jack’s dad over at the barbecue. He gives Samira a wave with a smile but turns back to the grill to flip the burgers. Then there in one of the garden chairs sits Andrea. She stands up as soon as she sees the both of them, and to Samira’s surprise she walks straight past Jack in front to greet Samira first.
“Hi Samira, it’s so lovely to finally meet you. I was worried he would never pluck up the courage to tell you how he felt, but I’m very glad he did.” Andrea pulls her in for a hug.
“Hi, Andrea. I’m glad he did too, and it’s great to finally get to meet you,” Samira replies.
“You’re a good influence on him.” Andrea laughs. “He never takes time off work.”
“I think I’m probably just as bad as him when it comes to time off, so maybe we’ve been a good influence on each other.”
“Samira has been known to work too many doubles in a row, but I like to think that our workaholic tendencies cancelled each other out somehow,” Jack agrees.
Suddenly, Lucy comes running up with her cousins in tow.
“Hello Samira!” She greets before she turns to her cousins excitedly. “Leo, Ellie, this is my friend Samira. She’s Uncle Jack’s girlfriend, isn’t that cool?”
“Hi Samira!” They say in unison, Ellie sounding a little more shy than her brother, and before Samira can respond, they all run off again.
“Be careful, you two,” Andrea calls out to her kids as they accidentally run into each other.
She turns back to Samira and Jack. “Sorry about them, someone gave them candy, and they’re a bit hyper.”
“Where’s Jamie?” Jack asks.
Samira knew that Andrea’s husband was meant to be here today, but like Jack, she doesn’t see him.
“One of the guys at the station had to call out because his wife went into labour, so Jamie agreed to cover because he can never say no to his captain. It’s my fault for marrying a firefighter,” Andrea jokes.
“You two should come to Pittsburgh soon. I’m sure Mom would love to watch the kids,” Jack suggests.
“We’ll definitely take you up on that,” she says with a smile. “You guys should go say hi to Dad, he’s a bit preoccupied. I’ll go see if Mom needs any help inside.”
They make their way over to where Jack’s dad, John, is now adding sausages to the barbecue. He turns at their approach with a wide smile on his face, pronounced crow's feet crinkling at the corners of his eyes.
“Jack,” he exclaims, clapping his son on the shoulder before he turns his attention to Samira.
“Hi Samira, welcome,” John says, offering his hand to shake.
Samira shakes his hand with a firm grip and says, “Hi John, thank you for having me.”
“She’s got a better handshake than you, Jack,” John jokes. “I like you already, Samira. I hope you're hungry because Mandy bought way too much food.”
Mandy comes outside with Andrea, Kate, and Emery in tow, all carrying different bowls and plates to the table. Samira immediately offers to help.
“No, no, Samira, you’re our guest. Jack can grab what’s left in the kitchen. You come sit.”
Samira knows there would be no point in arguing, so she sits in the chair Mandy pulls out for her as the woman moves to sit beside her. Jack’s sisters leave a spot for him on the other side of her.
They call over the kids, and Lucy asks to sit across from Samira, Kate on one side opposite Mandy and Emery on the other, across from Jack's seat. Andrea takes up the seat at the end of the table, her kids either side of her.
Jack comes back with multiple plates in hand, and Samira wonders if he ever worked at a restaurant with the surprising balance he has with the dishes. He slides into the empty seat next to her as John takes up the seat at the head of the table, placing a tray full of burgers and hot dogs in the middle of the table.
Everyone digs into the food, piling their plates high with meat, potatoes, corn and coleslaw. The kids chat away about a game they’d been playing earlier, making sure everyone is listening to them when they begin a convoluted explanation that Samira only half grasps. Looking around the table, it seems she’s not the only one, but the adults continue to nod along as they eat.
When everyone has had their fill of the food at the table, the three children are the first to ask about dessert, shouting excitedly about brownies and ice cream. Kate and Andrea look resigned to the sugar rush that’s undoubtedly about to happen.
Jack eats nearly as many brownies as the kids do, joking that he always has more than enough room for dessert, and once everyone has finished, he and Samira begin clearing plates. She helps to fill the dishwasher despite Mandy’s insistence that she sit down and relax, but Samira can tell that she’s grateful for the help.
The kids are less than happy when they’re told to sit and let their food go down before they run off to play, but they sullenly agree, managing a whole ten minutes while the table is tidied.
Andrea’s made a jug of sangria, and glasses are handed out to all of the adults while the kids run off to play on the trampoline at the bottom of the garden. She moves to sit in Lucy’s now-abandoned seat across from Samira, gathering in closer to have proper conversations now the kids are gone.
Their chatter starts with work updates and questions about whether the grandkids are ready to go back to school. Then the focus shifts to Samira and Jack, with Kate regaling the table with a slightly inaccurate and mostly exaggerated retelling of how the conference in Boston had brought them together after years of pining. The years of pining may be correct, Samira will admit.
“I used to think that Samira forgot about me until I was in front of her.” Jack laughs.
“That was probably true at first. I might have been a little too focused on work,” Samira admits.
“It’s like they’re made for each other.” Samira hears John fake-whisper to Mandy.
“No wonder you kept hovering around her and offering up fancy procedures for her to do,” Walsh teases.
“I had to get her attention somehow,” Jack jokes back.
“Was your next attempt getting shirtless at work?” Kate asks with a laugh.
“That was not what happened.” Jack protests, throwing his hands up in exasperation, cheeks tinged red.
Kate just laughs harder, with Andrea collapsing into her side, laughing just as hard.
“I know you heard that from Emery, but where did you hear that?” Jack asks, turning his attention to Walsh.
“You left the door open, which means practically the whole emergency room saw so obviously it made its way to me. You know I have the nurses keep me up to date. Perlah’s great for telling me all the day shift gossip,” Walsh laughs while Jack just sighs deeply.
“I mean, it might’ve been unintentional, but it did get my attention,” Samira adds, not having realised how true that was until this very moment. That small part of that otherwise horrible day had certainly been something she hasn’t forgotten.
Her confession delights the entire table, and Jack gets redder despite how cool he tries to play it.
“Uncle Jack, uncle Jack! We need you to help us.” Leo calls over, saving Jack from any more teasing.
The kids have stopped playing on the trampoline and are now on the grass setting up some sort of complicated game involving a hula hoop, skipping rope and a space hopper. Jack heeds their calls and goes straight over, but the game quickly devolves when Samira hears them accuse him of cheating.
Samira watches fondly as Jack plays with his nieces and nephew, laughing as they gang up on him and attempt to tackle him to the floor. They’re not very successful, but before Samira can watch them come up with a new plan of attack, Jack’s sisters grab her attention.
“Follow us,” Kate beckons Samira with a cheeky grin, Andrea sneaking ahead into the house, and Samira follows, curious.
As much as she’d hate to admit, Samira had an irrational fear that she wouldn’t live up to Isabelle. That unconsciously, Jack’s family might be comparing them, and she hadn’t been so sure she could compare to how great his late wife was. But there’s no evidence of that whatsoever, and Samira feels a little lighter at the realisation.
It’s not that Samira was expecting otherwise, but she can’t quite believe how Jack’s family has accepted her so readily. She feels bowled over with how much love and warmth surrounds her.
She's dragged into the living room and down onto the sofa, sitting smushed between Andrea and Kate. A photo album is placed open on her lap, and a very young Jack smiles up at her from the page, with freckled skin and auburn hair catching the sun. The best part about the picture, however, is the dozens of little bows clipped in his hair. Samira grins at the adorable sight, fingers tracing the edge of the photograph.
“We used to make him dress up with us, or play hairdressers.” Kate laughs next to her.
“I’m pretty sure there’s another picture in here with him in one of our princess dresses, clip-on earrings and matching plastic heels,” Andrea says with glee, flipping through the album in an attempt to locate the photo. “I think there was a plastic tiara too.”
It’s at this moment that Jack enters the room, clearly looking for her, until he pauses to take in the sight in front of him.
“Hey, you better not be showing Samira embarrassing pictures of me.”
“When else are we meant to show them. It’s either now or your wedding,” Andrea says mischievously.
“Or both,” Kate chimes in.
“Great idea.” Andrea agrees, looking as if she’s already planning it out.
Jack just rolls his eyes at the two of them conspiring to embarrass him further.
Before, Samira might’ve been worried about wedding talk, no matter how hypothetical it was, but she feels completely at ease as Jack comes to sit down next to them, squishing them in even more. He begins pointing out some of his favourite memories from the photos on the page, and Samira knows that this is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and the family she wants to be surrounded by.
—
Jack knew that his family would end up convincing them to stay long after dinner was over, and he’d had the foresight to book a hotel for the night so that neither of them had to drive back so late.
He hadn’t been worried for a second about Samira meeting his family. He knew they’d all love her as much as he does. They’d left his parents' house with far too many leftovers and with promises to do it again soon, all clearly eager to see Samira again. She’d looked like she didn't quite believe it when his parents had enthusiastically told her that she's welcome back any time.
As he unlocks the door to the hotel room with the keycard, Samira's phone continues to chime in her pocket.
Before they’d left his parents' house, his sisters had convinced Samira to let them add her to a group chat for the three of them. His sisters, as he knew all too well, loved to talk about complete nonsense in group chats and wouldn’t hesitate to create a spam of triple or even quadruple texts.
“You know, if my sisters ever get a bit too much, you can tell them to shut up. Or I can tell them to shut up because you’re too nice to do it,” Jack says, watching as she puts her phone on silent while she kicks off her shoes.
“No, it’s okay. It’s actually quite nice,” she responds, and he can tell that’s not a lie.
Jack knows that Samira could have used a couple of siblings to make her childhood feel a little less lonely. As annoying as his sisters can be, he's glad to have them. He knew they’d love Samira, and if she’s happy to be bombarded by their messages, then Jack is delighted.
“Well, if you ever change your mind, I do know how to mute group chats,” he offers. “I do it with all the work admin ones.”
“Jack!” she admonishes. “I don’t even know why I’m surprised.”
“What? It’s never anything important anyway. I make Shen tell me if I miss anything,” Jack shrugs.
“You guys are terrible. It’s clearly a good job I’m an attending now,” Samira says, arms crossed in his loose hold.
“Yes, it is,” Jack agrees wholeheartedly and doesn’t protest when she pushes him to sit at the edge of the bed.
Jack can tell they’re both thinking the same thing. It is nice that this time they have one hotel bed on purpose, and it would be a waste not to use it.
He would very much like to pick up from where he had to stop this morning. Jack grabs her arm to drag her closer. Samira stops in between his legs, perfect little dress falling around her knees. His hands slide up her legs, exposing more skin as he goes until her dress is bunched at her waist. Her lacy white panties are on display now right in front of him, and he gets impossibly harder at the sight.
He urges her to help him pull her dress higher. They get the dress over her head, in a less smooth way than Jack would’ve liked, with it getting caught on the way off, but he likes the sound of Samira’s laugh even more. Her hair has ended up in her face, but Jack just brushes it back behind her ears.
He unhooks the matching white bra after a moment of appreciation, exposing her breasts to the cool air of the room. Jack watches Samira shiver as she stands over him. He thumbs her nipples, revelling in the gasp it elicits, before he moves to pull her panties down her legs, dropping them to her feet.
As always, he drinks in the naked sight of her in front of him, hands travelling up her body like he wanted to do so badly this morning. Then in one smooth movement, smoother than the removal of her dress, he has her turned to sit in his lap, back pressed into his chest.
His hands ghost down over her stomach, his right hand drifting further until it finds the wet heat of her. Jack’s fingers find her clit with ease, and he begins rubbing circles as she grinds back against him. His erection presses hard against the curve of her ass. He can’t wait to feel his dick inside of her.
She tips her head back as he plays with her, and Jack continues to alternate between sucking wet kisses and nipping at her neck.
His hand snakes down further and he slides one finger in gently, pumping it in and out while the palm of his hand rubs against her clit. He slides a second finger in to join the first, sliding them in and out in slow purposeful strokes. Jack finds that spot inside of her, and starts nailing it with precision. It’s not long before she’s coming with a shout, going boneless in his lap as her legs shake.
He stands, manoeuvring them with a pliant Samira still pressed up against him. He guides her to lie face down on the bed and grabs a pillow to place beneath her hips.
“Be good and stay there while I get undressed.”
Samira angles her head to watch him strip but stays in place like he asked, but as soon as she realises she’s been caught watching, she moves her head back in place. She’s always so good for him.
Jack uses this opportunity without her prying eyes to grab the surprise he brought with him. He places Samira’s favourite vibrator within his reach on the bed. He’ll definitely be using that later.
Jack leaves his prosthetic on this time, anticipating needing it for a little more leverage, and he positions himself behind Samira on the bed. He slides his cock against her from behind, feeling the wetness of her warm folds, and he can't help the moan that escapes him.
“Jack, please,” Samira pleads, voice half muffled by the sheets.
He teases her a little more with his tip, and he feels her hips press back into him impatiently. He presses one hand down against her upper back, holding her in place, and he smiles at her stifled moan.
With a few final teasing strokes of his cock bumping her clit, at last he brings it to a stop at her entrance. He pushes in slowly, one hand gripping her hip and the other still pressed in between her shoulder blades. He bottoms out with a deep groan and Samira whimpers before she begs him to move.
“You always take me so well,” Jack says sweetly, one hand moving to stroke her hair, before his hips snap forward with a hard thrust.
His thrusts hit deeper with her in this position, and Jack feels the tight heat of her walls gripping him with each slide of his cock. He watches as her hands grip the sheet, just as overwhelmed by the pleasure as he is. But he knows what will make it even better for her.
He grabs the vibrator from the bed, turning it on so that Samira can hear it.
“Oh god, yes, Jack, please,” Samira moans out, knowing instantly what it is.
He presses the vibrator to her clit and watches as she writhes beneath him in pleasure. He can feel the vibrations with each thrust inside her, and holds her in place as her body instinctively tries to squirm away from the relentless pressure on her clit.
He picks up his pace, thrusting faster and harder as Samira lets out a string of noises into the sheets. He’s close, and he knows she’s not far behind. Both hands grip her hips as he slams into her. He leans forward to press a kiss to the top of her spine.
“You’ve been such a good girl for me. You’re so beautiful like this,” he whispers, and she moans louder.
“I love you,” she responds, voice hoarse.
Jack’s rhythm falters so close to the edge, and he spills deep inside of her with one last rough, deep thrust. He continues to grind into her, vibrator still pressed to her clit with what he knows is the perfect amount of pressure, until Samira clenches around him as she comes a second time.
He pulls out, and Samira rolls over onto her back, spent and satiated, but Jack isn’t done with her yet.
“Let me clean you up, baby.”
But instead of grabbing a washcloth, he positions himself with his head between Samira’s legs, watching as the cum begins to drip out of her. He licks a stripe up from her entrance to her clit before pressing his escaping cum back inside with two fingers. She gasps, shivering and sensitive under his touch.
“Do you think you can do just one more, sweetheart?”
She nods.
“Yes, Jack,” she moans as he begins thrusting the cum back inside with his two fingers, until he adds a third to plug her up and keep it there.
“I’ll take care of it,” he says, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh before he removes his fingers and seals his mouth over her.
Samira lets out a soft, broken sound from the overstimulation of his tongue lapping at her so soon after her orgasm. His tongue licks through her folds and pushes into her entrance, cleaning her of his own cum.
He kisses her clit, sucking it into his mouth while she whines out at his ministrations. He moves back to her entrance, each suck and lick only serving to make her messier, despite intending to clean her up. His cum mixes with her arousal, and the sight of it makes his cock kick. If he were any younger, he’d probably be ready to go again.
“So beautiful,” Jack murmurs into the wet heat of her.
She’s already close again; Jack can feel it. He continues to eat her out as her eyelids flutter shut with the pleasure toeing the line of being too much.
“That’s it, baby. You can let go. One more for me,” Jack says as he thumbs her clit.
He presses his face back into her, tonguing her cunt as she comes on his face. He laps up her release eagerly until she pushes his head away from her with a whine.
Samira yanks him up to kiss him deep and dirty, tasting herself off of his lips and tongue, until she collapses, out of breath beside him. This time Jack does go to get a warm, wet towel to clean up the mess between her legs, before cleaning himself and finally removing his leg.
“That was sneaky, bringing my vibrator,” Samira says as she settles into bed cuddled against him.
“I knew you’d want to make good use of the hotel bed,” he reasons with a grin. “I like to be prepared.”
“I know.” She rolls her eyes, snuggling in closer.
Jack knows that if they wake up early enough for another round before checkout, Samira will undoubtedly wring him dry in return for his surprise. He certainly won’t complain. Samira watches him set an alarm earlier than needed and doesn’t say a word, but he can feel her smirk into the crook of his neck. Jack will die a happy man knowing he gets to spend the rest of his life with her.