More Than Darkness
39
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This is a crossover smutty story featuring the character of
Tess/Salida ie Tess' Voice in Neon
More Than Eyes Alone Can See, and More
Than Life, and Sands/Jeffrey from Merrie's OUATIM fic
on ff.net, Darkness Rising. This story will make some sense, probably, if you
read it without having read either of our stories, but it'll make a hell of a
lot more if you just read them. They're all worth reading, we promise. Anyway,
on with the show.
Rated for what has happened, and what might happen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed without Salida being aware of it.
couldn’t remember if she had or if she’d just wanted to.
were fuzzy, and her eyes were sandy from crying, and she was scared.
she’d invented to make her loneliness go away?
Or the sound of footsteps? She
closed her eyes.
“Salida?
stand next to her at the side of what had been their bed.
he wouldn’t let it affect him. Not now.
“¿
“Am I sure about
what?” Jeffrey asked with a frown.
“¿
“Yes.
“El
He
said I’m not real. I could be dreaming.
“Who said?
“El
at him. “Did you bring my toothbrush?”
“If I didn’t want
you I wouldn’t fucking be here,” he muttered under his breath.
sure as hell wouldn’t let you put me through this shit.
She seemed to hear
the resentment in his voice. “¿
usted?”
“Why didn’t I tell
you what, Salida?” he asked wearily.
“¿Que lo
“It’s sounds like
he said a lot of things. Why would you believe
anything he told you, Salida? You’re not
killing me. I’m . . . I don’t look like
I’m dead, now do I?”
“
sound dead. Before he could reply,
she changed the topic. “We were happy
here.”
“Yeah, we were.”
“Yo lo
y yo lo dolí.”
you. I open my big mouth, and I hurt
you.
Jeffrey ggedgged.
she had today. Not even when she had
almost betrayed him to Sands had he felt this level of hurt.
“El
“If you think that’s
fucking true then you’re a fucking idiot.
“Life is hard.
“That’s true.
“Yo no quiero
“Then don’t.”
“Yo no
Y usted no me
dice cuando hago.”
know how to stop. And you don’t tell me
when I do.
Jeffrey took a seat
on the edge of the bed and ran a hand over his face in a familiar wearied
gesture. He didn’t want to talk about
this right now. He still felt like shit
from this morning, and now he was covered in stinging scratch marks that weren’t
brightening his disposition any while she was leading him around in circles
with her words. But she was right, he
never told her when to stop hurting. He
just let her say whatever the hell she wanted while he responded in kind.
felt guilty. There it was.
took whatever she dished out with a smile and asked for seconds.
know how to make her stop. “I can’t tell
you how to stop, Salida. I can’t make
you stop. Only you can stop yourself.”
He got off of the
bed and began pacing, not knowing what to say to her.
just get sad and depressed and close herself off from him and he couldn’t deal
with that right now. He needed her here.
He needed her to come home.
“But you can tell
me when I’ve gone to far.” She’d
switched back to English, for the moment at least.
even then it’s only a feeling.
I can’t read your mind. So I push
farther, trying to get a reaction out of you.
But you don’t. You don’t
react. And then my mouth runs away with
me and I can’t care, because you don’t seem to care. And I can’t be weak because you’re always
saying that I’m strong, so I can’t take any of it back.”
“I’ll tell you,” he
said softly, still pacing the length of the room, albeit slower than before.
“I’m . . . I’m
sorry I left. I can’t explain it.
“I’ve been
struggling for years with that very same problem, Salida,” he said wryly, still
pacing.
“Jeffrey . . . am I
self-centered?”
Jeffrey hesitated
and answered her honestly. “Sometimes.
“Am I deluding
myself?”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know.
“You’re fucking
asking me if I believe what Sands said about you?
believe it. He doesn’t fucking know you.
Don’t believe a fucking word he said to
you.” The knowledge that whatever Sands
had said to her was affecting her this strongly still just made him want to
hurt Sands a little fucking more.
“But I can’t make
him leave,” she moaned, turning so her head was buried in the pillow.
“Yes you can. You have that luxury, Salida.
“He hurt me,” she
whispered. “And I threatened to have
Aida killed.”
“How did he hurt
you?” Jeffrey asked coldly, his pacing coming to an abrupt stop.
Salida kicked off
the covers to reveal she was in just her shirt and panties.
yellowish bruises. Bruises that
disappeared under the materialher her panties.
Jeffrey clenched
his fists at the sight of them. “I’ll
kill him,” he muttered darkly.
She twisted around
in the bed, and fixed her panicked eyes on him.
“No . . . no. No more
fighting. Please.
A few tears escaped despite her frantic blinking.
“You can’t ask me
to just let him get away with this, Salida.
She deflated.
broke your toy and now you need revenge.
“You’re right.”
Jeffrey turned to
the bleak sound of her voice and looked at her curiously.
help himself.
“Of course.
the cost.” Once again she pulled the
blankets around herself.
“You’re patronizing
me,” he said with a frown.
“No.
each other. He hurts me, you take him to
task.”
This conversation
suddenly felt wrong somehow.
him not to go after Sands and now . . .
fading despite what he had previously said.
Her tensed body
relaxed. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Jeffrey waved it
off. “Did you really threaten to have
kitty killed?” he asked curiously, beginning to pace again a little, but it was
more leisurely than before.
“Sands called me
deluded, so I called him a whiney mama’s boy, always crying about how his life
was unfair. And then he said that I didn’t
have a family because I didn’t exist, that I was nothing but an annoyance.
Tessa’s family, and if he dared lay a hand on me again, that I’d get a hold of
them and he’d regret it.”
you mean it?”
“Then?
“I meant now.
She evaded the
question. “He told her to leave this
morning. He wanted to stylstyle='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>die this morning.
she left him. And I managed to talk him
into making her change her mind.”
“Thanks for telling
me that my alter ego was tempted to kill himself while I was asleep,” he
muttered sarcastically under his breath.
did you help him and kitty?”
“I don’t know.
you and me . . . I’d want someone step in.
That and we don’t know what would happen if Sands committed
psychological suicide. What if he
dragged you down with him?”
“You don’t know
that that would happen,” Jeffrey muttered defensively.
being tied together that closely.
“Exactly.
Jeffrey sighed.
you going to fucking come home now, Salida?
pieces, and I just want to sleep for a fucking week.”
She noddepan
pan
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He was mad at her for daring to make sure
Sands stayed around, but she could live with that.
Take me home.”
“You going to go as
you fucking are or are you going to put some pants on?
He was cursing at
her again. He must really be upset. “I’ll
get dressed,” she whispered, crawling out of bed.
“You do that,
Salida. I’ll wait on the fucking couch.”
He left the room and went to sit down in
the living room, leaning back in the familiar couch heavily.
her, but he couldn’t seem to fucking help it.
Salida appeared a
few minutes later appearing rumpled and tired, but steady on her feet.
murmured, “I’m ready.”
Jeffrey nodded and
rose to his feet after a moment’s regret.
their former hotel room and down to the car.
conversation.
When they arrived
home, Salida climbed out of the car without waiting for his help, and went into
the house before he could say anything to her.
By the time he’d gotten to their room as well, she was in bed, the
blankets pulled up around her and her back to the door.
Jeffrey sighed and
wearily removis sis shoes and his clothes before climbing in bed next to her.
irrational bolt of fear shot through him.
before his body decided that it couldn’t stay awake any longer anyway, and he
felt himself begin to drift off to sleep.
Salida squeezed her
eyes shut tightly, but she replied anyway.
“Goodnight, Jeffrey.”
Jeffrey murmured
something unintelligible in response, already within sleep’s grasp.
“Sweet dreams.”
There was no
response. Jeffrey was in the midst of a
dreamless sleep.
******************************
******************************
Jeffrey rolled over with a slight groan, immediately annoyed
at whatever noise had woken him up. After
taking a few minutes to let the sleep clear out of his brain, he figured out
that A) the bed was empty next to him, and B) the noise that had woken him up
was the sound of the shower running. He
had let the rules slide yesterday because of his fucking nightmare – he had let
Salida shower alone – but he wasn’t going to let it happen again.
Pushing himself off
of the bed, he padded towards the bathroom, taking time to shed his boxers as
he went. Without warning, he stepped
into the shower next to his wife and let the warm water wake him up the rest of
the way. “Good morning,” he said with a
half grin. He was more than a little
pissed at her for her little stunt yesterday but he wasn’t going to let that
interfere with the possibility of good shower sex with his wife.
“Morning,” she
murmured, bending her head back to wash the shampoo out of it.
Once all the soap
was free of her neck and shoulders, he moved in to kiss the expanse of bare
flesh there without thinking twice. The
sight of her bared throat always turned him on.
impassioned him and made his actions gentle.
“Jeffrey,” she
protested softly. “We never get clean
this way.”
“You say that like
you expect me to stop and just let you bathe in peace.
Maybe she didn’t
want to have “fun.” Maybe she didn’t
want to pretend that nothing had gone wrong yesterday.
go wrong today. Which meant she shouldn’t
rebuff her husband’s advances. “Not
much, I suppose.”
“The answer, is ‘no
fucking fun at all,’” Jeffrey informed her in-between kisses as he worked his
way down her body, taking time to lick the water droplets off of her skin.
Salida stopped what
she was doing and let her husband have his fun.
She ran her fingers through his damp hair and closed her eyes, willing
herself to join him. But she simply wasn’t
in the mood this morning. Not that she’d
tell him that. He’d only get upset.
Jeffrey didn’t seem
to notice his wife’s reluctance. He was
determined to get as close to her as he could, as soon as he could.
possessiveness. He needed reassure
himself that she was his. With that
thought in mind, he bit, he nipped, and he left dark marks across her skin,
along her neck, and across the tops of her breasts.
She hissed a little
in pain a suc sucked hungrily at her chest.
“Gentle there. I’m just a bit
tender.”
Jeffrey growled
softly under his breath, slightly annoyed that his fun was interrupted, but he
didn’t let it stop him. Locking his lips
to hers, he pressed her back against the shower wall, one hand moving
in-between her legs and a single finger entering her hard.
She sighed, and
spread her legs a bit farther for him, knowing how impatient he was likely to
be. It was a good thing they were in the
shower and everything was wet anyway, otherwise Jeffmighmight have been
disappointed. As it was, she was
physically able to accommodate him at any time.
He’d heard her
sigh, and frowned to hear it, but he didn’t let it stop him.
her slightly up against the wall, planted his feet firmly on the slick shower
floor, and thrust into her, kissing whatever was in front of him as he moved.
Salida wrapped her
arms around Jeffrey’s neck and hung on to him as he thrust into her, pushing
her sorckenckend into the shower wall over and over.
been, but she couldn’t really complain either.
It didn’t take long
for Jeffrey to find his release at the frenzied but passionate pace his body
and mind had set for him. It wasn’t the
most intense or fulfilling orgasm he’d ever had, but it was enough to suit his
needs.
The moment her feet
touched the floor again, Salida reached for the conditioner and started working
it through her hair. She didn’t say
anything to Jeffrey, she didn’t even really acknowledge what they’d just done.
Her total lack of
response pissed Jeffrey off. “Why?
want it? You apparently fucking didn’t,”
Jeffrey muttered darkly, grabbing the soap and cleaning himself brusquely with
irritation towards her.
“Does it really
matter?” she murmured. “You got what you
wanted. Besides, after last night I
suppose I owed you.”
“So that was what?
under the water to rinse the soap off of his body as he waited for her answer.
left toward her begin to boil again.
She closed her eyes
in defeat. “How about a desperate bid
not to fight some more. What would you
have done if I’d asked you to stop?”
“I would have asked
you why, but I would have fucking stopped.
who used her, but he couldn’t help feeling that way.
This was
“Like you couldn’t have figured out that I wasn’t really into it,” she
muttered, maneuvering him out of the way so she could rinse her hair.
Jeffrey felt his
anger spark into something dangerous and decided it would be better – and safer
– if he just fucking left. With a
violent gesture, he stalked out of the shower, absently grabbing a towel as he
passed.
Salida felt his
exit like a punch to the gut. She waited
for the bathroom door to slam shut before she let her knees give out.
down her face. Why did they keep doing
this to each other? She didn’t have any
answers. All she knew was that it’d be
better to be apart than t on on day after day, tearing each other to shreds.
Jeffrey paced the
length of the bedroom like a caged tiger, his anger raging within.
anything, but he had already broken all of the more satisfying things they had
owned yesterday. He needed someone to
take his anger out on; someone other than his fucking pregnant wife.
on black today – it suited his mood – and stalked downstairs.
His wife appeared
not too long after he went downstairs.
She appeared in the kitchen, wrapped in a bath robe, looking rather
pale. For a brief moment she paused on
the threshold, but she came in anyway. “I’m
hungry,” she murmured, not quite meeting his eyes.
“What do you want?”
he asked, trying to keep his voice calm and even.
“Food.
It was by sheer
force of will that Jeffrey didn’t snap at her for such a flippant answer.
Why did she deserve “Cereal would be Jeffrey moved about She almost Moving slowly, she He was leaving He paused in front “Of course not,” “No, you brought it “It doesn’t “Fine.” Salida had decided Jeffrey was about The smile Jeffrey frowned, Without once “What the fuck are “What does it look Jeffrey grabbed her “Jeffrey, I don’t “I don’t believe She jerked her hand Jeffrey visibly “You know I can’t “And you know I can’t “I know you can’t “Vixen, you listen “You only say that “You’re a real cold “You’re giving me She sagged and “I don’t resent “I just want to be “So do I. “I don’t know. “I can do that,” “Alright.” Jeffrey took her “I know. “I know. She tightened her “I’m sorry,” he “Think we could “I’m willing if you “I didn’t sleep “Then sleep now,” She nodded. It hurt him to hear “You were mad at me “I’m sorry, vixen,” “I don’t see him “Well that’s “You sound mad “I’m not mad. “Tell me. “You left. “You weren’t Jeffrey sighed and “I’m glad . . . I’m “How could I “I’m glad,” she pan>pan>“I always will,” “I know.” “Get some rest, “Okay.” ****************************** “Did you want breakfast again, vixen?” Jeffrey asked lightly “It pat pancakes.” “Hmm, sounds like a “Okay.” Jeffrey nodded and “Well, you can get Jeffrey sighed but She just “Yeah, yeah. “Umm . . . yeah.” Jeffrey sighed “Yeah. “Fine. “Yeah. Jeffrey snorted in ****************************** Salida looked a little askance at her husband as he held out Instead of sitting Salida took the Jeffrey frowned at Smiling just a “Fuck that. “Patches would be “Do you really “Soon? That wasn’t what he “That’s good. “Blueberry “I thought you didn’t “I . . . don’t. “You can like “Yeah, I know that. “When was the last Jeffrey paused at “Maybe you Jeffrey considered “I only have good Jeffrey decided it “Jeffrey . . . should “Get whatever you “Alright. “I think it’s more “Find a substitute,” “A substitute, she She smiled, pulled “What was that for?” “I don’t know. After the waitress “Umm . . . chocolate Jeffrey grinned at “I’m such a pig,” “No you’re not. “I still feel like “Then that’s why I’m “You’re not a “I’m not? “I dunno. “As I remember it, “That wasn’t your “Why not? “I chose the house “Yeah, well, you “Twice. “DC doesn’t count.” Jeffrey shrugged. “That one doesn’t “It’s where we were “You never said you “Not exactly. “There. “I was just trying “I don’t remember. “Do you really not “Sands chose. “Shows what he “Yeah. “Would you still Jeffrey thought “That’s good.” “Fine.” ****************************** “Why am I fucking doing this again? They turned in the prescriptions, “It’s been nice
the iron tone of his voice? She hadn’t understood
what he’d meant earlier about what she wanted.
He’d made it sound like she wanted something from him when all she
wanted was something to eat. And now he
was upset. Did he want me to want something from him?
fine. And some orange juice.”
to get her what she wanted, needing to do something to keep himself busy.
but there was no time for that at the moment.
protested that she could get it herself, but decided to keep her mouth
shut. A remark like that might earn her
a black eye. They were both on a knife
edge of control; she could feel the potential for violence building in the
air. Better to avoid it.
went and took a seat at the table. Out
of veiled eyes, she watched him, admiring his physical beauty.
but she had to admit he looked good in it.
Much like the man she’d met. . .
Had it only been a few months ago? After he set her
food in front of her, he announced, “I’ll be out on the fucking porch.
towards the back door.
her? “Remember the night we met?” she
asked desperately. She didn’t want to be
alone. “Remember how I stole your
cigarette?”
of the door. “You’ve done it more than
just that fucking once. You can’t fucking
have one now. Not fucking good for you.”
she whispered to her cereal. He
obviously wasn’t in the mood to reminisce. “I guess you’d better go outside
then.”
up for a fucking reason. Yes I fucking
remember. It seems like a long time ago,
but I do. Why?”
matter. It’s not important.”
miss that.
heavily, doing his best to ignore the thick humidity present in the city
already this morning. He sat and chain
smoked for a long while before deciding he’d had enough of the fucking heat and
went back inside.
that if she couldn’t get Jeffrey to respond favorably to her soon, she was
going to give up. When he came back
in, she looked up hopefully and murmured, “There’s my Lennon wannabe.”
lips, and she prayed that he’d respond to her cautious flirting.
to ask what the fuck she was talking about when he remembered what he had
chosen to wear today. Or more
accurately, what colors. “Your fault.”
behind them was softening just a little.
sitting out there for so long, and he was a little hoarse from the smoke, but
it had been worth the calm that had begun to settle over him.
disappeared and she turned her head away.
Very deliberately, she pushed her bowl away and stood.
left the room.
not understanding her fucking actions.
beginning to grow irritated, the calm fading away.
acknowledging that she was being followed, Salida went upstairs, through their
bedroom, and into the bathroom. Before
he could ask what she was doing, she turned on the water and grabbed a wash
rag. She soaked, soaped it, and then
started scrubbing at her left hand.
you doing, vixen?” he asked with a confused frown.
like? I think it should be obvious to us
both that a huge mistake has been made.”
She kept scrubbing, even as the skin of her ring finger started turning
red.
hand forcefully, but gently, and made her stop.
this marriage was a mistake. Not once.”
he didn’t plan to now that he’d gone silent either.
love you. I can’t.
to you in the morning.”
you. So you’re having a bad fucking
morning. Who hasn’t?
your fucking marriage.”
away. “Don’t you understand?
a ‘bad morning.’ And from a bad morning
we progress into a crappy afternoon, and then into a hellish evening.
of us, and I can’t take it any more. It’s
better to have loved and lost, and all that crap.
drew backo hio himself at that. “No.
work, then you might as well just fucking kill me now because there’s no other
way I’m letting you go.”
kill you,” she whispered.
let you leave,” he whispered in response.
let these kids leave,” she spat.
only purpose is to make sure your progeny gestate correctly.”
to me and you listen well because I am only going to explain this once.
kids, I’d choose you. Do you fucking
understand? Does this fucking get
through to you? I’d choose you.
Please.”
would stay and be his again. It would
probably eat away at him until there was nothing of his tattered soul left, but
he would do it. Her action in asking for
a fucking divorce had forced his hand and this was what he had to play.
so I’ll stay,” she accused. “I don’t
know why you even bother sleeping with me any more.
hearted bitch sometimes,” Jeffrey spat in return.
give up the children I have fought for these last weeks to save you.
want to hear. If I didn’t love you so
fucking much I’d give you your fucking divorce since you seem to have convinced
yourself that that’s the only option left for you now.
explode? Well fuck you, Salida.
yes, I fucking do. I don’t fucking care
if you d bel believe it. “Then why is it
that the only things I hear from you now are, ‘You need to eat for the babies,’
‘You should get sleep if the babies are making you tired,’ ‘You shouldn’t even think
about smoking because you’re pregnant. . .’
than they’re on my face? Why the ‘I love
you, buts. . .?’ ‘I love you, but you
can’t do this . . . because of the babies.’”
She was crying openly by now. “You
used to tell me how sexy I was. What you
loved about me. You never needed
prompting. You’d flirt with me.
night. Now I have to ask you to do these
things. We haven’t gone out since you
got your stitches. You fuck me and that’s
it.” She took a deep breath, fighting
the tightness in her throat. “Why do I
feel like I’m just being told what I want to hear?
me to, but what am I doing here?”
another chance,” he said softly. He didn’t
deny a single one of her accusations. For
the most part, they had all been true. “I
wasn’t trying to tell you just what you wanted to hear, vixen.
like I should lately. But don’t leave
because of it. Let me make it up to you.
At least . . . let me try.”
nodded, this time letting him tell her what she wanted to hear.
leave. Without him with her, she’d get
rid of the babies and make Tess take over.
Leaving would only kill her faster than staying was.
get better again. “I want to stop
fighting,” she whispered, not letting him hold her yet.
deserve it, but I want to stop. Just
tell me what I did.”
you, vixen. I was upset that you left,
but I could never resent you. Your
actions, maybe, but not you. Never you.”
happy again,” she breathed.
you. Just you and just me.
Jeffrey murmured, his mind already whirling with possibilities.
ready to be held.
into his arms as if she was the last thing tethering him to the earth and held
her tightly, breathing in the scent of her hair.
whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
He had come so close to losing her.
The thought made his knees want to give way.
caring that the water will still running, and just held her.
take it anymore.”
position,” he whispered in return. “I
didn’t mean or want to. I’m sorry.”
arms and didn’t say anything else. There
were no words left for her to say. There
were no words that would make any of her feelings go away, and there were none
she could say to comfort him. Touch was
the best they were going to get, and she clung to that and to him.
repeated softly, burying his face in her hair.
He was emotionally drained and it wasn’t even ten o’clock yet.
start the day over?” she murmured.
are. Does that mean we get to go back to
fucking bed?” There was nothing but the
purest intent behind the question. He
didn’t want to push her away by asking for sex now.
anything, but he would be content by just holding her.
very well last night,” she murmured. “I
couldn’t get my mind to shut down.”
he said softly, leading her into the bedroom after reaching over to turn off
the running sink. “I’ll stay here with
you if that’s what you want.”
her say that when he had been right here beside her, but he nodded and let her
crawl into bed, moving in next to her.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
last night,” she murmured as he pulled the blankets around her.
you. I couldn’t stay here.
he said sadly. “I’m sorry that when you
fucking looking at me you see him too.
I’m sorry he said those things to you.
I’m sorry I can’t fucking get rid of him.”
his voice.
when I look at you. I don’t hear him
when you talk. He’s different than
you. Different facial expressions.
something at least,” he muttered.
you ran from me though.
again,” she whispered, opening her eyes to look at him.
I don’t want any more anger between us.”
better than she did, and it hurt. It was
something she wanted to change.
me too. You say you know the differences
between us. But yet, you still ran away
from me. You didn’t come to me.
You left.”
here. Sands said that you were letting
him . . . letting him confront me. I
don’t know why I believed him, but I did.
I was confused. And then I was
hurt, and I just wanted to go someplace safe.
I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
nodded. “I understand, vixen.
glad that you came for me.”
fucking not, vixen? Of course I fucking
came for you.”
reiterated.
Jeffrey said softly.
closer to him.
vixen. When you wake up we’ll start our
day. And everything will be alright,” he
said with a s smi smile, holding her close.
of her husband’s heart and breath.
******************************
as they came downstairs. “It’s not
exactly time for it anymore, but who the fuck cares?
plan. I haven’t had any fucking pancakes
since our impromptu fucking road trip.
We’ll have to go out though.”
took her by the hand and moved into the living room to find Aida.
to her help yesterday.
some groceries while you’re out. We’re
out of kitten chow, and almost out of litter.
Not to mention a bunch of other stuff.
I’ve started a list.” Aida looked
exhausted, but she got up readily enough and fetched the list.
accepted the list when she handed it to him.
shrugged. “People have to eat.
do the fucking grocery shopping. Anything
else?” he asked wryly.
of paper. “Will you get these filled for
me?”
again, but took the slips from her. “Can
I? I mean, will they fucking let me if
you’re not there?”
my doctor.”
irritation. “You’re fucking welcome,
kitty,” he muttered before turning to Salida.
******************************
his arm to let her climb into the booth first, but she did so without
complaint. She was proud of herself at
her show of restraint, especially since Jeffrey had wanted to go to Denny’s and
she’d held out for IHOP. But he’d been
kind enough to let her choose, so she was willing to go along with him on some
things. Like making her get into the
booth first.
across from her, he sat down next to her in the booth, wanting – no needing – to
be on the outside though. He didn’t
exactly know why, he just had to. Perhaps
it had something to do with being able to make a quick exit if necessary; he
didn’t know. He reached across the table
and pulled out a single menu and laid it down on the table in front of her
before digging in his pocket for his cigarettes and lighter.
fucking fail. As soon as I fucking sit
down to eat, I want to fucking smoke.
did wonder about them from time to time.
cigarette from his hand, and set it next to the wall.
looked over the menu.
her. He had genuinely forgotten about
the children kept safe within her for the first time.
the table and trying not to think about the cigarette she had taken from him.
little, Salida reached over and took his hand in hers, squeezing just a
little.
patches or something.”
this morning.”
better for you. Less risk of lung
cancer,” she replied absentmindedly.
expect I’ll die of fucking lung cancer?” he asked seriously.
Keep up this habit though and you might be looking at cancer in twenty
years. And don’t tell me that’s too far
away to worry about, because it can be prevented now.
then. If it does happen.”
had meant. He meant, did she really
think that it would be lung cancer that got him in the end what with everything
else he had going for him in his life? The
threat of the police, the knowledge that one of his victims might get lucky and
fight back. . . Why worry about cancer
with all of that? But then again, maybe
she was right. “I’ll . . . consider it.”
pancakes,” he muttered absently, looking over the menu.
like pancakes,” she murmured, still trying to make up her mind.
funny. Sands does, but I don’t.
blaming Sands.
pancakes even if he does,” she informed him softly.
But I don’t usually like pancakes.
time you had pancakes because you
wanted them?”
that and thought about it. “Never,” he
said at lasp>
p>
should. And if you don’t like them, you
can share mine. Because I can’t possibly
eat everything I want.”
this. “Alright.
ideas,” she murmured, forgetting that just earlier that morning she’d claimed
otherwise.
was easier to just agree with her than disagree and start another fight.
not leaving his face although it was a mite forced now.
I get what I want, or should I just get what I know I can eat?”
want, vixen. We can always take home
what you don’t eat.” He still wanted
that fucking cigarette.
already.”
that now that I can’t have one, I
really want one, than withdrawal,” he
muttered.
she murmured, closing her menu and resting her head against his shoulder.
says,” Jeffrey murmured to himself, searching the table for something that
would fit the bill. He shrugged,
unwrapped the toothpick he had grabbed, stuck it in his mouth, and immediately
begin playing with it with his tongue. “I
guess this’ll do,” he muttered with a near pout.
the toothpick from his mouth, gave him a quick peck on the lips, then handed
the toothpick back.
he asked around the replaced toothpick.
resist.” She was going to say more, but
their waitress interrupted them.
had done her little spiel and Jeffrey’s pancakes were ordered, he gestured to
Salida and let her complete her order.
chip Belgian waffles, two eggs sunny-side up, a side of bacon, a side of
sausage links, a bowl of strawberries, a bowl of peaches, and a glass of milk.”
Salida flushed at her order and tried
to hide behind Jeffrey, but she didn’t try to take any of it back.
the waitress. “And a glass of orange
juice. That’s it.”
on Jeffrey’s face sent her scurrying off to get their order.
she murmured into his shoulder. “There’s
no way I can eat all that.”
take home. It’s no big deal, vixen.”
a cow.
here. I wouldn’t let you languish stuck
in the IHOP unable to move, vixen. Such
a thing would be . . . ungentlemanly,” he said with a smirk.
gentleman,” she accused lightly.
home,” she teased, pushing at him. “Hotels
don’t count.”
vixen. And when have I ever been to your
home? You’ve been to Sands’ fucking
penthouse, but I haven’t ever seen your home.
wryl/p>
/p>
we’re living in now, and you came too, so you followed me home.”
to explain things to a slow six year old.
followed me across the country. Twice.”
sure he was wrong.
count either. I didn’t know you were in
Las Vegas.”
supposed to fucking meet, vixen. I don’t
buy that.”
would. I just left a note saying that I’d
like to go to Las Vegas with
you. Not that I expected you to be
there, much less there waiting for me.
And were you there waiting for me?”
show up.”
there? Or where you trying to be
faithful to some grand, romantic oath we made, even in death?”
to exist without you. It wasn’t going
well. Even then.
faithful to you. Sounds more fucking
romantic that way,” he said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood after such
dreary comments.
did he think it was just a good place to lay low?”
at the time,” he muttered under his breath.
remember, or do you just not want to tell me?”
Salida pressed because she was enjoying just sitting and talking with
him. It was a treat to sit at his side,
to touch him, to listen to him . . .
softly, not liking to think about it.
knows,” Salida smirked. “I think that’s
one plan that backfired.”
smile.
have gone there if Sands hadn’t forced you?”
about that. “Probably.
eventually.”
waitress returned. She had another
person with her just to carry all the food. s'>
“Oink, oink,” she murmured while the table started to fill with her
plates, and Jeffrey’s single order.
eyes at her comment, nodded in thanks to the waitress and her assistant, and
dug into his meal. The pancakes were
surprisingly good. He’d have to get them
again sometime. He looked over to see
Salida hesitating over her meal and commented, “Just eat, vixen.
managed to eat at least half of everything before she had to admit defeat.
******************************
muttered under his breath as he anlidalida wandered through the large grocery
store. He had already gotten a near cart
full of food items and was now making his way to the pharmacy to get kitty’s
fucking drugs.
then went to stand in line to pay for their stuff.
and Salida, already tired of being on her feet, wrapped her arms around her
husband’s waist and leaned against his back.
“This has been nice,” she murmured, rubbing her cheek against the soft
silk of his shirt.
having time with you, but there are other things I’d rather be doing that
standing in a fucking line at the grocery store.
she replied slowly. Her large meal was
having an adverse effect on her state of being; she was about to fall asleep on
her feet.
“Well I did, but
you look as if you’re about to curl up on the floor at my feet and take a nap,
vixen. If you want to go out and wait in
the car, I don’t fucking mind.”
She shook her
head. “No, I’d rather stay here with
you. And if I were at your feet, I think
I could come up with more interesting things to do than sleep. . .” she let the
mild innuendo hang in the air for a moment before saying, “For example, I could
tie your shoelaces together.”
floor. Well, that wouldn’t be entirely a
bad thing. Tie away, vixen.”
“Ha-ha.”
her curiosity got the best of her. “What
were you planning?”
“Plans,” he teased
with a smirk.
“Non X-rated plans?”
“Up until the image
of falling down on the floor with you, yeah.”
“That’s good.
don’t involve fighting.”
“I like.” “I just beu dou do. “Well, I suppose Jeffrey shrugged. “I’m “You’re too good “Why do you say The line inched “Who says you “Fine. “I’ve always been She laughed. “I lied. “Okay, then when “Just now.” “No, I’m being Jeffrey didn’t have “Hmm . . . too long “I love you too, They finally “Come on, let’s get “What about Grant’s “Fuck,” he “Here, giv the the “Alright. ****************************** “Jeffrey . . . this isn’t going to help your cause,” Salida “You’ve got a “I’ve got a smutty “Perhaps,” Jeffrey “Wake me.” “I do have plans. “Alright.” Jeffrey let his Aida heard him “I see shopping “Yeah, but it took “It looks like all “He’s going to “Yes, but he avoids “There’s always Jeffrey shrugged. Aida disagreed with “Put what away, “Just some things “Jeffrey went to Jeffrey stiffened. “Why don’t you give Sands took the cat “He’s not going to Sands was going to Aida silently Sands heard noises “Yeah. “It would seem so. “I admit, you “Of course I did. “Most people would “I guess I’m just “That or very, very “Mmm, I’m thinking “I think you need Sands wasted no “What do you mean?” “Exactly,” Sands “Are you feeling “What do you mean?” “The dream. Sands sighed. “You seem like you’re “He will. She hadn’t meant to Sands gave her a Aida closed her There were no She smiled, but After locking eyes Aida held back a Finally she pulled Sands didn’t sit His body pressed Sands delighted in They kissed for
Well, my plans were these: random flower
givings, taking you shopping, and buying you a new
charm before taking you out tonight. I’m
in the mood to woo my wife,” he said with a grin that had more than a little
charm in it.
there’s nothing objectionable in those plans.
But it’d better be a late dinner.
I’m not going to be hungry for a long time.”
flexible.”
for me, that’s what you are.”
that? I think I’m just good enough,
personally.”
forward. “When was the last time I took
you out for dinner?” she asked.
should? I like taking you out to dinner.”
flowers?”
more of a jewelry man, myself,” he said dryly.
you jewelry?”
was the last time I said ‘I love you,’ without first having apologized for a
fight?”
serious.”
an answer for that one.
then.” Standing up on her toes as she
pressed herself against his back, she whispered, “I love you, Jeffrey.”
Salida,” he whispered back as if it were some delightful secret that they both
shared.
reached the checkstand.
went up towards the tiller. The clerk
started making innocuous small talk, and she smiled.
be amazed. They could be any young, just
married couple. It was a pretty fantasy.
this fucking stuff home, vixen,” he murmured,
his arms full of bags as he made his way to the car.
that nap I can see looming bd yod your eyes then we’d better get moving.”
prescriptions?”
muttered, turning around and heading back to the pharmacy.
keys,” she managed to get them from him.
“I’ll take these to the car and wait there.”
grocery bags still in hand. Fortunately,
they had taken the time given to them while Jeffrey had been waiting to check
out to call Aida’s doctor and get any and all questions answered.
arrived; of which there were a lot. “All
is this is for me? Kit-Aida I mean?”
pill bottles waiting for him. When the
man behind the counter informed him that they were indeed for Mrs. Aida Sands,
Jeffrey just sighed and added them to the load.
waiting wife.
******************************
murmured as her attentive husband started stripping her clothes off.
and the cats fed, but Salida couldn’t help feeling that Jeffrey was up to
something. He was being . . . solicitous.
smutty mind, vixen. I assure you, my
intentions are entirely fucking honorable at this particular moment in time.
a smirk, letting her climb under the covers.
husband,” she retorted, laying back in bed and ing ing up at him.
he puts his mind to it.”
allowed with a grin. “Would you want it
any other way?” He crouched down beside
her and gave her a wide grin. “Have a
good nap. Do you want me to wake you up
later or just let you sleep, vixen?”
head to kiss her palm before rising to his feet.
er
eyes and shifted onto her side, exhaling deeply.
fingers drift lightly over her cheek before turning and moving silently out of
the bedroom, making sure to close the door behind him.
living room when he felt a pair of sharp fangs chomp into the skin of his
ankle. Looking down he saw that Obsidian
was having more than a little fun attacking his leg.
reached down and picked up the small black kitten and continued his way to the
kitchen to try and find Aida.
coming, and hurriedly straightened up.
She’d been leaning against the wall, rubbing at a pending headache, but
she didn’t want to be caught in that position.
By anyone. She didn’t need pity
and she didn’t want to worry her husband.
went well,” she murmured as Jeffrey came into view.
fucking forever. Did you get all you
needed?” He inclined his head towards
the bag filled with her prescriptions on the counter as he pet Obsidian with
his right hand and balanced him on his left arm.
hair, but he didn’t really care.
it’d match his outfit today anyway.
of them. I should go put them away
before Sands sees them. He’ll worry.”
fucking worry anyway, kitty. Whether he
sees them or,” J,” Jeffrey pointed out, moving to lean against the counter, cat
in hand.
looking in the medicine cabinet. He’s
trying to be optimistic.”
bluntly, still petting Obsidian slowly as he looked at her.
cause. As long as you’re breathing,
there’s hope.”
hope, but whatever works, I guess.”
that. Anyone who could put up with a
pregnant Salida must have inordinate amounts of hope somewhere, but that wasn't
an opinion she wanted to voice aloud.
Instead she said, “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put these
away.”
spitfire?” Sands asked suddenly, almost dropping Obsidian as he came forward
and took in his surroundings.
Jeffrey picked up for me at the store,” she said quietly, looking at the indignant
cat instead of her puzzled husband. It
was hard for her to lie to him, even by omission.
the store? I take it that means sunrise
is back,” Sands said, resuming petting Obsn aln almost unconsciously.
back, Sands. She’s upstairs taking a
nap.” His tone implied that that was all
that needed to be said on the subject.
Sid a treat,” Aida suggested, glad he wasn’t pressing her about what she needed
to put away. “It’s been awhile since you’ve
seen him.” And he adores you.
in his hands and brought him up to face him; Obsidian didn’t seem to mind.
The smile changed into an amused and
slightly pained smirk as Obsidian wiggled his way out of Sands’ hands and onto
his left shoulder, using his claws for leverage.
Sands muttered to the cat as he moved slowly through the kitchen to get
Obsidian a treat.
fall off. He’s got his claws dug into my
fucking shoulder too tightly for that to be possible,” Jeffrey muttered, but he
was just as amused by the whole thing as Sands was.
shrug, thought better of it, and handed the cat on his shoulder the small
treat. “Just don’t get any ideas that
this is the way you’re going to travel now, cat.
he licked his whiskers clean of crumbs from the treat.
climbed the stairs and ghosted into her room, immediately going to the cabinet
to put away her new pill bottles. She
was just finishing when she heard footsteps come into the bedroom.
two bottles on a shelf and closed the cabinet door.
coming from the bathroom and guessed what Aida was doing, but tried not to
think about it. “You ok, spitfire?” he
called out softly, smiling slightly when Obsidian butted his head against his
temple. The cat had made it up the
stairs without falling off of his perch, and he didn’t seem to be leaving any
time soon. Jeffrey stayed silent and
turned his back on the two of them. He
didn’t care about their problems and he didn’t want to hear about them.
She came out of the bathroom and smiled at him.
began purring right by his ear.
picked a good cat.” She walked over and
started scratching the animal behind the ears.
said with a small smile.
say a black cat is unlucky,” she teased, kissing the tip of his chin.
special then,” he said, looking down at her as his smile widened.
lucky,” she murmured, kissing his jaw.
that’s the case right now,” he said as he inclined his head into her touch, half-heartedly
trying not to upset Obsidian’s balance as he did so.
to move the cat and pet your wife,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around his
waist. “I haven’t seen you for awhile.”
time in reaching up to remove the cat from his shoulder and leaning over
slightly to set him on the ground before moving his arms around her as well.
very second,” he murmured, tilting his head so that their foreheads touched.
she asked innocently. “I’m seeing you
now, aren’t I?”
replied, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
going anywhere. Look all you want.
jaw, his fingers barely pressing down on her skin.
better?” she asked softly, turning her face into his caress.
he asked just as softly, still tracing his fingers over her face gently.
Salida.” Her fingers found his hair and
started to play with it.
else I can do.”
feeling br,” r,” she told him.
that Jeffrey hasn’t said anything about . . . last night.”
weariness in his voice. “Sunrise
probably told him not to start fights or something and that’s the only reason
he isn’t. But he will.”
depress him. “I’m sorry.
grateful smile, thankful for the distraction.
skin of her neck, his hands slipping under her shirt to caress her naked back
in slow up and down strokes. He pulled
her flush to him as he did so, and took pleasure in the warmth and smell of her
while he was delighting in the feel of her as well.
eyes and simply wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
enough that she could feel his heartbeat.
The pads of his fingers rasped gently on her skin.
neck. Their position was nearly as intimate
as possible while fully clothed, but being held was enough for Aida.
words, only actions. There was no need
for words. Sands communicated his every
thought and desire through his movements; a single finger tracing the curve of
her spine or a gentle kiss placed on the soft skin below her jaw expressed more
than any words ever could. He loved this
woman and she loved him. After all that
had happened, she still loved him. That
was something to be treasured. She was
to be treasured. And he did.
whispered into her ear as he kissed it.
pressed a finger to his lips.
eyes.spanspan>He kissed the pad of her finger
and she closed her eyes, leaning into him.
Her lips ghosted over his face before brushing against his lips several
times. She then pulled away and looked
at him, waiting for him to make the next move.
for a brief moment he pulled her back and did what he had been wanting to do
m thm the moment he saw her. He kissed
her deeply. They hadn’t shared this
level of affection since their own fight, and he had missed it.
kissing her and making love to her. He
had missed it all, and wanted it back.
moan; he was gentle with her, inviting instead of demanding.
to, not because she didn’t have any other options.
She kissed him back, slipping her tongue into his mouth and then letting
him do the same.
away and went to take a seat on the bed.
She lounged on her elbows, waiting for him to join her.
down next to her, rather he stood in front of her and just looked at her for a
long moment. There was no part of her
that didn’t catch his glance. He was
drinking in the sight of her as if it were for the first time; memorizing
everything he saw. It was only until he
had satisfied that desire that he moved next to her, laying on his side and
still looking at her, but touching whatever he looked at this time.
inside and out, so that was what he did.
he touched as well, but only her skin. He
wouldn’t kiss her clothing, it wasn’t her.
her pants up to kiss her ankles. After a
few more minutes he had gotten his fill of kissing her body for awhile and moved
to kiss her lips once more.
hers into the mattress gently, making her feel cradled.
Her hands slipped up to his shoulders and down his arms, her fingers
testing and digging into his muscles.
This was her husband, the man she’d gotten to know in Hawaii.
bitch. She held on to him, wishing
things could always be like this.
the way she held him, more than willing to allow her to do so.
needed and that was everything. He
wanted to keep her safe. He needed to.
to her stomach under her shirt, but no higher.
this, and was willing to follow her lead.
what seemed like hours before Aida grew impatient and started
As soon as she was able, she slid her hands underneath it and started
drawing patterns on the skin of his back, taking time to trace the crease of
his spine before slipping her hands around to his front and commencing with a
surprise attack of tickling.
it. Her movements had been so unexpected
that he burst out laughing and vainly tried to pull her hands away.
laughs, trying to catch his breath as she stole it away from him.
“No talking,” she
reminded him, quickly capturing his lips.
Her fingers stilled, simply holding his sides, and she apologized for
her impish actions.
Sands kissed her
for as long as he could before pulling away to catch his breath.
word. Once he was able, he continued the
kiss. He would pay her back for her
little indiscretion later.
kiss. It slowly grew in intensity until
their hands were roving all over the place, touching, stroking, caressing.
the column of Sands’ neck as he ran his fingers over her shortened locks, when
he froze.
She pulled away a
little, shooting him a questioning look, not liking the expression on his face.
Sands didn’t know
how to react. In his hand he held more
than a few locks of Aida’s hair – now no longer attached to her head – and he
didn’t know what to do. “Your hair,” he
muttered despondently, letting the locks fall to the bed out of his limp hand.
everyone – but this was real.
was and he didn’t know what to do.
thought irrationally, but managed to clamp down on that thought before it could
influence his actions and he tried just that.
not ok. She’s dying.
Sands tried not to listen.
“Don’t,” she whispered,
pushing him away. “You’re giving me that
look. I can take it from others, but not
from you.” Rolling off the bed, she went
into the bathroom and gently closed the door behind her.
He couldn’t help
it. He hadn’t meant to push her away,
but he couldn’t help. He didn’t think
about what he was doing, he had simply reacted.
than to her since she was no longer with him.
bother going after her. She doesn’t want
to see you anyway. You saw her as she
was – a corpse – and she resents you for it because you reminded her of the
truth. She likes to forget, you see.
and that she’s not sick. n stn style='mso-spacerun:yes'> But she isn’t fine
and you know it. She’s dying, and there’s
nothing that either of you can do about it.
didn’t stop him from going to her. “Spitfire?”
he called out softly, knocking on the bathroom door.
“Do we have an
electric razor?” she asked through the door, not bothering to do as he
asked. That had been an unpleasant
experience for them both, and she didn’t want to repeat it.
“I don’t,” he said
with a sigh through the door when she didn’t come out.
The door crept open
and she looked at him out of one eye; the rest of her face was hidden by the
door. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“It’s not fau fault,”
he murmured in return. “Don’t be sorry.”
“You had the
stunned, ‘what the hell just happened’ look on your face.
“It’s not on my
face now, spitfire. I’m sorry.
“You didn’t.
door a bit further. “I got scared.
“There’s no reason
to be ed. ed. I’m not.
not scared.”
“Liar,” she accused,
coming out of the bathroom entirely.
“I didn’t lie.
now felt nothing but concern for her.
“Well I was.
not that I think you are – but I’ve heard people break up over this.
“You’re preaching
to the choir on that count, Aida,” he said softly.
over something so trivial as hair.”
“I know.
you’re not going to give me one . . . but possibilities . . .”
“There are
truth.”
“I’m going to shave
it all off,” she said softly. “My wig
will be ready in another week.
going to wear it in private.”
“Good.
her and placing a tentative hand on her cheek.
will change that for me. And that’s the
fucking truth too.”
“God, I love you,”
she whispered, burying her face in his chest.
Sands wrapped his
arms around her and held her close, kissing the top of her head both in a
loving gesture and to show her that he genuinely wasn’t scared or repulsed by
what he
his head had left, but it wasn’t really gone, and he could hear the whispers of
the others filling in the gap it had left in his attentions.
turning his attention back to his wife.
whispered more loudly than he normally would have, forgetting that he didn’t
have to speak over the din of voices that she didn’t hear.
“I believe you,”
she murmured, “You don’t have to shout.wanted to
shout it from the roof, I might find that silly, yet ultimately romantic.”
“I didn’t-I didn’t
mean to shout, spitfire. It’s just . . .
a little loud in here right now.” He
gave her a small smile as he tapped a few fingers on his temple.
from the rooftops, I will. It could be
fun.”
“Com’ere,” she
whispered, pulling his head down to her.
Feeling a bit foolish, she whispered into his ear, “Now see here – I prefer
it if the only voice my husband hears is mine.
If any of you in there has a problem with that, you can come out and
take it up with me. Until then, shut the
hell up.”
“Alright.
squeaked past Sands’ lips.
“Very funny, Sands.”
pulling away from her and glancing around the room nervously.
“Stop it,
Sands. The first time it was only a
little funny. This isn’t.”
“Why do you keep
calling me Sands? That’s not my name . .
. but you can call me that if you want,” the voice reassured her quickly, not
wanting to make her mad.
ck
for tickling him, but it was difficult.
Swallowing hard,
she asked, “What’s your name then?”
“Sheldon, ma’am,”
he said slowly, pulling his chin up in an attempt to be polite if not brave.
You hate that name.”
“If you say so, ma’am,”
Sheldon allowed without argument.
“Stop calling me
that,” she said, backing away.
“I’m sorry, I don’t
know what else to call you,” Sheldon whispered in a soft voice, worried that he
had angered her. “I didn’t mean to
offend, ma-miss.”
“
“I’m sorry.
manner. Mother would be mad.
whispered, looking to the ground in a submissive manner.
“Mother?”
Sheldon looked
around warily, as if he expected her to appear then and there just by saying
the word. pan>pan>“She’s not here, is she?
Aida thought she
was beginning to ustanstand what was going on.
“Sheldon, how old are you?”
“Seven, miss,”
Sheldon answered after a moment’s hesitation.
“Seven?”
about your inner child, she thought dazedly.
she wanted to know him too.
Sheldon looked a
little nervous but sat down across from her.
“What do you do for
fun? Do you have a favorite book?
“I . . . read,
miss. And I help Mother in the garden.
“There’s ones he
won’t let you read?”
“Yes, miss.
“What would
Sheldon fidgeted,
looking over his shoulder. “Not supposed
to. I’m supposed to read what Father
wants.”
“But if you didn’t
have to worry. If no one would find
out. Then what would you read?”
“I . . . like
plays, miss. Shakespeare.
“I like Shakespeare
too. My favorite is A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. There aren’t a lot of swords
is that, though, is there?”
“No, miss.
“I never read Titus
Andronicus,” she said. “What’s that
about?”
“Revenge, miss.
kills her sons. She has the emperor of
Rome fall in love with and marry her, never forgetting about what Titus did to
her. He’s the general, miss. She does
many horrible things to Titus’ family, miss, before Titus finally goes mad.
“And why do you
like it?” she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
“Titus doesn’t give
up. He wins in the end.
thperoperor. He’s killed himself, but he
still won.”
“And you admire
that?”
“Yes, miss,”
Sheldon said with an open, honest face.
“But he was a bad
man in the beginning.”
“He wasn’t bad,
miss. He sacrificed the empresses’
eldest son to the gods for thanks in his victory over her people.
“But don’t you
thinkt hut hurt her?”
“No, miss.
Aida wasn’t going
to touch that one. “Why do you keep
calling me miss?”
“Because you didn’t
want me to call you ma’am.”
“Aida.
“My name is
Sheldon, Ms. Aida.”
“You said
that. And you don’t have to call me ‘Ms.’
“It’s polite, Ms.
Aida. I don’t know you.
know.”
“What do you need
to know about me to stop being polite?”
This was so surreal. Enough so
that Aida had decided just to play along.
Sheldon laughed at
that. “No, Ms. Aida.
call you by your first name.”
He didn’t know her
well enough? How did you tell a seven
year old you’re his wife? A seven year
old who’s really twenty-seven. “Well . .
. I’d like to get to know you better, Sheldon.”
“I would like that
too, Ms. Aida. You have a kind voice,”
he whispered abashedly.
“Thank you.”
understand her husband better? Was this
boy always afraid of his parents, and if she could ease his fear, would that
help al'>her Sheldon?
boy.”
“Thank you, Ms.
Aida. What . . . would you like to know?”
he asked cautiously.
“Whatever you want
to tell me. I want you to remember that,
okay? I’ll listen to whatever you want
to tell me.”
myself with my mother and father and the house staff.
echoes. I . . . like mother’s garden.
“I’ve read some of the ones he doesn’t
want me to read. Don’t tell.”
“I won’t.”
supposed to?”
“Books from school.
They were fun.
lady said that not all books are for learning.
“That’s true.
them. And none of them are meant for
learning.”
“Will Father know?
“This is my
home. I live here with my husband.
don’t know about?”
“No, Ms. Aida.
much. I don’t think they like me.
friends.
He seemed to weigh
her trustworthiness for a few long minutes.
great secret, “they talk back. Or, I
imagine they do, anyway. They’re
special. Do you have friends like that,
Ms. Aida?”
“I don’t really get
out much anymore,” she said softly. “But
when I was your age, I had four brothers, and a sister.
that only had one bathroom, so it was very crowded.”
“I sometimes wish I
had a brother or sister. I’d have
someone to play with,” Sheldon said with a small smile.
“Maybe. . .” she
agree softly.
“That would be fun.
I wouldn’t even pick on them.
innocent look.
“What would you do
with them?”
Sheldon shrugged.
had a little brother or sister with me I wouldn’t be alone.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The staff goes with me sometimes.”
“Do you want to go
outside now?”
“No, I don’t want
to go fucking outside. Why are you
asking me that, kitty? And what the fuck
am I doing on the floor?” Jeffrey asked with a confused frown.
“Because you weren’t
you,” she said, turning away and shaking her head.
“Ok, then what was
with a roll of his eyes.
“Sands wasn’t on
the floor.”
Jeffrey’s brow
furrowed in confusion. “I’m on the floor
now, kitty. That means Sands must have
been on the floor.”
“No it doesn’t.
so wasn’t careful about what she said.
“Who the fuck is
Sheldon? You’re not talking about Sands,
so who the fuck are you talking about?” Jeffrey said, his voice gaining a hint
of fear. “There’s no one else, kitty.
himself. “Is there?
already.”
“There’s a seven
year old boy who’s afraid of his parents,” she murmured.
“Sheldon,” Jeffrey
repeated as if in a daze. “Oh . . . fuck.
That’s not good.”
“He’s not
dangerous,” she whispered. “He’s lonely.”
“Kitty, his very
existence makes him dangerous.”
“And your existence
makes you dangerous. But frankly, I
think he’s a lot less harmless than you are.
He thinks he’s seven, for god’s sake.”
“That’s not what I
fucking meant, kitty. If there’s a new
crack in Sands’ fucking mind, that just means he’s getting worse, and that
makes him dangerous, savvy?”
“Sands isn’t
dangerous,” she shot back.
“If you think that,
then you’re a fool. How many people do
you think he’s killed, kitty? I didn’t
kill them all. Keep that in mind.”
“Let me talk to
him,” she demanded.
“Fine.
said with a slight scowl as he pushed Sands forward.
“Ok, what the fuck
just happened, spitfire? One minute I
was talking to you, the next . . . Did
Jeffrey show up? Is that what happened?”
“Jeffrey just left.”
his hands in hers. “You feeling alright?”
“Uh, no.
that’s why I feel like my head’s fucking spinning.
“No.
But I don’t want Jeffrey to be
right! “Jeffrey says he has plans
for tonight.”
“Oh.
remember? I’m missing time and I feel .
. . odd,” he said with a frown. “The
last thing I remember is telling you that the other voices were being extra
annoying. That’s all.”
dramatically. “Oh god.
“I talked to a
seven year old boy who said his name was Shel” sh” she told him quietly.
a past that you need to remember?”
“The past isn’t
something that takes the form of a . . . child and speaks to you, spitfire.”
concentration, trying to bring this new voice forward.
“He likes me.”
“What’s not to
like?” Sands said a little hysterically.
“Calm down,” she
said, alarmed. Her hands flew up to cup
his face; her fingers stroked his cheeks, trying to get him to focus on
her. “For the moment everything is
fine. You have to stay calm to stay in
control. Just take some deep breaths.”
“I am calm,” he
said in a voice that was anything but.
“Look at me,
Sands. Really look at me.”
his eyes met hers. “Just tell me what
you see.”
“Aida.
“Looking at me.
“And why am I
here? Why am I holding you?”
“Because you’re my
wife. You love me.
“No.
Perhaps concerned for you, but I have faith in you too.
You’re not going to fall apart.
You can keep your control.” She
delicately stroked his cheeks with each pronouncement.
“It’s hard,
spitfire,” he said with a frown. “And it’s
getting harder.”
“But you can do it.
stronger at keeping things back. It was
just bad timing. We’ve had a couple of bad
days. Just concentrate,” she
breathed. “Just push everything but the
sound of my voice out of your way.”
“Then mthemthem be
quiet. I’m right here.”
“So am I,” Sands
whispered in return.
“Good.”
the rustle of their breathing the only sound in the room.
hands, and Aida let out a breath she’d been holding.
“Feeling a bit
better?”
“A little.
“Don’t thank
me. I was the one that issued the challenge
in the first place. I didn’t think
anyone would answer, though.”
“Me neither.
he said with an almost smile.
“I think you
deserve it. It wasn’t a good idea, but
it was an understandable reaction.
Anyone with sense would freak out a little.”
“Who says I have
any sense?” he asked wryly. “And it wasn’t
a bad idea. Under normal circumstances
may may have even worked.”
“If it’s all the
same to you, I don’t think I’m going to try it again.”
“I don’t. . .
allowed Jeffrey to come forward after a few minutes’ hesitation.
control he had gained so easily, but if he didn’t it wouldn’t be long before
Jeffrey took it from him, and that would be worse.
“You two done yet?”
Jeffrey asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You’d begrudge the
time it takes to keep from flipping out?” Aida challenged, mimicking his raised
eyebrow.
“I begrudge
everything, kitty. It’s kind of who I
am,” Jeffrey responded.
“Then you’re also
an idiot.” There was no heat in her
voice; the accusation was nothing more than a statement.
Jeffrey shrugged.
without another word.
******************************
******************************
When Jeffrey walked into his and Salida’s bedroom, he found
his bride awake and bleary-eyed, sitting upright in bed as she rubbed at her
nose. Her hair was mussed from sleep,
her eyes squinting in the afternoon light, and there was a slight crease down
her right cheek where her face had rested against her pillow.
He thought she
looked fucking adorable.
“Good afternoon,
vixen. How’d you sleep?” he asked,
moving across the room to sit down on the bed at her side.
“
Jeffrey laughed and
began moving his fingers absently through her tangled hair before he froze.
longer. Seems that Sands just got a
little fucking crazier.”
She stiffened in
his arms before thrusting herself away from him.
she looked at him fearfully.
“What did you
fucking do that for? He’s not fucking
here, vixen. And he’s just a kid.
She apparently talked to him.
he was that age, I don’t fucking know.
look at me that way.”
“You-you’re still
you?” she asked hesitantly. “You’re
alright?”
“More or less. Yes,
I’m still me, vixen. Jeffrey, your
fucking husband. The man you married.
all,” he said, tapping his temple.
She crawled back
over to him and tucked herself against him again.
that. I was just scared.”
“It’s alright,
vixen. You don’t need to be.
little kid. If you do talk to him you
don’t have to fucking worry about him.”
“It wasn’t
that. I don’t care about voices.
hear voices? You said Sands was crazier,
and that means losing control, and that means danger.”
“Yeah, I know.
“If he lost
control, could you . . . ?”
“Honestly?
want to have to find that out.”
“Me neither.”
Jeffrey just held
her for a handful of long minutes before speaking softly.
you like, but I do still have plans.”
“I-yes.”
the covers with Jeffrey and pull the covers over her head, to ignore and avoid
what was happening in the real world.
But she wanted to make her husband happy, and that meant doing what he
wanted. As long as he’s there, I suppose it doesn’t really matter.
“Are you sure?
slowly.
“I want to be with
you,” she murmured. “I want to be a
couple. I want to spent at least a few
hours being normal.”
“You can be with me
in lots of places, vixen,” Jeffrey said with a small smile.
something you don’t want to.”
“I do.
street. I want . . . I want a date.”
“Then that’s what
you’ll get,” Jeffrey said with a smile.
before that could happen. If it were
just us I’d be more than willing to let you go without a fucking stitch on.
my time killing off your adoring masses, it’s probably best if you just get
dressed.”
“What should I
wear?” she asked, looking around. “Where
are we going?”
“Wear whatever you
want, vixen. We’re going out to shop for
what you’ll wear this evening anyway, so it doesn’t really matter what you wear
now.”
“Jeffrey. . .”
“Salida,” he said
with a smile. “You’re not changing this
plan. We’re going shopping.”
“But I don’t
“So?
wardrobe, vixen. I’m buying you a few
things only for tonight. Just accept it.”
“Fine.
clothes.
“What else am I
going to spend money on if not my wife, vixen?” he asked wryly.
“I don’t know. . .
“Not as much fun,
vixen. The only things I spend money on
for myself are clothes and food. Sands
is the big spender, not me, and even he only really spends money on his fucking
cars.”
“Hmm. . .”
next to him on the bed.
Jeffrey smirked at
her action, but didn’t comment as he began to brush out her hair gently.
soft and shining, he handed the brush back to her, moved the curtain of her
hair aside, and kissed her neck softly.
“I thought you’d
like that,” she murmured, leaning back into his chest.
“I did.
hand though her hair. After a few long
minutes he realized that he was becoming distracted.
again.
She moaned, but let
him pull her up off the bed.