More Than Darkness
43
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This is a crossover smutty story featuring the character of
Tess/Salida ie Tess' Voice in Neon Dasies' OUATIM fics on ff.net, 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.
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“What are we out for again?
of me?” Sands muttered to Salida, flexing the fingers of his newly stitch-free right
hand and arm. It had hurt like a son of
a bitch to get them out, but at least they were gone now.
his hand. She had given him a somewhat
disapproving look which he had ignored, but otherwise stayed silent about the
whole matter.
“I thought you were
the one who wanted to do some shopping for Aida,” she muttered back.
fastened anymore, so I had to come shopping too.
anyone.”
“I wasn't
complaining, I was merely stating . . . creative differences between the two of
us,” Sands snarked under his breath. “Fine.
I need to get Aida a present for her
birthday. Not that you care,” he
muttered. He didn’t go so far as to
comment on just how badly she needed the new pants – i.e. how fat she was
getting – because he figured that wouldn’t help anyone either.
“Why should I care?”
she asked. “It’s not my birthday.
because my birthday isn’t my birthday.”
“What do you mean
your birthday isn’t your birthday? Why
wouldn’t it be?” Sands paused, getting
what she meant. “Oh, you mean you don’t
consider it your birthday because it’s. . .” he searched for a name.
sure he felt the same. He hadn’t ever
really considered sharing a birthday with Jeffrey before.
“Bingo.”
Sands shrugged.
He didn’t know why he was feeling so
garrulous at the moment, but he felt the urge to just talk to her about
something. Anything.
the moment.
“I don’t know.
you’re first . . . conceived is the right word, I suppose, or close enough to
it.” Salida started wandering towards
the women’s clothing section, not really caring if Sands followed or not.
to him – he was being half polite – and she felt like having a bit of company.
“I wonder how
Jeffrey feels about it,” he half muttered to himself, following her without
hesitation. He didn’t really know what
to buy Aida yet anyway. Clothing might
be an ok gift. Assuming that he could
find something she would like, and that he would like seeing her in at the same
time. Not always an easy feat.
Salida looked at
the racks upon racks of maternity clothing and wondering just how baggy and
unattractive they could get. Well . . . maybe
not unattractive, but she pulled of pants off a nearby rack and wondered how
she’d ever fit in them. And these were
just ones for early pregnancy. She
couldn’t imagine fitting into the ones for the third trimester.
buy clothing at a specialty store since mothers of triplets got bigger than
your average pregnant woman, but still. . .
“Might as well get
it over with,” she muttered, searching through the forest of racks and hangers
for anything that looked moderately attractive and/or comfortable.
to go see the obstetrician again too. I
need to start pre-natal vitamins and such.
I wonder if I could make it out for a visit withoellielling Jeffrey.
husband from having a part in this, but he almost made her nervous witr
er
eagerness, and she reacted badly to that, and then they got into fights.
me. It’s that I’m not.
. . . selfish . . . whenever he’s around and asking questions.
wanted time to process without feeling that Jeffrey saw her delay as a bad
thing, and she wanted to be able to ask her own questions without alarming her
husband.
Sands hardly
noticed the store around him as he followed Salida like a silent shadow.
seemingly ill-fitting clothing he saw before him, but on just what to buy Aida
for her birthday. He had nine days of
gift-giving to do, and he fully intended on making each day special.
fuce yoe you buying her anything? She’s
not going to live long enough to enjoy any of it.
and forced his thoughts back on his wife.
himself. “But what else?”
about a coffin? I hear those are in
fashion this season.
“Shut the fuck up.
know why you’re even bothering to talk to me.”
listening to me now, aren’t you? Bastard taunted in response.
would that be, you fucking pussy? Always
whining about his dead wifey. Poor baby.
How’s it feel to fuck a corpse?
hard enough for his fingernails to bite into his skin and draw blood and
continued thinking about Aida. “I should
get her some movies too. Now that she’ll
be at home more.” Yeah, because she’ll be too sick to leave the fucking house.
her attention on clothes, but on him. How
long had she been watching? “I think I’m
going to go sit down in the common area of the store for a minute.
Her eyes
narrowed. “You sure that’s a good
idea? You’re looking a little pale.
Sands waved a hand.
“Bastard’s giving me grief, as usual,”
he muttered. Aww, she cares. How sweet.
It was Salida’s
turn to pale. Bastard’s threat still
rang in her mind, a constant reminder to work, and now she was here without her
husband to help her.
“I hope you’re not
planning on stepping out any time soon,” she murmured, replacing some supremely
ugly shorts.
“Not a chance,” he
assured her firmly. “I don’t know how he
got out last time, but it’s not going to happen again.”
it is. And I’ll make good on my fucking
promise to that bitch. I bet her blood
is sweet. Is it sweet?
her. If I’m feeling generous and haven’t
killed you too by then.
fuck up,” Sands muttered again.
Salida set all the
hangers in her hand back on the rack. “I
think we should go home. This is too chancy.”
“No.
take one quick stop and then we can go home and you can do whatever you want.”
what I want to do when I get home. .
. Sands ignored the rest of bastard’s
comment with effort, not wanting to hear it.
She didn’t look
happy, but Salida started her shopping again.
If her – if Jeffrey’s – theory was correct and stress was one of the
things that caused personality shifts/hallucinations, then she wanted to avoid
any arguments that might upset Sands into losing control.
but now it would be very bad.
she'd deemed suitable, picked out a few blouses, and then headed towards a
check-out counter.
“Thank you,” Sands
said softly, just to say it. “I’m really
ok.” It was true.
right now that it was almost too much; not letting much emotion through along
with everything – everyone – else.
“It seems that
keeping you happy is in my best interests at the moment,” she said under her
breath. “I’m not your biggest fan, but I
prefer you over some of th. . . . charming . . . people you have in your head.”
“I prefer me too,”
he said evenly. “And there are others
you haven’t seen or met. They just aren’t
. . . strong enough I suppose to really affect anything.”
She sighed.
I’ll figure something out.
“Indeed,” was all
Sands had to say to that as he waited for her to pay for the items of clothing
she had selected. “Are you finished?
“I’m done,” she
confirmed, taking the bags in her hand. “I’ve
had my fun. Time to get back to work.”
******************************
******************************
Sands climbed the steps up into his and Aida’s bedroom,
bouquet of supposedly European wildflowers that he thought Aida would enjoy in
one hand, and a box of dark chocolate truffles in the other.
control to ease up a little so he could properly appreciate his wife.
tormenting him for the time being.
Aida looked up from
the book she was reading, smiling when she saw that her husband had come in
bearing gifts. “What are these for?” she
asked, setting her book aside and moving her feet off the ottoman so Sands
could sit down.
“Your birthday,
spitfire. This is day one of the
gift-giving extravaganza yet to come,” he said with a slight smirk, presenting
her with the gifts as he took a seat on the ottoman.
at the department store with bastard, but he didn’t want to spoil the mood now
so he kept silent.
“I didn’t think you
were actually going to do it,” she murmured, lifting the bouquet to her nose so
she could smell it. “But I’m not going
to complain.”
“Why didn’t you
think I was going to do it?” he asked with a slight frown.
“It seems a little
extravagant,” she said. “When I was a
kid, I was lucky to get more than a book or two on my birthday.”
“You and me both,
spitfire,” he said with a small smile that wasn’t quite sad, but wasn’t quite
happy either.
“Sorry,” she
murmured, setting aside her presents to lean towards him.
could afford.”
“Don’t worry about
it. I’m sure they were wonderful gifts,”
he said with the same sad/happy smile, allowing her to lean into his embrace.
“I’ll make your
next birthday your best,” she promised. “I’ll
be well, and I’ll take you away somewhere, and you’ll be completely surprised
and delighted.”
“I know you will,”
he said with a real smile this time, albeit small still, and gave her a gentle
kiss on the forehead. “Do you like your
gifts? You once told me that dark
chocolate was the way to win your heart.
“If I hadn’t
already given it away.”
“Well then I’m glad
it’s already mine since it’s so easy to win it from you,” he teased gently.
“Just don’t let
anyone else give me chocolate, and you’ll be fine,” she teased back, raising
her face to rub her nose against his. “In
fact, you better make sure I take a bite just to make sure I’m not going to.”
“Is that so?” he
drawled with a grin. “Well then, I guess
I’d better get you some chocolate then.”
to the box of truffles and deftly removed the ribbon, lid and a single truffle
and moved it along her lips in a slow and sensual manner.
it away from her lips and took a bite of it himself and moved close enough to
give her a thorough, chocolate-tasting kiss.
“That was nice,”
she breathed. “But you’re hogging.
Sands let out a
little chuckle at that. “As my princess
commands,” he said, first finishing off the rest of the half-eaten truffle he
had in hand and removing a second and presenting it to her lips.
Aida eagerly took a
bite, humming when she tasted the rich, expensive taste of the chocolate.
It was Sands’ turn
to taste the chocolate on her tongue now, and he did so with relish.
lips and hers as content as a cat with a dish of cream.
“That . . . that
was amazing. Mostly I get a Hershey’s
bar, a Dove bar if I’m splurging. How
much did these cost?”
“Don’t worry about
it.
sidestepping around her question. “And
there’s plenty more where those came from, spitfire,” he murmured with a grin,
gesturing to the still mostly full box of chocolates at her side.
“Sands, you ignored
my question. How much can chocolate
cost?”
“About fifty
dollars,” he murmured, waiting for her reaction.
Aida pretended to
faint, then sat back up. “I guess that
means I shouldn’t let any go to waste.”
She picked another up, and bit into it with enthusiasm.
“No, I guess not,”
Sands said with a small smile, somewhat thankful that she hadn’t asked how much
the flowers had cost on top of that. But
money was no object when it came to her.
“So, did you end up
going with Salida?” Aida asked, finishing off her second truffle and picking up
a third.
“Uh yeah,” Sands
said hesitantly, letting her have as
many truffles as she wanted without taking any for himself.
there. Or more accurate, I did.
reassured her.
The chocolate was
set back down – a good indication of how upset she was.
Sands sighed.
telling her. Well, it was too late for
that now. “Bastard showed up and annoyed
me for awhile. But he’s not here now.
“Bastard?
“I’ve mentioned him
before, Aida. In Hawaii.
likes to taunt and curse at me. Hence
the name.” Something occurred to him
then and he cursed. “Ah shit.
I? I’m sorry.”
“What happened?”
worried by the moment.
Sands sighed and
launched into the unpleasant story. “I
don’t know all the details, you’ll have to ask sunrise for some of them, but
what I do know is this: while I was drugged to the fucking gills, bastard took
over without me around to stop him. If
you don’t remember it, then you must have not woken up.
sunrise shouldn’t be pregnant. He threatened
her and attacked her. That’s how I ended
up shot. She used my gun on him to
defend herself. He would have killed her
if she hadn’t. He still wants to.”
“Why?
And how long has he been around?”
“He –” Sands
started and faltered. Fuck, this was
hard to say. “I don’t think he went
after you because in his mind you’re already . . . dead and not worth the
bother of killing. He doesn’t seem to
like women very much. He, for whatever
reason, was going to give what sunrise ‘wanted’ by taking her children away
from her by any means necessary. He was
then going to kill her. And . . . he’s
been around more and more lately, but he first had a real voice . . . oh,
before Hawaii, but not long.”
“Well. . .”
not to be a target.”
Sands frowned
deeply and closed his eyes. “I fucking
hate him. If I could find a way to
fucking kill him, I would.”
bitch. “See, he’s back now, and his
mouth needs to be cleaned out with soap,” Sands said wearily.
you.
“As if his language
could be any worse than yours is at times.
Or Jeffrey’s.”
and took his hand. “Don’t believe
anything but what I tell you, husband of mine.”
“Hey, my language
is no where near as bad as Jeffrey’s,” Sands said defensively.
to that whip crack. She’s got you beaten
like a pussy, Sands. The little corpse.
you’re gasping for her to hurt you just a little bit more?
isn’t that just pathetic? Maybe I’ll
have my fun with her too. I suppose it
couldn’t hurt. And I think I might like
to see that pale skin of hers red with blood.
to think of a way to get bastard to shut the hell up.
She could see the
pai his his eyes though, pain caused by whatever that inner voice was telling
him. It
shouldn’t be there. He’s been hurt too
often of late. Doing the only thing
she knew to help him refocus his attention, she leaned in and softly captured
his lips with hers.
Bastard made one
last comment about how she tasted exactly as he thought she would before his
voice was drowned out by a quickly rising sea of passion as he kissed her back,
forcing his mind to go blank on everything but her.
nothing else could get to him, and that was he needed right now.
Aida could feel
Sands’ attention coming to focus on her.
As it did, he grew more responsive, started to participate more, started
to kiss her back. She let him, trying
not to respond too strongly. There was
nothing she’d like more than to while away the hours of the afternoon, but she
didn’t have the energy.
Sands felt her
reluctance, her holding back, and pulled away with a slightly confused frown.
anything but letting him take everything.
her like a toy; something to be used and loved one moment and tossed aside and
forgotten in the next. “I’m sorry,” he
murmured, running gentle fingertips down her cheek.
“
And for us, kissing always leads to other things.”
“Don’t be.
small smile, still tracing his fingertips across the planes of her face.
“At least I helped?”
“Yeah, a little,”
he responded with another small smile. pan>pan>“Thank
you.” His hand still moved over his face
almost absently, almost as if he wasn’t aware he was doing it any longer.
“I like it when you
do that,” she murmured, leaning into his soft caress.
“Good,” he said
with that same small smile, his fingers tracing the lines of her face.
down across her closed eyelids and cheeks, around her chin and down her nose
and back again, each touch feather-light.
face by touch alone.
“No matter what,”
she murmured, “I don’t regret anything.
Nothing.”
“Neither do I,” he
said softly, his fingertips moving across her lips as he stared at her intently
with a mixture of overwhelming love and a touch of sadness behind his eyes.
almost a question of whether or not they had been there at all before a wall of
emotionless moved up in their place. And
still he touched her.
The blankness of
his stare bothered her. “What?” she
asked softly, not really wanting to pressure him into answering.
“I’m not.
my current problems. It’s easier this
way.” He voice was clipped and even and
as emotionless as his eyes were.
“But you haven’t
pushed everything away. You’re still
here with me.”
“Couldn’t do that.
“How can I make you
weak? You make me stronger.”
that. “It leaves me open and vulnerable
to everything. Especially you.”
“If you really and
truly believed that, why are you still here?”
“Because I can’t
leave,” he said simply. “Too late for
that now. Once it wasn’t so, but no
longer.”
“Why is it too
late?”
“Because I’m bound.
You made me care.
“Would it be better
for you? To be strong still?”
answer.
Sands faltered for
a minute before answering. “I wouldn’t
be weak. I would be in control.”
“Would you let me
give that to you?” If loving him meant
leaving so he’d survive, she’d do it.
“Too late for
control. It’s already lost.
“But if I could . .
. if there was a way to untie the binds, would you take it?”
“There is no way.
said with such devotion and love managed to sound chilling and hollow in his
detached voice.
“How can you say
that so calmly?” she asked, getting nervous by his lack of emotion.
“Easily.
“Can’t you spare
even a little passion for a declaration like that?”
“Why?
She pulled away at
that. “I can’t just lock my feelings
away, Sands. And right now, you’re
hurting me because you’re making it sound like our love is just as important to
you as the fact that . . . that . . . that thergravgravity.
might as well live with it.”
“But that’s how it
is –” Sands visibly shook himself.
returning like a flood and practically dashing his control to pieces in the
process. It was an either or at this
particular moment; either he could have control or he could have emotions.
“Shh. . .” she
hushed him, once again coming back. “You’re
trying too hard. Just let your mind
drift.” She wrapped her arms around
him. “Don’t push for control, and don’t
push to feel. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Focus on your breathing, on my heart, on
something that calms you.”
“Can’t do that. “Then focus. Sands nodded dully Aida leaned back in The beating of her ****************************** The first few times the phone rang, Salida ignored it. Finally she “Who the hell is “Aida?” “I’m sorry lady, “I’m sorry. “More than most of “Is she at “How the hell “Yes.” “Oh, well, the “May we please talk “Can you put her on “Look, missy, I “The plug.” Aida just looked “Go lie down on the Sands just nodded She smiled gently, “Maybe later,” he “Alright. She came back into “Hello?” Sands returned as “Aida? “Momma?” Sands’ ears caught “Oh my little “I’m so sorry, Sands frowned at “No, no, don’t you “I can’t come home, Sands felt her hand “What? “Aida, honey?” A new batch of “I can’t tell you “I’m so sorry, “I knew you would, “I know you did, “Then why can’t you “Oh, I want “You could go visit She pulled the “What’s that, “Just a minute, “If you want. “We could put them “Then I guess it’s “I love you,” she “I love you too, Aida turned her “Yes, but your “Alright, Papa.” < sty style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “It was good to “Yours too, “Love you too, “I’m sorry, Aida. “I know, “Yes, I did. “Whose name?” Aida “Don’t try and fool “Why can’t my life “If that were the “You’re the one Sands batted her “And you don’t, but “I have mine more Sands couldn’t help “Is that him?” “Sands,” she said Sands gave her a “Sands. Aida flushed again, Susan hesitated for Aida laughed, Sands made a “You taking care of “Yes, sir,” Sands “Is she happy? “She has her down “What’s your first Sands paused, not “Alright, and is “That sounds like Aida listened to “When and how did “I bumped into her “And when was this?” There was silence “About three weeks, “A week? “Premarital Aida sat up and However, her father “No, sir,” Sands “Then you’ve gone “No, sir. She was going to Sands just shook “Not a Catholic. . “I’m gnosgnostic, Aida collapsed on “That shouldn’t “And young people “I am independently “And is you cousin’s “Generally, yes “And she’s well?” “Who? “My little firefly.” “That’s good.” Sands caught the “It’s nothing. “She was, sir,” Aida was tired of “Aida wants to “Papa? “Well, I wouldn’t “Papa. . .” “I’m kidding, “If you knew more, Sands inclined his “Could you “I’ll talk to your “Alright.” “I’ll let you go “Thank you, Papa. “I will. “Bye, Papa.” “What?” he asked a She laughed softly. “Oh. “Com’on, “Yeah, well you “Of course it “Yeah, until he Aida sighed and let “Sorry,” he said “I’ve noticed,” she “Sorry,” he “That would be “How many exactly “I have no “So within a month’s “See? “And I appreciate “They’ll only be “Alright.” He stayed silent “They said that to “Ok, now I “It’s nothing. “Oh no, you got to “And what are you “Hmm, I could call “Sands? “Well, that’s “Fine. “Yes, I’ve seen “It “Naturally,” Sands “So while the rest “That I can, She shook her “Unfortunately, I “I think before was “Why do you say “Because I . . . just Sands waved a hand Aida looked at him, “I will always be “I want to now “Whatever do you “You said I could She>She grinned, and “Have I now? Her grin widened, Sands drew a She latched onto Sands just smiled Aida smirked, and Sands let his eyes With an exaggerated As if he had read Aida took his hand While Aida waited, She smiled. he responded ardently. “I believe you,” “Let me show you?” She kissed him and “Easily,” he “Are you certain?” “I’m more than “What are you “Anything. “No you’re not.” “What makes you so “I’m not wearing “Neither am I,” he Aida moved closer “Still managed to Aida stood He looked at her “What are you doing “We-ell,” she “‘Good little “Tear apart the All thoughts of . . “I still have an “Short skirts? “Plaid and all,” “Naturally. “Sounds like “I’m convinced. She grinned, and Sands rolled over Aida took her own After slipping into As she reached for “Come over here and She came over “Have you any idea “Give me a job?” “Among other “Bite?” she asked, “You won't be able “My friends touch “I’m not them, She pretended to be Still holding on to Her breathing “Shouldn’t be here? “I shouldn’t,” she “But you want to be “I-I . . . yes,” “I’ll show you how “Alright. . .” Sands seem to guess She did, primly With gentle “Are you ready, my She looked up at With infinitely “Ohhh. . .” she “That you are,” It wasn’t “Where?” he rasped “M-my breasts.” “As the lady “Bite me?” Aida Sands pulled She cried out, her “I love you too, mi “Sands, oh yes, The spell was It was too Sands wasn’t going With a grunt of Sands felt the Aida was still “Sands,” she “Yours,” Sands “Sands?” “Then sleep if you “I’m not fat,” she “No you’re not. She groaned, and “Much,” he “Until I wake up.” Sands laughed “Love you too. “Good,” he “You can move me if “I won’t.” “I mean . . . you “I will. “Okay.” Sands had held out ****************************** Sheldon awoke feeling confused. Aida groaned at the Sheldon just held “Yes I am,” she “No I didn’t!” Aida moaned at the “No, no, no! “No! Aida’s face Sheldon just broke “Oh, sweetie.” “Don’t-don’t talk After a long while “It’s alright, “You’ll tell, “Sheldon, I “No one keeps “Have I broken any “You will. “I promise that I Sheldon’s eyes had “I promise. Sheldon shook his Aida tried to think “I don’t like “But do you “I don’t want you “I’m not going to “A little,” Sheldon “I’m sorry. Sheldon nodded, “Aloysius?” “He’s my rabbit. “I still have a “Really? “I got it when one “May I?” he asked “Of course you may.” Sheldon slowly She took the “Aloysius is white “Why did you name “It was a name in a Aida laughed, “Then why did you “Because I didn’t “Yeah, because you’re Aida tried to “Giving me a free Aida just reacted, “You bitch! Aida scooted back “I don’t have Aida trembled for a “Music to my ears!” Salida had heard Picking up the hoe “Ahh, and the “Not for you,” Bastard grinned Salida shifted on “If I’m haughty, “Who said anything She expertly “Oo, hurt me again, Taking the Bastard had only Her first instinct “Don’t believe you,” “You know Bastard gave her a “If I don’t kill “Fuck you. “Oh sweet holy “Jeffrey?” “Why the fuck are “How do I know you’re “What the fuck do Salida let his Ignoring all pain, She clung to him, weeping “I let him get too “Fuck him. Salida shook her “Are you hurt She shook her head “It was necessary, “I didn’t break “You’re the doc, “I’m sorry,” she He leaned over to “I should go clean “I’m sorry,” “I assume she’s in “Aw fuck. For the first time, Jeffrey hadn’t “And after we check “Not-your-fault,” “I don’t know if I’d “You’ll never have “You better see Jeffrey stayed. “Here,” his wife He nodded and she “She’s not “Don’t think like Salida nodded, The redhead raised Salida nodded. Aida however merely Salida “See? “Fine other than “Especially since “Take it back?” Jeffrey nodded and “You know what I “We will,” Jeffrey “Did you know they Jeffrey blinked at “Oh, they hook you “Not your fault,” “I don’t know how “Did-did you know,” “So that means what “Yeah. “Preemies? “How many more “Until 32.” “Oh. “And then. . .” Salida didn’t know what Jeffrey fell into “For what?” she “What? “Oh. “It might make “I-I think that the Jeffrey nodded. She nodded. “I guess so,” His offer made her “I love you too, She shook her head. “Oh joy. “No. “Sands “Just the ones of “Too bad then. He may not have let “Nothing,” he said “Yes. “I didn’t know you She knew a Jeffrey sighed and “But they are Jeffrey accepted She nodded. Jeffrey sighed. “Yeah. “I’m worrying over She smiled and “You’re still “You’d say that if “Yeah, I would. “Leave,” she said, “Don’t worry. “What the fuck did “Aida? She looked at him Sands held her in A headshake was her “Sheldon? “Umm . . . promises. “You talked about “I do. Sands moved away “Chocolate. “Did Sheldon tell “He said your “That’s right. She nodded, but “Are you ready to “I . . . I. . .” Sands looked over “He . . . you . . . “He what, Aida?” he “I don’t know. “Well, I’m not “I don’t know,” she “Shh, I know you Foolish or not, Sands went very “I-I think he was Sands closed his “Salida –” “Salida has the luxury “But I –” “But nothing. Her eyes rose to “Alright,” Sands “If you’re sure you’re “I know. “Yes. “There will be “Alright.” Sands gave her a
right now. It’s not safe.
not saf/p>
/p>
Choose anything you want and don’t let your mind drift from that.”
and moved close her her and pressed hisd agd against her chest to listen to her
heart. “Always your heart.
closed his eyes to let the beating of her heart fill his senses until that’s
all there was. He wouldn’t have been
surprised – if he had been aware of anything else beside the sound of her
heartbeat – to find that his own heart beat had matched hers.
her chair, sighing as Sands’ weight pressed her back into it.
and the soft sounds of their breathing.
He laid quietly, not really moving, as she sat and combed her fingers
through his hair. If this was the best
way she could help, then she’d never deny him this.
rewarding. This was uninterrupted time
with her husband. This was . . . this
was a joy.
heart was all he knew. Nothing else
intruded on that single thought. He wasn’t
even aware of the feeling of her fingers in his hair, even as they began to
relax him. His entire, his
her heart. Nothing else existed.
known. He never wanted it to end.
******************************
and she if she stopped now, she’d lose it.
This research was a great deal like fishing; it took a great deal of
patience, changing tactics, and not jerking too hard when an idea started to
rise to the surface.
at the very least, three other people in the house.
didn’t pick up.
couldn’t take it anymore. Feeling very
irritated, she picked up the phone.
Before she had a chance to say anything she heard, “Firefly?”
this?” Salida drawled.
you’ve got the wrong person.”
Firefly. The parental
nickname was something that Salida automatically mocked simply on the basis
that she – or Tess – had never had one.
short of giving Salida a full explanation, which the pregnant woman didn’t want
to hear anyway. “Is Aida there?”
us,” Salida replied unhelpfully.
should I know? I’ve never asked.”
irritation from the other end of the line, which made her smile.
currently in the building?”
answer to that is yes. Good-bye.”
Aida, they’d call back. Sure enough, not
five minutes later, the phone rang again.
“Hello?”
to Aida.”
the phone?”
“Well, yes, I suppose. The phone would
break, but I could put her on it.”
don’t know what you’re trying to pull –”
Sands’ room. Without knocking, she
barged in and informed the couple, “The next time the phone rings, it’s going
to be for Grant.” Then she left.
down at her lap helplessly. She couldn’t
tell if Sands was awake or asleep, but she didn’t want to move him to get the
phone. But if it was for her . . . what
if it was important?
was currently feeling right now. But
even as he thought this, he could feel it slipping away.
had already been lost. He sighed deeply
and opened weary eyes. He didn’t say
anything yet, but he made a small gesture to let Aida know that he was
conscious at least.
bed,” she murmured. “I’ll go get the
cordless and be right back.”
slowly and moved himself away from the sanctuary of her arms reluctantly.
his feet and moving to the bed and laying down on his stomach with his face
tilted in her direction. He pulled the
pillow out from under his head and moved it to his side absently, wrapping an
arm around it.
picked up the flowers, and came over to give him a quick kiss on the
temple. “Alright, then I’ll get the
phone, put these in water, and be back.
Would you like me to get you anything while I'm downstairs?
gone, and I made brownies.”
murmured. “Could you maybe get me a
glass of water and some aspirin?” he added softly as an afterthought.
unsettled placed behind his eyes that couldn’t really be helped by aspirin, but
he’d take what he could get at the moment.
She dropped another kiss on his temple and left the room.
was working on putting the flowers in water, when the phone rang.
carried it all back upstairs. She’d
promised Sands she’d come right back, so she didn’t want to get involved
downstairs.
the room, set the vase with the flowers in it on her bedside table, gave Sands
his aspirin and water, and laid down next to him.
was pressed against him, did she answer the phone.
much focus as he had left to the feeling of Aida pressed up against him and lay
still as she spoke on the phone.
other end of the phone. “If this is that
rude woman again, so help me –”
the whispered word as if it were yelled, but he didn’t say anything and merely
let Aida talk.
firefly, it’s really you, isn’t it!” Susan Grant said, tears apparent in her
voice. “I am so sorry, Aida!
been so long and I’ve only ever been proud of you.
life again, please just come home!”
Momma.” That was all Aida managed to get
out before she started crying. Just the
sound of her mother’s voice made her realize how much she’d missed her family
since she’d left. Years of missing them
and guilt at not contacting them poured out as she leaned into her husband.
this development, not knowing what to do.
let her cry her eyes out on his shirt. But
what could he say to her? What possible
comfort could he bring? He didn't know
family. He never had.
through right now? After a moment’s
wavering, he remained silent.
be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry
about!” Susan Grant said sternly, sounding as if she were holding back her own
flood of tears by sheer force of will alone.
has been the same without you. Please
come home to us. I’ve missed you so
much. Just come home.
flow freely and made her voice hitch. “We
love you, Aida. We have
Momma,” Aida sniffed, making an effort to control herself.
free hand in Sands’ shirt and looked up at him.
in his shirt but didn’t turn to look at her, and still didn’t say a word.
phone was taken from her gently, her husband seeming to think she was in no
state to be talking on the phone for the moment.
tears gathered in Aida’s eyes. “Hello,
Papa.”
how happy we all were – especially your mother – to get your letter.”
Papa. I know I should have written
sooner, I just didn’t know what to say.
I did wrong. I ran away.
you that, you were right. It was so hard
to make it, and there were a lot of bad people I had to meet, but . . . but I
wanted to tell you it was worth it too.
I got to act, Papa. I was on
stage. Good ones.
firefly.” Jack Grant’s voice was
gruff. “Your Momma and I just wanted to
spare you the bad parts.”
but-but I’m okay. I’m so very happy.”
come home, at least for a visit?”
to. I do.
at the moment. But I want you and Momma
to come visit me. And anyone else who
wants to come. I-I’ve got a lot of news.”
her at the moment.
them if you wanted,” Sands murmured softly.
Aida’s conversation with her parents, it had just kind of slipped in.
phone away from her mouth and spoke to him.
“No, I don’t want to leave you.
So if I visit, I’d want you to come, and . . . and now’s not the best
time for that.”
honey?”
Papa.” She turned back to her
husband. “I want them to meet you.
what they’ll say,” he said, rolling his head enough over his shoulder so that
he could look at her out of the corner of his eye.
up somewhere. There’s not enough room
here anyway. The roomies wouldn’t have
to be involved.” The look she gave him
told him she knew there’d be more involved, but that she didn’t want to talk
about it while on the phone.
alright with me,” he said softly, turning to look at her a little more.
murmured, pressing a kiss into his cheek.
spitfire.” He w hav have said more – thanked her for earlier – but now wasn’t
the time.
attention back to the phone. “You still
there, Papa?”
mother’s begging for the phone.”
hear your voice again, firefly.”
Papa. I . . . I love you.”
firefly. Here’s your mother.”
Momma. Me too.
about?”
made a life for yourself by now. It has
been ten years,” Susan Grant paused, not wanting to hurt her daughter more by
bringing up the length of time it had been since they had last spoken.
asked back, smiling at Sands. “I don’t
think I’ve said anything about a ‘he’.”
me, firefly. I’m still your mother.
to visit us because you’ve made a life for yourself there.
gently, determined she was on the right track with this.
just be a fabulous job that I don’t want to take any time away from?”
case, then you would have said as much riawayaway, Aida dear.”
that was always saying that I didn’t need a man to make my life complete,” Aida
teased, letting her hand run down her husband’s chest and over his ribs.
hand away gently before she could start to tickle him and a small smile slowly
found its way to his face as he listened to her conversation.
whole family thing, but he realized that he was growing more and more tempted
to claim the phone from his wife and have a nice long chat with the Grants.
a man’s still a nice thing to have once and awhile,” Susan said with a small
smile directed towards her husband at her side.
than once in awhile,” Aida said promptly and proudly, re rre realizing what
she'd just told her mother. When she
did, she blushed brightly.
it. At the sight of Aida turning into a
tomato before his very eyes, he laughed.
Susan asked upon hearing Sands in the background.
if he’s been listening in our conversation all along, young lady.”
softly. “His name is Sands.
small smile in return, but didn’t say anything for fear that he’d be caught
now.
Nicole, and it better be the latter if you’ve been having him ‘more than once
and awhile.’ I raised you to be a good
Catholic.”
but this time unhappily. She
. but there were others.”
a moment, glanced over at her husband, and spoke, “No one’s perfect, Aida.
that matters. Will I get to meet him?”
minute to talk in the background before returning.
this while your father wasn’t around. He
wants to talk to this man of yours, Aida.
relieved that she was forgiven so easily.
“Just a minute.” Again moving the
phone away from her mouth, she told Sands, “Papa wants to talk to you.
would be ‘interrogate.’”
considering face for a long moment, the thrust his hand out for the phone.
he pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello,”
he said cautiously.
my little girl?” This was the first and
most important matter in Jack Grant’s mind.
His children deserved the world, and if his firefly had to be in the Big
City, away from all her family, then she’d better be well taken care of.
replied automatically, unconsciously responding to the no-nonsense tone of Mr.
Grant’s voice.
but I trust you’ll be a bit less considerate of my feelings.”
days like everyone else, sir. But yes, I
do believe she is happy.”
gentle and mine.
name, son?” Jack moved to his kitchen
table and sat down.
really liking to be called ‘son,’ and definitely not liking the question, but
answering anyway. “Sheldon, sir.”
there a reason my daughter’s calling you by your last name?”
same,” Sands said, allowing the barest hint of levity into his voice.
my girl. She always was considerate.”
Sands’ side of the conversation, and could only imagine the questions her
father was asking. Smiling, she rested
her head against her husband’s shoulder, and slipped her hand into his.
you meet my firefly, Sands?”
on the street purely by accident and in effect would have made her late for
play practice if I hadn’t called her a cab.
practice, and I took her out to dinner afterwards,” Sands said slowly, giving
Aida a smile in remembrance.
something else I have to remember to celebrate.
on the other end of the line, and then muffled conversation before Jack came
back to say, “And how long have you been married?”
sir,” Sands said with confidence. He
could guess where Mr. Grant was taking this line of questioning, and he wouldn’t
let it bother him. He had no regrets,
and he wasn’t about to let someone tell him that he should have.
counseling. Where did you find a priest
who’d marry you?”
counseling?” Sands repeated, the notion entirely foreign to him.
started signaling him to stop, her eyes wide.
She should have known someone
would ask that eventually.
couldn’t see her discomfort. “Weren’t
married by a priest?” He didn’t sound
happy. “I trust you haven’t knocked my
little girl up.”
said evenly, irritated by the insinuation.
her frantic gestures, and he wasn’t going to any time soon.
were. He had been polite until now, and
would continue to be if matters were resolved, but he could lose that very
quickly if pressed.
to a priest for blessing and communion?”
eyes grow even wider.
die. If she’d been on the phone, at
least she could have broken this news with tact.
faith anymore, but as far as she knew, her entire family was still extremely
fervent in theirs. “Give me the phone,”
she hissed.
his head.
.” This was said slowly, as if Jack was
taking his time to think this over and decide how he felt about it.
sir,” Sands said almost as if daring him to challenge that.
the bed, sure that that was that. Forget
her family coming to visit. If she
wanted to see them, she’d have to go to them, and then survive all sorts of
questioning. Perfect. Just perfect.
about lying.
stand in the way of your daughter’s happiness though, Mr. Grant, now should it?
‘Judge not, lest ye be judged.’
Aida the truth of what he did all day. He
read. Anything he could get his hands
on. That included the bible.
shouldn’t jump to conclusions that make them look stupid.
of saying anything.” Secretly, Jack was
pleased at the way his daughter’s husband stood up for himself.
that allows you to care for her? Are you
an actor as well? Is that why you have
roommates?”
wealthy sir, and we live with my . . . cousin and his wife,” he said, keeping
to the story they had thought up earlier.
rankled, but he would let it slide.
the phone and anyway he was still Aida’s father and she’d probably be a little
upset were something to happen to him, even after their long time apart.
wife always so rude?”
sir, she is,” he muttered without hesitation, hoping Jeffrey wasn’t around to
hear. That would leave things rather . .
. complicated.
nickname, Sands vowed to himself.
to sound as evasive as he was currentlying.ing.
relief in the man’s voice and couldn’t help but continue, “May I inquire as to
why you asked, sir?” He assumed that
they didn’t know about the cancer, and he certainly wasn’t going to tell them
about it now, but he was curious.
phone. If Aida was serious about having
us visit, then I’m sure there’ll be time to talk about family news then.”
Sands said slowly, not quite sure how he felt about that yet.
phone – distanced and not in person – but it was entirely another to meet and
greet and “join the family.” It wasn’t
something he had ever really considered.
listening. She gestured for the phone
again.
speak with you again, sir. A pleasure.”
for a response. He hadn’t wanted to hear
one. He hadn’t wanted to talk to him
anymore either, so it was a good thing that Aida had decided to intervene.
call it harassment exactly. More like
the talk he would have gotten if you’d brought him home first.”
firefly. It sounds as if you have a fine
young man there, even if he doesn’t seem overly eager to meet the family.”
you might understand.” That’s all Aida
was willing to say over the phone. “And
now’s a busy time for both of us. It’d
be best if perhaps you came to visit around the first?
be
okay with that. She also hoped that the
more time he had to get used to the idea, the more he’d come to accept it.
head in a nod. “If that’s what you want,
spitfire,” he said softly.
come? I know it’s tradition to have the
family picnic at the park . . . but we could have everyone up for just the day
and do that here. I don’t want to
overwhelm Sands with all the in-laws and nieces and nephews I’m sure I have by
now, but I think he could endure a day of it.”
brothers and sister. I’m sure they want
to see you as much as we do.”
tired from the excitement. “I hate to do
this, Papa, but Sands and I have tickets to a concert tonight, and we have to
start getting ready.” Aida didn’t like
lying to her father, but she wasn’t ready to tell him about the cancer yet.
then. I’m happy for you, firefly.”
off. After letting out a long sigh, she
looked at her husband and cocked an eyebrow.
little defensively. “I talked to him, I
said yes to the big family meet and greet, so what is it?”
“That’s not what I meant at all.
Sands. I think I know you well enough by
now to know that you form pretty quick first impressions.”
also know me well enough to realize why I reserve judgment on family members,
Aida.” He sighed, shrugged a little, and
continued reluctantly. “He seemed
alright. A little nosy, but I suppose
that’s to be expected.”
is. You married his youngest, prodigal
daughter. It wasn’t anything against
you, it’s just that he wants to make sure that I’m really going to be
happy. Once he meets you and sees how
well you treat me, he won’t have any doubts.”
finds out that I’m a sociopath with associative identity disorder and two wives
by technicality if not by love,” he muttered under his breath.
the subject drop. If he was going to
take that point of view, there was nothing she could do, and talking about it
would only hurt her, which hurt him.
with a sigh of his own. “I didn’t mean
to get defensive. It just kind of . . . happens.”
said dryly.
murmured again. “I’ll try not to be.
showing my . . . pricklier side to everyone else, right?
prompted with a small smile.
nice.” Aida sighed again and rolled to
him again. “I’dgottgotten just how much
I miss everyone.”
is ‘everyone?’”
idea. I should call back tomorrow and
ask. But there’s at least my parents and
my five siblings. Last I remember, my
oldest brother was married and my second oldest was seriously dating.
could all have kids.”
time, there is a potential army of your relatives coming to visit.
it.
I gave you time to . . . get used to the idea.”
that. But we’ll see if that is indeed
the case by the time they get here.”
here for a day, and maybe not all of them will come,” she assured him.
like my parents to stay for a few days though.”
promise not to burn their hotel down occurred to him, but he withheld it.
for a few minutes, staring up at the ceiling and collecting his thoughts before
speaking again. “Why do they call you
firefly?” he asked suddenly, turning his head to the side to look at her.
you?” she asked, her eyes going wide and a faint blush coming to her face.
Come on, spit it out,” Sands inveigled.
the fucking dirt on me. You’re not
getting off that easy, spitfire.”
going to do to me if I don’t answer?” she challenged, smirking just a little
bit.
your parents back and tell them how I ravished your pretty little Catholic body
before we were married?” he suggested
with the innocence of a choirboy with devil’s horns and a forked tail.
things without ever being told them.
Something tells me my parents suspect that you had to make an honest
woman out of me. But that was a very
evil suggestion. You get points for
that.”
something I suppose. Tell me the story,
Aida.”
the summer, and I wanted to catch fireflies.
Have you ever seen them?”
fireflies before. They’re annoying when
they get into the house at night. Keeps
you awake. But something tells me that
your parents wouldn’t still be calling you their ‘little firefly,’ were that
the real story.”
kinda light up in mid-air, like floating sparks.
of them were flying above my head. I
couldn’t reach them. So I figured that
if I got up on something tall, and jumped down, I could catch one in a jar
before landing.”
said with an amused smile.
of the family was outside, I went inside and got onto the ledge of my
first-storey window. Wi jar jar in one
hand, and a lid in another, I just kinda . . . leapt out.
at the point in my life. And I assume
you can figure out how the story ends.”
spitfireandsands said as he laughed softly at the image his mind’s eye
presented of a young and fearless Aida jumping off of her house to catch the
one elusive firefly. “Did you catch any?”
head. “No.
glass all the way though my hand.”
know how that feels and you have my sympathies,” Sands said, reaching over and
bringing both of her hands to her lips and kissing each of them gently.
more my pleasure than yours, but you’re welcome.”
that? Not the you’re welcome part, but
the rest?”
being close to you gives me joy. And if
I can be close to you and help you at the same time. . .”
half-smile. “Sounds selfish when I put
it that way, doesn’t it?”
in dismissal at that. “No, it doesn’t.
means.”
then shook her head. “You are a very
strange man, but I’m glad you’re mispanspan style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
And that I’m going to get a chance to show you off.”
yours. And you can show me off however
you like, spitfire,” he murmured with a slight smile.
then,” she smirked. “Go ahead.
mean by that, Aida my love?” Sands asked with playful innocence.
show you off however I wanted, and
you lying on the bed, simply isn’t cutting the Dijon.
bed and moved back where she could see. Moving
slowly, his hands moved to his shirt buttons and began undoing them one by one.
“Is this what you had in mind, wife
mine?” he asked as each button revealed more of his pale chest.
eyes never left her face as he undressed for her.
his shoulders back a little and let it slide to the floor in a puddle of silk
at his feet.
propped herself up on his pillow. “I’d
say you’ve definitely caught my interest, my love.”
seems.” With casual slow gestures designed
to catch her eyes and keep them glued to him, he removed his pants and stepped
out of them with the grace of a dancer before removing his boxers with the same
slow gestures. With a smirk as he stood
before her, completely naked and sublimely confident, he tossed his boxers at
her for her to catch. He stood there
before her for a few long minutes, letting her look her fill, before padding
silently across the room like a great cat and removing one of the dwindling
truffles from the box and taking it with him as he moved to lay lengthwise
across the foot of the bed on his side, looking up at her.
his voice warm and thick like honey.
and she got up on her knees and walked over to him, trying to straddle his
waist, and pouting when he didn’t let her.
fingertip along the melting truffle in his other hand and offered it to her.
his finger eagerly, nipping at the pad in retribution for teasing her and not
allowing her to do as she wished.
at her action and drew his finger away from her mouth once she was finished
with it. hen hen moved it to the truffle again and transferred even more of the
soft chocolate to it and tilted his head slightly to the side and traced a line
of chocolate down the side of his neck along the underside of his jaw; one of
the places he liked to be kissed and where she liked to kiss him.
sunk her fingers into his hair. Using
her grip, she pulled his head back almost hard enough to hurt, and then started
licking up the chocolate. She refused to
kiss it off since that’s what he’d been trying to make her do, so she lapped it
off like the kitten Jeffrey called her.
drift slightly shut under his wife’s ministrations and silently told his body
to be still. It wasn’t time for action
yet, he wasn’t done with play. When she
had finally pulled back – licking a bit of chocolate from her bottom lip slowly
in a manner surely designed to tease him – he once more drew a line of
chocolate on his body, his time straight down his breastbone, and waited to see
what she would do.
sigh, she started lapping up the chocolate he’d smeared on himself, throwing in
several nips for good measure. If he
didn’t stop playing with the chocolate soon, she was just going to take it.
her thoughts, he offered up the rest of the chocolate to her – what was left of
it anyway – in a open gesture to do with what she liked.
was for her, and her taste was far sweeter than any chocolate could ever be for
him to be really tempted by anything less anyway.
in both of hers, first finishing the truffle, and then erasing all traces of
the confection from his fingers with her eager tongue.
lips, then rested her head on his chest, waiting for him to make the next move.
Sands found himself unable to do anything but stare at her, utterly lost in her
eyes. A hand moved up to trace the
contours of her cheek almost without thought, trembling slightly under the
wealth of emotion that was currently raging through him right now.
I knew and still it wouldn’t be enough,” he murmured, still looking at her as
if he had been entranced by her eyes.
believe you.”
she replied solemnly.
he prompted almost tentatively, his hand still tracing lines down her cheek.
slowly got off the bed. “Can you catch
me?” she whispered, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
responded, moving off the bed behind her but not actively making a move towards
her yet.
she asked, backing away slowly.
certain, spitfire,” he said with a touch of smugness, moving towards her as
slowly as she moved back; keeping the distance even between them.
willing to wager?” She circled around
the bed, well aware that she could take refuge under it if need be.
affirmed with a confident grin.
just kept moving slowly, making sure not to box herself into a corner.
sure? The room’s not very big and I’ve
caught you before. What makes this time
so different?” he asked casually, moving to close the gap between them a few
steps as he spoke.
heels,” she replied, jumping back a
little.
drawled with a smirk, moving to close the gap again.
to the bed, a good position for someone planned to dive under it, and rolled
her eyes. “Oh, like you were before.”
catch you, regardless. And you’ve got
much less space to run in now.”
still. “Come and get me then, my love.”
distrustfully, but she simply stood there and smiled.
but she was betting he didn’t know what.
When he leapt at her, she ducked and rolled under the bed, laughing
gaily.
under there?” Sands asked, hanging his head over the side of the bed to look
into the darkness underneath where Aida was hiding like one of the cats; where
he couldn’t reach her. “Come out of
there, spitfire.”
drawled. “You see, I would, but I seem
to remember the bet being that you
had to catch me.
never surrender myself easily to whatever delightfully debauched entertainments
you have in mind.”
Catholic girl,’ my ass,” Sands muttered.
get to you, spitfire. I’ll catch you
yet.”
bed, and you won’t be able to get me.
Although, if you wanted me to get into my schoolgirl outfit, that’d be
another matter entirely.”
. well anything fled his mind at that
very moment. “Schoolgirl outfit?” he
asked as casually as he could.
old uniform.” She could see the interest
in his eyes. Well, interest was putting
it mildly, but it was the most polite way to put it.
blood in his body at a loss as to where to go; either to his head which was
currently hanging over the edge of the bed and defying gravity, or in a
straight line right between his legs as he thougher ter the image that seeing
her in such an outfit presented itself to his imagination.
she assured him.
Those are my options?”
it. And I seem to remember that school
girls are too naive to turn down a good looking man.”
right now before you drive me even more insane than you’ve already managed,
spitfire.”
rolled out the opposite side from where he was looking at her.
wanted from the back of the bottom drawer, and disappeared into the bathroom.
on his back so that his head was at one corner of the bed and his feet were
pointed in another and waited impatiently for her to return, his head propped
up on a bent arm as he looked at the closed bathroom door.
sweet time slipping into her old uniform.
It was a bit shorter than she remembered, but other than that, it still
fit. She was glad for the white cotton
underwear and bra she was wearing as they would add to the illusion.
the red and gold plaid skirt, she buttoned up the white cotton blouse, and
pulled the small wooden and ceramic bead rosary that went with the uniform over
her head. Taking a seat on the toilet,
she pulled up the white cotton knee-highs, then slipped into her
Mary-Janes. Looking in the mirror, she
grinned at her reflection and blew a kiss at herself.
the doorknob, she pulled on her talent as an actor to become the sophomore and
junior she'd once been. Feeling as
prepared as she’d get, Aida opened the door, and stood in the door way.
she said, “Hello. I’m here about the
job?” It was a memory she called
on. She’d gone to a store to get an
after school job, and had gotten propositioned by the owner.
to turn down her husband.
planet, he thought as he licked his suddenly dry lips.
of the embodiments of male fantasies on a whim, she had been the one to suggest
it, not him, and god how he wanted her.
head to her toes, missing nothing and taking in everything.
had of her out of his head and dressed to match.
innocence made him want to do wicked things to her.
let me take a look at you, sweet thing, and we’ll see if you’re fit for the
sitting up on the bed to look at her better; distinctly aware of his ever
hardening arousal as he watched her move.
trustingly, and paused between his spread legs.
Her eyes were free of lust, although he could see her pulse beating
wildly in her neck. As if to tease, she
wet her lips with the lip of her tongue, then placed her hands behind her back,
causing her chest to arch.
just I’m going to do to you, my sweet?” he asked in a lust thick voice, a
single hand moving out to set the edge of her skirt in swinging motion.
she asked, trying to be serious. It was
harder to stay in character with her sexy husband than it was when she was in
front of 300 people.
things,” he drawled with a grin that could be called no less than wicked.
coming closer as he’d asked. “Why would
you bite? And why would I want you to?”
to help yourself, sweet. You’ll be
begging for my touch, and that’s what I’ll give you in return.
me,” she said, pretending confusion. “I
don't beg them to. Why are you
different?”
sweet thing. I’m a hot blooded man who’s
longing for you to spread those lily white thighs of yours for me.
you’ll be begging. I promise.”
scandalized. “I’m sorry sir, that’s not
the kind of job I’m here for.” When she
pretended to turn to leave, he caught her wrist and pulled her flush against
him. Gasping, she looked down into his
desire-hardened face and swallowed.
her hand, he planted his feet in-between hers and forced her to spread her legs
for him as he stood, taking time to rub his hardened length under her skirt
through her underwear roughly. “I bet I
can change your mind.”
hitched and a wave of heat went through her, but it wasn’t time to let the game
drop yet. “Please,” she murmured,
pushing without any real strength at his shoulders.
Or don’t want to be here? Which is
it, sweet?” he drawled, keeping her close.
wicked grin. “You want to be here. You want
whispered, letting her body sway and rub against his.
a bad girl, don’t you? You want what I
want. You want this.”
nonetheless filled with passionate intensity on the soft underside of her chin.
she whispered. Her hands hesitantly
found his hips, then rested there. “I’ve
never. . .”
to be bad, don’t worry, my sweet,” Sands said with a wolf’s grin.
think straight anymore, and she no doubt knew it from the way their bodies were
pressed flush against each other.
of air that managed to pass her lips.
Most of her attention was saved for her examination of his face, his
eyes; for reveling in the burning excitement that was filling her limbs and
belly. If she had one regret, it was
that this had never taken place. That he
hadn’t been her first.
what she was thinking, and laid another reassuring kiss on her neck this time
before he looked down at her, his eyes full of love.
keeping her legs together and resting her hands at her sides.
him, regret being burned away by excitement, love, and lust.
gestures, he kneeled in front of her and took her stocking clad knees in his
hands and gently spread her legs apart. He then pressed his hands to her thighs
and slid them ever so slowly upward under her skirt and over hips, hooking
fingertips on her underwear and pulling it down and off her feet as he moved.
He left the stockings on, he was curious to feel them rubbing against his sides
as she clasped her legs around his back.
sweet?” he asked softly, moving so that he was positioned just where he needed
to be to stretch the limits of their passion even further.
he liked that too. He liked the fantasy.
It was fun.
him out of wide eyes, felt lust choke her throat, and nodded.
gentle gestures, Sands thrust into her and his breath was stolen away at the
feeling. He kept his movements slow as
he began to thrust into her, his mouth moving to latch onto an earlobe.
sweet,” he murmured into her ear as he kissed and sucked at her neck and ear.
breathed, arching a little under him. “I’m
so hot.”
Sands agreed, a hand moving to deftly unbutton her blouse and lay it apart off
of her stomach. The same hand pressed
against her stomach and lower as she arched against him, and his thrusts’ pace
increased.
enough. “Please. . .” she whispered
through her dry mouth. “I need you to
touch me. Please, baby.”
out in a dry croak of his own. “Tell me
where to touch you. Where do you want it
the most? Here?”
here?” He moved his hand downward and
flipped up the edge of her skirt so he could work her clit as he continued to
thrust into her. Just when she had
started to moan, he removed his hand. “Tell
me.”
too. “Oh god, baby.”
wishes,” Sands said with a smile and deftly worked his right hand under her
shirt and around her back to unhook her bra.
practice. She had assisted him in
removing it and her blouse as he needed his other hand to prop up his weight,
and when she was left bare from the waist up beneath him, he set to work on one
pale breast, rolling and pinching a nipple between his fingers before moving to
give it’s partner equal attention before moving back again.
way she arched up into his hand.
begged, pulling at his head and rolling her hips.
himself upright and over so he could place a sharp bite on one of her nipples.
but enough to suit her – and his – purposes.
body going stiff for a moment before she once more collapsed into the bed.
over his back and shoulders. “God, I
love you. You make me feel so good.”
amour,” Sands gasped, letting her touch serve to arouse him even more.
hurt, so close to coming that his head was beginning to spin.
Sands.” His name spilled from her lips
as Aida fought to get some leverage to thrust back.
underneath him and delighting in her struggles.
She was strong, so strong. And
alive. And his.
broken, and words fell from his lips in a wave.
glass, trying to fly free, but he wouldn’t let her.
too much to give up right now. His
thrusts ever increased.
much. Aida came fast and hard,
whimpering pitifully as her nails raked at Sands’ back, but he never
stopped. He kept thrusting into her,
grunting with each move of his hips, his body muffling her pleasured struggles
until the domination itself became unbearable.
Her lips slid across his cheek as she raised her legs to circle his
hips. His next thrust came deeper inside
her than the last, and she moaned. He
felt so good. He was heavy, and sweaty,
and hers.
to be able to hold out – not that he was trying – for much longer.
leaving gouges in the flesh of his back, but somehow his control had held, and
the strength of his arousal had effectively doubled.
save, need and her.
effort, Aida managed to roll her husband onto his back, crying his name incoherently
as his arousal slipped even deeper inside her.
Panting now with exertion, she started rocking her hips, leaning forward
until Sands sucked one of her nipples into his mouth.
she pressed her breast against his lips.
scales tip in his favor distantly, and then all he knew was sensation and
noise. The sensation was swarming all
over his body; a wave of the purest pleasure imaginable that left him near to
giddy after it had run its course, and the noise was the sound of his own
hoarse yell at the very instant of
climax echoing throughout the room.
him hard as he arched his back and rode the wave of his orgasm with her.
pleasurable hours, his body flattened once more against the bed and his hands
dropped listlessly to his sides. His
breathing was still quick, and it was hard to form coherent sentences in the
afterglow of such passion, but he managed.
trembling from her second orgasm, but she managed to lower her body onto his,
gasping slightly for air. As pleasure
receded, she felt a bit of pain, but it’d been worth it.
just done, and damn the pain. But even
so, she was a little glad they were done.
breathed, placing a kiss on his chest. “
Mine.”
responded in return, which was about all he was able to do at the moment.
want to, I don’t mind, but not on me. I
can’t really breathe, spitfire,” he informed her lazily.
he didn’t really want her to move yet, but sooner or later it’d become one.
protested, her face screwing up into a pout at the thought of having to move.
on my ribs with those beautiful breasts of yours, spitfire,” he said gently.
managed to scoot up his body until her head hung over his shoulder and rested
on the pillow next to his. “Better?” she
asked.
responded with a smile, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
he asked casually, knowing that if he wanted to ensure that no one else showed up
to take advantage of such an intimate position with his wife he’d have to stay
awake and in control. He didn’t really
mind though.
softly at that. “Alright.
kiss her cheek. “Sweet dreams, spitfire.
I love you.”
little until she was more comfortable.
murmured, staying still until she was settled.
wake up.”
I get too heavy,” she offered, her eyes slipping shut.
his word, and he couldn’t be certain that he’d be able to keep that one.
can if you have to. . .” she mumbled. “Just
make sure you pull up the . . .” she yawned.
“The blankets.”
consideration and understanding, giving her another gentle kiss on the cheek.
her body relaxed against his.
as long as he could, but with the combination of his wife’s weight pressing
down on him where he knew she was his and safe, and her gentle breath against
his neck sent him to sleep. And in
sleep, control is lost.
******************************
recognize where he was. But then he did.
“Not real.
Except for Ms. Aida. She’s not
scary. She’s nice.”
of his surroundings. Someone was on top
of him! They were attacking him!
attacking him as quickly as he could, falling backwards over the edge of the
bed as he went. It was then that his
nakedness became apparent, and he made a little squeak of embarrassment and
quickly pulled down the sheet and wrapped it tightly around himself.
bed? He couldn't see her face because
she didn’t have her head turned to him but he did notice that she wasn’t
wearing anything but a skirt and long socks.
eyes at the sight.
rude awakening, and reached for the blanket.
“Sands?” she slurred. “You okay?”
the sheet even tighter around his lean and trembling form as his eyes went wide
at the voice. “Ms. Aida?” he asked
incredulously, cracking fingers apart to look at her.
squeaked and covered his eyes again. “You’re
not wearing any clothes!”
murmured, still half asleep. “You left
my skirt on.” Her searching hand finally
found the blanket and pulled it up around her shoulders.
Salida must have turned on the AC or something.
Sheldon insisted in a wavering voice, his eyes still tightly covered.
intensity of her husband’s voice. Why
was he being so loud? “You okay?” she
asked again.
ok!” Sheldon insisted in a frantic, teary voice.
like it. Not at all!
Aida rubbed her eyes, rolled herself thoroughly in the blanket, and
moved her head until she was looking at the man on the floor.
down his cheeks now.
crunched up in confusion. “Sheldon?”
out into a sob, unable to answer her question.
couldn’t stop and was soon rocking himself back and forth as he cried.
be shocked. Making sure the blanket
was tight around her, she slid onto the floor, not touching him until he
icaticated he wanted her too. “I’m so
sorry, sweetie.”
to me,” Sheldon said in hiccupping sobs.
Aida kept her mouth closed and watched with sympathetic eyes.
moment, and he was only a child no matter what everyone else said.
again.
Sheldon finally just sobbed himself into exhaustion and collapsed limply onto
the floor, drawing his knees up to this chest and wrapping his arms around
them; trying to make himself as small a target as possible.
small voice utterly devoid of sorrow now.
his tears up for they no longer fell from his eyes either.
Sheldon. I won’t tell.”
uncertain of how he’d take it. She didn’t
think he’d hurt her, but if he did in his seven-year-old mind, his twenty-seven-year-old
body could hurt her.
everyone tells. I thought he was my
friend but he told on me too. He was
afraid of Father. He wouldn’t help me.
rambling voice.
promised that I wouldn’t. I may be a lot
of things, but I keep my promises.
Besides, how many times do you think I’ve been in your place?
I can’t control, and that I don’t like?
I want to cry sometimes too.”
promises,” Sheldon said bitterly, looking over at her now that he saw that she
was covered up and no longer gross.
to you?” she asked gently, lying down on the floor so he wouldn’t have to crane
his head to look at her.
a frown with just a hint of doubt in it.
will do everything in my power not to break any promise I make you.”
floor halfway between them.
a hint of hope in them now. “Promise?”
he asked softly.
something that could hurt anyone, or something like that, and then try to make
me promise not to tell, I might not promise.
Do you understand why I might not?”
head slowly, his eyes going mistrustful again.
of a situation that would explain what she meant.
some kind of medicine, right?” He nodded
slowly. “Alright.
and you have a headache. I leave the
room, and you decide to take some Advil.
When I come back, I catch you with the bottle.
didn’t tell anyone, you make me promise not to say anything.
tries to take something, I have to tell him that he already has – sorta –
because I don’t want him to overdose.
Does that make sense?”
taking medicine,” he offered solemnly.
understand that the only reason I’d ever break a promise to you is to keep
someone from being hurt?” she pressed.
to get hurt, Ms. Aida. I would be sad,”
he said in a small voice.
get hurt,” she assured him. Then she
cocked her head a bit. “Feeling better?”
said softly. “You scared me.
seeming to understand. “He was . . . nice
to me. He knew about Aloysius!” he said
suddenly as if it were the single greatest achievement on the face of the
planet.
names.
stuffed animal,” she told him, smiling.
of my younger siblings was born. I don’t
remember which one – I was too young. It’s
a giraffe, because they were my favorite animal when I was little, and its name
is Chocolate. And no, I don’t know what
I was thinking when I named it. It’s in
that drawer next to you,” she said, pointing.
hesitantly, an arm paused before the drawer.
opened the drawer and peered inside. She
could tell he was excited from the look on his face, but he was also wary.
out the stuffed animal and offered it to Aida.
foot-long giraffe in her hands, and smiled.
“I don’t think poor Chocolate’s been out of that drawer in a year or
two.” Her hands stroked the tattered
yarn hair, and circled the small patch of lighter fabric where a button eye had
fallen off. She could fix that.
Her mind’s eye envisioned Sands going into a store and buying a pack of
buttons for her. The image made her
smile.
and his nose is missing. I don’t know
what happened to it,” Sheldon volunteered suddenly.
would take him from me so I don’t tell.”
him Aloysius?” she asked curiously after stifling her automatic response that
she’d fix it for him.
book I read.” He gained a secretive
look. “I liked it because Father couldn’t
say it right. Only I could!”
delighted by this story. “That,” she
said, “sounds very much like something I should have expected.”
ask?” Sheldon asked with an innocently confused frown.
know better. Besides, you made me laugh,
and I need to do that more often.”
dying, bitch,” bastard said viciously. “Aww,
isn’t that cute? The little corpse has a
stuffed animal. Is it going to keep your
company when you’re in the ground?”
scramble to her feet, her heart pounding in fear, but tripped over the
blanket. The front of her toga-like
covering dipped a little, but she pulled it up and tried once more to get to
her feet.
show? What would your pansy husband feel
about that? Not that he’d find out.
he’d never know. Would you like that,
corpse? I bet you would.”
him drop to the floor stalked over to her.
before I’m satisfied? I’m willing to
find out it you are!” he said gleefully, lunging at her.
dropping and rolling. Somehow she ended
up under the bed again, and she rapidly moved back.
come under where he’d be hampered by his bigger size, or go to the other side
of the bed which meant she’d have time to move.
seethed. He attempted to lift the bed,
but had no such luck. He ran around to
the other side.
the way she’d come, trying to push back her fear.
was almost more than she could stand.
fucking time for this! You can’t fucking
stay under there forever. You don’t have
that long,” he taunted in a sing-song voice.
flowers off of it by pure mean spiritedness alone, and grabbed the two knives
Sands had placed there. He didn’t bother
with the sheathes; he wasn’t wearing anything he could hook them onto anyway.
visit. She owes me blood.
your ugly little bald head.”
split second after he passed through the door, and then she let out a
ear-splitting scream. She didn’t know
much, but she knew that it was more than likely that Sands had made Salida promise
to look out for his wife on the off-chance of this happening.
to give the other woman some kind of warning that something was wrong.
bastard called out laughingly at the scream as he stalked down the hall to find
Salida. “Come out, come out wherever you
are, whore! You owe me blood and I
intend to collect!” He flipped one of
the knives in his hand so that he could throw it if she had a gun trained on
him again.
Aida’s scream, although she wasn’t in the house.
study and weeding a side garden. Sands
and Aida’s window had been open, and the scream was easily heard.
If something was wrong, it needed to stay in the house, and not happen
in the yard where anyone might see. The
neighbors were already unfriendly enough without some kind of dire situation
taking place in front of their eyes.
she’d been using to uproot some of the bigger weeds, she dashed into the house,
covered in dirt and sweat, and nearly unprepared for what she’d find.
you fucking cunt. He laughed amusedly as
he saw her “weapon”. “A whore with a
hoe. How amusing.”
slowly with a sadistic grin as blood dripped down on to his hand.
than I was before. I think it’ll be
better for both of us that way. I want
to hear your pathetic little whimpers as I tear effortless into your flesh.
fuck you? That could be fun too.”
gestures hurried and heated, but wary. “Fuck,
I’m getting hard just thinking about it.
Salida said calmly, rolling her eyes. “You
know, you really are an annoying bastard.
No one likes you. No one wants
you here. At least the fucking kid is
good for a laugh now and then. You’re .
. . you’re just every bit of nasty personality that neither Sands nor Jeffrey
could stand, which is saying a lot when you think about it.
wide, blood still dribbling out of a corner of his mouth from his injured
tongue. “I’m going to enjoy this.
into submission.” He moved closer now,
mindful of but not really caring about the hoe.
possibly could be with the tool, so even if she did hit him, he would still get
a good taste of her before he went down.
her feet, moving into a more stable position.
If neither of the men woke up in time to stop this, then she was going
to fight, and she had no intention of letting anything happen to her or to
Jeffrey’s children.
then you’re arrogant,” she said softly but intensely.
a hand on me.” Tess had some training
with hand to hand combat, and a bit with staves.
security had taken pity on a lonely girl and done the only thing he’d known how
to do – he’d taught her how to fight.
about hands?” he drawled, tightening his grips on the hilts of the knives.
between them. He wanted a fight.
adrenaline that fighting and hurting and killing brought with it.
different directions; one to her lower waist to cut her femoral artery, and the
other to her stomach and children.
twirled the staff around like a propeller, knocking his hands away at the same
time she stepped to the side. From
experience she knew it had to have stung like a son of a bitch, but he kept his
hold on his weapons.
whore. Make me feel good.
focusing on the pain rather than trying to push it away.
anything except hate, and he loved it.
long cut along one her forearms. It wasn’t
what he had been going for, but she had spilled blood as he had wanted.
him hard enough on the wrist that he couldn’t help but drop the knife from limp
fingers. He hadn’t felt anything break,
but it hurt like a mother fucker. He
embraced the pain again and put it past him.
smelling the sharp scent of her blood in the air.
taste her. He moved to attack again.
that could be afforded at the moment.
Ignoring her pain, she circled as he did, breathing hard.
initiative this time, Salida took the hoe in a two-handed grip and swung at his
side, the blade of the tool pointing out.
She wanted to incapacitate, not seriously injure.
enough time to move forward and away from the sharp end of the hoe before the handle
connected with a sick TWACK against
the left side of his ribs and he dropped to the floor, his mouth opening and
closing as he struggled to breathe through the intense pain.
was to drop her makeshift weapon and rush to his side, but she held herself
back. “Go away.
couldn’t keep you at bay.”
bastard forced out with a pained laugh.
them. You know they’d say that.
considering look. “You can’t get rid of
me. I will always be here,” he jabbed a
finger viciously at a temple, “and I will be waiting.
kill you.”
you first.” Salida’s eyes were cold.
and Jeffrey was left in his place.
motherfucking hell, what the fuck just happened?” Jeffrey groaned, his left
side and right wrist screaming insults at him.
her standing over him with the hoe still gripped in her hands.
remembered that bastard was probably capable of putting on such a show just
make her let her guard down. She took a
step back.
you moving away from me? And why the
fuck are you carrying that?” His eyes
then narrowed in spite of everything. “What
happened to your arm?” he asked, propping himself up on his elbows with a gasp
of pain but managing to stay upright.
you?” she demanded, forcing herself to stand still.
you mean – oh. Fuck.
know. Wait, no that wouldn’t fucking
work because we all share the same fucking mind.
effort or sitting up like he was, but not moving.
that fucking bastard have said that? And
meant it?
You’re my wife and even if we fight . .
. or you’re forced to take a fucking unruly personality down, that won't
fucking change. I will
words sink in before dropping her weapon and collapsing in a puddle of
nerves. Before breaking down entirely,
she managed to yell upstairs in a wavering voice, telling Aida she could go
back to sleep. Then she curled up in a
ball and started weeping, emotionally exhausted.
because when confronted with a vision of his wife like that he truly felt none,
he moved over to her and took her into his arms and held her tightly.
lastimaría. Pero eso no va a suceder,
porque fijaremos esto. Lo haremos mejor.
Junto.
Sa.
fix this. We’ll make it better.
stroked her hair as he spoke. “Te quiero
y todo esté bien.” I love you and everything will be alright.
as if she’d truly been forced to kill him.
Her emotions weren’t normally this unruly, but then again, she wasn’t
usually pregnant either. Taking some
comfort in the fact that it was just the hormones getting to her, and not that
she was turning into a wimp, she managed to slow her tears.
close,” she whispered, cradling her arm to her chest.
head, pulling her arm even closer to her body in an instinctive need to keep
weaknesses hidden.
anywhere else?” he asked softly.
bitch to shreds, set them on fire, and fucking piss on the ashes.
again. “He just got my arm.
vixen. I’ll be alright.”
anything, did I?” she sniffled, her tear-dampened face tilting up to look at
him.
not me, but I don’t think so. Sprained
maybe, fractured probably, but I don’t think anything’s broken.”
with tears again. “No, come on.
cocksucker forced your every action. I’ll
be fine.”
whispered, using her wounded arm to wipe at her eyes.
kiss her cheeks, managing not to wince at the actions.
this,” she murmured. “I never know how
clean those knives are.”
Jeffrey said softly. “I’m sorry he
fucking hurt you and no one was here to stop it.
bitch hurt anyone.
her room. I was outside and I heard her
scream. . . .” Salida’s eyes
widened. “That’s the last thing I heard
from her.”
way to his feet without passing out. He
looked down at his side and saw that it was already turning into an alarming
display of colorful bruises. His right
wrist was about the same. “You’re going
to have to help me, but we need to hurry.”
Salida noticed that he was naked. It
didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why.
wrapped her arm round his waist, making sure not to press against anything that
was too tender. “We should stop for your
robe,” she muttered as they started to slowly climb the stairs.
really noticed his state of dress either.
what had happened to worry about something so trivial as clothing.
teeth as every step he made caused his side to scream in agony at him.
on Grant, we’ll wrap those ribs. It’ll
help. I didn’t want to hit so hard, but
he wouldn’t back off –”
he repeated. “He forced your fucking
hand. You did what you had do to.”
be able to do it,” she admitted softly as they climbed the last few steps.
to make that decision, so don’t worry over it,” Jeffrey said firmly.
that I don’t, or I’ll come after you to give you hell about it.
She left his side to fetch his robe.
nearby wall and attempted to get a handle on the pain that was giving him so
much grief. His wrist wasn’t that bad.
only been jarred hard and not really sprained.
a ragged gasp of pain to escape from his lips.
forcing himself to leave them alone and dropping his hand to his side.
said, reappearing at his side. “Let me
help you. I don’t want you twisting
around too much.”
helped him into his robe and belted it loosely around his tender waist.
Sort of.
hurt. We both know she’s either
perfectly fine or she’s. . .” Salida let
the sentence go. If Grant was dead, then
this might possibly be the last few minutes they had together.
up on her toes to kiss him.
that,” he told her after a searing, needy kiss.
trying to believe her husband. “We’re
fine,” she agreed. “All of us.
Letting go of his hand, she went to Aida’s door and since it was open,
stuck her head inside the room. “Grant,
are you –” Aida was curled up in the
bed, a pillow hugged to her middle and a dazed look on her face.
There you are.”
her gaze to meet Salida’s eyes. Whatever
she saw there made her relax. “He’sne?”ne?”
gone.” For a moment nothing more was
said, but then she muttered, “Do you want to talk to Sands?”
Salida never would have made the offer.
shook her head. “That’s . . . that’s
alright. I’m . . .”
understood. “Alright.
alive.” And with that, she left.
Jeffrey murmured as Salida exited the bedroom and moved to his side again.
the chit is practically in shock. Sands
is going to have a lot of making up to do to that girl,” she murmured, running
a hand over her face. “But let’s get you
taken care of. Everything else can wait.”
Sands seems to have gone incommunicado at present,” Jeffrey murmured.
asked, nodding his head down to his bruised ribs.
stupidity. “There’se ace ace bandaged in
the medicine cabinet. We’ll bind them
for now.”
together they made their way back down the hall with slow, measured steps and
in through their bedroom into the bathroom.
she turned to the medicine cabinet to get what she needed.
noting the detachment that had come over her as she searched.
was doing?” she asked softly. “While
bastard was undoubtedly terrorizing Grant?
I was outside pulling weeds. If
the window hadn’t been open, I never would have heard her scream, and he could
have snuck up on me. And his threats
just keep getting worse.” Salida had to
stop what she was doing and brace herself on the sink.
said just as softly, but his voice was full of passionate intensity.
sometimes do stress tests on mothers of multiples?” she asked, trying to set
her mind on finding the damn bandages.
the sudden change in subject, but went with it.
up to heart monitors and such. They do
it because a stressed mother is bad for the babies.
related to stress, and multiples are harder to carry to term than singles.
huh?” Jeffrey said softly, feeling like a bastard for having to put her through
all this. Especially since it wasn’t
good for her or the babies. “Sorry.”
she said, finally finding the bandages she wanted.
to fucking get rid of just him, but if there’s a way, I’ll fucking find it,”
Jeffrey muttered darkly, raising his arms so she could begin wrapping his ribs.
she said quietly as she worked, kneeling on the floor, “that the average length
of gestation for a singleton is 39 weeks, but it’s only 32 for triplets?”
. . . that you won’t be pregnant as long?” Jeffrey asked curiously, hiding a
wince as he spoke.
many more weeks is that?”
weeks is what?”
estimate. “25 weeks.”
to say to that, so she just kept wrapping the cotton bandages around his
ribcage.
silence himself as she wrapped him up like a fucking mummy, lost in his
thoughts. Twenty five weeks wasn’t
frightening all of a sudden. “We’re
going to have to go shopping again,” he sighed.
done sooner or later for the children.
asked, almost startled. That statement
had been an abrupt end to the silence, and she was confused for a long moment.
. . . I don’t know, baby things,” Jeffrey murmured.
suppose so. Do you want to find out what
they are before we start shopping, though?”
things easier. But if you don’t want to,
it’s alright. We can get things for
both. It doesn’t matter.”
more time I have to accustom myself to things, the better.”
what you want.” It was what Jeffrey
wanted. He didn’t want to be surprised.
sons or daughters. It could be both. Tdon’don’t
have to be identical. In fact, it would
probably be easier if they weren’t. The
notion of getting your own children confused with one another both annoyed and
amused him.
The doctor will probably be able to the next time we visit.
Jeffrey said with a small stupid shrug that left him wincing.
look up to meet his eyes. He was so
concerned and so generous. “I love you,”
she murmured.
vixen,” Jeffrey said softly, looking down at her with a small smile.
can make my own appointments. I’ll do it
during one of Grant’s again. Which
reminds me – I think she got a phone call from her parents today.”
kittens?” Jeffrey asked with wide, wary eyes.
haven’t told me about, do you vixen?”
Tessa’s that I’d rather not come face to face with.
kids, then I might. They’re the kind of
people you’d like, other than the punishment for consorting with
Not hers.
face.
it show on his face, but she could hear someg stg strange in his voice.
some hint of what he was thinking. “What
are you thinking?”
with a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry
about it.” He looked down at his wrapped
ribs. “Are you done?”
to hurt you?
could read my thoughts now too, vixen,” Jeffrey said wryly.
really as bad as you say she is. This
isn’t time for fucking hysterics.”
distraction when she heard one, and held his hands so he couldn’t get up.
No more hiding. I want to know if
I said something wrong. I can’t stop if
you won’t tell me.”
stopped trying to get up. “It’s really
fine.” She wasn’t letting him get off
that easy. “Fine, you said that Tess’
family would kill me and my kids. Not yours.
Mine.
It just made me think, is all.
yours,” she said, confused. “The mine
part seems to go without saying.” He
didn’t look totally convinced. “I’m
getting used to this. I am.
happen to them now. I hate bastard for
what he s tos to do. If it were just me,
I wouldn’t be afraid, but it’s not.”
this, and traced gentle fingertips down her cheek in reassurance.
again either. Let me take care of him.
We don’t need any more problems right
now.”
but she said nothing. “Alright.
kitty because she’s not strong like you are, vixen,” Jeffrey tried to explain
after seeing the question in her expression.
did. She didn’t do it. I’ll go and
have Sands dealh heh her and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
turned away, still feeling a bit abandoned.
“I understand. Like I said – I need
to clean up anyway. I’m a dirty, bloody,
sweaty mess.”
fucking beautiful to malidalida,” Jeffrey said with a soft smile before rising
to his feet and checking the binding on his ribs.
movements restricted, they didn’t hurt quite as much.
I’d just spent a week living in a landfill,” she accused, smiling and meaning
it this time.
the fucking smell though, were that the case, so it’s a good thing you don’t
live in one,” Jeffrey teased gently. “And
besides. I like it when you’re dirty and
bloody,” he said with a smirk.
pushing at him gently, mindful of all his wounds.
me.”
dirty and bloody again when I come back,” he said with another smirk, and left
the room after giving her a full but quick kiss on the lips.
he struggled to wake Sands up. It wasn’t
easy, but he managed.
you want? Did I fall asleep?
voice. Since Jeffrey was still pissed at
him for leaving Salida alone with bastard, he merely directed him toward his room
and his still shocked wife and left.
stepping into the room, mindful of something throbbing underneath his robe.
experimental twists of his torso that left him panting with pain, he figured
something fucking bad must have happened while he was gone.
to me. Are you alright?” he called out
again, moving to the side of the bed where Aida was.
for along time before shivers started to wrack her body.
shivering, but silent and tearless.
his arms tightly and she let him. “What
the fuck happened? I fell asleep.
Sands paused and frowned, implications
setting in. “Someone else showed up,
didn’t they? Was it fucking bastard?”
to explain his throbbing ribs and wrist now too.
response. It was another few moments
later before she breathed, “Not at first.
First it was Sheldon.”
be told. What did you talk about?”
to try and calm her down a little before she told him about what had happened
next.
Aloysius, I’ll bet. Wait, you have a
stuffed animal? You never told me that,
spitfire.”
just long enough to do a quick search and find of the giraffe and returned to
the side of the bed, handing it to her in much the same way Sheldon had.
you why. . .” he searched for an appropriate pronoun, “we called Aloysius that?”
father couldn’t say it right.”
or ‘Al-oh-si-us.’ The trick is to ignore
the y. Ah-lo-shee-us.
way to say it.”
didn’t say anything else. Some of the
shivering had stopped, but she still trembled minutely.
tell me about what happened after?” Sands prompted gently.
coming back. I promise you.”
ball. “He broke the vase.”
the side of the bed and saw that the vase was indeed broken and the flowers
were laying on the rug, taking note of it to clean it up later.
you want to fill it with.”
he . . .” Aida shuddered, and stopped
talking.
asked gently, emphasizing the ‘he.’
going to force you if you don’t want to, but it might be better to talk about
than bottle up. Are you alright?
sure of what he answer would be.
whispered. “I don’t know anything.
scared.”
were, Aida,” he said, moving to hold her close.
that again, I promise you. He’s gone and
he’s never coming back.”
Aida believed him. And that belief made
it easier to talk. “He-he was going to.
. .”
still. “He was going to what, Aida?”
going to . . . to force me.” Her voice
was so very quiet, barely audible. “I
hid under the bed. Like a child.”
eyes tightly shut as the knowledge of what bastard had tried to do to her sunk
in, and let out a silent scream of pure rage that he hoped bastard fucking
heard. He then opened his eyes and
addressed her. “You did what you had to,
Aida. You were afraid but you got away
from him anyway. There’s nothing
childish about that.”
of being insane on her side, Aida. It
makes her willing to do what others won’t or can’t from time to time.
you, and that’s that.”
study his face for a few seconds before lowering again.
And still just a little uncomfortable around her husband.
something it’d take her a long time to forget.
said with a slight sigh. “Should I stay
or do you want me to go?” he asked softly.
alright,” Sands said with a small smile that was only a little forced.
need me. I love you.”
trying to convince herself of the truth in his words.
I suppose it will have to fucking do. I
am going to murder that fucking bastard.
some rest, spitfire,” he said softly, moving to clean up the broken vase and
the flowers as best he could. “Some of
these are worth saving. I’ll get another
vase if you like.”
They were a gift, you know.” She
tried to smile.
more. I’ve only just begun, remember?”
an ill-formed bouquet in one hand, and a collection of broken glass in the
other. “Get some rest.
what she meant.
half smile of his own at the understanding and turned and left the room,
silently cursing bastard with every fiber of his being and solemnly praying
that Aida would be alright.