Stealing Allie

by H S Russell

“I wasn’t worthy of being let into your life then, what makes me so worthy of being let in now? Because I look different? Because I’m prettier, healthier?”

  Angry, I get up to my feet. “Fucking hell, Allie. Don’t you give me that shit. You’ve always been beautiful to me. I told you that over and over when you were here.” I rake my hand through my hair, frustrated that I’ve made her feel this way. That I’d never thought to see things through her eyes. “You were worthy—are worthy—for all of that information, and more. It was self-preservation that made me hold back. That and arrogance. I had the upper hand and was going to keep it.” I walk up to her slowly, my anger gone, so as not to spook her, until she lets me take her hand. “I don’t understand why any of that matters, other than the kids part, but I get what you’re saying about how I made you feel worthless.”

  She lets me get a little closer. “I’ve fallen in love with you, and that’s what matters. It’s the only thing that should matter.”

  “No,” she says, her eyes still glittering. “You were going to put me right back in that room, exactly where you had me before. You would have kept me in the dark and out of the way until you deigned to visit. I’d be there for you whenever you wanted me, but it would be you who got to decide when we’d together, not me.” She pushes away from me. “You don’t treat people you love like they’re a dirty little secret, Lucas.”

  “But Allie, I wouldn’t have kept you there. I doubt I would have really put you in it. Those were just words to let you know I was serious.”

  She huffs out a small laugh and shakes her head, looking away. “Yeah well, they didn’t work.”

  Allie steps away, wiping her face of her tears, gathering her thoughts. “It’s the details that are important to me, Lucas. They aren’t to you, but to me they’re essential. And it hurts me so much that I don’t know these things. That you never cared enough about me to let me see, to show me your life. You never included me in anything, Lucas, except for the fucking.” Almost on a dime, Allie becomes angry all over again. “And wow, there it is. The only reason you valued me was because you liked what I have between my legs. What a lucky girl I am.”

  Shit. “Allie, that’s not—”

  She glides over to me, furious that I would protest this. “Don’t you dare stand there and tell me that’s not what you did to me when you know it’s exactly what happened.”

  My anger fades as quickly as it sprung when I realize what she’s saying. “Is that how you think I feel about you? That I want you because of—”

  “Yes, Lucas. Because of what’s between my legs. Now take me home!” I look at her bright, blue eyes glittering with tears and try to figure out where to start. But I have one thing to ask her first. “You think that’s all I wanted you for? Then let me ask you one question, Allie.” I walk to where she is, stopping only inches away from her. “Why didn’t you just give me the money when I asked for it? If you wanted me to leave so badly, why not hand it over and send me on my way?”

  Her face crumples before she buries her face in her hands. She shakes her head no, and I so badly want to comfort her, but she has to do this on her own.

  “Why, Allie?”

  She finally looks up at me. “Because you didn’t deserve it, Lucas. After what you did, it was my due.”

  I think about this for a few moments. “And that’s the only reason?”

  She looks away, thinking for a moment, then turns back to me. “And because I didn’t want you to leave.” She breathes out a sob. “I wanted you to stay.”

  It’s exactly what I was longing to hear.

  Hoping my words will build the bridge we desperately need, I tell her the rest of what she needs to hear, to know. “I will never forgive myself for making you feel this way, because nothing could be further from the truth. Please, Allie, give me one hour. I’ll even set my timer. Come to the kitchen and we’ll get something to drink. We’ll talk and I’ll answer anything you ask. Anything. I’ll take you on a tour of the house, whatever you want to see, whatever you want to know. I’m an open book.” I beg her. “Give me a test so I can prove myself to you.”

  She won’t meet my eyes, but she eventually nods and then lets me touch her on her back as I lead her to the kitchen. When she walks inside, she looks around in awe. “This kitchen…” she murmurs. “I didn’t really look at it when I left.” She noticeably swallows as she looks around. “The kitchen in my apartment was so small and ugly, you must have hated being there.”

  Is she serious?

  I sit her down on one of the barstools and grab the wine she always liked to have at dinner. She refuses and asks for water instead.

  Once we’re both settled with something to drink, I explain what was really going through my mind. “I don’t remember much about the kitchen there, or here. It had a stove and fridge and a sink and a dishwasher. That’s all I can say about it,” I confess, watching her wilt just a little. “What I do remember is you in the kitchen.”

  She finally looks at me.

  “I remember us cooking together, making stir-fry and lasagna. I liked how it forced us to be on top of each other, constantly rubbing against each other. I remember how good you smelled, and how pretty your smile was. How hard you tried to get me to laugh, and that look on your face when you tasted my marinara sauce… You closed your eyes and moaned and I almost came in my pants.”

  She turns a little pink, which turns me a little hard. Sensing I’m on the right track, I keep going.

  “I’m thirty-six and I’ve been a thief for almost fifteen years. There’s a story about how I ended up here, and I’ll tell you about it in a minute. But for now, what I steal is data—information—from large corporations, and sell it to overseas entities. I target only the wealthiest companies, and nothing I sell is something that would ever harm this country. Most of the information I get is stuff that’s going to be available in the next five years or so; I just help speed up the timeline. Interested parties pay me to do this, and they pay me well. The two other guys you saw were José and Adam. A fourth guy, Bean, wasn’t there. We do not, have not, and would never work with organized crime or trafficking outfits. We have a code, a code amongst thieves.”

  She gives me a nod, so I continue.

  “I went to Carnegie Mellon for a few years. I met José there, then we found Adam and Bean. We’ve been a team for over ten years now.”

  “And you’re the boss?”

  Oh baby, what do you think… “Yes, Allie, I’m the boss.”

  She sips her water so she can hide that she doesn’t love what I just told her, then nods for me to continue.

  I tell her about my childhood—before and after Mom’s death—including the incident with the school board. I tell her about my dad and mention that we’ve started talking. I don’t tell her that I’m already planning a trip for us to go see him soon. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone home; I want Dad to meet her. I want to show her more pictures of my mom.

  I tell her about different things, like when I got the house, how many serious relationships I’ve had, who my friends are…there aren’t that many. In this business, you can’t be too careful.

  I tell her how I take my coffee and which side of the bed I like to sleep on. She can see my closet for herself when I show her the house.

  I talk for over the promised hour, but she stays and listens to me. Then, I answer every one of her questions.

  When she’s exhausted her curiosity, I take her hand and walk her around the house. The entire house. Her bedroom is the next to last place we visit. She walks around the room, touching this and that but not saying much. She doesn’t make mention of how everything is exactly how she left it, down to the rumpled, unmade bed.

  When she’s done, I lead her to my bedroom.

  Our bedroom.

  She walks in hesitantly, as if she’s not supposed to be in here. Something I’ll need to work on. “I didn’t realize we slept on the same floor. For some reason, I thought you were on the main leve
l,” she says. “Your room is much closer to mine than I’d imagined.”

  “This is your room now too, yours and mine. You must know that.” She just hmms and walks around.

  “I didn’t expect it to be painted,” she murmurs, looking all around.

  I look at the slate-gray walls as if seeing the color for the first time. “The decorator showed me some colors, and I told him to do whatever the hell he wanted.”

  She looks over at me. “Really? You didn’t care?”

  I grin at her. “I’m a guy Allie, so no, I really didn’t care.”

  She smiles. “You would have if he’d painted it chartreuse.”

  I just smile because she’s probably right. I’d have pitched a fit at a baby-shit green bedroom.

  She touches the furniture, opens up a few drawers, then looks at me from under her lashes. “Lucas, you have a very messy sock drawer.”

  God help me, but that look and that voice turn me into an animal. I just barely keep myself from dropping to my knees.

  When she goes into my closet, she buries her head in my shirts and inhales, breathing them in.

  “I love the way you smell,” she tells me. “I missed that so much after I left.”

  I can’t keep the beast contained much longer. “Allie,” I moan, “baby…”

  She walks over to the bed and sits down. I’m not going to tell her about all the times I’ve imagined her in my bed; I have a feeling now wouldn’t be a good time. But one day I will.

  She looks up at me from her perch on the bed, and I know I’d crawl if she bade me to.

  “I love you,” I tell her, finally close enough to touch her.

  “I love you too, Lucas. So much,” she whispers.

  I lean in to kiss her, wanting to erase everything from before so that we have a fresh place to start. The kiss is to make up for what I’ve done to her, all the little ways I made her feel unimportant. Not valued. Not cherished. But this woman deserves an apology with words.

  “I never meant to make you feel that way. All those things you said you felt…they’re the exact opposite of how I really feel. Please tell me you forgive me, and that you’ll give me another chance,” I beg, then go in for another kiss. Maybe if I kiss her long enough, she’ll forget about what an ass I am and take me back before she realizes what she’s done.

  Our mouths meet and we both sigh into it. When we break apart, she’s pulling me down on top of her. I don’t need any other encouragement to climb on. “I promise I’ll never deny you again.”

  She blushes a little and quirks up the corner of her mouth. “Well…some of it I really liked.”

  I lose all my breath at her words, which is fine because she just made my cock so hard, it’s a moment before I can speak. “Yeah? Which parts?” I ask.

  She looks at me and practically purrs. Her little grin is pure, feminine temptation. I love it. I love her. I love seeing her like this, knowing that I’ve made her feel how she should always feel. Powerful in her femininity. Sure of my love for her. And saucy little minx that she is, she purrs the next words in my ear. “Why don’t you put that mouth to work and figure it out for yourself?” She bites at my ear and I can’t help the groan that escapes me. Her heated breath bathes my ear once again, the laughter evident and clear as she husks into my ear. “Then you can make a wiki for it later…”

  I laugh and groan, getting to work on the first half of her command.

  ✤ ✤ ✤

  We stay in bed for hours. We’ve christened the bed, the shower, the bedroom floor, even the closet. I figure we have at least a hundred other places and surfaces to go, my desk being top of the list. But thank god, we’ll have plenty of time to get to them.

  When we’re finally exhausted—and fed and rehydrated—Allie looks up from her place on my chest.

  “I have to tell you something,” she says, an impish little grin spreading across her face. “And for once, it’s something that I’ll be doing that’s going to change the rest of your life.”

  I look at her, confused and a little scared. “What?” I ask, so clueless. So fucking clueless.

  She bites her lip, then smiles even bigger. “I’m pregnant.”

  The bottom falls out of my stomach while crazy, wild thoughts swirl around my brain until my vision goes black. Like, eighteen years’ worth of black. When I come to and see her beautiful, smiling face, I grin back at her and we both start laughing.

  Epilogue - Now

  Lucas

  Allie drifts back to sleep after I give her what she needs. Even after all these years, our touch both enflames and soothes each other. We burn hot, and then we nestle into the warmth we created.

  I get some water and check on the boys. Our son Matthew is twelve, though it doesn’t seem possible. His hair is dark like mine, and he has my hazel eyes. Allie says he’s almost the spitting image of me, except he has her smile. He also has her warmth. He charms his way through life, always making new friends or trying to get people to do his bidding. He may look like me, but that heart of his is all Allie.

  I check in on Aaron, who is nine going on fifty. He’s a typical second child, watching everything and everyone, an old soul in a young body. He doesn’t talk as much, but he’s bright, almost too bright. He prefers to find his own answers to things, but every once in a while, he’ll ask me an IT question that is so advanced, it scares even me. Sometimes Allie catches me staring at him when he asks these questions, and says she can’t tell if my stare is one of awe or fear. In truth, it’s a little of both. When he asks one of those questions, I hustle Aaron off to have a little chat, casting Allie a sheepish grin and look of apology for what our son might one day get into.

  Her only request is that I keep Aaron on the right side of the law. I’ll try, but with this one, I’m not so sure I’m going to be able to keep that promise.

  I went legal after we got married. I’d have done it sooner, but it took a while to switch from the dark side to the light. I became what every rehabilitated IT thief becomes—a consultant. I now help companies protect their data from people like myself.

  The guys and I stayed together, forming the legit company together. First to come on board were José and Adam, Bean being a bit of a holdout. We’ll get him though, I’m sure of it.

  My round of checking the kids and the locks done, I slide back into bed, snuggling up to a warm, soft Allie. She always smells so good. Like home. Like love. I hold her warm, sated body in my arms, melting at the feel of her skin against mine. She wiggles to get closer and clasps the arm I wrap around her. I listen to her breathing, thankful for the life she’s given me, for the life we’ve built together. She sighs in contented bliss, and it makes me smile as I close my eyes to sleep.

  Every day—every single day—I fall in love with her all over again.

  THE END