by a dagmara
“What petition? What are you up to Sebastian?”
I watched as Sebastian just figured it out…perhaps he knew all along. His eyes dropped to by abdomen and he gestured his head while grinning.
“I’ll drop my petition Lillian but I suppose it is Charlie who may just file next. Not that anyone in this room doesn’t know.” yes, he grinned waiting for Charlie to figure it out.
“What the hell is going on between the two of you?”
I backed up and shook my head. I wasn’t ready to deal with Charlie. I could only hope that he wouldn’t want anything to do with my daughter.
Charlie came up quick behind me, snaking a hand around my waist and the other to my wrist applying pressure to it. The bat fell from my hand to the floor and he forced my hand up into my body as he held me tight to him.
With his hand on my belly, I knew he felt the small little kick. The recognition crept up slow, and was finally dawning on him.
Charlie pushed his head to the side of mine. Testing my will, my resolve. Closing my eyes briefly, the scent of his cologne wrapped me. “You’re pregnant” he whispered, “this is my baby isn’t it?”
“Get your hands off me.” I breathed, “This is my baby” the tears fell hard and I couldn’t hide from them. The memory of that last night and how he kissed me, how he touched me and finally how he made love to me flooded my mind. However, there was something more there…and not just for me. I felt it in him and the way his hold on me shifted.
“I would have to say…this is a check mate brother and to you.” Catching Sebastian’s expression, he actually looked disappointed and walked from the room closing the door behind.
“Let me go Charlie” Still crying I felt his hand still in place was rubbing my swollen belly.
“Three months I longed to hold you…I thought that you were permanently lost to me. You were the first thing I had ever grieved for…when you didn’t come back Sunday…then I heard of the accident. I saw the car. I was sure you died. I felt a loss that I was sure I would never experience. I realized then that I was wrong you are the only thing that I value Lillian and here I stand finally holding you and you carry my child. So forgive me but I have no intention of letting you or my child.”
“She’s mine Charlie…what makes you so certain that you are the father?”
“Then tell me Lillian…tell me I’m wrong. Tell my I’m not the father.” he paused still holding me tight. He was waiting for what he knew, I could not say.
“That’s what I thought...” he kissed the side of my head, then finally released his bear hold on me.
Turning slowly, I looked up to him as his hand cupped my face. What a mess…I needed to leave, as I was on emotional overload. His words were as close to a profession of love as they could get without actually saying those little words.
“Let me take you home Lillian. I can’t imagine all this stress is good for you or the baby.”
“I’m more than capable of driving myself home. I’m not a cripple, I’m pregnant.” I tried to step past him.
Stopping me, he forced the kiss; his lips landing on mine and the tremble that rocked me wasn’t one of fear…it was the emotions that it unlocked.
I was in trouble…
“I’m taking you home…I think we have a lot that needs to be sorted through.”
Breathing in slowly…I didn’t know what to do. He led me from the conference room with his hand possessively clutching mine.
It seemed as if the entire office was in a stand still, holding their breath and watching silently as we walked to the elevators. We didn’t speak once and his hand was firm on my hand. Possibly in fear of letting it go that I would run.
Once thru the lobby, we walked to the car parked in front of the doors.
He looked at me, then laughed in amusement.
Charlie opened the passenger side door and I hopped in. Closing the door, I just laughed…so not the way I thought this afternoon to turn out.
Starting the car, he paused and looked to me shaking his head as he turned to the back of the car and pulled us out into the lane.
Yes, he was very amused with my actions.
“I’m surprised you didn’t take the car straight thru the lobby doors.” He laughed.
“I’ve only owned the car for all of 8 hours…but the thought had entered my mind.” I grinned.
“A bat…you had a bat…planning on hitting someone?”
“I’m going to blame it on pregnancy hormones. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“I have to know…how long you have been awake.”
“Four days.” I breathed exhausted.
“Really? You must be on quite the emotional roller coaster Lillian…I couldn’t imagine.” he looked at the road and pulled out.
“I was released yesterday. I had a follow up earlier. Had it not been for Sebastian’s email I would not have known of your father. I knew I was taking a risk by seeing him. But, I once loved your father; he was like family.”
“Can I ask… where does the name Lillian come from since clearly it is not your name?”
“But it is Charlie…just as you go by your middle name…so do I. My sister was not able to call me by my first name so she started calling me Lilly and it just stuck. My father and Uncle Scotty…I mean Prescott called me by my first name.”
“Uncle Scotty?” He laughed “Wow I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone address him so…everyone has always used such a formal title with him hell even Sebastian and I were forced to address him as father, never dad or daddy, for we were told it not be proper.”
“Well he was the one whom offered the name. Perhaps it was my difficulty at a young age to say his full name. I’m not sure. I love him Charlie; I thought he had the right to know that I was pregnant.” I bit my lip staring out onto the moving highway unsure where all my rage had disappeared to.
“It’s obvious he loves you…he’s always loved you; perhaps more than he did me or my brother…In many ways I had spent a good part of my life envious of a little girl whom I knew nothing about.” I turned to his confession…it now was all starting to dawning on me.
“So where is home Lilly?”
“Do you remember how to get to my parents old property?”
“Yes? But I thought the house was gone?”
“I had it rebuilt…it was finished about six months ago.”
The rest of the drive we would sit in silence reeling thru all that we had learned of each other.
Chapter 3
Finally, home, he pulled up the snowy driveway and parked by the front door. Exiting the car, Charlie came around swiftly, and opened my door.
Looking at him, I couldn’t believe he was here. His eyes meeting mine, that frozen gaze would always be present. His expression curious and almost joyful. I don’t suppose I’ll ever be able to read him.
We walked to the door together and into the house. Disarming the alarm, I wasn’t sure what next. What would happen. This was a first for me. I had no plan and nothing to go by.
I turned to him and offered a small smile. I walked thru the opening into the family room, as I knew he would follow.
“Wow…the house is amazing…though very different than the one that once sat here.”
“I needed it to be more my own” I offered looking around my home.
“It appears you are ready for Christmas?” he spoke in awe, looking around.
“My friends decorated the house for me. I suppose they wanted to give me something to truly come home to.” Pausing, I turned to him. My eyes pleading, “Don’t take my daughter from me…she is all that I have Charlie.”
“Lilly; I would never do that…but you would have me just walk away…you had no consideration for me at all? You ask me to not do this, yet you yourself would do it to me?” The hurt was evident in his eyes.
He was right…I was and had asked him to walk away from his child. I was indeed the hypocrite.
“You once told me that no matter how much y
ou desired me that another would always….” He didn’t allow me to speak and his lips were hard to mine. The kiss was telling. However, this was no more than a diversion. I pulled from him. “Stop.”
I shook my head at him and broke his hold. “I’m done with the games Charlie. And I’m not interested in casual fucking.”
“What do you want Lilly? People don’t change…and I don’t believe the girl I met three months ago has so drastically changed…the girl who played with men like toys, the one whom fucked my brother because she was making sport out him and me.” Cutting him off, I could concede he was right in his comments; however, too much had changed for me.
“Charlie…that girl…she died the moment I woke up in the hospital, when I found out how very pregnant I was. I was angry and lost. Learning that I was pregnant with your child, the subject of my revenge; I was at a loss. You were my enemy Charlie. But something had changed and I hadn’t wrapped my head around yet. It was when I heard her heart beat and saw her in my womb…that girl, the girl I was; died in that moment. So you see you know nothing of what I want.”
“So you thought of me as nothing more than just your enemy? I don’t buy it Lilly…that night…there was so much more to that night and you know it.”
“Yes, your right Charlie…that night I decided I was done with this all. That night, I let go of all of it and surrendered completely.” Looking up at him, I no longer had the inclination to hide the truth. He knew I cared for him more than I was ready to admit.
“Then why are you pushing me away now?” He looked down to me confused.
I’m afraid, how do I make him see that?
“Charlie…what future do we have? I was a game for you and your brother; admittedly a willing participant, but none the less a game to see whom would best the other. How long until the next challenge presents herself to the two of you? Where does that leave me? Or our daughter?”
He stood and looked to me thinking of my words. The longer he stood in silence the more I felt the gravity of my unspoken words. There it was…I wanted him and I wanted him to commit to me. To put me first. I knew he could not. He said it people don’t change.
“I’ll call you a cab, then I want you to leave and please don’t come back Charlie.” My tears…how, I had no way to keep them from falling.
He gently rubbed my wet cheek and pursed his lips. I had no idea to what was running through his mind. My hand on his forearms; holding his hand to my cheek, I wanted to hold this touch of his forever.
It was as if he knew; lowering his lips to mine once more. This kiss slow and the emotions were under my skin…I wanted this kiss and so much more. His body push up to mine as his hands now held me to him. I couldn’t catch my breath as the need was coursing thru me…my skin heated with the charge of his urgency…Breathing thru the kiss “Where’s the bedroom” he asked
“Straight back,” I gestured with my head and body.
Swiftly, I was up in his arms and my legs wrapped around his waist. He walked us back shutting the door behind.
He lowered me down to the bed as he broke away. I watched as he removed his jacket then tie…each article falling to the ground.
I began removing my clothes, and then became instantly shy. Having stripped down to just my shirt and undergarments; my hands and eyes landed to the noticeably pregnant belly.
Sensing my hesitation, Charlie grabbed my hands, that held my shirt down. His second hand cupped my face, forcing me look him in the eyes. “You are beautiful Lilly, don’t hide.”
I watched as he lowered down to his knees and moved his hands to the hem of my shirt pulling it slowly up and over my head, exposing my body.
“You are so beautiful,” his lips landed on my belly as he gently kissed me and touched me. “Lay back,” he ordered.
I did as he asked and he removed my panties. His lips once more on my belly, moved lower and precisely where my now blooming need was begging for his touch.
He was working me over with his tongue and my breathing became erratic, desperate…
“Oh God” I moaned as my climax was reaching its peak. He broke away and stood up…I opened my eyes and he stripped the last of his clothing off. His full arousal free and ready…just as I was ready for him.
Charlie raised himself over me, making sure not to put any weight on me. He leaned on one arm on the bed and looked into my eyes as his free hand fell to his arousal and poised himself at my entrance.
Breathing in deep, and then releasing it slow he pushed with tempered resolve into me. I had forgotten how large he was and needed to breathe thru the deliciously painful size of him.
My eyes locked in his; I felt the tremble roll thru him and hit me. This was a very different Charlie then I had remembered. Every movement was cautious and tempered as if he was afraid to break me.
“You won’t hurt me,” I whispered.
His lips fell to mine, as if he needed the reassurance. Reassurance; that I was ready and willing to provide him.
Cupping his face, I needed him to let go…to fully let go. He opened his eyes…those beautiful eyes.
I made the smallest gesture, knowing he needed me in control…even more, I wanted it and possibly needed it. He rolled us over and now it was me on top. Looking down at him, I kissed him, puling at his lip.
Breaking, I lifted up and my hands wondered on his sculpted chest. He was a beautiful man. A man I thought I knew better than I had previously let on. Something had changed for him, for me, and now I saw it. The knowledge spurred my need and desire of him.
Rolling my hips down and around him, I took him deep his hands ever so on my hips and his eyes now at half must.
Yes, I remembered well that this was what he craved. His hands lifted me slight then lowering me back taking him as far as I could.
The more I moved on him, the more I felt him. So taken with my own climax, I dropped in pure satisfaction. My breath labored and my heart erratically beating on him.
“More” he whispered, “I need more of you.”
He flipped us over still deep in me. Pulling me slightly of the bed, my back arched as he was on his knees holding my hips tight to him and his thrusts, his desire spurred on penetrating deep. My hips moving in his hold created just the sensation we both needed.
He was so close to being undone. The more he thrusted; the deeper my growing need became.
Harder and harder, he pushed and pulled from me…the tension rolled thru him topping off my need.
Charlie finished, pausing and still holding deep in the center of me. Meeting his eyes, I wasn’t sure what I would find.
He pulled ever so slowly from me, and then moved to the side of me. I pulled up reaching for the cover; bringing it over us, as he pulled me into him.
“So much for talking,” I laughed.
“I think we accomplished a lot.” He paused and I sensed his breath had hitched with his next thought “I want to stay like this for as long as humanly possible Lilly. I can’t describe in words what you stir in me…I don’t ever want to let you go.” He paused again. “And I have no intentions of ever letting go.”
I didn’t respond. I just lay in his chest as my hands wondered and touched ever part visible. I honestly didn’t know how to respond. My feelings, needs and wants were all over the place.
“Charlie?”
“Yes Lilly”
“I need food…I’m hungry.” I pulled up from his hold and looked to him. He was a very sated man at the moment, that didn’t appear to want to leave this bed.
My needs however were calling me to the Kitchen. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast and now my stomach was yelling at me.
“Then food you shall have” he sat up and kissed me on the forehead.
I couldn’t help but stare at him as he rose from the bed. How in the world did we get here?
I pulled myself from the bed as he dressed. I was in the closet reaching for an oversized shirt and pants.
Walking back into the room, it appeared that he
had already made his way out.
I could hear his whistling thru the hall as I exited my room. Pausing by the office, my eyes caught sight of a yellow flashing light. Shit I had almost forgotten. I had this house set up with a prototype security system. This was technology that was developed under my supervision thru a tiny tech company I had funded a few years earlier.
“Charlie, make yourself at home. I need to check on something, I shouldn’t be long.”
“Ok…are you in the mood for pasta? I make a great marinara”
“That sounds perfect…um Charlie?”
“Yes Lil?”
“You know how to cook?”
“Yes…and very well…just wait” He grinned from ear to ear. That smile made him look so much younger, innocent even.
“I’m impressed.” I matched his grin.
He simply smiled and proceeds with his inquisition of the kitchen.
My urgency to attend to matters in my office heightened my attention. Walking into the office, I closed the door behind. At my desk, I punched in a few key strokes….
The back wall panel dropped revealing the monitor system. The company logo lit in yellow. “Holdings Inc.”
The yellow light was a silent alarm. Something was off and I need to know.
Speaking allowed; the system was encrypted with a voice recognition feature that was interactive.
“Initiate sequence Alfa, Alfa echo. Pin: F.O.R.E.” I spoke allowed
The computerized voice responded:
“Good evening Elizabeth”
“Henry …property scan” I ordered.
“Property scan –unmarked vehicle, white, Chevy, parked on south east corner. Status car running, approximate time at location 22min 34sec.”
“Run diagnostic of said vehicle”
“Vehicle check progress…Status, flat tire, two male occupants”
“Disarm alert”
“Disarm alert confirmed”
“Henry, run calibration on my car. 2012 Range rover, sport.”
“Running calibration….initiating Vin identification. Verified; Elizabeth Lillian Holt. Diagnostics check complete. Vehicle passes inspection.”
