by Alice Moore
“Sure. What are we shopping for?” Curiosity dribbled from Roark’s voice, and my tongue snaked out to moisten my lips.
“Uh- I don’t know. Maybe just browsing. I’m in a mood.” I didn’t have to tell Roark that I only went shopping when I was in a mood, and he grunted in response. Pushing myself up on weak arms, I ran my hand through my hair before grabbing my phone from the window sill.
The mall didn’t open for another 45 minutes, and I glanced at Roark to smile small.
“Let’s shower together.” Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I stood up to the sound of sheets rustling behind me. Making my way to the bathroom, a shiver ripped up my spine at how cold the tiles were against my toes. Drawing the curtain, I turned on the shower head before firm, warm arms wrapped around my waist to hold me tight.
“Are you okay, Ally? Really?” Blinking slowly, I pursed my lips together at the worry in Roark’s tone as he mumbled against my ear. “You seem down- distracted… you can tell me, you know that, right?”
“I mean, I’m not bad… It just happens. It’s not a big deal. You know, it’s exhausting being me.” My lame attempt at a joke pulled a laugh from over my shoulder, and Roark seemingly accepted my answer.
Too bad it’s not the truth.
Climbing out of my panties and sports bra, I stepped into the shower and waited for Roark to join me before positioning myself under the spray. He stood close to me, making the water seem cold compared to his body heat, and I turned to lean against his chest. His hands massaged my shoulders firmly, tenderly, and a moan lodged in my throat.
Desire pooled in my abdomen when Roark trailed his hands down my chest, and I pushed my butt against his flaccid cock to grind gently. Tilting my head, I gasped when he squeezed my breasts, and he ducked his head into my neck to kiss and suck. Reaching to grip his outer thighs, my fingers tingled from his leg hairs as I ground harder. His rod reacted instantly, firming against my quivering flesh to send goosebumps spreading up my arms.
“Spread your legs for me, Ally.” The pads of my feet slipped on the bathtub floor, and Roark turned us to face the wall. Bracing myself against my forearms, I shuddered violently as he thrust against my folds. His cock was hot and silky, and the water dribbling down my body and off my clit only made me want him more.
Hiking up my leg with his elbow under my knee, Roark panted against my shoulder as he positioned himself at my entrance. My heart stuttered, fumbling over its hard, fast beat, and I whimpered from the need that filled the space between it and my lungs. Tenderly thrusting, he groaned a low sound that bounced off the tiles to dance with my moan, and I flung my arm around his head to fist his hair.
“Oh God- Ally…” Turning my head into the harsh call, I searched for Roark’s lips only to be overtaken by the fierce passion that sucked the air from my lungs. His hips dug into my butt, and my walls shuddered around his cock as he stretched them to reach deep. “I love you- fuck- I love you, Ally…”
Exiting my channel, Roark set a steady, loving pace as he pinned me to the wall, and I cracked my eyes open with a moan. His face was red, eyes bright when they met mine, and time seemed to stop as he thrust a long, deep stroke. Pulling his mouth to my own, my tongue ached to meet his, and I moaned when they finally came together. The kiss was frenzied, sending air into the crevices between my brain and my skull, and I jerked back to pant heavily.
“I love you, too. Roark- ah…” Spasming with a loud moan, my legs threatened to give out as Roark redoubled his efforts. His thrusts turned jarring, unsteady, and his cock seemed to grow as my inner walls tightened around him.
My orgasm hit me hard and out of nowhere, and I bashed my cheek against the tile as I folded over myself. Almost instantly Roark grabbed my face as the impact rattled my brain, and he dropped my leg to grip my hip tightly. Gasping for air, I twitched as tingles shot down my spine to set fire to my nerves, and I wrapped both my hands around the back of his neck.
“Fuck- fuck- fuck…” Grunting with each thrust, Roark panted down my nose before his hips slammed against my butt a final time. I had no concept of time, but the tremors that weakened my legs told me this was no five-minute bout. Supporting me with the hand on my cheek, his other palm left my side to brace against the wall as he trembled and twitched against my back.
“I love you.” Whispering just above the sound of water splashing on tile, I moaned when Roark pulled out of my channel to whirl me around. The world spun even as he crashed his lips on mine, and I dug my fingernails into his shoulders. My heart went wild, filled with so many emotions that I had for this man that seemed to complete me.
He dealt with my childish tendencies, and he even indulged my derangement if I was an irrational mess. He trusted me to tell him what was bothering me and didn’t push if I didn’t want to talk.
He was such a better man than Tommy, and disgust clogged my nostrils when I thought back to how much of a catch I had considered my ex to be.
“I love you, too. Here- let me wash your hair.” Carefully turning me under the shower head, Roark gently gathered my hair as water streamed down my body. A mindless, goofy smile picked up my lips, and I didn’t even realize it until my cheeks started to ache.
Once I was clean, I left Roark in the shower to get dressed, and a new plan had formed in my pink-hazed mind. My hands were slow, arms heavy, and I struggled to get into my jeans as I imagined my plan unfolding.
I was going to do the most cliché thing I could think of and make baby booties. The yellow and white, knitted ones were the first to appear in my mind, and the second was a sort of mint green color. No images appeared in my mind of Roark’s reaction, but I wasn’t worried. The tension that plagued me for the past week had disappeared completely, and I pulled my shirt over my head with a happy sigh.
Glancing up as Roark emerged from the bathroom, my eyes narrowed on his lean muscles as he dried himself. He was easily out of my league both physically and financially, and I marveled at the events that led us together. If we both hadn’t been in such crappy relationships, we might’ve never met. He might not have slain an origami crane for me. I might’ve never gotten rid of that futon.
“Did you want to go anywhere in particular, or just get out of the house?” Sitting on my bed to put on my socks as Roark posed his question, I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He had no qualms with putting on clothes he’d worn the day before, and I cocked my head with a small smile. I wasn’t sure if they were dirty; he’d taken them off after setting me in bed last night, and I knew he changed before he came here.
“Uh, nowhere in particular, no. I was thinking of getting some more knitting supplies…” Answering vaguely, I paused when Roark’s head whipped up, and he stared at me from under furrowed brows.
“You knit?” Surprise coated his inquiry, and I nodded before he spoke up again. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
Heat flushed my cheeks at that, and Roark smirked cockily as he fastened his jeans around his waist. Tugging my sock over my heel, I reached to rub my chest with my freed hands before clasping them together.
“I’m mediocre at best. I don’t really knit a lot, but I was thinking of taking it up again.” Lies. I don’t even know how to knit.
“Okay. Did you want to grab some breakfast or anything, or do you just want to wait for lunch? There’s a place I know of downtown that makes great dive food.” Thinking over the options, I held up two fingers before reaching to grab my sneakers.
Today was going to be lazy but productive, and I only prayed that Roark wouldn’t see my true intention.
Roark
Ally’s nerves were so strong, they caused goosebumps to rise on my arms under my button down, and I squeezed her hand with a small smile. I’d somehow managed to get her into my house, but now the problem was getting her to move from her spot in the living room. I’d lived in much grander places, and I knew the décor wasn’t what had her rooted to the hardwood.
“They’re not going to dislike you, Ally.
Try to relax a little, yeah?” My words had little effect, and Ally shot me a tense smile as she sucked in a deep breath through her nose. The sight was endearing, and I scanned her stiff body with increasingly narrow eyes.
Ally wasn’t the kind of woman to wear worn out or unflattering clothes, and her off the shoulder, floral hemmed shirt clung to her body beautifully. The cream color was offset by deep purple, tiny flowers along the neck and ends of her quarter sleeves. She’d chosen her outfit so carefully it gave me a headache, but I knew it was worth it to her. I wasn’t sure she’d ever forgiven herself for making a bad impression on my father with something that was easily rectified.
“I’m okay. Let’s do this. I got this. I’m good. Let’s go.” Rattling off short sentences, Ally’s reaction pulled a chuckle from me, and I tugged her hard enough to dislodge her from the hardwood. Walking stiffly by my side, she grabbed my wrist and pulled my arm around her waist. The sight was comical, and I hid my laugh behind a cough as we came closer to the dining room.
I saw my father first, sitting at the head of an empty table with a cup of coffee and a paper in his hands. If possible, Ally stiffened even more, and I rubbed the small of her back soothingly. Clearing my throat loudly, I knew my father already knew we were here, but I didn’t want Ally to be spooked by his powers of perception. He was an imposing man even when he wasn’t trying, and he turned towards us with a carefully neutral expression and narrowed eyes.
“I’m glad you actually asked her and didn’t chicken out, Roark.” Surprise rocketed through me, and I forced a smile as my father folded his paper to set it on the table. Against my side Ally jolted slightly, and I held my breath as my dad stood up. The smile he gave her was pleasant, but I could tell he was assessing her discreetly on his way across the dining room.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir…” Ally’s greeting was high and squeaky, and I had to hide my wince even as her body relaxed in defeat. There was no way for her to recover from that. Ouch.
“Please, call me Grant. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you as well, Ally. Roark has told me a bit about you.” There was nothing more awkward than this, and Ally went bright red at what my father revealed before he continued. “I was worried he wouldn’t. He’s been debating it for a few days now-“
“Dad- seriously…” Waving me off even as I tried to shut him down, my dad downright grinned at me. Ally didn’t even see the wicked glint in his eye; she was too busy looking at her feet and anywhere but him. Her body threatened to scorch my side, and I pursed my lips together to hold back a sigh of irritation.
“Dinner should be ready in about 15 minutes. Why don’t you sit, and we can talk?” Walking back to his seat, my father sat down before Ally managed to follow, and I pulled out a chair for her. “So, you’re a teacher, right? Why did you start working at Wells Academy?”
“Oh- um, they needed an instructor and it’s my first year teaching. The pay is amazing, and I didn’t mind the move from the city.” Seating myself between Ally and my dad, I leaned back and made no move to inject myself into the conversation. She’d have to get over her nervousness by herself, and it was an almost painful thing to go through. To my left, my father nodded in understanding, and a look of distaste flowed across his aged features.
“I’m told it’s not that great an atmosphere. Julianne was having a lot of trouble before this project you gave her. She seems to have a knack for business strategy.” My father was a smart man, and Ally visibly perked up at the shift in conversation. Tucking a few stray strands behind her ear that’d fallen out of her low bun, she clasped her hands together under the table with a slight smile.
“Yes. I gave her the project to try to build a profile to go to the school board about overhauling the system to teach these girls how to be more than just snobby and rich. I’m also planning on accepting it as her final. Julianne is very special. I’m lucky to have her in my class.”
Staying silent as they went back and forth, I watched Ally slowly but surely warm up to my father as the conversation progressed. The awkwardness surrounding her thinned out gradually, and pride bubbled up in my chest.
“You have some lofty ambitions, Ally. I’d be more than interested to talk about your plans for your future in the education system some time.” My dad managed a nervous giggle from Ally, and I reached to hold her hand under the table. She squeezed my fingers hard, but it was her only sign of discomfort before he spoke up again. “It’s hard to find people with a grand plan, especially in a system as fluid as education. You can never really anticipate how people will react. For some, it’s exciting.”
The conversation stalled when Sam and Julianne strolled into the room, and Ally developed a deer-in-the-headlights expression that pulled a laugh from me. Part of her anxiety was meeting Julianne outside the school, and she held her breath as the pair sat across from us. My sister only smiled brightly, practically swooning, and it was Sam that broke the silence after a long, heavy moment.
“You know, I was starting to think you weren’t real, Ally. Roark was so against bringing you over that I thought he made you up.” Scoffing at Sam’s broad grin, I rolled my eyes as the tension immediately left the room. “He did hit his head, you know.”
“Well… here I am… so…” Trailing off, Ally went bright red as she ran out of things to say, and Sam’s grin grew- if that was even possible.
“So, does that mean you’re dating?” Quipping up, Julianne’s excitement shone brightly in her voice, and Ally gasped next to me.
For the first time I decided to speak up as she faltered, and Julianne’s eyes flickered to mine to grow wide with hope. It was as endearing as it was pitiful, and I cleared my throat roughly before answering her.
“Yeah, I guess it does-“
“You guess? What kind of answer is that, Roark? Take charge- be a man! We all know how whipped you are.” Sending a mock glare at Sam, I shook my head even as Ally’s wide gaze burned holes into the side of my face. Glancing over at her, I smiled at the relief in her eyes now that the attention wasn’t on her.
“Don’t tell me to take charge when you’ve been mooching off me for the past year and a half.” The banter was nice, familiar, and I opened my mouth only to be cut off by the sounds of multiple pairs of heavy steps. Turning to the archway that led to the kitchen, I licked my lips as our chef sauntered in carrying a massive pan of lasagna. Her two assistants followed behind her, and silence descended as they set out the dinner spread.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen them; usually the old woman and her helpers came by twice a week and made enough food to last before disappearing. There was no reason to keep them full time like my father had done when I was little. Beside me, Ally’s breath hitched, and I grinned as the smell of sauce filled the room.
“This looks amazing…” Awe tinged her voice, and when I looked over, her cheeks were flushed and lips clamped tightly together. As per the course, I waited for my father to be served first before grabbing a pristine, white, porcelain plate. Standing up to cut into the lasagna with a spatula, I let the pure contentedness of this moment take over my entire body.
This night was already going so much better than I had expected, and we’d only been here 20 minutes.
Epilogue: Ally
Struggling to pull the packing tape over the top of the box, I grunted as the screech it let out gyrated against my ears.
“Roark! This tape sucks!” My voice cracked, and I leaned back as Roark left whatever he was doing to crouch in front of me. His smirk was wide, amused, and I glared hotly at him as he took the tape from my stiff hands.
“That’s because you’re using it wrong, Ally. Like this.” Demonstrating for me- again- Roark pulled the tape smoothly over the box to seal it closed, and I let out a huff. “I’m still packing your clothes, so you can have a little break. I know you didn’t sleep last night.”
Yeah, but not because we’re moving in together. The thought scrunched up my face, and I fell back to sprawl across
the carpet. My studio apartment was in boxes, and a truck was waiting outside to bring it to our new place. Staring at the ceiling, I thought back to when Roark and I had decided to get an apartment instead of a house. I’d essentially let him make the choice because he didn’t know I was pregnant.
After the past month and a half, I had to hide my poorly made baby booties six times. He’d gotten too close to finding them when he dropped his phone between the bed and the wall.
But I was ready now, and I lifted my head to watch him sift through my underwear drawer. The booties were mint green and yellow, and they looked ready to fall apart. There was no mistaking them, though, and I smiled as he dug into the corner where they were hidden.
Holding my breath when he stiffened, I watched through wide eyes as Roark pulled out the booties. I’d spent weeks making them, and pride ripped through my chest in the same way a child was proud of making a sculpture so ugly it was cute. Twisting to face me, he didn’t miss a beat as he held the pathetic bundle between his thumb and forefinger.
“Are these what I think they are?” Disbelief weaved through his tone, and I nodded quietly, too focused on his reaction to speak. Roark’s face went blank as he stared at the booties, and his brows furrowed before he reached to scratch his face with his free hand. “They’re terrible, you know, Ally.”
“That’s what you have to say? I spent weeks on those! Tell me I did a good job!” Shrieking loudly, I pushed myself up while Roark dropped the booties to stomp over to me. Dropping to his knees between my legs, his collapse made the room rattle, and I frowned as he pushed me back down.
“You did a good job.” Capturing my lips roughly, Roark’s quick, hard kiss only last a second before he broke away to press his forehead against my belly. I wouldn’t be showing for a while, but I didn’t take away this moment as he spoke up from underneath my shirt. “Is it weird I’m more relieved than happy? I’ve been wanting to talk to you about having a baby, but I didn’t know how to bring it up.”
