by Ellen Devlin
“Fine. Alleged incident.” She poked Zee in the chest. “Please tell me that all alleged frogs are safe and released to their natural habitat.”
“If there were any so-called frogs, they would have been well cared for.” Zee was having a hard time not laughing. “I’m not a monster, Liz. Geez.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Once Chris was finally back at his apartment and settled in, Paige started back at work. But she was basically living at his apartment, only coming home to grab clothes occasionally, and she and Liz didn’t see each other often in passing over the next few weeks.
During one of those rare times, Liz caught her and said, “Hey, I’ve talked to the landlord. They’ve got a waiting list for two-bedroom apartments, but they have a one-bedroom currently available. They’re going to let us break the lease on this one at the end of the month if I move into the one-bedroom—since they’ve already got folks waiting, it’s a win-win for them.”
Paige sat down heavily on the couch.
“You don’t have to do this, Liz. I’m sorry I haven’t been here, but…”
“Paige,” Liz interrupted her. “It’s time. For both of us.” She sat down next to Paige and took her hand. “You are looking at the next, amazing chapter of your life. And I’m going to be fine.” Paige looked concerned. “I promise, Paige. It’s been almost two years. I can be on my own again. But I will never, ever stop being grateful to you for making this happen, us living together, you know…after Jimmy died.”
There were tears in both of their eyes.
“You know I’ve been getting help, seeing a therapist, this whole time. It’s made such a huge difference. I really will be fine on my own. But I will miss seeing you every day.”
Paige had started crying. “You have to come over. A lot. Okay?”
“Definitely.”
“Promise me.”
Liz wiped the tears off her own cheeks and said, “You’re an idiot. Your new house has a pool. You won’t be able to get rid of me.”
***
Chris was thrilled; the house was almost completely ready, and they could both move in at the same time. He made her pick out all the bedroom furniture, though.
“I saved that for last, just in case you decided to join me by the time I moved in.” He still got a goofy smile on his face whenever he talked about them getting married, or moving in together, or really anything about her.
She couldn’t help but smile back. “Let’s go together to pick that out. It will keep your mind off other things. You’re going completely nuts not being able to play.”
“God, that’s the truth. I mean, I know that I’m going to get back to a hundred percent, so I’m not worried, but this process is so damn frustrating, especially with the team playing without me.” He mumbled a few choice words under his breath; the Guards were down three games to two in the second round of the playoffs. They were playing Pittsburgh, which made the frustration that much worse.
“Well, soon it will be June, and school will be out, and you will be feeling much better.” She stood closer to him, sliding her hand along the side of his leg, around to squeeze his butt. “And then I will be able to work on much better methods of distraction than furniture shopping.”
“I’m feeling much better now,” Chris said quickly. “Like, right now.” He cupped his hands around her breasts and squeezed gently in return.
“Mmm. Apparently so,” she purred, moving her other hand to the front of his khaki pants and sliding it along the fly. “There is definitely something going on here.”
“Paige…” His voice was full of hunger and longing, and he growled, “Go put on one of my dress shirts. And nothing else.”
She felt the familiar flutter from the look in his eyes, and she gripped his shaft through his pants for a brief moment before turning to comply with his request.
When she came back to the living room, he was sitting in the big armchair, shirt untucked and unbuttoned, with the button and fly undone on his pants. He was just a little slouched and looked like sex personified.
Paige could feel her pulse speed up just looking at him and felt her body reacting, the flutters moving lower, arousal making her wet.
She said quietly, “My God, Chris, you are so handsome.”
“Come here.”
It was more an order than a request, and his voice was rough and low.
Paige complied, standing quietly in front of the chair. She had left the shirt she was wearing completely unbuttoned, but it was so large on her that it naturally fell closed in the front.
“Climb up.”
Another order. He wasn’t asking. His eyes were half-lidded, taking in every move she made. The flutters were becoming a low throb between her thighs.
She began to straddle him on the chair, and he released his very impressive erection from his pants.
He put his hands on her hips to position her and paused to ask, in a low growl, “Are you wet?”
Paige just nodded, unwilling to speak for fear of breaking this spell, this silent electricity between them. Her pulse was racing.
Chris guided her as she descended, and she was unable to keep back a soft moan of pleasure as he pressed his length inside her, slowly, taking his time to ensure she felt no discomfort, until he was as deep as possible.
He held there for a moment and then began to move her.
Slowly.
A small grinding motion.
Forward and backward.
Steady pace.
The movement was subtle, barely shifting. She was getting wetter by the moment, feeling him deep inside, the small shifts teasing her, making her want more. But he controlled the movement and didn’t change tempo. Just that slow, shifting pressure of him, pressing against her, moving against her inner walls, the base of his cock teasing her clit.
He was staring at her, eyes pure lust, watching her. Paige flushed and gasped, surprised by how much these small movements were affecting her. She felt her muscles tensing, pressure increasing.
Her first climax gripped her, and she moaned as she held his shoulders, feeling her body contract around his erection, gripping him in waves.
The only change from Chris was in his eyes, a fleeting look of victory, followed by a darker look of lust. But his tempo didn’t change. Slow movements. Subtle. Steady.
She struggled against him a bit, wanting speed and friction, but he gripped her hips more tightly, not allowing her to dictate pace. Forcing Paige to accept his control of this situation.
Paige felt a second climax building.
Slowly.
Slowly.
Her thighs started to quiver as she teetered on the precipice of orgasm and then was swept over in a rush, muscles contracting in pleasure as she came undone on his lap a second time, her moans pulsing in time with her body.
Chris was beginning to sweat, the only sign of how affected he was by this. His hands stayed firmly on her hips; his tempo remained maddeningly steady.
Paige felt her unsteady aftershocks, breathing hard.
She was so wet by this point that there was practically no friction between them, just the hot, slick sliding of his large body inside hers.
His pace became slightly erratic, not quite as steady, and Paige pressed herself harder against him. The continuing aftershocks were starting to feel like precursors, and she felt herself building again, gasping, until she unraveled one more time. The waves overtook her, and she cried out his name as she tightened around him.
At the sound of his name, Chris relented, closed his eyes, and gave in, grinding hard and fast, until he groaned low and long as he pulsed his release into her.
Paige collapsed against his chest, and Chris put his head back on the chair, shifting his hands from her hips up to her back to hold her against him, stroking her skin gently under his shirt.
He said, very quietly, “God, I needed that.”
With a small sigh, Paige whispered back, “Me too.”
Chapter Thirty-
Five
Paige eventually called her mother to tell her about the engagement. Becca had offered to do it for her, but she didn’t see how that would be any better, so she thanked Becca but said she would do it herself.
The conversation consisted of the predictable exhortations to get a prenuptial agreement, instructions to absolutely not return the ring if he changes his mind, and other words of advice regarding making him pay for the wedding (“I’m on a fixed income, I hope you don’t expect anything from me”) and not gaining weight now that she’s “caught” him (“You don’t want him to lose interest before you seal the deal”).
Paige gritted her teeth through it.
In the end, though, she agreed to something, even though she didn’t think it was a particularly good idea.
She agreed to come to Pennsylvania with Chris for a weekend to have dinner at her mom’s house.
Chris was happy to do this; Paige tried to warn him about the reality, but it was clear to her that he simply didn’t have any frame of reference that would allow him to understand.
***
They checked into the hotel before going to her mom’s house.
“I don’t want to get there too early,” Paige explained. “I want to make sure Becca is there first, with Margot and Jose, before we show up.” She was pacing around the hotel room, trying to dispel some of the nervous energy.
“Paige, it’s going to be fine.” Chris stood in front of her and took her hands.
She huffed a little as she said, “You have no idea how badly this could go tonight.”
He put his hands on her shoulders to hold her still and said, “You’re right. But I’m going to be there with you, baby.”
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his chest, seeking the comfort and reassurance she found in his arms, but the anxiety still squeezed her chest in a vise.
***
When they arrived at her mom’s house, everyone came out to greet them, and things started out very well. Rose Beckman, Paige’s mother, was on her best behavior, being gracious and welcoming to Chris and Paige.
Once they were inside and Becca was helping her mom in the kitchen, Chris said very quietly, “This seems okay so far.”
Paige sighed and responded, “Yes. But you need to remember that she has always been adept and controlling how things are seen from the outside.”
Jose and Chris spent some time talking hockey—predictably, Jose was a Philadelphia Liberty fan, but they had a lively conversation while Margot listened in, occasionally commenting. She enjoyed watching hockey too, and Chris made a point of inviting her to a game the next time she was in DC, or the next time the Guardians played in Philly. Along with Becca and Jose, of course. Margot was thrilled.
Dinner passed relatively uneventfully, but Paige’s mother was pushing wine on everyone, including Margot, and it had become obvious that she was intoxicated.
“Mom, Margot is fourteen,” Becca said, removing the bottle from her mother’s hands as she was starting to pour into Margot’s glass.
“So what? Americans are too uptight about that. If we were in Europe, no one would care.” She reached for the bottle again, saying, “Since when did you become so dull, Becca? You used to be the wild child. You weren’t that much older than Margot when you got pregnant.”
Paige interrupted to change the subject. “Margot, how about you help me clear the plates and we’ll start the coffee and get ready for dessert?”
“Sure, Aunt Paige.”
Once they were in the kitchen, Margot said, “Aunt Paige, it’s okay. Grammy says dumb stuff like that all the time. I just ignore it.”
Paige smiled at her. “You’re a smart kid. Honestly, you’re helping me get away from the conversation as much as I was trying to get you away from it. So, thanks.”
Margot hugged her.
Just then Rose came in the kitchen, followed by Becca. Becca was carrying plates, and Rose was instructing the men to stay behind and “talk about man things.”
Paige glanced at Becca and flinched, bracing herself.
She knew what was coming.
“Well, Paige, he certainly seems like a very nice man.”
“Thanks, Mom. He really is. I’m glad you like him.”
“Well, it seems a little bit pointless to like him when he won’t be around very long.” Rose poured herself another glass and sat at the kitchen table while Becca, Margot, and Paige were starting the dishes.
Paige stiffened, her back toward her mother, and didn’t respond.
“Have you gotten that prenup yet, like I told you?”
Paige didn’t answer, and her mother just continued. “He’s going to try to screw you out of money, you know. Just like your father. I’ll have my lawyer draw up some papers for you.”
Paige felt her shoulders slump. “Please don’t, Mom.”
Becca said, “I’m sure Paige will be able to find her own lawyer if she needs one.”
“If she needs one? If? You mean when.” The next drink was being poured, and the slur was starting. “She won’t look like that forever, you know.”
Becca looked at Margot and said quietly, “Head out, kiddo.”
Margot nodded, turned, and walked back toward where Jose and Chris were waiting.
“What?” Rose was getting agitated. “Why are you sending her away? She needs to know this stuff too.” She called after Margot, “You need to know this too, Margot.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Paige had finally turned away from the sink.
“Oh, she speaks. Please,” Rose said, gesturing to Paige, “enlighten me as to what it takes to raise a daughter. As if you’d know. Twenty-eight years old and just now getting married. And you’d lose that hot little body if you ever got pregnant. He’d have no reason to want you then.”
***
Jose looked up when Margot entered the room, his concern showing.
“It’s that time,” she said to him, and Jose handed her the car keys without question.
“I’ll be out in a minute, kiddo.”
Margot nodded and walked out the front door.
Chris was confused and concerned, as Jose got up to follow her.
“Go in there,” he said. “This means things are getting bad. Becca sent Margot away because Rose is getting out of control. You need to check on Paige.”
Chris got up hurriedly, worry creasing his face.
He was just outside the kitchen in time to hear, “Your looks are the only thing he wants. He wants you on his arm for people to see. And right now he wants you in his bed, but once your looks fade and your ass gets bigger, he’ll be wanting to fuck someone else. You wait and see.” The slurring was obvious and pronounced.
His anger was immediate and almost enough to overpower his sensibilities.
Chris managed to stride into the kitchen and put his arm around Paige so quickly that Rose barely registered his arrival.
“Ms. Smith,” he said, managing to speak respectfully, but in a commanding tone that left no room for argument, “I want to spend the rest of my life with your daughter, and I don’t appreciate your efforts to make her doubt that.”
Rose was taken aback by this forthright comment and for a brief moment was unsure how to respond. She found her footing, though, and acid dripped from her voice as she spat back, “Sure, you want her now. She’s a hot little trophy for you. But just wait until she gets older and loses some of those good looks.”
Chris didn’t even glance down at Paige before saying, in the same commanding tone, “Paige is the smartest woman I have ever met, with the kindest heart. She has a gift for teaching and a passion for service. I’m very sorry that you can’t see that about her, but I assure you that I’m the luckiest man in the world that she has agreed to be my wife, and that has nothing to do with her looks.”
Rose’s face registered shock, and before she could open her mouth to retort, Chris finished with, “We will be leaving now. Thank you for dinner.”
He took
Paige’s hand and walked them out the front door. Paige was too stunned to respond. Becca came running after them with Paige’s purse. She said nothing but gave Chris a hug before going back into the house.
They got in the car, and Paige could see Chris’s hands shaking as he started the car. As he backed out of the driveway, he had a death grip on the steering wheel. A glance at his face showed tensed jaw muscles. They rode for a few minutes in silence before Chris said, “Is there a park or something like that near here? I need to get out and walk. Or something.” His voice was as tense as his jaw.
“Yes, turn right at the next light. There’s a park with a lake a few miles away.”
They continued to ride in silence, apart from Paige’s directions, until they reached the park. Chris got out, opened the door for Paige, took her hand, and started walking rapidly along the path by the water’s edge. Paige had to rush to keep up with his long strides.
About ten minutes later, Chris slowed the pace, finally stopping at a bench along the pathway where he sat down, looking out at the water. Paige sat next to him, putting her hand on his.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
He was silent for a moment longer. Still looking at the water, he said, “I have never been so angry in my entire life.” He turned to look at her, his face still almost unreadable. “I don’t even know what to say to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“How is it possible that you grew up to be…you?” Cracks formed in his armor, and Paige saw the warring emotions playing across his features. “How on earth could you grow up with…that…and be you?”
She sighed and said, “Becca and I stuck together. She was the rebellious one, so of course I was the ‘good’ daughter, but we were always there for each other.”
Shaking his head slightly, Chris said, “That doesn’t explain how either of you could have grown up in that toxic cesspool and become decent human beings.”
“It wasn’t always that bad.”