Here and Now

by Blake Haugen

“Really? I thought you were on to me when you asked about all that furniture I was going through on my laptop.”

  “Yeah, I thought you were going to renovate the condo since I moved in. Nothing like, like, like this! Oh, my god! It’s beautiful!”

  “I’m glad you think so, sweetpea.” Vanya kissed her cheek and swaddled her in his arms. “Let me give you a tour.”

  The house was beyond anything Persephone could have expected. Large conifers separated the main house grounds from the rest of the woods on the property. The house was surrounded by a garden created by trees and hedges. A stone path led to the house, but grassy paths took them to entrances to the woods, or a secluded knoll or bench.

  “This garden is like ‘The Secret Garden.’ Holy shit, this is so beautiful.”

  “The landscape architect said in the spring this place will be covered in ‘alluring and unusual’ flowers. She emailed me some pictures. I’ll show you later. I knew you liked plants, but didn’t keep them well, so I hired a gardener.”

  “Vanya, Jesus, this is amazing. It’s so much bigger and better than my present! You should have let me go first.”

  “Eh, whatever. My present is you. Come on, come look at the dock.”

  He led her to back of the property where the precise, artsy garden gave way to the untouched woods. Persephone loved the contrast and inhaled the smell of water as Vanya took her to the woods’ edge. A small dock protruded into a small bay. Only two other homes were docked there, each taking a side of the body of water that let out into the ocean.

  “We’re not even an hour from the city. How did you get this much land?”

  “A lot of begging, pleading, and annoying phone calls. I did most of it during the hour after I finished physical therapy.”

  “Stealthy.”

  “You’re one to talk,” he smirked and led her back to the house. The wooden shingle style of the house nodded to the traditions of the area, but its angular, iconic, almost barn-like shape suggested something more modern. It was perfectly suited to Persephone’s tastes and fit in with the surrounding garden.

  “What’s the other house thing over there?” she asked pointing across the knoll.

  “Indoor pool and the pool house.”

  Persephone was flabbergasted. She stepped through the black lacquered front door Vanya opened for her and tried to hold in her excitement. Before Vanya stepped too far forward, she implored him remove his shoes and leave them on the slabs of marble and slate tiles that gave way to the dark hardwood flooring of the entryway and the rest of the house. He corrected her, pointed out the adjacent mud room, and placed their coats and boots there. Persephone placed Vanya’s present back in the entry on a dark mahogany console sitting under a painting by one of her favorite artists.

  “Oh, god, look at it. It’s amazing! It’s in my house! Our house! I can’t believe this.”

  “Five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms – not counting the pool house. I can’t take all the credit. I worked that interior designer like a damn racehorse to get this all finished in time. You would have been ashamed of me.”

  “You didn’t have to finish it all before we left!”

  “I wanted to.”

  “Hmm, remind me to send them an epic gift basket when we get back.”

  The rest of house was perfect. Vanya took her through the rooms, each one more stupendous than the last. The kitchen, the dining room, the living room, the family room, a rec room, the guest rooms – each one blew her away. One room was more tailored than the others. Its gray fabrics, black desk, and silver furnishings gave it a more masculine feel. Unlike the sleek, subtle sophistication of the rest of the home, this one housed a gigantic flat screen television that hung from the wall, front and center.

  “What is this? Some kind of man cave for when I throw you out of the bedroom? The design is pretty specific.”

  “No, you nerd,” Vanya snorted and poked her ribs. “This is a room I had designed for Zhenya whenever he wants to visit. I think he’s angling to get a contract with the city’s club team once the one in Chicago is up. I want him to always feel welcome here. That’s no big deal, right?”

  “Of course not,” she said slumping into his side. “Zhenya is amazing. I want that, too.” Persephone got the chance to meet the tall young man when he came to visit Vanya after the injury. His pictures didn’t do him justice. The images and sports footage on the Internet portrayed him as an angry, aggressive player – someone not to be trifled with.

  However, that depiction couldn’t be further from the truth. Up close, Zhenya’s face held an angelic, Grecian beauty. If he wasn’t the spitting image of Lina, Persephone would have thought he was Vanya’s son. His kind, sensitive demeanor contrasted with his toned, athletic figure. Persephone had noted the slight hurt on Zhenya’s face when Yulian accidentally commented on Lina’s noticeable absence. The hurt was almost immediately washed away by ambivalence, but it was there.

  Zhenya doted on his uncle during his entire trip, lamenting that he could only stay two days because of practice. When Vanya informed Zhenya that Persephone was the girlfriend who moved and was now his wife, the boy had picked her up and spun her around the hospital room. She’d yelped with fear; Zhenya stood at six feet and three inches and she’d cleared a significant amount of air.

  “God, you’re so damn sweet,” Vanya mumbled against Persephone’s neck and pulled her to the doorway. “I think it’s time to show you our room.”

  Sweeping her up in his arms, Vanya walked to the second floor and laid her on the bed of the master suite. Persephone tried to look around, catching glimpses of the room’s light and airy garden palette. Vanya would have none of it. He pulled her purple tights from her body and threw them to the floor. Her lace panties followed them and Vanya pushed up her beige sweater dress to kiss her thighs.

  “Mm, what happened to my tour?”

  Vanya lifted his head and eyed her closely. “Later. I’m going to make love to my wife for the first time in the house we’re going to grow old in together.”

  “Oh, I think she’d like that.”

  “That’s what I thought,” he replied and spread her legs. “Hmm, this bench thing is almost perfect for eating pussy.”

  “Whatever, don’t mess up my new chaise. Put a towel down if we’re gonna do it there.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Vanya pulled off his sweater and shirt. He revealed the scars of his wounds. The small entrance of the gunshot was marked by a scar under his right pectoral and followed by a long, red scar down his abdomen. The sight of them still made her mad. Everyday she cursed the man who shot him and tried to kiss Vanya’s scars better.

  In the weeks immediately following the incident, she wouldn’t allow him to pleasure her. Their lovemaking consisted of gentle, sweet blowjobs, and Persephone riding him slowly and tortuously until him came. She sat up when Vanya straddled her and removed her dress and bra.

  “Here, let me.” She came in front of him and nibbled at his neck while undoing his belt and pants. She laid him down on the king sized bed, kissing her way down. His cock grew when she sucked his nipples and was at full attention by the time she had kissed down his scar. Before she put her mouth on this cock, she removed his pants, briefs and socks, making sure to kiss and caress his thighs as well.

  Her tongue laved his balls and his cock. When Persephone would have engulfed his length, Vanya stopped her. He pulled her up his body by the shoulders and took her lips in a deep kiss.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Vanya smiled as if debating whether or not to say what was on his mind. Persephone ran her fingers through his blond hair and waited for an answer.

  “Do you think I’m fragile?” he asked.

  Persephone furrowed her eyebrows. “Of course not, don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Then why are treating me that way?”

  “I am not treating you that way. I’m being conscientious of major ballistic trauma to your body!”

  “I’m not
going to fall apart at the seams. I’m better. Get over it,” he remarked, flipping her on her back. “Three months ago I promised you I was going to ravage you like there was no tomorrow. The first time I take my wife in our house –”

  “Mmm,” Persephone interrupted his reference to her as his wife with a moan. Vanya took the opportunity to shove himself inside her.

  “ – Isn’t going to be soft. It will be hard, and frenzied, and fucking feral – just the way she likes it.” Vanya thrust into her mercilessly with every other word. He sucked on each nipple as if he were trying to slurp the life out of her. Persephone cried out into the empty house, arching her back as Vanya began his rough seduction. Each successive thrust pushed her closer and closer to the headboard. She was already too far gone to be concerned with his injury.

  “Mm, yes, fuck yes!” she shouted.

  “Oh, you like that don’t you, sweetpea? This pussy needed a deep dicking bad, didn’t it?”

  “Yes!”

  “Damn right it did.” He pulled out of her for a few seconds to flip her on all fours. Persephone braced herself against the headboard and bit down on her lip when Vanya jutted inside her again. Despite the cool weather and the house not yet warm since they entered it and turned on the heater, sweat had broken out all over her body. She’d missed this; the raw love he gave her was exquisite. Her peak was coming soon, and she whimpered as she fucked him back, countering everything he gave her.

  “Vanya, make me come. Please make me come. It feels so good.”

  “Hell, yeah, babe. Suck on my fingers.” He placed two fingers at her mouth, never losing his rhythm. When she wet them to his satisfaction, his fingers found her clit and strummed it furiously. Wailing and jerking, she came on him in no time at all.

  “Damn, Percy, you came so fast. That’s fastest you’ve come for me, baby. You needed it so bad.”

  “Mmhm,” she slurred as she stroked his erection with her pussy.

  Vanya pulled her hair back, still moving in her slowly, and lowered his mouth to her ear. His whisper made her shudder. “I want you to suck your come off my cock, sweetpea. Right now.”

  He released her with a slap to her ass. Persephone giggled and jumped forward. She was always giddy after an orgasm. At times like this, she felt high, willing to give him anything as long as it ended in seeing him come. She turned around, told him to stand, and then slinked down to the soft, bouncy cotton colored carpet. Never taking her adoring eyes from his face, she set out to finish what she started earlier.

  There was no pretense in Persephone’s fellatio. Her bobbed up and down on him vigorously with one goal in mind. She knew he had no desire to come in her mouth. He wanted to feel her mouth until he couldn’t take it anymore and then take her pussy afterward. She playfully pushed him to the edge several times, pausing to lave his balls now and then. Vanya’s hands gripped her hair when she swallowed him.

  “Look at your pretty fucking eyes. Those pretty brown eyes. I could drown in them,” he gritted. He let her go when she started to knead the cheeks of his ass.

  “You’re trying to make me come? You want that dick again? Lay over the bed.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Aw, fuck, good girl,” he hissed and slapped her ass. “Beg me, Percy.”

  “Please, give me it to me. Give me your cock. My wet little cunt is ready for it.”

  “Yes, baby, I’m going to give it to you. All the time, any time you want it. I’m all yours now. And you’re mine – forever.”

  Vanya didn’t speak much after that. All she could hear were guttural grunts and moans as he laid it on her like he promised. He was a madman; Persephone’s feet barely touched the ground. He was pushing her farther onto the bed with the force of his body. She didn’t know how much more she could take. She’d come twice now, and was on the verge a final, catastrophic climax. Wanting Vanya to fall with her, she pushed herself to her hands and knees and beckoned him to follow her. Turning her torso slightly, she placed her hand on his chest.

  “Vanya, I want you to come inside me. Give me a baby.”

  “Shit,” he breathed out. His eyes went wide and he grabbed her hips, staying them as he entered her yet again, albeit slowly. Persephone thought he would have gone crazy, but Vanya teased her with long, deep strokes. She had been exhausted, but he brought her hunger back, making her chase her orgasm again with faster harder thrusts. Vanya finally gave in to her litanies of “please, please, please” as she came again. He bent himself over her body and pushed her head to the mattress.

  “Take all of it,” he commanded fiercely in her ear. “Take it all, sweetpea. Mm, fuck, I can see you – belly all round – mm, carrying my child. So fucking sexy. Ah!”

  He groaned long and low as his seed spilled into her. They lay together several minutes, warm and connected. Vanya was unwilling to let her move and awkwardly rolled them under the sheets amidst her giggles. He spooned her from behind and they slept several hours.

  Persephone woke up to the sound of running water. She was too warm now. The heater had raised the temperature in the house sufficiently and the sheets, blanket, and comforter were making her sweat. She sat up groggily and threw the bed linens off her body. Standing on wobbly legs, she staggered to the bathroom, passing by the vanity she would claim as exclusively hers when they were both back in the bedroom.

  She’d expected to see Vanya, but was met with an empty room. Two chairs with their own side tables, twin sinks, and marble floors framed with mosaic tiles were all illuminated by a glass pendant light and glass sconces. The sound of the water was coming from the open door adjacent to the sinks. Persephone stepped inside, delighted to feel the heated tiles under her feet. Walking through the other door, she was almost as impressed by the tub’s alcove as she was with Vanya’s naked ass. He stood in front of the tub, watching it fill with water and bubbles. She embraced him from behind, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss the scar where they had taken the bullet from his back.

  “Wash me. My thighs hurt,” she mumbled against his skin.

  “Told you I was still tough.” Vanya turned around a gave her a smug grin. He lifted her and placed her in the large tub, taking a seat behind her and turning off the faucet.

  “Does that shower over there have two showerheads?” Persephone pointed to the glass door shower stall by the toilet.

  “Yeah, that was installed because someone doesn’t like her water pressure hard enough.”

  “Pssh, I take plenty else hard enough!”

  Vanya just harrumphed in reply. He took a washcloth and started bathing her gently, taking extra care with any sore spots. Persephone found herself dozing off again in the perfect moment. Vanya’s question alerted her from her drowsiness.

  “Why do you think you held back this long?”

  “What?”

  “I’ve been pretty healthy for a month now and I stopped the antibiotics a long time ago. At first I thought you were holding back in the bedroom because you were reacquainting your body with mine or something, but then I realized there was barely a time when we were apart for more than four or five hours a day. We had lunch together when you were working. Those hours from eight to noon and one to whenever were the only times we were apart and we were all over each other. Hugs, kisses, you name it. You always wanted to be close – not that I’m complaining. So, I guess it couldn’t be that. I thought if I went for it wholeheartedly, you’d tell me if you wanted to stop. You didn’t, so now I know you wanted it just as bad. What’s going on?”

  Persephone turned and curled into Vanya, holding him tight around his chest. His wet, warm skin, and strong arms around her body felt so good. It was her safe, private heaven. The security he gave her allowed her to speak freely.

  “Honestly, it’s because you’re precious to me, Vanya. You got shot. You could have died the same way my parents did. It scared the shit out of me. Even before it happened, and you insinuated it could happen when you came to my place – I was freaking out. So, when I got you b
ack, I was thinking that I would never let anything hurt you again. Not even me. That meant rough sex, diet, exercise, rehab, Max –”

  “Remember, he did save me,” Vanya interrupted.

  “Yeah, well, he should have never let you step into something like that in the first place,” Persephone snapped. At her and Lina’s behest, Vanya had dismissed Max and several others from their service. For his ultimate loyalty, Max had left with a generous severance. Vanya kept in touch with him, much to Persephone’s discontent. She figured letting it go was one of those marriage things she had learn to live with.

  “Well, I’m flattered that you want to protect me so much, Percy. It’s humbling. I’m going to protect you, too. That’s what marriage is about, right? Having each other’s back?”

  “Yes. Yes, it is. And if I haven’t said so already, thank you so, so much. This is the most incredible wedding present ever. I can tell you held back on the luxury just for me. That’s really sweet.”

  “It’s nothing. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  They sat there in the suds kissing and groping one another until Persephone gasped in surprise. She stood carefully and began rinsing bubbles off her skin. “Oh, my gosh, I almost forgot!”

  “What?” Vanya asked, sitting up in alarm.

  “Your present!”

  Vanya fell back into the water. “Oh, we’ll just do it tomorrow. Get back in here.”

  “No, stay right here. I’ll be back.”

  Persephone dried in haste and threw on the large terry cloth robe hanging by the tub. She scampered down the stairs and back to the entry. After she took the gift from the console, she paused to observe the sections of the house she could see from that vantage point. She smiled, imaging all the things they would do and the memories they’d make in the years to come.

  She returned to find Vanya in a towel, sitting on the chaise he’d designated for cunnilingus. Shaking her head slightly, she focused on her task and handed him the present. He removed the top and pulled out a wooden case. He pulled her down to sit beside him, placing the gift box aside.