by Ali Parker
I focused on the voices outside the room. Well, they weren’t saying anything, but they were laughing, and that was enough to get me feeling a little better. After a slight delay, Jolene’s nurse Pamela had arrived this morning, and the two of them were getting to know each other. I had offered to stay at home that day to work in my home office and make sure the transition went smoothly while Amaya went down to the library, but it seemed I shouldn’t have bothered as they were getting along great. Amaya and I had put a ton of effort into finding the right nurse for her sister, and I’d known Pamela was the one as soon as we’d laid eyes on her—smartly-dressed with a kind smile and eyes that glinted with playfulness. She was an older woman, brisk and to the point, with a bunch of experience helping out people in Jolene’s condition. Plus, she just so happened to love food to boot, her brother running a restaurant in the center of the city. I knew she and Jolene would have so much to talk about regarding that.
I headed to the kitchen to grab myself a beer, but then I remembered I had cleaned us out of booze a couple of days before. I’d cracked a beer and then seen the look Amaya had given the bottle, as though she was struggling not to retch at the sight of it, and I swore right there and then that we wouldn’t have a drop of alcohol in the entire apartment if it made the pregnancy even a little bit easier for her to cope with. But where I would normally have gone to some booze for stress relief, I didn’t have that choice any longer. What was I going to do? I felt like the anger was still fizzing through my system, and I needed to do something to work it out before I exploded.
I heard them laughing about something from in the living room, and then it hit me. I should cook something. I would have laughed in my own face had I suggested that just a few months ago, but now I was drawn to the idea. I loved to cook, and I hadn’t had a chance to really throw myself into a recipe in a long time. Since my father might spend the wedding in Greece, it was only right that it be something classically Greek, right?
I emerged from the office, and Jolene turned to me with a concerned expression on her face.
“I heard you talking to someone in there,” she told me. “You sounded upset. Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s just fine,” I lied to her with a big smile on my face. Last thing I needed was her passing this along to Amaya and stressing her out about something she had no control over. “Now, how are you guys getting on?”
Pamela glanced at Jolene and smiled and then looked back to me.
“I would say things are going in a positive direction,” she replied calmly. She had this soothing presence to her, so intent that I could almost forget about that bullshit that had happened with my father a few minutes before. I took a deep breath and let it out, managing a smile.
“I’m really glad to hear that.” I nodded. “I’m going to do some baking. Do you two want to join me?”
“What are you making?” Jolene asked keenly, wheeling herself over to the kitchen. Pamela followed behind her.
“Baklava,” I told her. “It’s a traditional Greek dessert. It’s not hard to make, but it’s much quicker with many hands. You guys up for it?”
“I’m really not much of a baker,” Pamela warned me gamely as she washed her hands. “I think the most I managed is boxed cake mix, and even then, I’m likely to burn the whole thing.”
“As long as you can layer filling and pastry, we’ll be fine,” I assured her. I began to gather the ingredients and instantly began to relax. There was something so calming about baking, so practical and soothing. Everything my father had said to me felt as though it was dropping away, pointless and silly in retrospect. I was going to spend the rest of the day baking with Pamela and Jolene, and I was going to forget about my father and his thoughtlessness and have a good day despite him. I could feel it.
66
When I arrived back at the house, I caught the scent of heaven floating through the room at once. I closed my eyes as I stepped through the door, inhaling deeply—cinnamon, sweetness, a little sharpness. Whatever it was, even if it made me sick, I had to have it right there and then.
“Hey, where are you guys?” I called into the house, looking around for Jolene or her nurse. She had arrived today, and Kristo had offered to help her settle in, which I was glad for, as I wanted to get as far ahead on my work at the library as I possibly could before the baby came along.
“In the kitchen,” Jolene called back, and I crossed the room to the kitchen. All three of them were there, and Kristo was carefully cutting up some pastries that were still in a steaming-hot pan.
“We made baklava!” Jolene exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the pan Kristo was maneuvering his knife around.
“I can see that.” I inhaled deeply again and smiled my greeting at Pamela. “And what exactly is that?”
“It’s a Greek dessert,” Jolene told me. “We made the filling with cinnamon sugar, but I haven’t tried it yet, so I don’t know how it is.”
“It looks fantastic,” Pamela remarked, eyeing the pan as keenly as I was. Kristo held out a square to me and then offered one to her. I took a bite, and I practically swooned at how good it was, the layers of flaky pastry melting into cinnamon sweetness and making my mouth explode with delight.
“That is so good,” I murmured, and everyone else tucked into a little bit too. They all made similar noises of pleasure, and Kristo leaned over and skimmed his thumb over my face.
“You got a little …” He held his finger out to me, and I kissed the tip of it playfully, catching the dab of cinnamon sweetness that had managed to find its way on to my cheek. And I could have sworn as he pulled his finger away, I saw a flash of desire on his face. I bit my lip and smiled at him and then remembered we were not exactly alone.
“Can you excuse us for a moment?” Kristo asked, turning to Jolene and Pamela and offering a professional smile. “I need to speak with my wife for a moment.”
I widened my eyes at him as he grabbed my hand and led me through to our bathroom. It was far enough away from the kitchen that I knew they wouldn’t hear us, but still, I felt my skin prickle with nervousness as I thought about them figuring out what we were up to.
“Kristo, do you really think this is a good idea?” I scolded him playfully, but I wasn’t exactly complaining. The way he had looked at me felt as though he had lit a fire deep in my belly, and he pushed the door shut behind me and kissed me hard on the mouth.
“You were the one who sucked on my finger,” he told me, grinning as he began to undress me. “Come on, I’m just giving you a shower after work. Nothing wrong with that, huh?”
“They’re going to know what we’re doing in here,” I protested weakly as he pulled off my clothes, and he shrugged as he stood back up.
“Amaya, you’re pregnant,” he reminded me. “I think the cat’s out of the bag with regard to us sleeping together, don’t you?”
“Fair point,” I conceded, and he kissed me again as he switched on the shower. I was glad for the noise to cover up my moan of pleasure as my husband-to-be drew me against him, my bare body against his, and my toes curled against the cool, tiled floor. I would make a point to rush home from work more often these days if this is what I would get when I got home.
“Come here.” He led me toward the shower and guided me inside. The water was the perfect temperature, and it felt so good coursing across my body, washing off the day thus far. He undressed and joined me, wrapping his arms around me from behind and kissing up my neck and along my shoulder.
“Mmm, I missed you,” he murmured into my ear, and I shivered against him. I was already getting wet—well, wetter—with him this close to me as he moved his hands over my body, letting them skim over my belly and push my legs apart. He cupped his hand around me, dipping his fingers playfully into me for a split second and making my legs tremble desperately while I shuddered with need.
“Here, let me help you there,” he murmured, flicking his tongue out over my ear for the briefest moment before he reached for
a sponge and the expensive shower gel that he kept there for me. He squirted a little of it on to the sponge and lathered it, so the heavenly scent of vanilla and patchouli filled the steamy space with us. He moved the sponge over me, scrubbing gently at my skin, the change of texture enough to send explosions of new sensation through my body.
“Oh my god, Kristo,” I breathed as he cleaned me, moving his hands over my body almost reverently like I was a goddess he was determined to worship any way he could.
When he was done cleaning my body, he reached for the shampoo and began to work it into my scalp. His fingers were firm and strong, and I felt my entire body trembling as he worked the sweet-scented shampoo through my hair. I loved it when he pampered me like this, when he treated me like this impossibly perfect creature he still couldn’t quite believe belonged to him. I could feel him stirring to hardness against my lower back, and I wanted to take him inside me, to show him any way that I could that I needed him as badly as he needed me.
He washed the suds carefully from my body and traced my shape once more with his hands. He did it so often, it felt familiar now, but it still did something to me, flicking a switch deep down in my body and telling me I was ready for him, that I needed him. He kissed across my shoulders, and I groaned loudly, the sound filling the small space. Then, I turned and kissed him once more, and before I could stop myself, I sank to my knees before him and took his cock into my hand. He grinned down at me, smoothing back a strand of hair that had become stuck to my shoulder, and I brushed my lips lightly over the head of him.
“Fuck, Amaya,” he groaned. “You look so good like that.”
Before he could say a word more to me, I leaned forward and took him into my mouth. He tasted so good, even better than normal, the sweetness of the gel lingering on his body. I could taste that hint of vanilla, just a touch, making him taste like the pastry he had spent all day baking. Guiding him as far into my mouth as I could manage, I wrapped my hand around his base and began to stroke him, taking him deep into my mouth and listening to those appreciative little noises he kept on coming out with. I slipped a hand around his thigh, gripping him tightly, letting him know I would have made him come right here and now if he wanted to. I sank my nails into his skin, wanting to leave marks on his body, to remind him who he belonged to and who belonged to him.
I wasn’t sure how long I was there on my knees in front of him, the water running over my body and down my back. I could have stayed there all day, but after a while, it became clear he didn’t want to come like that. He wanted to come while he was inside of me. And who was I to deny him that?
He drew me to my feet, tucking his hands beneath my arms and pulling me upright. He kissed me again, deeply, and the mingling of flavors on my lips was intense and made my head spin for a moment. Then, he wrapped his arms around my waist, and I was grounded again, there in his arms the way I always wanted to be.
He pushed me back against the wall, and I planted my foot on the low shower stand for some leverage. He didn’t need telling twice, guiding himself inside of me in one smooth motion. The water was pouring over his body, and I traced the shape of the drops as they moved down his chest, over his stomach. He thrust deep into me, and I flattened my palm to his heart, feeling the pulse of it beneath my fingers.
“How do you feel this good?” he moaned in my ear, letting his teeth catch on the lobe for a second, and I melted into him, my entire body supple and relaxed and there for the taking as long as he was the one doing it. He fucked me in long, slow, deep strokes, the kind that made my body ache for more, and soon, I grew tense, my body arching forward for him. I hooked my chin over his shoulder and drew him in as deeply as I could.
“Fuck, Kristo,” I breathed in his ear.
“Come with me,” he ordered, sensing I was close, and the harshness to his voice, the rasp at the back of his throat, was enough to push me over the edge. I plunged over the cliff, coming hard, burying my face in his shoulder to muffle the long cry that escaped my mouth. The water was coursing over us, and it felt as though it was melding us together, meshing us so we were one being. He came a few seconds later, pushing deep and so hard, it would have hurt if I didn’t crave every inch of him I could get.
He held himself there, his whole body shuddering as the water poured over us, continuing to blur the edges that remained between the two of us. Eventually, he slipped out of me, and he grinned as he planted one more kiss on my cheek.
“I guess I should let you get washed up properly, huh?” he teased, and I nodded.
“Yep, you should,” I told him. “Go out there and put some clothes on and make me something to drink, please? I’ve been craving that tea lately. I’ve been craving a taste for it.”
“Will do,” he agreed, and he slipped out of the shower and gave me the time I needed to wash myself up properly. I couldn’t help but smile. Wasn’t the spark supposed to die off when you were engaged, especially when you were having a baby? If anything, it had only grown a hell of a lot more intense. Neither of us could get enough of each other, and I loved it. I would never grow tired of him, of being with him physically, emotionally, mentally. I wanted every part of him, and he clearly felt the same way about me.
When I emerged into the bedroom, a steaming mug of tea was sitting next to the bed alongside a generous slice of the baklava. I grinned.
“Thanks,” I sighed, sinking on to the bed next to Kristo.
“I told them you were just getting washed up.” He kissed me on the temple. “I think they bought it.”
“I don’t think they did.” I grinned. “But no big deal. Just try and keep a straight face, all right?”
“Will do,” he agreed, and he got to his feet and stretched. “I think I’m going to make something proper for dinner. What do you want?”
“You and Jolene decide for me.” I beamed at him. “I trust your judgment.”
“Good to hear.” He grinned, and he stole one more kiss before he left me to relax. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the pillow, enjoying the moment of peace before I went out there to enjoy dinner with everyone. I couldn’t believe it was all really happening—the wedding, the baby, Jolene, all of it. I thought I would have been nervous, but instead, I was so excited, nearly impatient. My new life couldn’t come quickly enough.
67
I stared at myself in the mirror, wearing the tuxedo Amaya had picked out for me. I had seen myself in it before, of course, in the hurried fitting earlier in the week, but I felt as though I was looking at myself in it for the very first time. I stared at myself in the mirror for a long moment and pressed my lips together. Why the fuck was I even nervous? I had done this all before with Amaya. And yet, here I was on my wedding day, scared a little bit shitless.
There was a knock at the door, and I spun around at once. In my head, I was sure that somehow this was all going to go wrong, that Amaya was going to back out of it before I got her up the aisle, that the speed this had all happened was going to scare her off in the end. Instead, my lawyer entered, and I rolled my eyes.
“What is it?” I demanded. He stood there in the door wringing his hands with a panicked look on his face and wearing a slightly rumpled suit.
“I just wanted to let you know there’s still time to get a prenup if you want one,” he told me, for what had to be the tenth time that day. I marched up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders, looking firmly into his eyes and enunciating my words as clearly as I could.
“I don’t want a prenup,” I told him. “And I’m about to walk out to my wedding, so if you could give me a minute’s peace, I would appreciate it. All right?”
“All right,” he muttered, and he scuffed his foot on the ground. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to be sure. This was all so sudden, and—”
“And I know what I want. I don’t need you second-guessing that for me,” I told him firmly. He backed out of the room, and I made a mental note to get a new lawyer as soon as I could. I didn’t need someone who was going
to be questioning my choices every chance he got.
I turned back to the mirror and adjusted my tie before another knock came at the door. This time, it was my father who walked in. He was wearing a pale blue suit and a heavy tan and had only just made it back in time for the wedding. But I was still glad to have him here and was impressed he hadn’t tried to wriggle out of this once and for all.
“Kristo.” He gave me a big hug. “I can’t believe you’re actually doing this.”
“Me neither,” I confessed. “I’m glad you’re here, Dad.”
“Me too,” he replied. “Sorry I was such an ass about it before. I was just worried, you know. Thought after all my marriages, I was going to be a curse on this one.”
“You couldn’t possibly,” I assured him, and I glanced at my watch. “Oh no. I have to be out there in five minutes. Come on, let’s find Cleo and get going.”
We headed upstairs to the room Cleo had taken over to get herself ready. I pushed the door open and found my sister in an embrace with Darla. The two of them were kissing, but they leaped apart as soon as I cleared my throat.
“Come on, you two.” I laughed. “I know you can’t keep your hands off each other, but we have jobs to do, okay?”
“Fine,” Cleo muttered, glancing down at the ground and going red. She had insisted on a suit of her own, and I had to admit, it had been the right choice. She looked good in a well-cut navy-blue suit with a cravat tucked into the shirt at the top.
“You’re ready to go?” I asked, and she nodded. Darla squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
“Good luck,” she told Cleo, and she nodded to me. “And to you too.”
“Hopefully, I won’t need it,” I replied, and I glanced at my watch again. “Come on, let’s get out there. I want to get this on the road.”
We made our way downstairs together and headed out into the garden where the ceremony was taking place. I had to admit, they had really pulled it together, considering this wedding had been thrown together over the course of one day. My nonna’s garden looked incredible, and almost the entire family was here aside from a few distant cousins who couldn’t make it at the short notice. Nonna turned around in her seat when she heard us coming out, and she clapped her hands together with glee when she saw us approaching. I couldn’t help smiling when I saw how happy she was. I started to relax. This was what I’d wanted all along, to remember getting married to the woman of my dreams. We were going to be bonded together once and for all, and I was never going to forget this day.