Coalescence

by J. C. Hannigan

  The garage door was wide open, and Tig was sitting in the middle of it, watching me climb from my car. I’d changed into a pair of shorts and a tank-top, pulling my long hair into a ponytail to keep it off my back.

  Alaric’s eyes drank in the sight of my pale legs, and I rolled my eyes playfully. “You’re insatiable.”

  “Can you blame me?” He smirked, shaking his head, his gaze still unwilling to move from me. All reservations I had about him not wanting me around faded.

  Alaric closed the garage door, leading the way around his house. We strolled through the untended gardens—save for a vegetable patch that looked relatively new—toward the back of his property.

  “It’s kind of awesome that you get to avoid people and still enjoy this,” I remarked, gesturing with my chin to the trail his property backed up to.

  “Tell me about it.” He chuckled, his arm brushing against mine as we walked side by side. Tig ambled in front of us, his tail wagging. He came across a large stick and sniffed at it before picking it up in his mouth. “It was one of the reasons I jumped on this place.”

  “What are the other reasons?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

  His eyes flitted to my face, and he drew in a breath. “It was cheaper than buying a house in town.” I laughed, shaking my head, and he smiled as if making me laugh had been his goal all along.

  I chanced a glance at him. He looked very much like a demigod with the way the sunlight enveloped him, dancing off his blond hair and golden skin. Regarding me with warmth and affection set deep in his irises, he ran his hands through his hair, tugging it into a bun with ease I envied. How he could do a killer bun without a mirror, hairspray, and ten thousand bobby pins was beyond me. Unlike most dads, he must do a great job with his daughter's hair.

  I thought about asking him if he wanted more kids, but I had the sense to call that question back before it left my lips, and I redirected my brain. “Well, my mother would be envious of the gardening potential here.”

  “She’d get along with my mom.” Alaric huffed a laugh. “Don’t have much of a green thumb myself.”

  “Me either,” I laughed. “I tried to keep a houseplant once. It died. But hey, I’m doing an awesome job keeping my cat alive.”

  Alaric guffawed, the rich sound of it making my inside shiver delightfully. Biting my lip, I looked ahead, watching Tig catch the scent of a squirrel. Unwilling to part with his stick, he attempted to chase after it. The wood in his mouth made him clumsy and slow, but he wouldn’t let it go.

  Nodding, I stepped onto a large branch blocking the trail. Tig was on the other side, tugging on a smaller section, his stick forgotten. He snapped the branch off and dragged it, tail wagging triumphantly.

  The sun was setting, its fading light casting orange and pink hues on the horizon. I leaned on the railing, watching as it slunk lower in the sky.

  I didn’t turn when I heard the side door open or at the sound of Alaric setting two bottles of beer on the top of the barbeque.

  His hard body pressed against me from behind. He rested his arms on the railing beside mine, and his lips skimmed the place where my shoulder and neck met. I shivered, leaning back against him, and exhaled.

  After hiking around his property, we came back for lunch. We spent the afternoon tangled in his sheets, only rousing to cook a light dinner when I couldn’t ignore my rumbling stomach any longer.

  Now, here we were. Watching the sunset. Everything about this moment—this entire day—had been perfectly harmonious.

  I bit down on my lip, releasing it and letting out a soft sigh. “I should go.”

  It was a knee-jerk reaction. I was comfortable, I was happy, and I was afraid of how good it all felt.

  “Why?” His voice was muffled, and his lips still pressed to my skin.

  I looked at him, unsuccessfully trying to fight a smile. “You don’t feel like I’m overstaying my welcome?”

  “Do you feel like you’re overstaying your welcome?” he asked, lips twitching with amusement.

  “No. Yes…maybe?” I tilted my head, my eyes flitting away from him. I tried to resist the pull, but it was fruitless. My gaze slid back to him almost instantaneously, and I couldn’t even be mad at myself.

  When his right hand rose, his fingers gently wrapped along the side of my neck, and his thumb brushed my bottom lip attentively. “What if I don’t want you to go?”

  His question and the reverent look in his endless blue eyes were all the reassurance I needed. “Then I’ll stay,” I said, the words tumbling from my lips breathlessly.

  Lowering his lips to mine, he claimed me. I felt his erection against my backside as his kisses deepened. Each scorching pass of his tongue against mine matched the burning low in my belly.

  He pulled his lips away reluctantly, softly chuckling as his hand dropped away from my face.

  “What’s the matter? Can’t finish what you started?” I goaded.

  “Oh, I could finish it, all right.” He tilted a brow at me, his cock jumping against my butt. “I thought you’d be sore.”

  I laughed. “Wow. That’s egotistic. Accurate, but pompous to say out loud.”

  He smirked, reaching behind us. “Have you forgotten how many times we’ve done it in the last twenty-four hours?”

  “Nope.” I smiled slyly, accepting the beer he offered me. In fact, I was sore, but pleasantly so. “I suppose I could use the break. You’ve practically taken up residence in there.”

  His lips kicked up in a grin so dazzling, it stole my breath. “Like you didn’t have a hand in things.”

  “I was totally the innocent party,” I joked, knowing I was just as ravenous for it as he had been, if not more. His arm snaked around my waist, fingers splaying across my belly as he tugged me against him.

  “That so?”

  I sighed dramatically. “All right, fine. I played a small part, after all.”

  He grunted, his lips still pulled up in a smile that made warmth burst in the center of my heart. He took a long swig of his beer with his gaze fixed on the horizon and his other hand still resting against my belly. Tingles of awareness flooded my body as his fingers curled momentarily before relaxing. I leaned against his chest and watched the rest of the sun disappear.

  “Want to watch a movie?” Alaric asked, turning his face to grin at me.

  Alaric

  I’d never been the kind of person to believe in fate. Life was made up of choices. Every choice had a reaction, a consequence. A course of action to take.

  When Cheryl told me she was pregnant, my course of action was to give that baby a stable home. I had never faltered there, although my decision to try and make things work with Cheryl had been a disservice to us both. I saw that more clearly than ever now. It led her on and created a hole in her heart. Not that I’d treated her cruelly; I was affectionate with her, and I’d been faithful, but it hadn’t been enough. I hadn’t been in love with her, and she’d known it.

  That spark had been missing from the start with Cheryl, but it was there with Gwen. Infused into every moment spent, every gaze, every touch, every word spoken and every word left unsaid.

  So, I supposed it wasn’t absurd that a single weekend with Gwen would solidify just how badly I needed her in my life. She was colour, and she was vibrant. I’d woken in the middle of the night, holding her soft, naked body against mine, and I’d felt overcome with possibility.

  Placing the last of the pancakes on the tray, I slid it into the oven to keep it warm. Two mugs of coffee steamed on the countertop, and I picked them up as I passed, heading for the stairs to wake her.

  Gwen’s leg was over the top of the white sheet, and she slept curled toward the space that I’d vacated forty-five minutes ago, her hand stretched out on my pillow.

  I set the mugs on the end table, pausing by the bed to run my hand slowly up her bare leg, slipping beneath the sheet and along the curve of her round ass. She stirred at my touch, her back arching and toes stretching.

  Gw
en turned onto her back and sighed, her lids fluttering open, her gray eyes still hazy with sleep. “Morning.” She smiled, her sleep-laden voice making my cock stiffen with arousal.

  “Good morning,” I said, voice thick with lust. She sat up, the blanket falling around her lap and her nipples hardening as she stretched, purposely teasing me. My willpower was called into question, and I fought the urge to climb into bed and slip inside her again.

  She sniffed, a slow smile lifting the corner of her lips as she reached for her glasses on the nightstand. “Coffee in bed?” she said, picking up the mug gratefully. Taking a deep sip, she let out a soft moan, her lids fluttering shut.

  I adjusted myself, my lounge pants doing nothing to hide how hard this woman made me. “I made pancakes and bacon, too.” Her eyes popped open, and I waggled my brows at her.

  She bit back a grin, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ears. “Do you mind if I grab a shower first?”

  “Be my guest.” I cleared my throat, my cock impossibly hard now. Gwen’s gaze dropped to my waistband, and she arched a delicate brow.

  “Care to join me?” She leaned, setting the mug down on the nightstand, her eyes raking across my bare chest with appreciation. I flexed beneath her perusal, my nostrils flaring with arousal.

  I bent over the mattress, my fingers tangling in her hair as I drew her close to me. My lips pressed against hers, and I kissed her deeply for a few tantalizing moments before drawing back.

  “I already showered,” I admitted, running the pad of my thumb along her lips before straightening. I’d grabbed a quick one in the downstairs bathroom. My hair was still damp, pulled back into a bun. A man bun. I hated that term, but it came with the territory.

  “All right, I’ll join you in ten minutes or so.”

  “Take your time,” I told her. “It’ll be warm.”

  I left, heading back downstairs to disperse some energy. I was wiping down the counter when my cell phone rang. Swiping it up, I froze when I saw Russell’s name on the display.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Sorry to trouble you on the weekend, Alaric, but I’m calling to see if you’re interested in a little overtime. I need someone in the shop for five tomorrow.”

  The taps were still running, which meant Gwen was still in the shower. I let out an inaudible breath. “I can do that.”

  “Great. See you then.” Russell replied before the line went dead. I set my phone down, a pang of guilt smashing into me.

  “Everything okay?” Gwen’s voice startled me, rousing me from my ruminating.

  “Yeah,” I turned, catching sight of her on the other side of the counter. Her hair was piled in a topknot, the few strands that had evaded the hair tie were damp and curled around her face. Gwen’s cheeks were flushed, and she watched me while distractedly stroking Tig’s large head. “Hungry?”

  “Famished,” Gwen sighed, her dimples flashing as she grinned ruefully at me.

  18

  Fireworks

  Gwen

  My father’s annual Canada Day barbeque was always a massive hit, with almost every single one of his employees showing up, as well as a lot of his friends and other work contacts.

  A lot of planning went into the annual barbeque, and my mother did most of it. I helped out as much as she’d allow me, but I mostly just showed up for the food, the beer, and the fireworks display my dad would spend thousands on.

  Since it was a family-friendly event, Dad would rent a bouncy castle for the kids. He’d done it every year since Kelsey and I were little.

  I washed my hands in the bathroom sink, preparing myself to go outside and face the music.

  Alaric would be coming if he wasn’t there already, and he’d be bringing his daughter. I had to be on my best behaviour, because not only would my family be in attendance, but his daughter would be too.

  He was worried that Cheryl would react negatively to him having a girlfriend, so he planned on waiting until he dropped off Sawyer to tell her—and I wasn’t exactly ready to tell my parents.

  I wasn’t one-hundred-percent sure how my dad would take the news, and the last thing I wanted was to jeopardize Alaric’s place within the company. I knew my mother would be thrilled to find out I wasn’t going to die a spinster, but I didn’t need her meddling, either.

  Eyeing my ensemble, I fussed with the gathered navy blue material of the wrap top, ensuring my cleavage was sitting in the right place. I ran my hands down the colourful floral skirt and drew in a deep breath, tossing my chin up.

  Slipping out of the bathroom, I walked down the stairs and through the kitchen to the sliding doors that led to the back patio. I paused, seeing Alaric standing with my father, holding his daughter’s hand as she shyly peered around his legs at the large bouncy castle.

  I hesitated and then jumped half a foot in the air when someone’s hands gripped my shoulders. I whirled, caught off guard. “Relax, Gwen.” Kelsey laughed, shaking her head at my reaction. I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze back out the window.

  Letting out a deep sigh, I pivoted to face my sister. “You need to swear on the sacred powers of sisters that you will not do anything to suggest there’s something between Alaric and me.”

  “I promise, Gwen. Relax,” Kelsey assured me, crossing over to the refrigerator. She grabbed two beers and carried them to me. “Our latest arrival doesn’t have a drink yet. Go play hostess and bring this to him.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her, taking the bottles. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”

  Kelsey frowned a little. “It’s something Mom would make you do anyway. Besides, I’m sure you can carry on a conversation with him without dropping to your knees.”

  “You’d be surprised,” I murmured, thinking about how often I ended up doing just that—dropping to my knees instead of telling him how I felt or what I was really thinking.

  I swallowed back everything and pasted on a bright smile as I stepped through the sliding doors, Kelsey trailing behind me until she branched off after spotting Elliott by the food table, where the caterers had laid out hors d’oeuvres and fruit.

  Keeping my smile as steady as I could, I came to a stop just before Alaric and my dad. “Thirsty?” I said, unable to utter more than one full word as I held out the beers to Alaric and my dad.

  “I’ve still got quite a bit left,” Dad remarked, raising his bottle. Alaric’s fingers brushed over mine as he took one of the bottles from me.

  “Thanks,” he said, the corner of his lips twitching.

  “Why don’t you show Alaric and Sawyer the jumping castle? I should go check in on your mother and make sure she isn’t driving the wait staff nuts.” Dad said, chuckling lightly and squeezing my arm gently as he passed.

  “Right, well, let’s go see about that bouncy castle, huh?” I said with relief, smiling down at Sawyer. We walked toward the castle, where children were jumping inside, with more running around in their bare feet on the yard beside it. “Tada! The legendary bouncy castle!”

  “Why’s it legendary?” Sawyer asked me, her face scrunching up with confusion.

  “This bouncy castle has been at every Canada Day barbeque, for as long as I can remember,” I told her, grinning a little. “There’s no bouncier castle around!”

  “I don’t want to go in alone,” Sawyer said, her voice full of apprehension as she peered up at the castle and the children inside it.

  “I’ll go in with you,” I suggested, shrugging.

  “Okay!” Sawyer grinned, releasing her hold on her dad’s hand in favour of mine.

  “Here. Hold my beer.” I winked, passing Alaric the bottle. I slipped out of my shoes and allowed Sawyer to lead me to the flap of the tent. She pulled her shoes off and climbed in, and I crawled in after her.

  I hadn’t been inside the bouncy castle since I was seventeen.

  “This is fun!” Sawyer giggled, jumping as high as she could and bouncing forward onto her hands and knees. She continued like that, hopping backwards into the
side of the castle, her braids flying up with each leap.

  My wardrobe choice wasn’t really the best for a bouncy castle, and I had to hold my breasts down with my arms so that they wouldn’t fall from my wrap as I bounded in the inflatable castle.

  While we bounced, Sawyer’s eyes kept going to the two little girls and the boy on the other side of the castle.

  “Do you want to go say hi?” I asked, slowing my jumps and tilting my head toward the trio. She nodded shyly, and I took her hand as we bounced over to them. “Hey guys, this is Sawyer. Sawyer, that’s Noah, Cassidy, and Britton.”

  “Hi,” Sawyer said softly.

  “Want to play with us?” Noah asked, giving her an adorably charming smile. She nodded, releasing my hand.

  “All right, Sawyer, I’ll see you outside,” I said.

  “Okay, bye.” She waved at me before bouncing off with the other kids. I crawled back out through the flap, trying to fix my static-charged hair.

  I straightened, brushing my skirt down and looking up, catching the acute yearning in Alaric’s eyes as he watched me. I walked back up to him and slipped into my shoes, taking the bottle from him. “What?” I asked, fighting a smile at his lingering gaze.

  “That was hot,” he admitted, his lips curving into a grin. I chuckled and rolled my eyes.

  “All I did was introduce her to a few other kids,” I replied. “She’s in there with Rob’s son, Noah, and Tom’s daughter’s girls, Cassidy and Britton.”

  “Rob, huh?” Alaric repeated, his eyes going to the bouncy castle again.

  “Yeah, he’s over by the pit,” I said, gesturing to the horseshoe pits on the far side of the yard, a safe distance from the area my dad had dubbed the kid zone. Rob and Brandon were playing against Mitch and Grant.

  “Well, thanks for helping her get comfortable. I appreciate it.” He said, his eyes returning to me, engulfing me in the familiar ache at my centre.