Heath
"Can I look yet?" she asked for the tenth time, smiling widely as I led her up the steps and into the house. All the while my hands were over her eyes, knowing for sure she was the type that peeked.
"No fucking way," I answered. "It took me a long time to surprise you. I'm going to need a medal and an endless supply of foot massages after this."
"Then it better be good."
I chuckled and kissed her shoulder, pulling her ample ass against my front. I leaned into her ear and whispered, "Al, it's better than good."
I took her in until we were in the centre of the room. I dropped my hands from her eyes and stepped back from her, halting beside Kayden asleep in his car seat on the hardwood floor.
"You can look now," I said.
I didn't see her open her eyes, but I knew when she did because her head moved from side to side, taking in the room. She looked about the empty house with furrowed brows, glancing over her shoulder at me in apparent confusion. Smiling softly, I soaked up her confusion, especially as it began to dawn on her.
"Really?" she finally let out, turning around to face me. Those bright blue eyes stood out against her pale skin, staring at me with hope that this really was happening. She looked like a goddess to me, this sweet, beautiful woman with a heart of gold. I wanted to give her the world, but all I could manage at this moment was the house.
"Really," I replied. "It was the last rental on this block. When I saw it online, I jumped on it immediately. You have to be quick around here. It's four blocks from your school, and only fifteen minutes from my work. If I speak with my boss, I can arrange to drop you off and pick you up when you need it. I'm close enough, and I'd be more comfortable with you not taking the bus as often."
She didn't say anything. She stared hard at me with disbelief. For a second I thought I'd upset her. But then her eyes misted over and I knew she was happy. The apartment had been too small for us, and I didn't want to be reminded of Ryker every fucking turn I took in it. I wanted a place that was untouched by him. One where I could make new memories with Allie and not have to think of them both together…
I shrugged away the thoughts. They were poisonous thoughts. I relaxed my clenched fists and focused on her happiness. She explored the house, and I followed after her.
"Three bedrooms," she said in disbelief, stepping into the master bedroom. "This one is huge."
"We'll eventually get more furniture," I promised. "Anything you want, it's yours."
"I never knew you'd come around to wanting a place with a woman's touch," she teased.
I took her hand and kissed it. "Not a woman's touch. Allie's touch."
Her eyes warmed. "Smooth, Heath."
"I'm always smooth."
"Always."
"And you love that."
She nodded, her gaze meeting my mouth as she softly muttered, "I love your smart mouth and everything that comes out of it."
I pulled her to me then and kissed along her neck and shoulder, whispering in her ear, "You love what I can do with it too."
She trembled a little before pushing me away. That fucking smile on her face blew me away, warming me on the inside as if she'd nursed a fire in there. I watched her walk off, not ever realizing how beautifully she swayed as she went, those hips - fuller than they had ever been before - rocking from side to side, begging for me to grip them.
And I wanted to fucking grip them as I slammed into her.
I exhaled slowly and composed myself. I couldn't tear her clothes off now. I'd have to wait at least until she finished her inspection, and I was kind of hoping she'd hurry the hell up because Kayden was only down for a short nap.
She was extra giddy about the bathroom and its double sink vanity. I didn't even know this kind of shit was important to a girl, so I was pretty chuffed with myself for impressing her.
"Now I don't have to wait for you to be finished," she remarked.
"You mean no more cramped spaces and no more you bullying me for the sink."
Allie laughed. "I won't even deny it."
She took it all in, the hardwood floors and freshly painted walls; she even stopped by the window and looked out into the yard. I could see her mind going a million miles an hour, probably mapping out furniture and decorative. She was going to make it into a beautiful home. She had a good foundation to start with. Overall the house was in fantastic condition; a newly renovated place in the only redeemable part of town. Living here would mean we would be away from the hard people.
She stopped at the kitchen - dark themed but brightly lit - and turned to me. "How much did you get this for, Heath?"
A lot of fucking money. "Not a lot of money, Allie. Don't worry."
"Okay, but how much?"
"You'll freak out if I told you."
She frowned and crossed her arms. "I can't have you going broke over this place."
The last thing I was doing was going broke.
With a sigh, I walked over to where she stood and wrapped my arms around her waist. "Allie, it's done. I signed the lease. I've ended the tenancy agreement on the apartment, and we're out of there next weekend. It's done, and there's nothing you can do about it. We've got a place we can really make a home out of. When I think of you and Kayden's safety, being here is vital. I can rest easy at night knowing there isn't going to be another drunken fight outside the window waking up our kid. There's no price on a better life."
She considered my words before nodding slowly. "Fine. If you think we can afford it, then I'll take your word for it. I just don't want to see you working overtime to make ends meet, you know?"
I wouldn't have to work overtime soon enough. Marko and I had broken into another cash house last week. I'd told Allie I was at a fight, but that was a lie. I'd been lying to her about my whereabouts for a while now and I hated myself each time. I was doing it for a good reason. She would know about it one day, and I'd make her understand. But she couldn't know yet.
"I won't work overtime to make ends meet anymore," I promised her. I pressed a kiss against her mouth and she immediately sagged into me. I held her closely, tasting her sweet tongue while I ran my hands all over her body. She was so fucking soft.
"Well, I love it then," she said between kisses. "I love this very much, Heath. Thank you."
I stared deeply into her eyes, cradling her soft face in the palm of my hand and said, "I just want you to be happy, and to be away from those rumours. You say they don't get to you, but I know they do. At least here people won't recognize you."
"I'm used to the rumours," she replied thoughtfully. "It's not easy, but you have to also realize that moving won't keep them away. People know me at school. They know about everything that's happened and some of them made it a mission to fill everyone else on it too. Until someone else interesting comes along, I'll continue to be the talk of the town, and for once you have to see that it's out of your control."
I frowned. It wasn't out of my control. I could shut them up. Hell, I'd enjoy it. Too many people were putting her image down. Some of the things they said were downright despicable.
Disgusting whore.
Allie Wallace has an itch for brothers.
She belongs in a Jerry Springer episode.
She's only using Heath until the other brother gets out of jail.
It made me rage. That wasn't her at all, and it was so easy to convince people the opposite. She'd never been a part of any crowd before. She'd had a clean slate before we came out together as a couple. It worked against her favour because people grabbed their paintbrushes and torched that empty canvas with lies.
The thing with men is when we have problems with each other, we can sort it out with a few punches across the face. But women were something else entirely. They manipulated and worked behind the scenes, dropping drama in subtly before they stepped back and watched the destruction unfold.
Women with loose tongues were worse than men with brawns.
So fighting this would be tricky.
"Stop thinking about it," she scolded me. "I have to fight my own battles. I can't have you terrorising people like always."
"I terrorised one guy and that's because he tried to put his hands on you."
"He was trying to check the size of my shirt."
"He got too close."
"He worked at the clothing store!"
"He felt up your breast."
"He was gay!"
"Not at the time."
She smacked me across the chest, her face reddening with laughter. Ah, God, she made my heart detonate. This girl had me wrapped around her little finger. I moved in a little closer to her and rained more kisses on her face.
"I know what you're doing," she murmured against my mouth.
"Yeah, what am I doing?"
"You're trying to worm your way into my pants."
"Is that right?"
"I'm not some slut, you know," she teased.
I nodded. "I know, you're my slut."
I gripped those luscious hips and pressed myself against her. Her breaths turned to fast pants almost immediately.
"See, you're fucking jelly in my hands," I remarked, grinning as I licked her lips.
"You say that, but it's really the other way around," she responded.
I pulled my face back and stared at her. There was no denying what she said. I'd go to the ends of the earth for her.
"Yeah," I finally acknowledged. "You're fucking right, babe. I'm jelly in your hands. You own me. You know that too, don't you?"
She wrapped an arm around my neck and pressed her mouth harder against mine.
"I know that," she whispered.
I pushed her against the counter and brushed my hand down the front of her body, gripping every curve I could. I rubbed her pussy as I ravaged her mouth and she moaned into me. Always those sweet sounds escaping her lips, making me hard in an instant. I slipped my hand inside the front of her jeans and cupped her. My fingers slid into her already wet folds and she tensed at the invasion, moaning again in my mouth as I felt how ready she was.
I kissed down her neck, sucking hard every few kisses just to draw out more of those delicious sounds. "I need to fuck you," I whispered desperately.
I expected her to complain about Kayden sleeping in the next room, or to tell me she'd give it to me later. But her hips moved as she rubbed herself against my hand. She wanted it just as badly.
Holy shit, I loved this side of her. She was so fucking loose.
"Hurry," she let out breathlessly.
Pulling away, I hastily unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off her. I kneeled down as I removed them, kissing her smooth legs on my way. My fingers continued to brush her slick slit, and I was tempted to bury my face in between those creamy thighs, but being a parent meant moments like these were short lasting. I had to fuck her now, and fast.
She had that dreamy look in her eyes by the time I stood back up and kissed her again. She gripped my shirt with one hand and pulled down the zipper of my jeans with the other.
"Tell me what you want me to do," she begged against my parted lips. "I'll do anything for you. Do you want me to beg you to fuck me?"
Jesus Christ.
See? The second Allie was turned on, there was a whole other side to her.
"No," I muttered, sliding my tongue along her lips. "I want you to scream for it."
Her body shook as I swiftly turned her around and bent her over the counter. There'd be no neighbours to hear her through the thin walls this time. We could fuck like rabbits and nobody would hear my woman screaming for it. Her sounds were mine, reserved specifically for my pleasure.
I pulled my cock out and parted her ass. Christ, this ass was bigger than it was before. Removing a condom from my pocket, I quickly slid it on. I leaned over top of her shaking body and bit at her earlobe, whispering, "I adore you, Allison." I adored her more than she'd ever know.
Standing up straight again, I centred my cock at her entrance and pushed in hard. Don't treat her like glass, I told myself, remembering her words from before. She wanted it hard. She liked it rough. She wanted me to ravage the shit out of her. I gripped her hips with my hands and forced her against me as she held onto the counter, crying out after every deep slide inside of her.
Her wet warmth was addictive. My cock tasted her pussy like it was made for it. I couldn't get enough of it. This would never get old, and that's how I knew something this good was made to last. Every time I took her it felt as exciting and personal as the first.
"Heath, oh, my God," she moaned my name over and over again. "Heath… Heath…"
It was the sweetest sound. I felt the pleasure course through me as I fucked her fast and hard, hitting her special spot every time. I'd make her sore. I'd make her remember come tomorrow I'd been buried deep inside her. She'd know who she belonged to. It was me.
She was mine.
My fingers dug into her flesh as I growled out my own moans. I felt my spine tingling and a deep pressure building. My hold tightened, and I was sure she was going to bruise, but she didn't care. No, she screamed out my name, pushing her ass into me. She took me in so deep, and she never relented. She took the harsh thrusts, and she loved the pain mingled with the pleasure. Her whole body began to tense, and I knew she was close. I brought my hand around to her clit and massaged it as I continued slamming into her. She let out a cry followed by a soft moan and fell apart beneath me, quivering as her pussy clenched my dick and forced me to my own pleasure. I came hard inside her and the pleasure made every inch of my body flushed from its intensity.
Fuckin' hell.
Panting, I gathered her in my arms and collapsed to the ground, resting my back against the wall with her in my lap. The back of her head relaxed between my shoulder and neck. She turned her face to me and laid a kiss on my throat. It was always these tiny acts of affection that broke down my walls.
Love. It consumed me. It made me scared of how far I'd go to give the ones I loved a good life. But Allie… god, she was the one that opened that part of me. She was my endgame. I wanted everything with her. I held her tighter to me, afraid to let her go. I panicked at the thought of going a day without her being mine, and it was that thought alone that prompted me to say, "Marry me."
In my hold, her entire body froze. Moments passed, but the two hopeful words still clung to us. I waited for her response, and it was fucking me up that she still hadn't said a word.
"Allie," I pressed, suddenly wondering what was wrong.
"I… I can't." I barely heard her say.
I tried not to feel like my heart had been bulldozed. The bitter taste of rejection was hard to swallow.
"Why?" I wondered aloud. "I'll never hurt you. Don't you know that?"
"It's nothing to do with you. It's…"
I waited for her to continue. With bated breath, I hoped for a good excuse. However, all I could think about was Ryker standing in our way and my paranoia feasted on my fears.
"Is it Ryker?" I bit out angrier than I'd intended. "You don't want me because of him. Do you… do you still love him, Allie?"
"No," she answered quickly, shaking her head against me. "No, Heath. It has nothing to do with Ryker. I'm so tired of you thinking I'm in love with him."
"How does someone fall out of love with somebody, Allie?" I was surprised by my plea. I genuinely needed to know the answer. "I don't get it. Because… the way I feel for you, how in love I am with you, it'll be a cold day in hell before these feelings lessen."
She exhaled and buried her face in her hands. "I was never in love with Ryker. He… He was my best friend. I've told you this a lot of times already. You're choosing not to believe it, and I'm asking you to stop."
"Then tell me why you can't commit. Are you uncertain of me? Do you think you'll walk away one day or -"
"No, Heath, it's nothing like that."
"Then what is it? I can't know unless you tell me."
I tried to turn her face to me, but she refused, not meeting my eye. "I'd like to get my school done first. I just think marriage should come at a time when you're in a stable situation. Right now, I don't have a job and I'm far from stable."
I waited for more - I knew there was more - but she stopped there, and I felt foolish for opening my mouth in the first place. Fucked up I must have been to think she'd blindly want it like me. To think she'd jump in today if the opportunity presented itself. Something was holding her back, and I had a feeling whatever it was didn't relate to her education or her "stability".
"Don't make this change things," she then added cautiously. "Please, Heath."
I shook my head slightly. "It won't," I muttered, but I wasn't sure if I believed in my own words. One second everything was absolute, and then the next it was a fucking unpredictable road again. I knew deep inside I just wanted to give her my name, and by then everyone would know who she belonged to. It was sick feeling this possessive, but I wasn't going to sugar coat how I felt about it.
Caveman thinking or not, she belonged with me.
I locked my jaw and didn't bother pressing her for answers. She wouldn't give me them anyway. Once my arms loosened around her, she moved away and started putting her pants back on. I watched her closely. Allie barely had a poker face. She laid it all out there, and right now she was doing her best to appear normal, but her hesitation showed everywhere: in her trembling fingers and inability to look me in the eye.
"I've got another fight tonight," I then said in an effort to bring back some normalcy. Truth was, I felt like a fucking idiot.
"I know," she replied quietly. "You told me already."
I stood up and did up my jeans. "Just reminding you, babe."
As if something had suddenly occurred to her, she turned and faced me. "Did you see Matt around at your last fight?"
Confused by her random question, I shrugged. "I don't know. I can't remember. I go in and fight and then get the fuck out. I'm too busy racing home to be with you than to stop and chat with the boys. Why?"
"He told me today he didn't see you fighting last week, and I found that odd because he's always at the fights."
Shit. "Why were you talking to Matt? You phone him up or something?"
She frowned at my tone, but I wasn't happy she was talking to player Matt at all. "No, he crashed his car and has been taking the bus. His Uncle lives around the corner from Mom's house, so he was on the same ride as me. He seemed a little down, and I think he has some issues with his Uncle or something, but the guy seemed nice enough when I walked by. I guess it's the same thing with what's going on with Mom and me, right?"
I didn't fucking care about his problems with his Uncle, I wanted to say.
I was a little rattled, but I hid my emotions. I never stopped to think he might be the one to fuck this up before I was ready to bring it to Allie.
"Lately Matt's been heavily into drugs and alcohol," I replied, crossing my arms as I leaned back against the counter. "I wouldn't listen to what he does or doesn't remember."
Allie stared at me oddly then, and I saw the note of suspicion there in her eyes. What the hell did I say to get that look?
"Why don't you talk to him?" she then asked curiously. "He's been meaning to catch up with you, and I haven't heard you talking about him for a while now."
"He's not that good of a friend of mine. He was Ryker's buddy first."
"But he's a good guy, Heath. Better than…" Her words trailed off and her face darkened.
Fuckin' here we go again. The Marko hate train. I was growing tired of her loathing him. She didn't know him at all, and for someone that didn't appreciate being judged, she did an awful lot of fucking judging when it came to him.
"You have to stop this obsession with hating Marko," I told her. "You've got him all wrong."
"Did you hear the rumours about him?"
"Which ones?"
"Which ones?" she repeated incredulously. "Like the ones about him and what he did to his sister. Those ones."
My chest tightened. I shut my eyes and shook my head, more to myself than her. "Allie," I started, trying to reign in my temper. "Babe, people don't know what they're talking about. Marko never raped his sister -"
"Apparently he's in love with her and he even put a boyfriend of hers in the hospital. Broke his legs or some shit."
I groaned and shook my head yet again. "No, Allie. People paint the stories in black and white. It's easy to fuck up someone's reputation when they twist the truth around. Doesn't that sound familiar? Like with you, that's not an excuse to hate someone based on bullshit."
I could tell by the look in her eyes, she didn't agree. "I understand what you're saying. But he showed up out of nowhere, Heath, and he beats you at a fight that you had to win. And what did that result in? You had to scrape for more money and then you had to kill a guy because you didn't have enough."
She stopped abruptly when she saw what her words were doing to me. I was tense, nostrils flared, completely enraged she was bringing this up. She was well aware how sensitive the topic was to me. It wasn't something we talked about ever.
"So," I harshly said, "your excuse for hating the guy is because he was new to town around the time I had to get the money? If that's the case, your list of people to hate must be pretty long."
"I just want to know where he came from. That's all. After what happened, we can't just let anyone into our lives."
"He came from here, Allie! From Hedley! He'd been gone for a while, and then he came back -"
"But why did he come back?!"
I'd had enough nonsense. She was paranoid. Absolutely paranoid to suggest Marko had bad intentions. To say that he had been instrumental to my loss. I called bullshit.
"There's nothing wrong with Marko," I told her sternly on my way out of the kitchen. "What's wrong is your disinterest in getting to know someone close to me."
"He's not right," she shot back with conviction. "I just know it."
I glanced over my shoulder at her and said with finality, "You know wrong."