Leo turned in his sleep but was awoken by a horrific banging in his head. His whole body was aching and he felt like he weighed a thousand pounds.
His vision was blurry and his eyelids were heavy. He managed to move his head a little to the left then to the right. He tried lifting his hand to touch his blazing head but a certain weight was holding it down. Looking a bit lower , he found Ruth sleeping by his bedside. She held his hand firmly as she slept.
Leo was a bit confused. He couldn't remember much except for showing Gwen around during the grand opening.
" Ah..." He groaned as a piercing sensation ravaged his head , and then it all came back to him. He cussed under his breath
''Alec...'' He tried to lift himself to sit when he noticed Ruth sleeping next to him.She was holding his hand firmly as she slumbered.She looked fatigued. He saw that she was starting to wake. He'd probably moved a bit too much.
'' Hey...looks like you're back from the dead. '' She smiled wryly as she stretched her tired body.
'' How long have you been here ? You look horrible. '' Leo joked. '' You should get some rest. ''
'' I'm alright. '' She sighed. '' What are you after ? A good beating ? Rejection? ''
'' I don't follow. What are you trying to say?''
'' She doesn't love you in ' that' way , yet still , you're crazy about her " She held his hand . '' Will she ever love you? ''
Leo was silent for a while , probably asking himself the same thing. '' Guess I will just have to find out. ''
'' This was a lovely evening. Thank you for having us.'' Freya sipped the cup of coffee Marylynne had just made.
'' We had fun right?" Marylynne tugged at the shirt she'd won at the carnival. '' I haven't laughed this hard in a while. ''
'' Mom , it's getting late. I think they have to get going. '' Gwen pointed at the clock. It was nearly midnight.
'' Yes mom. I'd hate to tear you away from your new friend , '' he smiled at Marylnnne , '' but , we have to go. ''
'' Alright. Give is five more minutes , okay? '' They both said in chorus. They giggled when they noticed how fond they had become of each other.
'' Five minutes they said. '' Gwen smiled as she gazed at the star filled sky.
'' I don't mind the delay. I get to stay here with you longer. '' he wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and breathed on the scent of her skin. '' So... Iris. I think Iris is a beautiful name. ''
'' Yeah..but why? '' Gwen asked , perplexed.
'' That's the name we'll give our daughter. '' He spoke with a straight face.
''.....''
'' We can choose another name if you don't like this one. '' He pressed her skin till a tiny gust of air escaped her pursed lips. He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered. '' I'm not interested in the kids for now. Let's talk about the process instead , shall we ? ''
'' Alec...'' His breath was hot on her skin contrasting the cold air of the night. '' Not now , not here ...''
He grinned as he defied her and engulfed her lips in a kiss that swept her off her feet. '' Al..Alec'' She told her self to push him away but her body wasn't listening to her. Her hands found their way around his neck and naturally , she pulled him in . In a few seconds her back was against the door and his hands were in places that made her heart flutter.
'' Someone might see us. '' Gwen muttered in the half second she was left to catch her breath.
'' Let them. '' He playfully bit her lower lips. '' Let's be porn stars tonight. ''
'' What the hell?! '' Gwen laughed.
'' I'm kidding. I know Marylnnne would have my head on a platter if she found us ' having fun ' on the front porche. ''
'' Would you take the risk? ''
'' Don't try me. ''
'' I dare you. '' Her eyes lowered to his lips. They were calling out to her. She wanted him to kiss her again...longer this time. To take her breath away. '' Have me . ''
Alec's brow raised. He felt his flesh thicken.
'' Hello!? '' Freya knocked on the door behind Gwen. SHIT! She'd forgotten that the door was practically translucent.
'' If you two are done , we'd like to leave now. '' Freya laughed.
'' Shit ! Shit ! Shhhhhiiit!! '' Gwen felt hot suddenly. She squeezed out off Alec' s metallic grip.
'' Iris...'' Gwen lay in her bed thinking about her day. Thinking about kids.'' Iris. ''
Kids....our kids. She felt her stomach knot up. Was she afraid ? Afraid of happiness? Ultimate joy? She'd be over the moon to have a piece of Alec and herself in one.
TTRRRRP!!
Her phone vibrated. Alec's text.
' Go to sleep. Stop thinking about me.'
Gwen snorted. This guy was just too much.
' I was thinking about someone else. Someone better. ' She texted him back.
' Oh really! Well then . Does he do the things I do to you in bed? ' He couldnt help smirking as he sent that text when he thought about her blushed face.
He sipped his vodka as he looked out the window . The cold wind brushed against his skin. He turned and looked at his empty bed. It felt a lot emptier than usual lately. The thought of sleeping alone was distasteful. Nothing felt right with Gwen out of his sight.
He poured himself another drink. He sighed .
'' May I come in ? '' Freya smiled. She had a glass of wine in her hand . She had a bad habit of late night drinking and so did Alec so they became drinking buddies.
'' Sure. '' Alec sat at his bed edge and she joined him. '' Why are you here ? ''
'' Well , I had a lovely evening and I wanted to share my feelings with you. '' She sipped her wine. '' I like Marylnnne . I feel like we have a lot in common in some way or the other . She has so much. '' She watched the wine dance in the glass. '' She's free. ''
Alec frowned. He knew his mom felt trapped in this marriage. She did love Ryan but gradually that love just morphed into tolerance. She tolerated his coldness , rage , demands. She was tired but she'd been doing this for so long that she didn't know how to do anything else
'' Mom-"
'' Tell her. '' Freya blurted. '' The truth. Tell her. ''
Alec's blood ran cold. He clenched his glass. Freya held his hand and squeezed it.
'' There's no point delaying it. '' She smiled. '' Don't lose her. ''