Fairytale Lost (12 page)

T
he hurricane hit
about two weeks after Emmalyn’s arrival in Charleston. With the new job, new team, and new town, Em didn’t have much unpacked and was completely exhausted. Luckily for her, it was a Friday night, and since Zee and Isabel were in Charlotte, she didn’t have anyone to keep her up late. She’d snuggled into the sofa as the wind tossed the trees in the swamp near her apartment around like twigs. One of the grocery store cashiers who had lived in the area her whole life had assured Em that the storm would be mostly bluster—wind and rain, but not too much in the way of flooding. Emmalyn watched the buckets of water fall from the sky and wondered if old Peggy might have been wrong about this one. She had just decided to start a new movie when there was a heavy knock on the door.

“I hope they aren’t evacuating,” she thought to herself as she waddled over to the door. She reached up on tiptoe and looked through the peephole. Sure enough, a police officer was standing outside of her door. She asked him to wait a minute while she grabbed a robe and her raincoat and pulled a pair of sneakers out of the closet.

Grabbing her purse last, she opened the door, not really paying much attention to the man at the door.

She struggled to get her shoes on and announced, “I’ll just be a minute, officer. I didn’t think there was supposed to be flooding.”

“Ma’am, there is no flooding. Um, do you mind coming back to the door?” he asked with uncertainty.

She had on one shoe, and her robe was buttoned incorrectly when she made it back to the door. The policeman stood there looking confused.

“Oh, I’m sorry. What’s this all about?” Em asked. There was a man behind the officer, but she couldn’t see his face under all the layers of plastic.

“I found this gentleman walking down the off-ramp, and he claims to know you. The storm is whipping up something fierce and will only get worse as the night wears on.”

“Oh,…,” Emmalyn’s voice fell off as Lukas pulled the three layers of hood off and gave her a lopsided and apologetic smile.

“Hi, Em. I hope you don’t mind me dropping in like this,” he said jokingly.

“Lukas, what the hell are you doing out in all this? It’s dangerous out there!” She couldn’t focus on anything else. The man was insane.

The cop could sense an argument brewing and didn’t want to wait around for the conclusion. “Ma’am, do you know him or not? He really shouldn’t be out on the streets in the hurricane.”

Emmalyn rolled her eyes and huffed. “Yeah, I know him. He can ride the storm out with me.”

“Fine,” the cop said testily. “Be safe.” He tipped his hat to Emmalyn and scowled at Lukas before he walked off.

“I’m sorry, Emmalyn.” He took a step towards the doorway, but Emmalyn’s growing tummy blocked his path.

“You are not tracking all that water into my apartment. Wait here.”

The door slammed in Lukas’s face. A few seconds later, Emmalyn returned with a laundry basket. She held it out to him and said, “Strip.”

He started to laugh, but there was no amusement in Emmalyn’s face. “I can’t strip on your porch. What will your neighbors say?”

“My neighbors will want to know what kind of jackass is out walking down I-526 in a hurricane and not be surprised that said jackass is now taking his wet clothes off before coming in the house.” She wagged her eyebrows at him in an effort to get him moving.

Reluctantly, he began to peel off the layers he’d put on before beginning this trek. He had thought he’d be able to beat the rain here, but the weather forecasters in Charleston were just as useless as the ones in Charlotte. Then his truck had nothing better to do than to die on him just as he was getting off the ramp.

To be honest, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do anyway. He didn’t think the rental office would be open, and he hadn’t been able to find a hotel to stay in. He sighed as he pulled his sopping wet sweatpants off and dropped them into the basket.

“Emmy, please don’t make me take anything else off. I promise to do anything you ask if you let me keep my wet drawers on.”

Emmalyn fought a laugh as she stood to one side to allow him entry into the apartment. “I’m sure I have some of your sweatpants around here somewhere. Let me go look.”

She walked into one of the bedrooms and lost the battle with her laughter. She sat on the edge the bed and had herself one the best laughs she’d had in ages. When she could focus her eyes, she found Lukas standing in the doorway staring daggers at her. She should have been able to control herself better, but the look on his face only made her laugh even harder.

“Could you point to the box I should start looking in? I’m getting cold.”

That caused Emmalyn to start laughing even harder. She was lost. He sighed and started opening the boxes labeled clothes. In the second box he searched through, he found a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt of his that he thought he’d lost years ago. He went into the bathroom to take the wet underwear off and put on the dry clothes.

Emmalyn stopped laughing enough to follow him into the bathroom. “Do they fit?”

“I don’t remember giving you this shirt. It was one of my favorites,” he said shortly.

His eyes rolled when her face turned red from the effort to control her laughing.

“I’m so sorry, Lukas, I don’t know what’s wrong with me?”

He took a good look at her face. She didn’t look any better than she had the last time he’d seen her in Charlotte. She still had bags under her eyes, and her skin still looked like Play-Doh. He’d bet she was exhausted and that was a big contributor to her punch-drunkenness.

“Have you been sleeping?”

That sobered her up. She was not about to get lectured by him. “I’ve been busy getting settled,” she defended.

He followed her down the hall. There was a room with big boxes, many with pictures of baby nursery items on them. He did a quick mental calculation. She had to be a bit over four months pregnant now. He smiled to himself. Just like his super organized, uber-prepared Emmy, he thought to himself. She hated not being prepared or not having a plan. She’d have everything a baby would need well before the babies were scheduled to appear.

She finished the tour back in the living room.

“What movie are you watching?” he asked as the lights flickered and then went completely out. “Never mind.”

Emmalyn was prepared despite what the people at the store said. She slowly felt her way to the kitchen and switched on the camping lamp she’d bought. She used that to find the flashlights she had strategically placed throughout the apartment. She grabbed the bigger of them and handed it to Lukas.

She shined the lamp on her arm. It was only six thirty, way too early to go to bed, though she thought she’d be able to fall asleep and stay asleep if she really tried. Emmalyn sighed heavily and moved to the sofa.

The blinds were still up. Watching the storm through the trees surrounding the swamp, Emmalyn was calmed by the crazy winds and rain. She’d always loved storms. Whereas most kids would cower and hide at the booming sound of a thunder clap or the blinding flash of lightning, Em loved it and couldn’t get enough. She found comfort in the violence of the storm, loved the smell of the air the next day. It was like the earth was able to reset after the temper tantrum of the storm.

Lukas sat next to her on the sofa, watching her watch the storm. He remembered how much she loved storms, although he didn’t think a category 2 hurricane should be worshiped and adored the way Em did. He was deep in his own thoughts when she finally spoke.

“What are you doing here, Lukas? I told you I wanted to start over fresh.”

“And I agree. We need to start over fresh.” He cut her off when she tried to argue with him. “Emmalyn, it’s no secret that I love you more than my life. And it’s no secret that I’ve been a raging idiot when it comes to our relationship—and our friendship. I don’t intend to ask for forgiveness. You may be right. Things may well be done between us. But I want to be a father to the baby girls you’re carrying, and I’ll follow you anywhere to be with them.”

“Lukas…,” she broke off, feeling the sting of tear behind her eyes.

“Emmalyn, I’m going to be the girls’ father no matter what happens between us. I got my own apartment. I won’t get in the way of your life. I owe you that much. But I’m asking you to please let me be there to watch my girls grow up.”

Emmalyn watched his eyes shine from unshed tears. She couldn’t deny him this, but she would make sure he understood the rules before they went any further. She grabbed his ear and yanked. Hard. “You break my babies’ hearts, and I will tear you limb from limb,” she said in a voice that left no question that she was not joking.

“That sounds fair,” was all he could say, not trusting the feral look in her eyes this time.

O
ver the next several weeks
, Emmalyn and Lukas settled into an amiable friendship. His apartment was around the corner from hers, so he was close enough to call, but they weren’t in each other’s way. The separation from their life in Charlotte was exactly what they needed to rebuild the relationship, not that relearning how to relate to one another was smooth sailing.

Emmalyn had grown accustomed to doing everything for herself. More than once, Lukas had caught her doing more than she should, and he’d fuss. Then she’d fuss. It was a vicious cycle.

It all came to a head one day when he showed up early to put together some furniture for the babies. Emmalyn was about six-and-a-half months pregnant and was having trouble with shoes with laces, so it never occurred to Lukas that she might have tried to do this on her own.

She opened the door in a huff, wondering why someone was at he door at eight o’clock in the morning.

Lukas stood on the other side holding exactly eight ounces of coffee, since at her last check-up, that was what the doctor said she was allowed to have. He didn’t say a word, merely handed the cup to her and waited to be granted entrance.

“I appreciate the caffeine, but why are you here so early? I didn’t think you knew what eight a.m. was.”

She stepped aside and let him in. She noticed his frown and followed his eyes to the boxes stacked up beside the counter waiting to be taken down to the dumpster.

“Well, I thought I was putting baby furniture together today, but I guess not.”

She saw the hurt in his eyes, and it raised her hackles. “I didn’t think you were actually going to be here this early, and I didn’t feel like waiting until noon for you to show up.”

“But I’m here. On time. The time you told me to be here.” Understanding hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. “But since I never show up when I say I will, why would you think I would now? Got it.”

He turned to leave. He paused with his hand on the door knob when her hand touched his shoulder.

“Lukas, I know you’re trying.”

“Well, you know, no man wants to be torn apart limb from limb.” He turned to her and tried to smile, but the light had gone out of his eyes.

Emmalyn worked her mind for something, anything she could ask him to do. She hated that she was the reason for the sadness creased on his forehead.

“I got the basic structures together, but I don’t have the hand strength to tighten stuff. Do you mind checking them? I’ll start sorting all the stuff in bags so we can put them away.”

She turned and walked back toward the room that would be the babies’. She went through her mental list of everything she wanted to get done before she wasn’t able to move anymore. These were going to be some really big babies, judging from how they were growing. The doctor warned her to expect to be on bed rest for her last month of pregnancy. That was going to be hard.

“I also need the racks in the closet adjusted. I bought some additional ones so we can hang the babies’ clothes up. Their stuff is small so, you know.” She turned and looked at him, a devilish grin on her face. “You have a lot to get done this weekend. Don’t just stand there.” She disappeared around the corner, and he quickly followed her.

She worked his muscles from dawn to dusk that weekend and for several weekends after. Lukas was beginning to regret having said anything to Emmalyn about helping with baby stuff.

“She’s supposed to get tired,” he thought to himself. Where does she get all this energy. But with him doing all the heavy lifting and her sitting in her rocker (that he’d put together for her), she wasn’t really expending that much energy.

Despite hammering his thumb—twice, splitting several pieces of wood, requiring at least four trips to the hardware store, and drilling the end off of his shoe, he was the happiest he’d been in ages.

Lukas knew he was getting to Emmalyn. She no longer shied away when he tried to touch her and, every so often, allowed herself to be cuddled while they watched TV after dinner. Emmalyn was a terrible cook, so Lukas started making dinners and bringing them to her. After a couple of days, she declared the situation ridiculous and started showing up at his door at six thirty with the expectation of being fed.

He still wanted to be able to kiss her, make love with her. But he was wary of pushing her too far to fast, so he bided his time, intent on making things as easy for her as possible.

He hung up the last pink dress in the last bag from her most recent shopping trip and sighed. He turned to go to find Emmalyn and have her inspect his work once again—he’d learned that asking for an inspection was much better than having one thrust upon him—and found her standing in the doorway, a beer in her hand. She was giving him a strange smile, one he hadn’t seen in many years.

Taking the beer and a very long drink, he bent down to kiss her cheek in thanks. At the last second, she shifted her head, and his mouth landed right on hers. Surprised, he tried to pull away to apologize, but she’d wound her arms around his neck and held him in place. He groped around for somewhere to set the can then wrapped his arms around her waist, careful not to pull her too tightly.

She kissed him almost desperately then, remembering where they were, she pulled away. He gave her an arrogant smile, and she punched his shoulder.

“Will you kiss me like that every time I submit to being your house slave from now on?”

“Seeing you among all the baby stuff got me all tingly with emotion. Come on, dinner’s ready.”

She laughed when he blanched. “Don’t worry, I didn’t cook. I brought some food back from my last trip to the store, and after dinner, I have some stuff I need you to bring up from the car.”

“Jesus, Emmalyn, how many outfits can two baby girls need?” he asked, exasperated.

“Don’t worry. I used the credit card you gave me for the hardware store. I still have plenty of money.”

“That’s really not what I meant,” he deadpanned as he sat at the counter.

She fixed him a plate with food overflowing but took only vegetables for herself.

“Get some meat, Emmy. You need the protein,” he ordered.

She turned to argue with him but held her tongue when she saw how worried he really was.

“I can’t. My stomach’s been acting funny, almost like the morning sickness is back. I’ll eat these then I’ll have some chicken when my stomach settles.” She settled herself on a stool next to Lukas but couldn’t get comfortable. “I swear my ass doubles in size every week. I’m going to sit on the sofa and eat.”

Lukas tried his damnedest not to laugh, but it was a losing battle. He threw his head back and laughed a full belly laugh until, that is, a full piece of broccoli hit him on the back of his head. He turned to look at Emmalyn and saw the tears in her eyes.

He dropped his fork and rushed over to the sofa. He put Emmalyn’s plate on the coffee table and pulled her onto his lap. He felt exactly like the horse’s ass she was always calling him.

“I am so sorry, sweetheart. Please, please, please don’t cry. You’re pretty, and I love your butt, no matter what size you think it is.” Lukas kissed her on the head and rocked her like a child. She tolerated it for exactly seventeen seconds before her tears turned to anger.

“So, you agree that my butt is getting bigger,” she demanded.

Lukas looked like a deer caught in headlights. “I agree you think it’s getting bigger. I don’t see any difference.”

She huffed and pushed herself off his lap, her left hand landing squarely on the tip of his penis. He yelped like a puppy and rolled over to his side.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” he replied through clenched teeth.

“Oh, Lukas, you are such a drama queen. I think I’ll try that chicken. It’s smells divine!”

And just like that the fit of temper was over, and all it had cost was the first half inch of Lukas’s manhood.

B
y the middle
of Emmalyn’s seventh month of pregnancy, Lukas was driving her insane. He hovered incessantly and called her at least ten times a day for a status. Emmalyn loved and despised being the center of his attention.

She sighed deep in her chest as he rubbed her swollen feet and ankles one day after work. She watched the concentration on his face, and she realized just how much she loved him.

“Lukas…,” she started, but his thumb was making circles on the ball of her foot and it felt too good to ignore.

“What’s wrong? Am I hurting you? Do you want me to stop?” He pulled his hands away, but the murderous look in her eyes got him back to work quickly.

She rolled her eyes but smiled at him. “What do you think of moving in here with me? All the babies’ stuff is here, so it would be easier for you to move in here than for us to try to find someplace else.”

Lukas didn’t respond, merely focused on massaging her toes, but on the inside, he was dancing with glee. “ I mean, I guess that makes sense.”

Emmalyn huffed. “It’s okay to sound a little more enthusiastic.”

He looked up from his massaging and gave her a big smile that made her tingle from her hips to her thighs. When he leaned over to kiss her, she met him half way, or as close to half way as her growing belly would allow.

The kiss between them was more than just “thank you,” or even “I love you.” With every swipe of his tongue and caress of her hand, it conveyed love, need, and desire. Lukas needed Emmalyn and desired her beyond reason. Emmalyn clung to his shoulders, desperate not to lose him again. When he pulled away from her, she pouted.

“We need more room.” Lukas stood, pulled her off the sofa and into his arms. His mouth found hers, his lips tender yet forceful, knowing, and confident. Em’s core ached, and suddenly she wanted nothing more than Lukas’ hands, his mouth between her thighs, all over her body. Responding to her hunger and heeding his own, he swept her off the floor and carried her to the bedroom.

Once there, he set her on her feet, quite content to slowly and methodically undress her. She moaned everytime he stopped to kiss the area he’d just uncovered. He took his time driving her mind and body wild, raining light kisses up and down her torso, then down her thighs and between her legs. She stood before him all swollen breasts and thighs and sexy belly, her lips slightly parted, her nipples hard. He couldn’t remember ever seeing a more beautiful sight than Em in that moment. He simply told her, his voice thick and heavy with lust, “Lie on the bed and make sure you’re comfortable. You’re going to be there for a while.”

And she was.

Meticulously, slowly, as though he had all the time in the world, Lukas made love to her with his hands and mouth. The wide, flat, rough surface of Lukas’s tongue drove Emmalyn to the brink of madness over and over, never letting her cross into the sweetness of her passion. He used his fingers to drive in and out of Emmalyn, making her legs tremble. When he knew she’d had enough and was ready to truly cause him harm, he gave her body that one last kiss and a flick of her sensitive nub that drove her over the edge and into the arms of the orgasm she’d been building.

While she recovered her breath, he stood, removed his clothes, and lay down beside her. He was content to let her rest, but that wasn’t what she had in mind. Eyes closed, he listened to her breathe and was caught completely unaware when her hand wrapped around his cock. He was so hard it was painful, and having her warm hand on him nearly caused him to spill himself. He caught her as she shifted, trying to find a comfortable position to love him as he’d loved her. Instead, she found herself being pulled onto his lap, straddling him where he’d needed it the most.

“You can do that another day. Right now, I need to be inside you,” he said, his voice so gruff she could barely catch his words.

He lifted her slowly and, with equal care, lowered the woman he’d loved for so long down to sheathe him completely. He moaned with pure male satisfaction.

“You better not be going to sleep, mister,” she laughed.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

She leaned down, catching his lower lip between her teeth. She placed her hands on his cheeks and slipped her tongue over his lips, tasting the juices she’d left on him. He tried to sit up and make things easier for her, but she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back down. “Nope,” she said with a wicked smile. “My turn.”

She shifted her knees to a position that would allow her to ride him without hurting her back. She watched the sweet pain on his face as she lifted then lowered herself in rhythm with his breathing. Emmalyn could feel the pressure building in her abdomen but didn’t slow her pace. She needed this. He needed this. And they needed each other. She’d accepted that long before, but it was a driving force that gave added power to her orgasm.

Her body began to buck as Lukas held on to her and used his hips to meet her, stroke for stroke. He pulled her down for a kiss as his body released, joining her in the most earth-shattering orgasm the two had ever shared.

She wanted to stay like this, wrapped in his arms, but the pressure of the babies on her back was beginning to be the bad kind of painful. She rolled away from Lukas, and the coolness of the evening hit her. He pulled her close to him and pulled the sheet over them. They lay there, quiet, listening to the sounds of the swamp at dusk.

“I would love to move in with you, my love,” he said in a whisper. He pulled his arms tighter around her. “And at the risk of ruining a perfect moment, I need to ask you something.”

“You may ask me anything,” she said yawning and snuggling deeper into his warmth.

“Why won’t you marry me?”

She stiffened in his arms. He relaxed his hold on her just enough for her to turn over and face him.

She studied his face long enough for him to squirm under the attention. “Why is this so important to you? It wouldn’t be any different from what we have now.”

He kissed her on the forehead and hugged her close. “Don’t get mad and I know this is going to sound like male arrogance, but…I want the woman I love and my baby girls to have my name. And I want every man you meet to know that you’re mine.”