Happy Together

Happy Together Reprieved

Victoria smiled, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “I don’t know about that. But I care about you, Alistair. Both of you, in a way.” Her thoughts turned to her avenger. She felt an odd sense of safety when she thought about how Lucius was there when she needed him. It felt unsettling but comfortable. Victoria felt her pulse race a little when she recalled how easily he dispatched the mugger. It was Alistair’s body but his movements and the way he carried himself left an impression on her. Maybe he was misunderstood. Maybe he just wanted validation.

They finished the meal, and as they moved to the couch with cups of tea and coffee, the mood shifted into something softer, more intimate. Alistair found himself laughing at Victoria’s stories about customers who thought “extra hot” meant microwaving their coffee. Victoria in turn coaxed a few quiet laughs out of Alistair as he shared childhood memories of his strict grandmother teaching him to bake.

By the time the evening wound down, Victoria had kicked off her shoes, curling up comfortably on the couch while Alistair sat next to her.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said, her voice soft. “It was perfect.”

Alistair looked at her, his heart beating steadily for the first time in what felt like days. “I’m just glad you came. After last night, I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me again.”

Victoria shook her head, her eyes warm and unwavering. “Alistair, you don’t have to push me away. I’m here. For both of you.” She saw his hands twitching his fingers restless releasing the nervous energy pent up in him. She placed her hands on his and they fell still. “For the past six or seven months I have seen you almost every day. I remember the first time I saw you in your kilt and how handsome you looked. Then you spoke and you were so polite and eloquent which is so different from a lot of the people that come through my line you possess an intelligence rarely seen. You are sweet and sincere but still silly and aloof. I value your friendship and presence. I make notes about a few of my regulars and out of everyone yours is the longest and most detailed. I think I have had my eye on you way before you thought about me.”

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Alistair couldn’t breathe. He wanted to tell her how much her presence meant to him, how much her faith in him gave him hope. But instead, he leaned in, his movements tentative, giving her plenty of time to pull away.

She didn’t.

Their lips met in a kiss that was gentle but electric, a quiet acknowledgment of everything they’d shared and everything still to come. When they pulled back, Victoria smiled, her hand brushing lightly against his cheek.

“See?” she whispered. “You’re not so scary after all.”

Alistair allowed himself to believe her.

As they stared into each other's eyes Alistair leaned in his hands trembling. Nervously he reached up softly placing his hand on the back of her head as his eyes closed and their lips met. The feeling was exhilarating.

For the first time in a while, he let himself feel emotions. His heart pounded at her touch.

Her hands wrapped around his back the music in the background haunting

-I can't see me loving nobody but you for all my life.- The phrase caught her ear and a smile graced her lips as they kissed.

Pulling him closer she felt safe despite the events of the other night and, after Lucius's appearance at the mugging she knew this would be the safest she would ever be. His hands fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. They both sat back his hands continuing to unbutton his shirt as she whipped off her sweater.

He froze as he took in her slender body her long brown hair framing her face softened by the candlelight.

Instinctively he lunged forward pinning her down on the couch, his mouth on her neck his teeth finding purchase as his lips wrapped around her skin softly pulling. A soft moan escaped her lips, her head arching back as she held onto him, her nails digging into his back. The sensation spurred him on his muscular grasp on her shoulders intensified as the weight of his body pressed on her. Her legs spread as she wrapped them around his waist, his thick member bulging through his jeans and pressing into her. Letting go of her neck and shoulders he grabbed her ponytail pulling it gently. She made an audible gasp. Kissing his way up her neck to her ear he ran the tip of his tongue around her ear before softly biting the lower part; his teeth pulling softly.

- Me and you and you and me no matter how they toss the dice it had to be the only one for me is you and you for me so happy together- The ethereal tone played as the soundtrack to a pair of lovers tryst.

Alistair stood up picking Victoria up with him she relented her grip and he spun her around his hands on her supple waist. The sensation of feeling her against him almost sent him into a state of delirium. He shuddered as his left hand slid down the front of her jeans his finger running from the base of her lips up. He could feel how wet she was and it made his c**k throb in his jeans. His right hand slid up the front of her stomach to her bra as he pinched the center unhooking it. As she pulled her shoulders out his hand was behind her back pulling it off.

Alistair sighed heavily, resting his forehead against her shoulder as he held her close. The warmth of her body, the scent of her hair, everything about her felt grounding—yet he couldn’t shake the storm raging inside him. He kissed her neck softly again, savoring the moment, but when she turned her head and asked, her voice full of concern, it made his chest tighten.

“Is it Lucius? What’s going on?” Victoria asked, her hazel eyes searching his for answers. Her hand cupped his cheek, trying to guide him to face her, but he hesitated, his gaze fixed downward.

“It’s not just Lucius,” Alistair admitted, his voice low and heavy. “It’s... everything. All of it. You don’t understand how much I want this—how much I want you. But I’m scared.”

Victoria furrowed her brow, her hand still gently resting against his face. “Scared of what?” she asked softly.

“Of hurting you,” he confessed, finally meeting her gaze. “Of Lucius taking over, or worse—of me losing control. You have no idea how hard I fight to keep him buried, Victoria. And sometimes... sometimes, I’m not sure I’m strong enough.”

Her expression softened, and she leaned in, her lips brushing against his forehead. “Alistair, you’ve been fighting this for so long, and you’re still here. That tells me how strong you really are.”

He shook his head, pulling back slightly. “You don’t know what he’s capable of. What I’m capable of. When that guy tried to mug you... that was Lucius. That wasn’t me. And I—”

“Stop,” Victoria interrupted, her voice firm but kind. “I don’t care if it was Lucius or you or whoever else is in there. What matters is that you protected me. And right now, I’m not afraid of you, Alistair. Not of you, not of Lucius. Do you understand that?”

Alistair stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. He wanted to believe her, wanted to let go of the fear and guilt that had defined so much of his life. But it wasn’t that simple. “What if you should be?” he asked quietly.