16. Vince
16
VINCE
T he bell jingles, and Gail’s eyes shoot to the ceiling before she glares and points her rolling pin at me. “Is there going to be a day when you don’t come in here to intimidate me?”
I raise my hands in the air. “I come for the garlic twists. But I’ll stay for the conversation — if you want to have one.”
She lowers her roller back onto her cookie dough. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Why not? It’s not like you could incriminate yourself further. Well, unless you want to confess to pushing the first Adam into the train, but that guy had it coming more than the other one. Breaking his baby’s arm? You should have shoved a pointy stick through his balls and roasted him like a marshmallow before you threw him into that caboose.” I help myself to one of the garlic twists and put a twenty on the counter.
“I’m sure Frederica wouldn’t want you paying for those anymore. ”
I shrug. “I like to support women in business.” I look around the store. “Does she know there were two Adams? That the first one was her actual father, and the second one was your attempt at providing something better? Not that it’s your fault that he wasn’t. He made his choices, and he suffered the consequences.”
“He didn’t suffer enough,” Gail mutters, viciously stamping her dough with bunny-shaped cutters. “No,” she says after a while. “She was young enough not to remember the first Adam.”
I nod. “I’ll be sure not to mention him, then.”
She frowns at her dough, and I lean over, to see a few bunnies have had body parts amputated by her aggressive use of the cookie cutter. “I hope you didn’t mind my giving Fred a reason to feel safe in her own home, by telling her about Adam’s death,” I add.
“No, I don’t mind.” She molds the cookie dough back into a ball and rolls it out again. “I’ve felt guilty for years that she thought that man was still after us, but I couldn’t very well tell her she was safe, outright, when I still had to hide from the law. I thought about telling her once she was fully grown, but I didn’t want to leave her, and I’d almost convinced myself I was safe from discovery, until you showed up.” She glances at me, and I raise my palms again.
“There’s no risk of me reporting you, and nobody else is collecting the meager crumbs of evidence you left behind. If they do, they’ll only end up chasing wild geese, since I tweaked a few details.”
She looks up from her work. “Why are you like this?”
“Like what? ”
She looks me over, and then shakes her head.
I sigh. “If you’ve got something to say, you should say it, Gail. You don’t have to be scared of me.”
“You’re a people pleaser,” she says, picking up her bunny cutter again and taking more care where she presses it.
I suck a smear of garlic from my knuckle. “Is that bad?”
“I don’t know,” she mutters. “But I haven’t met anyone who does it for genuine reasons.”
I point at my chest, as if she could possibly be meaning someone else. “You think I have disingenuous motives?”
“I don’t know.”
I reach for another garlic twist. “I just want you to like me, so our family can be a happy one. Would it help if I gave you permission to kill me if I hurt any of them? I could sharpen that rusty axe you talked about and make it a more effective killing tool, if you’re unsure what dosage you’d need to poison me. As a hint, I’m very big, and the amount it’d take to bring me down would be substantial enough to leave a taste in my mouth I would recognize. The axe may be the better option. Either way, it’d also be a lot of work to dig a grave for someone my size, so you’ll have to think ahead. If you want, I can help you plan it all out, so nobody will ever know, and you won’t hurt your back or anything.”
She’s arched an eyebrow at me for at least half a minute, and it’s still raised when she turns back from putting her cookies in the oven .
“Wow. You can really hold that eyebrow,” I say. “That’s some long-term commitment.”
She continues to stare at me, and I laugh. “Come on. Lighten up. All I’m saying is that I will never hurt your family — not even by telling them certain truths that are best to remain buried. I won’t lie to Fred, but I’ll never reveal your secrets.”
“You won’t lie, huh?” She snorts. “What about saying Adam died of natural causes ?”
I step closer and look her straight in the eye. “There is nothing more natural than you, defending yourself and your child, Gail. It’s perfectly natural.”
She utters a soft sound of agreement and moves on to her next task. “I can see why she likes you.”
My soul loses about a hundred pounds with that level of acceptance, and I smile as the weight lifts from my shoulders. “Good.”
“The old cottage across the field is empty,” she says, as I reach for the last garlic twist.
I pause, hovering my hand over the basket. “Are you asking me to move into it? I’m allowed to be that close?”
“Well, it’s bound to be farther away than wherever you were last night, and the hedge will help block most of your sex noises.”
My face bursts into flames, and I take the garlic twist, so I have something to look at and fidget with. “Apologies.”
“It’s Fred’s voice that carried. And at least I know you were treating her well.” She clears her throat and moves on to her next task. “I’m only suggesting the cottage because you both seem intent on making this work, and I’d prefer to have you close enough I can keep an eye on you.”
She dumps cups of flour into the big mixer. “I’d also like to curb the small-minded chatter about why my daughter’s climbing through the ass-fucker’s window — though why they’d think the babymaker would go doing that is beyond me. Everyone knows using the backdoor ain’t how babies get made.”
I cover my laugh when she angles that eyebrow at me again.
She narrows her gaze, and winces as she sizes me up. “You don’t fuck asses too, do you?”
An actual giggle escapes me, and I shake my head before clearing my throat and getting very serious, because she looks ready to go find that axe. “No Ma’am. The number and frequency of the babies coming will assure you my interests are in using the front door.”
She closes her eyes and grumbles under her breath. “This is what comes of raising a strong-willed free spirit, I suppose. Just how big do you think these babies are going to be?”
It’s my turn to groan. “That’s what everyone always worries about, but the truth is, nobody can tell. I know I look like a frickin’ mountain, but Mom swears I was a mere seven pounds at birth. That’s nowhere near as big as Raven. And I mean, I know Fred’s small, but she has good breeding hips, and even if our kids turn out to be whoppers like me, it’s not like they’re going to walk out of her fully grown.” I tear a bite off my twist and chew it aggressively, to diffuse some of my frustration .
“Defensive, huh?”
“Yeah, well… You go through life wanting something, you get pretty tired of people telling you all the reasons they don’t think you should have it.”
Gail gives a soft grunt. “Maybe it’s time we all get what we want, then.”
I search her face and swallow. “What is it that you want?”
“Peace,” she says.
I hold out my hand, for her to shake. “Then peace you shall have.”
She looks at my hand, and then at hers — now caked in sticky dough. “We’ll shake on it later.”
I retract my hand with a nod. “We’ll shake on it later,” I agree. “Good talk. I’m off to buy Fred a ring now. And before you say, She doesn’t believe in marriage , I don’t care. I don’t need anything more official than her word, but I’m going to get her a pretty ring and ask her if we can spend the rest of our lives together.”
Gail studies me a moment, and then shrugs. “Sounds like you know what you’re doing. I’ll call Fred and tell her to air out the cottage.”
My phone rings, and I look at the screen. “Or I can ask her right now.” I grin, as I hold the phone to my ear. “Hello, Frederica. You’ve reached the president of your fan club.”
She sniffs before she gives a soft laugh, and I lose my smile as my heart pounds faster. “What’s wrong, Angel? Are the girls okay?”
“Yes. Everyone’s okay. Everything’s fine.” She takes a shuddered breath. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“How can everything be fine if you sound upset?” I ask her in my softest tone.
She grumbles a resigned moan, and then squeaks out what’s troubling her. “I got my period.”
My heart breaks for her — for us. We both wanted to have our dream as fast as possible, but that’s not always the way nature works. “Oh, sweet girl. I’m sorry we weren’t blessed this soon, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be. I’m coming home, Angel. Go put your feet up. Tell the girls it’s snack time and let them raid the fridge for a floor picnic, and I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she says, her voice breaking.
My heart squeezes. I can’t leave her crying.
“Okay, new plan, baby. I’m just going to keep you on the line while I drive. I’ll sing to you, and the girls can join in if you put me on speakerphone. It’ll be very distracting, I promise. I sound remarkably similar to Adele.” I wave farewell to Gail, who has a smile on her face so warm, I feel like everything’s going to be okay. I’ve been accepted.
It’s as if Fred’s never been able to fully relax.
I leave the kitchen, where the girls and I are conducting some very grand culinary experiments with fruit and cream, and go to check on her, but she’s off the couch again. Picking up toys, this time.
“I’ll do that.” I make sure Raven’s tightly strapped onto me, before I scoop up her mother and put her back on the couch .
“But I’m not doing anything,” Fred complains, frowning as I pull the light blanket back over her lap.
“That’s the point, Freddie. You’re resting.” I kiss her head and check her hot-water bottle. “Want me to put on the kettle for more water? Or would you prefer I run you a bath?” Raven declares she has a specific and grumbly opinion about things, and I nod like I’m agreeing with her. I bounce and pat her diaper-butt through the sling, as I turn back to Fred. “Raven says a bath would be more restful, because we already tidied up the toys in there.”
Fred leans back on the couch and sucks at her bottom lip, while she looks me up and down. Her eyes get glassy, and I shake my head as I take a knee beside her.
“There’s no need to cry, Angel.” I rest my hand on her leg. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She nods and wipes her eyes. “It’s just that you’re so good at this. And you look so content with a baby in your arms, and I’m sad you’ve wanted to be a dad forever and couldn’t be. I wanted to make your dreams come true, but…” She makes a sweeping gesture at her belly and sniffs. “I wanted to be your angel, not make you have to wait longer.”
My heart melts, and I pull her into a cuddle with Raven. “You have given me my dream. I’m holding our baby girl in my arms right now. We’ve got two more daughters on the kitchen floor, covered in whipped cream and jam. This is the dream. Anything else is a bonus, and we don’t ever have to stop trying to create more love. Now, I need to go check on the chefs, but may I please run you a bath, so you can have it before the kids turn it purple with blackberries? ”
She laughs softly and sniffs. “Okay.”
“Thank you, beautiful.”
I kiss her head, peek in on the mini-chefs covering the picnic blanket and themselves in berries and cream, and then quickly whip around to get the bath started. I leave the water running at a low speed, to give myself a bit more time before I take Raven back, to help the girls make some more edible mess. It’s easy to get distracted by watching the three of them play, but I have other things I need to be doing.
I check on the homemade ice cream and finish prepping the salmon for dinner — all to the beautiful soundtrack of giggles and girly chattering.
“What the ever-loving fun…” Gail stops in the doorway, and I approach to relieve her of the wholegrain loaf I called and asked her to set aside for tonight’s meal.
“Perfect timing.” I follow her horrified gaze and pat her gently on the shoulder. “It’s not as bad as it looks, and I promise, I’ll have it sorted within the hour.” I deliver the bread to the kitchen counter and beg a moment from her with my finger. “Would you mind keeping an eye on these three treasures, while I get your daughter into a bath to soak her aches away? She hasn’t been feeling well.”
Gail lifts her eyebrows in apparent surprise but nods.
“Thank you,” I call over my shoulder, as I rush to get the bathwater turned off before I flood the place. The level is just right for me to top it up with more hot water, so it’ll be perfect by the time I get Fred.
She’s in deep focus, reading, and she gives a startled squeak when I gather her into my arms, book and all .
“Well, don’t you look the picture of a woman with a few moments to herself?” I mumble into her skin, nuzzling her neck.
She giggles and squirms away from my tickling beard.
I set her down on the bathroom tiles and start undressing her. She lets it happen, watching me closely — especially when I get to removing her period underwear. She doesn’t shy away or get embarrassed. My Angel would never do that. Her body is nature’s work of art, and I appreciate and respect its rhythms as much as she does. I peel them down her legs, and she steps out of them before lifting the lid of her soaking bucket for them. All so natural.
I press a kiss to her belly, where the heat from the hot-water bottle has made it pink. “You have to pee?”
She does, again watching me with total fascination, as if I’m the walking miracle.
“Your mom’s home, and she’s with the kids, so we have a little time,” I inform her, as I lower her into the bath. I begin to wash her with the soap I can’t smell without getting a fucking partial. I soap and rub her back and arms and breasts and belly, learning her body more with each touch, before I slide my soapy hand between her thighs.
“Can I make you feel better, Angel?” I move her closer to the side of the bath, so I can cuddle her. I press my face into the messy bun of hair piled on top of her head and enjoy her scent. “I read that orgasms can help menstrual discomfort, and I want to take your mind off feeling sad, because although we didn’t make a baby our first time, we’re going to have so much fun trying again. ”
She leans into me and parts her legs further, as I stroke her.
“We’re going to have plenty more chances.” I massage her clit and tease her folds. “I’m going to breed you as often as I can, and once we conceive, I’m going to keep fucking you,” I murmur near her ear, before pushing two slippery fingers inside her pussy and pumping them roughly. “Because I want to hear your screams of pleasure, even if your mother doesn’t.”
She grips the side of the bath and pants an involuntary moan, as her gaze flies to mine. “ What? ”
I chuckle softly and massage her inner walls more sedately, to relax her again. “Your mom and I talked a bit when I was in town, getting some things for dinner,” I explain, encouraging her to ease back against me. “She said I should move into your old cottage across the field, until everyone’s ready for me to live under this roof.
“Really?”
“ Mm-hmm .” I lean in and flick my tongue at the corner of her mouth, where her lips are curling up in a smile. “Your mom has also volunteered to mind the kids overnight when we’re… busy.”
I slide my free hand around her body and cup her breast. It spills over my palm, and I stroke the firm milk ducts beneath her skin. “Did I tell you how much I like that your breasts are too big for me to hold in one hand?” I rub my thumb in circles over her erect nipple, and then gently milk her enough to provoke a flow. She melts in my arms with a soft sigh, and I fuck her twitchy little cunt with my fingers while I watch the pale milk swirl into the water.
Fred mumbles something unintelligible, and I smile. “It does feel good, doesn’t it, Angel?” I grind the heel of my palm into her clit and push another finger inside her. The water splashes with the movement of my hand, and her hips begin to rock in a beautiful rhythm. “Good girl. That’s much better than being miserable on the couch.”
She pants and mewls as she nods.
I build and ease my ministrations, edging her, while I explain a few more things. “After I make you come, you’re going to mellow out and read until you’re good and pruny. Then, you’re going to do some relaxing yoga stretching, because you’re right. If we want to make a baby together, we do have to show the universe we’re ready to conceive. We’re going to do everything we can, to prepare for our baby, which includes keeping ourselves in prime breeding condition.”
“Uh-huh.” She rocks her hips at me harder, as if the very idea of this mission turns her on.
I push against the walls of her cunt as she starts to pull tighter, stretching her in preparation for the intensity with which I plan to breed her.
“We’re going to sleep right, eat right, exercise right, relax right, and fuck right,” I tell her, as I squeeze the last of my fingers inside her.
She utters an agreeable moan, while her breaths get even shorter and closer together. I work my way deeper inside her, stretching her entrance as I rub at her clit.
“Everything on the menu for dinner tonight promotes fertility,” I whisper at her ear. “I’m going to make even more cum, and you’re going to catch it with a womb so cozy, no baby could pass up signing the irresistible nine-month lease.”
She’s about to say something, but I force her words to transform into a moan instead. “Come for me, Angel. Show me how much you want it.”
The ripples start at my fingertips, and then blast through her pussy like a shockwave, until she’s squeezing my fingers in a milking motion, and her entrance is trembling around my knuckles with suction-like quivers that make my dick so fucking jealous.
“ Gorgeous ,” I mumble into her hair, as I fight the urge to come in my jeans. “I’m going to keep you so well, Angel. Happy and healthy. I’ll give you all your vitamins and minerals. Plenty of sunshine. Fuck — I’m going to get us a babysitter a few times a week, just so I can fuck you while the sun shines on your back. It’ll be part of the cardio we do, to keep conception-level fit.”
Fred mumbles in agreement, and slowly rides my hand, until the last of her spasms leave her wilted. Every muscle she has relaxes the way I wanted her to, and I slowly stroke my way out of her still quivering cunt.
“Good job, beautiful.” I press a kiss to her head, and then get to my feet. “I should probably get back to the kitchen,” I say, adjusting my erection to be less visible — an impossible task. I unbutton my pants, and reach for her soap.
She follows me with hooded eyes, as I kneel at the end of her clawfoot tub, and I watch her pretty tits rise and fall with her quickened breath, while I slick my cock. She spreads her legs, propping her feet up on the sides of the tub, and then holds open the lips between her thighs, to show me her flushed and frilly cunt.
The stretching has been going well. She’s looking more accessible, and I fucking love seeing the evidence of it. The shape of her gash suggests there’s progress being made on the extra fold of skin I need her entrance to have near her rear — the little bit of give I’ll need, to be able to fuck her more easily, without fearing she’ll tear.
I stroke my cock faster, loving the wet sound. It’s the same carnal music we’ll make when I breed her, and then fuck her seeded cunt again, to double-dose her.
Her eyes are wide and wild with excitement, and she pushes herself up onto her knees, milking her breasts for me while she watches my veiny cock swell and strain in my hand. She comes closer, lifts her gaze to mine, and opens her mouth, waiting .
“ Fuck .” I get to my feet and point my big cock at her tongue, as I stare at her face, all pretty, with bright eyes and rosy cheeks. My balls draw tight, and I clench my jaw as I aim, but my hand starts to shake.
Fred wraps her dainty fingers over mine, leans in, and licks my slit before open-mouth kissing it.
I fucking blow straight in her mouth, and she gulps it down, but there’s way too much for her. It spills from her lips, to drip down her chin and breasts, and I keep spurting more. She grins and opens her mouth again to catch it, but she gets more on her face when she has to close and swallow.
I stagger a little, and her grip on my cock tightens.
She pulls me in and milks the last of my cum onto her tongue, while she gazes up at me with my mess all over her face.
I moan and drag a hand through my hair. “Well, that’s one way to get your fucking vitamins. I hope you still have room for your dinner. And dessert. The girls and I made you ice cream.”
Fred stops licking me clean and then reaches for a washcloth, to finish tidying me up. “I’ll always have room for ice cream, my love.”