Page 63 of Allured
“They don’t even have the tasty granola bars,” Alek pouted but ate the bar all the same. He made me smile. He always has.
I was only separated from him for a week, but after the events of today, it was like I was seeing him after a lifetime had passed. I despised the feeling. I wish it would have never come down to this. To the point of Alek shedding tears over my mistreatment of him. Whether or not it was intentional of me to do so, I did hurt him and I must atone.
“Are you ready?” I ask softly, holding my hand out so I can get rid of his trash before we depart. Alek nods and stands up, walking over to the entrance of the apartment and lifting an overnight bag off the hall tree by the door.
As I am locking the door, I feel Alek step closer, his chest so close to my back the heat rolls off in waves and absorbs into my body. A nuzzle of his chin on my back has me sighing so deeply that my back pushes against his chest.
“I missed you,” he murmurs into my skin and stays there for a moment, only moving away once he ensures the apartment door is securely locked.
The moment may be over but the promise from the display of affection has my heart leaping into my throat. I know I can still save this. While I am wholly undeserving of his touch, and his forgiveness, Alek has proven to be a gracious man.
He waits for me at the stairs that lead down into the parking lot and I join him, descending step—by—step. Little droplets of rain fall on us as we walk down the stairs. It feels like we are moving in the right direction with every damp stony step we put behind us.
“Peaches was screaming at me earlier today,” Alek comments as he places his overnight bag into the back seat. “It’s like the damn cat was trying to warn me to stay away until tomorrow.” He laughs, though his smile is not as radiant as normal, and then shakes his head before dropping down into the passenger seat and buckling himself in. I follow suit and get myself situated for the short drive home.
“She has quite the dramatic flair to her, doesn’t she?” I respond, speaking fondly of my little deviant at home.
“She good with other people?” Alek asks, his hands fidgeting with the dampened ends of his shirt, wet with his tears. The marks on the shirt are nothing compared to the stains his crying left on my heart.
“Peaches can take some time to warm up to others but I have a feeling she will easily adore you,” I reply and offer my right hand, palm up on the dividing console of the car.
Alek breathes a little easier, grasping my hand and weaving his fingers through mine in a grounding grip.
“I am excited to see your place.”
“We’ll be there soon, baby.”
I see his body relax at the pet name and I am thankful that my presence and my words are having a calming effect, even with all I’ve put him through today.
We sit in silence for a few minutes before turning onto my street. The silence should be awkward but just as I am comfortable with over—sharing information with him, I am also comfortable merely sitting in a quiet car with him.
The soft strokes of his thumb against the skin of my hand tell me that Alek feels the same. My sweet boy anchors himself with touch and I am more than willing to provide it for him.
Pulling into the driveway, I park the car and turn toward Alek.
“Any questions you have, anything you’d like to see, I will give it to you, Alek. Please let me.”
Taking our joined hands, I place Alek’s knuckles on my lips and brush a soft kiss on them, all while keeping my eyes on him.
“Show me your home, angel.” The small smile he gives me reaches his eyes this time. He does not say it aloud, but I believe his statement implies he wants to see more than just my home. He wants to see my heart.
And I am ready to tear myself open.
Alek hasn’t let go of Peaches since we came inside. The traitor is now curled up on his shoulder as he holds her like an infant being burped. Not a touch of jealousy is in my mind but I am truly surprised that Peaches warmed to him within seconds.
Though, it is fitting in a way, for my cat to love Alek so suddenly since I took to him so quickly as well.
We’ve toured the downstairs living area, den, dining area, powder room, and guest suite but we spent the majority of our time so far in the kitchen. Alek’s eyes shine brightly in the recessed lighting that lines the ceiling. I will admit I have never had much of a mind for cooking so I do not have the same appreciation for the area as Alek does. My parents had this house built with a big family in mind. Sadly, it never came to fruition for them, or me.
Alek looks like he belongs in this space, like he belongs here with me. This is all his and he doesn’t even know it yet. I am more than willing to give him everything I have.
“Would you like to come upstairs?” I ask after having ensured he had enough time to look around the kitchen and wet bar area.
“I’d love to, angel.” Alek sets Peaches down on her bed in the living room and begins to follow me to the stairs. Before I can make it to the second step, I turn around, my eye level slightly above Alek’s in a height reversal.
“Thank you for opening up to me.” Alek’s rough hand cups my cheek as he brushes his thumb against the stress lines I assume are showing full force underneath my eyes.
“Thank you for giving me a chance to right my wrongs.” My hand tangles in his hair for a moment, holding the back of his head as I lean forward to place a soft kiss on his forehead.
