Page 55 of Allured
“Your ass felt good,” he whines in displeasure.
“First of all, I believe I should be the one saying that to you.” I brush his hair from his eyes and I can see the lingeringsleepiness in them. “Second of all, it’s already—” I tap the screen of my phone and see it’s late morning. “—ten in the morning.”
“Oh shit, I’m supposed to be meeting Thomas and Viv for brunch in a few hours,” Alek replies. But he remains unhurried in getting out of bed and chooses to lay his head in my lap instead.
“We should get our day started, sweetheart,” I continue brushing his hair and he makes content noises that muffle into my lap. A loud noise erupts from his stomach, obviously not a noise of contentment.
“Are you sure you can wait a few hours for some food?” I joke, reaching my hand as far down as I can to rub at his belly.
“I can make us somethin’ and then eat brunch too.” He looks up at me, a lazy grin on his face as he’s being petted that reminds me of something Peaches would do.
“Oh, believe me, I know howravenousyou can be.” I tug at his hair so that his face angles towards mine and plant a tender kiss on those perfect lips of his. Much to Alek’s chagrin, I pause our kiss before it can get heated. One of us needs to keep us in line.
“Food, Aleksander.” I pat his cheek. “You’ve got a full day, as do I, and as much as I would treasure a repeat of last night, we need to at least get clothes on.”
Alek pouts as I escape the grasp he tries to keep me in. I am almost fully dressed before he finally makes it out of bed and pulls on those enticing gray sweats again. I assume that is the only article of clothing he usually wears at home since he doesn’t bother with a shirt. Though I will be last to complain and the first to enjoy the view.
I turn and begin to gather my overnight items to pack away my bag when Alek speaks up from behind me.
“You could leave that stuff here, Ez.” He hesitates slightly, making it sound like he is a little unsure of himself.
“You would welcome that?”
“Yeah, it’ll be easier than lugging all your shit around. And I like the idea of having pieces of you here even when you’re gone,” Alek speaks softly.
I turn around with my half—packed bag hanging open in front of me. Alek is by his dresser, clearing out a drawer and motioning me towards it. There’s an adorably bashful smile plastered on his face.
“It’s all yours, baby.”
A doorbell ring echoes through the apartment, breaking the tension.
“I should go get that, it’s probably my neighbor. Sadie sometimes needs some help with chores on the weekend. It’ll just be a few minutes if you wanna wait around?” Alek asks, deciding to put a shirt on as he makes his way towards the door of his bedroom.
“Look, I’m not trying to pressure you or anything,” he pauses, looking back at me and shuffling on his feet. “But, my home is yours, Ez.”
Silently, I drop my bag and rush over towards Alek. He’s surprised for only a moment before I have him pressed against the wall near his door.
“I want the same, Aleksander. I want to share my home,my life, with you as well,” I confess as I cup his face with both of my hands. I want his eyes on mine, not shifting away from the anxiety he still carries. “Please do not doubt that,ever.”
The kiss we share is brief but so full of emotion. We show our commitment to each other in the small moment our lips connect.
The doorbell rings again and it takes us out of our shared daze.
“She’s usually not this annoying,” Alek laughs and uses his hands on my waist to back me up towards the dresser once again.
“Claim your spot, Ez.” Alek points over at the empty drawer before heading toward the front door. I do as he asks, grabbing my bag to arrange what I’ll be taking and what I’ll be leaving.
“What are you doing here?” Alek’s question is barely audible from the opposite end of his apartment but something doesn’t sound right. Abandoning my task, I begin making my way out of his bedroom when I hear another voice join him.
“I don’t even get a ‘hi, dad’ from you?”
I turn out of the room to see a burly man taking up the doorway. Alek seems to have backed up several steps and stands there, just looking at the man.His father,my brain fills in.
From my vantage point, I can see them but they can’t see me. I take a moment to assess the situation before me. I know Alek hasn’t seen his father since he was kicked out at eighteen and never welcomed home again. I know his father was still in contact with Thomas and Vivian for some time but never bothered to reach out to Alek.Why is he here?
“I’m not here forcafecito, Alek. I just want to know why your sister and brother haven’t been talking to their mom.”
“Seems like it’s their choice to make. I have nothing to say about it. How’d you even know where I live?” Alek asks, and I can see the tension building in his body.
