NotesAdditional Tags: Unplanned Pregnancy | Suggestive Themes
I know I probably shouldn't be posting another story on here when I have others to complete, but this story has already been completed on my Ao3 account - so I'm literally just copying and pasting these chapters.
"Alice!" Tom called after me as I jumped the iron gate painted bright green and sprinted for the bench in the western garden.
Been arguing who was faster since we left that village, we had. Challenged him to get to the bench before me, I did, and clearly, I'd won.
"Thought you're supposed...to be a...spook...Tom..." I answered over my shoulder breathlessly as I drew nearer to the bench.
I closed my eyes in exhilaration as the brusque breeze, crisp as it blew through the air, combed my long hair and stretched the skirt of my dress behind me. It whispered in my ears, kissed my skin until my cheeks were red and stole my breath away. My pointy shoes pounded against the soft ground, squashing anything in my way. The late morning sun welcomed my presence with warm welcoming arms, preventing the breeze from freezing my skin and therefore slowing me down, granting Tom the chance to beat me.
When I was younger, never did realise how much power the simple act of running gave you, did I? How it liberated you and made you believe even for a moment that you were free of all responsibilities.
Been a spook for seven years, Tom had, and the house finally belonged to us - only us. We could do whatever we liked without Old Gregory's watchful eye spying on us and what we were doing all the time.
Jenny Calder, Tom's ex-apprentice who'd completed her spook's training a year ago, had moved away and refused to tell us where. Said she'd be back soon, though, but I highly doubted that. Sensed Jenny hated me 'cos Tom chose me instead of her, I did, and got sick of seeing us so close.
Well, my plans were to stay by Tom's side until my dying day. Made a promise to him six years ago, I did, that I would never leave him again - and I meant that with all my being. Think I had a fair share of a bitter separation to last for years. There was no reason to end what we finally had, what I'd been waiting for. Felt like life wouldn't be the same without him, I did. He'd been the very best friend, company, family and, eventually, lover I could ever hope to have.
Just as I was within reach of the bench, I tumbled to the ground. Something, or rather, someone tugged me down onto the fresh, soft green dewy grass. I felt a weight on top of me and my big brown eyes shifted upwards to meet the green-eyed gaze of a kind, gentle, handsome young man.
"You know I am, Alice, but it wasn't fair. You...had a head start," Tom whispered in a way that made my spine tingle.
I responded with a low giggle.
"Oh, don't be an ass, Tom...Know you've got to be better than that, you do. You're the Chipenden Spook after all."
I closed my eyes as he wrapped a lock of my white hair around his left index finger. Felt his laboured breath brush against my ear as he leaned in closer, making goose pimples rise on the surface of my skin, the short white, fine hairs standing on end.
"Know that this is the last time I lose to you."
Honestly, how he could do this to me, I didn't have a clue. But I wasn't about to let it show straight away.
"Still win, I would," I answered proudly, trying to burn away that sense of yearning deep inside me, threatening to boil over.
Tom chuckled, almost mischievously. Despite knowing his next intentions, I was still too late to stop him.
"Then let's have a little experiment, shall we?"
I shivered as his right hand slid down my body and disappeared under my green silken skirt. I gasped as his left hand remained near my hair whilst his lips abandoned hovering by my ear and instead, paid generous attention to my jawline, nipping and sucking erratically.
As soon as his tongue left his mouth and touched when his teeth did not, knowing I would lose all self-control (my leg was already draped around his waist when his right rubbed up and down my thigh in a smooth motion), I held his shoulders so he was forced to stop his ministrations with his lips, teeth and tongue and look at me.
"Not here, Tom."
"I can't wait until tonight, Alice. Don't worry, no one can see us here and you said yourself you feel more connected with nature."
I had to agree. Could feel my left hand caress the grass, the grass blades' soft caresses tickling my palm in response.
I submitted to him.
We laid there, comfortable in each other's warmth. The bright summer rays danced along our flesh, the dense tufts of green grass cushioning our backs. My arm was sprawled across Tom's on the grass. I propped myself up on my elbow, my head leaving Tom's chest and resting on my hand instead. Laying my opposite palm on Tom's cheek, I gazed into his eyes. All I could see was a smirk.
"You're so proud, Alice," he said playfully.
"Naturally," I smiled smugly using a tone similar to his.
He ran his hand up and down my arm.
"You need to relax a little. It's like you're always trying to prove something to me."
"Ain't what I'm trying to do, Tom...and you're proud too."
Maybe I spoke in a more offensive voice than I thought as Tom looked at me sharply, the smirk melting into a genuine smile.
"All right, I'll admit it; I'm proud as well. But what I'm trying to say is you don't need to prove anything to me. You're something special to me and I wouldn't change a thing. I adore every part of you, but you've been acting...different ever since we came back from our winter house up on Anglezarke," he noted, quite rightfully.
Maybe he was right. Ever since we left that dank old winter house five months ago, something didn't feel right. Tried contacting Pan, I did, but he still hadn't regained his full strength after his one-to-one battle with the winter old god, Golgoth six years ago. Didn't want Tom to know just yet, did I? Assume Golgoth was already returning, he would, and only worry 'cos if we died, he'd go to the light where as I would return to the dark. But Golgoth was only ever at his strongest in the winter and it didn't feel as though that portal I'd closed had been re-opened.
Maybe it was a new threat. Either way, I couldn't tell Tom just yet. Wanted to be sure first, didn't I? He'd feel something if the dark was unsettling again anyway, so there was no cause for panic.
"I'm fine, don't...don't worry about it," I said, attempting to look more relaxed.
"Alice, I know when you're lying," he coaxed.
I continued to stare into his green eyes, now serious. The love was gone in his eyes and friendship and sincerity replaced it. He turned on his side so my right arm and his left arm were entangled.
"Well, I...It's...That..."
Lost for words, unsure about confiding my concerns with him, I left the warmth of his body, turned to the bundle of clothes, picked up my clothes and pointy shoes and walked hurriedly behind a tree to get dressed.
"Alice..." His voice came from behind and although it was full of sincerity and worry, it also had a note of warning to it.
I turned my head to find he, too, was dressed and he sat beside me as I slipped on my pointy shoes. He threw his arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek repeatedly.
"I know when something's wrong. I can tell something's worrying you," he mumbled against my cheek.
Had to think of something, didn't I? Fast, or our peaceful time together was over.
"Nothing...nothing important. Well, ain't it your birthday in a couple of days? Planning a surprise for you, I am. Probably the stress that's made me look unrelaxed...but it's all sorted now."
"You know," he grinned, "You're a terrible liar to me. But if you're not ready to tell me yet, you don't have to. I'm here when you're ready to talk to me about it."
"Sorry, Tom, I am. Just don't feel like the right time to tell you. Ain't 'cos I don't trust you, it's just..."
I felt him pull away slightly and he held my face in his hands.
"Really, it's all right. You don't have to explain yourself to me," he said softly, smiling in reassurance.
I returned his smile.
We then left that spot behind the tree and Tom sat on the bench, that expectant look on his face altering to one of confusion when I didn't sit next to him. Instead, I draped my arms around his neck, sat on his lap and kissed him with all the love I had for him. His arms were so warm, so secure, so loving. Made me feel like I belonged somewhere, being in his embrace, and his arms were the perfect, supportive foundation I'd been missing up until our hearts finally became one when we were seventeen.
Sat there for the rest of the morning, we did, although we weren't too sure of exactly how much time passed by, talking about the past, how we felt and what we both thought back then. It seemed we could've found this love a lot sooner if we hadn't been scared to profess our feelings and love for each other.
When the bell rang out, we got to our feet, hands entwined. We looked at each other, knowing that the boggart was summoning us.
"Lunch," we chorused and headed for the house in comfortable, tranquil silence.
The boggart's cooking hardly ever failed to disappoint - unless someone had put it in a foul mood - and Tom and I happily chatted away as we ate.
After agreeing when we finished our meal, Tom spoke out in a clear voice, "Our compliments to the cook."
That brought back a good few memories and, once the boggart expressed its gratitude by giving a loud, low purr and rubbing against Tom's legs, we got to our feet and headed for the library. Tom wanted to make sure he updated his knowledge as much as he could and ensure the bestiary was up to date. Still, I almost always helped him translate the books that were written in Latin. Tom would roll his eyes when he found a book on the shelf, written in Latin, that I'd copied out just for fun and to spite Old Gregory when I was younger.
Tom, when I was in the middle of reading a book on a...wait for it...witch's accounts, tapped my shoulder and handed me a book when I turned to face him. It was a dark brown book with link-cut floral patterns carved into the leather cover.
Turning to the very first page, above 'Contents' it read: 'The Temptress Witch Encyclopedia'.
Intrigued, I found that I couldn't put it down and time seemed to accelerate by at an alarming rate. I was so tired, the last thing I remembered before my eyes closed was being carried in Tom's arms, my hands empty.