Tales Of Another Beating Heart
20. Addicted to Your Apologies
"Beautiful night!" Toby exclaimed, trying to avoid eyeing his parents suspiciously.
He supposed they'd fallen out over his father's decision... and whatever had happened when he'd been away with Andy. Toby didn't really mind, although if he was courageous enough to admit it, Toby would have told his Dad he would have preferred to go with him, rather than Andy.
He didn't think anything of it after that, his Mum was usually stubborn like that over small mistakes—it was normal... wasn't it?
After getting no reply, Toby swallowed back the neglect in his throat. Instead of chatting, he observed the street they were now travelling down, since there was nothing else to do.
They'd walked some way that day, and Toby (even though he'd got up late) was so tired he could have collapsed there and then. It was night now, and it didn't really help his need for sleep.
He studied his own street in silence, watching the light descend around his being. He could just see their home, his head looking up rather than at the floor (unlike his parents).
The seaside house looked so much more eerie than home-worthy in the dark, but still as cosy and petit looking.
The lad smiled, watching the gas lamps flicker in his neighbours' windows, lighting up the street in a pale sickly light. The sky was pitch black and blank of clouds, and in that moment he wondered about asking if he could go stargazing that night... after imagining his parents arguing around a campfire—or making up dramatically and imaging himself waking in the early hours to find the doing something he shouldn't really be seeing... he decided not to bother with his offer.
His thoughts were teaming through his mind and before he knew it, the three of them had arrived home. His parents stood stiffly on the porch, and he was glad he couldn't see their faces... they would be so pissed off with each other... and it kind of scared him when they were both angry. Because it always rubbed off on him.
Without a single breath, not disturbing the tension, Nellie clutched onto the door keys she'd seemingly got from nowhere.
Sweeney frowned, noticing a flaw already and he hadn't spoken to anyone - not even himself - for an hour and a half, so his throat was dry and hoarse. " 'Thought you'd lost them Eleanor... " he muttered, still finding the gravel floor more interesting than his wife and son.
She deliberately ignored him and unlocked the door, jaw still set and eyes still hard as stone.
Toby barged in first, desperate to be alone for once—he couldn't stand to be around them when they were like this! They would argue. Fight. Shout. And finally, and eventually, apologize. What child would want to be around them? They were... dangerous.
Sweeney stepped in rudely after the boy, stopping his wife from entering, instead of being a gentleman like he had been on that first day they'd moved to the sea. She should have shoved him inside before he even slid in front of her... God... why did this only occur to her now?!
Nellie scowled, said zilch and followed the other two inside.
Toby stopped by the foot of the staircase, turning to face his parents, who were childishly avoiding glancing at each other while they shed their thin summer coats.
" 'S been a long day!" Toby mumbled with a sigh, rubbing his puppy dog eyes which caught his Mother's attention—she smiled.
He beamed a toothy grin at her, happy to see her content at him, seeing as Sweeney wasn't looking in their direction.
She turned from him, almost meeting her husband's gaze when she hogged the peg Sweeney always used with her jacket instead of his, catching him wearing a frustrated, angered expression—oh yes!
Match point Nellie! She almost giggled when she heard Sweeney sigh heavily. Annoyed? Yes. He was. Incredibly.
She held the smug smile and turned, Toby had wandered up to the third step, peering over the edge of the stairs to meet his mother's gaze as she sauntered over to look up at him.
" 'M Sorry... " she started to whisper, so Sweeney wouldn't hear. He was too wrapped up in shuffling the coats and hats that were on the wall since they'd all fallen off when he'd added his coat—bloody woman! She'd set that up hadn't she?! God, he could now see why he hadn't noticed anything wonderful about her before the wedding day!
"... 'M sorry that today wasn't perfect sweet 'eart. 'Wish I coulda made it better."
"Don' worry. I thought it were good... Missed you all day like, but... 'long as I'm wi' ya now I'll be alright." he answered, glaring over at his father who was cursing under his breath, clothing from the hooks still tumbling onto him. Nellie was dying to look but she didn't, knowing that she would suffer the consequences if she did.
She managed a small smile and a hoarse little laugh, catching Tobias' attention again.
"Jus' get a good sleep love. Y'look like y'poor bones are gonna drop any minute! An' don't forget... 'S busy week this week!"
Sweeney - who was still behind them - had hooked up the last coat on the pegs, catching her last sentence clearly, opening his mouth to abruptly interrupt the conversation.
"I will Mum! Are y'goin' to bed too?"
She nodded and replied, "Yeah, but me an' dad need t'talk first. So we'll be up for a bit if y'need us."
Toby smiled gratefully and kissed her cheek. " 'Night Mum."
"'Night me darlin'."
Toby glanced at Sweeney, who looked tense and stiff—maybe even guilty for what he'd done to his son. "G'night Dad." The lad quietly spoke. Sweeney immediately dropped the guilt and replaced it with relief as he nodded, "G'night Toby."
The boy bolted up the stairs before anyone could utter another word, eager to catch some sleep... determined to awaken to a new day tomorrow.
Nellie decided to presently face the music, turning swiftly to the ex-barber, stern scowl on her half scarlet face as she opened her swollen mouth to shout the odds at him...
"Before you say anything Eleanor... Wouldn't it be better if we 'talked' outside? If we're gonna fight about somethin' then it's not fair if the lad 'as to hear it." he suggested, feeling relieved further when she shut her mouth and nodded.
With haste, she grabbed his lifeless hand and led him to the outer doors next to the underneath of the stairs.
Next, he was sat on one of the flimsy chairs outdoors around a spiralled table to match. It overlooked the pool which was quite pleasant, even with the anger in the dense air. Sweeney sat stiffly, feeling anxious and regretful as he watched his wife potter about the garden, looking like her usual cheery self. He awaited her, his eyes skimming guiltily down her figure as she stood on her tiptoes to reach a set of lanterns hanging over the doors to the inside, and then she moved to the others that were on other tables like the one he was sat at. Clearly it was a routine order thing she had adopted from running the pie shop, he found it amusing but didn't show a single speck of that particular emotion.
Finally, after about fifteen minutes, she sighed after she'd lit the last one and made her way back to her husband.
She slumped into the chair opposite him, setting down the flickering wax candle in her hand, lighting the untouched wicks in the centre of the table on her way.
Their eyes met instantly, for the first time for a very long time. So long in fact, that Nellie had almost forgotten how wonderfully dark his were - morbidly attractive and intriguing to the eye... concealing dark secrets that no one would ever guess in a million years. Like the one about his secret passion for the baker... oh he'd never tell anyone but her how much he adored her—it wasn't really a secret now to anyone, it was obvious how much he loved her now when they were out in public.
Several seconds passed, each of them never shifting their gaze, as if seeing what heaven was like in each other's iris' or... in this case... perhaps hell.
The flames danced and reflected entrancingly into their orbs, mirroring those true feelings neither one of them could express fully...
"Toby was right," Sweeney sighed, finding it hard to resist examining Nellie's eyes, searching for the woman he'd been under the table with that same morning. "it is a beautiful night... 'shouldn't waste it... "
"Goin' off subject now aren't we?!" she snapped, although her voice and eyes didn't match the words she had said - she looked like she was intoxicated and far away as she gazed over at him. She was madly in love with him... and he could see that even more now.
"What you did were awful." she said huskily, dropping her annoyed act. "What if that Andy were... a bad man... like the Judge?"
Sweeney suddenly glared at her. He'd never thought of that. Oh God... what if the stranger was getting to Toby just to have his way with Nellie? No. No... But it was possible. Instead of voicing his thoughts, Sweeney just softened his emotion to something Nellie recognised as reassurance.
"But he wasn't was he? He brought Toby back, just like he'd said. And the lad's fine." he told her calmly, her muddled frown looking more like she was wearing it due to the fact she'd been slightly outsmarted rather than wearing it for being irritated at Sweeney's actions.
"I jus'...don't understand why y'would... even dream 'o leavin' y'son like that!" she retorted, her volume rising.
"Why? Why did I do it, is that what y'want to know? Well, it's because he's too damn clingy and never leaves me in bloody solitude! I never get a moment's thought to myself! I would prefer to be in the company of ninety of you nattering at me at the same time... endlessly!"
Nellie smiled, finding it difficult to not feel flattered and her voice quietened.
"That's 'cause you're 'is Dad, love. 'E wants a role model. They all 'ave 'em at 'is age... an' seems like 'e's attached himself to you... 'cause you are 'is father figure, after all... "
Sweeney parted his lips slightly, staring into her eyes with rapid realisation.
"Really? I am?" he breathed, searching her unmoving eyes.
"Yeah! 'O course you are!"
His dazed epiphany of being a role model eventually seemed to quickly fade, and another emotion came over him altogether. He smirked and stood.
"W-Where y'goin'? I 'aven't stopped the talk yet! I thought that y'would wanna say—"
Her words slurred off as he knelt by the side of her chair, eyes looking up into hers. She felt her breath shorten and swivelled around on the chair to face him, feeling her cheeks burn hot under his gaze.
Slowly, his arms reached up to her waist, fingers rubbing her sides gently. His face gradually neared hers, and seconds later, his mouth collided with hers, her own mouth succumbing to him just at the lightest press from his onto her plump, swollen pair of lips. His hands slowly, teasingly took themselves up her covered stomach and glided over her half-hidden breasts, where she whimpered into his lips uncontrollably. Before she could respond to her nonchalant arousal, he tore away, lips parted to gasp unevenly. They locked eyes again, reading what they wanted instantly, knowing that it would have to be fulfilled for them both to be satisfied.
"What did y'think I wanted t'say, pet?" he rasped, throat dry from how excited he knew he was becoming down below.
" 'Thought you would wanna say sorry... "
"Well, I could do that. Or I could... show you how sorry I am... "
She smirked and he groaned as she nodded and pulled him to her again, her lips taking charge and battling against his this time, his hands shooting to her neatly styled hair, which was now messed up thanks to him. Moans and groans escaped them as they opened their mouths frantically, rubbing their tongues vigorously, unsparingly, full of lust and what emotions each of their souls had left.
Nellie parted him this time, in dire need for air.
"The bedroom?" he panted, backing away from her to stand from his crouched position. She stood up, legs jellified and head already reeling.
"Gimme five minutes... "
And with that she giggled hysterically and ran for the doors, clearly heading to the stairs to the second floor.
Sweeney watched her flee from him, she was still laughing in a seductive kind of way. He swallowed and closed his eyes, smirking as he heard loud, heavy and frantic footsteps on the stairs. He felt himself starting to throb harder by the second...
His eyes shot open, and the next moment, he was racing up the stairs after her, his memory of the murderous night before springing to mind—and only thrilling him further.
He caught her at the top of the landing, gripping his fingers onto her backside roughly.
She gasped but pushed his hands away, quickly sprinting (as much as she could) down the hall, pushing open their bedroom door, ignoring the fact his eyes were scarily glued onto her figure.
Sweeney took shakily fast steps over the creaky floorboards, his glaring eyes spying into Toby's room first, allowing Nellie those few minutes... and also to check if the lad was asleep yet. He peeked into the bedroom via the hinge, which gave him a narrow view of Toby's personal space. Sweeney knew it was wrong to spy on his son, especially after what regrettable events had occurred that day but... this was Sweeney Todd—he wasn't one for doing things right... or good... or by the law...
Sweeney frowned, neglecting the urgent want his bottom half was craving for the time being.
The boy wasn't in his room. Neither Sweeney nor Nellie had heard him travel down the stairs... it was loud and clear from the outdoor patio if he had raced down them. Sweeney set his jaw, ready to go marching in there to give him what for—Toby shouldn't be playing pranks late at night!
But then Sweeney paused and shook his head, returning his gaze to the corridor laid out before him.
He and Nellie's bedroom door was cracked open, flickering orange glow flooding out of the frame to illuminate the hallway. He swallowed, feeling himself feel strangely elated already.
"Toby," he whispered firmly, turning to face his door that was slightly ajar. "you awake?"
No answer.
Even if the lad was asleep he would have heard... and maybe would have groaned in reply.
So he really was gone.
Perhaps forever.
"Love?" Nellie called out to him, from somewhere in the bedroom. "Wot y'doin'?"
Sweeney swallowed, thinking nothing more of the boy's vanishing act and turned on his heels, taking heavy, painfully slow steps down the corridor. He wanted to speed up, but he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing—it hurt so much... the nonchalance of it all...
Nellie, seemingly impatient now scowled from the doorway, in an rather revealing nightdress. Sweeney froze when his eyes met her figure, his hands tightening into clenched fists as his orbs slid down her figure.
She bit her lip, arm holding her up on the painted black doorframe. She knew how much he wanted her, and was actually finding that the teasing of her lip, made her suffer more than him.
" 'Ow's Toby?" she asked lowly, almost inaudible from where her husband was standing. He advanced towards her, saying nothing until he was directly in front of her, nose to nose. " 'E's gone." he said quietly, letting in the lust for the touch of her body against his, his eyes shining darkly with the maddening emotion.
"G-Gone?" she asked highly, eyes large with shock, her whole body not registering what he'd just said. He nodded, pushing the door open farther, pushing her in. She watched with wide eyes, an odd look she never usually had. He never took his eyes away from her, carefully closing the door behind him.
Nellie thought her heart was on fire! She was suddenly burning hot - dizziness, arousal and intensity hitting her all at once. And worry too, now she remembered his words about Toby.
Sweeney took a steady step forward, clouded eyes seldom changing their prey.
Slowly, and then cautiously, Nellie took two steps back.
"M-Maybe... we should go look f'Toby... " she breathed, her vulnerability rising as he neared her still, drinking in her figure, and looking intoxicated already.
He shook his head, whispering a simple "No" as she backed away again.
This time she gasped as the back of her legs hit their bed's edge, silky velvet covers making her skin shiver with sudden wonder, and then memories instantly came flooding back.
"If he's gone," Sweeney said, ignoring or not noticing the trance Nellie seemed to be in. "we shouldn't waste this opportunity—should we?"
She shook her head to trap the infinite thoughts coming through her brain, and clearly Sweeney thought she was answering him so he smirked and reached her again.
"I still think... maybe we should jus' wait... 'til 'e comes back..." she murmured, gazing, enamoured with his facial features. He didn't answer, just pressed his mouth to her neck, hands clutching to her waist. She gasped, gripping her nails into his material covered back. She took an arm away and lifted his chin up to her with her thumb, her eyes showing her true lust and love for him.
She dipped her head and met his lips hungrily, giddily. He groaned and found himself limply leaning forward to her. She fell back, pulling him with her, her hands gripping to his chest. His hands slid down her clothed body (she had little on) and rested on her bare, bent legs.
She whimpered as he worked his lips harder on hers, her mouth eventually battling back. She felt her heart pounding rapidly and she was growing hungrier by the second...
He broke away, feeling her nails grip onto his shirt's buttons. She frowned up at him through drug addict eyes, her eyelids dropping slowly as his form lightly rubbed up over hers. They groaned, and then he voyaged down her body, leaving kisses down her covered front, dragging his firm thumbs down her sides. She hummed and chuckled as his hands latched themselves onto her bare legs.
He smirked and slowly pulled her thin burgundy nightdress up, revealing her panties. She lay back, still looking like she'd been hooked to an Opium house since the age of twelve...
He continued to tug off the clothing, Nellie sitting up slightly to let him pull the item off of her. He stared down at her half naked body now, on all fours over her. His nose teasingly nuzzled her neck, her hands gripping onto his shoulders.
"Oh love..." she whimpered; kisses making her melt into him like chocolate. "I've missed ya so much... Jus' show me ya sorry..."
He smirked against her skin, fingers dancing over her chest area. Her fingers greedily ripped off his neck fastenings, throwing them somewhere to her left, and then he pulled back, letting her do the honours of ridding him of his vest. She unbuttoned his shirt but her cool fingers just turned him on too much.
Sweeney snaked his tongue into her mouth, hands chucking the pins out of her hair. She rolled back, so he straddled her waist slightly, his covered hardened length rubbing against her stomach. Their tongues entwined with each other, their hearts beating like jackhammers as they clawed each other in different body parts. He massaged her scalp, her hair screwing up into a bomb-like mess. She pushed the opal shirt off his back, moaning at his rather successful distractions.
Her hands roamed his chest and back, their mouths growing into a heated passion that no one could ever find a definition for. He left her lips again, smirking as she let out a frustrated heave of air, clearly bothered by his actions. His body created friction between them both as he slid his top half down her sensitive body.
"God... 'Ow long does it take t'show me that ya sorry?!" she gasped impatiently, spreading her arms out over the bedcovers.
"A long time... " he muttered huskily, laying kisses on her abdomen. His fingers tucked under the waistband to her knickers, making her shiver. Before he slid her underwear down he backed up and stood, making her frown with irritable suspense of whatever he was to do with her.
Sweeney kicked his shoes off, unbuckling his leather belt. She fluttered her eyes shut, flinging her head back and slowly sighing with anticipation. She heard the heavy belt hit the floor, her limbs tingling with tantalizing excitement for the delights to come. He whistled, like he was attracting a dog's attention and she immediately opened her eyes, raising her auburn haired noggin to face him with a scowl.
He was stood at the end of the bed with a seductive smirk, stood defencelessly, like he was her personal ragdoll that was willing to be played with. He swallowed when she returned the sadistic smirk and sprung into action, crawling over the blood red covers like a mythical creature emerging from the depths to enchant their victim.
He closed his eyes, feeling her soft curls tickling his lower stomach. Her thin, slender fingers tickled his skin as she dragged down his trousers, hands brushing over his covered pulsating member as the pair of pinstripes dropped to the ground around his ankles. She kissed the lump in his shorts and he moaned with the sudden close contact with her there.
He pushed her head away and stepped out of his trousers, leaving them crumpled on the floor as he chased her to the middle of the bed, hovering over her. Her eyes were big and glossy with wonder as he dipped his head and caught her lips in a ravenous wave of his craving for her.
He tugged down her panties without gentle hesitation this time, grabbing a fistful of dark red curls. She let out a muffled squeal of pain and pleasure. His burning hand made its way down, over her slick clit. She bit him during their passionate kiss which had come with the amazing sensation, making him pull away as scarlet droplets dripped from his bottom lip. He continued to rub her there and watch her squirm in ecstasy underneath him, slowly and roughly entering his forefinger into her. She gasped, almost cursing as he pumped her slowly, gradually adding another finger. His other hand grappled onto her breast, gently scratching over the tips of her nipples so they stood erect, making her shiver in violent delight.
Another fierce finger was inserted and she cried out loudly, sitting up so he could angle his hand in her better. She moaned as he continued to pump her, kissing her neck repeatedly.
"... Sweeney... " she breathed, losing her sentences in her breath.
He smirked and lowered his head, speeding up his fingers, his mouth covering hers as she let out a high pitched moan.
He pulled his fingers out of her before she could tighten around his hand. She frowned, eyes half shut due to heavy arousal and utter addiction to the man pleasuring her.
He sunk down to her level, sucking his soaking hands thoroughly. She closed her eyes, smiling with content as his tongue licked her neck, teeth scraping down the edge of her neck. He dug his teeth into her jugular, leaving two little marks and miniature trail of blood from his own lips as well as her neck. His thumbs rubbed around her breasts making her let out a whimper.
Her hands fell from his chest to his stomach and then... his undershorts. She took them down feeling his mouth nibbling and kissing, becoming more and more insistent.
The pants fell from his legs onto the bed sheets, soon forgotten when her hands hooked onto his hardened length, slowly stroking up and down the shaft.
He parted her neck and let out a bunch of haggard gasps. She smirked evilly, observing the addicted emotion he wore as he tossed his head back, hands gripping her breasts as her strokes got faster.
"Nellie the meanie... " he murmured, causing her to chuckle and lick up his chest.
She ceased all movement, her hands emerging from him.
He opened his eyes, frowning like she had when he'd left her mid-arousal.
Their gazes met and they grinned at each other.
His hands stroked up her thighs as he knelt on the bed, his wife now lying out fully. He dragged her knickers the rest of the way down her legs and threw them on the floor behind him. He stalked over the covers, hovering above her, settling himself in between her legs - that were now in a convenient position for them both.
She sat up slightly; reaching his lips and their tongues touched and danced again, their hunger greedily building further.
They parted and Sweeney kissed her jaw line.
"Ready?" he whispered against her collarbone, tickling the sides of her buttocks with his fingertips. She let out a shaky breath and nodded.
He lowered himself into her, hand on her hip and the other on her breast. She started to gasp and flutter her eyes with the fascination of how good he felt inside her. He jabbed into her, thrusting hard and slow, the speed nothing to them at that minute, they wanted to enjoy the moment.
She felt him angle himself to dig into her deeper, she bucked her hips to help and screamed and shuddered when he found the spot where he knew she loved to be hit on.
"Harder..." she moaned; gripping onto the bed-covers like she had eagles claws. "Faster..."
He smirked.
His thrusts used more force and became more swift and nimble. He grunted harshly and she moaned in ecstasy beneath him, her breasts getting all the attention of his hands.
He stabbed her again, again and soon he knew he would reach his end.
Nellie felt her muscles quiver and her walls tightened around him, her orgasm seeming to only be around the corner too. She screamed, colours brighter as she opened her eyes, meeting Sweeney's bliss filled eyes.
He thrust into her again, feeling her scream violently beneath him, her legs shuddering against his groin. "I'm sorry..." he panted, watching her still enjoying the pleasure she was receiving. He nodded when he got her breathy reply of "Forgive ya".
They continued and groaned, moaned, screamed, squealed, grunted... Until he came, all guns blazing. He fell off her, rolling onto the sheets next to her, chest rising and falling with the fast work.
"God... 'M exhausted!" she gasped, eyes shutting.
He smirked and turned to look at her, both still naked and seemingly oblivious to that fact.
"So... was that a suffice apology, pet?"
She tapped a finger on her chin.
"Hm... I dunno..."
He raised a brow and she giggled.
"Yeah! 'Course it were! God... I wish y'would get in touble wi' me more often!"
"Ooh... hello. Are you askin' me to, Nell?" he teased, licking her neck.
"No...I jus'... enjoy bein' alone wi' you." she stated with a sigh.
He lay back away from her, humming when she buried her face in the crook of his neck. His arms linked around her and she licked his forearms, jumping Sweeney's only form of showing shock.
She giggled and licked him again; he kissed her cheek this time.
"Nell?" he asked, after some time.
"Mm? Yeah love?"
" 'Bout that fortune teller thing..."
"Wot? Which thing?"
"The... baby."
"Oh."
There was a long pause and she snuggled herself into him further.
"Was it true? What the card said?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?! Does that mean you 'ave known about the baby all along... "
"No. I woulda told ya if I knew 'bout it."
"Y'would?"
She nodded and kissed his skin. "'O course. When I knew there really were one."
He frowned, swallowing, tightening his arms around her.
"... where did you go the other day then Nell?" he asked suddenly, knowing she wasn't telling him something somewhere.
"I told ya, t'sort out y'present." she replied, sounding fatigued - or attempting to sound uninterested.
"Well... I think whatever it is... maybe y'should tell me... Or I'll keep pesterin' you."
"Alright." she gave in, sighing. "I were at the doctors. I didn't know if I were pregnant. 'Was waitin' there for ages! I wanted t'wait for results but they said they'd send me a letter. It'd probably arrive on Saturday, they'd said. An' I didn't want y'knowin' 'bout it before then... because... there might not be a baby... an' I didn't want ya to be upset if there ain't."
There was another pause. Only a really long, suffering one now.
"You find out on my birthday?" he whispered, stroking his hand over her stomach. She answered with a 'Yes' and kissed his collarbone. "Well... if there isn't a baby... don't tell me the result until the very end of the day... "
"An' if there is?"
"Tell me."
She smiled, turned her head and looked up at him.
"I will, love. I promise."