Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: SVU. It belongs to a genius named Dick Wolf. No profit is being made from this story.
Author's Note: Some graphic images in this chapter….read at your own risk.
One minute he was looking down the crest of the wave underneath him…then the next he was sucked under water. He didn't even have time to gasp in shock.
"Shit!" Ally screamed frantically. "Oh, God-!"
She watched helplessly as he was dragged under and the powerful wave crashed down on his board, tossing it into the air. The sight of the broken leash sent terror through her, and she scanned the water frantically for a sign of Elliot.
The crushing weight of the wave pressed him into the ocean floor, and he tumbled over and over as the force completely obliterated him, dragging him several feet across sharp reef. He groped around blindly, desperately trying to find his way to the surface as he felt his lungs beginning to close with searing pain.
The wave had fizzled by the time it got to her. Ally continued urgently toward the spot she had seen him go down, letting the water pass over her without slowing. She looked around, her heart in her throat when she still saw no sign of him.
The last wave in the set rose then, and she was forced to stop before it crashed on her as well. Taking a deep breath, she dove through it.
Elliot felt himself get sucked down again, and he flailed helplessly as his back slammed into the sand. His legs kicked up around his head and he was once again pinned by the weight of the water. He became terrified by this point, feeling like his lungs were going to explode.
Coming up for air, Ally wiped the water from her eyes, ignoring the salty sting. Jesus, where was he? She turned her board again and paddled further, rising up over another wave. Thankfully, that one was smaller and didn't break.
"Elliot!" she cried anxiously, spotting his board floating a few feet away. She gripped it as best she could, looking around. "Elliot!"
Red spots began to form in front of his eyes. He kicked upward frantically, trying to stop his body as it continued tumbling along the sand, and started flailing toward the surface in complete panic.
Just when he was starting to get light-headed, he saw the sky within reach. With the last burst of strength he could muster, he clawed toward it.
Tears were forming in her eyes as Ally dove off of her board. She groped around underwater, trying to locate him. After staying under as long as she could stand, she came back up and took a breath.
It was then that she saw a small mass of dark brown amidst the rough water.
Elliot took the biggest breath of oxygen that he had ever taken in his entire life, coughing and gagging. It took him a minute to realize that he was above the surface, and that he hadn't drowned. He sank downward weakly, struggling to stay above water.
A faint shout echoed in his ears. Ally swooped beside him and dove off of her board, swimming frantically toward him. She quickly wrapped her arms around his middle, supporting his weight.
"I've got you, Elliot," she said anxiously, breathing hard from the scare. "Hold on, honey…I've got you."
He was trembling violently in her grasp, so hard that she had to lock her arms around him. He coughed and gasped chokingly, stunned and terrified. She hugged him tight for a minute, keeping them afloat by treading water as hard as she could.
Keeping one arm locked around his waist, she used her other to swim toward her board. She pulled it toward them and lifted his upper body up onto it as far as she could, bracing herself against his back to keep him from slipping off. She kept pushing him until he was draped across it and she could move.
Coming quickly around the board, she got on the other side and cradled his face, relieved to see that he was conscious. He was still trembling, and when he looked at her, the look of fear on his face was heartbreaking.
"Al-Ally," he choked tearfully, gasping. He shivered and trembled, disoriented and sore. "I don't want to do this anymore….please, I want to go in."
"We going in, sweetheart," she reassured, tearful herself. This entire thing was her fault…he hadn't wanted to come out here in the first place. "We're going in right now, I promise." Her face twisted and she fought the tears that were building. "I'm so sorry, Elliot. I'm so sorry."
A sob escaped as he dropped his head down to rest on the board, but he quickly sucked the rest back. She shoved the board that he had been using away and wrapped the leash of hers around her wrist, kicking hard. The waves smacked her face, but she gritted her teeth and kept her grip tight on the board, propelling them to the shore.
They hit the beach after a few more minutes, and she guided the board to a gentle stop. She dropped to her knees in the sand and closed her eyes in relief as the foam lapped around them.
We made it. We made it. Elliot kept chanting the words in his head, willing himself to stop shaking. It wasn't working…his nerves were on overdrive. Ally was beside him in a second, almost pushing him off of the board in her haste. She threw her arms around him and squeezed hard.
"You're ok, Elliot," she gasped, rubbing his back. Her voice shook with tears. "You're alright."
She could feel him trembling, and she lost it then. Ally broke down and buried her face in his shoulder, shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
It took Elliot a minute to get back control of his muscles. His heart had slowed once they were out of the water, and he was finally able to draw deep breath without choking on the lump of fear in his throat.
Gasping, Ally drew back and quickly cradled his face. There was a small gash on his forehead. Moving upward, she gently raked a hand through his hair, searching for bumps of any kind.
"Does your head hurt?" she fretted anxiously, combing deep into his scalp again. The fear in her voice was evident as she anxiously trailed her hands down the back of his head to his neck. "How about your neck? Can bend your neck?"
He blinked dumbly, still slightly dazed, as she continued down without waiting for a reply. She felt around his ribs and stomach, searching for breaks. There was nothing except a few ugly scrapes. She breathed a small sigh of relief.
A sudden burst of fire trailing down his left arm woke him up fast. Growling loudly, he jerked his arm out of her reach, causing her to jump.
"Let me see it," she demanded frantically, pressing her knee against his legs to keep him still. She lunged forward and caught his hand as he was trying to move it behind him, forcing it back towards her.
He held his breath, gritting his teeth, as she gently turned his arm to reveal a mass of mottled purple bruises spreading from his elbow to his bicep. They were lined with bloody cuts and scrapes.
"Ooh," she groaned, growing tearful again. She fingered the bruise gently again, wincing. "You must have hit the reef."
Seeing her about to break down again, he quickly leaned forward. Ignoring the sting on his stomach, he reached out, grabbing her hands. A sob escaped her lips, and she quickly ducked her head to avoid his gaze. Biting his lip in sympathy, Elliot gently cupped her chin and lifted her face.
"Ally," he said softly. "Ally, look at me."
Her shoulders began to shake slightly. She kept her gaze down, ignoring him. Finally, he had to lower his head to meet her eyes. Tears streaked both of her cheeks.
Stroking her cheek and wiping away the moisture, he forced her head up to look at him straight. "Ally," he continued, squeezing her hand. "I'm fine. I promise you. I'm fine."
Taking a shaky breath, she whispered, "I'm sorry." She sniffled. "This is all my fault. I should have never taken you out there."
Closing his eyes, he pulled her to him and hugged her. "It's not your fault," he said softly, stroking through her tangled hair. "It just happened. Ally, neither of us knew what would happen out there."
They remained in the embrace for a minute, catching their breath. Sighing softly, she gently pushed away from him and took a deep breath, wiping her eyes. She took a minute to compose herself, and got to her feet.
"Come on," she said, extending her hand down to him. "We need to get those cuts washed."
He allowed her to pull him to his feet, groaning loudly at a sharp pain in his back. She wrapped an arm around his waist for support.
"Come on," she repeated, beginning to gently help him along.
He couldn't stifle another groan at the stiffness of his back, the noise making her grip his waist tighter in alarm. "I feel like a walking bruise," he complained, grinning crookedly.
She cracked a small smile, seeing his lightheartedness. "Yeah, well…"she said. "By tomorrow morning, you'll look like one, too."
Ally stopped him beside the abandoned lifeguard stand. He gave her a surprised look, which she noticed as she climbed up.
"What?" she asked.
He chuckled. "Is it 'every man for himself' after hours around here?"
She smirked, disappearing from view. A moment later, she began climbing down with a white box in one hand. "We Hawaiians prefer the term "self-service."
He scoffed, grinning. "Oh," he said, nodding sarcastically. "Well, that's not at all the same thing."
"You're right," she said, grinning. She skipped the last few rungs of the ladder and jumped to the sand. She waved the first aid kit teasingly. "Step into my office."
He came beside her and sat down on the rung of the ladder. Ally set the box on the ground and squatted down, rooting through it. She didn't notice the small smile he was fixing on her. Coming up with a small bottle of peroxide and some gauze, she stepped over to him again.
Standing slightly over him, she carefully poured the liquid onto the cotton. Placing the bottle beside him on the rung, she leaned down and pressed it to his forehead.
"OW!" he screeched, immediately feeling a sizzling burn. He jerked his head away angrily. "Damn it, that hurts!"
She rolled her eyes. "Stop moving," she ordered, dabbing more onto the cut. White pus fizzled instantly, signaling it was doing its job. He jerked away again.
"Ow, ow!" he said frantically, gritting his teeth. He saw her lips curling in exasperation. "No, really, Ally-!"
"Oh, you big baby," she said, in irritation, grabbing his shoulders to force him still. "Wait-come here." Pulling his head forward, she gently blew on the cut for a few seconds. She stepped back, raising an eyebrow. "Is that better?"
The look he was giving her made her heart start to pound frantically. Staring at her intently, he dropped one foot into the sand and leaned close to her, his face inches from hers.
She swallowed hard, feeling the familiar warmth in her belly again. She caught herself with her lips almost grazing his and stopped.
He waited for her lips to meet his. After a minute, he opened his eyes and saw her backing away. "Hey," he protested, reaching to slide his arms around her waist.
"No, Elliot," she said, forcing her voice to be firm and hoping to God that she would have the strength to back them up. She wanted to jump him right there. "These cuts have to be cleaned before they get infected."
A smile tugged at her mouth when she saw him pout, but he sat back obediently. He hissed again at the cold sting on his stomach, but said nothing.
She swiped once more over the scrapes on his torso and moved to his arm. This time, the cry of pain couldn't be held back, and she winced.
"Sorry," she murmured. She rubbed the cotton over the area once more until she was satisfied that it was all covered. Stooping, she rifled through the box again and pulled out two large bandages.
He watched her stick one over the cuts on his stomach. His eyes followed her up as she continued to his forehead, placing one there as well.
"There," she said, pursing her lips in a mock imitation of a sympathetic pout. Her voice became syrupy, like the kind one used when talking to a baby. Her eyes glittered with amusement as she patted his head condescendingly. "All better."
He cut his eyes at her playfully, and she laughed.
A sudden rumble made them both start in surprise. Elliot's eyes darted to the sky. Overcast skies had given way to threatening black clouds. Ally looked at him with laughter in her eyes.
"Did you look at the weather forecast this morning?" she asked.
He burst out laughing. "I don't even do that when I'm at home, Ally!"
She grabbed his hand and pulled him gently to his feet. "We'd better hurry." Another rumble sounded as if on cue.
She stooped down and picked up her board. Elliot looked out at the ocean. The waves had gotten even rougher, and he caught a glimpse of a lightning flash out in the near distance. He shivered involuntarily.
Quickly grabbing her clothes from the sand, she tossed his shirt at him. He slipped it on while she quickly shimmied into her shorts. They both slid their feet into their shoes as another rumble sounded, followed this time by a lightning flash.
She grabbed his hand again. "Come on," she said. "The parking lot is a couple blocks from here."
Quickly taking over her stride, he shifted his hand in hers so that he was slightly ahead. She giggled at the overly macho move, figuring it was his way of salvaging his pride, and was careful to shift her body so that she wouldn't bump into his hurt arm.
He felt a drop on his face and swiped at it with one hand. Another fell in his eye. He squinted.
Then, as if a dam had broken in the sky, it began to pour. She shrieked, followed by a burst of laughter. Elliot started running, laughing too, and pulled her with him.
"Where's the parking lot?" he shouted indignantly over the downpour. He wiped his eyes with his arm and squinted at her.
She couldn't stop laughing. Unable to speak, she pointed, and burst out laughing again when he nearly pulled her off her feet in his rush to get there. She caught up to him easily, earning her a look of surprise from him. She just smiled.
Reaching the parking lot, she slipped her hand from his and pulled out her keys. Hurrying to the driver's side, she struggled to see around the rain. Somehow, the key slipped into the hole and she hurriedly pulled the door open, hitting the door unlock button as she slid inside.
Elliot jerked the passenger door open and rushed in, quickly slamming the door shut behind him. The rain pounded on the roof and windshield, echoing faintly inside the Four-Runner and mixing with the sound of the two of them catching their breath. They looked at each other, and Elliot broke the silence first by bursting into laughter. It was contagious, and she found herself giggling so hard that her sides ached. She had to collapse against the seat to breathe.
She was drenched from head to toe. Her khaki-colored shorts had turned dark brown and were sticking to her legs; her sandals squished as she moved her feet in them. Her short ponytail was limp and water streamed into her eyes. Elliot couldn't keep her eyes off of her, finding himself staring at the slight wrinkles in her stomach that appeared when she laughed. He quickly turned his head away when he saw her glance his way.
Glancing beside her, she watched Elliot attempt to wipe the water from his face. His black t-shirt was wrinkled and stuck to his chest like a second skin. His swim trunks were adhered to the leather upholstery of the seat. Squinting from the water in his eyes, he rubbed a hand vigorously through his hair, making it stick up everywhere.
Ally bit her lip to contain her laugh at how adorable he looked. She heard his own sandals squeak as he shifted his feet around his brown leather flip-flops, and she glanced at them. It was the first time she had really noticed his feet, and as she studied them, she saw that his third toe was slightly longer than the others. Bringing her gaze back up, her eyes were drawn to his shirt, sticking to his chest. She could see the outline of his abdomen, and it made heat rise to her cheeks.
She shook her head and started the ignition. The man was too damn cute to handle.
The gentle hum of the moving vehicle was hypnotic. Elliot leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. As she pulled onto the main road, Ally sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"Elliot," she said, and sighed again. His eyes popped open and he turned to look at her without moving his head. His brow furrowed at the defeat in her tone. "I want to tell you again how sorry I am. I'm so sorry I let you get hurt."
He raised his head fully to look at her. Her cheeks were flushed with shame.
"Allison," he chided sharply.
She turned her head quickly, surprised at the use of her full name, and saw him looking at her intensely. His blue eyes seemed to be looking right inside her soul. It made her squirm a little.
He raised an eyebrow once he saw that he had her attention. "You listen to me," he continued. He leaned over so that he was close to her. "Let it go." His face softened immediately, making her insides melt. "Okay? It wasn't your fault."
Her hand was resting on the center console, and he reached over to clasp it in his. She bit her lip, glancing quickly at the road before looking back to him.
"I'm fine." He shook his head with conviction. "Alright, Ally?" His voice was gentle again, and he smiled at her hopefully. She shook her head, but couldn't hold it inside. A grin slipped out, and he smiled wider, squeezing her hand.
"You know," she began, a mischievous glint forming in her eyes. "The guys at the surf shop would just love to hear about your 'wipe-out'." She smirked and waggled her eyebrows. "The way your feet flew up over your head like that…."
He glared at her playfully and squeezed her hand hard for a minute. "I don't think so," he growled threateningly. "You had better keep that between us…you got me?"
She smiled widely. "Oh, I don't know…" she droned. "People would pay to see that kind of thing…I'd be a celebrity."
His mouth dropped open indignantly and he leaned forward suddenly, poking her ribs. She yelped out loud and shoved him instinctively.
"Ooh…." A shit-eating grin crossed his face and he leaned forward again. "Ticklish, Ally?" He wrenched his fingers into her side again, making her jump and squeal.
"Quit it!" she cried, slapping at him.
He laughed, leaning back toward his side of the truck. She shook her head, pretending to fume, and chuckled. After a minute, his hand snaked back toward hers again. She glanced at him, her eyes narrowed. Her face melted into a grin, giving away the charade, and she wrapped her fingers in his.
A few minutes of comfortable silence passed between them. Elliot suddenly frowned, not recognizing the road anymore.
"Hey, where are we going?" he asked in confusion, turning toward her. "The hotel is back that way." He pointed behind him.
"My house is closer," she said. "You can take a shower and dry off. I'll take you back when you're done."
He considered her statement, raising his eyebrows and shrugging. A hot shower sounded like heaven right now.
A short time later, the Four-Runner pulled off of the empty road and into a gravel driveway. A small house came into view, and she pulled to a stop beside it, putting the truck in park.
The engine died and they both removed their seatbelts. "Oh," Ally suddenly said, as his hand got ready to open the door. "I'm not sure if I mentioned before….did I tell you about my baby?"
He froze, swearing that his heart had skipped a beat. "W-what?" he stuttered, looking at her in alarm. He blinked. "Your-you…what?"
She smiled. "He's adorable," she said, her face glowing. "You'll love him."
Opening her door, she slid out. Elliot sat frozen, still trying to process what she had just said. Mechanically opening the door, he hopped out. His face still registered shock and bewilderment.
She has a kid? Why the hell didn't she mention that before? It wasn't that he didn't like kids…but he wasn't going to lie and say that this didn't unsettle him.
Ally opened the front door and flipped through her key ring. Glancing behind her, she saw Elliot making his way toward the stairs with a look of astonishment on his face. She had to stifle the burst of laughter and concentrate on unlocking her door.
Pushing the door open, she held the screen door with her foot and began to feel for the light switch. Finding it, she flipped on the lights inside as Elliot caught up to her, standing behind her.
She held the door open and ushered him inside. He blew out a deep breath quickly, determining not to let this affect his feelings for her. He liked Ally, and he knew that he would like her son as well.
"Welcome to my humble abode," she teased, twirling the keys in her hand. She began walking toward the foyer. "Make yourself at home, Elliot."
He followed her into a small, tastefully decorated kitchen. Ally tossed her keys down on the granite breakfast bar and began looking around, her brow furrowed.
"Where's my baby?" she called out, continuing to look around.
A loud bark almost made Elliot jump out of his skin. The sound of clicking sounded close by, and he watched in shock as a huge German shepherd bounded into the kitchen. Ally smiled with delight and slid to her knees.
"There he is!" she said in a high-pitched voice, holding her arms out. The gigantic dog skidded into her, barking joyfully. She laughed as she lost her balance, bracing herself against the floor with one hand. The dog continued barking energetically, his tail wagging like crazy.
Ally threw her arms around the big animal and buried her face into his massive neck. "Were you a good boy?" she droned, scratching the dog's back. "Huh?" The dog whined excitedly at her tone. "Did you miss me?"
The dog barked again, plastering her with sloppy kisses. Laughing, she kissed the dog again and stood up.
Elliot knew he must have looked like an idiot, but he was too shocked to react. She laughed at his expression, knowing exactly what he had been thinking all along.
"Elliot, this is Prince," she said, scratching the dog's head. She smiled lovingly down at the animal, rubbing his fur. "The most spoiled dog in the world."
As if to make her point, Prince flopped down at her feet rolled over onto his back. Sticking his furry stomach out, he growled insistently, his tail wagging.
She laughed, stooping down. She vigorously scratched his belly, making the dog's foot twitch like crazy. He dug his claws into the floor and whined, looking so content that he was almost drooling. Shaking her head, Ally stood up again.
Elliot finally came out of his shocked stupor. He looked at her with raised eyebrows. "You…he-?" he started. Grinning slowly, he finished, "A dog? He's the 'baby'?"
She narrowed her eyes indignantly at the trace of laughter she heard in his voice. "He is my baby," she insisted. "I raised him from birth." She squatted, petting his neck. "Isn't that right?" she cooed.
He shook his head, chuckling. It was incredibly endearing to see her devotion to the animal. Patting Prince one more time, Ally got up and looked at Elliot.
"The shower is down the hall," she said, pointing. "First door on your left…towels are in the linen closet right next to it." She grinned. "The temperature valves are broken….the hot comes out cold and the cold comes out hot. You've been warned."
He chuckled again. Her eyes twinkled. "Don't use up all of the hot water," she threatened, walking over to the island in the middle of the kitchen. She glared at him playfully. "Or I'll have to kill you."
He smirked. "Ooh…." he said theatrically. "I'm shaking in my sandals!"
"Good," she shot back. She grinned. "Call me if you need anything."
He smiled at her. "Sure," he said.
She watched him disappear down the hall and grinned. Hmm…maybe I should "accidentally" take all of the towels out of the closet before he gets out…I'd have to bring him one…into the bathroom…
The thought of Elliot standing wearing nothing but a smile made her heart race. Her face burned and she bit her lip to stifle the giggle that wanted to escape.
Damn it Ally…get your mind out of the gutter!
Shaking her head, she began rummaging through her cabinets.
Elliot located the towels and brought one with him into the bathroom. He shut the door and kicked off his sandals. His feet were horribly wrinkled, and he grimaced at the feel of them against the tile.
He thought of what she had said as he stripped off his clothes. "If you need anything"…A smirk played on his mouth. Actually, I could use a hand…you know, since my arm is so sore and all…I just don't think I can handle it myself. The smirk got wider, turning into a naughty grin. Yeah, Ally…why don't you come in and help me?
He shook his head sharply and berated himself for the thoughts. Walking stiffly toward the shower, he twisted the knobs and waited for the water to warm up. Testing it after a minute, he hopped in. It was hotter than he usually preferred, but it felt so good.
Making sure to save some hot water, Elliot took a ten-minute shower and then turned it off. Grabbing the towel, he dried off before stepping onto the fluffy purple rug beside the tub. His eyes traveled to the sink, and he grinned when he saw the flower-shaped soap dispenser and matching hand towel. Ally didn't give off the appearance of a girly girl.
"Elliot?"
The sound of her voice next to the door made him whip the towel around his waist quickly in surprise. "Yeah?"
Ally stood next to the closed door. "I left some sweats here for you," she said awkwardly. "They're my dad's…he left them here last time he came to visit."
"Uh…thanks," he stammered, tightening the towel more securely around his waist. "Thanks, Ally."
There was no response, so he figured she had gone back to the kitchen. Tucking the end of the towel in, he peeked out the door. She was nowhere in sight. He quickly grabbed the pants and shut the door again, slipping them on. Rubbing the towel through his hair, he picked up his clothes and opened the door.
Prince was sitting beside the wall to the bathroom, panting loudly. He sniffed Elliot suspiciously. Stooping next to him, Elliot held out his hand and waited for the dog to sniff him again. After a minute, his ears pinned back and he licked it.
"Good dog," Elliot said, rubbing the animal's head. He moved back and stroked over his shiny coat, digging his fingers into the spot he had seen Ally scratch earlier. Prince whined again, stretching his back legs out as his foot went crazy again.
Elliot chuckled. "That feels good, huh?" he said, keeping it up for a minute. When he let up, Prince growled unhappily, making him laugh again.
"You really are spoiled, aren't you?" he said, rubbing the dog's head. He stood and walked toward the kitchen, surprised when Prince got up immediately and followed after him.
"Bathroom's free." Ally jumped in surprise when she heard Elliot's voice announcing his presence. He grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. "Jumpy?"
She smiled as he placed a light kiss on the back of her neck, continuing to lay slices of pepperoni down on the pizza she was preparing. He leaned over her shoulder and snatched the one she had just put down, popping it into his mouth.
"Hey!" she said, elbowing him. "Get out of there!"
He smiled mischievously and snagged a bit of mozzarella cheese before she could stop him.
"Elliot!" Whirling around, she brandished a spoon covered in tomato sauce that she had spread over the dough and waved it at him threateningly. "You want this in your face?"
He laughed at her, spreading his arms in invitation. His smile was wide. "Go for it," he challenged.
He was completely shocked when she lunged forward quickly and smeared the spoon over his mouth and nose. He couldn't even react.
Stepping back, she looked at him in triumph, laughing at the look on his face. His mouth dropped open.
"I can't believe you did that!" he cried.
She shrugged. "You asked for it." Her eyes twinkling, she tossed a dish towel at him. "That will teach you to challenge me, won't it?"
Quickly wiping away the red sauce from his face, Elliot threw the towel on the ground and charged at her with a rebel yell.
Ally shrieked, dashing around the island a second before he could grab her. He grabbed the counter and looked at her predatorily. She glared at him from the opposite side, hands bracing the counter and preparing to move.
She faked left, and he blocked her, grinning. She faked right, and again he anticipated her move.
"Give it up, doll," he said condescendingly, grinning widely. "You're going to lose!"
Glaring at him, she tore around the counter quickly and leaped away as he attempted to grab her. He stumbled and dashed after her.
Her shrieks of laughter echoed in the house as she ran wildly through the hallway. She could hear him only steps behind her. She heard Prince barking excitedly as he ran after them.
Elliot saw her getting ready to retreat into her bedroom and dove, catching her around the waist. She yelped in surprise as she went flying, landing on the carpet beside her bed.
His eyes shone with triumph as he captured her hands and held them above her head. She squirmed and wriggled around.
"Elliot!" she laughed, barely able to breathe. She wiggled again fruitlessly. His smile was huge as he calmly held her down and watched her struggle. Prince appeared next to him, wagging his tail and barking. Desperately, she looked at the dog.
"Prince!" she cried, laughing. "Sic him!"
Elliot grinned, holding her hands in one of his and reaching with the other to pet the dog. "Yeah, right," he chuckled, rubbing his head. "You made this dog a wuss, Ally." Smiling sweetly at Prince, he patted his head once more and then turned his attention back to his victim.
"Apologize," he demanded, raising an eyebrow.
"No way!" she burst out, giggling.
Leaning down, he began ruthlessly tickling her stomach. She screamed out and doubled over, laughing.
"Stop!" she pleaded, barely able to gasp in a breath. She wiggled around as hard as she could. "Elliot!"
"Apologize!" he said again, laughing too.
Her jaw set stubbornly. "Never!" she cried.
He tickled her harder, laughing louder than she was. Her sides were splitting. She flailed once more, and had to admit defeat.
"Alright!" she cried. "Alright, I give! I give!"
Chuckling, he withdrew his hands and sat back on his heels. He raised an eyebrow cockily. "I'm waiting."
Holding her sides, she managed to glare at him. "Get real."
His other eyebrow shot up in surprise and he grinned again. "Oh?" he said, wiggling his fingers threateningly. He began moving in again.
She was ready this time. Shooting up, she pushed her weight against his chest, knocking him backward. He cried out indignantly as he hit the floor, and she quickly pinned him.
"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" she cried gleefully, digging her fingers into his ribs.
His high-pitched cries of laughter were hilarious. He couldn't even squirm. "Okay, stop!" he pleaded. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Grinning evilly, she let up. He groaned, trying to catch his breath.
"Evil," he muttered. "You are evil."
She laughed. "I've been called worse," she teased. He remained sprawled on the floor, laughing and trying to gasp in breaths.
Something stirred in her belly and she slowly leaned over him again. He chuckled, opening his eyes, and saw her poised inches from his face.
He lost his smile and stared at her, his heart pounding. The desire in her eyes made them sparkle and she leaned her mouth over his, whispering his name.
Her warm breath against his lips was too much. She gasped in surprise when his arms shot up around her and pulled her down against him at lightning speed.
He captured her mouth almost savagely and began to eagerly probe inside with his tongue. She shifted herself so that she could balance her hands against the floor and responded with fire, surprising him.
Their breathing was fast and heavy as each battled for control of the other. Elliot was forced to pull back first, gasping for air. Her eyes were dark with longing.
He stroked her hair, leaning up to peck her lips again. She was heaving, so tight with tension that she wanted to explode.
His face communicated his desire clearly. Breathing hard, he cradled her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.
"Ally," he gasped. He was forced to stop and take another breath. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she moaned, almost sounding tearful. A whimper escaped as she scrambled off of him and collapsed against the side of the bed. It was too late for her; she had lost it. "Now…..please, now."
His restraint broke. Lunging forward off of the floor, he pulled her to her feet and pushed her down onto the mattress. Her shaky legs gave instantly.
He began frantically clawing at the knot in her bathing suit top as she was tugging the sweatpants off of his waist. When he couldn't get it, he moaned in frustration.
"Ally," he growled, choking. "Hurry….God, hurry."
Quickly abandoning his pants, she reached behind her head and began untying the knot. He moved back to give her room and used the opportunity to slide the pants down his legs. Stepping out of them, he kicked them quickly away.
The string fell away and she hurriedly tugged the top over her head, tossing it beside her. The shorts were next.
She paused with her hands over the bathing suit bottoms and gasped in a breath again. Elliot was heaving with anticipation by this point, almost collapsing to the floor.
"Ally," he whimpered, his erection hard and throbbing. "I can't take it anymore." He gasped. "I can't take it."
Stepping out of her bottoms, she grabbed him around the middle, pulling him against her. His foot slipped against the bed as he slid her further up the comforter and climbed after her.
