To her great dismay, Norma had been put on bedrest after her ordeal, despite her protests that it had just been too hot and her promises that she would eat properly from now on. She quickly bored of the concept of bedrest, growing irritated under Emma's constant worrying and fawning over her, going stircrazy as she stared at the four walls for what felt like months. She texted Alex alot, demanding to know what cases he was working on, sending him borderline abuse when he refused to tell her because that would be unprofessional. He was working in the motel office one saturday, trying to adjust to the world of hospitality because it was their business, not just hers now, the fake smile feeling unnatural on his face when his phone buzzed.
"I'm dying."
He was sprinting up the stairs before he could think, only pausing when his phone buzzed again. He paused at the doors, reading her text.
"-of boredom ;)" He rolled his eyes, huffing out an exasperated breath, slowing his pace as he sauntered up the stairs.
He walked into their bedroom to find her standing in the corner of the room, her back to him, leaning casually against the chest of drawers while she stared out of the window.
"What are you doing out of bed?" He asked, his tone mildly accusing, raising his eyebrows at her. She whirled round, revealing the set of headphones she was holding against her, her expression wide eyed and innocent. He grinned at her, his gaze drifting down to where she had folded each ear piece of the headphones flat, the padded ear ovals pressed against her stomach, a faint, tinny sound just audible.
"Entertaining the child." She replied innocently, as he stalked over to her, reaching for where the headphone cable was plugged into the faux vintage stereo he'd bought her months ago.
"Well, I think I have the right to know what kind of musical education you're introducing our daughter to." He smirked as he pulled the plug out, gazing at the ceiling for a moment as the music flickered and then filled the room through the built in speakers. His brow furrowed for a moment before he recognised the song, the same soft pretty melody that he and Norma had danced to at Gabe and Sarah's wedding.
"Cat Power." He observed lightly, smiling as he recognised the song he had downloaded the week they had returned, playing it on his rounds, though he would never admit it to any of his deputies. He frowned as he glanced at her, watching as she smiled sadly at the floor, his brow furrowing as he watched her bite her lip.
"What?" He enquired gently, watching as she tried to rearrange her face, her hand stroking protectively over the slight swell of her stomach, shaking her head like it was nothing.
"Come on..." He coaxed, his hand coming to rest over hers, feeling her fingers shake lightly against her tummy.
"It's stupid..." She breathed out, trying to smile at him, shaking her head at the floor. She moved to face the window again, his hands flying out to stop her.
"Tell me." He commanded, ducking his head to meet her uncertain gaze.
"I just..." She puffed out a breath, looking like she wanted to cry, but shaking her head lightly as if she were just being silly. "I'm scared to have a daughter. That's why I fainted, the day of the scan. I just... panicked."
"What? Why?" Alex said incredulously, missing his wife's haunted look, not understanding what she was getting at.
"I'm just..." She started, shaking her head as her bottom lip began to tremble. "I'm just afraid we can't protect her from the world." She said finally, blinking too fast to clear her unshed tears, her hands cradling her stomach as if she never wanted to let her child out into the cruel world.
He gasped, releasing a shaky, troubled sigh, his hands gripping her shoulders, making her look at him despite not knowing quite what to say. He didn't know what was the right thing to say - He didn't know how to tell her that nothing about her life had been typical when, in fact, he was a police officer - He knew what kind of horrors could face a young woman in this world. He had feared it himself when the ultrasound had revealed a girl, but it had been eclipsed by his joy at having a little girl to love.
There was a long silence, where the song finished and the next one burst into the room and Alex frowned in confusion, watching as Norma smiled sheepishly. The upbeat song seemed to contrast dramatically against the last one and he raised one eyebrow in question, a smile playing on his lips.
"It's Beyonce." She clarified awkwardly, clearing thinking this playlist would remain within the confines of the headphones.
"Mm hm?" Alex needed more clarification.
"It's Who Run The World?" She smiled up at him, bobbing her head in time to the music. "I made an "Empowered Baby Girl" playlist." She added nervously, watching as he beamed at her, reaching for the little remote, flicking through the playlist with interest. He smirked as she blushed, flicking through Adele, and Stevie Nicks, and Joan Jett, and Blondie, rolling his eyes alot but secretly feeling impressed at her unusual choices. He gave up on the playlist eventually, retreating back into the selection of vintage classics she usually listened to, scrolling through Frank Sinatra, and Patsy Cline to land on Elvis' Can't Help Falling in Love.
His hands slid down the lengths of her arms, grasping her hands and pulling her forwards, as he stepped backwards into the space of the room.
"Dance with me." He said quietly, pulling her into his arms.
"Thought I wasn't allowed?" She huffed quietly, thinking of all the times he'd snapped at her to get back into bed over the past few days.
"Just for a minute." He said, wrapping his hand around her waist, starting to sway gently. "We'll avoid the dirty dancing lift."
She huffed out an annoyed sigh as if she'd been so looking forward to it.
"Okay..." She agreed haughtily, earning a little chuckle as he pressed his face against her hair, pulling her in ever closer.
He span her out, then back in, keeping his movements slow and gentle.
"We'll protect her." He said finally, breathing the words seriously into her hair.
"What if we can't?" She whispered against his chest, sounding broken.
"We will." He said certainly. "Her daddy's the Sheriff. Her mom's crazy tough. Her older brothers are scary as fuck."
She nodded against him.
"And Emma... will also be there." He added, and Norma laughed against his shirt.
Her hands drifted up to stroke up the back of his neck, pulling back to look at him breathlessly.
"You think we're gonna be ok?"
"I know it." He said definitively, letting her pull him down to kiss her, yanking his head back when she licked against his bottom lip.
"Norma-" His voice was low, dangerous, even as he let her pull him back to her, kissing him ferociously out of nowhere, her hands pulling against his shoulders.
"Stop..." He said weakly against her lips, not meaning it at all, letting her walk them backwards, not resisting at all. Her knees hit the edge of the bed and she bent one knee, stretching it back, then following it with her other leg, kneeling on the edge of the bed, their new position putting her closer to his height, her arms winding around his neck, pulling him against her. The feel of her slightly protruding stomach pressing against him brought him to his senses and he wrenched his lips away from her, glancing at her breathlessly.
"Norma..." He whined, like she was being SO unfair. "Stop it."
She reached down to flick a single button on her shirt undone, watching as his gaze drifted down to the swell of her breast, impressively enhanced by pregnancy, her curves straining against her shirt as she pulled the fabric open, reaching to flick another button open.
His hand shot out to stop her, covering hers, gasping sharply as she popped open another button before he could stop her, his gaze darting down hungrily.
"Stop." He whispered seriously, as she grinned at him. "I'm serious. You're on bedrest."
She flicked her gaze pointedly to where her knees were resting on the comforter.
"Am I not on the bed?" She asked innocently. He rolled his eyes, his grip tightening to still her hand when she reached for another button.
"You know what I mean."
She huffed out an annoyed sigh, snatching her hand from where his was holding it, shooting him an unimpressed look.
"Fine. Sorry if it's all some big chore to you." She snapped, her eyes darkening at him, turning her gaze up to the ceiling haughtily. She shoved him back gently, her hands quickly undoing the last few buttons on her shirt before he could stop her, fixing him with a faux harsh look. "Get out then." She said simply, and his mouth dropped open at her rude demand, watching as a smug smile spread across her face as her hand slipped inside her shirt, sucking in a sharp breath.
"I don't need you." She said smugly, and he took a step back, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he watched the movements of her hands under her shirt, her hand dancing across her flesh, squeezing her breast, letting out a soft moan.
He could only bear to watch her for a second before he lunged forwards, pulling the sides of her shirt open, replacing her hand with his mouth, his tongue and teeth and lips teasing her through the bra she was spilling out of, before he yanked the cup down, releasing her full breast into his mouth. His hands wrapped around her back, holding her against him as he teased her, his tongue flicking back and forth across her nipple, his teeth grazing her flesh, making her arch her back and gasp into his touch.
Supporting her back, he lowered her back down against the bed, kissing a path down the valley between her breasts, pressing a soft kiss against her stomach before his hands started inching her skirt up and he sank off the edge of the bed, sinking to his knees, his intention clear.
Though his oral fixation was something Norma had never dreamed of, revelling in how much he seemed to love going down on her, that wasn't what she wanted right now.
"No." She murmured, wriggling up back against the pillows, her hands grasping tight to Alex's shoulders, pulling him with her. "I want you." She whispered against his mouth, when he hovered awkwardly over her.
"But-" He gestured to the slight swell of her stomach where it was pressed between them.
"But what?" She challenged, wrapping one leg around his thigh, lifting her hip up to grind against him lightly, feeling his arousal through his jeans, despite his reluctance.
"The doctor put you on bedrest." He argued, for the thousandth time, sounding less convinced every time, undermining his words by dropping his hips a fraction, responding as she rubbed herself against him.
"So be gentle then." She whispered against his ear, before taking his ear lobe into her mouth, sucking hard.
"Ah..." He breathed out. "I don't think-"
"We'll be gentle, I promise." She said solemnly, knowing that she generally engineered the situation to whatever she wanted it to be, promising today to keep it as gentle as he dared.
"Make love to me..." She muttered, grasping his hand, sliding it against her sensitive breast, her tone only slightly mocking as she used the sweet term he usually used. It wasn't one she'd used much before, though, sadly, it was because it didn't really fit her prior experiences, but she couldn't help but tease Alex every time he used the somewhat outdated term.
He sighed into her mouth, knowing she was mocking him, but not having the will to stop her, slinking down her body to push the sides of her shirt apart, his hand reaching for one breast, cupping it gently, his mouth pressing against the other, his teeth grazing against her nipple, making her buck up into his touch. He clamped his mouth around her firmly, his tongue flicking back and forth across her sensitive nipple, the sudden action making her cry out, her hands dropping to fist in his hair.
"Tell me you feel better." He ground out against her flesh and for a second, she thought he was performing the worst dirty talk ever. "Tell me you feel ok to do this." He ground out desperately against her chest, his tongue darting out again, and she gasped, recognising his meaning.
"I feel great." She said simply. "I slept for 9 hours." She made her tone seductive, despite saying very mundane things. He groaned, flicking his tongue out to lick her collarbone before rearing up, letting her fix him with a playful gaze before continuing. "I had a hearty breakfast..." She muttered saucily, as he drifted down her body, undoing the button at the side of the skirt she was wearing. He started to shuffle the skirt down her thighs, pulling her underwear with it. "I also had a sandwich... and an apple."
"Oh god..." He muttered, laughing against her thigh, as if her words were so sexy. "What else?" He ripped her skirt off her with a flourish, leaving her top half with her shirt undone, hanging loosely around her chest, her bottom half completely bare to him.
"I..." She started, giggling. He pressed a wet kiss against the inside of her thigh. "I had an afternoon nap."
"Jesus." He muttered playfully, shimmying back up her body, resisting her efforts to pull him down on top of her. He kissed her lightly, before rolling her onto her side, shifting his weight to rest just behind her, murmuring "I'm too heavy" by way of explanation when she frowned over her shoulder at him.
"Is this ok?" He asked gently, as he undid his jeans, shimmying out of them, his body pressed up behind her as they spooned.
"Yes." She whispered in breathless anticipation, letting his hand run up and down the curve of her waist, before sliding down the side of her thigh. Her own hand drifted behind her, reaching to grab the side of his face, as she lifted her leg, letting him hook her thigh back over his leg.
There was a moment of fumbling before she reached down to help him, guiding him inside her with a satisfied hiss, feeling him watch her as her eyes drifted shut, her mouth dropping open. His hand moved to her breast, holding her tightly against him as he started to move, his limbs shaking from the effort of thrusting into her gently from this new position.
"Harder." She whispered, covering his hand with her own, feeling him laugh breathlessly against her hair.
"No." He shot back defiantly, resisting when she tried to lean forward, uselessly trying to use the purchase to push herself back against him harder. She let out a frustrated little mewl, letting her head drop back against the pillow, sighing as his lips found her throat as he continued his unhurried pace.
"Alex..." She whined, her hand grasping at where his forearm was wrapped around her, digging her fingertips in, trying to urge him on, as he pressed a line a wet, soft kisses against her neck, then across her shoulder, entirely ignoring her desperate, coaxing pleas for him to speed up. She wriggled against him, groaning in frustration as he carried on his incredibly shallow, leisurely thrusts, his other hand snaking underneath her, pressing tenderly against her waist, ceasing her movements.
Finally, when she felt like she couldn't take his teasing any longer, preparing to turn around and really yell at him, his hand suddenly slid down her body, pressing against her clit, making her buck into his touch.
He laughed smugly at her reaction, his hips quickening ever so slightly, his teeth jerking forward to nip her earlobe as he started up a rough, fluttering rhythm against her sensitive nub, earning him a series of breathy moans that nearly broke his fragile resolve.
His fingertips pressed against her insistently, the pressure and roughness contrasting sharply with the way his hips were still rocking gently, his thrusts still shallow and measured. He was losing his rhythm already though, the sight of Norma writhing as he touched her making him crazy, every breathless moan driving him closer to the edge.
"Oh." She breathed out, leaning her head back to kiss him, her hand grabbing his hair hard enough to hurt, the other hand gripping his forearm tightly.
She sucked in a series of jittery breaths, her moans subsiding for a second as her hand slid down to adjust his hand's position ever so slightly, pressing his fingers hard against her. He smiled as she grew quiet for a moment, knowing what was coming as she squeezed the life out of his hand exquisitely, before coming with a muffled scream, pressing her face into the pillow.
He followed her moments later, his hips jerking forwards for a couple of jerky, irregular thrusts that he couldn't control, before releasing a shaky moan against her shoulder. They lay entangled like that for a few moments, their breathing returning to normal, her leg starting to shake and go numb from it's unusual position hooked behind his thigh, before he slid his hand down her sides, down to her knee, tenderly returning it back to rest heavily against her other leg.
She still had her face pressed against the pillow, huffing out contented little breaths into the fabric, her hand still wrapped around his wrist, her fingers still clinging to him hard.
"I thought you were going to be gentle?" She muttered, and her words were muffled against the cushion, so he missed her playful, teasing tone, immediately leaning over her, his face crumpling into a tortured mess.
"What? I thought- Oh god. Are you-"
She turned her head suddenly, a mischievous grin playing on her lips, gazing up at him impishly. She giggled, pouting as she took in his serious frown.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She said immediately, shuffling to lie on her back, reaching up the cup his face. "I was kidding." He still looked troubled, staring down at her sadly, making her pout up at him, regretting her joke. "Because you were SO gentle." She clarified, smiling cheekily at him. "You were the gentlest man alive." She said, her tone sweetly mocking, her eyes wide and innocent, as she shuffled her body slightly under him, letting her hands rest either side of his face, her thumbs tracing his cheekbones.
She stared at him, watching as his tone softened, a small smile playing on his lips, her eyes darting from his mouth, to his long eyelashes, taking in his features with interest. She used her hands to turn his head from side to side, examining his face curiously, and he just let her, smiling down curiously at her. She huffed out an exasperated sigh, flopping back dramatically on the pillow.
"I wish we weren't so good looking." She said glumly, and he barked out a short, surprised laugh.
"Yeah, it's tough being us." He nodded at her seriously, as she frowned up at him cutely, her hands drifting to dangle around his neck loosely.
"First world problems." He muttered against her cheek, leaning down to peck her.
"I mean it!" She protested, sighing as he pressed soft sleepy kisses against her jaw. "We've probably made such a beautiful baby." She said thoughtfully, and he laughed again, figuring out her issue with their looks. "She's gonna be so pretty." She said unhappily.
"Don't worry." He whispered in her ear, rolling to her side as his arms finally trembled under the effort of holding all of his weight off her. He pulled her to him, resting his head on her pillow, their foreheads almost touching. "I have a gun."
