"What are you doing?" I tilt my head to expose more of my neck to Monroe's exploring lips not stopping in my task of chopping up potatoes for dinner.
"Nothing." Monroe trails his hands up and down my sides, landing on my hips and pulling me to him, obvious erection pressed into my lower back.
"Sure feels like something." I drop the potatoes into the pot of water on the stove.
"Mmm, no."
"You positive?" I take my knife and cutting board to the sink, Monroe at my back the whole way.
"Yeah. I can't just hold you?" I turn to face him.
"Well, I don't know, we have about fourty minutes until dinner is ready." I smooth out the collar on Monroe's shirt.
"Yeah?"
"Mmmhmm."
"And," Monroe leans in close, whispering in my ear, "I bought condoms."
"That shouldn't be hot." I say as Monroe leads me upstairs.
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"What is this?" Monroe looks up from his work, taking the timepiece from my hands.
"It's a clock." I pull up a stool next to him.
"I see that, and it's a beautiful piece. The woodwork on this is...wow."
"It's for you." I run my fingers over the carved surface of the clock, every inch of the cherry wood is shaped into the faces of a hundred different Wesson, growing up I had seen it a few times and it had really creeped me out, now knowing the meaning behind the seemingly half animal half human faces I can see the beauty in it, "It's been in my family for...well I'm not sure exactly how long, a very long time, I can say that."
"I can't take this." Monroe protests, sliding the clock towards me across his work bench.
"Yes you can. Come on, if I keep it all it will do is collect dust in a box in a trailer. I know you'll appreciate it, keep it in good shape." I comb my fingers through his hair, kissing his temple, "I'm going to shower, you find it a home."
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"I'm going crazy." I stretch out on the sheets, sweat and semen cooling on my skin.
"It's only been three days."
"I know!" I roll over suddenly, laying myself out on top of Monroe and tangling our legs together, "And there's a week left. That's forever." I lean up on my elbows, stroking his beard with my fingertips.
"It'll be over before you know it." Monroe wraps his arms around my shoulders.
"And if it's not? If it's nine months and the rest of our lives?"
"I will be happy. I will be extatic. As cheesy as it is I will be the happiest man on Earth!" Monroe buries his fingers in my hair, dragging me down into a kiss.
"You're ridiculous, but it's the same for me."
"And you're sticky." He doesn't make a move to get up or push me off only slides his hand from the back of my head to cup my cheeks and just looks up at me.
"What?" I glance away from his searching eyes.
"It's all going to be fine."
"I know." I cross my arms on his chest resting my head on the makeshift pillow, fully intent on falling asleep and he doesn't protest, pulling a blanket over us.
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"Only three more days." Rosalie sips quietly at her tea, watching me wander around her shop, picking up random items and reading the lists of benefits and ingredients.
"What does this do?" I hold up a small ash box that only has the Latin name of whatever is inside it scrawled on the front.
"That is made into a tea to increase the male libido. Need some?" Rosalie giggles.
"Uh, no." I move on, setting the box back in it's place on the shelf.
"Are you okay Nick?" Rosalie suddenly dons her serious voice, behind me I hear her tea cup being set onto it's saucer.
"I'm fine why?" I pick up a glass jar of rose oil nearly dropping it.
"Do I have to answer that?"
"No." I stop in my exploring, returning to my seat across the counter from Rosalie, "I'm...I'm not worried. I mean I am worried. But if I am...well pregnant, let's just stay it, I'm not worried about it, I think I'll be okay, Monroe will be a great dad weather it's now or three years from now."
"So will you." Rosalie offers me a reassuring smile.
"Thanks."
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"Would, you, stop, that!" My exclamation is punctuated by me slapping Monroe's hands away.
"Sorry." Monroe laughs, pulling away, the lock of my hair he had been playing with curls back around my ear and I smoothe it into place, "Why have I never seen your hair this long? How does you hair grow so damn fast?"
I set aside my book, turning to face Monroe, "You've never seen it this long because I usually have a chance to cut it every few days and I don't know how it grows so damn fast, I really wish it didn't." I frown at Monroe.
"I like it. It's cute." His hands return to my hair, fingers tangling in my damp curls.
"Well tomorrow it has to go. It's getting in the way at work."
"But tonight?" Monroe pulls me close.
"I'll take care of it in the morning."
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"So?" I look up from the test to Monroe.
"So." He repeats.
"I guess congratulations are in order. You're gonna be a dad." I swallow down the lump in my throat.
"So are you."
"Yeah." I feel tears well up in my eyes and spill over.
"Hey are you okay? Do you not...I understand if you don't want-" There's a deep sadness in his voice.
"God no! Monroe I could never- No, I'm just, really, really happy."
Monroe pulls me into a hug, kissing the top of my head, "Me too."
