Chapter 16

The next morning she woke him up by kissing his brow. She then kissed his mouth; he sighed and turned her over so he was on top of her. He slowly touched her belly and traced the stretch marks and went for her breasts. They were amazing; nobody could fault him for paying extra attention to them. He kissed them and licked her right nipple and then gave the same treatment to the other. He bit her neck and rolled one of her nipples. She was trying to pull him up for a kiss, he obligingly kissed her and said, "morning Sally."

She replied "morning Kalle, up for a little early fun." She teased his cock, stroking him a little roughly. She arched her back and rubbed herself against his erection. He responded by caressing her folds. She was getting a little vocal so he warned her.

"Tsk, tsk, you have to be quiet, we don't want to wake Aaron so early. Be a good girl and control yourself." He was fingering her, when she was ready he pushed himself into her. She moaned loudly, Mikael put on of his hand in her mouth muffling the sounds.

She knew she was going to be loud; she always was with him so when he covered her mouth it was such a turn on. This wasn't their first time after Aaron arrived. They usually used the bathroom or the living room for these activities. This morning she had given into her impulses and let him do whatever he wanted.

He gasped, she felt so good around him. He moved slowly at first but then seeing her rolling her nipples broke his resolve. He thrusted hard and squeezed her hips, her eyes were rolling behind her lids. She felt so much pleasure; she moved her hand down and touched her clit. He growled and put her hand away; he grabbed both her hands and put them above her head. Mikael then used one of his hands to keep them together and talked to her, "You are such a bad girl, that is mine to touch." His shaft grazed her clit and she came.

"Now you see, a well executed movement and you are bursting with pleasure. I will lift my hand from your mouth and you will not scream. Do you understand love?"

She nodded. She was about to continue her mewling sounds but he brutally kissed her and bit her lip. He continued pushing into her with such force that she came again.

Lisbeth wanted to yell but that was impossible with the baby in the room, so she settled for biting and licking his neck. She ran her fingers through his hair and gasped every time he pushed into her.

He was whispering things to her ears "yes love, so tight, always wet and ready for me." He moaned and raised her legs to his chest and drove into her. Lisbeth grabbed his hand and put it in front of her mouth. It was so hot, she knew she was about to scream her pleasure and decided to use his hand as prevention. She let moaned loudly and Mikael tightened his hold.

She grabbed his behind and pulled him to her. He picked up his pace and filled her when he came. He collapsed on her and tried to catch his breath.

"That was so fucking good, I missed the morning quickies," he was still gasping when he said this. She kissed to corners of his mouth and ran her fingers through his hair. He could hear her heartbeat slowing down.

She spoke, "I miss nicotine. If I could just light up a cigarette." Lisbeth sighed; she quit when she was pregnant with Aaron. She decided quit the habit but it was still hard not to light one after good sex.

"Sally, I don't want to work today. You drained me, I feel lazy." He slapped her behind and Lisbeth returned the slap. He laughed and continued touching her ass.

"We both know that you will go. If not Berger will call and then she will guilt you into doing extra-hours because you took the day off." Lisbeth said this in a monotonous tone. Mikael slowly stood up and went to shower.

She reflected on last night and went over her plans for the day. She would take Aaron to Palmgren. Her ex guardian liked her son and they would always go to visit the old man by the end of the month. Lisbeth and Aaron would be back for dinner, it was Mikael's turn to cook so she expected take out food. His workload at Millennium increased after the magazine expanded.

Mikael left the shower; he was drying himself and was trying to find something to wear. He heard Aaron crying and saw Lisbeth getting up from the bed, it was time for his breakfast.

"How come I don't get to drink that brand of milk?" Mikael tasted her milk and it was delicious, he was hooked on it but there was a slight problem her supply was short. Aaron tented to suck her dry so Mikael never got more than two or three drinks per week.

He tasted it by almost accident, well he was curious and one night when they were intimate he 'accidentally' sucked one nipple. It was sweeter than any other milk. He was surprised when Sally did not say anything; in fact she encouraged him. When he asked her she told him that it was natural and that she loved it when he played with any part of her body, why would her breasts be different?

She highlighted that many women including her had tasted semen and that he had tasted her, so why would drinking breast milk would be perverted? She managed to make him feel better and he was free to enjoy her milk.

Lisbeth interrupted his memories, "today is not your day, Aaron has to eat well, we are visiting Palmgren and I doubt he would want to see me nurse this little piggy."

He agreed with her, usually Lisbeth didn't give a damn when she nursed their son but for some reason it felt wrong to nurse the baby in front of Palmgren. Mikael half snorted when he heard Aaron's nickname. It was actually true; Aaron was a greedy baby when it came to his milk.

Mikael made some toast for him and Sally; he also got banana mush for Aaron. The new parents wanted to introduce the boy to other foods besides milk. Aaron cooperated but he still made his preference known. He ate some banana but his milk was choice number one.

They had breakfast and went separate ways. Lisbeth strapped her baby sling and kissed Mikael good-bye, she promised to stop by for lunch at Millennium. Lisbeth resisted the idea at first but Mikael convinced her.

Lisbeth walked to the tunnelbana and boarded the train that would take her to Palmgren's apartment. People looked at her, just as always, thankfully it was not because she was Lisbeth Salander but because of her appearance and the fact that she was holding a baby boy. She wore a black leather jacket, blue jeans and black smoky eye shadow. All of her piercings in place; she looked dangerous the only thing ruining her outfit was Aaron who was giggling happily and playing with her dragon necklace, he was getting spit all over her jacket.

A middle-aged man gave up his seat for her; she nodded at him as a sign of recognition. She was sitting between an elderly woman and a businessman. He was busily talking about a merger with another company or some other crap. The lady was cooing at Aaron; he was engaging his latest conquest. The baby giggled and attempted to grab the lady's hand. That baby was going to be the death of her. He was only three months old and he was already ruining her image.

Aaron was a very happy and bubbly baby. Everywhere he went he succeeded in drawing attention to himself, he attracted women especially. They would coo and do faces around him and he would cutely laugh or smile at them.

"Dear, you have such a beautiful baby boy, how old is he?" the elderly lady asked.

Lisbeth was learning to be polite, because she knew ignoring her was not an option. Aaron would make sure that the lady stayed interested in him.

"He's going to be four months on March 6th," she curtly answered. She never engaged strangers. Her son however was very trusting and latched easily onto other people. Surely that trait came from his father. The woman continued playing with Aaron.

The lady stated, "he sure looks like his daddy but he has your mouth and nose dearie." Lisbeth was mildly surprised, people usually confused her with the teenage baby sitter but this woman declared her the mother.

"Don't look so surprised, most people are idiots. You are a mother all right. I would know, I had four children of my own. Your son is such a bubbly baby. I am sure he attracts all sorts of people. Those deep blue eyes and that blond hair are the best combination for disaster."

"I had the same problem with my son Isaac, he had everyone crazy about him when we went out." The lady talked about her offspring, eventually Aaron took a nap and Lisbeth truly enjoyed talking to this strange woman who gave her tips and advices on motherhood.

It was truly a surreal experience, Lisbeth talked to Agatha, that was her name, about the uncertainty she felt around Aaron and the future.

"Don't you worry sweetheart, he will turn out all right. You and your husband will do great." Lisbeth corrected her on her assumption but the lady said the following,

"Does he sleep with you, confide in you and provides for you and little Aaron?"

Lisbeth slowly nodded, she realized that Mikael did all those things.

"I don't know why you young people complicate everything, but that is a husband."

Agatha was an extremely interesting person; she was a housewife but traveled around when the children left the home. Lisbeth did not give her any details about her life or anything personal but just outlined some of her fears. Agatha said she understood, her father had abused her and her younger brother and she had the same fears about motherhood and her husband, when she met her late husband and had her first child.

"Sweetie, unfortunately you are not the only abuse survivor, there are a lot of us. Some of us managed to find closure and were able to live full lives. Others were not fortunate enough. You young woman have an opportunity to share your life with someone who loves you and apparently understands you."

Lisbeth was floored; she told her only that her father made her life hell and her fears of inadequacy around Mikael and Aaron. This was either a very perceptive woman or she was a psychic. Needless to say that Lisbeth ruled out the latter possibility and opted to believe in her. Lisbeth was a cynic, life had made her so, but talking to Agatha felt like talking to an older version of herself. Lisbeth missed her stop but she did not care, she called Palmgren and rescheduled.

"Dear, you completely missed your stop. Mine is next." Agatha lived in a house with her granddaughter who took care of her. Sandra was at the university and was unable to go with Agatha to the dentist.

"I'll take you home Agatha, it is no problem. I already reschedule the meeting I had."

Lisbeth and Agatha got off the subway system and walked to the house. It was a nice neighborhood. Agatha invited her to come in and unexpectedly Lisbeth accepted.

"I won't stay long, we have to get back to Stockholm early in the evening." Lisbeth wanted to have lunch with Mikael.

"Don't worry, you'll be back in no time." That was not the case, Lisbeth lost track of time and chatted with Agatha the whole afternoon. Now she went in detail, she weighed all the pros and cons and decided that Agatha was trustworthy.

She came to that decision after Agatha recounted her life. Lisbeth could identify with this lady; Agatha's life had been hard. She was French but moved to Sweden with her husband after World War II. She had been a prostitute after leaving her abusive father she struggled financially. Agatha had no skills and resorted to selling her body. She met an American soldier who promised to marry her. He did, they moved to Sweden shortly after the war ended and started a new life.

That was not the happy ending; for years Agatha struggled with feelings of unworthiness and self-loathing. She told Lisbeth how tainted and unloved she thought she was. Lisbeth related perfectly to these feelings.

Agatha said something that struck her deeply. "It felt wrong you see, I knew Robert loved me and we had two beautiful children and I felt like it was too good to be true, that one day he was going to leave us or that he would realize how unworthy I was and would take the children and have another family."

Lisbeth was speechless; if fate existed then it sent Agatha to guide Lisbeth Salander. Agatha went on with her tale, at some point she and Robert separated but they reunited. Agatha came back to him and the children.

"How? I mean how did you overcome your fears. It seems like Robert forgave you and you went on to have more children and lived happily." Lisbeth wanted answers, now.

"I can lie to you and say all the sappy slogans such as 'love conquers all' but the truth is that Robert never gave up on me. We went through a lot and we had rough patches, my Rob and I worked hard at loving each other. We were not only lovers but also friends. He knew my every fear and I knew his, we communicated and had patience."

Lisbeth was bewildered. She did something on impulse. She told Agatha all about her history. A brief childhood and adolescence recount and how she met Mikael and had happened in the last four years. She did not tell everything in detail and changed around names and places. Agatha was still someone she just met; she would always be paranoid about how many people knew her secrets.

After three hours of just talking and letting everything out Lisbeth was exhausted. In the middle of her talk Aaron woke up and demanded his meal. Lisbeth nursed him in front of Agatha who seemed to not even notice.

"And I know for sure I don't want to lose Mikael but I don't want him to know everything about my childhood or all the abuse that I suffered." Lisbeth finished.

Agatha asked, "Do you love him?"

"Yes" Lisbeth was sure of that, it was fact.

"Then trust him chère. If what you tell is true he loves you and is not willing to let you go without a fight. I know it is not easy, It took me ten years and two children to trust my husband. I told you about my life because when I saw you with that baby I could see myself years ago. I saw the same uncertainty and self consciousness that comes from being abused"

Lisbeth just stared at her; she was unable to refute anything Agatha said.

Agatha spoke again, "you are ready, sweetheart. Live your life. Don't be afraid anymore. He is gone, he won't come back to do you harm."

This woman did not cease to amaze her. Agatha mentioned Zalachenko as her tormentor. How could this elderly woman know about her fear of her father and the fact that he tormented her in her nightmares?

Agatha saw her somewhat fearful expression and changed the topic. She talked about baby colic and different remedies to alleviate them.

Time flew; it was already 8:00 PM when someone entered the house. A tall, blond woman who looked to be about her age entered and spoke to no one, "Grandma, I'm home, I'll fix dinner. Oh how did your dental appointment go?" the woman saw Lisbeth and was surprised. Agatha introduced them, it was pleasant but Lisbeth had to go.

"Agatha it was a pleasure meeting you but I have to go" Lisbeth took a sleepy Aaron and strapped her sling.

Agatha walked them to the door. Lisbeth quietly said, "thank you."

She then left; Agatha just smiled at her and waved at them.