A storm broke over the valley. Black clouds piled high with lightning loosed torrents of rain onto the muddying streets. I flew towards the library, longing for the solace of those warm, dusty shelves. Inside, Penny was leaning over the counter. She rested her chin in her hand. Her slim fingers curled over her cheek, tapping slowly as she waited on Gunther. A stack of books stood on the counter in front of her. Gunther read the titles out loud as he scribbled their names under hers in his records.

"Early Education and You, an excellent choice. And Foraging and Fun!, a very good idea. Jas and Vincent will enjoy it, I'm sure. And this one…"

He reread the title several times in silence before placing a gloved hand on its cover and spinning it to face her. Their eyes locked. He chewed his words for a moment before speaking.

"What to Expect When You're Expecting? An interesting choice."

Penny smiled, her gaze not dropping from his.

"It never hurts to be prepared. I do hope to need this knowledge someday soon."

"Is that so?"

He glanced over at the rest of the library, as if he could see through the shelves to where Elliott and Abigail sat reading, then looked back at her.

"Of course. The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is an admirable thing. I commend you. In fact, I have a related title in my personal collection. I might be parted from it, for my most loyal patron. Would you like to see it?"

"I was hoping you might."

Penny followed at Gunther's heels as he led her upstairs to his home above the library. He opened the door at the top of the stairs, bowing and gesturing that she should enter.

"Ladies first."

She stepped into the small apartment, the dim gray light from the window illuminating her path just enough to avoid tripping over the rug. I extended a spiritual tendril towards Gunther, catching him as Penny passed in front of him. His eyes drank in her lithe form as she walked confidently forwards, as if she didn't need a light to know her way around. He closed the door behind them and turned. Lightning flashed as his back hit the wood, Penny's supple form pinning him against it. His lips crashed hungrily against hers as quickly as her hands found his shirt. She tugged at the buttons, yanking the garment open as he pressed his tongue between her lips. They parted just long enough for Gunther to drop his shirt on the floor. Penny took the opportunity to untuck her blouse and undo the top buttons enough to pull it off over her head. He lifted her up by the waist, carrying her to his bed. She landed on it heavily as thunder rolled outside. A surge of lust ran through him as he held her heated gaze. He spoke in a low voice, barely audible over the sheets of rain against the window panes.

"So, Penny. About that book?"

"I've thought about it and…I'm ready."

"Last time we spoke you said you wanted to wait. You didn't want to bring anyone else into your trailer, and you would not stay with me."

She began doing his pants, her hands fumbling with the button as she stared up at him.

"I don't want to wait anymore. There's never going to be a perfect time and…I want a baby."

Gunther cupped his hand under her chin and brought his lips down to hers. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, murmuring against her lips,

"Please don't look at me like that, you know I can't tell those eyes 'no'."

When he straightened back up she was still staring at him, her eyes shining with emotion. He stepped back and dropped his pants to the floor. She slid onto the ground in front of him, landing on her knees. He pulled off his gloves and dropped them on his bedside table before resting his hand on her smooth, copper colored hair. She slipped his boxers down with her fingers, her hand wrapping around his growing erection. A breath loudly escaped him as she guided him into her mouth, her tongue swirling around his tip. His eyes fluttered closed. He groaned, leaning back in the air as she began to devour more of him.

He smoothed his hand along her hair, gently petting towards the back of her head. He slid his fingers beneath her loose bun and held her there, supporting her skull. Her hands wrapped around behind his meaty thighs, pawing at the muscle there as she steadied herself. She looked up at him, humming as he finally dropped his gaze to meet hers. Lightning flashed, its reflection glinting back at him through her eyes. He began to roll his hips forwards, pushing carefully past her lips. Her head pressed back against his hand as he worked himself deeper into her. Thunder shook the apartment as he moved, his grip tightening in her hair. Tears sprang to the corner of her eyes as he reached her throat. He paused, shivering as she caught her breath. She wrapped her fingers around his remaining length, working them along his exposed shaft as she bobbed her head up and down. She withdrew as she began to taste the salt of his precum and wiped her mouth on her arm.

"Pen, are you sure?"

"Yes~. I want it so badly, I can't stop thinking about it. I see the kids in this village playing, and how happy Robin and Demetrius are with their kids, and I can't stand not being a part of it."

She stood up and fell back on his bed, spreading her legs wide. He stepped between them, his hand around himself. She pulled her skirt up, exposing herself to him. He used a finger to pull her panties to the side and guided himself in, sliding through her wetness easily. Lightning flashed behind them, louder than before. The driving rain covered the sound of Penny's gentle exhalation as her aching need was finally filled. He was buried in her before he had a chance to think twice. She wrapped her legs behind him, throwing her arms over his shoulders. He groaned as she ground herself against him, rocking her hips back and forth beneath his. He picked her up and slid her onto the bed, his hips pressing her back down onto the mattress. She moaned as he drove deeply into her. His movements were slow and gentle, as careful as if he feared that too much force would snap her in half. She was frenzied beneath him, shifting her hips to the sides to pull him deeper and deeper.

"Oh Gunther, please. Please~! You feel so good inside me, I need more~!"

"Shh, my priceless one, there are people downstairs."

Thunder rolled over them, shaking the walls of the tiny apartment. Her whole body shook with the effort of holding in her pleasure. Her nails scratched along his back, wrenching out a lewd groan from Gunther. He whispered constantly against her ear as he fucked into her. Phrases describing her infinite beauty, all stolen from romance novels he had skimmed at her behest, the ends of poems he couldn't quite remember, but remembered that she loved, everything that described the feelings he wanted her to understand but could not bring himself to explain. Amongst these lines she smiled at one in particular, "...less bright the stars of the night/than the eyes of my radiant girl".

She caught his mouth with hers, her tongue dancing with his between them. I felt the surge of heat as his body grew tight. He closed his eyes as her hand found his hair, tangling itself in the curled, brown tresses. She moaned into his mouth as he rubbed against her g-spot, and the sound was enough to undo him. His tongue pressed into her mouth, smothering her in his kiss as he folded her beneath him. He held her legs beside her head, his hands on the backs of her knees. He rocked himself as deeply within her as he could reach, his tip brushing against her cervix. Her face contorted at the unfamiliar sensation. He came against it, his hot seed shooting deep into her. She shook, the feeling of fullness bringing her close to her own release. She moved a hand down over her clit as she clenched around his twitching length, her own orgasm following a moment later. They collapsed together in heaving silence. He rolled onto his back, pulling her head onto his chest. She smiled as she felt his hands come to her hair again, his other arm wrapping around her. Lightning came and left again three times before Gunther spoke.

"Penny, please marry me. Stay here with me."

"For the dozenth time, I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"But we…"

"I know. And I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask."

They dropped back into silence, Penny's hands caressing his chest as he kissed her forehead.

"Hey Gunther?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want a girl or a boy?"

"Whichever you'd like, of course. Though I'll admit I've never really been a fan of the whole 'gender expectations for infants' thing."

"Hmm…I think as long as they're healthy I'll be happy."

Gunther's eyes closed as sleep began to reach him. Penny spoke again.

"Hey, Gunther?"

"Yes, my darling?"
"Do you have any ideas about names?"

"No, not yet. I'm sure whatever you pick will be perfect."

"Alright…"

He began to breathe deeply. After another moment she spoke again.

"Hey, Gunther?"

He was unable to answer with anything other than a quiet snore. Penny smiled and curled against him, following him to his dreams. The sound of rain covered them both in a blanket of tranquil restfulness.