To Mused, my heartfelt thanks. Thank you for not only your help with this, but for encouraging me when I wavered. ~Chargergirl
~~**~~
"I think that went pretty well," Alicia said to her brother, as they drove home Sunday night after having dinner with their parents.
Dave cast a sidelong glance and raised his brows. "Whose house were you just at, anyway?"
"I thought they took it well, David, really. I mean, they weren't exactly jumping for joy, but Mom didn't pass out, either, not like you said she would. Damn, it's cold tonight," Alicia muttered. She cranked the heat up in the car. "You calling Stephanie tomorrow?"
"No, I'm just going to head over there right after work."
"Think she'll be pissed?"
"She doesn't have anything to be pissed about, Alli. She doesn't want me back. I want to know what she does want, and I'm going to tell her what I want."
Alicia nodded, then turned to look out the window. Rolling down the highway, there wasn't much to see, only inky blackness. Here and there, a light could be seen in the distance. "What if she does want you back?" She whispered the question to the passenger window.
"I heard that, Alligator."
Alicia turned to face her brother. "Well, what if she does?"
"She doesn't. And it doesn't matter. Just because she's pregnant with my child doesn't mean she owns my life. I told you I have every intention of helping her; that's my responsibility. But I want you, Alli, only you. When are you going to understand that?" Dave reached for her hand as he exited the highway.
"I can't give you what she can."
"And what's that?"
Alicia sounded like she was about to confess her deepest, darkest secret. "A baby."
Dave sighed. "Is that what this is all about, then? You think I should go back with Stephanie because she can give me kids and you can't?"
Alicia nodded miserably and began to cry. "Maybe Dad's right. Maybe you should marry her."
Dave pulled in the driveway and threw the car into park. "You know something, Alligator?" He leaned towards her, over the center console of the car. "I don't care anymore what anyone thinks. Mom, Dad, Stephanie. I'm sick of our lives being dictated by everyone, especially Mom and Dad. Aren't you? God, how can you not be?" He honestly didn't know how his little sister had managed living at home for so many years. Dave had been rather lucky, flying below their mom's radar most of the time. But poor Alicia was under constant scrutiny, except for when she stayed at her brother's house.
Their parents had been most displeased when he told them Stephanie was pregnant. Their dad had even gone so far as to suggest Dave should marry her. A quick glance at Alicia nearly broke Dave's heart. She'd looked devastated by the suggestion, but he felt her relax the instant he discreetly took her hand in his.
Dave had been more concerned when Alicia announced she was returning to his house with him. She'd had her back to their parents as she fished her coat out of the hall closet and didn't see the look that crossed their dad's face. Dave saw the look, though, and it worried him.
When Dave and Alicia entered the house there was a voicemail message waiting for him. He listened to it, and became more furious with every passing second. Alicia watched the emotions play over her brother's face and grew concerned.
"What?" she whispered.
Dave handed her the phone. "Here, have a listen. That crazy bitch," he muttered and walked away.
Alicia listened to Stephanie's singsong voice on the message. "Only four more day 'til Thanksgiving, Dave. Hope I don't have to see you at your parents."
"She
is
nuts," Alicia muttered to herself. She put the phone down and followed Dave's path to the kitchen. She found him there, staring out of the back window, an unopened beer in his hand. She walked up behind him and slid her arms around his waist. "Gonna make you wash your mouth out before you kiss me, if you drink that," she teased lightheartedly. Actually, she was half-serious. She hated the taste of beer.
Dave set the beer down and turned around in his sisters' arms. "We need to finish our conversation."
"Which one?" Alicia asked as she laid her head against his chest, just under his chin.
"The one where you finally concede that you're mine forever. The one where you finally understand I'm never getting back with Stephanie, baby or not. And last but not least, the one where you admit that I'm right about everything," Dave grinned.
"Hmm," Alicia pretended to think about it for a minute. "I think you'll have to prove it to me."
"And just how many times am I going to have to do that?" Dave's grin turned wicked.
Alicia rose up on her toes. "Over and over," she muttered, as she leaned in to kiss him. She broke the kiss a few seconds later. "And over again." She leaned back into him, pressing her mouth to his once more. Her slender fingers began to work the buttons of his white dress shirt, stopping when she reached his waist. She pulled the shirttail out, then returned to finish the buttons.
Alicia slid her soft palms up over Dave's chest, letting her fingers comb through the mat of crisp blond hair covering his chest. Up to his shoulders, her fingers roamed, pushing his white shirt aside. Alicia bent her head and flicked her tongue over his nipples.
"What're you doing?" Dave gritted out. He pulled his shirt off.
"I decided I'm going to show you." Alicia pulled her shirt up and over and let it fall to the floor. Dave reached up and undid the front clasp on her bra. The cups fell to the side and Alicia shrugged the straps off her shoulders, sending the piece of ivory lace to join her shirt. Her nipples stiffened instantly.
Dave began to work her pencil skirt up over her thighs. It was a pretty little thing, ending just above her knees, and it had driven him wild all evening. Each time she had crossed and uncrossed her legs, he fought the urge to run his hand up the inside of her thigh. He had wanted to slide his fingers inside her panties and tease her, make her wet and hot, and drive her as crazy as she was driving him.
Dave's thumbs hooked either side of her underwear and slid them down, until they fell around her ankles. Alicia daintily stepped out of them, then dropped her skirt. She reached over and went to work on his grey slacks.
Dave noticed the gooseflesh covering her arms and shoulders and frowned. "Are you cold?"
The button gave way and Alicia unzipped his pants. "A little."
"Let's go into the living room, then. It's kind of drafty in here. C'mon, I'll light a fire." He refastened the button and reached for her hand.
Dave made quick work of laying a fire. Soon it was burning bright and hot. Alicia knelt next to him on the floor, wrapped in a blanket she'd taken from the back of the couch.
Dave put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. "Where were we?" he whispered, stroking her cheek. Taking pleasure from his touch, Alicia closed her eyes and leaned into his caress. She looked so content; Dave thought she might start to purr.
She opened her eyes, smiled and reached over and undid the button again. "Right...about...here."
