Bennett
She hasn’t been avoiding me as she promised. But the distance with her so close is almost worse. I want to reach out and touch her, brush my thumb along the flush of pink decorating her cheeks, every time she looks my way.
The Shallow is relatively empty. Small clusters of groups scattered around the sparse space, allowing me full access to look at her, to watch her as I want.
She’s dressed differently than what I’m used to. Her body covered in black tights, a loose jersey type jumper, sitting mid-thigh, falling from off her shoulder. It looks good on her, effortless, but not.
She catches my eye once again and my brow furrows, causing her head to duck away from my glare.
What. The. Fuck.
I turn my attention back to Jake and Toby, talking shit about something I can’t seem to find interest in. Not with Darci so close. Feeling her stare, my eyes flick back to her, and I watch as her almond-shaped eyes skate along my body, her tongue poking out to moisten her lips when they rest on my crotch. My really, fucking hard, really, fucking angry cock. I adjust myself purposefully for her eyes and her body silently groans, her eyes hooding over, her thighs brushing together slightly, attempting to relieve the obvious build-up of tension working through her body.
Seriously? What the fuck is happening right now?
Darci’s stare skates back up my body, landing on my face as her eyes widen, realizing her mini orgasm hadn’t been missed. I arch an eyebrow in her direction and her head ducks away again. Shielding herself from my heated glare.
I’m so fucking uncomfortable. About twenty weeks. Twenty fucking weeks. Without blowing my load inside of her. I’m mad. I told her I’d give her space only two weeks ago. But, fuck me, I’m dying over here. She can’t expect me to keep my hands, mouth, and cock to myself, not when she’s getting off on eye-fucking me.
No. Fucking. Way.
Another hour passes and my cock doesn’t deflate. Not one iota. Nope. If anything, it grows harder. Angrier. Meaner. Needier.
Finally, I watch her move away from the group, toward the bathroom, flying solo. I wait only a moment, maybe two, before discarding my beer on the closest table and moving to follow her.
I wait, impatiently, at the open door of the office, adjacent to the bathrooms, waiting for her to exit and finally, after what feels like a year, the door opens. Her feet seize in their movements, my presence unexpected. “Bennett.”
Grabbing her arm, I yank her forward, into my body and pull us into the office, slamming the door behind her. Leaning in, I flick the lock into place, ensuring we can’t be disturbed.
“Umm…” she stumbles, looking around the room.
“I know I said I’d give you space,” I admit and her eyes close softly. “But that was before you started eye-fucking me in the middle of The Shallow causing my dick to harden even more than it has over the last, umm, I don’t know, four months, give or take. Which, I’ll add as a side note, I thought was impossible.”
“Bennett,” she breathes, her hand moving to rest on my arm.
“My cock hurts, Riding Hood. So bad. So. Fucking. Bad. It’s angry that I’ve deprived it of what it so desperately wants.”
Her body moves visibly with the quick rapid breaths being racked from her body, the flush of her skin spreading to her neck. “I see you clenching your thighs together when you look at me. You wet for me, baby? Does looking at me get you hot and bothered, Darci?”
Her closed eyes clench tighter together, her fingers drifting toward my crotch. Her harsh intake of breath is needy as her middle finger glides along the length of hardness wanting to burst from my jeans. “Yessss.”
“Take him out, Darci, see how angry he is at me, at you.” The authoritative tone of my voice is broken, giving her a glimpse of my desperation. But she follows my instruction, her fingers deftly moving to unzip my pants and remove my straining cock from my boxers.
“Look at him, Darci, look at his angry head, wet, crying for you. See that?” I groan out as her thumb glides along the cum beading at the tip. “Kiss him better for me, baby. Show me you’ve missed this as much as I have.”
Dropping to her knees without preamble, I brace my hands against the locked door. Eyes set downcast, I watch her, groaning loudly as she opens her palm to lick along her hand before wrapping her small fist at the base of my hurting cock. Her saliva adds the lubricant she needs to skate up and down my length easily. She does this a few times before darting her tongue out to taste my excitement. Her cry of relief at my taste is like music, a heart-wrenching ballad, making goosebumps break out over my body.
I almost choke when her warm mouth wraps eagerly around my width, sucking on my tip, her tongue lapping up the underside. Finally, she moves her lips farther down, my angry cock gliding easily into her mouth, her tongue caressing me the entire way down.
“Jesus, Riding Hood.”
Her heady moan of approval tightens my balls and I open my eyes to watch her head bob up and down on my dick. “Look at me when my cock is in your mouth, Darci.”
Her eyes open immediately, flicking up, underneath her dark lashes to watch my reaction to her mouth. Her cheeks are hollowed out, making her amber colored eyes bigger on her face, as they watch on. My legs shake, I groan, I swear, I encourage, I beg. For more, for her to go deeper, to suck harder, for her not to stop. She moans around me, causing a fucking phenomenal vibration all the way up my dick, drawing my balls up, with every sound pulled from my throat. How can someone so shy, so coy, suck dick like a goddess? Because, fuck me, nothing in my life has ever felt this good. She’s starved for it. Eating up my cock like it’s something she’s thought about often.
Ruined.
I’m close, so fucking close, I can feel myself throbbing in her mouth. I wanna come down her throat. So bad. But I wanna fuck her, come in her tight channel. So bad. I can’t decide which I want more.
She makes the decision for me, pulling back, kissing my tip one last time before standing. “I wanna taste your cum in my mouth, but I’m so worked up, Bennett, I need to feel you inside. That okay?” she finishes shyly, pink blushing along her cheeks.
“Fuck yes. It’ll be hard, eh? I’m on a fucking ledge here, Darci.”
“Like our first time,” she speaks softly to my mouth, leaning in to kiss me. Her words are phrased like a question, like a needy invitation.
I kiss her back, my mouth opening to hers, welcoming her tongue. Pulling back, I drop my head to lick along her neck. “Turn around for me.”
She does, eagerly, bracing her arms along the wood of the door, pushing her ass into my groin. Throwing her jumper up her back, I yank her tights and panties down in one fell swoop, removing them completely, kicking at her feet to tell her to widen her stance.
“Not gonna last long, Darci, been waiting on doing this again for too long. Plus your mouth, shit, I’m about ready to blow.”
“Me too,” she breathes, angling back, begging me to enter her. Which I do, hard. I pause immediately, warding off my release. She wriggles her ass, working to find friction. “Don’t stop, Bennett, please honey, once or twice more and I’m there. Please.”
She’s desperate for it. She feels softer, warmer than I remember if that’s possible. I give her what she needs, what she asked for. I power in and out of her body, our bodies sinking into our climax within a few strong thrusts. Like our first time, my hand covers her mouth as she comes, letting her scream into my open palm.
I feel more relaxed back in the bar, surrounded by our friends. The edge of tension having been removed by Darci’s sexual prowess. I feel privy to the best-kept secret ever. That shy, blushing, quiet, Darci Walker is a complete wildcat in the sack.
Jack-fucking-pot.
“Bennett James.” A smiling voice pulls my attention from my dirty thoughts and I glance down to warm eyes grinning up at me.
They're brown, I think, or black even. Dark to a point of indistinguishability. I can’t place her face for the life of me. It’s familiar in some small way, something about her that makes me think I know her, somehow, when in all honesty, I can’t be sure I’ve ever met her before.
I look along the bar, waiting for my drinks, trying to find someone to place this girl for me. But we’re alone.
Turning back, I take her in, trying in vain to place her. Her skin is a light shade of toffee, her hair long and dark, billowing over her shoulders. She’s petite, her svelte legs showcased in worn cut-off jeans, her thigh muscles more pronounced from the height of her ankle boots. Her oversized Harley Davidson shirt hides her upper body, but it doesn’t disguise her beauty. She’s hot. Very much so. A mischievous glint shines from her peculiar shaped eyes, only adding to her appeal.
“Do I know you?” I ask, my grin stretching along my face.
“Ah… probably not.” She smiles back, waving a hand non-committedly in front of her face to dismiss my question. “Few years younger than you back in school. My older sister crushed hard on you once upon a time.”
I laugh softly. “That so? Do I know said sister?”
She purses her lips slightly, thinking for a beat. “I’d say not. She’s not really the type to ever make an approach. Shame, for you. She’s hot.”
I laugh again, louder this time. “Seems I missed out.”
“Totally. Wouldn’t be appropriate for me to introduce you now either,” she sighs, propping her elbows onto the bar and hoisting herself upward, leaning over to steal an olive and pop it into her mouth.
“All good. In all honesty, I'm not really interested in meeting anyone right now, anyway.”
“Ohhhh...” She turns, bracing her elbows along the wood of the bar, watching the crowd. “Bennett James, do you have a lucky lady?”
“I hope so. Been working on it for a while now, seems to finally be coming together for me.” I don’t know why I’m sharing with this stranger. But, she has a familiarity about her, a friendliness that I’m drawn to.
“Nice,” she nods. “I just found out said sister is knocked-up.” She raises her eyebrows in my direction and I mirror the action. “All a bit hush, hush at the moment.”
She second-guesses her openness almost immediately, her posture straightening to full height, eyes panicked and wide. “I can trust you with my secret, right?”
I laugh, my grin almost hurting my face. “Of course,” I promise, hand to heart, before miming the zipping of my lips.
She visibly relaxes her shoulders. “I really need to school that shit. I’m good in the moment, when she told me I thought I was about to have a heart attack, but I was totally chill. Cool as a fuckin’ cucumber,” she boasts. “My problem is my excessive need to just run my mouth. Fuck, she'd kill me if anyone found out. Lucky you’re no one important.” She glances at me apologetically in an awkward grimace. “No offense.”
I shrug my shoulders in nonchalance. Not at all concerned with her dismissal.
“Hey,” Darci announces herself softly, coming to stand in front of me and our stranger.
“Riding Hood.” I wink, causing our stranger to glance curiously between us.
“Look at you all beautiful and flushed,” the beauty gushes at Darci, tapping her nose affectionately.
“What?” Darci mumbles, touching her cheeks with embarrassment and I smile widely. She does look flushed, her cheeks blushed pink, a remanence of what we just shared.
Taking a sip of my beer, I watch on at their exchange, curious that they seem to be acquainted. “You guys know one another?” I ask, eyes sweeping between the two of them.
Looking at one another, the stranger laughs loudly.
“Yeah,” Darci offers, shaking her head in annoyance at our new friend. “Sorry I should’ve introduced you. Bennett, this is my sister, Francesca.”
“Frankie. Shit, Darci, stop with the Francesca.”
“It’s your name.”
I take a moment to come to terms with this bit of news as they carry on their conversation, something about swapping names. Admittedly, I'm a little shocked, I had always assumed Darci’s loopy sibling was male. Frank. Now I get it. Loopy sibling totally suits her. A bit forward, definitely a little scattered. Polar opposite to Darci.
It takes only a second longer for me to choke on my beer, mine and Frankie’s previous conversation coming to mind as beer spits forcefully from my mouth.
I just found out said sister is knocked-up.
Both Darci and Frankie turn to take in my odd behavior. “You,” I clear my throat, motioning to Frankie, “you have any other sisters?”
“What?” she questions, a little taken back by my louder than friendly question. “No. Just this chick.” She nudges Darci’s shoulder slightly before her eyes, now that I can place it, similarly shaped to Darci’s, just a different color, settle on me, skeptically. She watches me for a beat, assessing my behavior, turning to Darci, then back to me. She does this maybe two or three times before her eyes widen in shock.
“Oh, fuck. You,” she points to me before slowly turning, “and..... you,” she points toward Darci. “You guys...” swallowing deeply, her eyes flick between us. “Shit, Darci, I’m sorry, I…”
Darci watches expectantly for more words but they don’t come, not from Frankie.
“You’re pregnant?” I ask, dumbfounded. Shocked. Unsure.
“What?” she breathes, glancing at Frankie before landing back on me.
“Are you?”
“We should talk somewhere else. Not here.”
“Holy shit. You are. You’re pregnant.” I feel like my windpipe has closed over. I pull in air heavily through my nostrils. Dropping my beer to the bar, I turn completely, my focus honed solely in on Darci and her shocked stare. Her eyes now resembling large saucers and not the sultry cat-like slant I'm used to. “When were you going to tell me?”
Maybe presumptuous, but I know the baby is mine. In my heart. I know that I'm the only man who has recently been given access to her body.
“Soon. I just...” She closes her eyes tightly, licking her dry lips. “Can we talk about this somewhere else. I'm sorry. I just....” she trails off into a desperate silence, her face pleading with me.
“How far along?”
“Maybe four months,” she whispers.
“FOUR MONTHS!” I yell, and she grabs my arm, looking to make sure no one heard.
“Bennett, I want to explain everything to you. I promise, just not... here. Let's go, anywhere; my house, yours, The Coffee House. Please.”
Nodding blankly, I follow her lead, moving through The Shallow on autopilot, leaving Frankie chewing her nail nervously in our wake.
I follow Darci to The Coffee House. At a distance. I don’t think it’s a conscious decision by either of us. Her feet seemed rushed like she’s attempting to run away from the bombshell I’ve just had dropped on me. I personally feel more like a zombie. My feet heavy as I place one in front of the other. Shocked into a state of numb that feels like an out of body experience. Like I’m watching this unfold from afar. Potentially another life. In an alternate universe. One where it’s not actually me. Well, me, just a different version.
Darci glances back every rushed minute, confirming I’m still following. I’d be interested to know if she was hopeful I’d run to give her the reprieve from the awkwardness that seems to be radiating between the two of us. I offer her a tight smile every time her head twists to locate me. It feels as uncomfortable as it must look if Darci’s grimace at the gesture is any indication.
Finally, we break the boundary of the shop, lights flickering on at Darci’s action. I continue my robotic movements farther into the space until I fall ungraciously onto the first available couch. Rubbing my hands roughly over my face, I stop my hands at my jaw, watching Darci. Her movements are nervous, alternating between massaging her hands roughly and readjusting her glasses.
My eyes scan over her slowly, trying to visually confirm the news. She doesn’t look overly different. No bulging belly or swollen ankles. “Are you sure?” I test, it seems a logical enough question.
She nods automatically. “Did five tests and then, umm, had a blood test. Just to be certain.”
Holding up her finger in a gesture to ask me to wait, I nod my confirmation. She watches me for a beat longer before turning on her heel in the direction of her office.
She’s back within a minute and she stands awkwardly at the edge of the couch I’m perched upon. Pointing uncomfortably, she silently asks permission to sit. “Of course,” I pat the spot beside me and she drops along the edge, close enough that I can smell her.
Clearing her throat, she holds up a small piece of paper. I watch her profile for a beat, admiring the light pink blush rising in her cheeks. Slowly turning from her, my eyes fall to the image in her hand, and I reach out instinctively.
“That’s our baby,” she announces unnecessarily.
I stare at the black and white photo. It’s grainy as all hell, but I can still clearly make out my baby’s profile. Emotion suddenly chokes my windpipe and I exhale heavily. Pulling my eyes from the picture, I glance back toward Darci. “We’re having a baby.”
Her eyes water and she smiles shyly. “Yeah. We’re having a baby.”
I turn back to the picture held tightly in my hand and get lost in the image. Darci gives me the time to process, sitting quietly at my side.
“I’ve been so caught up in you every time we’ve been intimate. I’m so sorry, Darci. I’m not gonna lie, protection never crossed my mind.”
“Same for me. I don’t think it’s something we can let ourselves dwell over. It’s kinda, done.” She barks out a soft laugh and I mirror the sound.
“Four months, eh?” I turn to her, searching her eyes. “It’s a long time not to know I’m gonna be a dad, Darci.”
I don’t mean it as an accusation and isn’t said with hostility but she still looks ashamed. “I know,” she concedes easily. “I’ve really only known for a short time. I just, it’s not something that comes up easily in conversation.”
I get that, so I nod. “Were you planning on telling me anytime soon? It’s just if your sister hadn’t blurted it out, I’d still be none the wiser.”
Her arm reaches out immediately to grab my forearm in reassurance. “Of course. I was planning on telling you this week. I just didn’t know where to start.”
I let my eyes fall to the picture again, and I slowly scan my eyes over the image taking in every small feature of my baby. Of our baby. I feel relatively calm, considering. Shit, I’m gonna be a dad and maybe when the news finally has time to settle, I’ll freak out. But now, all that consumes me is an overwhelming sense of acceptance. I’ve always wanted kids, just never thought it would happen this way. Thought I’d be married, be able to enjoy my wife for a few years before we thought about kids.
“Everything’s okay? With you and the baby?” I ask, and Darci gives me a soft-spoken yes.
“Good.” I nod my head. “I’d like to come to the next appointment. All of them going forward, if you don’t have an issue with that?”
I look to her for confirmation and she nods immediately. “Of course.”
“My mind’s a bit of a mess right now, Darci. I went from needing you unceremoniously, to feeling relaxed about being able to touch you again, to finding out I’m gonna be a dad, from someone else. Shit, Darci, you’re pregnant and I had you on your knees. Fuck,” I spit, disgusted at myself.
“Bennett,” she soothes. “I wanted to do that. I loved that. Please don’t try and treat me differently now that I’m pregnant. I’m healthy, our baby is healthy.”
Nodding, I lean over slightly to squeeze her hand before standing. Scratching my jaw, I look down at her, her amber colored eyes wide and uncertain. “I just need time to process all this, Darci.”
Her eyes turn sympathetic, a little sad and she drops her head in a nod. Leaning down, I place a kiss on her forehead, holding it for a few drawn-out seconds.
“Can I keep this?” I hold up the sonogram image as I pull away and she nods quickly.
Turning on my heel, I begin walking from The Coffee House, a little less part of the walking dead. Stopping at the door, I turn my head to bring Darci back into sight. She hasn’t moved, watching my departure a little statuesque. “Does anyone else know?”
She shakes her head immediately. “Just you, me, and Frankie.”
I feel a little better knowing that I’m not some schmuck completely in the dark as I step into the cold of the night, trying to understand how in less than six months, I’m going to be a dad.