Moaning softly, I frowned beyond the haze of sleep as rough fingertips coaxed me into consciousness. Turning my head into the contact, I furrowed my brows and sighed while Roark traced my lips. A tickle slithered across my cheek and up my nose, and I forced open my heavy eyelids to blink a few times.

Propped on his elbow to gaze down at me, Roark wore a smile so serene it knocked the air from my lungs. It was such a contrast to the confused misery on his face the night before when he told me about the conversation he’d had with his father. Humming softly at him, I rolled sluggishly onto my side to face him before he opened his mouth.

“I want to introduce you to my dad.” Whispering, Roark punctuated his desire with a deep kiss, and I moaned softly. My brain kicked into action, slowly processing what he’d said before he pulled back to sigh against my face. Licking my lips generously, I arched slightly to feel my back strain and let out a groan.

“Oka-ay… When?” Scratching my throat, my voice was hoarse from sleep, and I closed my eyes to snuggle in his chest.

“Tonight?” Absently I nodded, not giving it any more thought than I absolutely had to, and Roark deflated slightly against my forehead. “Great.”

My mind worked slowly, formulating a plan now that I was being thrust into a situation I’d anticipated for a while. I didn’t expect Roark to ask so soon, and I needed a really solid plan if I wanted to avoid blurting out I was pregnant in front of his father and sister from nerves.

“I’m going to go shopping today, I think.” A frown dragged down my lips at my own suggestion, and I rolled onto my back to heave a sigh. It struck me hard how stupid this plan was, but I couldn’t back down now. “Do you want to come?”

“Sure. What are we shopping for?” Curiosity dribbled from Roark’s voice, and my tongue snaked out to moisten my lips.

“Uh- I don’t know. Maybe just browsing. I’m in a mood.” I didn’t have to tell Roark that I only went shopping when I was in a mood, and he grunted in response. Pushing myself up on weak arms, I ran my hand through my hair before grabbing my phone from the window sill.

The mall didn’t open for another 45 minutes, and I glanced at Roark to smile small.

“Let’s shower together.” Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I stood up to the sound of sheets rustling behind me. Making my way to the bathroom, a shiver ripped up my spine at how cold the tiles were against my toes. Drawing the curtain, I turned on the shower head before firm, warm arms wrapped around my waist to hold me tight.

“Are you okay, Ally? Really?” Blinking slowly, I pursed my lips together at the worry in Roark’s tone as he mumbled against my ear. “You seem down- distracted… you can tell me, you know that, right?”

“I mean, I’m not bad… It just happens. It’s not a big deal. You know, it’s exhausting being me.” My lame attempt at a joke pulled a laugh from over my shoulder, and Roark seemingly accepted my answer.

Too bad it’s not the truth.

Climbing out of my panties and sports bra, I stepped into the shower and waited for Roark to join me before positioning myself under the spray. He stood close to me, making the water seem cold compared to his body heat, and I turned to lean against his chest. His hands massaged my shoulders firmly, tenderly, and a moan lodged in my throat.

Desire pooled in my abdomen when Roark trailed his hands down my chest, and I pushed my butt against his flaccid cock to grind gently. Tilting my head, I gasped when he squeezed my breasts, and he ducked his head into my neck to kiss and suck. Reaching to grip his outer thighs, my fingers tingled from his leg hairs as I ground harder. His rod reacted instantly, firming against my quivering flesh to send goosebumps spreading up my arms.

“Spread your legs for me, Ally.” The pads of my feet slipped on the bathtub floor, and Roark turned us to face the wall. Bracing myself against my forearms, I shuddered violently as he thrust against my folds. His cock was hot and silky, and the water dribbling down my body and off my clit only made me want him more.

Hiking up my leg with his elbow under my knee, Roark panted against my shoulder as he positioned himself at my entrance. My heart stuttered, fumbling over its hard, fast beat, and I whimpered from the need that filled the space between it and my lungs. Tenderly thrusting, he groaned a low sound that bounced off the tiles to dance with my moan, and I flung my arm around his head to fist his hair.

“Oh God- Ally…” Turning my head into the harsh call, I searched for Roark’s lips only to be overtaken by the fierce passion that sucked the air from my lungs. His hips dug into my butt, and my walls shuddered around his cock as he stretched them to reach deep. “I love you- fuck- I love you, Ally…”

Exiting my channel, Roark set a steady, loving pace as he pinned me to the wall, and I cracked my eyes open with a moan. His face was red, eyes bright when they met mine, and time seemed to stop as he thrust a long, deep stroke. Pulling his mouth to my own, my tongue ached to meet his, and I moaned when they finally came together. The kiss was frenzied, sending air into the crevices between my brain and my skull, and I jerked back to pant heavily.

“I love you, too. Roark- ah…” Spasming with a loud moan, my legs threatened to give out as Roark redoubled his efforts. His thrusts turned jarring, unsteady, and his cock seemed to grow as my inner walls tightened around him.

My orgasm hit me hard and out of nowhere, and I bashed my cheek against the tile as I folded over myself. Almost instantly Roark grabbed my face as the impact rattled my brain, and he dropped my leg to grip my hip tightly. Gasping for air, I twitched as tingles shot down my spine to set fire to my nerves, and I wrapped both my hands around the back of his neck.

“Fuck- fuck- fuck…” Grunting with each thrust, Roark panted down my nose before his hips slammed against my butt a final time. I had no concept of time, but the tremors that weakened my legs told me this was no five-minute bout. Supporting me with the hand on my cheek, his other palm left my side to brace against the wall as he trembled and twitched against my back.

“I love you.” Whispering just above the sound of water splashing on tile, I moaned when Roark pulled out of my channel to whirl me around. The world spun even as he crashed his lips on mine, and I dug my fingernails into his shoulders. My heart went wild, filled with so many emotions that I had for this man that seemed to complete me.

He dealt with my childish tendencies, and he even indulged my derangement if I was an irrational mess. He trusted me to tell him what was bothering me and didn’t push if I didn’t want to talk.

He was such a better man than Tommy, and disgust clogged my nostrils when I thought back to how much of a catch I had considered my ex to be.

“I love you, too. Here- let me wash your hair.” Carefully turning me under the shower head, Roark gently gathered my hair as water streamed down my body. A mindless, goofy smile picked up my lips, and I didn’t even realize it until my cheeks started to ache.

Once I was clean, I left Roark in the shower to get dressed, and a new plan had formed in my pink-hazed mind. My hands were slow, arms heavy, and I struggled to get into my jeans as I imagined my plan unfolding.

I was going to do the most cliché thing I could think of and make baby booties. The yellow and white, knitted ones were the first to appear in my mind, and the second was a sort of mint green color. No images appeared in my mind of Roark’s reaction, but I wasn’t worried. The tension that plagued me for the past week had disappeared completely, and I pulled my shirt over my head with a happy sigh.

Glancing up as Roark emerged from the bathroom, my eyes narrowed on his lean muscles as he dried himself. He was easily out of my league both physically and financially, and I marveled at the events that led us together. If we both hadn’t been in such crappy relationships, we might’ve never met. He might not have slain an origami crane for me. I might’ve never gotten rid of that futon.

“Did you want to go anywhere in particular, or just get out of the house?” Sitting on my bed to put on my socks as Roark posed his question, I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He had no qualms with putting on clothes he’d worn the day before, and I cocked my head with a small smile. I wasn’t sure if they were dirty; he’d taken them off after setting me in bed last night, and I knew he changed before he came here.

“Uh, nowhere in particular, no. I was thinking of getting some more knitting supplies…” Answering vaguely, I paused when Roark’s head whipped up, and he stared at me from under furrowed brows.

“You knit?” Surprise coated his inquiry, and I nodded before he spoke up again. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

Heat flushed my cheeks at that, and Roark smirked cockily as he fastened his jeans around his waist. Tugging my sock over my heel, I reached to rub my chest with my freed hands before clasping them together.

“I’m mediocre at best. I don’t really knit a lot, but I was thinking of taking it up again.” Lies. I don’t even know how to knit.

“Okay. Did you want to grab some breakfast or anything, or do you just want to wait for lunch? There’s a place I know of downtown that makes great dive food.” Thinking over the options, I held up two fingers before reaching to grab my sneakers.

Today was going to be lazy but productive, and I only prayed that Roark wouldn’t see my true intention.