Warnings- SMUT/NSFW, dub-con,Stockholm syndrome
*Disclaimer:This work explores themes of violence, murder, kidnapping and dubious consent. Individual warnings will be posted on each chapter. Reader discretion is advised.
John,
Iâve thought of a million ways to start this, though, I fear my thinking isnât the same as it wasâŠ...well, Iâm not sure how long it's been, so maybe this wonât quite seem like me. Though I promise you, it is.
Itâs been turning over in my head for a while now, there isnât much else to think about. Iâm not sure if thatâs the way you intended it. When I donât think about it, my old life haunts me, the woman I used to be, that bad person, she haunts me. She's a bad person, yoou made me realize that, John, she hurt you, immeasurably so, and that wasnât right. So now, I understand what youâve done, how necessary it was.
Iâve already told you that everything Iâve done, with Jeremy and Christopher was intentional, though, it was never my intent to hurt you. I also never meant to fall for you, or for anyone. For a long time, I've been so unforgivably destructive, so irresponsible with hearts and so damn selfish-my sister always said I was selfish, sheâs right.
A long time ago, before I came to New York, our mom was sick, Lillian left college for a while to take care of her. I took the first flight to New York when James offered me a full ride to Julliard. She hates me for leaving, I hate her for hating me.
I had a dream, you know?
The last time we saw each other, it was at her birthday party a few years ago. It was at that restaurant you took me to on our first date. We got into a fight that night, afterwards, she had her stupid PhD and I didnât have anything to show for running away. I donât really remember how the rest of it went, but she called me a self bitch when I told her I didnât regret leaving.
She was so hurt, it was all over her face. Because our mother was dead, she is dead, and I wasnât there and I still donât regret any of it. Because Iâm selfish, thatâs who I am John. I couldn't stay in New Jersey and take care of my mom, not when New York seemed so much better.
The point is, I'm horrible, and I donât know why, I donât understand it, but there was a thrill in hurting you, in saying that Iâd missed you when I tried to fill your space with someone else. Tried and failed.
He wasnât like you, John. None of them were ever like you. You cared despite what I did. You loved me even when the ugly things I did probably made me an ugly person.
To this day, you are the strangest man Iâd ever met. You knew everything that no one would expect you to. Everything that you probably shouldnât have. The flowers, the restaurant, the wine. The words, you had all the right words, though, not many of them. How rare is it to find such a kindred soul? Someone who knows you so effortlessly, or perhaps, someone who puts that much effort into knowing you. I smile when I think about that night, that magical night.
Do you think about it too? Do you think about how much has changed since then? Did you always know that you were going to do this?
This place makes it seem like it.
This place. It was hell, at first, sometimes it still is. You come, you leave. You hurt me, you leave. But when itâs not hell, when youâre here and you look at me like Iâm something special, this place is heaven. I think Iâve just realized that somehow, you have become my version of heaven. You are every bad thing I deserve and every good thing Iâve never wanted.
Love. Devotion. Ugliness, like me.
You care so completely, itâs unheard of for affection to run so deeply that it becomes an affliction. You love so deeply, I donât think I deserve it. Do you deserve love? Maybe you do, maybe I can give it to you. I think I can.
For every reason to hate you, there are a dozen more to love you. My God, there are so many, you said youâve killed, real people with real lives. Youâve stolen mine. But youâve been lonely havenât you? Alone in this violence; in the blood and the bodies. Above those reasons, that one makes me love you the most. You have chosen me to fill your loneliness.
It was so scary, it still is so scary. What can a man possibly expect of a caged bird; loyalty without choice? What can the bird expect of a man? To live at his whim? Yet still, the bird loves the man and the man loves the bird. Itâs quite confusing, I fear you, tremendously. I love you, enormously.
A man who keeps something caged is a monster, but Iâve learned JohnâŠâŠmonsters can be beautiful.
Beautiful people John, they can be ugly on the inside. We can be ugly together. Be ugly with me.
Yours;
Ani.
Late March
John had read and reread her letter almost a dozen times. He was beginning to memorize every word of her confession. Her self-proclaimed uglinessâŠ..the love she claimed to have for him. She had burned him, her flames lapping furiously at his skin and heâd been left to lick salted wounds every time sheâd been selfish. But she had written that letter as something of a peace offering; it was what heâd been waiting for. His love returned, his heart fulfilled.
Still, John couldnât decide if it was euphoric or disappointing. Does he hate her for realizing that he is a monster, or is he grateful that she loves him despite it? He should be happy, its only everything heâs dreamt about for just over a year.
Or is he just disappointed that Anya isnât all heâd made her out to be?
Whereâs the perfect, sweet girl? How could he have fallen for someone so manipulative and selfish? Someone who didnât care about the havoc sheâd wrecked on his life and who could only bother to write him a letter as a plea for forgiveness. How had his judgment fail him so sorely?
Sheâs never been nice, or good. Sheâs always just been selfish and completely disingenuous.
Setting it down on the coffee table, John retired further into the comfort of the sofa. He was trying to sort his thoughts, attempting to separate the woman heâd created in his mind from the one sitting in the shed in his backyard. The process wasnât particularly one he wants to engage in, John never wanted to be wrong, especially about her, and the further his mind spanned, the more he realized how confused heâd been in the beginning. How foolishly naive heâd been when he first laid eyes on her. The woman who smiled coyly when handing over his change was also the one that had lied to his face. The young girl who seemed so innocent was the one who had cohorted him into essentially assaulting her. The pretty thing that heâd watched sleep had hurt him just because she could. Because Anya had been playing games while heâd been falling in love.
And still, somehow sheâs still perfect for him.
And she loves him.
âShe loves me,â he murmured under his breath, leaning forward and once again reaching for Anyaâs journal. His fingers roved over her name carved in cursive on the front, and as his thoughts strayed from separating the Anya in his head to the one heâd grown to know, John found himself growing more acquainted with the fact that he did still love her. There was still some of the woman heâd known from the coffee shop, she was still the first person whoâd ever willingly held his hand. Anya was still the first person to ever love him. And if not for the sake of anything else, he can forgive just so he can keep her love.
But he will forgive her for other reasons too.
She may think sheâs ugly, he may have seen every bad thing that she is capable of, but all is not lost. He believes in her inherent goodness, that sweetness that oozes from her smile, that medicine that is her touch, he believes in it. Sheâs different, she just has to accept it.
Perhaps its time for another approach.
Reinvigorated, John was about to stand when the doorbell rang, forcing him off of the sofa and towards the front door. Thatâs strange, before Anya, heâd never had visitors. Yet, on the way to the door, John still hadnât bothered with checking the doorbell camera, he did however swipe a gun out of the drawer of a bureau in the hallway, stuffing it into his belt at the back of the jeans, before pulling his sweater over it.
Before he could even close his hand in around in the knob, the person rang the doorbell and John mumbled an incoherent quip about patience before yanking it open.
Shit.
On his porch stood two figures heâd only seen in pictures or from afar. He knew what they were for though, and he couldnât help but feel like things were just catching up to him at the most inopportune time. A woman, eight years Anyaâs senior but still her spitting image and a man who had taken her to bed just before John had let himself spiral and basically kidnap her. Okay, actually kidnap her. Concealing his unease with his usual stoicism, John cleared his throat, âCan I help you?â
âYeah,â Christopher stepped forward, offering his hand, âJohn right? Wick?â
Hesitating, John appraised them, just standing on his front steps, probably there to find out where Anya had disappeared to. Itâs okay, youâve got this. âYeah,â he relented, accepting Christopher hand, shaking firmly before doing the same with Lillian. âWhatâs this-â
âMy sister,â Lillian cut him off, folding her arms and setting her shoulders square, âYou were dating her right? Before she disappeared.â
More abrasive than her sister, Lillian didnât seem like the type to entertain excuses and goose chases, she wanted to know where her Anya was, and she was determined to find out what had happened. It was funny how much she still cared after everything that heâd just read about their relationship. Pretending to be surprised, or worried, or whateverâs supposed to be the right emotion for the situation, John widened his eyes, âWe went out a couple timesâŠ..but I donât know what happened to her, your guess is as good as mine.â
âLilly,â Christopher grabbed her forearm gently, presumably to calm her down, and when she pressed her lips together in a hard line, he turned to regard John with a renewed firmness, âWe just need to know if you know where she might be. Last time I talked to her, she said she was in Paris with you.â
âWell, I havenât been to Paris in over two years,â perfect, itâs the truth and itâs not like they can argue with that, âWe havenât talked inâŠ..weeks,â John shrugged, stupidly digging himself into a deeper hole, âAnd-â
Her head snapped up and Lillianâs eyes, which were so much like Anyaâs, went wide, âYou talked to her, what did she say? Did she say where she was?â
Shaking his head dismissively, John rattled off the first thing he could think of, âNot much, Iâd called her because we hadnât talked in a while, she didnât seem interested. Figured that was her way of breaking up with me.â
âBreaking up with you?â Lillianâs sharp, maybe a little too sharp; she keeps track of small details, smaller than the ones heâs been taking note of, âYou said you only went out a couple times.â
What a stupid choice of words. Wincing at such a silly mistake, John tried eagerly to slow the erratic beating of his heart. His palms were already sweaty and while heâd never been worried about getting caught, heâd also never left a victim alive. There were so many loose ends, too many. Her computer and cellphone, both dead, but still in his basement. Womenâs clothes that were just her style and size in his closet. Her in the fucking shed in his goddamned backyard.
He swears heâs an idiot sometimes.
âI mean, I figured she didnât want to go out again,â John played it off, hoping her sister would believe it, âHavenât heard from her since.â
âYou sure?â Christopher stepped forward. He was about a head shorter than John and had one of those faces that suggested he wasnât the confrontational type, though John figured that where Anya was concerned he might be different, not dangerous, just different. But he canât kill him because then Anya will hate him and John really doesnât want to deal with that.
Lillian though, she may have to go. But he doesnât want to think about that right now.
He just needs to get them the fuck off his porch.
âIâm sure,â John gritted, âLook, I don't know what youâre expecting to find here, but I donât know what happened to Anya.â
âYou say that like youâve got something to hide,â Lillian gritted, ripping her arm away from Christopherâs grasp, âThereâs something about you, you know?â Unafraid, she stepped closer, a fire in her eyes that burned so bright it suggested that he might have been more of a handful that her troublesome sister, âI donât know what it is,â she was so close, John could just reach out and squeeze her neck until it snapped, âBut if you did something my sister, Iâll find out, and youâll-â
Standing firmly, John stepped closer so sheâd have to tilt her head back to meet his eyes, âIâll what? I told you, I donât know where your sister is. Not get the fuck off my porch before I call the cops,â the empty threat didnât appear to phase her, but Lillian did stand down, letting Christopher take the lead.
âLook, I know itâs not cool of us to come here and accuse you of something, and I promise you weâre not,â he briefly glared at Lillian, whoâd set her jaw so tight that she might have been grinding her teeth down to dust, âWe just wanna find Anya,â he spared a minute to rummage through his pockets, eventually getting a business card out;
Christopher Holloway
Senior Vice President, Holloway Enterprises
Realty, Banking, Technology.
There was a series of contact numbers and an email address, all leading to Mr. Senior Vice President. âIf you know anything, hear anything, give me a call. Weâre just trying to figure out what happened, that's all.â
John read the business card again, reluctantly agreeing to call if anything comes up- nothing will, but he does have appearances to keep up. After their mumbled thanks and a stiff goodbye, they finally turn to leave and John barely waited for their feet to touch the bottom front step before heâd shut the door. How the hell did they even find his address? Heâd supposed that Anya had told Christopher about him during one of their in person meetings, but his address, they shouldnât have been able to find that.
But Christopher does have access to most of the real estate records in New York, given his positioning at such a renowned company.
Offering the ivory card another glance, itâs contents gave him hope for Anya yet. What kind of person broke up with a man who stands to inherit half the city? The genuine kind. She might have been a lot of things; deceitful, selfish, infidelious, but somewhere beneath her self-proclaimed ugliness there was a good, genuine person. Someone that didnât care about money or status, someone who could forgive even the most ghastly transgressions. Thereâs something of the woman heâd first fallen for in there, and he can bring it out in her, John knows it.
His love can do it, heâs absolutely certain of it.
Setting the card down in a drawer in the kitchen, John holds her journal close as he heads to the shed at the back. When he was finally there, each lock was opened and then locked once more with ultimate consideration for any probable circumstance. He doesnât even take the keys in; even if she makes it out the door, the gate is locked and there isnât a chance of her getting the key. His entire system was awfully elaborate, and John thought that among everything heâd managed in her name, a faultless system that took her escape off the table was the one he was most proud of.
Anya is his. sheâs like his little doll, waiting for him everyday so they can play.
She was sitting on the floor when he entered, back pressed the sofa and legs tucked to her chest, and before sheâd noticed him standing there, John had caught her muttering softly. Despite his efforts to nudge her out of that shell, the one sheâd enclosed around herself, and in spite of offering up her thoughts so easily, there was still the strangest distance between them. It was like he could reach her, but not quite, and John suspected that it was because sheâd spent too much time alone. Quiet could be maddening sometimes, he suspected that Anya wasnât an exception to the rule.
Heâll have to get her out of there soon, before she flips that switch of no return.
âDid you read it?â She lifted her head, tired eyes meeting his, brimmed with dwindling hope. Standing from the floor, Anya dusted off her bare legs, and proceeded to nervously wring her hands together. They were separated by no more than a couple feet of space, her dimming eyes enclosed in dark circles and the bruises on her face more healed than the last time; she didnât quite look like herself, but she was in there, John can see her.
âI did,â he nodded stiffly, licking his lips. Briefly, he glanced down at the book in hands; heâd made that himself, every page had been crafted and bound with her in mind. For her most intimate and private thoughts, so she could have something that was solely her own, and yet Anya had shared it with him. And though the urge to read everything in there had gnawed at him, John had diligently resisted, mostly. Heâd glanced at a few things here and there, just to make sure she wasnât playing him- or planning something. âDid you mean it?â He set the book down on the small dining table.
âMhm,â Anya nodded vigorously, taking a cautionary step closer, âI did. Every word,â she reassured, attempting another nervous step, âI-Iâve been thinking about it a lot, Iâve had the time,â she chuckled, but the sound didnât quite sound humorous, or even dry, âNo oneâs everâŠloved me like this. You couldâve just left, broken up with me. But you did this,â she glanced around and gestured awkwardly, âYou mustâŠ..care a lot.â
âI do,â the words rushed past his lips and John too drew closer, until Anya was in armâs reach and his hands were able to find her hips, âIâve always caredâŠ.Ani,â he tested the name on his tongue, enjoying the feel of it. It was intimate, pretty and felt like it had somehow brought them closer. The familiarity that it afforded them, it ushered in a closeness that had never been there; it was a private name only to be used intimately and to know her like that was truly a privilege.
âIâve always loved you,â he admitted breathily, âEverything Iâve done was for youâŠ.for us,â John reached out to touch her face in a backhanded caress, evading the fading discoloration of his healing sin, âI knew youâd understand one day,â he bent his head just as she tipped her chin. Like that, they were almost nose to nose, and he suddenly realized how desperate heâd been to be with her like that again.
âI love you,â she whispered, voice husky and soft, âAnd I mean it. I donât understand-â
âYou donât have to,â John cut her off, eager for Anya to just not overthink it. There was a chance for them; all can be forgiven, they can just move on. Like it never happened, like all the heartache nwas never there. âYou donât need to understand,â he reaffirmed.
âI-â His mouth was on hers in an instant, swallowing up any utterance that might have changed her mind. His tongue invaded her mouth, swirling around hers and it had taken a minute for Anyaâs muscles to loosen enough for her to respond, and even when she did, it was clumsy. She didnât seem to know where to put her hands, if they should fall to his forearms, his chest or his neck, and the noises erupting from her throat, surprised and hesitant, proved that she was quite unsure as to what she should be doing.
But nonetheless, she responds.
Tilting her head, Anya shuddered into his mouth, and he could taste the familiar sweetness that persisted on her tongue, so uniquely her that John thought he could get high on it. She was like smooth, full-bodied liquor, and she was like home; intoxicating and tranquilizing at once. âJohn, I-â Between breaths, she tried to get words in, but they were all lost, unnecessary and destined to be unheard, â......John.â His hands slid lower, seeking the hem of her loose camisole only so he could invade it. Heâs missed her skin; its softness, itâs silky warmth. Every touch heâd laid on himself couldnât compare to the feel of Anya, she had paled everything else by just being who she was.
âShh,â he soothed, and her hands found Johnâs hips, just as he was pushing her shorts down, letting the soft, shifty fabric pool around her ankles. âItâs okay,â he promised, moving to guide her hands towards the button and zipper of his jeans, âItâs okay babygirl,â John breathed into her mouth.
When Anya finally undid his pants, he nudged her top off before stepping closer, so her freed breasts were pressed to his wool clad chest. Heâs been waiting for this. Anya was still hesitant, though significantly less so, and she eventually encouraged his jeans lower, right after he'd nudged his shoes off, her eyes meeting his as if to ask for permission to help him undress. âIts okay,â he permitted, encouraging her to lift his sweater over his head. Upon being face to face with his many scars, the freshest one being the closing wound under his ribs on the left side, the gash that Anya had stitched closed about a month earlier. It was still tender, and John knew that it would be easy to reopen, but it really was among the least of his concerns.
Swallowing thickly, Anya leaned forward ever so slightly, effort muted by their proximity, and kissed a thin, white line that ran diagonally over his heart. John could quite remember how heâd gotten it, but he did remember that it had been deep enough to boast the white of his bone, and the sheer, physical pain had been nauseatingly brutal, but her lips on his chest, right over the steady beating of his thawing heart was enough to make the distant memory wholly bearable, because had it not happened, that moment wouldnât have either.
Perhaps thatâs why she believes in fate.
When she raised her head, they kissed again, and gently, John turned and guided her to the nearest surface; the small dining table where her journal was the only thing populating the surface. Every touch was soothingly affectionate, and while it was completely uncharacteristic, John wanted to take his time with her, mind her fragility and ensure that he didnât scare her. He spun her so her back was to his front, and as he peppered nibbles and pecks on the back of her neck, he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her panties, pushing them so theyâd slide down her smooth thighs and gather in a pool of scanty, grey cotton at her feet.
His hands roamed the unfiltered beauty; the tapestry that was her satiny, unblemished skin. Leisured and gentle touches, reveled in every inch of warmth she had to offer; roving from her hips to her bare stomach, and then sliding upwards to cup her breasts. He swears heâd never touched anyone like that, heâs never held anyone with that kind of delicacy. âWeâre gonna be like this,â his nose grazed the back of her ear, just as John planted a sweet, chaste kiss on the warm skin behind its lobe, âForever.â
She shuddered at the word, goosebumps rising on her soft skin, and a hitched breath was Anyaâs only response. Just after grinding slowly on his erection, Anya reached for his hands, pushing one of them down to her dripping arousal. âJohn,â she murmured headily when his rough fingers grazed her folds, dipping between a moment later. âPlease,â she whined as John slowly worked her clit, feeling the swollen bundle of nerves under his touch.
âDo you want me?â He peered close to Anyaâs ear, simultaneously stepping forward so sheâd have no choice but to stumble further into the table, practically falling forward. Her legs were spread slightly, a positioning of his own doing so he could stand between her spread thighs. âAnswer me babygirl,â he prompted when Anya hesitated.
Another impatient whine burst off her lips, âYes,â the admission was soft and unclear, âI want you,â Anya whispered huskily, and John was too caught up in the moment to hear the pitiful remorse laced with her words, that thing that would have told him that she didnât want to want him. Because she doesn't, part of her doesn't. That reminder that says that everything theyâre doing there would seem deranged to some.
But John was consumed with passion and desire and above all, satisfaction to hear it; sheâs right where he wants her. Somehow, by some miracle, he has conditioned -no- taught Anya that he is right for her, he is all she needs.
Just like she is all he will ever need.
âGood,â his digits journeyed just a tad lower, so he could slip them into her tight, drenched, haven. He wasnât sure if her obvious arousal was just an unintentional consequence of where heâd led her, but John couldnât have cared less; heâs put in the work and now heâs getting what he wants.
Months of waiting, planning and preying has paid off; sheâs never escaping, and heâs settled in the feeling that sheâll no longer try to.
Anya is his.
Responding to his ministrations, her hips shifted excitedly and Johnâs eager erection, tenting his boxers, was pressed into her back. His fingers worked her with unmatched expertise; vigorous pumps with his thumb pressed to her nub, while his other hand held Anya in place at her hip. Her lewd mewls were more intoxicating than any poison he could pour down his throat and her heat around his finger, mixing with the taste of her skin under his lips, was near enough to get him off. Near. But John wanted more; greedily, he aches for more.
Without warning, he removed his fingers, two stocky digits being wretched out of her, slick with her arousal, and before going any further, he licked them clean and then angled his head, leaning over her shoulder while she turned her head, so their lips could be crushed together, her taste on his tongue as it roved over hers. Hastily, he shoved his boxers down and then nudged her legs open a little wider. With one hand firmly on her back, John guided Anya, encouraging her to bend over a bit more, leaning forward and so she'd be propped by her hands planted on the smooth surface. He didnât ask for her ready, nor did he offer any real warning before pushing into her.
Her restrained moan was accompanied by his harsh grunt, and with a tight grip maintained on her hip, he began a regimen of controlled and pronounced thrusts, pulling out completely before burying himself as deeply as possible once again. As much as he likes it hot and rapid, without cause or concern for her- or whoever else heâs with- John is determined to extract every bit of gratification from that moment.
Whatâs that thing about savoring?
The symphony of short, stiff grunts seeping through bared teeth was joined by Anyaâs soft whimpers, in sync with each jerked roll of his hips. John buried his face in the back of Anyaâs neck, her skin hot against his lips, the fragrance of her hair thrilling his senses. âJ-John,â she gasped when his movements quickened, and the air around them warmed.
Feeling her around him like that; a cocoon enclosing him so tightly, her body molded just for his, it was incomparably intoxicating. John had never felt so profoundly connected to someone, and it was right then that he realized; he will never, ever feel that way about someone else. There will never be a connection that spans so deeply, a woman so suited to him.
Sheâs pulled stings, played people for puppets and in his own way, he supposes heâs done the same with her.
Their crimes may be different, but sheâs as bad as he is.
Or is that just something he's willing to believe, just so he can justify the whole thing?
John doesnât want to think about it. Dismissing his spinning thoughts, John continued peppering kisses towards the front of her neck, one hand still on her hip while the other rounded to the flat plane of her stomach, journeying upwards until he was squeezing and kneading her breast. Alternating between roughly massaging her boob and rolling her pebbled nipple between his rough fingers.
Eventually, he could feel her thighs starting to tense up, and the sounds erupting from her slender throat became increasingly urgent. âThatâs it,â he guided eagerly as she managed an erotic moan.
âJohnâŠ..JohnâŠ.â Anya whimpered, breathless as her fingers curled, nails scraping on the table, leaving her propped on balled fists, âUhâŠ.â Hair was falling over her face, and John could feel the exertion on her skin, melding with the dampness on his. If it werenât for his hand gripping her hip, she might have fallen forward, and still when her ragged, gasped breaths grew louder, her legs went rigid and John felt the gush of slick moisture ooze out from around his sheathed length, he was taken completely by surprise.
The feel of her pulsating around him was enough to push John to gratification, and like her unmanned breaths, Johnâs strained grunts grew progressively louder as ribbons of hot product further drenched her walls. He could feel her squeezing him tight, milking him for everything as he rode out their mutual highs.
He lingered inside her until Anya had soaked up the final drips of his product and sticky moisture was leaking down her thighs in slow dribbles, and wetting his. Upon pulling out, John gathered Anyaâs quiet frame in his arms, encouraging her to face him. It took a minute, and a bit of urging, but eventually she looked up at him, expression largely indecipherable, though, when he roughly brushed her hair away from her face with clumsy fingers and hasty movements, only to kiss her deeply, Anya responded readily.
She was beautifully breathless, and John pressed his forehead to Anyaâs before divulging softly, âI think itâs time to move you to the big house sweetheart.â
Summary: You agree to meet the man that you had been sexting with for almost a year. You werenât prepared for how your life would change.
Pairing: Donaka Mark x fem. Reader
Wordcount: 2.1 k
Rating: E
Warnings: Sex Toys, Masturbation, Overstimulation, Dirty Talk, Nipple Play, Choking, Handjobs, Smut (unprotected sex) Public sex but not really lol
A/N: This turned out hella soft comparing to anything else I have written for Donaka lmao. This weeks kinktober fic with prompts Masturbation || Nipple play || Choking || Hand jobs || Overstimulation || Sex Toys || Dirty Talk by @the-purity-pen
You were tired.
It was just after 9 am, the biggest rush in the little coffee shop you were working at just finished. You were alone today, Amber, your co-worker bailed on you, not for the first time. God, you wanted to have a normal life. With one job that paid enough instead of three. Where you would get a decent amount of sleep instead of working on your dissertation in between jobs. You wanted a fucking break.
Closing your eyes only for a second you breathed in deeply, finishing the order of a hot chocolate. You handed it over with a smile when you felt your phone in your pocket. You looked around, making sure that everyone was taken care off when you pulled your phone out, seeing it was from him.
D.
Almost a year ago you set up an account on tinder after having a drink too much. D was the only one who swiped right (great for your self esteem). He was⊠mysterious. Unique, and after a year of texting you still didnât know what he looked like. His (and your) profile on tinder long gone, having swapped numbers to text like normal people.
You only knew that he owned a business and was traveling a lot for work. He could be anyone really.
He was the longest running relationship you ever had (even if you were sure you could call it that) and you had never seen or met him. But oh the way he talked to you on the phoneâŠ.
D: Are you wearing it?
You: Yes
D: Rules
You: Iâm not allowed to cum until Iâm home.
D: Good Girl
When you looked up from your phone you caught the eyes of a man across the cafe, looking at you, before he looked away. He was a regular. Always ordering a plain black coffee and sat down exactly on the same spot to read the New York times.
He was attractive, older than you, always dressed in a sharp suit, his brown eyes always kind when they looked at you.
You gripped the counter when you felt the vibrations start. It was the lowest setting. Fuck you were gonna regret this. Months into texting with D he started sending you things. One of the things being an app controlled mini vibrator only he could control.
Youâve had a long day today and D knew it. He probably knew your schedule better than yourself. And he was in town. You would finally meet him. Tomorrow. For the first time. And apparently his goal was to make you beg for him.
The intensity didnât increase over the next hour. Your colleague Mitch was here to take over while you cleaned the counter and made one last order for the handsome mystery guy.
He gave you a small smile, sliding his credit black card over, his phone in his hand, telling you to tip yourself well. You gave him a smile, as you swiped his card, reading his name. Donaka Mark.
You felt your phone in your pocket as you slid him his card back. He was looking at his phone too.
âThank you Mr. Mark. And Iâll see you tomorrow?â you asked.
He pocketed his card, nodding.
âSee you tomorrow,â he winked before he turned around. When he was out, you turned around, saying goodbye to Mitch and got out your phone.
D: Thereâs a box waiting for you at home. Wear it tomorrow.
You: Of course
The intensity of the vibrations went up and your eyes rolled back as you grabbed your bag.
âFuck,â you whispered.
D: You should have gotten yourself a bigger tip.
You blinked at your phone, confused, when you gasped, looking behind you through the front door. Handsome mystery man, Donaka, was standing there looking at you as the vibrations got more intense and you bit your lip as he looked up.
He winked, before he turned around and left while the vibrations stopped. You breathed in deeply, looking after him. He had started to come here almost half a year ago. D⊠Donaka. You shook your head to yourself, still flushed, your cunt slick with arousal.
You: How big?
D: However fucking big you want.
You were a mess by the time you came home. You just wanted to cum. You pushed the box that was waiting for you into your apartment, closing the door behind you. You undressed on your way to your bedroom, grabbing your phone and another vibe and as if he knew youâd be home your phone rang.
âPleaseâŠâ you whimpered and heard him chuckle. You lay down on your bed. The whole day youâd been on the verge to cum and just when you already felt the first waves the vibrations stopped.
âBe a good girl and cum for me. I wanna hear it,â he said with his deep voice. You got out of your drenched panties, pulling the vibe out you had been wearing all day and replaced it with a bigger one.
âIt will be my hands making you cum tomorrow,â he said and you whined.
âAnd my cock. Wanna make you scream my nameâŠâ
âDâŠâ you moaned, fucking yourself with your vibe.
âSay my nameâŠ.â he growled.
âDonakaâŠ.â you gasped, rolling your hips.
âSuch a good fucking girlâŠ. Come on. Cum. You earned it.â
You almost screamed when you finally came harder than you ever had before. You felt your whole body tingling, your legs shaking.
âFuckâŠâ you moaned, turning the vibe of and relaxed your body into the soft covers beneath you.
âWhy didnât you tell me?â you asked, suddenly very tired, you put your blanket over yourself.
âI had to be sureâŠâ
âSure of what?â
âThat youâre the right one,â he said and you smiled.
âI like that.â
âSleep. My driver will pick you up at 6pm tomorrow.â
âOkay. Good night Donaka.â
Of course you googled Donaka before you left. You might have been texting with him for a year, but now that you knew⊠Fuck. You werenât prepared. One of the wealthiest people in the city, made it to the list of most attractive bachelors for every year since 2004.
And you were about to meet him for dinner.
You would be lying if you were saying that you havenât been attracted to him before. There were nights the two of you spent just talking. He seemed very lonely to you, only opening up slowly.
And now you were sitting in his car, wearing the clothes he bought for you, the Tiffany necklace that he had gifted you for your birthday and the heels he had sent you.
You were feeling like a million bucks and you wondered if he felt like that all the time.
The car stopped and the door opened. You stepped out, looking around and up the tall building.
âItâs on the topfloor Miss. The elevator on the right,â the driver said with a smile and you nodded.
Stepping into the building you walked towards the elevator that was already waiting for you, bringing you to the top floor. You were nervous. This wasnât something you were used to. You worked three jobs that made barely enough money to afford your life. You didnât go to fancy dinners in fancy restaurants. You closed your eyes, taking deep breaths. The elevator stopped, the doors sliding open and you opened your eyes just in time to see Donaka standing there. He was wearing a black suit, with a black dress shirt beneath, his hands in his pockets.
You took a step back when he stepped into the elevator, resting your back against the wall. âYou look beautiful,â he said and you smiled a little.
âYou have good taste,â you said hoarsely.
âI know,â he stepped closer and you bit your lip, swallowing.
âWhat⊠What are you doing here?â you asked and he furrowed his brows.
âI mean why are you here and not upstairs?â
âI live here,â he said, his chest now against yours.
You chuckled to yourself, shaking your head.
âWhatâs wrong?â he asked.
âThis isnât me. IâŠâ
âDonât. Donât think. Let me treat you to a night out. You deserve it,â he whispered and you let your head fall back against the wall to look up at him. He was even more handsome up close, his dark eyes searching for yours. You reached one of your hands up into his neck.
âOkay,â you whispered, before you pulled him down to kiss him.
You didnât understand half of the meals on the menu so Donaka ordered for both of you and it was delicious. Probably the best food you had in years. Donakaâs eyes didnât leave you the whole evening. You learned pretty quickly that he wasnât a big fan of PDA but you loved to tease him. Letting one of your feet run up his thigh, leaning over the table, so he could see your lack of bra in the dress he bought you.
His eyes seemed to get darker and darker until he asked for the check.
âYou are playing with fire,â he said lowly.
âMaybe I like to get burned,â you grinned and he breathed in deeply. The waiter came and swiped Donakaâs card. Your eyes never left Donakaâs until he got up and then helped you up. His hand was resting on your lower back as he guided you towards the elevator. When the doors opened you walked in as Donaka pushed various buttons before he turned around and pushed you against the wall, his lips on yours.
âTeasing me is not something many people surviveâŠâ he groaned against your lips, his hands already pushing your dress up. You whimpered.
âWanted to bend you over the fucking table and make you scream my name for everyone to see,â he kissed down your throat, his hands pulling your dress down to reveal your tits to him. A part of you was aware that you were in an elevator that could stop any time but fuck you didnât care. Not with the way he was touching you.
You brought one of your hands in between your bodys. You didnât ask as you pulled at the Zipper of his pants, pushing your hand in to find his hard cock as he bit down on your breast.
âFuckâŠâ you both moaned and he looked up at you. His lips closed around one of your nipples sucking it in. He brought one of his hands up, resting on your throat. You groaned, your other hand pushing into his pants to pull his cock out. He flickered his tongue over your nipple, using his teeth to pull at it while you began to pump his cock in your hand.
âCan you cum like this?â he mumbled against your skin. You tried to shake your head but his grip around your throat tightened and you whimpered.
He pulled at your other nipple and you pumped him harder.
âFuck youâre good at this. Wanna be inside youâŠ.â he groaned, choking you a little harder.
âFuck meâŠ. Please⊠PleaseâŠ.â he let go of you to hoist you up against the wall, his pants hitting the floor. He wasted no time, pushing your panties to the side, thrusting into you in one fluent motion just when the elevator doors opened.
âDonakaâŠ.â you whimpered. His hand was around your throat again while you held on to his shoulders, your legs around his waist as he fucked you against the wall like you weighed nothing.
âShhhâŠâ he hummed, dark eyes finding yours as his hand around your throat gripped harder, choking you. Fuck you were so close.
âWaited so long for this. FuckâŠâ he groaned. You were looking at him, your brain blissfully foggy as he thrusted hard and you came, surprised from the intensity and he let go of his grip around your throat, letting you breathe as he fucked you through your orgasm.
âFuck DâŠâ
âNever letting you leaveâŠâ he moaned, pumping into you faster, biting down on your breast, hard.
âShitâŠâ you yelped and felt him pulse inside, filling you up.
You both tried to slow down your breathing before he carried you out of the elevator.
âDonakaâŠ.â you tried to get off of him but he only gripped you tighter.
âWhat?â
âWhere⊠There⊠People?â you stammered and he chuckled.
âPrivate elevator. I own the building,â he shrugged and you blinked your eyes.
The new home in Monterey was a haven for them in many ways but as Kerry entered her 19th week, Keanuâs mood seemed to slump and he began having regular nightmares.
Heâd wake up, dripping in sweat and wild-eyed, trying not to disturb Kerry. Sometimes it was a memory of Ava, others it was Kerry experiencing the stillbirth or heâd be plagued by horrific scenes of Kerry screaming covered in blood. He didnât share what was going on, not wanting to scare her, but one night, he flailed about so much that she woke and had to shake him awake to stop it.
After fetching him a herbal tea for his frayed nerves, she addressed the issue.
âKeanu, I know thereâs something youâre not telling me. Itâs like when I didnât come to Florida, you bottled up whatever was bothering you and I couldnât reach you but you can tell me anything. If youâre scared about the baby, about losing them, please donât think that Iâm not, donât think you canât share thatâ
He drew in a sharp breath and she knew sheâd landed on the truth
âButâ
âBut nothing, Iâm here and Iâm scared too. Every day I feel that fear and I give myself a stern talking to at the start of the day but it never fully goes away. We should share our fears, or we can talk to someone, a counselor - remember the midwife said that was available when we first registered with them. Or you said you saw a therapist a while back, would that be better? Someone you already have a relationship with? And come with me tomorrow to see the midwife, you can hear the heartbeat, that always makes me feel betterâ
He hugged her close.
âIâm sorry. I shouldnât have kept it from you. I just didnât want to burden you with my demonsâ
âA problem sharedâŠ.â She offered
âIs a problem halvedâ he replied.
âExactlyâ she said giving him a gentle kiss.
Keanu couldnât quite shake the nightmares, but things did get easier from then on. They would joke about tag-teaming on being O for optimistic versus SS for shit scared trying to not both hit SS mode at the same time.
And as they hit new milestones like the 20-week scan and feeling the baby move, at last they had regular reassurances that all was well. There were some panicky moments, first with Kerry developing anemia which caused her to faint a couple of times before they figured out the cause. Fortunately, sheâd just fallen onto the bed and the sofa so there was no harm done. The second panic, however, was rather more serious.
Kerry was 37 weeks along, feeling like a beached whale but still managing to walk Scout each day. Their home had stone steps leading down to the shore and on this day, sheâd set off alone with Scout. Keanu had forgotten his shades and had popped back inside to fetch them.
What he found as he made his way down the steps to join her was Kerry sitting on one of the steps in tears, grazes on her knee and elbow, and a very sore behind and wrist.
âShit shit shit, what happened?â
âlost my balanceâ she sniffed âand went down like a sack of spuds, but I didnât fall on bump, put my hand out, owwwâ
Keanu had to go into calm mode, swallowing down his rising panic and do his utmost to reassure her.
âCan you stand? Letâs get you up and over to the ER, get you checked outâ
He helped her to stand, trying to avoid bashing the sore wrist which he feared could be broken, and slowly they got back up to the house with Scout whining his concern all the way there.
Having got her a drink, he quickly found the hospital bag and got her settled in the car before setting off, repressing the instinct to drive as fast as possible. He had precious cargo on board.
When Kerry was examined, they found that the fall had indeed started things off and she was already 3 cm dilated.
âNo turning back nowâ he said smiling, still trying to be the calm one.
Kerry had a heart monitor strapped around her belly at this point and they could hear the rapid but steady beat of the babyâs heart.
She took his face in her hands and kissed him, feeling a great sense of calm come over her, enough for the both of them.
âKeanu, itâs going to be OK, do you hear that? Thatâs our baby and they are coming, donât worry. They are coming.â
Her head fell back on the pillow then as a contraction hit. He held her hand feeling both the power of new life battling to be set free and her power in helping it come to fruition. Thatâs when he let all the fear go, all the awful images and memories of his nightmares floated away and finally, he was in the moment, helping his son come into the world.
It would be 6 long hours of sweat, screams and pain but baby Jago Alexander Reeves came into the world, screaming bloody murder to the delight of his parents and the staff looking after them. It was a tad earlier than expected but there had been no harm done from Kerryâs tumble and luckily her wrist was just sprained, not broken. Sheâd need some help with feeding at first, but Dad was on hand to do whatever was required.
They were home 2 days later and despite their mature years, still felt that same sense of shock that all parents feel, that the medics had actually let them come home to be in sole charge of this tiny infant. They plonked him in his car seat on the floor and sat beside him on the sofa, just staring down at him, in awe of his tiny fingers and fingernails, tiny everything.
Kerryâs phone pinged and she saw there was a notification of a new Griefcast episode. She had sent Cariad a picture of Jago the day before and decided to hit play on instinct. They both listened as the podcast began.
âHey Griefsters, hope youâre having an OK week, I know it can be a tough time with dark nights and Christmas around the corner. Before we get to this weekâs guest, I just wanted to share a truly lovely, uplifting story that just filled me with joy yesterday. You may remember that I interviewed Keanu Reeves, about a year ago now about the death of his daughter many years ago when she was stillborn. Well, Keanu met a lady last year and she, clever woman, introduced him to this little show and persuaded him to come on. Well turns out, he fell in love with her and now theyâre together and 2 days ago they had the most beautiful baby boy, Jago. So I just wanted to say a big congratulations to the three of them and wish them all the happiness in the world with their new family.â
Kerry looked over at Keanu, tears in her eyes, only to see Keanu had given up the battle. He pulled her close and held her in his arm until Jago stirred and their parenting journey truly began.
Keanu tapped his foot absent-mindedly as they waited for their scan appointment time. Kerry placed a hand on his knee to calm him. The truth was, she was anxious too but it took her mind off it to try and soothe his frayed nerves. Fortunately, there wasnât anyone else waiting as the appointments were well spaced out so they didnât need to be worried about him being recognised and asked for a selfie!
Finally, the door opened and a couple came out, smiling and holding a string of images of their baby. Kerry and Keanu each crossed their fingers, praying that they would have good news too.
Keanu sat at the side of the examination table and held Kerryâs hand as the sonographer squidged on the cold jelly and prepared to show them their baby.
Keanu let out the breath he didnât realise heâd been holding as a clear image of their baby came into view. Kerry looked over at him - tears were rolling down both their cheeks with the relief that he or she was still there and growing just as they should be. The sonographer took their time doing all the necessary measurements and checks and explaining what they could see on the screen as she did so.
âLook babyâs hiccoughing there, did you see?â
At the end, they were given photos and a recording of the whole thing would be emailed later.
They left the hospital both feeling high on the joy of the moment. Kerry texted her sister the good news and then Keanu took her to the nearest restaurant they could find - Kerry was ravenous!
Over lunch they talked about the return to the US and Keanu shared something with her that heâd been pondering whilst he was away. Instead of going back to LA, he suggested they fly into San Francisco and take another trip down through Big Sur, maybe to Monterey or Carmel by the Sea. Perhaps a setting a little away from the hubbub of LA and somewhere with towering cliffs would be somewhere more like home that they could be based while in California.
After lunch they headed back to their hotel so Kerry could have a nap â she couldnât remember ever feeling so tired before. Keanu tucked her in and pulled the curtains then headed out on a secret mission to a department store heâd spotted on their walk back. When Kerry woke up, Keanu had stripped down to his boxers and climbed in next to her She saw a small parcel in silver paper and tied with a bow on his bedside table.
âWhatâs that?â
âJust picked up a couple of things for youâ he grinned âwhile you were sleepingâ
âaww let me seeâ
He handed her the parcel which she tore open, discovering 2 adorable baby-grows -one featuring jungle animals on a white background and the other simply emblazoned with âI love my mummyâ on the front!
âTheyâre adorable, thankyouâ
She set them aside and leaned in for a kiss which he returned. She blinked away a tear, seeing so much love reflected in his eyes. He wiped it away with his thumb.
âWhatâs up?â
âNothing, absolutely nothingâ she replied âhappy tears, you make me so happy,â she said before kissing him again. The kiss started out chaste but soon became more passionate and he eased her over onto her back and started to gently stroke her neck, moving down to her shoulders and towards her breasts.
âThis OK?â he asked, unsure if she would feel ready yet, but desperate, after over 2 months, to make love again.
She just nodded and pulled him down into another kiss, moaning as his hands stroked her nipples through her bra. He made light work of removing their clothes, finishing, with her panties which he threw aside before burying his eager face in her pussy.
Kerryâs breath came in short gasps at the sensation of his tongue exploring her folds and teasing her clit.
âGod Iâve missed youâ she cried.
He looked up and grinned
âJust for the cunnilingus?â he joked mirroring what sheâd said to him about her hand-jobs a few days before.
He returned to his task and she stroked his head as he moaned into her, the vibrations of his voice adding another level to her pleasure
âholy fuckâ was her next response as he flicked fast over the swollen nub. Sensing she was getting close, he paused and kneeled up for a moment. His chin was covered in her flowing juices.
âReady to come for me baby?â he said with a teasing look as he licked two long fingers and prepared to push them inside her.
Then he started to lick her again, sliding one hand under her to raise her hips towards his face as his welcome fingers slid inside.
As he began to pump, she thrust her pussy against his hand, she couldnât get enough of him. His fingers curled with each thrust, seeking her g-spot whilst his tongue was rotating around her increasingly hard and swollen clit. Judging the moment perfectly, he switched to sucking, his whole mouth over her pussy and thatâs when she let go - a long, loud moan and a flood of juices accompanying the fluttering and clenching of her cunt around his fingers.
He laid his head on her stomach and kissed it.
âNow that was your mommy cumming baby, sheâs loud, isnât she? And while youâre in there is hopefully the only time youâll hear that!
Kerry giggled, still a little breathless from the exertion of her orgasm.
Keanu crawled up, straddling her, and kissed her, letting her taste what sheâd released all over his face. By now his hard cock was pressing close to her entrance and she let him know she was ready for him, opening her legs and raising her hips to allow his gentle entry. They both moaned as he found his way home. He moved slowly and didnât push as far as he would normally to start with, but she soon encouraged him.
âItâs OK darling, more, all of you, please, donât stopâ
âOh god I love you, so much, ah ah, God yesâ
Her pussy was already starting to spasm around him and he couldnât have stopped in a million years even if he wanted to. Her screams took him beyond himself and he came, his face crimson and eyes locked with hers as they shared their joy.
Just 10 days later, Kerry found herself on the terrace of a beautiful cabin-style home on the outskirts of Monterey. The view was breathtaking, stretching several miles along the coast. Keanu stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her, hands gently cradling her small baby bump. He whispered in her ear.
âSo what do you think, can you see us here, the three of us?â
âmmmmâ she sighed, turning to give him a kiss.
âI love it â and itâs great that we can rent it, gives us a chance to see if it works for you, you know for workâ
âand if it does, we can look for somewhere to buy or even build something of our ownâ
âYouâre so generous do you know that?â
ânaaaah â you know what I sayâ
âCanât take it with youâ they said together giggling.
âRight so we should enjoy its bounty OK? You, me, and the baby.â
After a few more days exploring the area, they headed back to LA where there were announcements to be made.
âYouâre what?!â his mother said sharply at the news, not really believing her ears.
âWeâre expecting a baby ma, in December. Kerry is a little over 3 months along now.â
âWas this planned?â
Kerry looked down at her feet, feeling the piercing gaze of Patricia on her.
âYes ma, very much and weâre both delighted about it, OK?â
âWell, OK then, congratulations, Kerry how are you feeling?â
âMuch better now, the sickness is gone, and having the scan gave us, you know, some reassuranceâ
His mother seemed to relax then and asked to see the pictures, even getting a little teary as she looked at the images of her grandchild.
âKim and Karina will be thrilled, they always wanted to be aunties.â
âand you a granny at lastâ he teased.
âmmm Iâll have to let that one sink inâ she laughed.
She was less impressed at the news that they would be renting a place in Monterey and spending far less time in LA but Keanu promised heâd always visit when he was in town and reminded her how often he was out of town with work in any case.
âAnd you can visit us up there â the place weâve found has 5 bedrooms so plenty of space for us, the baby, and visitors.â
The news was greeted with surprise, excitement and joy by the rest of their family and friends. Keanu guessed Autumn would find out via the grapevine, but he made no effort to include her.
They also had a meeting with Cheryl, his publicist, choosing to wait until they were asked rather than make a formal announcement. Theyâd never even confirmed officially that they were a couple, Keanu preferring not to share anything about his private life in a formal way and Kerry being perfectly happy with that arrangement.
For the next few weeks, they stayed in LA but made preparations for the move to Monterey in July deciding what they might want to ship there and what they needed to buy new. Kerry was glad of the distraction this provided.
Distraction was good because of the fear in the back of her mind that this pregnancy wouldnât last either and on top of that, the film Keanu had shot in Cornwall would have its premiere at the end of June and heâd asked her to attend with him. She was already showing so by then the pregnancy would be unmistakable. The process of being dressed for the event was entirely alien to Kerry and took some getting used to. Karina was her buddy supporting her with it, for which she was eternally grateful. They chose an empire line dress in a light turquoise fabric which complimented her fair complexion. The skirt was full and would accommodate the growing bump and the seamstress would make the final adjustments to the bust the day before.
When the day arrived, Kerry couldnât quite believe the hoopla around such an event. They couldnât dress at home, oh no, a suite was booked in a Downtown 5-star hotel where theyâd be primped and preened before a limo took them to Mannâs Chinese theatre.
As they made their way down in the elevator with Cheryl, Keanu held her hand, rubbing little circles over it with his thumb.
âSmileâ Cheryl encouraged âIâll be right there the whole time so if he gets pulled away to an interviewer or to the crowd, youâll never be alone ok. Theyâll love you, youâve made him happy.
That broke the tension a little and Keanu squeezed her hand and grinned.
âOff we go - and donât forget you get to see your favourite place on the big screen too.â
Happily, there werenât hordes of press at the hotel so she had time to prepare a little for the pop of flashbulbs and the noisy crowd that they were about to face on the short journey to the theatre. Nothing can really prepare you, but Keanu and Cheryl both worked hard to make it bearable by always talking to her, making her see the funny side of it all.
Kerry felt proud to be by his side and support him in his work, but the aftermath of the public appearance was intense scrutiny. She turned off all her social media and didnât dare to look at any press. She knew from friends that it was filled with stories that focussed in on Keanuâs previous unhappy experience with Ava and Jen, making comparisons and, she knew, speculating if it would happen again. They were also stalked by paparazzi everywhere they went and were relieved that they would soon be out of the Hollywood glare.
He didnât say anything, just looked from the fridge to her, his eyes wide, a stunned expression on his face. Her eyes tracked to the place he was focussed on, on the fridge door. They had bought a fridge magnet from Tresco Abbey on their visit the previous year and, tucked under it, was the 8-week scan picture.
She approached him slowly, wondering about his reaction. Was he angry that sheâd kept this a secret? Was he happy?
âKeanu,â she said again when she was standing right in front of him, âKeanu sweetheart, weâre going to have a baby. Thatâs your baby there a few weeks ago, at 8 weeks. Iâm 11 weeks now and Iâm sorrâ
She couldnât even get the word âsorryâ out before he was giving her a smacker of a kiss and hugging her close.
âWe did it? We really did it, back in LA before I left?â
She nodded, tears flowing down her cheeks now, seeing from his broad smile and excited exclamation that he was truly happy.
âUh-huh, I only found out when I got here. But I didnât want to worry you when you were so far away. I wanted to tell you face to face.â
âI think I need a sit-down,â he said âthen you can update me on everythingâ
She chuckled.
âCome on, letâs go sit out on the swing seat. Thatâs our place for big chats right?â
âRightâ he grinned.
They sat swinging in the sunshine and she updated him on her health, the due date, her worries, and the advice of the consultant.
âYou used the medical cover right?â
âYes, thank youâ she squeezed his hand, âI really appreciated that. Meant I could see a good specialist quickly. And the next scan is in 2 days, back in London. If that all goes well, we can make arrangements to fly backâ
âAnd itâs safe right?â
âYes - to be honest, it was probably safe already but she just advised that I not do anything that I could later blame myself for if I lost the baby in the early weeks. She recommended calm and rest so thatâs what Iâve been doing. He hugged her to him again.
âIâm so relieved, I was worried when you didnât come back that there was something wrong, that youâd decided we werenât enough, that you preferred it here, alone to being in LA with me. I know it wasnât your favourite place and I was being difficult beforeâŠâŠâ
âI was worried tooâ
âWhy?â
She took a deep breath.
âCan I ask you something? About your past?â
âSure âŠ.why?â he looked curiously at her wondering what on earth from his past had worried her.
âWhen you had a girlfriend before, and you had to go on location, would you be, errr faithful or did you, you know fool around?â
âI would neverâ he started to protest
âNo hear me out, would you say to your girlfriends that you couldnât promise to stay faithful when you were away?â
âOh, well, yeah thatâs true, back in the day, I found monogamy hard. But thatâs because the girlfriends I had back then, they were neverâŠâŠ it was never real enough you know, there was never anyone who I loved like I love youâ
âIs that how it was, with Autumn?â
âYeah, yes, it was.â He paused as a thought occurred to him âDid she say something to you?â
Kerry nodded, swallowing hard at the memory.
âWhat? What did she say?â
âShe âŠâ Kerry took another breath, âshe asked how I was coping with your whole âwhat happens on location, stays on locationâ thing and, she saidâ Kerry couldnât finish.
âWhat?â
âShe said a leopard never changes its spotsâ
âMan, she is a piece of work!â
âmmmmâ was all Kerry could say.
âis that why you came back here?â
âYeah a bit, it just messed with my mind and I was obviously a hormonal mess without realising it as well. I was impressionable you know?â
âIâm so sorry she said that, thatâs low and, I dunno, I thought she was over it and she was my friend âŠâŠ. Clearly notâ
âIâm sorry hunâ
âYeah, me too â and I promise you, those days are over. I am faithful, happy with monogamy now. I would never do anything to hurt you, especially not that, OK?â
âOkâ
Their updates completed, Keanu found himself yawning, still suffering from jet lag, so he took a nap while Kerry went in search of something for dinner from the deli. Keanu found her baking a quiche when he returned to the kitchen. He stood and watched her for a moment before she noticed him
âYou really are glowing you know. When I got here and found you sleeping, I could see it but I just thought it was the sea air, but you look âŠ.radiant, so very beautifulâ Kerry smiled
âThank you âŠ.Youâre lucky you missed the vomiting weeks, not so beautiful then!â she said as she popped the quiche in the oven.
âCome 'ere Iâll make it up to you. I would have held your hair back and rubbed your back if Iâd been there.â
âI know hunâ
She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a little peck on the lips.
âBut you feel good now?â
âYeah, yes. Still scared, but well.â
âI donât think being scared is ever going to leave us is it?â
âNot unless theyâve invented a portable ultrasound that you can have strapped on permanently, no.â
âItâll be ok, Iâll keep you safe, I promiseâ
âAfter dinner and a quick night-time walk with Scout, they headed up for an early night.
In the bedroom Kerry started to undress when Keanu stopped her.
âLet meâ
âI canât, we canâtâ she started, thinking that he wanted to undress her as a preamble to sex.
âNo no I know, that can wait. I just want to see you. Then Iâm going to take a quick shower, I still feel grubby from traveling.â
He took over undoing the buttons of her grandad-style shirt, taking it off and placing it on the chair in the corner of her room. Then he untied the bow on her wrap skirt and unwound the layers so she could step out. He reached out and felt her slightly rounded belly.
âOoh itâs firmer â
âYeah I just noticed that too. They call it thickening, itâs the walls of the uterus changing.â
âAmazing, so wonderfulâ he marveled leaning in to kiss her.
Then he reached round to undo her bra sliding the straps off and pulling it away to reveal her heavier breasts, areola darkening already.
âDo they hurt?â he asked, reaching out to touch them but not wanting to hurt her.
âJust a little tenderâ
He cupped one in each hand and moaned.
âWow, they were already gorgeous but now!â
She giggled
âI thought youâd like that aspect!â
He grinned then kissed her before turning away to undress for his shower.
âShall I join you?â
âSure, Iâd like thatâ
âWe can do that thing you like me doing, no need for you to go without!â
He grinned and rushed to take off the rest of his clothes and get the shower running. Kerry had had a large shower installed when she bought the house and did a few renovations to it, so there was room for two. As the steam billowed up, she lathered a shower puff and rubbed it over his firm chest and down to his groin cupping his balls with her other hand.
He steadied himself with one arm pushed against the tiles and the other around her waist. His eyes closed as the pleasure coursed through his veins.
His cock was already standing to attention and Kerry dropped the shower puff and wrapped her fingers around the shaft. She gripped it at the top, then she slowly pulled the foreskin down to reveal the head as she kissed him passionately, starting to Jack him slowly. With the fingers of her other hand, she softly rubbed the area under his balls making him groan deep in his throat.
âGod I missed you!â
âJust for my hand jobs ?â she giggled
âNo, but yeah youâre so good âŠ.. the way you touch me âŠ.. aghhhâ he moaned again as she increased the pace and kissed him again.
Kerry loved the control she had over him and the pleasure she gave him when she did this. As she increased the pace again and gripped just a little tighter, she could feel him stiffen as he got close. Their lips parted as he came.
âFuuuckâ he shouted as his cum sprayed out over her hand.
He pulled her to him, laying his head on her shoulder and breathing hard.
âThank you, woah, that was a whole lot of sexual tension you just relieved there! You sure you donât want anything?â he asked after his hand wandered to her folds which were wet.
She declined, feeling strange even about the exertion and possible impact cumming could have.
âI know Iâm being superstitious but letâs just wait till after the scanâ
The GP took Kerryâs details and suggested, given her age and history, that she use her private medicine to see a pregnancy specialist to get an early scan and review her care.
A week later, Kerry found herself sitting in the waiting room at St Maryâs Hospital Paddington. The consultant was a lady in her early 60s who asked her history and took all the details of the 2 miscarriages. Then she asked Kerry to pop up on the bed ready for a scan. She eased her jeans and knickers down and the consultant smeared on the cold jelly and started to move the wand over her belly. Kerry held her breath looking at the screen, remembering the times when nothing could be seen or a still image of a dead embryo was there.
After a few moments, the consultant announced
âThere you are, little tyke hiding.â
Tears fell then as Kerry looked at the tiny kidney bean shape on the screen flickering away.
The consultant squeezed her hand, understanding the emotion of the moment.
Measurements were taken and they aligned with a pregnancy of 8 weeks. She could also see the signs of a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome which does come with a slightly elevated risk of miscarriage, possibly explaining the first 2 lost pregnancies years ago as well as the struggle previously to get pregnant and the occasionally irregular periods. Kerryâs biggest fear was that it would happen again. The consultantâs main advice was folic acid and rest but based on how anxious Kerry was, she also suggested that she didnât fly back to LA until sheâd reached 12 weeks. This wasnât due to any real risk but having experience of many pregnant women with fertility and or loss issues, she knew that they could blame themselves for a loss based on the tiniest thing that probably had nothing to do with it, but they would beat themselves up all the same.
âSo go somewhere you feel calm - you said youâre a writer didnât you?So I guess you can do that anywhereâ Kerry nodded thinking of her argument with Keanu.
âand weâll book you in for another scan at 12 weeks and after that, you can head back to LA and your partnerâ
A few days later, Kerry was on the train headed for Penzance. Sheâd had a few quick phone calls with Keanu since being back in UK â she was relieved that he hadnât been able to video call as the only time that worked was when he was heading out to set at 7am their time as he wasnât getting back til 10 at night when she would be asleep again, so quick phone calls were the easiest thing along with the odd text when he was waiting around on set. He had another couple of weeks on location which took them, unbeknown to him, to her 11th week. She said sheâd try to schedule her return to coincide with his, counting on saying later that she couldnât get a flight with the dog travel in time to get around why she wasnât going to make it.
The consultant was right that being somewhere where she felt calm would help and Kerry settled back to her old Sennen routine of walks on the beach and writing. The sickness was pretty bad during weeks 9 and 10 but was settling as she headed into week 11. She even found herself hopeful enough to work out the due date of December 1st though she didnât dare write it down anywhere!
The shoot was over and Keanu was due home, but she hadnât spoken to him in a few days since the end of the shoot was frantic, followed by a wrap party and then he had to travel home. When he finally called, from LA this time rather than Florida, he was disappointed that she hadnât made it back. Kerry finessed her excuse about the flight saying sheâd been about to book the one to be there by now but Scout had got an abscess on her paw and she wanted to be sure he was fully recovered before booking the flight. He accepted this and offered to get his PA on the case to help secure something as soon as she was confident that Scout was OK. When he did call his PA though, he had a different idea. He hoped Kerry would like it. She hadnât been very chatty on their call and he worried that absence hadnât made the heart grow fonder or that sheâd realised she preferred life in Sennen alone to life in LA with him.
Truth be told, she was still concerned about their relationship, could they make it work with their work commitments? Had it been a flash in the pan, a whirlwind romance and not true love? But she missed him so much and she could see the care in his eyes when they spoke â her worries based on Autumnâs comments had eased and she planned to make arrangements to fly back to LA as soon sheâd had the 12-week scan.
3 days later, Kerry took Scout for her usual late morning walk and tired them both out with the fresh air and exercise. After a quick sandwich, she lay down on the sofa for a nap and Scout curled up in his basket.
Keanuâs car pulled up at the house in Sennen at 2pm. He thanked the driver, hauled his bag from the car boot and made his way to the kitchen door. It was a warm day and he found it open. He called out but nobody answered so he dropped his bag and went in search of Kerry. He found her still sleeping on the sofa, a snuggle blanket draped over her and her hair held back in a loose ponytail. Scout was still sleeping, fortunately, so there was no excited barking to disturb Kerryâs sleep. She looked different to him somehow but he couldnât put his finger on it. He thought it was probably just being out in the sea air more that had given her cheeks a soft glow.
He decided to leave her sleeping and make himself a coffee so he crept back to the kitchen. The sounds of him finding a cup and filling the kettle floated through to the living room and Scout stirred making a quiet bark as he trotted through.
âHello boy, itâs just meâ Keanu cooed in a low voice giving him a rub on the head. He went to the fridge to fetch the milk and stopped in his tracks.
Thatâs how Kerry found him as she stumbled through sleepily wondering what the noise was.
By the end of the week, having made the various arrangements for her trip and Keanuâs home in her absence, she was checking in Scout at the airport for his special transit for the journey home. Back with her sister the following day, she took to her bed straight away â the extra time to check-in Scout then wait for him to have his checks at the other end meant sheâd been travelling for close to 24 hours!
âSo spillâ Rosie said the following morning over breakfast.
âSpill what?â Kerry replied, shifting in her seat sensing where this was going.
âWhy are you here? Is there trouble in paradise? Has he hurt you?, I mean, no offence, but you look dreadful!â
âThanks!â Kerry retorted. âI was traveling for like 24 hours basically, it took it out of meâ
âSo thereâs nothing wrong?â
Kerryâs eyes filled with tears. She tried to hold them in, but it was impossible.
âI donât knowâ she sniffed.
âYou donât know if anythingâs wrong, yet youâve flown home out of the blue and now youâre crying in my kitchen!â Rosie scoffed.
Kerry shrugged.
âI meant I donât really know if anythingâs wrong. And I came home because Keanuâs on location, theyâre doing long days on set, my course finished and I was lonely in LAâ
âAnd you didnât want to be with your new love to solve the loneliness even if it was just to spend your nights together?â
Kerry drew a deep breath.
âSomeone told me something that made me think twice, thatâs allâ
âWho? What?â
âThis woman, Autumn, an ex of hisâ
âYou talk to his ex?
âexes actuallyâ
âReally, why would you?â
âCoz heâs still friends with them and I think heâd asked her to check on me while he was awayâ
âAnd what did she sayâ
Kerry drew another shaky breath.
âShe said he had always had âŠ.. flings I guess while away on location because he couldnât go without for that long âŠ. She said he has a thing âŠ. âWhat happens on location stays on locationââ
âAnd do you like this woman, trust her?â
âSheâs OK âŠ.. his sister told me sheâs pissed off that she didnât hold onto him, thatâs why sheâs all touchy-feely with him and always goes on about things from long ago, you know to show how sheâs the more established one than meâ
âSound to me like you should take what she says with a massive pinch of saltâ Rosie scoffed.
âAnd heâs never said anything to make you think that way?â
âNo, and she sort of implied Iâd know the rule, like he would have told me this before he leftâ
âWell, there you are then, itâs obviously a thing from the past. When did she go out with him anyway?â
âThe early 90s I thinkâ
âSo he was, what?, in his 30s then? and doing roles like Point Break, hot and in demand - not saying heâs not now, but you know what I mean, so thatâs perhaps what he told her and now sheâs probably mad as hell that heâs with you and being faithfulâ
Kerry nodded, she could see in the cold light of Rosieâs analysis that she was being irrational but still the tears came.
âHey, whatâs with you, itâs not like you to be such a watering pot, so irrational. Come on drink upâ she encouraged, handing Kerry her coffee.
Straight away, Kerry went pale, slammed the coffee down, and ran to the toilet.
When she returned, Rosie had a smug grin all over her face.
âSo youâre pregnant then?!â
âWhat?!â
âCome on donât be coy, itâs so obviousâ
Kerryâs mouth fell open. The thought hadnât even crossed her mind, sheâd been so preoccupied with worrying about Keanuâs nefarious activities on location.
âYou mean it hadnât occurred to you? I mean youâre exhausted and more than just jet-lagged, youâre over-emotional and now coffee just made you heave âŠâŠ not to be too personal but are you using contraception?â
She shook her head slowly
âNo, errr, we umâ
âyouâre trying! And still you didnât suspect?â
âIâve been preoccupied!â Kerry defended.
âYes, with some bullshit story spun by a jealous ex-girlfriend!â
Kerry couldnât help but smile at that.
âSo, when was your last period. Come on letâs work it out, you should get a testâ
Kerry grabbed her diary
â7 weeks ago! I hadnât thought about it. Sometimes they are a bit all over the place though. Could be nothingâŠ..â
Rosie clapped her hands together excitedly.
âI donât think so - Iâll go buy you a test. You stay put, put your feet up, eat some ginger biscuits â that might help, Thereâs some in the cupboardâ
And with that she was off, returning half an hour later with a pack of 2 digital tests and a confident purchase of some folic acid tablets and more ginger biscuits.
Kerry retreated to the bathroom and did the first test, sitting on the toilet head in hands while she waited. She didnât know if excitement or terror was the predominant emotion. The last couple of months had been rocky in their relationship and she still didnât know why heâd been so weird about her not going on location with him. The timer on her phone pulled her out of her musings with a start. She turned the test over and gasped as she read the word âpregnantâ in the results window. Tears streamed down her face, again a mix of sad and happy. A knock on the door startled her and she told her sister to come in.
Seeing her face, Rosie smiled âI take it you are pregnant then sweetie?â
Kerry just nodded.
âCome on, letâs go get you some breakfast and decide what to do next OK?â
âDo?â
âYeah, like seeing a doctor, calling Keanu, going back to LA âŠ..â
âBut Iâm going to Sennenâ
âWell OK, I guess you should now youâre here, but the other stuff, telling him, the ..
âIâm not telling him over the phoneâ Kerry interrupted
âButâŠ..â
âBut nothing, I need time to absorb itâ
Rosie backed off, seeing Kerry was just too on edge to think straight but she did get her to make an appointment with Rosieâs GP for the next day.
Once they were back in LA after the shoot, Kerry continued to work on her novel. Keanuâs film had moved to studio shoot stage and he was once again working long days. They tried to organise their time so they had time together but often Kerry would eat her evening meal alone, walk Scout and be almost ready for bed on his return.
With Keanu being busy, they werenât doing much socially either so Kerry did start to feel a little isolated again. She decided to look into taking a writing class at UCLA. That way, she might make contacts and have more of a life of her own whilst in LA and not feel so reliant on Keanu. She hadnât realised how important her independence was until it was gone. The course would last a couple of months and she hoped to get new impetus to the novelâs direction.
Keanu had a second shoot coming up and wanted to make plans for another joint trip.
âI donât think I can come to this one hunâ
His face fell instantly
âBut we had such a great time in San Fran âŠâ
â I know sweetheart but Iâll still have 3 weeks more of the writing course left by then and I honestly think spring in Florida ..... itâs going to be too hot for Scout.â
âBut we havenât been apart for 6 months âŠâ
â I know but weâre grown ups right? And weâll talk every day if you like and maybe once the course is done, I can fly down and visit, leave Scout with your mum for a few days like we did at Christmas.â
You said you could write anywhere, be anywhereâŠ.
âOh, thatâs not fair!â
âWhy not? You did say that.â
âYeah, yeah I did and itâs true but that was before. And I have written in all sorts of places on our travels for your meetings and location work so far. But I canât complete my course remotelyâ
âWhy not? Donât we have the tech to do that these days?â
âWell, maybe but the course work and tuition, even if I could do it remotely, isnât the only reason to do it. Iâm building some friendships and connections of my own, you know that. Theyâre practically the only people I know here who arenât your friends and familyâ
âAnd whatâs wrong with my friends and family?â
âOh stop being ridiculous! Thereâs nothing wrong with them, theyâre lovely but they arenât mine. Look people say all sorts of things at the beginning of a relationship. We were drunk on love but things change â and when I said that I could work anywhere I hadnât realised how fucking hot and hostile to dogs this country can be!â
âWere drunk on love ?â
âYou know what I mean!â
âIâm not sure I do.â
Keanu turned and grabbed his bike keys.
âMaybe some time apart would be good for us, to see where our priorities lie!â
Then he stormed to the garage. She heard the doors go up and, minutes later, the engine roared and he was pulling out and zooming away.
âShit! What got into him?â she wondered, âI never said I could drop everything to follow him around like some lapdog bimboâ An awful thought crossed her mind that maybe, deep down, heâd been banking on having her at his beck and call precisely because she was away from all her own friends and family. But that didnât really fit with how considerate he normally was, something else must have made him react like that.
A couple of hours later, to her relief, he was back and full of remorse at his outburst. They each apologised for their tetchiness, not wanting to go to bed on an argument. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, it clearly still rankled with Keanu that she wasnât going to accompany him to Florida. Kerry worried that either there was something making him insecure or a problem with work that was making him unsettled or worst of all, that heâd got too used to having his own way over the years and didnât know how to compromise. Maybe their honeymoon phase was over?
As the time approached for him to go, theyâd still had no luck with a pregnancy and it seemed that their lovemaking got more intense and desperate as his leaving got closer â as if they thought they would never make love again. Keanu would frequently say how much he was going to miss her and Scout, and she him but sheâd committed to the course and he seemed somewhat resigned to it, if still not entirely happy.
Once heâd gone, she was very glad in those first 3 weeks to have the course to keep her busy and give her human contact. The main friends of his she liked to see socially were out of town so she felt vindicated in insisting she needed her own friends. She skyped with him most days if filming allowed and they messaged if not, but she was glad she didnât have to rely just on him and his contacts. And there was one such contact she really wished she didnât knowâŠ.. Autumn.
Seemingly oblivious to Kerryâs discomfort with her, Keanu had mentioned to Autumn that he was going away and that heâd appreciate it if she called in on Kerry. The day she called, Kerry was out of sorts. The course was finished and she hadnât slept well for the past few days. Sheâd found herself just vegging about, unable to write, and that day she was in lounge pants and one of Keanuâs Arch T-shirts when she heard the doorbell. She looked at the security camera and groaned when she saw who it was but she had the car parked out front, so knew Autumn would know she was there. She also guessed she was coming at Keanuâs bidding so if she didnât answer, Autumn would report back and heâd worry.
âHeyâ she said after opening the door though she didnât immediately invite her in.
âYou know Keanuâs out of town right?â
âYeah sure sure, let me in though, thereâs one of those tour busses just coming byâ
Kerry swiftly let her in, not wanting anyone to spy her in her lounge pants nor Autumn arriving.
âSo how are you?â, Autumn enquired raising an eye-brow âyou look kind of washed outâ
âGee thanks, err, just didnât sleep wellâ
âawwww missing Kikiâ she said pointedly dropping in Kerryâs pet name for him to show she knew the old nickname.
âYeah I guessâ Kerry agreed not wanting to provide any details.
Kerry offered Autumn a tea and they sat on the patio to enjoy the morning sun.
âSo how are you handling the location stuff?â
âYou mean him being away?â
âWell, yeah and you know the whole âwhat happens on location stays on locationâ thing he has going on.â
âsorry?â
âOh surely heâs told you that, you know, âI canât be without a woman that long so what happens âŠ..â
âErrm , no we neverâ
âOh, well maybe heâs not like that anymore but, well a leopard doesnât change its spotsâ she said, smirking and taking another sip of tea.â
Kerry didnât know where to put herself. Was that why heâd wanted her there. For sex and to stop himself from playing away?â Her stomach suddenly heaved at the thought and she ran for the bathroom.
She was still retching over the toilet bowl when she heard Autumn call in to her.
âSorry hun but I gotta run. Donât worry, maybe heâs changed now heâs olderâ
When Keanu called later on, she didnât want to reveal anything about her talk with Autumn or her churning emotions but sheâd made one decision: she needed to get out of LA. So she listened to his update about the shoot and when he said they were having to do some very long days to catch up after some weather-based delays, she took her chance and told him that while he was working those long days, sheâd take the opportunity to go back to the UK for a while with Scout, just while he was at peak busyness on location. He was disappointed she wouldnât be joining him but he knew he wouldnât have much free time to spend with her so it made sense.
Keanu had a script and an animated film voice-over going on through January and was usually gone the whole day. Kerry would start the day with some laps of the pool, do writing then walk Scout if she could quickly but she soon got put off by the frequency of being spotted by a âhomes of the starsâ tour bus. She ended up doing walks early and late then staying home all day. It reminded her a bit of working during Covid, only without the constant Teams meetings and it wasnât long before the loneliness kicked in.
It was on one such lonely day that her mood was made worse by a FaceTime call coming in from her sister.
Rosie was quick to see the sadness in her sisterâs expression and pushed to find out more. Kerry confessed that LA was beginning to make her feel trapped - not being able to just go for a walk out of your door like at home without being on a dangerous road or too hot or hassled by paparazzi or tourists really sucked. What she didnât mention was that she also got her period that day. She didnât want to tell anyone they were trying and it had only been 3 months so no time at all, but that didnât stop her from quitting writing early and going to bed for a good cry.
The next day things werenât much better and she was desperately craving company and fresh air by the time Keanu got home.
âCanât we just order inâ Keanu groaned when she suggested they head down to the beach and find somewhere they could eat out then take Scout for his walk.
âPlease, I just need to get out of this placeâ? Her disparaging tone about his home wound him up.
âWhat this awful place in the Hollywood Hills, with a pool and privacy âŠ.â
âSorry I know, itâs just, I need to feel the breeze, have some open space, you know. Iâve been going stir crazy today and Iâm on my period âŠ.. again.â
âCome âereâ he soothed immediately. He knew she was on her period, but they had a pact not to talk about it so their trying for a baby wouldnât become an obsession if at all possible.
He held her for a few moments.
âIâm sorry Iâm just tired but we can go out, anything to make you feel betterâ
They did go out and the walk in the sea breeze really helped her feel better. They talked about what was coming up for them and there was a possible trip to look forward to which would give Kerry a change of scene.
Keanu had some location work in San Francisco in mid-February. He suggested they both go and heâd look into staying somewhere close to the sea if they could rather than a hotel in the city.
The production team found them a house close to the beach and they took a couple of days off to take a leisurely drive up with Scout, taking the PCH and Big Sur route. Kerry could feel the tension leaving her shoulders just at the sight of the cliffs and sea.
The house they pulled up to was in a Victorian-era terrace with pale blue plaster walls and a steep set of steps up from the street. The beach was a 15-minute walk through a park and Kerry loved it the minute she set eyes on it. The decor reminded her of the hotel in Tresco, all soft creams and blues that soothed the soul. There was a small garden out back so Scout could be outdoors while Kerry worked but walks would be much easier to manage with the park and beach so close.
After looking around, Kerry went to the bedroom to unpack.
âYou making your nest?â Keanu said teasing her as he joined her in the bedroom.
âYou know I like to have things in their proper place - and you do too Virgo boy so you canât talk!â
âAlright! Anyway, are you happy? Did I do good?â he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind, keeping her from her task.
She turned in his arms laughing.
âYeah, you did good Reeves, very good. You know donât take this, you know, the wrong way or like Iâm fishing or anything, but âŠâ
âWhat?â
âBut life with you, itâs like a wonderful long honeymoon you know ?â
He laughed understanding why she hadnât wanted him to think she wanted a proposal!
âMmmm I agree because you, my love, certainly do taste sweet as honeyâ she giggled âand I do love your moonsâ he added, squeezing her buttocks. He kissed her then, deeply and it soon turned hungry and demanding, his hands moving to the buttons on her shirt and the zipper on her jeans.
He broke the kiss only to shove the half-unpacked case onto the floor and push her back on the bed where he began an attack on her breasts with his hands and mouth. It didnât take long to remove the rest of their clothes and join everything that mattered. She welcomed him in every way, her pussy wet and wide open, her arms pulling him to her and hands raking up his back. He felt like he had become literally joined to her, the squeezing of her muscles starting a tingling and throbbing all along his rigid cock as he pumped in and out. He slowed a little, leaning down to kiss her, trying to hold back but it was useless. Her throat was like a fountain and he let go, filling her in a tremendous burst as her pussy fluttered and pulsed around him. He had to release her from the kiss to shout out his joy and she screamed hers. She fell back on the bed and he down upon her, breathing heavily into her neck for a while before lifting up and smiling down into her eyes.
âLove you Kerensaâ he said using her full name which he often chose in moments of passion
âLove you too Kiki !â sheâd taken to calling him that since heâd confessed it was a childhood nickname.
The trip passed quickly. Kerry loved San Francisco and split her days between writing and exploring the seafront, parks and the harbour side with Scout in tow as much as she could. She would report back each day with finds and suggestions for restaurants for dinner. Her worries from LA seemed far away.
Warnings : Just like Keanu in these fics, I don't actually know any of the other real people portrayed here so my versions of them are all supposition!
LA Home?
After a couple of weeks, they moved on to LA. Kerry was Flabbergasted by the size and style of his home. It had a cool feel due to the size of the rooms and the large pieces of art in the main living area which had vast bi-fold doors leading out to the patio and pool. He was most excited to show her his pond with Koi Carp and the breathtaking view.
His office and bedroom were warmer in style, more in keeping with the man and she was thrilled with the kitchen which his sister had designed with herself in mind for when she visited and wanted to cook or for Keanu when he had a caterer come in.
On their first night, they ordered take out and ate outside by the pool. They were both tired from travelling but he promised to take her out to some favourite haunts soon. His bigger priority was making her and Scout feel at home and welcome.
That started with meeting his mum. Having heard a lot about her before he left, his mother, in particular, was very keen to make her acquaintance. She invited them over and had a meal catered.
She was welcoming but there was an edge of scrutiny in her gaze and her questions.
In the car on the way home, Kerry pointed it out.
Itâs just like Jason Robards says in Parenthood. âIt never endsâ
âWhat?â
âWell, your mum was clearly concerned I might be some kind of leach!â
âKerry, she thinks that about everyone I meet, but especially women. But she liked you, I could tell. And you bonded over all your English connections right?â
âI guess!â
Next up was Karina who had them over for Thanksgiving. She was more easygoing than her mother and they had a very relaxed day with Keanu and his brother-in-law bonding over the football and Kerry and Karina enjoying working together in the kitchen.
In the weeks running up to Christmas, their projects were on hiatus and they focussed on getting Kerry acclimatised to LA. Keanu bought her a car (she was not up for driving his Porsche) and they went on bike rides up PCH, took Scout on hikes in local parks and continued her introductions to his friends.
Key amongst them was Alex Winter and his family. They spent a great day on the beach at Malibu with him, his wife and their 2 youngest sons. Alex took a cute pic of Kerry and Keanu there - She had straggly wet hair from messing around in the sea and was wearing a loose shirt over her swimming costume. Her arms were draped around Keanuâs neck and they were both grinning broadly. She liked it so much, she had it printed and framed and placed it on their dressing table. It was one way she could try to settle in.
She certainly felt safe and welcome in his home, but, truth be told, not really at home
Some of that was connected to Scout. There was an inner courtyard where Scout could chill in a shady spot and you could walk him along the road nearby but only in the evening when the surface would be cool enough. To walk the dog, you really needed to go to a park, beach or further out into hills. It wasnât just a stoneâs throw away like at Sennen.
Also, in one sense, the house felt huge but at the same time, claustrophobic. It was curious that she could feel hemmed in despite the space and open view at the back - it was like you couldnât touch the nature that was so near at hand and when she felt like that, the waves of nostalgia for Sennen were powerful.
Another challenge she faced and hadnât really expected had been the number of female friends Keanu had who, it was clear, were past sexual partners. It wasnât that anyone said anything to her, least of all him for whom it was all just water under the bridge, but some of them had an unmistakable body language towards him, while others displayed a certain possessiveness that she found, if not threatening then at least challenging.
She knew heâd had a different life from her, longer in single mode, less settled in one place and with a lot of opportunity to be promiscuous, so she knew she had to accept it, but she also struggled to imagine still hanging out with people youâd been so intimate with in the past as it had been a very rare experience for her.
Fortunately, Karina was a bit of an ally in at least filling in the gaps as to who was or wasnât an ex. Kerry didnât want to come off as jealous or obsessive, so asking Keanu was a no-no, at least at first. One day, Karina had come over to talk Christmas food and caught Kerry staring off into the distance.
âHey, where have you gone?â Karina asked her.
Wha âŠ? oh sorry, nowhere, Iâm right hereâ
â oh no, not falling for THAT. What did he do?â
âKeanu? Nothing. Honest.â
âKerry?â
âHonest he didnât. Itâs just, errm Autumn came over last nightâ
âUghhhâ
âWhat?â
âNothing, sheâs just not my favourite of his exes that still hangs around himâ
âOh so she IS an ex, I wasnât sure and he didnât say soâ
âHe wouldnât, to him itâs ancient history - and it is. They properly dated in the 90s and then Iâm pretty sure she was, you knowâŠ. A friend âŠ..â
âWith benefits?â
âYeah, sometime in the 2000s but not in the past few years. Was she civil to you?â
âYeah yeah, she was just quite, erm touchy with him and sort of â
âPossessive?â
âNot exactly, but she made sure to mention things from way back several times as if to remind me and him that Iâm the new kid. I mean maybe I was being over-sensitive, it was weirdâ
âNaah, thatâs her thing. She didnât manage to clinch him and that still riles her so she hangs in there with the âtrusty oldest friendâ card.
âYeah but sheâs not his oldest friend right? Brenda is from school and that lovely lady Clare is from before her time right?â
âRight, I mean Autumn is from way back but sheâs not the unique one she likes to think.â
Mostly, the exes were subtle in their comments or behaviour but China Chow came close to making Kerry spit her drink out at a Christmas party when she was a bit drunk. She was saying how happy she was to see Keanu happy.
âAnd you my friend are a lucky girl, heâs good between the sheets too huh?, hic!â
The following morning Keanu and Kerry were lying in bed with a coffee, nursing hangovers and doing a party post-mortem.
âOh my God, China was drunk wasnât she?!â Keanu snorted.
âIâll say!â She replied rolling her eyes
âWhat?â
âHave you had sex with all of your female friends?!â She asked pointedly.
âOh my god, what did she say?â
âOh, how happy she is for you âŠ..â
âMmmmm, so?â
âAnd how lucky I amâŠ.and how good you are between the sheetsâ
It was Keanuâs turn to almost spit out his coffee.
âThat must have been awkward.!â
âWell would have been worse if we werenât both at least a little drunkâ
âDo you mind?â âThat I have a past?â he clarified when she looked questioningly at him.
âNo, I just, I never had an ex who I still hung out with after we split so itâs a little weird for me. And theyâre all so, you know, LA glamorous.â
âCome âere.â He said pulling her close after seeing the uncertainty in her eyes.
âItâs you I love, you I want to wake up with every morning and hold in my arms each night. And they're so called glamour is no match for your beauty. And, itâs like, over 10 years ago that I was with any of the friends I still see, sexually. Kerry, I promise. Are we ok?â
âyeah, weâre goodâ she reassured.
And they were. Christmas was around the corner and Kerry enjoyed shopping for gifts, getting a tree and decorating the house. They placed the bird decoration for Ava on the tree and he gave her two angels to hang for her babies and a Celtic fertility symbol in hope of a future as parents. They spent Xmas Day with his mother and Karina and Keanu went on his usual Boxing Day bike ride with old friends while Kerry went to the cinema with Karina.
On 29th they headed back to the UK, where they spent New year with her sister and family and 10 days having catch-ups with friends in London and Cornwall.
By mid-January, they were back in LA and finally, it felt like there would be a period of being more settled. They socialised but there were no more big introductions to make and Kerry planned to crack on with her novel.
At the end of October, they headed to New York as their first stop in the US. Keanu had a meeting with a director and a potential co-star for a chemistry test and since Kerry had never been before, they agreed to do some sightseeing\. There were some inevitable paparazzi encounters after the various shots of them together in London and Oxford had fuelled a fire which continued when they passed through JFK airport.
Still, Keanu wasnât prepared to hide and he wanted her to see the sites. One of her favourites was the scene of a When Harry Met Sally moment, Washington square.
Keanu nicknamed her his ârom com girlâ
That evening back at his apartment she asked him
âSo what else have you done, Rom Com wise I mean, other than my favourite?â (She meant âSomethingâs Gotta Giveâ)
âWell I guess the first was âAunt Julia and the Scriptwriterâ, I play a young journalist who falls in love with his sort of aunt, played by Barbara Hersheyâ
âOh I loved her in âHannah and Her Sistersâ
âYeah she was awesome to work with. And what else, errm âAlways Be My Maybeâ but Iâm not the lead, just a comedy turn I guess and then there was âDestination Weddingâ thatâs a kind of anti RomCom but it still has, you know a 'meet cute', fallings out and in and so onâ
Once Kerry knew the leading lady was Winona, that was the one she wanted to see and she laughed like a drain at his post-coital grin and sigh after Frank and Lyndsay had sex.
Keanu paused the film.
âhey you, whatâs so funny about me having sexâ
âKerry wiped the tears from her eyes. Itâs just, you know, I know you do that!â
âWhat? What do I do? I donât cum like that!â
âNo, not that but that goofy grin after youâve cum is all you and that little sigh too, too funny imagining you having to re-record that in one of those little audio booths!â
âYeah that was kind of embarrassing!â He admitted. âBut darling Iâm a professional and I did what I had to do, though it does take practice!â he said before whisking her off to bed.
Another night they agreed to watch baby Keanu in Parenthood. It was one of her favourites and she could quote loads of lines from it, not just his iconic âanyone can be a fatherâ lines. She admitted that in her early married life, it had been the film that expressed her wish for her future with Matt, her ex.
âDo you still think about that, about having kids?â
âErrm I guess not, I mean it doesnât feel very realistic now. I mean, you know, Iâm 41. Anyway, well, I want to be with you so youâd have to want them too and we didnât talk about that really before getting together. I guess I just assumed you wouldnât âŠIâm babbling! I mean would you even want them?â
Keanu chuckled softly at her befuddlement.
âWell, I do worry a bit about being too old but, yeah, Iâd still like a kid, if you want one that is and you donât mind having one with a very old guyâ
Kerry stared at him for a moment. She couldnât quite believe it - when sheâd realised she was in love with him, sheâd thought if she chose that path it would inevitably mean no kids given he was 59.
âYouâd do that, for me?â
âYeah but it wouldnât be FOR you, I mean it wouldnât be a compromise, it would be for us, togetherâ
âHow have you not been snapped up before now?â she asked, a tear leaking out.
He smiled shyly.
âNever met the right woman beforeâ
She gave him a gentle kiss, eyes shining with happiness.
âWell, ok then but you know I might not be able to get pregnant. It might all be moot in the endâ
âYeah, I know but we could just ditch the condoms and see what happens!â
âI knew you had an ulterior motiveâ she laughed.
He giggled in return.
âCaught me! No, but seriously, letâs just see how it goes and we can get a health check when weâre in LA. I already added you to my healthcare plan remember?â
âOK smooth talker, OKâ
The rest of their stay was filled with activities: a play on Broadway, seeing a band Keanu knew in a tiny dive bar, mooching around Keanuâs favourite bookshop and long walks with Scout in Central Park. It was easy to be on foot in New York and even though it was a world away from Sennenâs wild, isolated landscape, Kerry felt at home there. And it didnât hurt that each night ended in his arms, making love with the hope of making a baby.
On their return to Sennen, they decided to stay until the end of October which would give Kerry time to make plans for the cottage. Then they would return, either at Christmas or New Years, to see her sister and her family.
Day to day, life living together was comfortable - they each found the other easy to live with and she was relieved to find that he was a tidy person and didnât expect her to do all the heavy lifting on domestic tasks which had been a bone of contention with her ex. She did do most of the cooking though as that wasnât his forte, however he had taught himself a little during his time in lockdown and also in Cornwall given you canât eat out so easily there as in LA. His forte was definitely sandwiches for lunchtimes - he could wax lyrical about sandwich choices and creation and he could rustle up a couple of pasta dishes his sister had taught him as well as cook a mean steak.
They had a chat about pet peeves to try and head off issues, from the possibly trivial (like no coming in for a pee while Iâm in the bath (they had 2 toilets in the house after all) to getting a cleaner and then more fundamental issues like phone privacy, honesty, not sleeping on an argument and so on.
After a couple of weeks, she commented that living together felt good and easy and she admitted how nervous sheâd been, after Tresco, that they would be brought back to reality with a bump with the day to day of living together. He warned her it might not be so great when heâs filming.
âI can get a bit obsessive, reclusive. Youâll have to call me on it if I neglect you but I will try not to turn in on myself. But I also used to take on projects more I think to fill my life, I feel now I should get even more picky, now that thereâs something, well someone else worth spending time on!â
Kerry had already given up waitressing due to the writing needing more time, so they often split their time between Cornwall and London where he could take meetings and do PR or press if needed while there and she would see her agent and publisher. They established a rhythm of 4 days working and 3 off for leisure and trips back in Cornwall or elsewhere. She took him to Lords to see a cricket test match, laughing as she tried to explain the intricacies of the game. Being a sports guy, he enjoyed it despite the occasional confusion at what was going on!
Another trip was to Oxford, where heâd discovered she studied at university. Their early lives had never come up in conversation til one evening they were watching an old episode of âInspector Morseâ which she said she loved.
âReminds me of student daysâ
âHuh? You studied âŠâŠ there?â
âYupâ she grinned at his amazement. âDonât you think Iâm clever enough?!â her eyes sparkled with mischief.
âNo, god, no I mean yes!â he garbled âitâs not that, itâs just wouldnât that be, you know like one of your highlights you drop in, you know, to impress!â
She giggled.
âWell I guess it wasnât like that with us was it? Neither of us was trying to impress, and educational or other achievements never came up otherwise youâd have been telling me about all the A list directors whoâve chased you to work with them or how many millions youâve made or how you were the internetâs boyfriend!â
âStop, stop, ok, you know all that stuff?â
She nodded yes. âYou only have to read one or two decent articles to get all that info you know!â
âOK but anyway back to you, so wow, Oxford!â
She told him how sheâd studied English at St Catherineâs, one of the modern colleges (well, one that was built in the 1960s not the 1560âs!) and it favoured a more state school intake than the likes of Christchurch or Magdalen where old Etonians gravitated.
âBut I still got to go to tutorials in the dreaming spires parts so it was a wonderful experience. We should go, on the way back from London next week. Iâll give you the tour.â
They fitted in a visit, staying at the Randolph Hotel as a treat for Kerry. She explained to him that it was always there that the well-to-do murderers in Morse episodes had stayed and it was totally central in the city too. He donned a beanie and shades to try and keep a little anonymity as they strolled around the city and she used her alumni card to get free access to some of the splendid college gardens.
There was some publicity while they were there due to fans spotting him in a pub where heâd taken his beanie and sunglasses off while they sat to eat. A small crowd had gathered as theyâd left and at first it was fine, just taking selfies but when Kerry got jostled by an overzealous fan, Keanu nearly lost it, starting to drag her away but she stopped him.
âLook, donât punish the nice guys for that one idiot. Leave her out but Iâll just go sit out of the way for a sec while you do your thingâ
âYou sure?â She nodded and he went back to the gathered fans, taking selfies for about 15 minutes. The rude fan stalked off when he pointedly ignored her.
âPhew that was a bit intense,â she said afterwards. Itâs like news of your presence spread like wildfire!â
âYeah took me a little off guard too. I mean usually, it only happens in airports or hotels when people get wind you are there due to an event, not so much day to day, at least not a crowd like that. Look try not to worry.â he reassured. Fortunately, the rest of their stay there passed without incident.
Heâd already told Cheryl that he and Kerry were now an item and warned Kerry that at some point there might be pictures in the press and some intrusion. After that incident, she also talked to her literary agent and publishers - they were pleased, only saying the attention could be positive for her book but she hoped it wouldnât distract or appear like she was using him. After all, sheâd been pursuing her writing long before she even met him.
Before they left the UK, they made a visit to see her sister and her partner and kids. Kerry loved to see how well he got on with her brother-in-law and niece and nephew and how readily they just accepted him as her partner. But her sister couldnât help but be worried about her younger sibling. In a quiet moment in the kitchen over breakfast, she said
âI can see he loves you, god those puppy dog eyes gazing at you last night - how do you get anything done?! But I do worry about you going away to America for long spells. Wonât you be horribly isolated, lonely even?â
âIâll be fineâ she reassured âIâll still have my writing to do and Scout, and we have each other. It will take some getting used to, sure, but itâs just a change of location really. Itâs not like I see my friends that often anyway in person. Cornwall might as well be LA if you think about how unwilling most people have been to visit me since I moved!â
Marrakech was a honeymooners dream, but without the actual honeymoon. It was more romantic than our first time there when he was filming John Wick. This time around I had his full attention and that came with being spoiled at every turn and him giving in to my every whim, which I think he secretly enjoyed more than I did.
***
A week later we were back in the City and we agreed that we would keep our pregnancy, my pregnancy to ourselves for as long as we can manage it. This was our moment and we wanted to bask in it for as long as we could or before my belly would start to show, which would be months from now.
***
We fell into our routine, he went to LA when it was necessary, but for the most part we were here in NYC and I continued my marathon training with him a bit leery, but the doctor signed off and said since I was a seasoned runner there wasnât much to be worried about because my body and lungs were well acclimated. This didnât stop Keanu from being over-protective.
I tossed my running watch on the bed and peeled my socks off. I walked into the closest and came out with a massage ball. I sat on the chaise that faced the bed and I placed the ball on the floor, massaging the balls of my feet. He came out of the bathroom with a shirt in his hand, I watched him and braced myself as he picked up my watch and clicked a few buttons then placed it back down.
I felt the coolness of his eyes on me, "you ran thirteen miles?"
I shrugged, "if that's what it says, I didn't realize I did." I say as I stood and walked past him into the bathroom. I pulled my shirt over my head and felt his eyes in the mirror.
âYou said you would take it easy.â
âI am.â I answered as I tugged on the straps of my sports bra and pulled it over my head.
His breath catches. âRunning a half marathon is not taking it easy.â
I tilted my head and gazed at my boobs, are they bigger?
I tugged the string to my running tights. âKe, itâs training season. Iâm going to have to run twenty miles in a few weeks.â He became exasperated as if I told him I was funding a small militia to overtake NYC. âDr. Rene said I was healthy and fit to continue my training. You were sitting right there or did you forget.â
He shakes his head, âI said I was okay with this, but Iâm not. You need to stop, defer to next year.â
âI can't.â
âOr you wonât.â
âItâs the 50th anniversary. This race is big.â
âAnd youâre two months pregnant. Iâm worried that the training is going to take a toll on you.â
âAnd I told you not to worry about that. This isnât my first marathon. This will be my fourth.â
âBut your first since 2016. Itâs been four years since your last marathon.â
âYou have to stop training?â
âExcuse me.â
âYou're carrying our children.â
âAnd this is my body, nobody knows my body like I do.â
âYouâre being reckless.â
âAnd you are being unreasonable.â I countered. âItâs not your choice to make.â
âYes, it is, when you are putting yourself in harm's way. I don't want you running and thatâs final.â
He pulled his shirt over his head, glared at me then turned and walked out of the bathroom.
I gawked after him. What just happened?
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, what in the actual fuck just happened?
***
I stepped out of the shower twenty minutes later feeling refreshed, but moody. I pulled on shorts and a crop top and made my way to the kitchen. He had his back to me and his phone up to his ear and a strong cup of coffee that made me crinkle my nose in his other hand.
âThanks, Dave, text me when itâs done.â
He hung up his cell phone and turned to see me on the opposite side of the kitchen island. His jaw was clenched and his brows were knitted, he was still angry.
I sat across from him and he placed a cup of tea in front of me. I took a sip thinking of how best to plead to his softer side.
âKeanu.â I say softly.
His phone pinged and he looked at it and wrote a quick text. My cell phone vibrated and I pulled it from my shorts, it was a call from Debi, my assistant. I place the call on speakerphone.
âHey Debi.â
âHi, good morning, Iâm just checking in to see if everything is alright.â
âYeah, everything is fine, Whats up.â
âHow are you feeling? Are you sick?â
âWhat? No, I'm not sick.â
âOkay because I just received an email confirming your medical deferment of the marathon.â
My eyes flashed upwards and he didnât flinch. âDebi, Iâll call you back.â I hang up the call, my eyes becoming slits of fury.
âWhat did you do? You had no right.â
âYou werenât listening, so I took matters into my own hands.â
Anger gripped me by the throat and squeezed. âYou had no right! None! What are you so afraid of?â I knew exactly what he was afraid of, but my ego wasnât having it. I unleashed my fury and Ambrose Bierce was right when he said, when you are angry you will make the best speech you will ever regret. âYou being afraid that Iâll miscarry or have a stillborn has nothing to do with me or my training, thatâs all on you.â
His movements were quick. Two strides and he was on my side of the kitchen island and in my face. I felt the heat and anger thrumming from him. âIâm trying to protect you from any unnecessary stress that can lead to early complications.â
âAnd you think this isnât stressful? Ke,the doctor gave me the all-clear. I can do this. I am doing this. It's my body. I-.â
âYou have never lost a child," he interrupted. I heard the tremor in his voice. âY-you think you know pain and loss, you know nothing of it until you've held your unborn dead child in your hands.â He hissed. âThere is no compromising or coming to a middle ground on this. You are not running, not until after our babies are born."
My shoulders fall and my eyes filled with tears, "Ke, please. Nothing is going to happen to me. Please."
He exhaled deeply and wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks. "End of discussion." He picks up his coffee mug and leaves me standing in the kitchen.
****
Post Note: Did you really think I would let Keanu's birthday past without a new series? Shame on you! I can't believe wilderlove was 2 years ago. I hope you enjoy this new series, it's going to be so gooey like a warm & fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookie.
Summary: Soulmate AU: People meet their soulmates every day. Lana on the other hand just wanted to have a little talk about all the ghost tattoos and scars that seemed to appear daily on her body. John didnât even know his soulmate existed until three little words appears in his ankle. Things changed after that.
Pairing: John Wick x OFC
Wordcount: 4.3k
Warnings: angst, scars, dogs, torture, blood, also fluff
Masterlist
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âFuck,â a sharp pain on her back interrupted Lanaâs sleep. Groaning her hand reached for the spot that caused her pain, her fingertips finding a huge scar. Leaning to her side she switched the lamp on her bedside table on, getting out of bed. She walked to the bathroom, turning in front of the mirror to look at her back.
Was that a burn wound?
Fuck it still hurt. Looking closer at it she tried to make out what it was. A cross. Shaking her head she sighed, going back to bed. Another one to add to her collection. Jack, her dog, looked at her with sleepy eyes.
âYeah I know. Sorry,â she patted her head until the dog was back asleep again.
âWhat the fuck are you doing?â she asked in the night, knowing she wouldnât get an answer. Rubbing over the spot that didnât even hurt anymore she sighed.
All of her friends were gushing about their soulmates. How perfect they were, how it seemed like the universe clicked the moment they laid eyes on each other for the first time.
Well Samâs soulmate was a retail manager and Emmaâs soulmate was a lawyer. The worst scar they had was a dolphin tattoo at a spot no one would see if they didnât know.
Lana could remember the day she woke up, a tingling sensation on her back. It was a feeling she didnât know before. At that point it had been two years since the scars started. Faint scars mostly on her legs and back that kept reminding her that somewhere out on this planet her soulmate was very much alive. Even though sometimes she thought they didnât really care to be alive. Then again, maybe they worked with the police? No, the tingling sensation was different. She remembered taking her shirt off, turning in the mirror and gasping as she saw what it was. A tattoo. On her whole back.
âYou gotta be fucking kidding meâŠâ she groaned. Fine white lines now graced her whole back. The ink from a real tattoo is missing, only the scar visible. A ghost tattoo.
"Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat,â she squinted. Lana would find out later that it was latin and translated to "fortune favors the bold" which apparently was the motto of the marines. Maybe this could be her explanation for the scars. A marine. A long time Lana lived with the idea that her soulmate was serving somewhere, their job dangerous.
âMaybe he doesnât know you exist,â Sam had said once, many years later, catching Lana off guard.
âWhat do you mean?â
âDid you ever hurt yourself so that your soulmate would have a scar from you?â
She didnât. Growing up Lana scared plenty, always falling on her knees, but ever since she turned 18 and the whole Soulmate thing started? Nothing.
âYou should get a tattoo. So your soulmate knows youâre alive.â
And so she did. A little tattoo on her ankle that said âIâm still hereâ.
Shortly after her tattoo, it all stopped. Like they vanished. Like whoever her soulmate was received her message. But not after giving her some of the worst scars she ever received. Whatever they had been doing before it just stopped, it had to be painful.
She told herself that maybe they had fallen in battle. Which should give her some comfort, knowing that they werenât in constant pain anymore. Lana continued her life, moved to New York city, found new friends, found a new job, found a man who warmed her bed. She didnât love him. She wasnât even sure she was capable of loving someone. Of course she felt attraction, Lana was no virgin by all means but it always felt like there was something missing. Deep down she knew what it was. And she learned to live with that ache. Learning to be happy without her soulmate.
Until one day, she was just about to get out with her dog, she felt a pain she hadnât felt in years. Jack barked, sniffling at her confused as she grabbed her wrist. And there, right there was a faint white line that hadnât been there before.
Ever since that day it was like there were constant scars. Every day she would feel the familiar pain of a new scar. It was worse than ever before.
Her whole body looked like she was constantly fighting a war against⊠she didnât know. But tonight she wanted to forget about it all. Lana had met this guy a week before. It had been a while since she had an orgasm that didnât come from her own hand.
Taking a last look in the mirror she winked at herself.
She didnât know if she would ever find her soulmate. But maybe tonight she would find someone who would make her forget about that even just for a few hours.
That the man she met tonight would be the reason her soulmate would find her, was something Lana would find only out much much later.
John wasnât in constant pain anymore. The soup kitchen took really good care of him after his, letâs call it fall. John was finished with the high table. Or what was remaining of it.
âWhat are you going to do now?â Winston asked him. He looked at the man, still confused why the fuck he didnât just shoot him on sight when he first saw him after he shot him off the roof.
âI donât know. Maybe a nice vacation.â
Winston chuckled.
âYeah that soulmate of yours must have had quite painful weeks Jonathan.â
John sighed, crossing his legs, his thumb brushing over the three words that were his only clue that he even had a soulmate.
âYeah,â John said, standing up.
âJonathan?â he heard Winston say. He stopped walking, looking over his shoulder.
âI hope that for both of our sakes that we never see each other again.â
âGoodbye Winston.â
He really didnât know what would come next. His house was a graveyard and he didnât want to go back to. Back to where Helen and him had been happy until she...
He shook his head. He had loved Helen.
When he met her John didnât think he had a soulmate. Not once in all those years had there ever been a clue that he had a soulmate. It was on the night he proposed to Helen that he felt something he hadnât felt before. A burning pain on his ankle. Three words that made his whole world crash down on him. Iâm still here. Of course he had told Helen. She had lost her Soulmate in a car crash years ago. And John loved her. He really did. And even more so when all she did when he told him was give him one of her bright smiles, telling him that itâs okay.
He married her anyway and he wouldnât change a thing.
And during his marriage to Helen, he would sometimes forget that there still was someone out there. But it caught up with him. When Helen got sick those three words on his ankle gave him more comfort than he had ever felt in his life before. He wanted to tell his soulmate so many things. How sorry he was for all the scars he put on their body. God. The tattoo. While he liked it on his body, it was a whole different thing knowing it was on the back of another person who didnât ask for it.
John rented an apartment outside of New York City until he decided what to do or where to live. He did pretty much the same thing every day. Wake up, get Dog out, come back and work on some books, get out with dog again, eat, sleep. Sometimes he would run into his neighbors on his way out. There was a woman, he thinks she lives upstairs who had a dog too. Jack was her name. He remembered the laugh of his neighbor when he gave her a confused look.
âAlways wanted to have a dog named Jack,â she had explained with a shrug before she had walked out, probably to get to work.
They kept running into each other, either one on their way out or in. He liked her, even if he still didnât know her name. She always had a smile on her lips when he saw her.
It was a couple weeks later when he noticed Jack upstairs barking for the whole day. Thinking about it, he hadnât seen his neighbor in a couple days. When he heard footsteps upstairs after two days he made his way up, finding an older looking woman who was apparently cleaning the apartment.
âItâs not like her to just leave. Lana never leaves Jack alone.â
âYou havenât heard of her?â John asked, the woman shook her head.
âI tried calling her, but itâs going straight to voicemail. And⊠I donât want to leave Jack alone here.â
âDo you think something happened to her?â John asked.
âI donât know. Iâm gonna try to reach her sister. ButâŠ. Iâm worried.â
That worried John too, a nagging feeling on the back of his head. He liked her. Lana. He didnât even know her name until now but it fit her.
âI donât know what to do with JackâŠâ
âIâll take her,â John offered. âIf you canât reach her, please let me know. And go to the police.â
The woman nodded, packing some things for Jack before he took the dog with him downstairs and made a couple of calls. He was worried for Lana. He had talked to the woman a little longer, learning that Lana had her own bookshop in the city. Of course she had, he thought. When he had gone through all of his remaining contacts he sighed. If someone would find something, they would call him. He may be retired again, but people wouldnât dare to test his patience.
He continued with his life, still undecided on what to do next. He was getting bored. Thatâs the only reason he accepted the job he got offered to work as head of security for the family of an italian diplomat. He found out a little later that his new boss and the DâAntonio family had been sworn enemies.
Life continued easy for John. Still worried for Lana who hadnât been back in her apartment for almost a month. He still had enough time to work on his books and live a somewhat easy life.
Until the scaring started.
Lana didnât know how much time had passed. Her throat hurt as she tried to swallow. Slowly blinking her eyes open she found herself lying on the same shitty bed she had been for days? Weeks? Months? She didnât know.
What she did know was that her date, Fabrizio, turned out to be a fucking psychopath. She winced when she sat herself up, her wrists bloody from the cable ties that he used to keep her restrained. Looking down at her body she was glad she wasnât completely naked. Scars littered her whole body. Scars that were herâs and not her soulmates. Her capturer seemed to have a preference for knives. And she was truly scared of what would happen, once he grew bored with her.
He didnât force himself on her. Yet. She could feel his eyes on her all the time, even when he wasnât in the room. Like now. A single lightbulb was providing some light. She stretched her muscles as far as she could. She had only enough room to walk to the toilet and the bed. At least he thought of that.
âYouâ awake amore?â she heard his voice, her breathing getting quicker. Closing her eyes Lana forced her body to remain calm. Shehad tried everything to get out of here. The last time he had almost killed her, a nasty scar on your inner thigh would remind her of that for her whole life. If she ever got out of here. Lana heard the door open, and she forced herself to look up, seeing him enter.
âYou ready for another lesson?â he asked and she shuddered.
John was on edge.
He got a call earlier today with information on Lana. Additional to that the new scars on his body that now seemed to appear daily and he had no fucking idea what to do. Was this how his soulmate felt when he was younger or when he was on a job? It was hell for John. But he had to snap out of it. Today he might have the opportunity to bring back Lana. It was Winston of all people who called him this morning and told him that he might do well checking out what the son of his new employer was up to. He hadnât met the man before but it took him only three hours to find out that something was odd.
He seemed to spend his whole time on a secluded and abandoned company site. He only found that out because of the phone records. Yeah, he had learned a thing or two since he started working again.
So this is how he found himself at said building, gun in his hand. He had been watching for a couple hours, seeing no one else enter. The more intelligent thing to do was to call for backup. But his only back up was the security details his boss paid. And he doubted they would show up to help get his son.
He felt the familiar rush as he stepped into the building. He lingered in the shadows as he sneaked deeper into the building. There were no people around. No guards, nothing.
What the fuck was he doing here? His car was still outside so he had to be here.
John checked his phone, seeing that he was still at the same spot as the phone signal he tracked earlier. He stepped out of the shadows, rounding a corner when he heard a whimper. A female whimper.
âAre you going to listen amore? Or do I have to punish you again?â Fabrizio asked. Lana whimpered, the blade breaking the skin on her neck.
âIâll be good. I promise.â
The blade left her skin and she breathed out relieved.
âGood girl. Donât want to scar your beautiful face yet.â
âWhat happens to me?â Lana asked with a small voice, looking at the floor. She was strapped to a chair. This time naked and she couldnât help the tears. Constant tears ever since he came in and demanded her to strip. His hands on her body making her skin crawl.
âWhat do you mean?â
âAre you gonna kill me?â
âProbably,â he said and she sobbed.
âWhy me?â
She looked up, seeing him with a scalpel.
âBecause I like to destroy pretty things.â
John heard a scream that let his blood run cold.. Without wasting any more time he quickly made his way to where constant screams were coming from, hoping he wouldnât be too late.
âPlease. Please donât⊠PleaseâŠ.â he heard someone cry out and he pushed away the thought that he knew this voice. He just had to get to her. He breathed in deep, calming himself when he pushed the door open.
The pain was almost blinding. Lana didnât know what he was doing as she struggled against her restraints. Fabrizio was pushing against her to keep her still as he worked with the scalpel on her stomach. He was so focused that he didnât notice how the door behind him opened. But she did.
Through her tears she saw someone enter, a man dressed completely in black. Maybe it was death himself, finally coming for her. She closed her eyes, relaxing her body in acceptance.
And just like that the pain stopped.
John had been angry before, but the fury that was pumping through his veins at seeing Lana restrained on a chair and a man towering over her, causing her immense pain, was nothing he had experienced before.
He didnât even notice he reacted, finding himself on top of the man who looked up at him with wide eyes, Johnâs hands around his throat. John wanted to cause him as much pain as he did Lana. Instead he broke his neck, the man dead immediately. John breathed in deeply, calming his shaking body as he got up, not batting the man an eye as he turned around. He averted his eyes as he saw Lana completely naked. He got out of his jacket, finding his pocket knife. Lana was still sitting in the chair, breathing calmly as if she was meditating.
He had seen much in his life. But the many cuts over her whole body were making him sick. Carefully he cut through the cable ties that restrained her wrists to the chair before he pulled his jacket over her naked body. He kneeled down, cutting through the ties on her ankles, as he saw a tattoo of three words that mirrored the scars on his. He stopped in his tracks, looking up at the woman in front of him. He reached up carefully lifting his jacket up to look at her right shoulder to find faint scars in the form of the cross tattoo that was on his arm.
He breathed in deeply, pulling the jacket down again. Everything seemed to click into place as he thought about the last weeks. How he always felt on edge, but didnât know why.
Lana, his neighbor, was his soulmate.
She whimpered.
âLana? Lana, itâs me John. Your... neighborâŠ.â he said softly. She blinked her eyes open, looking down.
âJohn?â she whispered.
âIâm getting you out of here and into a hospital,â he said softly.
âNo⊠no hospital. Just⊠I wanna go home,â she cried.
John looked at her, feeling his heart break.
âIâm gonna carry you okay?â
He saw her nod as he leaned down and carefully picked her up and into his arms. He felt her small arms come around his neck.
âThank you,â she whispered against his neck. John didnât look back as he carried her out of the room and then out of the building.
âCan you stand?â he asked. She nodded weakly as he put her down, leaning her against his car.
âIâm gonna grab a blanket from the trunk,â he told her. His mind was going a million miles per hour. He opened the trunk, getting a blanket and the first aid kit. Getting back quickly he pulled the blanket around her before he opened the door and helped her si in the passenger's seat.
âIâm gonna put a bandaid on the cut on your stomach,â he said but when he looked up he noticed that she fell asleep. He shook his head, making quick work of bandaging her before he carefully closed the door.
He tried to calm his mind, still feeling the rage bubbling in his chest. Picking his phone he called his boss. It connected right away.
âYour son kidnapped my soulmate. You can find him at the abandoned company grounds of the Millerâs downtown.â
âMr. WickâŠâ
âIf you donât want me to come after your whole family I suggest you forget you even know my name,â he threatened.
âOf course.â
John ended the call before he got into the car. He looked at Lana who was still sleeping. Starting the car he couldnât stop from carefully taking her hand in his.
Lana blinked her eyes open slowly. There was light coming through the window. It looked like it was early morning. The mattress beneath her was soft and she was tucked in like a child. Where was she? Turning her head she noticed someone sitting in the chair next to her bed.
It was her neighbor. John. The events of the last hours caught up with her and she gasped, her hand flying over her mouth. John blinked his eyes open, finding hers.
âLana?â he asked.
âYou saved me. He was⊠He wanted to⊠Oh godâŠâ she whimpered.
âHeyâŠâ John was at her side immediately, taking her hand.
âYouâre safe. He will never hurt you ever again,â she relaxed when she felt his hand around hers.
âHow⊠How did you find me?â she asked.
âI⊠I have contacts. You were missing for almost three months. The moment someone saw something I went to get you. Iâm sorry it took so long.â
âJohn. Why were you looking for me?â she asked. He sighed.
âI⊠I donât know. I noticed that something was wrong two days after youâve been gone. It was JackâŠâ
âHow is she?â Lana asked immediately. John smiled softly.
âSheâs sleeping in the living room on my couch.â
âYou took care of her?â she asked with tears in her eyes.
âOf course. I wouldâŠâ he stopped himself.
âThank you. So much. I....â she shook her head.
âYou should try to sleep some more. Itâs still early.â
âOkay,â she whispered. John wanted to get up and get back to his chair.
âCould⊠could you hold my hand until Iâm asleep?â she asked shyly. John smiled, his heart warming a little.
âOf course.â
John had never seen a happier dog than Jack a couple of hours later. Lana was holding her tightly, silently crying into her soft fur. He had given Lana an old shirt of himself and some of his pyjama pants that were way too big for her.
âI missed you so much, my perfect girl,â Lana whispered.
Dog sat beside John, looking up at him.
âI know you want to go out butâŠâ
âItâs okay. Would you⊠Would you take Jack too? I⊠I would love to take a shower. And I probably should go to see a doctor.â
âI can ask a doctor to come here. For all the cuts. Did.. did heâŠ?â
Lana shook her head.
âHe didnât. I⊠I donât know what he wanted with meâŠâ
John walked over, hesitantly putting a hand on her shoulder. He could feel the scarring of his tattoo on her arm.
âItâs not your fault. He was a psychopath. And he will never hurt you or anyone ever again.â She looked up at him. She had been attracted to John ever since he moved in. That he was the one that saved her seemed like a sign from the universe. If he believed in stuff like that. Slowly she turned.
âThank you for saving me John,â she took his hand, noticing that he was missing a finger. His ring finger. She frowned, looking at her left ring finger. There was an ugly scar she had no idea how to explain. It hadnât been that long ago that she had gotten it. It was one of the most painful scars she had received from her soulmate.
âIâm gonna take the dogs out and call the doctor. Will pick up some food too. Are you okay here? I can get you to your apartmentâŠâ
âNo⊠No. I want to stay here, if thatâs okayâŠâ she said and John nodded with a soft smile. She looked up at him. His warm brown eyes looking down at her. She wanted to touch him, to be close to himâŠ
âIâll get you some towels. Iâll be back as fast as I can.â
She knew that she had to get back to her apartment at some point. The problem was that everytime she was alone longer than an hour she was close to a panic attack.
Four weeks had gone by and she was still living with John. She was sure he must be getting sick of her by now. Yet he didnât let it show. Quite the opposite. He always seemed to know what she needed.
Right now he was lying on the couch, asleep. She had told him that she felt bad for taking his bed away from her but he had just shrugged it off. Telling her that he was okay. She liked John. She could see herself falling for John. Or maybe she already did. Her scars had healed over the last weeks, leaving her almost as good as before.
But spending so much time together, she also noticed his scars. When she was still healing she didnât think much about it but nowâŠ
They had the same scars on their wrists. A nasty cut on their right elbow. His missing finger and her ugly scar on the same place. John sighed in his sleep, moving, his shirt moving up his arm. She could see a tattoo and she reached to her left arm, her fingertips running over the fine lines of one of her ghost tattoos.
âJohn?â she whispered. He groaned and she smiled.
âJohn?â she asked again and he blinked his eyes open. Sleepily he looked at her.
âAre you okay?â he asked, his voice deep with sleep.
âCan I check your ankle?â she asked. That seemed to wake him up. He sat himself up, looking down at her. He got his legs off the couch so she was kneeling between his legs and swallowed.
âOkay,â he whispered. She smiled softly as she carefully pushed his pyjama pants up, revealing his ankle. And there, almost not visible if you didnât know they were theore, there were three words that mirrored her own tattoo.
She couldnât help the smile that came to her lips.
âYouâre here,â John said and she looked up.
âIâm here,â she whispered before she pushed herself up to kiss her soulmate.