Don't Fix It, Chapter 1a

Note from Nick: Here we go, book 2 in the Allie series! (Ha! I started to call it a trilogy, but you know me.)

I didn't really like posting spread chapters for the last book, so I'm going to keep them together this time. Weekly installments will end with a scene or chapter break. Some weeks will be shorter, others longer, depending on how long the scenes are.

I generally post about the same word count each month, so it averages out.

Anyway, that's enough with the tl;dr. As Allie would say, Let's do it!

✧ ✧ ✧

Chapter 1

I woke up in the guest bedroom, only a couple of inches from the edge of the bed. I could feel the reason behind me, warm and soft. She was nude, too, and still asleep. She must have crowded me all the way across the king-size bed during the night. I wasn’t about to complain, but sleeping with her would definitely take getting used to. My hard-on wanted to get things started, of course.

Time to give her the old alarm cock.

Seriously? I checked the real alarm clock and huffed. New rule: no puns before six o’clock.Then I yawned and added, The sun isn’t even up.

So? I am.

Yeah, but Allie isn’t.

I know. Let’s give her a wake-up she’ll never forget!

No. She isn’t a morning person, remember?

So? he repeated churlishly.

No. And that’s final. I lifted Allie’s arm and slid out from under it. She sighed in a soft protest but didn’t wake as I stood and replaced the covers. Let her sleep.

My erection twitched sullenly. I was still amazed that he could put so much emotion into silence. Then again, he’d had lots of practice over the years.

I’ll take care of you later, I promised.

He threatened to make my life difficult if I didn’t, and I believed him. He could be a real pest when he didn’t get his way. It was Christy’s fault. She gave in to his whims.

That’s because she loves me.

Mmm, I agreed. But she doesn’t know you like I do. Now, c’mon, let’s go for a swim.

I was afraid you were gonna say that. You know what cold water does to me.

It isn’t that cold.

But… I’ll go away. He went from sulky to resentful. That’s what you want, isn’t it?

I laughed.

What’s so funny? One day I won’t come back, you know.

Maybe. But today isn’t that day.

✧ ✧ ✧

Christy called while I was still in the pool. I couldn’t reach my cell phone before the call went to voicemail, but I swam faster anyway. The water felt good, especially now that my muscles were warm from exercise.

My hard-on had finally gone away too, although I still felt the pressure, along with a kind of tingle in the back of my brain. At the moment it was only a minor distraction, but it would become a major one if I tried to ignore it. I told myself that I was used to a release in the morning, that my dick wasn’t leading me around.

“Yeah, that’s it,” I muttered.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I believed it. My father was in his sixties and still as horny as ever. He didn’t have as many opportunities now that he was retired, but he probably had a girlfriend or two in town.

Ahem. Sound familiar?

Oh, shut up, I snapped. No one asked you.

At least my mother didn’t mind, as long as he was discreet and she could do the same. She was far more selective and long-term about it, but they made it work.

You’re turning into them, the little head said wryly.

I grumbled aloud, “Tell me something I don’t know. Speaking of which…”

I opened my cell phone and confirmed that Christy had been the missed call. I knew my wife, and patience wasn’t exactly her strong suit.

I dried my hair while I waited for the voicemail icon to show up. She had a tendency to chatter, especially when she was excited. I gave up after a minute and called anyway, and she answered almost immediately.

“Good morning,” she chirped. “I just left voicemail.”

“I know. Sorry. I was in the pool.”

“I know you said you’d call me later, but I can’t wait that long.” She wanted to hear about my night, but I decided to tease her instead. I kept silent. She didn’t have patience for that either. “Well?” she prompted.

“Well what?”

“Ugh! What happened? With Allie? Did you do it? Are you happy? Is she?”

“Yes, yes, and I hope so… in that order.”

“Oh my gosh, I knew it!” Of course she did. She’d talked to us the night before. “Did she take care of you this morning? Is that why you’re up so early?”

“I wish. I woke up early ’cause I slept in the guest bedroom.”

“Dear…,” Christy said with a saccharine edge, “that wasn’t the question you were supposed to answer.”

“I know. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. No, we didn’t do anything this morning. In fact, she’s still asleep.”

“Oh, that’s right, she isn’t a morning person. You poor thing. Did Rosy have to do it instead?”

“No,” I grumbled. “Although I might when I shower.”

“What! And waste all that yummy semen? Speaking of which, I need a healthy dose on Saturday. Maybe two. Oh my gosh, maybe even three. Do you think you can do that, or should I make plans for a backup? I suppose Mark will help me out. Or Tom. Oh, oh, I know! You, Mark, Tom, and you again. Four!”

“Is there a reason you’re extra horny this morning?” I teased. “Didn’t Wren take care of you?”

“Of course, Mr. Nosy Parker, but that’s not the reason. I got excited thinking about you and Allie. You know how I am. And you’re going to make me say it, aren’t you? Fine. What did you do?”

“You want a blow-by-blow account?”

“Oh my gosh, yes! And details, please, especially if they’re kinky. Hurry! Wren’s in the shower. I think I can finish if we hurry.”

“Okay, here goes—”

“Hold on a sec, lemme get comfortable. Mmm, that’s better. Okay, go ahead.” She already sounded distracted, and I could easily imagine why.

“So, Allie and the girls came over yesterday,” I began, even though Christy knew that part already. “We went to dinner and then stopped for ice cream on the way home. I promised her some special cream for later.”

“Mmm, my favorite,” Christy purred.

“Hers too.”

“We’ll have to share sometime.”

“No kidding. Anyway, we fooled around while the girls were watching the movie, although we couldn’t really do anything till they went to bed. That took forever, but I finally got them settled. Allie practically attacked me when I joined her. She started to suck me off, but I made her stop. I wanted to fuck her first.”

“Ooh, did you tie her up? Spank her?”

“No, that’s your kink.”

“I wish you could do it now. Sorry, keep going.”

“Right, so… we started in missionary.”

“Wait, hold on. Did she wax?”

“What?”

“Did she wax? Or shave? I… um… might’ve dropped a hint or two.”

“Full Brazilian,” I replied. Christy was visual, and she was probably imagining things as I described them. “Bikini tan lines, too. D’you wanna know about her body?”

“Yes, but no,” Christy sighed. “We don’t have time.”

“Sorry. Maybe I’ll shoot a video next time.”

“Oh my gosh, yes, please!”

“I’ll ask her,” I chuckled. “I don’t think she’ll mind.”

“She’s done it before.”

“I know. Anyway, back to last night. We started in missionary, and she came pretty quickly. Then she wanted to ride me. I sorta felt like a Sybian, but I started playing with her nipples, and that got her attention.”

Christy’s breathing grew heavier, and I suspected she was pinching her own nipple as she played with herself.

“She came again, even harder,” I continued, “and I thought she was done. I figured she’d finish me with a blowjob, but she wanted to keep going. She likes it hard, too, so I rolled her over and pounded away. Still, she wanted it harder. I swear, Little Bit, I thought I was gonna hurt her.”

Christy whimpered. She enjoyed pain.

“But she came again, a third time, the hardest of all. She was surprised about the condom, but she made the most of it.” I chuckled at the memory. “She drained it and rubbed the extra on her face.”

Christy caught her breath, squeaked once, and fell silent. Her ragged breathing came through loud and clear, and I grinned to myself. I knew her hot buttons, and I’d hit most of them.

“Oh my gosh,” she panted, “I can’t wait to see it in person.”

“Well, you might have to,” I said.

“Seriously? She still isn’t sure?”

“We haven’t even talked about it.”

“Chop-chop, Mr. Swinger. You don’t have much time.”

“To do what?” I snorted. “Convince her to join the group? Come to camp?”

“That’s where the action is,” Christy said. She sounded like Wren—her attitude, at least. “I… um… might’ve hinted about that, too,” she admitted.

Like mother, like daughter. “You aren’t the only one,” I muttered aloud. “Emily mentioned it to Maddy.”

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry,” Christy said. “I know you hate it when we gang up on you.”

“Eh, I’ll survive.”

“So… tell me about the rest of the night,” she said. “Did you only do it once?”

“No. We talked for a while. She told me about her and the twins.” I was deliberately vague, since Allie had asked me to keep some of her stories to myself. She’d tell Christy eventually, but she wanted to do it on her own terms.

“Oh my gosh,” Christy gushed, “she was like you. Back in college, I mean.”

“Close enough,” I said.

“You know what I mean. Threesomes and gangbangs and porn, oh my! What’s so funny?”

“I said the same thing myself. Well, I thought it.”

“Mmm. I know you so well.”

“You do,” I agreed. “Anyway, we spent the night together in the guest bedroom. Mr. Big was in the mood when I woke up, but—”

“Oh, crap! Wren’s done. Pretend we were talking about… I dunno… Hawaii!”

I actually moved the phone away from my ear and frowned at it. Christy wasn’t the worst liar in the world, but Wren wasn’t an idiot, either.

“I think we should buy one,” Christy was saying when I returned the phone to my ear. “You know, like the one your parents were telling us about.”

“Hold on, what’re you talking about?”

“A house, dear… in Hawaii.”

Wren ignored the smokescreen and went straight for the fire at its center.

“Well, did he do it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Christy lied.

“He did!” Wren crowed. “He was telling you about it.”

“He was not!”

“Then why’re your cheeks pink? And I bet—”

Christy bleated as Wren stripped away the covers.

“Aha! I knew it! You’ve been having phone sex!”

“Have not!”

“Have too. Here, let me talk to him. C’mon, hand it over.” The phone changed hands, and Wren said, “Hey. So, you finally did it, huh? You got into her panties? Thong or lace? Oh, God, don’t tell me… not granny panties?”

“Did you and Trip swap libidos?” I teased. “Like, maybe, five or six years ago?”

“You should be glad. I keep your wife happy… while you sleep with other women.”

“Touché.”

“So, how was she? Did she live up to the hype?”

“I don’t know if I’d put it like that,” I hedged. “Hype, I mean.”

“Well, she sure talks a good game. But is she bush-league or big-league?”

“You’ve been married to Trip too long.”

“And you still wear rose-colored glasses,” she shot back. “You sugarcoat problems, especially about women you like.”

“It’s called being polite,” I replied. “Besides, I look for the good in people.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” she said, charitable now that she’d made her point. “So… is she any good?”

“I think so.”

“Good,” Wren said, and meant it. “Then I’m happy for you. Her too. Ken was a total loser. ’Bout time she slept with someone who actually cares. Do you think she wants to try out for the show? Oh, God, I hear it now! Maybe I have been married too long.” She pretended to think about it. “Nah. I’ll never find another guy who’d let me run away for a week with my girlfriend.”

“Mmm.”

“So, back to my question. Do you think Allie wants to try swinging? Christy seems to think your magic dick’ll do the trick, but that isn’t how it works. I’ve told her before—”

“Same here.”

“—but she never listens. She’s totally delusional.”

“I am not!” Christy protested.

“You are too, my love. Sorry.”

“Can I have my phone back?”

“In a minute,” Wren said, “when I’m done.”

“Ugh, fine.”

“Why don’t you go hop in the shower? You’re done talking to him anyway.”

“I am not! Besides, he’s my husband. You had your chance, remember? And you blew it.”

“I didn’t blow it,” Wren chuckled. “He’s much better with you anyway.”

“You can say that again,” I agreed wholeheartedly. I loved Wren, but I couldn’t imagine being married to her.

“You don’t have to sound so happy about it!” she laughed. Then she said to Christy, “Stop looking at me like that. Okay, I’d better let you go,” she said to me this time, “or I’ll have a very unhappy girlfriend.”

Christy muttered something in the background, and Wren laughed again.

“I know, my love. And I’m sorry. Well, congratulations,” she said to me. “I knew you could do it. Yeah, yeah, I know, real people with real feelings. Allie’s one of the good ones, so take care of her.”

“I know, and I will.” Wren could still get to me, especially when she showed her sensitive side. “Now, d’you mind if I finish talking to my wife?”

“Sure,” Wren said fondly. “I’m done with you anyway.”

I rolled my eyes with a smile. I always knew where I stood with her.

“But make it quick,” she added. “We need to leave soon, and you know how she is. I swear, she’ll be late to her own funeral.”

✧ ✧ ✧

I returned to the guest bedroom to find Allie already stirring.

“Where’d you go?” she wondered sleepily.

“For a swim.”

“Ah, right.” She smiled. “You’re one of those disgusting morning people.”

“I’m afraid so.”

After a moment she yawned, rolled to her back, and threw an arm over her face to block the early morning light. The sheet slid down and revealed her breasts, which flattened under their own weight. They weren’t as perky as Christy’s, but they were here, and I could touch them.

The little head nudged the towel around my waist, but we didn’t have time. Allie lifted her arm and grinned up at me, almost as if she knew what the little head was thinking. She rolled her eyes, Men,but then raised her head to check the clock.

“Six thirty? Already?”

“Yeah, sorry. I let you sleep as long as I could.”

“When do we need to leave?”

“Seven if we want to beat the rush at registration, seven thirty if we don’t mind waiting.”

“Let’s wait.”

“I thought you might say that. If we leave early we can stop and pick up coffee on the way.”

“Why’n’t you say so?” She sat up, and the sheet fell away completely. Her breasts swayed into their normal shape, round and full. She didn’t bother to cover them, and I didn’t bother to look away. She yawned again and blinked to clear her eyes.

“Well, what do you think?” she said. “It isn’t too late…”

“For what?”

“To back out. I mean, now that you’ve seen me at my finest.”

“What? Bedhead and no makeup? I’m not that superficial.” I laughed amiably. “If you need proof, you can join me in the shower. I have to check on the girls first, though.”

“Want me to do it?” Her eyes alighted on the mesh top she’d been wearing the night before.

“Nah, I got it,” I said. “Emily’s up already. She was eating breakfast when I came in through the kitchen. I heard movement upstairs, but I need to make sure it’s everyone.”

“Maddy’s like me. Carly should be awake, though.”

“I’ll make sure.” I glanced at my watch, a hint that she needed to get moving as well. “What time do we need to meet the guy at your house?”

She inhaled a deep breath and stared into space. Saturday seemed like a lifetime ago, even though it was only two days.

“Ten? Ten thirty?” she said after a moment. “He said he needed to pick up a part first.”

“Better make it ten, just in case. In the meantime, head down the hall to the master bath. I’ll join you shortly.”

“Tempting, but I’m not very sexy in the morning.” She smiled an apology. “I need time to wake up.”

“No problem. I thought I’d make the offer. Lemme go check on the girls. You know where to find me if you change your mind.”

✧ ✧ ✧

She didn’t change her mind, and I showered alone. I was tempted to jerk off, just to relieve the pressure, but I decided not to. I wasn’t opposed to a quick orgasm or even a solo one, but quick and solo just seemed depressing.

Allie was still making noises in the guest bathroom when I finished getting dressed, so I headed to the kitchen to check on the girls’ progress.

Emily was back, dressed and ready, which wasn’t a surprise. She was also making lunches for everyone, which was. Laurie normally had that job, and Emily could be a real stickler about chores and responsibilities. Then again, she was my problem-solving princess. Problem, Laurie was out of town. Solution, Emily stepped up.

“Good morning, Froggy. That’s very nice of you.” I kissed the top of her blonde head, filched a piece of turkey, and stuck my own head into the stairwell. “Ladies, get a move on! Breakfast in five minutes! Chop-chop!”

“Coming!”

Light feet ran down the stairs, followed by claws and the jingle of dog tags. I stepped aside. Two dark-haired girls raced past me, followed by two black Labs.

“Hey, Dad,” Susie said.

Carly actually turned and flashed a smile. “Mornin’, Mr. H.”

Spike and Buck ignored me and followed the girls to their food bowls. I glanced at Emily and spotted the third dog, a yellow Lab. Molly sat obediently and didn’t join the others. I realized why a moment later.

Emily folded a slice of turkey when she thought I wasn’t looking. She surreptitiously fed it to Molly, who bolted it down in two snaps.

“Em…,” I warned, “you know the rules.”

“What? I didn’t do anything!”

I replied with paternal disapproval.

“What?” she balked. “It isn’t fair. Why can’t they eat our food?”

“Because I don’t want them begging at the table when we eat.”

“Molly doesn’t beg.”

“Spike and Buck do.”

“They do not!” Susie squawked from the dogs’ alcove. “Well, Buck doesn’t.”

“Spike does,” I said.

“That’s because he’s Laurie’s dog. And Mom’s. He gets away with everything.” She had a point, so I changed the subject.

“Where’s Maddy?”

“I dunno.”

Carly merely shrugged.

“Upstairs,” Emily said. “She’s slow, especially in the morning.” She wasn’t upset about it, either. Laurie and Susie drove her crazy, but Madison and Carly were guests. Still, she switched to Little Commander mode. “Hey, Suse, Carly… where are your bags?”

“Upstairs. Why?”

“Run and fetch them.”

“You aren’t Dad,” Susie shot back.

I cut in, “She’s right, though. Go get them. And tell Maddy to get a move on. Cereal and toast okay for breakfast?”

“Can we have waffles instead? With chocolate chips? And powdered sugar? In smiley faces? Oh, oh! And strawberries? Sliced like fans?”

“It was a rhetorical question,” I said dryly.

“That means he didn’t expect an answer,” Carly told her.

Susie’s frown turned to a glower. No fair. She looked so much like her mother that I had to bite my tongue not to smile.

“We don’t have time,” I explained. “We’ll have them tomorrow… if you get up on time. Fair enough?”

“I suppose,” Susie muttered. Then she said to Carly in a completely different tone, “C’mon, let’s pick out a CD to listen to. My mom got me the one from Kelly Clarkson. Oh my gosh, it’s amazing!” She was my sunshine princess, all right.

“Thanks for backing me up,” Emily said once the younger girls rocketed up the stairs and out of earshot.

My eyebrows rose in amusement. “Excuse me?”

“Thanks for backing me up.”

“You’re welcome, but… you aren’t the parent.”

“I know.”

“So you shouldn’t boss them around.”

“I know.” Translation: I’m going to agree with you until you do what I want.

I gave her a look, I know what you’re doing.

“I know.”

“Stop it,” I said aloud.

“Fine. But one day I’m gonna be a parent. I need to practice.”

“You have some time,” I assured her. “But you’d better be ready.”

“Why?”

“’Cause you might have a daughter as stubborn as you are.”

“So? She’ll do what I say.”

“Good luck with that,” I chuckled. “Your mother thought the same thing… until we had you.”

Emily cocked her head and experienced a moment of insight. They were becoming more frequent as she paid attention to other people.

“Hold on… is that why Nana calls me ‘Birdy’s blessing’?”

“Yes,” I replied frankly.

She was old enough to read between the lines. “Wait… I’m not a blessing?”

“You are, but you’re also a challenge. That’s what Nana means. It’s irony.”

“How?”

“Irony? It’s when you say one thing but mean the opposite.”

Emily frowned with filial disapproval, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Sometimes she was a small version of yours truly, right down to her annoyance at being teased.

“Funny, ha ha,” she deadpanned. “That wasn’t what I meant. How’m I a challenge?”

“Ah. Because you’re strong-willed and independent, just like your mom was with Nana.”

“But… I thought those were good things.”

“They are.”

“Then why aren’t they good when I do them?”

“That’s a good question. Someday you’ll understand.” It was the same non-answer that my own mother had used when I was Emily’s age.

“Ugh. You always say that.”

“I know, right?”

“You’re worse than Mom.”

“Oh, much worse,” I chortled. “Now, scoot over so I can make breakfast for the others.”

She glared, but her daggers bounced off my dad armor. I started taking bowls from the cupboard and decided to extend an olive branch.

“Do you want cereal too? Second breakfast?”

“I’m not a hobbit,” she grumped.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” She wasn’t ready to make peace, so I leaned down and stage-whispered, “I love you, you know.”

“I know. And I love you, too. Only… sometimes I don’t like you very much.”

“That’s okay,” I said mildly. “Hand me a knife, please. I’ll cut you an apple. Do you want peanut butter?”

✧ ✧ ✧