2021-01-01 - New Year New Flame

 2021-01-01 - New Year New Flame

*****WARNING*****Graphic sexual content below. Reader discretion is advised.

Gwen Fontaine set herself up at the table by the fire in Statutes. She was all about the fires and hearths. Even her cat Brigid was named after a Celtic Goddess and keeper of the hearth and home. She wasn’t in any way of Celtic descent but she had taken a World Mythologies course online for interest just before she met Brigid and then the then little grey and tabby kitten had come into her life through a chimney when she was on a welding job in oen of the homes to fix their floo. Somehow the little cat had gotten trapped in there and miraculously survived so she was indeed the keeper of the hearth forever after. Jack Douglas the bartender also brought a little candle to the table, a tealight in a  small glass holder.

“Gotta keep us all warm.” He said jovially “Are you waiting for someone or did you want to order something Gwen?”

Gwen smiled at the bartender who was in fact her cousin “I am waiting for someone but I’ll take a pint of the amber while I do that. Thanks. Good holiday? I mean we saw each other at Christmas….” She snorted. She had been at the Brate house for some of that shindig.

Jack nods “Yeah not bad. Lots of time with Izzy before she’s a big sister. Hope she's not the jealous or impatient type. Tams shoved Megan in a drawer when she was a baby because she cried too much. Of course she cried and we found her in no time so the plan backfired.” He laughs and goes to pour Gwen’s beer.

Gwen gave a little shudder and then laughed “That sounds about right for those two.” She had her brown black undercut brushed over hair a bit wavy today and had on just a bit of makeup. She wore a plain black boatneck sweater and a pair of dark blue jeans with the cuffs over simple black boots. A simple silver long chain necklace down her sweater ended in a small silver delicate feather pendant, a gift from her mother. Gwen had a stainless steel ring in one nostril with a ball bearing and then a few extra earrings on each ear but not overdone, small either rings with ball bearings or little round studs. On her left ear she had a little ear cuff at the top. She also liked rings. Gwen worked with metal and liked metal things. They felt good in and on her hands. Her rings were silver in tone or stainless steel. On her left hand she had a spiral sort of ring on her thumb and a beaded ring on the middle finger and a simple copper ring on the pinky. The wedding ring finger was of course unadorned. One the right hand she had rings on her index and ring finger. The index finger had a sort of snake wrap around ring and on the ring finger she had a puzzle ring she had welded herself, one of her earliest experiments with a soldering gun. Her nails were short and unpainted and her hands were quite small, which actually could be helpful for intricate welding projects. She took her beer and thanked Jack and then sipped quietly as she watched the fire. Gwen had been a bit of a hard sell on this dinner but Pedro Negron was uncommonly charming for a construction worker. And that spark when they shook hands somehow almost unseated her into saying yes. Her grandfather had said those lead to love on this island. Gwen was not sold but yet intrigued.

Pedro Negron had bowed out of the wedding at an opportune time.  Fortunately his father was deliriously happy to see Angel married off.  One down.  So when he asked to be let off of entertainment, his father had agreed.  Mostly because Pedro had mentioned a date … which could culminate in another wedding.  But he had managed to get out of the reception a good several hours early, as they would be dancing and partying until the wee hours if they could get away with it.  He … wanted a quieter and simpler evening.  Without two large intertwined large families.  Since Statutes was literally next door, Pedro couldn’t really change clothes, but he had time and presence enough to take off his tie and unbutton his shirt.  He entered Statutes casually and saw Gwen beside the fire.  All of the months they had worked together, he had never thought of her as beautiful.  She was feminine enough to not be considered masculine, but other than that .. she was just Gwen and Gwen assumed that he was a wild child like Samuel.  But she had agreed to this date and he wanted to explore that spark.  Angel felt it and now he was married.  Stopping at the table, he plops down.  “I’m ot late?”  he asks.  He’d told her about the wedding.  Had invited her, in fact, but since she was not really with him .. she had declined.  “One down and six to go.”  he rolls his eyes and motions for Jack to bring him whatever Gwen is drinking.

Gwen looked up as she saw motion. Pedro was walking towards her looking …...well looking pretty damn hot today actually, a bit dressy but still, she couldn’t deny it. She grinned “Not late. I’ve only been here about ten minutes or so.” But her beer was almost at half mast and she sipped again like it was water “Six to go…….do they just auction you all off like cattle to the most Catholic bidder? Ziggy’s isn’t though is she? Didn't get the impression that family was churchy.” She casually twisted ehr puzzle ring with her thumb on that hand. “Was it fun for your brother at least?”

Pedro sat down and nodded.  At least he wasn't in trouble for being late.  “No auctions.  That’s illegal.”  he joked.  “But my mother and father … especially my mother want us to be married.  Especially married before the first baby comes along.”  his beer comes and he promptly takes several swallows, catching up with Gwen.  “My brother is the oldest and we have different biological fathers, even though we all have the same last name.  I found out my mother got a lot of shit for having a baby out of wedlock.”  he sighs deeply and in annoyance at his grandfather.  “So even though Ziggy isn’t Catholic … at least she is married to my brother now.”  he blows out a breath.  “Old world Catholic bullshit.”  he rubs at his temple.  “Big weddings with lots of people … just … ugh.”  he holds up his hand.  “No offence if you want a big wedding and no I am not proposing to you on the first date.”  he chuckles a little bit.  He couldn't deny he was attracted, but he didn’t want her to think this was the night before their wedding.

Gwen downs her beer and smiles at Jack for another. She listens to Pedro talk about his family and their view on marriage and babies. “Your poor mom...that's a load of patriarchy right there. Not trying to disrespect your culture.” She holds up a hand and in no time she has another beer “Thanks Jack.” She head juts as he walks away “My cousin. He still charges me though, maybe because I drink too fuckin much.” She snorts and then sips and then has to work not to spit as she laughs “Well that’s good because I am NOT the marrying kind. Don’t tell your mother. But I’d definitely bid on you in an illegal auction.” She winks. OK he was cuter by the minute.

Pedro finished his drink as Gwen talked and he also motioned for another to her cousin.  “No … I get where you’re coming from.  But for my mother .. it’s what she knows.  She’s gotten a bit better, I think.”  he laughs about Jack and toasts to him when he brings him another beer.  “You would?  I’m honored.”  he tells her.  “Don’t tell my mother, but …  I’m not the marrying kind either.  My parents love each other to pieces, but … I can’t explain it.  Besides the legal aspects .. What is marriage, anyway?  If I love you and I’m not going anywhere … what more do we need?”  he sighs.  “And don't tell her I also don’t want 7 or more kids ….  I am a failure as a Catholic.”

Gwen nods “You can’t deny people their comfort zones when it’s all they know.” She laughs and throws back her head “Honoured…..good answer.” Then she looks curiously delighted that he’s not the marrying kind either and nods “Exactly. It’s contrived bullshit….I’m sorry but with all the divorce and cheating and people who marry people for money or fame or whatever other kinda motherfuckin crap is not real that document is just a glorified placemat.” She pats the placemat menu and then looks at it “We should get food. I’m feeling just a hint of this….” She clinks a ring on the glass “And I’d like to keep the good times rollin. And talk more about your Catholic failure to procreate. I can’t help but think of the Monty Python song about every sperm being sacred…” She trails off chuckling.

Pedro gives her a thumbs up when she tells him he gave a good answer.  “Amen …  I mean my father and mother are faithful and in love.  But I’ve had plenty of friends whose parents weren’t … father’s whoring around whre than my brother Samuel.  Women putting up with anything just to keep their husband .. not leaving because women don’t divorce.  God frowns on it.  Fuck.”  he stops.  “Yea …  I think I am too.  Sorry to go on the anti Catholic track on you.  I’m back now…  ANy suggestions for food?”  he laughs.  “I don’t think Monty Python is big in Puerto Rician communities, so you’ll have to show me that someday.  But …”  he touches his chest.  “I am twenty years old with no children.  Legitimate or any other way.  I took in a couple of cats when we still lived in Toronto.  I told my mother they were like my kids and … next thing I knew I was in confession.  It isn’t a sin to love cats, but …  at the time my mother figured blanket confession would do when she just didn’t understand something her kid did.”  he grins.  “So I don’ tknow if my sperm are sacred .. it that just a perk of being a Catholic?”

Gwen actually looks somewhat amused by his rant and nods along with him and then smiles “The Irish stew is pretty reliable. Pete’s specialty. I think he puts a fair few drops of ale in it.” She chuckles and then snaps “Pythonathon….date 2?” She cleared her throat. Did she just suggest a second date with Pedro before the first had come to completion and analysis? Then she breaks into another grin “Cats over kids! Do you still have them? I have a kick ass grey bitchy fur goddess named Brighid. I rescued her from a chimney so hence the name after the Celtic Goddess of home and hearth. She’s picky about who’s she makes friends with, just like me. We relate. I would have to confess my cavorting with felines too as she’s my at home therapist and drinking buddy.” She snorts and looks at him “Doesn’t the pope line you all up and bless your nuts at birth for the continuation of the church? I don’t know how Catholics work. I’m a total heathen I’m sure.” Then she stops joking for a moment “Actually I’m not religious but maybe spiritual? I try to follow the traditional world views of my cultures so I really shouldn’t be making fun of yours.” She humbles a bit, being genuine with Pedro because he seems like a genuine guy.

Pedro nods.  "I'll take the Irish Stew then."  he proclaims.  When she makes the suggestion of a second date, he immediately replies.  "I'm there.  Just tell me when."  he'd date her again, he realizes.  The first date is going fantastic.  He smiles when she mentions her rescued cat.  "No, I don't.  Both of them were rescues.  SNowball was just a kitten ... someone was driving by the site I was working on while we were at lunch and threw her out of the window.  I took her to the vet but .. they recommended hospice.  She hung on for a month.  Finally I had her put down.  Pumpkin I found on Halloween ... pretty black cat, but he had cancer.  So I took care of him for a few months before he died."  he tells her.  He smiles about Brighid.  "Oh, so you already have a drinking buddy.  Shame ..  nothing against Brighid, of course."  he laughs when she asks if his nuts have been blessed.  "Well if so then I was a baby and don't remember.  My father says we are all passionate.  Part of it being that we are Puerto Rican and part being that we are his and he is passionate."  he chuckles.  "Spiritual .. see I like that idea.  Believe me ... Catholicism isn't all that easy.  But I confess when I have to and do my penance."  he nods at her.  "But I do appreciate your views."  he is tempted to reach over the table, but checks the motion, going for his beer and draining the glass instead.

Jack swings by and takes their stew orders and then gives Gwen a little twinkly eyed smile. He hadn’t realized she had a date here. Now he was way too delighted by it.

Gwen gives Jack the stink eye and then laughs and looks back at Pedro as he immediately goes for the idea of a second date. She feels a bit warm at his enthusiasm and smiles “Good.” Then she frowns about the cats who died “Aww sorry for your losses.” Then she smirks “Well Brigid doesn’t drink. She just sits there and mocks me so you may have a chance.” She wiggles her eyebrows at his proclamation of being passionate “Nothing wrong with passion.” She swats herself inside her head and grabs her beer for a long sip. Down girl. Then she nods “Yep we don’t all have to agree...just respect and understand. So...Pedro….what do you do when you’re not confessing or constructing? What’s your happy place that’s just you?” She leans back knowing she’s asked a zinger and smirks at him.

Pedro nods at Gwen's compassion and then smirks himself.  "I hope I pass the tests."  when she comments on passion, he silently toasts her and drinks, trying not to read too much into that.  She changes the subject and asks him about himself.  “I play guitar …  that’s sort of a family tradition.  But I also like movies.  Hanging out with a friend or two.”  he tells her.  “And …  I like to play cards.  Either solitaire or games with two or three … maybe four at most players.”  he grins.  “I know … how did a loner like me wind up in this huge ass Catholic family?”  he shrugs.  “I am the second born after Angel … but they did not stop having children.”  he teases about his family and then gets a little more serious.  “I love my siblings.  I just don’t want to put any of my own through it.”  he leans back  “And you?  You clearly are not scared by many siblings.  Do you have any family?  Besides your cousin there?”

Gwen smiles and then listens with interest “Guitar? Do you sing?” She nods about movies and cards and small groups or being a  loner “I am frequently a  loner...in truth I kinda hate people. Not saying I hate you….just people as a concept en masse.” She nods about his family and siblings “I have one brother back in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Simon, and my parents of course live there. My Mom lived here during the fog.” She just flat out asks instead of pussy footing around “Do you know about the fog? Because I swear we should just make handouts to save time.” She keeps going “Anyhow she moved back this year. And I do have family here. My grandparents are Fred Sewid and Shirley Douglas. Jack…” She gestures and he appears with their stew and then she looks all pleased with herself. “Look at the power of my words..” She jokes to them both.

Jack laughs “Bon appetit….smart ass.” He fires at Gwen.

Gwen laughs harder and makes a point of scratching her head with her middle finger at him as he walks away “See? Loving family….Jack is Shirley’s nephew so we’re not like first cousins. But he has two daughters, Megan and Tamela. Megan Brate...married to the mayor Adum Brate? Tamela Douglas, married to a cop...she’s a cop. Frank Sharp is her wife. And Megan and Adum have an adorable shrieking child and another on the way. I don’t hate children. I just like to hand them back to mom and dad when they puke or shit themselves...which is inevitable.” She laughs and then thinks about the other question, his turning her zinger on her “Well I’m not musical, though I like music. I also like cards and games, the stupider the better. I like movies but I’m picky. I hate romantic comedies. I like weird movies that make me think or absurd movies that make me laugh. I’m good with action if it has a good plot too…..OR it has to be so stupid it’s worth it to mock...like Snakes on a Plane stupid. You know? And documentaries. Tell me the life of a wombat or argue the merits of democracy or tell me how we’re fucking it all up…” She shrugs. “I know I’m an old lady for a 21 year old.”

Pedro nods when she asks if he can sing.  "Yes.  And very well, since I sometimes sing in the family band."  he grins when she tells him its not him she hates as people.  Then he listens to her family history, nodding at mention of the fog.  "We knew about the fog in a way as it was happening, since we work for Senior Brate.  He hired us after Alexandra vanished and we basically worked for him while we waited for it to appear.  Then we came here to work for him on the island itself."  he grins at the banter between she and Jack but he nods and thanks him for the food.  "Gracias."  he stirs and watches the steam rise  "So my boss is the mayor's father.  I hope that does not make us related."  he chuckles.  "See it isn't that for me.  When my parents get old they will  puke and shit themselves ... I hope someone will be able to stand it.  Like children.  For me it is more ..."  he considers his words.  "With so many of us, one of us is always ... not neglected ...  overlooked maybe is the word I'm thinking of?  But I expect I will be the childless uncle, although if a baby comes along, of course I will love them.  I just will try not to have more than two."  he nods with her about movies and can't help but chuckle at the Snakes on a Plane reference.  "I watched that movie after my last disaster of a date."  he shakes his head.  "First she tells me about washing her dog in the bathtub or the sink and followed that up by asking me if I was OK with a lot of kids."  he pauses.  "Granted you and I are talking about kids, but it feels very different if that makes sense?  I felt she might rape me in the restaurant to get my sacred sperm in her egs."  he hufs.  "So me and my best friend ... Brayden .. watched Snakes on a Plane and got drunk ... oh she was a teetotaler too."  he looks at her talking about the merits of democracy.  "I like older women."  he tells her, the first time he's straight on addressed his attraction to her.

Gwen ate heartily while Pedro talked. She wasn’t dainty about her appetite and she ripped off hunks of the Irish bread and dunked it and then ate it with a satisfied nod. She washes her halfway done feast down with about another half a beer and then begins to answer on some of his points “God I could live on bread. Carbs are GOOD!” Then she has to smirk “You’re in a family band? I did see you guys at the festival….good tunes. But sorta like a Puerto Riccan Brady bunch?” She jokes “You guys rock though.” She looked relieved he knew about the fog. Then she shakes her head “No…..work colleagues maybe but not related.” She thinks about the aging parent quandary “Yeah both ends of life. I can’t see Simon taking care of our parents….and I’m not moving back to Nova Scotia. Ugh….they’re good so far though.” She nods about someone always being left out in a big family or overlooked. It made sense. I mean crowd control. “I would be a kick ass aunt. My brother just keeps dating unreliable people.” She laughs “I’d be the let them watch the movies with swears and take them to punk rock concerts aunt.” She grins at the thought and then grins more “Oh I love hearing bad date stories. It’s a sickness. So bad you had to get hammered….woot.” She tunes in and eats the rest of her bread with wide eyed reactions and stifled laughs “You mean the kitchen sink? Gross I hope she sanitizes it down before washing her dishes. Don’t get me wrong I love Brigid….but never forget they have poop feet and lick their assholes!” Then he says he likes older women and she laughs but looks flattered “Didn’t you say you were twenty? I could be like months older. We could have been in the same grade in school…..when’s your birthday Pedro? I just turned 21 on September 21st. Champagne birthday….and believe me I drank some. But not all night. I’m really more of a beer drinker or rum, especially in the winter. It’s warming. I swear it’s medicinal.” She nods sagely.

Pedro listened to Gwen while he ate heartily.  He dunked his bread and put chunks of meat on the bread to eat.  "This is great bread, I agree."  He mostly covers his mouth when she compares his family band to the Brady Bunch.  You are an old soul Gwen."  he tells her, happily.  Then they move on to bad dates and he nods.  "Totally hammered.  And it was a DOUBLE date and MINE was the GOOD one.  Brayden's date wound up getting back with her plumber ass boyfriend."  he shakes his head.  "Cats know better than to bathe in the sink."  he nods when she asks if he is indeed twenty.  "It could be months, but you'd still be an older woman."  he grins cheekily.  "My birthday is February the 1st.  So you are a few months older than I am."  he looks at her when she mentions being a rum drinker.  "Don Q?"  he asks, but laughs.  "Medicinal for sure.  Sitting before a fire, keeping warm while the cat judges you."  hat actually sounds like a nice night for him.

Gwen smiles about being called an old soul and then laughs about the plumber butt getting back with the other date “Man where did you meet these women? Brayden from the pharmacy right? Sorry he’s the only Brayden I’ve come across there and he wears a name tag.” She gives him a cheeky look about the older woman comment and then slaps the table “February 1st….Brigid’s day….as in the goddess one. I have no idea when my cat Brigid was born so we also use it as her birthday. Don’t worry no bows or shit.” She ponders the Don Q “You know I’ve seen that but never tried it. I tend to go for the weirdly named ones and that could fit. I have a bottle at home called The Kracken…..makes me feel piratey. And yes, the cat is always judging. That’s their superpower.” She takes a last bite of stew and chews and then holds up her spoon “OK my best bad date story. Back in Nova Scotia. Older guy...actually thought he was a bit square…..cardigans and loafers and tee totaler like your dog lady. But it had been awhile so I said yes to what he told me was a concert at his ...he called it a palace of worship...not a church and he was clear it wasn’t a church. So I go to this thing and it’s a cult. He was trying to recruit me into his cult. There were like gurus and chanting and flower necklaces and testimonials...talk about almost shitting your pants. I thought they were gonna kidnap me but it was just a hyped up like infomercial.” She laughs “It was bad….”

Pedro shook his head.  "Breydon suggested them.  My date works with Angel as a teacher .. and she will be an old maid, I can almost guarantee it."  he arches his brows about Brigid's Day.  "I do not know this goddess, but ... sure."  he pauses.  "We as in you and the cat?"  he asks, feeling a strange pang of jealousy and fear he can't explain.  Things were going so well .. why was he suddenly paranoid about another lover or something?  He brushes it away and arches his brows.  "I'll buy you a bottle of Don Q and if you are willing to share I'd like to taste your Kracken."  he drinks more not realizing where a good and twisted mind might gleefully take his words.  He finishes eating as she tells her bad date story.  "A time machine to 1960's California?"  he shakes his head.  "I don't know ... it's bad but did he try and figure out when you were ovulating?"  he teases.  “I should have told that woman I was sterile.  Or had stock in a condom company.”  he takes another long drink.  “You know …  now I am wondering if she was a virgin…”  he blinks and shudders.

Gwen laughs “Yes Brigid and I…..the royal we as she is my companion… I swear to god I’m not a crazy cat lady. I only have one. Megan keeps offering me more like she’s trying to build me a kit of them….or maybe thinking if I stack them up right I won’t feel like there’s a lack of man in my life?” She jokes and then he says he wants to taste her Kracken and she giggles and almost gets the last of her beer up her nose and then waves at her face “You need to say things in your head first Pedro….” She teases and laughs more. “But I’m flattered by the offer.” Then she holds up a finger “No temperature taking or ovulation charts or offers to implant me with any gurus seed. Maybe we should send your virgin...because she totally is..I can just see it...to my rejected cult guru and they can give her all the babies and dogs!”

Pedro is relieved to know its the royal we.  He gives her a look of disappointment.  "Not a crazy cat lady..."  he sighs dramatically.  Then she says Megan Brate may want to make up for the lack of a man in her life and then tells him he should really think before he speaks.  He chuckles.  "It sounded less .... piggish in Spanish."  he tells her.  He laughs about the guru seed and grins.  "That is good to know, Gwen.  And I think he sounds like the perfect man for her."  he grins and finishes his beer, smiling wide and naturally.  He's having an incredible time with this woman.

Gwen smiles “Less piggish in Spanish huh?” She looks amused.”You’ll have to teach me how to say can I taste your Kracken in Spanish then so I can have that line in my back pocket for future travels. If the world ever comes back to that.” She finishes her beer too and signals for two more “I should probably drink this one slower. Not drunk, just happily buzzed. So neither of us are in a  cult and we don’t wash pets where we eat….you’re quite cute and hilarious. I would say as far as things go it’s not a disaster. I mean the night is young though right? One of us could easily be a werewolf or secretly collect creepy dolls.”

Pedro shrugs and then looks over at her with a slightly steamy expression.  “Puedo probar tu Kracken?” he asks her, in a sultry tone of voice.  “But you must take me with you when you travel.  I need to see that reaction when you ask.”  he nods as Gwen says she’s not drunk but slowing down.  “Si … you are beautiful and hilarious.”  he replies.  “No disaster so far, I agree.  There is no full moon tonight and you would have to invite me to your home so I can see if there are any creepy dolls.”  he holds up a finger.  “And at some point I must pass …”  he pauses and considers his words.  “Kitty muster.”  he used that word, as opposed to pussy which was more suggestive, but he wouldn’t mind passing that muster either.

Gwen finds she’s drawn in completely by Pedro’s expression and his tone of voice. She bites her lip as he teaches her the Spanish and then visibly exhales “Fuck….people must give you anything you want when you ask...like that.” She laughs at her own reaction. Then he calls her beautiful and she grins. Gwen was confident and not a blusher “Why thank you for noticing.” she giggles. She looks amused by his comments about dolls and passing the Brigid test “Kitty muster….and I’ll hide the dolls so you only see them at the right moment.” she mock threatens.

Pedro grins.  “I have never asked anyone but you … like that.”  he tells her.  “Usually I am just polite .. if that makes sense  Things just happen … or don’t happen.  In my life there has only been one woman I have felt … people always say attracted to but I mean like a magnet.  Cannot stay away levels of want.”  he shrugs.  “It can be confusing, but I think I know the difference between fucking and making love.”  he grins when she simply owns her own beauty and winces at the threat.  “I will try not to die from the shock and fear.”  he promises.

Gwen looks thoroughly intrigued and a little flattered. Another round comes and she thanks Jack and sips, nodding in agreement, about all of it. Then because there’s no topic Gwen’s not shy about she just flat out asks “So, who was the woman and what happened?” She’s attracted to Pedro for sure and not threatened by talking about exes. He was here now, alone with her. Everyone had a past.

Pedro smiles as beers are delivered and bowls are taken away.  Gwen asks about the woman he was referring to and he arches both of his brows.  “Oh … she is this welder that I know and commissioned to do some work for my mother.”  he tells her.  “And I don’t know what happened yet … we’ve neither fucked or made love yet.”  he means her, of course and he is being honest … and not terribly shy.  She is an incredible breath of fresh air to him.

Gwen is not embarrassed but she’s a little unseated by his bold admission for a second before she smiles at Pedro with a bit of a melting look “Direct. I like that. And I like you Pedro Negron.” She smiles even more and stretches out her leg letting it lean against one of his. She clears her throat and laughs “I don’t know what else to say...which is rare.” She exhales and scratches the back of her head looking at him.

Pedro nods and takes a sip of his beer.  “I like you also,  Gwen Fontaine.”  he feels her leg and bumps it a little bit, then laughs at her speechlessness.  “I am flattered I can make you speechless?”  he offers.  “I think for a while you thought I was just one of those construction workers who is ….”  he scoffs a little bit.  “Like Samuel.  My brother.  Different girl every couple of weeks.  Never serious.  Just looking to get his cock wet.”  he can also be incredibly blunt.  “I am glad you finally let me ask you out.  Because this is the best date I’ve ever been on.”  he admits and not even thinking about it, he reaches for her hand.

Gwen feels the leg bumping and has to chuckle. He was playful. She liked that. Then he admits he likes her too and calls it about her feelings on construction workers “Yeah...yeah I did. And believe me I’ve turned down Samuel about 15 times….once with a blow torch pointed at him to make sure he got it.” She laughs “He can dip that stir stick somewhere else.” She enjoys that Pedro is blunt, because so is she. And she can’t fault him for his assessment of their date “Yeah I’d have to agree…” she looks like she might say more but then his hand touches her and she feels an unmistakable spark and stares at their hands. Grandpa Fred had talked about this. She sort of laughs and looks up at Pedro “Give me your other hand...I gotta know.” She reaches out both hands“I don’t know if you’ve heard about this too but the spark thing…...now I’m just fascinated as well as convinced you need to meet Brigid…”

Pedro laughs lightly at mention that Samuel had asked her out … several times.  “That is Samuel.  Every woman a conquest.”  he shakes his head.  He blinks at that spark.  Again.  Fernanda had spoken of it, and of course Angel had.  So he isn’t too surprised when Gwen asks for his other hand..  He sets aside his beer and takes her other hand.  The spark is there and the longer he holds her hand the less he wants to release it.  The spark fades a bit to a comfortable warm feeling and he looks at her … into her eyes.  “Si …  I agree.”  he rubs at her hand.  “Is fascinating … and  I would love to meet Brigid…”  he murmurs.  He isn’t afraid but of course, he is feeling as if he could love this woman .. maybe even already does.

Gwen nods, ruefully. She could tell that about Samuel. But Pedro was different and the sparks on both hands….then just a feeling like they’d done this before, many times, their hands knowing each other’s, old but new. She meets his gaze and is mesmerized. No man has ever gotten through her sass and sarcasm and found a path like this...right to her vulnerabilities, her heart. She opens her mouth to speak and finds she can only nod until she sees Jack walk by them and snaps her head to him “Can we get our bill please?” She asks with a bit of urgency.

Jack nods and laughs as he walks to get the wireless debit machine and their receipts. “Together or separate?” He asks as he arrives back.

“Separate.” Gwen says on instinct. She never wanted or expected men to pay on dates. It’s work to tear herself from Pedro’s caressing fingers on her hand but she does and reaches into her jeans pocket for her back card. Gwen rarely carried a purse if it could be avoided. She hated them on principle.

Jack sees a card on Gwen’s side and does hers first and then turns to Pedro and tells him the same amount since their orders were identical.

Pedro searches Gwens eyes.  Her face.  She is almost ready to speak when Jack appears.  He doesn’t reply when asked if their bills were together or separate and when she says separate, he pulls out his wallet and then card for Jack to scan.  But he hopes  … no he knows … hat asking for the checks means they are on their way out of Statutes, at least.  Once he gets his card back, he’ll put it back in his wallet and the wallet back in his suit jacket.

Gwen pulls on a jacket. It's not a super feminine jacket but a very practical all weather black sort of cargo jacket but from her pocket she pulls out a very colourful scarf with Mi'Kmaq designs featuring a woman walking with wolves against the sunset orange background that meets with land and stream. Tree branches grow right out of her head and the mouth of the stream spouts from her feet. Black silhouetted birds circle in the sky. The scarf is a story, maybe even a legend Gwen carries with her as she wears it. She gives Jack a little half hug and ways goodbye to him and then as they walk out the door she reaches to take Pedro's hand with her right, her homemade puzzle ring on the ring finger clinking a bit as she does. The night has grown cooler but she doesn't feel cold when she's touching Pedro. Gwen marvels at that out loud "So what is this? Island magic? The real deal? Should I be running towards you or away from you Pedro Negron?" She's walking towards her apartment but he probably doesn't know where she lives.

Pedro loves the scarf on sight.  It’s beautiful.  He takes her hand as they walk, but he lets her guide them through the Central Park.  She asks what this is … is it island magic of the real deal.  Should she be running towards or away from him.  He stops moving and, if she turns to him he will move a little closer.  “Why can’t the island's magic also be the real deal?”  he asks her and moves a bit closer.  “And I would not like you to run away from me.”  and he moves in to kiss her.  He doesn’t know what a kiss will be like, but if the hand holding is any indication … they might not stop quickly.  He knows or has been told he’s a good kisser … but … this is … different.

Gwen does turn and hesitates, caught in Pedro's gaze as she returns it. He asks a valid question and she can't argue and then says he would not like her to run away and moves in to kiss her. She feels a pull to him like a magnet and leans in, steps in, with a smile in her eyes before she closes them and lets their lips touch. and the second they do those little hand sparks feel like tiny flickrs compared to the jolt she feels as they connect. But she doesn't pull away. She doesn't run away from him, she runs to him in this moment and winds her arms around him leaning her head back. She's a little shorter than him but it's a perfectly comfortable difference and they fit and she kisses him slowly like she's savouring him, exploring him. She inhales and drinks in the smell of him that goes beyond beer and stew and her passion starts to grow in her movements as their heads tilt and dip and dance over and over.

Pedro tenses when they kiss.  It’s that odd jolt between them.  The kiss is soft and slow and, as one, they move closer to each other.  His arms are around her.  Her arms are around him.  It’s January in British Columbia, but he is oblivious to the cold.  Slowly the kiss grows more passionate, but he doesn’t break it.  The movie Casablanca had it wrong.  A kiss was not just a kiss.  This kiss told him so much about himself and about Gwen.  And he knew they would only grow closer … as time goes by.

Gwen is nearly breathless from Pedro as her heart races. He's an amazing kisser but this connection, these feelings. She's prided herself on not being mushy even though she can be very soft hearted with her family. Guys had used her, guys had hurt her. Most men in her work life didn't take her seriously as a woman welder. So she'd hardened herself and Pedro basically pried off the shell and tossed it to the wind. She felt exposed but somehow free. Gwen wasn't sure how long they'd been kissing when she finally let go and just stared at him. "Holy fucking hell...." She breathed out into  the small space between them.

Pedro is swept away.  He wasn’t the player his brother, Samuel was, but he’d had his fair share of women in the years since he’d been truly interested in them.  But that was superficial.  There was something about Gwen.  The kiss finally breaks and Gwen breathes out words.  “Si.. Madre de Dios.”  he chuckles a little.  “Holy fucking hell, indeed.”  he agrees.  He caresses her face, tenderly.  “Now I must meet Brigid.  Should I bring her a small dog as a sacrifice?”  he murmurs, still transfixed.

A small dog is being taken on a walk by its Mistress.  It isn’t on a leash, so it is a bit ahead of her, looking for the perfect place to pee.  She finds it … a shoe.  A scent she’d smelled one night when her Mistress had come home nearly in tears.  That was the perfect place now to let go her bladder … and she did.  On the shoe of Pedro Negron.

Gwen is distracted by Pedro's warm breath still on her face and their closeness and she giggles at his small dog joke. "Well where would we...." She starts to ask but then a small black poodle is right beside them like he summoned it. "Ok that's fuckin freaky....oh man it's pissing on you.....get off him demon!" She shouts at the dog.

Jessica Agnor had let the leash out long so Lulu could have a little trot and now she had found Pedro Negron and some hussy! He moved on fast. In fact her dog was having a pee on Pedro's shoe. But the hussy yelled at Lulu and she defended "How dare you?!" As she got closer she could see it was Gewn Fontaine. She knew her from town but not well.

"You're mutt is pissing on my date Jess! Call it off before I punt her!" Then it dawns on Gwen. This was the dog lady.

Jess gets shrill "YOUR date! Oh that's rich isn't it. And Lulu is a purebred! Be careful with him Gwen. He gets around." She huffs and reels the dog in and then picks her up protectively "There there Lulu..."

Pedro knows immediately that he is being peed on and he pulls back before it can get in his sock.  He shakes his foot as Jess comes after the dog.  Gwen is actually telling Jess off, but Pedro is only mildly aware of it as he goes off in a few uncomplimentary lines of rapid fire Spanish, fulfilling every stereotype of Puerto Ricans speaking as if there is a time limit.  He suddenly realizes he’s fallen back on his native tongue.  He switches to English, but his accent is thicker, because he is so not amused at the dog piss on his shoe.  “Yes, her date.  What we had wasn’t a date.  It was an interview on how quick I could knock you up and if the mutt would be too much competition for the babies.”  he accuses.  “And what do you know about getting around?  Has anyone gotten past Cujo here to spend any time between those cold ass legs?”  he isn’t drunk, but he is also buzzed and as a result his filter is low … very low.

Jess just huffs and huffs. It’s like she’s trying to deflate herself “So rude!” She looks at Gwen “You can HAVE him!” And she stocks off “Come on Lulu.”

Gwen watches Pedro go off in rapid Spanish and can’t fight a smirk. Then his English rant is all  the hotter with his accent on full blast. But she cracks up at what he says and then more at Jess’s huffing. When Jess says she can have him she blurts out “ Good because I fuckin will!”

Pedro is breathing heavily.  Jess is huffing like a steam engine.  And Gwen says she will have him.  “Fuck .. I love you, Gwen.”  and he pulls her close and kisses her passionately.  It’s not to get back at Jess .. it’s because he wants to kiss this woman and damn who can see them.

Gwen hears Pedro say the words fuck I love you Gwen and then he’s kissing her passionately before she can even say anything back. A few guys had said the L word to her but none she believed, until now. She kisses Pedro back passionately, almost emotionally and then when they break apart she says “Ah fuck i love you too.” she laughs a little like she’s been defeated by it, by her own feelings “How did that happen?” She traces her fingers down the side of his face and smiles at him.

Pedro laughs a little bit with her.  He’s never said those words and meant it, but he meant it now.  “Island magic.”  he tells her with a wink.  He stands looking around Central Park, which is still decorated half to death with holiday lights.  “I am starting to like the winter more and more.”  he proclaims.  He offers her his arm.  “I’d like to go to your place now.”  he tells her.  “I have a shoe to wash off and I have to explain to the goddess how her sacrifice got away.”

Gwen takes the arm and nods, following his gaze to the lights “So far it’s a very good season this year.” She says with a laugh “Let me guess, summer person? I mean you work in construction. And yes...let’s go deal with your fuckin shoe. I have a spray that might take the smell out….enzymes and shit. And Brigid will understand. Dogs aren’t nearly as tasty as mice and spiders.” She walks with him to her apartment and then lets them in with her key and pulls off her boots before she hangs up her jacket and scarf. Her home is very simple and tidy but with interesting decor. And her love of metal and welding shines, literally. She has sculptures, sort of junk art she’s made with scraps for fun, everything from animals to robots. And the other art in her home is much like her scarf, colourful Indigenous images from the MI'Kmaq side of her family - her father’s, a black and white photo of a Semiahmoo village and canoes from her mother’s side. There are family photos on the TV cabinet and some breathtaking lighthouses and ocean side pictures of Nova Scotia. She has a lobster trap with a sign on it that says respect the treaties. Her couch is a deep red velvet with yellow and turquoise pillows and on it is perched a grey tabby cat, Brigid, like she owns every piece of furniture in the place. There’s a mismatched chair in a sort of brocade fabric and a metal coffee table that Gwen made herself with odd sections welded together. The apartment is also very filled with candles, beeswax in little metal holders of various shoes. Brigid eyes the strange man critically for a full two minutes before sauntering over and just circling him curiously.

“Brigid….this is Pedro.” Gwen introduces like Brigid is a roommate and not a cat.

Pedro takes his shoes off even before he enters the apartment.  His socks are alright. For which he is grateful.  He looks around the place as he enters and grins.  Then he sees the cat and doesn’t move at first as she circles him.  After one orbit, he bends down and offers his hand to sniff.  “Goddess cat.”  he greets her as she sniffs.  “I hope you can at least stand the sight of me.  I had a sacrifice for you, but it marked me … I think so you would hate me.”  he waits to see her reaction.

Brigid slowly comes towards Pedro, sniffing at the hand. Because he’s dealt with a dog pee shoe he has a lot of interesting scents on him and she does that thing cats do where they show their teeth after a big interesting sniff almost like a tiger. Then she sort of huff coughs and ponders it before rubbing up against his legs in all directions.

Gwen observes the cat connecting with Pedro and smiles “The goddess has favoured you.” She declared. She leans in and gives Pedro a sweet kiss and Brigid rubs up against both their legs as she does it as if pushing them together.

Pedro watches the cat and is familiar with cat behavior, so the bearing of teeth doesn’t frighten him.  He accepts the kiss and is nudged even closer.  Placing his hands on Gwen’s waist he cants his head.  “I am glad about that, because I need to be with her priestess.” he winks and kisses her again, deeply and slowly.

Gwen giggles a bit at being called a priestess and kisses Pedro back, his slow deep passion making her weak in the knees. She slides her hands up his chest to his suit jacket and then starts taking it off him as her kisses become more energetic. Then she breaks off like she’s forgotten something “Give me two minutes…” She steps away from him but lightly kisses her way back. “Something I’ve always wanted to do…” And she dashes to a  kitchen drawer and grabs a long lighter and lights all the candles in her living room and then with a wink at him goes into her bedroom and does the same and comes back. Then she puts on soft music and flicks off the lightswitch and walks back to him, pulling him to her a little  intensely “Ok...that’s better.” She kisses Pedro again just like before.

Pedro is left with his suit jacket halfway down his arms.  As Gwen goes around lighting candles, he slides the jacket off and hangs it up.  The light casts flickering shadows and it makes the whole scenario feel like nothing he has ever experienced before.  When she returns to his arms and pulls him to her, saying it's much better, he joins in with the kiss.  “All your missing is a fireplace for us to make love in front of.”  he murmurs into her neck.  Then he chuckles and pulls back a bit.  “You know I am not sure I’ve ever made love before.  Is it like the movies?”  he wonders, although he is working on her shirt.

Gwen grins into the kiss “Sadly not in an apartment…” His breath on her neck makes her shiver a bit. Her sweater is an easy pull off and since it’s a light one, all she has under it is her red lacy bra. She also carefully takes off her necklace after the sweater is off and sets it on a nearby table before she begins to unbutton Pedro’s shirt and dips her head a bit to kiss his neck “I’ve never made love either…..so we’ll find out together.” She moves from the neck to his chest with her trail of kisses as the shirt becomes open. “Oh fuck you’re hot…” She enjoys him shirtless, really enjoys him and tries to pull the shirt off his arms.

Pedro nods.  “No … maybe someday we will.”  he wants more nights like this.  Him and her in each others arms.  Grinning at her bra, he backs up a bit to let his shirt be undone and taken off.  Pedro has a slim build, but a very muscular body from his work.  His pectorals are defined.  His abs are defined.  But somehow he is in construction and not modeling.  He grins at being called hot as he works to undo her bra and make her chest bare.  “Sexy Gwen.”  he murmurs.  “Such a beautiful surprise.”

Gwen has tattoos, quite a few, sleeves of various designs down her arms and vines around her mid section with birds, flowers. Between her shoulder blades she has the phases of the moon. Her tattoos are simple, not coloured in, black ink that looks blueish. Her bra comes off and she presses her body to Pedro’s “Mmmm….” She’s smaller chested but not flat. Gwen is slim but wiry strong. He called her sexy and a beautiful surprise. She kisses him eagerly and begins to undo his pants, her jeans pressed against her fingers as she works them.

Pedro takes in the tattoos he can see and nuzzles her neck as she presses against him.  His body is already beginning to react to her and he gets his hands between them to undo her pants.  Under his slacks are simple boxer briefs under which is the beginning of an erection.  I need to taste you.”  he gasps.

Gwen explores Pedro a bit under his pants but over his boxers and she can feel his growing hardness and gives a little moan. She pushes the pants down and then assists with hers since her jeans are a bit hip hugging. She has red lace panties that match the bra and he says he needs to taste her and she grips at the hardness “Oh fuck yes...Pedro…..you my kinda man…..my man…” She steps out of her jeans and starts backing her way into the bedroom, kissing him and pulling him with her her hands now back at his hips. Her bed had one of those wrought iron things hanging above it which of course she made and from it hang gauzy curtains so her bed is under a magical little tent of them with the candles burning on the other side. Her bedspread is a deep purple and she has lots of pillows. Her sheets are black and white striped. She breaks the kiss long enough to briefly discuss something “I...there are condoms in my dresser….but I also have an IUD so…..just so you know.” She smiles a little and kisses him again.

Working her panties off before he is led to her bedroom.  On the way, he can see the ink on her back and smiles softly at it.  Her bedroom is fascinating to him, but she is more so.  The ironwork is absolutely beautiful.  Functional art.  He listens when she breaks the kiss.  “If it helps, I am clean.”  he tells her.  “Although I have condoms in my wallet.”  He kisses her softly.  “I had a blood test over the summer after we moved here.  A girl gave me a blow job … and it made me feel … like I needed to get tested…  but I don’t have anything. So it’s up to you … if I wear the condom, eh?”  he assures her, but does hesitate because she might balk at his sentence … because now he knows that Miss BJ Brooke has quite the reputation around town.

Gwen is naked before Pedro but she’s perfectly comfortable. She’s natural and he may notice as her arms go around him that in fact she doesn’t shave anything anywhere as her armpits are unshaven, she’s that natural but not a particularly hairy human by nature so it’s all fairly sparse. She runs her fingers up the back of his neck and through his hair “I’m clean too.” Then she can’t help but snort “You felt the need to get tested after a blow job? Good god who the fuck did you let in your pants Pedro?” She’s not judging him, in fact she seems rather amused “That’s diligence. We’re probably ok.”

Pedro shudders as he realizes that Gwen is completely natural.  She doesn’t shave her legs, her pits … or anything else.  He chuckles as she asks.  “Do you know a girl known as Blow Job Brooke?  Samuel said I should try her out and I did but … I apparently have more standards than my little brother.”  he grins and nods.  “Then we won’t.”  he declares and it is then he notices the sound of a baby crying.  But it isn’t his baby and it seems to be coming from upstairs.

Gwen laughs heartily “BJ Brooke? Oh yes we’ve met. Glad you didn’t fully hit that for both our sakes. Please tell me your brother got tested….and perhaps deloused. That whole fuckin family is like a bad porno. Had to do a job in their building and access through their panel….and the parents just…..I’m just going to stop there. Let’s not kill the mood. Because I like this mood Pedro.” She kisses him and pulls back, tugging his lip a bit “And I want you to get naked please…..I want the whole fuckin package of you…” She leans in and breathes in his ear and then sucks hard on his earlobe before whispering “Nothing between us….all night long…”

Pedro nods.  “He got tested.  Both me and Angel told him not to stick his dick in the Plague.  But there are plenty more workers on the site who are doing her.”  he shudders and agrees with her.  “I love this mood.”  he backs away and takes off both his boxer briefs and his socks.  He smiles and takes her by the shoulders.  “Nothing …. All night long.”  he then basins to sink to his knees. Licking her chest, breasts and nipples on his way to his knees, then looking up at her and stroking her thighs and kissing just above her pubic mound.

Gwen moves with Pedro a bit as he moves down her body and lavishes her with beautiful and reotic attention. She gasps and smiles “Oh I love you……….that all feels so good.” She opens up her legs a bit, revealing her world to him, the lower one.

Pedro settles on his knees and reaches up, spreading the hairs and looking at her. He moves his head forward and sticks his tongue out, licking her clit slowly, but not too hard.  He groans at her taste, loving it instantly.  With one hand he keeps her lips parted, and with the other he moves his hand up to her butt and back, caressing it and supporting it if she wants to keep standing.

Gwen sees Pedro on his knees and while it’s pretty damn hot she wonders if it’s comfortable and backs up a little. “Hold that thought…..fuck that’s nice…” His tongue….she loved it and his hands….She pulls him with her and lies herself down on her bed and then once they’re both on she implores him “Please please continue…” She laughs a little.

Pedro gets on the bed with her and smiles during their little break.  Once they are both back on the bed, he kisses her lips and works his way back down her body, this time, since she is on the bed and they have plenty of room, he moves to spread her legs as widely as possible, again spreading her lips with his hands.  “I love your taste, Gwen…” it is the last thing he says before he begins to move his tongue over and around her clit.

Gwen is immediately moaning at Pedro’s movement of his tongue on her clit and he tells her he loves her taste. “Oh thank god…..because I love the way you do that….oh…...oh fuck yes….” She curls her toes and basks in the pleasure he’s giving her. Gwen hears another baby cry and then two at once and then three and winces and then goes back to her basking.

Pedro settles down.  His tongue moving from over her clit to the left to the right, deciding to just enjoy her taste and play.  He hears the babies also, but has other things at the forefront of his brain at the moment.  After a moment, he kisses Gwen’s clit, then goes back to licking, his hand moving up her body to cup her breast.  A perfect handful.

Gwen loves the playing. It makes her moan and shudder. She grunts as he plays with her breast too but when he goes back to licking she gently presses into his tongue getting clearly  closer to an edge or plateau “Harder….please…” She breathes out.

Pedro hears her and presses his tongue into her clit harder, moving it a little faster as well.  He looks up her body at her and she looks so hot he can hardly believe she’s real.

Gwen was very in tune with her body and her own pleasure but what Pedro is doing to her is unreal. She starts to lose it and she’s not quiet about it as she cries out and thrusts up at him and then while she’s still in it she grabs his shoulders “Pedro…..get the fuck in me….I go for awhile…...please….oh god please….”

Pedro is ready to give her a break, even though her cries are turning him on like hes never been turned on before.  When Gwen grabs his shoulders, he is already climbing up her body and hard as steel.  Positioning himself, he has to fight against her orgasm, thrusting himself inside, crying out from the pleasure of the tight confines.  “Gwen ….  Dios ….”  he holds for a moment before he begins to move, but not gently, having to fight her orgasm.  He takes her hard, but he thinks she can handle the gruffness.

Gwen feels Pedro enter her and pause and she sort of half hugs him, still totally in ecstasy. Then he goes for it, hard and almost  a bit rough and she screams with pleasure bucking up at him and wrapping her legs around him, rocking and thrusting just as hard as he does. He’s exactly the energy she is in bed. Between her screams and the bed bumping the wall the babies upstairs cry again and for a moment she feels a little bad but then she forgets because her orgasm goes on and she’s lost in bliss.

Pedro gets no complaint about being a little energetic.  As a matter of fact, Gwen wraps her legs around him and matches each of his enthusiastic thrusts.  He cries out, loudly and nuzzles into Gwen while he reaches out and grabs the iron bed, taking her harder.

Slaine Indi had gone into the back bedroom of their home, which was still hers and Owens, but also their triplets when they had begun to cry one after the other.  Now she was nursing one, Owen was bottle feeding the other and the third was just having to wait their turn.  Liam was actually sleeping in his new way … with noise cancelling headphones playing his favorite music in his ears.  Below them it seemed that Gwen Fontaine had met someone new .. someone who made her very happy.  But the new mother could not be too happy for her.  Unable to get a broom, she keeps nursing and stamps on the floor.  Not that it would work.  Gwe and the triplets were just too loud.

Owen was bottle feeding and saw Slaine stamp. He laughed at the situation , not that he really found it funny right now but maybe he was just delirious. He slung the baby in his arms now refusing the bottle over one shoulder and went to the kitchen for the broom. Coming back he gave Slaine a little nod and then flipped it over and banged the handle loudly on the floor which would be the ceiling below.

Gwen felt Pedro go harder and almost lost her mind, screaming again even louder as her orgasm finally hit her absolute peak. Just after her scream she heard the banging and smiled “Shit…” She muttered but kept the ride going for Pedro as long as he needed. She loved it.

Pedro is in a world of pleasure inside of Gwen,  She is literally squeezing the life out of him.  He could last longer, but not mid orgasm like this.  He can last another minute but no more.  Pedro finds minor solace in the sound of pounding.  Not really thinking about it, his thrusts line with the rhythm of the thudding from upstairs.  “DIos ….  Gwen …”  he cries out, thrusting into her one final time hard and looking down at her panting and smiling.  They are in the middle of the bed … or they’d be on the floor.  He looks at her.  “I love you woman.”  and then he frowns and glances at the ceiling.  NOW he knows what that rhythmic pounding was.  He can’t help himself but yells at the ceiling.  “Gracias, Senior!”  he assumes it's a man.  Maybe he is having sex too … no … the babies are still crying.

Gwen watches and feels Pedro cum and hears him thank the upstairs neighbour and starts to laugh, really hard. “Fuck I love you…” She catches her breath a  bit and yells upstairs “SORRY!” at the top of her lungs and then smiles at Pedro “I’m not but they have triplets and I don’t want them to complain to the landlord.” She laughs more and hugs him to her “That was the most incredible thing in the world.”

Owen is looking down, broom still in hand and they don’t stop so he looks at Slaine and rolls his eyes and laughs. Then someone thanks them in Spanish and Gwen yells sorry and he just drops the broom and starts walking with the baby and bouncing “Sh sh sh sh sh sh sh….please….go...back….to...sleep…..sh sh sh sh sh…”

Slaine is rocking back and forth and nearly crying.  The babies were not hungry .. they were actually tired.  She could completely relate.  Owen was begging them .. and at least the noise from downstairs had stopped.

Pedro looks down at Gwen.  “I love you, too Gwen .. so much.”  and then she explains that her upstairs neighbors have triplets.  “Ohhhh  tired babies…”  he nods and kisses her softly, then he looks back up at the ceiling and begins to sing loudly.  His is a beautiful voice.  He sings in Spanish a short song, but he will sing it at least three times;

El coquí, el coquí siempre canta

es muy lindo el cantar del coquí

por las noches a veces me duermo

con el dulce cantar del coquí

coquí, coquí, coquí, qui, qui, qui

coquí, coquí, coquí, qui, qui, qui.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0Ql2UzF9w

Owen hears a guy, Gwen’s lover, start to sing in Spanish? He gives Slaine a baffled look and then starts to silently chuckle. “Who the hell is she fucking?” He asks Slaine. But to his shock the triplet in his arms settles a bit and he looks down with a raised eyebrow “One of the Negron band?”

Gwen kisses Pedro back and then he’s singing and beautifully, to the babies upstairs, still inside her. She rubs his back as he sings and silently laughs at the whole situation. What a weird beautiful night and a weird beautiful man.

Slaine stares at the floor as Owen asks who Gwen is fucking as the guy starts singing.  “From the Winter Festival?”  she marvels as all three babies start to calm down in her arms.  “Oh ….  Saint Negron …”  she sighs and then, in her exhaustion begins to cry softly.  They are all exhausted.

Pedro is the second oldest of seven.  He’s sung to Miguel and Tomas as little babies.  He smiles at Gwen and sings two more times and finally stops.  There is silence upstairs and he can now look at Gwen.  “Puerto Rican lullabies.  Work every time.”  he winks at her, well aware he is still inside of her.  He moves a little hair off her forehead.  “You are right .. this was the most incredible thing .. ever.”

Gwen stirs a bit under him and smiles as he moves her hair “Go Puerto Rico. If they stay asleep Owen and Slaine are going to beg me to let you move in…” She jokes. She’s not kicking him out of her although eventually it’ll happen. “Maybe you should move in….” She just blurts out and then cringes “I am not like the dog lady. Sorry if that came off super fuckin high pressure.”

Owen walks over to Slaine and kisses her cheek as she cries. He knows so well how she feels. Carefully he moves the bed covers. They had guard railings in all directions for when the babies could roll and he crawls in and gently sets one down…..it takes and then he’ll carefully take hers and finally if all goes well they can co-sleep with the three between them and the chaos calmed for a  few hours maybe.

Pedro listens to Gwen and laughs at the idea that Owen and Slaine would ask him to move in.  He knows Owen only by sight, really when his family goes grocery shopping.  And then she actually suggests he does, cringing and telling him she isn’t like the dog lady.  “I know you aren’t.”  he tells her, and pulls out of her with a soft groan.  He rolls onto his back.  “I would only move in if you really wanted me to….”  he says softly and then chuckles.  “Island magic.”  he turns his head and looks at her.  “But I love you … and if you feel how I feel …  I’d be over here all the time anyway … so .. why not just do it instead of playing coy and looking at a timer until enough time has past for us to move in together?”

Gwen rolls onto her side so she’s looking right at Pedro “I do feel how you feel. But would your family freak the fuck out on you if we start shacking up….you know living in sin?” She laughs  a bit and then looks serious “You live in a house with way too many people and I have room to share. Brigid likes you.” She gestures at the dresser where Brigid is sitting and watching them like a creepy pervert “Don’t take it personally...she’s a bit of a sick little fuck sometimes.”

Pedro looks at Gwen.  “Maybe.  But Angel met and married Ziggy in only a few months.  How would you and I be different … besides not getting married …?”  he looks at her as making sure he heard her right on the marriage front.  “And he moved out right away too.  I will talk to them in the morning.”  he looks at the dresser.  “I will assume I did alright because I am not bleeding to death from your scratching my back out?”  he asks the cat.

Gwen looks comforted by the fact that Angel moved out immediately and clarifies “Not looking to get married...just shack up and try not to annoy the neighbours too much.” She looks at Brigid who starts cleaning her paws and washing her face “Well she didn't hold up score cards….but she’s always judging us. Always.” She chuckles “Do you have a lot of stuff?” And then more cautiously she asks “Do you...like my place? I can move stuff around, we can share the wall space if you have pictures or whatever. If you can’t stand red we can cover the couch….” She smirks.

Pedro nods.  “I’m not either.  It doesn’t mean I don’t love you.  God knows and that should be good enough.”  he looks around at the cat.  “I’ll assume we did alright.  It was mind blowing for me…  I’m sorry it was so fast … just … your cumming and … so tight around me …”  he shrugs, a little embarrassed it was so fast.  “I don’t have much.  There are so many of us, and Samuel and I are still on the sleeper sofa.  Literally everything I own fits in a sea bag.”  he looks around the bedroom.  “I love this place.  The ironwork is incredible.  I knew you were good but damn…”

Gwen grins “Oh no it was perfect and mind blowing for me. I feel like we’re very much on the same page in bed. And don’t worry about fast. You got me…..you really got me there. And that…” She rolls to him and kisses him, running her fingers over his chest and flicking his nipple “Was only the first round. We can just keep the noise down for the rest.” She frowns “The sofa? Ugh….that won’t do at all. Come share my bed Pedro. Come share my life…..” She smiles at the compliment on her metal working “Oh...thank you. I like to tinker...sometimes it turns out.” She chuckles.

Pedro looks very touched.  “I have instruments…”  he warns.  “Mandolin, trumpet and my keyboard.”  he lays on his back while she rolls over him and licks a nipple.  “Good.  And it could be fun learning to keep the noise down.  Like what is it .. sensory deprivation?”  he takes her face in both of his hands when she invites him to share her bed … and life with him.  “I would love nothing more.”  he tells her.  “And you are a great builder.  I’ve met wielders who could barely put two girders together.  You have talent to last beyond all of that.”

Gwen smirks “Sensory deprivation sounds fun and kinky. I’m in.” She laughs about the instruments “Well I figured. We can work with it all. I love your singing too. I can barely carry a tune.” She looks very flattered by the compliments on her welding and art “Thanks. I love doing it.” Then she sort of half rolls on him so she’s leaning on her arms on his chest “When do you want to move in?”

Pedro laughed at the kinkiness of silence.  “Oh, so you are into the kinky thing, eh?  DO I have to worry about being tied up?”  then he shrugs.  “Hazard of being in my family.  The keyboard isn’t a traditional instrument in Puerto Rico, but I love the sound of it.  Of course I can play the piano as well, but … too big.  Way too big.”  Gwen rolls on him a bit and asks when he wants to move in.  He caresses her waist.  “I can anytime you want me.”  he tells her.  “When I go home in the morning, I can talk to my parents and move in that same day.”  work on the clinic expansion’s exterior had finished and now it was about finishing the inside.  “And no work tomorrow with the wedding and all.  Worse comes to worse I will talk to the girl that runs the farm about work this winter, if she has any.  That’s always a rough time of year.”  he planned to pull his own weight in this relationship, including rent and bills.

Gwen fluttered her eyelashes innocently and replied “Only if you like being tied up. Not usually my thing but I keep an open mind.” She nods about the keyboard versus piano “Yeah and pianos are a pain to move.” Then she beams “Ok...tomorrow then.” She laughs at the scenario “Our families might shit but who cares.” She pushes herself up a bit and hovers over him “I love you Pedro. Please be my live in boyfriend and raise hell with me for all eternity.” She kisses him after but pulls back to let him answer.

Pedro chuckles.  “I’ve never been tied up, but I don’t think I would like it.  You can restrain my hands, not that I’m going to run away from you.”  he nods.  “Tomorrow.”  she hovers over hm and asks him the most touching question he’s ever been asked.  “I would love nothing more than to be your live in boyfriend and to raise hell with you for all eternity, Gwen.”  he raises his head and kisses her, pulling her closer for a quieter Round 2.