Sorrow's Sieve Ch. 07

"Yes? I don't really know. You're ok with this?"

"Ok?" His eyes lifted from the view of their entwined hands on her stomach to look her in the eyes. "I know we just found each other, Galen, but I love you. I can't imagine my life without you in it. I hadn't really thought as far as children but just the thought that our child could be growing inside of you," his second hand joined his first and he stroked her stomach, "I can't imagine anything that would make me happier."

Galen lifted a hand to Braedan's face and stroked his cheek. "I love you too."

Braedan's hands moved to cup Galen's face and he kissed her gently. "So, how about that dinner?"

*******

Peter sighed as he closed the door behind his sister, placing his head against it and closing his eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he had been at home without her. Gentle hands ran up his back in a comforting motion and he smiled. Turning he pulled Ada into hug and sighed again.

"Thanks for being here, love," he said. Not for the first time he felt his body begin to respond to the feminine softness pressed so intimately against him. He took a deep breath, trying to control his reaction and nearly groaned as the sweet scent of lilies assaulted his nose. His grip on the woman in his arms tightened and he realized that for the first time in a long time, he didn't have to hide his feelings, he didn't have to control his actions, there was no one here he had to put before himself except the woman who had spent the last few years driving him crazy with need.

"Of course, Peter. You couldn't have kept me away." She gave him a quick squeeze and peck on the cheek before untangling herself from his hold.

"Not so fast," he grabbed her hand and pulled her back, capturing her lips with his own before she knew what was happening. Her eyes grew wide at the sudden contact but quickly drifted closed with pleasure. She melted against him in moments, moaning as he deepened the kiss. His hands rose to her face and held it gently, a stark contrast to the hunger in his kiss. When he pulled back Ada blinked up at him slightly dazed. "I've wanted to do that for way too long."

"Worth the wait?" she asked with an embarrassingly shaky voice.

The grin that broke across Peter's face was the only answer she received before he reclaimed her mouth. When the kiss finally ended they stood gasping for air.

"I'll take that as a yes," Ada said with a smile, but it faded a little and concern appeared in her eyes. "How long has it been, Peter?"

He knew what she meant. She had always been on his case about maintaining his own life while taking care of Galen but the life he lead before the accident just didn't fit with the man he had become after it, the man his sister needed him to be. Before the accident he'd had a different girl on his arm every week, each more beautiful than the last. Sex was a normal part of life, and life was damn good. But with one phone call that all changed. Bringing Galen to live with him was the only solution he could live with, and having your near catatonic sister hanging around the house wasn't very conducive to an active sex life. But that hadn't bothered him, he'd taken on the full-time roll of big brother, parent, and caretaker, without a backwards glance. And he had tried. After Galen was back up on her feet from the accident and before she lost all sense of the real world he'd tried to date. But bringing a near stranger home when his sister was just down the hall wasn't all that appealing especially the morning after when the girl tended to get freaked out over Galen's condition. That only happened once. But Ada had been insistent so being the dutiful best friend had offered to stay with Galen so Peter could have some time to unwind. But he soon realized the only women he wanted to spend time with were the ones waiting at home.

"Two years? How about you, beautiful? You seem to spend just as much time wrapped up in all of this as I do, maybe more." A blush rose to Ada's cheeks and Peter looked at her quizzically, she looked at her feet to hide from his gaze.

"Well, between the fast track undergrad work I did, grad school and then working with you and Galen..." she chanced a glance at his face and swallowed, "Never."

Peter's eyes opened wide in shock, "But you...I....what?" he shook his head before throwing it back and laughing, "You are such a hypocrite! Always telling me to live my life when you've barely started yours." The humor in his eyes remained as he gently cupped her face. "How could someone as smart and as beautiful as you still be a virgin at twenty five?"

"Those traits can only get someone so far. And when the one guy you're interested in is preoccupied with other things, it can get a girl down. Not that I'm bitter, he had his reasons."

"Just because he was preoccupied doesn't mean he didn't notice the treasure in front of him. I'm sorry it's taken me so long." Ada leaned into the warmth of his hand.

"Like I said, you had your reasons, it's not your fault that I've been so hung up over you that I never looked at anyone else, alright maybe partially your fault, if you weren't so perfect,"

"I'm hardly perfect, Ada" he interrupted.

"Sure you are," she said with a grin. "That thick headedness of yours is even endearing, I'm still trying to figure out how you pull that one off." She gave him a small peck before taking a step back. "Now how about I make dinner, I don't know about you but I'm starving." She was running, she knew she was. There was no logical reason either. Peter had basically just told her what she had waited years to hear, and she was walking away. Her heart was still racing and she licked her lips as she turned from him. She began walking to the kitchen but didn't make it two steps before a pair of warm hands settled on her hips and pulled her back roughly against a hard body, she squeaked in surprise.

"Dinner can wait," Peter whispered against her ear, sending delightful shivers throughout her body. "I'm hungry for something a little sweeter and I intend to show you just how sweet it can be."