The Darkness We Hide

“I’m still pregnant,” she whispered softly.

“Wha..,” Gareth said, the color drained from his face as redness raised in hers.

“I’m still pregnant,” she repeated, her body seeming to fold in on itself.

“Michelle,” he said, turning her to face him, shaking her slightly in agitation. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know how,” she sobbed, unable to look him in the eyes, “I was so scared and angry after being turned. Then your mom asked me to come here and I found out about this,” she trailed off, her hand touching her stomach.

“Well,” he sighed, putting his arm back around her. “What do we do now?”

“I have no idea,” she replied. “I haven’t been able to wrap my brain around it all yet.”

“I still love you,” Gareth said, kissing her on the top of the head.

Turning to face him, Michelle said, “I love you too, Gareth.”

Leaning in, he gingerly kissed her lips, half afraid she’d rebuke him. When she didn’t resist his kiss deepened, his arms slowly wrapping around her.

Michelle quivered to feel his arms around her again. Desperately she pulled him closer, wanting him more than ever before. She lay back on the loose hay, pulling him with her, wanting nothing more than to feel him inside of her once more.

“Gareth,” she moaned, already wet and waiting.

“Michelle,” he groaned, smelling her desire. He pushed her shirt up to reveal her breast, straining against her bra. With feverish motions he released them from their confines and greedily suckled at each, reveling in their pink hardness.

While his mouth worked on her breasts, he fumbled with her jeans, his hands shaking so hard with eagerness that he couldn’t seem to make the button open.

Giving up entirely he reluctantly sat up and pulled them off, breaking the button and zipper, desperate to feel her warm moistness engulf him once more.

Taking only long enough to free his throbbing manhood from his own pants, Gareth pushed her panties to the side before burying himself as deeply as possible into her core.

It felt like coming home, how her body opened and welcomed him. He would never let her go again no matter what.

Soon they were sweating and panting, each giving and taking, building to an explosive climax stronger than any they’d shared before. Spent, they collapsed in each other’s arms neither wanting to be the one that broke the spell they were under.

“My Gods,” he panted, pulling her closer, kissing her face. “I’ve missed the feel of you, the taste of you, the smell of you. I will never let you go again.”

“Don’t,” Michelle said quietly, sitting up and looking for her clothes. “Don’t say it.”

“Don’t say what?” he asked, confused. “What are you doing?”

“Gareth,” she said, pulling her shirt back on, “this doesn’t change things.”

“Michelle,” he said, trying to pull her back into his arms. “Michelle, please don’t shut me out again. You are mine in blood. That is a bond that cannot be broken. And the baby! You are bound to me forever.”

Escaping his grasp, she stood and turned on him, her hair a halo against the sun streaming through the beams.

“No!” she yelled, stamping her foot, “I didn’t choose this. You and Richard forced this on me! The two of you took away my choices! You both took away my life!”

Covering her mouth with her hands, she seemed ashamed of her outburst.

“Oh Gareth,” she said in a softer tone. “I’m sorry. I’m still so confused.”

“No,” he sighed, his shoulders sagging heavily, “don’t apologize. You’re right. We did that.

“I knew Richard was dangerous,” he continued, wanting there to be no more lies between them. “I just underestimated how dangerous. I knew he wanted you, and that he was unhinged, but I never thought he’d hurt you.”

“Well,” Michelle replied, almost hysterical, “you weren’t the only one. I knew he still had a thing for me, and that he was more than a bit off, but like you I didn’t think he’d take it so far as to kidnap me.”

Standing, he offered Michelle his embrace, knowing it had to be her choice to take it.

Reluctantly, she did.

“I do love you,” she whispered into his chest. “I want this to work between us, but you need to be patient, and give me time.”

“We will find our way through this, I promise,” he breathed, his face once more buried in her hair. He could smell it now, the change in her scent.

How could he have missed it? A baby. He and Caroline had often talked about children, but there had always seemed time in the future for such things. When she’d died, Gareth had never thought he would ever find anyone again who could fill his heart the way she had. Then, one chance night at a bar in Seattle he’d met Michelle, and now his world was changed forever.

‘No matter what,’ he thought. ‘I will take care of you Michelle. Even if you want me to stay out of your life, I will make sure you want for nothing.’

The spell they were under broke when the voice of a teenage boy called up to the loft.

“Uncle Gareth,” he yelled, “Grandma asked me to bring some stuff out to you .”

Sighing heavily, he left Michelle and pulled his own pants closed.

“I’ll be right down, Zach,” he called, “just give me a minute.”

“Okay,” Zach replied, looking down at a ladies shoe that had fallen from above.

By the time Gareth had gone down the ladder and back, Michelle was completely dressed, sifting through the hay looking for something.

“Looking for this Cinderella,” he said, a devilish grin on his face as he held out her shoe.

“Yes,” Michelle replied, exasperated, “Where was it?”

“Zach found it below,” he said, smiling to see her blush.

“Oh no,” she said, hiding her face in her hands. “Which one is he?”

Gareth laughed wholeheartedly, knowing how she felt.

“He’s one of Alice and Phillip’s boys,” Gareth replied, handing over the shoe. “The boy with curly red hair like his mother.”

“Thanks,” Michelle said, taking the offered shoe.

“What have you got there?” she asked, seeing the bag in his other hand.

“This?” he said holding up the bag. “These are just a few things mom thought we should have for the night.”

Saying so, he opened it and produced a large fleece blanket, a small electric camping lamp and food.

Nodding her approval, Michelle helped him smooth out a spot. Sitting together they ate the sandwiches and drank the water in companionable silence.

“This would have been really nice about an hour ago,” Michelle said fingering the blanket.

“Yes,” he agreed, pulling a piece of hay out of her hair, “it would have.”

Michelle laughed, finding more hay in her clothes.

“Let me help you,” Gareth said, pulling more strands from her hair.

One by one, their articles of clothes came off as they searched out hay and new sources of pleasure in each other’s bodies.

Unlike before Gareth took his time, reveling in every inch of her body. He couldn't believe that not only did he have her in his arms again, she was still having their baby.

When his hand touched her stomach he felt the solidity there, the baby he'd thought was l

Culminating in such a climax, the cattle in the field could hear their cries of ecstasy.