Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 32

Allie's return to work really did mark a turning point. Daniel and Max kept her close and keeping busy allowed her to cope better. It had been eight months since they'd lost Michael, and she and Dan had fallen back into the routine of spending the weekend at Allie's house with the girls. Rose had automatically copied Emmie and started calling Daniel "Daddy". Susan said it was poignant when she first heard it, thinking of what Michael was missing, but reassured Allie it was more important Rose had a father in her life, and everyone had just got used to it.

Allie had asked Daniel if he would come with her to take Emmie and Rose to Disneyland as they'd never been, and she knew they'd love it. He readily agreed and they headed off early one Saturday morning, armed with two excited children. They had a magical time until Rose had a meltdown over dropping her Mickey ice-cream just after four, so they decided it was time to call it a day. Once they'd put the two tired children to bed Allie and Daniel sank on the sofa, laughing about Rose's demand earlier in the week to take her Cinderella to day care. Allie had been racking her brains unable to remember any Cinderella doll in the house, only to realise she meant umbrella.

Daniel had poured them a cold glass of wine each, figuring they'd deserved it after a hard day at Disney. Allie sipped hers and said, "I just realised Dan, I was really happy today you know, not just managing or coping, but really, honest to goodness happy." He put his glass down and turned to look at her as she sat alongside him, "That makes me so glad Allie because you should be happy, you deserve to be." He was suddenly overcome with an urge to dip his head and kiss her but he held back. Seeing him glance at her lips she ran her fingers lightly down his face feeling the stubble growing since he'd not shaved before they left. "Dan I will be, for you as much as for me." Her words were loaded with meaning, and he exhaled as she kissed him on the forehead.

A few weeks later they were sitting on a Friday evening after work. When Allie came down from settling Emmie and Rose, Daniel was waving a large bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk courtesy of a client who had recently visited the UK. Allie laughed, "Look at the size of that! It's huge! Then realising what that could sound like out of context they both bent over laughing. He ordered her to the sofa while he went to the kitchen. He returned having broken the chocolate into a bowl, melted it and prepared a plate with strawberries, pineapple chunks and pieces of cake to dip in with two forks. He grinned at Allie who said, "Oh my goodness, genius idea!"

They sat indulging and Daniel pushed the last strawberry dripping in chocolate into Allie's mouth, slightly missing, leaving melted chocolate to the corner of one side of her lips. He went to wipe it with his thumb which only made a bigger mess, so as she giggled, without thinking he kissed the corner of her mouth to remove it. Something shifted in Allie and after freezing for a split second, she moved her head slightly and gave him the lightest of kisses to his lips. Neither moved for another second, but Daniel drew back and looked into her dark blue eyes. She nodded and simply said, "l want this." Daniel mirrored the feather light kiss she'd given him and he drew back again and moved his hands up to hold her face, looking into her eyes searchingly again. She smiled and whispered, "I do want this, I want you." This time he didn't hold back. Still holding her face he captured her lips properly and she immediately reacted, opening her mouth to him when he swept his tongue along her bottom lip. He poured all the months of longing into it and his body reacted immediately. Allie was literally melting, and he pulled back searching her face desperately and wanting him to have no doubt she said, "I want it all Dan, I've never been so sure of anything in my life. I'm ready." He lifted her from the couch and took her into the bedroom, laying her gently on the bed and putting his weight on her while he resumed kissing her. She was losing herself and when he heard her make an involuntarily moan he could barely control himself. He lifted her upper body so he could pull her sleeveless top over her head, his strong arm holding her body upright and unhooking the clasp of her bra. Allie undid his buttons and he shrugged the work shirt off. She knew every inch of his chest through his clothes because they had been so tactile over the years, but touching his bare skin, feeling the hair there was a whole new experience. She lifted her hips to allow him to slide her work skirt down and he eased the remaining scrap of lace covering her in the same way. Allie reached to undo his work trousers and he kicked them and his underwear off. When she touched him he thought he was going to die of sheer pleasure. He moaned her name and kissing her again he gently joined their bodies. He was hardly moving, but they both felt like their bodies were made for one another they were so perfectly in synch. Waves of pleasure ripped through her and feeling her clenching inside, all around him, his vision went, and they rode the high together for what seemed a long time. When it finally subsided he gently moved to one side still cradling her body and kissed her. Allie had tears in her eyes and for a moment he was worried she regretted it, but she said, "I love you so much Dan. That was absolutely incredible." He smiled and ran his fingers tenderly along her cheek, "Jesus, it was. God I love you Allie. Are you okay?" She laughed gently, "I'm very okay." He put his head on her shoulder to echo her laugh. She ran her small fingers through the back of his hair where it was short and lifted his head to kiss him again. Daniel felt his excitement building again and before he knew it they were having a repeat performance, although this time they did last a little longer. The pleasure was just as intense and they dozed afterwards. When they stirred Allie went into the bathroom and changed into a tank top and shorts in case one of the children came wandering in. Dan went to the guest room to grab some sweat bottoms, but he didn't bother with a shirt. Allie curled into his body and they fell asleep.