Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 44

A few weeks later Daniel and Allie were driving after work on a Friday to Lake Arrowhead. Max had told them it was a bonus for pulling together some big cases and had arranged everything. He knew Allie would be nervous to be too far away from the children, so Margie suggested a cabin at Arrowhead where they could be within ninety minutes of home. Susan and John were taking the Girls to universal studios on Saturday ,and dropping them back with Max and Margie who would occupy them on Sunday until they returned. Dan and Allie had two nights child free, and much as they loved Emmie and Rose they were excited for the adult time.

It was around eight when they arrived and found the cabin, tucked away down a private track. Allie had changed after the office into casual clothes, and gazing out of the window as he drove she felt herself relaxing. Daniel looked over as he put the car into park and touched her face, "Let's get inside and see what it's like." She smiled back and got out and opened the trunk to remove their bags. They had a code to open the door and stepping in Allie looked 'round, "Wow Dan, it's so nice. I had visions of it being rustic with dodgy spiders in the corners, but it's like super modern." Daniel laughed, "Checkout the fireplace Allie, shall I light it?" She pulled her hooded cardigan around her and nodded, "Yes please, I'm a bit chilly up here." She went into the kitchen area and discovered the fridge had been well stocked for them. She shouted over "Are you hungry Dan or is that like asking if the Pope feels catholic?" He laughed "I am, do we need to go out for anything?" Allie shouted back, "No, Max and Margie must have asked them to stock up for us. There's tonnes in the fridge, we'll never eat it all."

Within thirty minutes the fire was burning brightly and Allie brought a pizza and some salad over. There were a couple of bottles of wine in the fridge so she'd opened one and poured them a glass each. Dan showed her a photo Margie had sent of the girls sitting in their pyjamas at Max and Margie's with hot chocolate and the message that they were happy and fast asleep. They cuddled up and ate. Allie said, "This is so lovely isn't it? I really love them all for organising everything so we can do this. I told Robyn when Jack's older we'd take him for her and Jeremy, so they could have some time too." Daniel nodded, "How do you think she's doing? Allie's face broke out into a wide smile, "She's loving it Dan. I'm so glad for her. All that unhappiness she was carrying has just melted away. Jeremy's like a dog with two tails and they are just so in love with each other and the baby." They'd finished and were sipping the wine, Dan leaned over and kissed her as the firelight reflected in her dark blue eyes. He pulled back and said, "And I'm so in love with you." He took her glass and put it on the table. Allie relaxed back on the couch and he leaned on her, taking his time to kiss her. Allie tangled her hands in his hair and felt him stiffen as she ran her hand under his shirt. He pulled back and lifted his shirt off allowing her to trail her fingers over the muscles on his back. He put one arm behind her and sat Allie up so he could push her cardigan off and lift her own shirt over her head. Kissing her neck and her collarbone until she shivered with anticipation he removed her bra. He ran his hand to where he'd uncovered her and she moaned into his mouth. She moved her hands down to his jeans to palm him and he broke off and gasped as she said, "I love you Daniel." Unable to speak he stood up and undid his jeans, discarding them and his underwear before trailing his fingers gently down her body and slipping open the button on her jeans, pushing them down and off. He slipped his hand under her lace underwear and used his finger which made her arch her back. He removed the piece of lace and lifted her like she weighed no more than Rose, gently laying her on the rug in front of the fire. He looked into her eyes and whispered "my Allie" and slid slowly into her, kissing her then starting to move. With no children to worry about they lost themselves, moaning one another's names as waves and waves of intense pleasure shook their bodies. Daniel kissed her tenderly when they were spent and grabbed a throw to cover them and keep her warm. She was looking at him intently and he said, "I feel like we're literally made for one another Allie." She smiled, "I know what you mean, it's totally incredible every time. But more than that Daniel. You make me feel safe, you've always made me feel so loved and safe." She reached up and kissed him, letting her fingers card through his hair. Before they knew what they were doing he was inside her again holding her body as he thrust more firmly this time. It was so intense Allie thought she might pass out.

They lay recovering for a long time before Dan said "Shall we get a shower, and use the bed which I'm sure will be more comfortable than this floor?" Allie laughed "Yeah." She smiled and looking into his brown eyes said shyly, "I've never done that with anyone before." He kissed her and wondered how it was possible to keep loving her more and more with every new day they spent together, and answered, "Neither have I Allie." He got up and let the throw fall to the floor, and bent to lift her. She put her arm around his neck and he carried her to the en suite off the bedroom. Sitting her on the edge of the tub he figured out how to turn the water on, grabbed the shampoo and conditioner from the bag she'd left by the sink when they first came in, and took her hand to lead her in. He gave her some shampoo and took some himself and they ran it through their hair. When they'd done the same with the conditioner, they let the water rinse them and kissed while their hands explored one another's bodies. Daniel lifted her easily and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he leaned her gently against the tiles and moved into her. The angle made Allie gasp with contact exactly where she needed it and as he moved she shuddered around him and he shouted her name. When he came to his senses he whispered, "Can you stand?" and she shook her head laughing softly, "I don't think I can Dan. I feel like all my bones have melted!" He laughed into her neck and said, "Don't worry, I've got you." He stepped out and grabbed a towel before sitting her on the bed and wrapping her up in it. He grinned and went back into the bathroom, returning with a towel around his waist and another dry one in his hand which he used on her hair. He pulled back the bedclothes and tossed all their wet towels to the floor. They crawled under the covers and Dan took Allie into his arms saying "Sleep baby."

With no children to worry about Allie didn't wake until around nine, and opening her eyes she saw Daniel propped up on one elbow looking at her lovingly. She smiled and said, "How long have you been awake?" He shrugged, "A while, lost track of all time watching you." He kissed her and heaved himself off the bed, grabbing some sweat pants from his bag, "I'll go make you some coffee. Just relax and enjoy."

They lay in bed with their coffee talking and just enjoying being together before Allie said, "Shall we get up and have a look around? Get some brunch or lunch out?" They got dressed and headed down to the lakeshore, finding a small place to eat while they looked out over the water. When they'd finished Daniel said he'd looked up an easy hiking trail called Seeley Creek Trail. Allie readily agreed, happy to walk off the food and they grabbed a couple of bottles of water and set off. It was as Daniel said an easy hike, and after a mile they reached it's focal point, an indentation the rock in a perfect heart shape.

Daniel glanced around, relieved to see no-one else was there as Allie smiled at the natural phenomenon squeaking, "Awww how cute, it's a heart!" She turned to see he had dropped to one knee and was grasping her hand, "Allie, my beautiful, crazy British girl, I want to love you forever, keep you safe. I want to raise our kids together. Will you marry me?" Allie had tears rolling down her face as she said, "Yes, Oh my god yes Daniel. I love you so much and you are so perfect to me, for me." Daniel reached into his pocket and brought out a small box as Allie pulled him to his feet. He opened it to show her and she gasped, "Dan it's beautiful." It was an antique Victorian rose gold ring with one large brilliant cut diamond surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds. The colour of the metal contrasting with the clarity of the diamonds. He slipped it on her finger and said nervously, "I got the idea from that antique locket your parents gave you for your eighteenth birthday. It suits you so much and I know you love it. And this ring has a Chester hallmark Allie, it's a link to where you're from." Allie kissed him and he could taste her tears, "It's the most perfect ring you could ever have given me. I love it Dan." Before they left Daniel took a selfie of them with the rock behind them and the ring on view. When they got back to the cabin they sat together by the unlit fire and sent the photo to everyone from Daniel's phone with the caption "She said yes."

After he'd hit send Daniel looked at Allie and nervously said, "Allie, there's something else and I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it. I don't want Rose to feel she's the only one of us who doesn't have the same name. I would love to adopt her, but I'd hate anyone to feel I'm airbrushing Michael out of her life. So I had an idea, how would you feel about all of us changing our family name to Stevenson-Miller?" He nervously watched for her reaction, and Allie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately before saying through tears, "That is the most beautiful idea and is exactly why I love you so much. Michael can't be here for Rose and you are her amazing Daddy, but to keep his name for all of us shows just what a beautiful, generous, loving soul you are."

As they kissed, both of their phones were buzzing madly, and they broke apart laughing as Daniel said, "I guess they got the picture then."