I'm greeted once again by Louise's voicemail, and my heart sinks, realising that despite my own best intentions, I cannot account for the decisions of others. Ridiculously, I thought we'd be able to put aside our differences for the sake of the innocent child being brought into the middle of this. But, instead, I feel like I've been cut off to deal with the crushing enormity of this situation alone. 

This pressure is suffocating. 

"What am I supposed to do, Justin? I don't know a thing about raising a kid, and I'm not even sure if I love Louise anymore. It's like she hates me. I might as well be dating Ashleigh all over again."

Perched on the end of my hospital bed, Justin, who has remained by my side, snatches his phone from me before I can redial. "Just forget about her and all of this for now. It can wait."

"But it can't wait. If she's already twelve weeks, we haven't got any time to get organised. I'll see if I can get discharged and go around there. It's probably better if I propose in person, anyway."

"Did you say propose?" he says, frowning as he tries to follow my scattered thoughts. "Are you out of your fucking mind? And the police told you to stay away until they've finished taking statements, so I'm not letting you out of here, alright?"

"You told me I shouldn't break up with her!"

"I meant as a gut reaction in the heat of the moment, but you need to get out of this relationship once the dust settles. They broke your hand, for fuck sake! Just let the police do their job first."

"So you're telling me I should forget you didn't say what you did? I'm having a kid, Justin! And until I talk to her, I'll never be able to work out the truth. It's just whirling in loops around my head, over and over."

Unable to stay put a moment longer, I slip off the bed to leave, but Justin blocks my exit with his palm pressed against my chest. "You're not thinking straight, Matt. At least wait until your father is here."

"You know he's not going to come. His phone is switched off, and since when has he ever been there for me? He's probably at the pub or getting screwed, but it doesn't matter. All he does is berate me, telling me how I constantly disappoint him and how I'll never amount to anything. I'm better off without him."

"Please? I know you're angry, but I don't want you to rush into something you'll regret. Look, I'll go with you after sixth-form tomorrow, but you're in no state to do anything now, and if you go in all guns blazing, demanding answers, you'll scare her."

"I'll scare her? She's the one who lured me up to the field then dropped this on me! I'm finding it really hard to understand how she could do that to someone who's been nothing but nice to her? The father of her child? For the first time in my life, I thought I'd met someone who'll mean something more... Who'd finally love me back..." Wildly, I search for the words to continue explaining my feelings, but I hit a blank as Justin's puppy-dog eyes uncomfortably reach into my soul. "Why didn't she come to me for support when she needed to take a test? Am I really that unapproachable to the point she felt the need to conceal it from me? Where did I go wrong, Justin?"

"Well, for a start, you should have used a johnny-"

"I know what I should have done, but did you have to say it!" I snap, instantly feeling remorseful as his softened gaze meets my glare. "If only I'd..."

If only I had admitted my feelings that night to Justin or joined him for that threesome? It should have been him, and naively, I've tried too hard to move on before I was ready.

Hesitantly, I sit back down and fold my arms over my head, trying to regather my thoughts, unable to cope with the incessant noise of the A&E department around me. I need a moment's peace to actually think about this rationally and objectively. How can I convince Louise that our relationship is salvageable when I'm unsure myself? I thought we'd reached a point where we began to understand each other. Still, I didn't envision a future with the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps with her, and definitely not this soon. 

"I wish I had the answers for you," Justin finally replies, centring my attention back on him. "But if you want to talk about everything that's bothering you to get it off your chest, I'm here to listen. I know it's not much, but it's the least I can do after what I've put you through."

Suddenly, the elephant in the room registers. For the first time in months, Justin is standing in front of me, as if we'd never had a fight. Only this morning, we'd exchanged threats, but he saved me right when I needed him without being asked, and not once has he demanded an apology or acknowledgement. 

"Hey, Justin, I just want to say I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess. I'm not sure if I deserve it after what I've said and done, but thanks for helping me."

"To tell you the truth, I didn't even have time to think about it before I reacted," he confesses, sitting close beside me on the bed. "I caught Chris talking with Max this afternoon and remembered seeing them together before P.E. the day you were jumped. It didn't sit right. So when Shaun saw him walking to the gym after class, we went to confront him and found you."

"Well you still helped me even though you didn't have to. Look, you don't need to babysit me any longer. It's already eleven-"

Without warning, his arms wrap around my neck, and I'm squashed uncomfortably against his chest with his tears falling damp on my forehead. "I'm so sorry for everything, Matt. I let him get into my head, and it's stupid, but he told me he'd heard you chatting shit about me to her, and I guess I overreacted thinking you'd replaced me. You'd been off with me since the party. I should have put a stop to it, so it's my fault it got out of hand."

"Are you telling me you felt jealous? But we're closer than brothers, Justin! I've known you most of my life, so there's no way I'd let someone else come between us."

"I know, and I love you, man, more than you realise. For seventeen years, you've always been my friend, and I nearly threw it all away like an idiot," he gushes, oblivious to my pain as he squeezes me harder in his bear-like hug. "Even Shaun told me I was making a huge mistake, and I didn't listen. Will you ever be able to forgive me?"

I should shove him away with his continued close proximity making my heart race, but selfishly I'm unable to do it. Since I recognised my feelings were more than friendly, all I've wanted is to be near him like this, even if this was all intimacy would amount to. "If you're able to forgive me, too? I've missed you so much, and I shouldn't have lost my cool like that with you. I hurt you, and it was wrong."

"I hit you first, so I don't blame you. I just didn't want to admit I caused it to happen and hate myself more," he says, his voice wavering with emotion. "Matt, I was thinking maybe once we're done here, you can come back to mine so we can talk and hang out, you know? Like we used to do? My mum keeps asking about you, and you shouldn't be on your own-"

"I can't. As much as I want to, I need some time to think about how to handle this news with my Dad. Then there's Louise to deal with..."

The coldness at the mention of her name is instant, and he immediately puts distance between us, shaking his head with disapproval. "The more you've been talking, the more I don't think she's right for you. How can you even trust her?"

"Because she has no reason to lie. It would be easier for her to have a clean split," I reply, a sudden moment of clarity coming through. "And if she is like her sister, I don't think she was crying over me. I need to get home and sleep on this."

"Fine. Get your stuff together, and we'll get you discharged, but you've got to promise me you won't do anything rash until you've discussed it first with your Dad? He'll kill me if you do anything stupid, and he finds out I let you."

-----

I'm dog-tired when I'm finally discharged an hour later and still without any contact from my father, but I'm glad for the reprieve. I need time to get my thoughts in order to stop circling back to those nagging 'what ifs' that question Louise's motives and will hold me back from doing the right thing. Then if it is me she wants, I still need to convince her parents to give us their blessing and hope her sister can find a way to move on. I've already set the groundwork by downplaying Ashleigh's involvement in my statement to the police.

Idling the car, Justin unbuckles his seatbelt then leans across my lap to open the passenger door. "You're going to be alright, yeah? I can stay overnight if you need me to? It wouldn't be a problem at all."

With his lips and body intimately close, my heart begins fluttering in my chest again, and I swallow hard, resisting the urge to test the waters. My priorities have changed. "I'll be fine. I just need a shower and some sleep in my own bed, and I'll be right as rain. Talk to you tomorrow, okay?" 

Suddenly, we both clock movement in front of my porch as someone turns to face us. It's impossible to make out her features from beneath her hood in the dark, but my stomach flips, instinctively knowing that it's her. 

I hadn't counted on that. 

"Shit. Is that Louise? What the hell is she doing here at this time?" Justin mutters with irritation before grabbing me by the shoulder as I put space between us. "Matt, just wait a moment. You're only going to talk to her, and that's all, right? Don't make me regret bringing you home."

"I get what you're saying, Justin, but this is my chance to clear the air before speaking to her parents and making my intentions known. She came to me, so surely, that's reason enough to not doubt her?"

"There's nothing I can say to make you reconsider, is there? You know she isn't right for you!" he says, thumping his steering wheel in abrupt anger. "Why can't you see she's just using you, and you're going to make the biggest fucking mistake of your life if you stay with her!"

"And hope she'll let me be involved? This is the only way, Justin. Surely you can see that? It'll be wrong to turn my back on her, and if she wants to continue studying, I need to support her. It's the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do is to discuss how to split amicably. I just want you to be with someone who makes you happy, Matt. Why can't you see that you deserve more?"

A knot rises in my throat at his pleading expression, knowing he only wants what's best for me as a true friend. I've wished for years that the next chapter of my life would be spent with him, but it isn't to be, and I can only blame my own cowardice for that. So instead, I need to make the most of what I've been dealt, even if I need to lie to myself and to him. 

"This is what I want, so stop worrying, okay? She's even come here to see me so clearly she wants to fix this," I smile weakly in response as Louise begins to approach the car. "Thanks for the lift, mate, but I've got it from here." 

His jaw clenches with agitation at my decision. "You're a bigger idiot than I took you for. Fine, get out of here and fuck her or whatever, but don't say I didn't warn you when you come back crying to me."

I'm barely out of the car before he pulls away, his pained expression deeply engrained in my mind. It was foolish to think a heart-to-heart would fix our issues when the source of his discomfort had me tightly wrapped around her finger. He could see it, and I'm not stupid enough to not realise it too, but the kid comes first.

Without a word, Louise lowers her hood then entwines her gloved hand with mine as I turn towards her. Pale, almost dull complexioned with dark circles under her eyes, it would seem the night had also been rough on her. 

"Hey, what are you doing here? It's gone midnight."

"I had to get away from my family. Ash told them everything about you when the police came over, so they went ballistic and took my phone," she says, glancing back at my house. "Can I come in? I don't want to sleep alone tonight."

-----

The moment I unlock the front door, I guide her towards the kitchen instead of my bedroom to switch on the kettle. I might only be delaying the inevitable, but the last thing I need is the distraction of sex to continue avoiding the questions racing through my mind.

"Sorry it isn't decaf," I apologise as I hand over her drink. "Would you like to take this into the living room to talk?"

Louise remains quiet and expressionless, staring into her hot mug of tea, drained of the warm, radiant glow that enveloped my heart only a few days ago. I don't know if the fleeting excitement of new, budding love has ended or the reality she's been hiding from me is setting in, but the initial spark has gone. 

"You're here to talk, right?" I prompt, laughing nervously under the increasing tension. "My father is going to hit the roof when he finds out about-"

"Do we have to do this now? All you need to know is that I don't expect anything from you."

"Surely, you're not being serious, Louise? I only have Justin's word that you confided in him, but he has his doubts about you. I don't know how far along you are, when you found out or even if I'm the father?" She opens her mouth to answer but hesitates, realising I have no suspicions about paternity. It's a statement rather than a question. "You're around twelve weeks already, aren't you? Does anyone else know?"

She shakes her head, unwilling to meet my gaze. "I think so, but I'm not ready to tell anyone else yet. I thought Ashleigh had figured it out when she approached me at lunch, but it was only about us seeing each other."

The truth dawns as I finally hear it directly from her. "How long do you think you can continue putting your head in the sand before anyone notices? Days at most, and what about maternity care? We need to start thinking practically about the future."

Tears stream from her reddened eyes, erasing everything else I planned to ask. "You're saying that like it's easy. How am I going to speak to my parents about this? I'm so scared, and I don't know what to do, Matthew! My family thinks I'm going to a university in September, and I haven't even put my applications in because I won't be able to go." 

Immediately, my decision on how to deal with the subject of us is made. My arms wrap around Louise protectively and cradle her while she sobs against my shoulder, her small frame seeming more delicate than before. It must have been tough having this weighing on her mind all these weeks, without anyone to talk to. I've barely handled seven hours, and as hurt as I am about being kept in the dark, it's nothing compared to how she feels. "Shh, it's going to be alright. I'm here for you, Louise, no matter what, and I'll talk to your parents if you want me to."

"But surely, you hate me after what happened today?"

"I could never hate you, Louise," I reply, attempting to soothe her while stroking a curl behind her ear. "And it wasn't my intention to make you cry. I'm just frustrated I couldn't help when you needed the support. I don't know what I did to make you think you can't count on me, but, please, trust me when I say you're not alone. We can do this together."

"So, you're not mad? You don't believe all those lies Ashleigh said about me? She's jealous of us and what we mean to each other, you know?"

"Why would I believe anything that your sister says? I love you, and I'm not angry in the slightest. So you don't need to worry about my feelings."

Suddenly brightening at my words, she wraps her hand around my loosened tie and looks up at me doe-eyed. "Then, kiss me, and show me everything is going to be alright? I want to feel you loving me..."

It's hard to deny that I don't find her tempting as she appeals for my affection, but I know what she's doing, and it's not a good idea before we've spoken about our future. "Are you trying to seduce me, Louise? Let's wait until we've cleared this up with your parents first." 

"You're really going to turn me down like you cruelly did the first time we met?" she says, instantly seizing a chance to go in for the kill. "I really thought I looked pretty that night."

"Are you ever going to let me live that down?" I whisper in her ear, fighting the urge to give in to her. "Baby, you were absolutely stunning that night, but you were worth much more than a one-night stand, so I don't regret what happened. I'm glad I turned you down, so we had this chance to get to know each other."

Before I can pull away, my hesitation is rapidly cut short as she moistens her lips with a seductive flick of her tongue. I thought I'd be able to stay calm and rational so we could talk, but I realise now that meeting her alone was a laughable idea, and Justin saw this coming. Even without the perfume she stole from her sister to tempt me, I'm helplessly unable to stop myself from bridging the gap to kiss her, falling for her charms.

Would it be so wrong to lose myself by burying myself between her thighs?

Our bodies instinctively begin moulding together as we continue to kiss, my erection straining against her hip, with her grip remaining firm and pleasantly tight on my tie like a leash. I've made my bed, so I may as well lie in it to show her I'm in her corner and entirely dedicated to her. 

Raising up the back of her pleated skirt, my uninjured hand slips beneath her panties and around the curve of her buttocks. Then with my fingers seeking out her warmth, sliding knuckle deep into her gorgeously wet pussy, my lips move to her exposed neck to mark her possessively as mine. 

Her voice becomes breathy as she runs her fingers up her bruised neck, but she doesn't stop me. "Matt, everyone will see... You're getting carried away..."

"Let them see. You're mine, and I want everyone to know about it," I reply, struggling to unbutton the top of her blouse one-handed as my kisses travel to her collarbone. "What have you done to me, Louise? I can't stop thinking about you, and I lose my mind whenever you're near. All I want is you!"

Suddenly, her face blushes with embarrassment as I unfasten more buttons revealing her front-opening, white maternity bra. "Shit! I should have worn something sexier..."

Her slip-up doesn't entirely escape me. But I've already submitted myself to her whims, and the eventuality of sex is now impossible to refuse. I no longer give a fuck when every fibre of my being wants the pleasure her body promises. So what if she came here intending to screw me to fix our problems?

"Actually, I quite like it," I murmur as I undo the fastening and instantly gain access to her full bosom, which I could smother my face in. "Fuck, your tits feel so good. But are you sure we shouldn't talk first? I can be a good boy and wait. Although I may be a little distracted..."

She shakes her head, smiling at me sweetly as I look up at her, praying to continue. "No, I just need you to make love to me and show me that you care."

The last of my rational thoughts slip away as I stop holding back, and my tongue laps hungrily over her stiffened nipples, lust devouring me. Her hands, no longer fumbling with inexperience like they used to, make quick work of my belt, then the zipper on my trousers, both joining her underwear discarded on the ground. My father will skin me alive if he walks in on us like this, but words are superfluous when it's clear she wants to make up in bed. 

Why make this harder than it needs to be when our bodies can do the work?

Enveloping my temptress in my arms, my mouth now nibbles at the lobe of her ear. "I've never met a woman who makes me feel the way you do... But be gentle with me, baby. I'm feeling a little fragile, and I know how handsy you like to get."

Her hands cautiously run under my shirt to my ribs, pausing as I wince. "Anything broken other than your hand?"

"Just some lacerations, a concussion and bruising, mostly to my ego but nothing too major. They glued me up pretty good and sent me home for bed rest," I reply, smiling against her petal-soft lips as she leans in to kiss me. "Emphasis on the rest, I think, but it's a little hazy with a sexy minx like you in front of me."

"And your poor, beautiful face..." Her warm hand tenderly caresses my brow as she assesses the damage. "She promised she wouldn't lay a finger on you if I just stopped seeing you-"

"Stop worrying about me. I'm fine," I murmur, kissing against the palm of her hand as I try to allay her fears and unbutton my remaining shirt. "All that matters is us and the family we're forming."

"You're right. At least for now, we can forget about her." Smiling coyly, Louise reclines on the countertop like a goddess upon her own altar, brazen and unashamed as she parts her legs. Then, tilting her hips, she offers her womanhood to me, inviting me to make my move. "Fuck me, Matt." 

I can barely hold it together as my gaze lingers over the sumptuous curves of her body presented so lewdly, urging me to seal our fate. "Not yet... I want you to beg to be filled, first."

Positioning between her legs, my thumbs spread her open as my tongue laps over her labia. Then dipping into the sweet nectar pooling at her core, I inhale the heady musk of her increasing desire forgetting all my cares.

"M-Matt... I'm going to-" All too soon, her nails dig into my shoulders as the first wave crashes over her body, the sharp scratch doing little to dissuade me from continuing as she moans and bucks against my mouth. "Please fuck me, Matt... I need to feel you... Please?"

"Patience, my adorable kitten. I'll be claiming that tight, juicy pussy of yours after I warmed it up first," I chastise, smirking as I briefly nuzzle against her pubis then meet her lustful gaze. "But what if I just want to stay here? Do you think you'll be able to endure it? Mmm..."

The aroma of wanton lust dripping heavily from every pore of her heavenly body entices me back in. My hands grip beneath her buttocks as I trail light circles back over her clit, teasing her with intense bursts of pleasure as she trembles beneath me, moaning for more. Then drawing her sensitive bud into my mouth, I begin to suckle, nudging her back over the edge of sweet bliss. "Oh god... It feels..."

Louise's mewling and gentle groans as she orgasms continue stoking the fire growing within me as I return to greedily bathe at her font, intoxicated with adoration. "You taste divine, my beautiful mate... Turn around for me."

Spun around, with her wet pussy now backed up against my crotch, it's near impossible to not immediately rut inside her. Instead, I continue to torment her and myself by rubbing the tip of my cock over her slit, coating myself in her slick fluids.

"I need to feel you cum inside me... Please?"

"Do you, now?" I growl, gently tugging and nibbling at the lobe of her ear. Then, with the bulbous head pressed against the entrance of her eager pussy, I gently stretch her open, pushing my resolve to the limit. Still, I don't fully thrust inside to drag out her anticipation and my own. "But, maybe I should wait? Do you think you'll be able to handle not getting your fill?"

"Please, just fuck me. Let me feel all of you..."

"Maybe I'll think about it while you demonstrate how much you love my cock, with that mouth of yours, Kitten?" Continuing with shallow thrusts, my thumb brushes her lower lip before slipping inside to stroke over her tongue. "Remind me of how you treated me like a lollypop."

"Mm-hmm," she hums, nodding her understanding as she sucks my digit, flicking the tip over and under while I continue to whisper obscene thoughts into her ear.

"Remember when you told me you wanted me to cum over your face and tits? Maybe I should keep you here with me to see how dirty you can really be when I make you my fuck doll and don't let you out of my bed for a week? Perhaps we could film it so we can relive it, over and over."

With her gorgeous face turned towards me, eyes half-closed, I swap my thumb for two digits and suggestively fuck her mouth, making her drool as she tries to answer. 

"You're so good at this that it's making it really hard to hold back... I adore the way you sound when you're in my arms," I murmur, breathing deeply as she begins to nibble. "Purr for me, baby... Let me know exactly how it feels when I touch and love you like this."

Removing my slick fingers from her mouth, I lightly slide over her clit, vulnerably exposed in arousal. The low erotic moan of pleasure should be answer enough, but I still want to hear it as I fuck her against the counter, in the same place she tried to seduce me the night we met. Maybe it wouldn't have turned out like this if I hadn't pushed her away, but it's too late for regrets now. I'm all in and laying all my cards.

"Give me more..." she urges, grinding against me to meet my movements. "I need to feel all of you."

"Only if you think you can handle it," I tease, driving my hips deeper as my hand roams up her body to pinch her nipples roughly. "But I'm warning you, I'm not in the mood to rush, and I have no intention to sleep tonight. I'm going to take my time appreciating how good your pussy feels before you're allowed to cum again."

With a sigh, her heavy lashed eyes flicker open as she looks over her shoulder, her lower lip trembling. "Please... I'm so close..."

"No, not yet, Kitten. Enjoy it just a little longer and wait for me..." My fingers, still coated with her, slide once again to her mouth, muffling her noises as they match my movements. "The taste of you is intoxicating, don't you think?"

She nods her approval as she sucks my fingertips, playfully giving me what I need to push ahead despite the sharp pain in my ribs becoming impossible to ignore. 

My hand lightly grips her jaw as she tilts back, nestling against my shoulder. Buried against her peach of an arse, ramming thrusts slow to a sensual grind of courtship between our bodies as my name begins to flow off her tongue. "Yes, baby... Just show me what it feels like. I'm nearly there..."

As her pleasure peaks and the intensity of her rhythmic pulsation tips me over, my arm curls around her waist. My other hand interlocks with hers resting on the counter, and all tension between us evaporates as our moans merge in unison, finally one as I release within her.

"Well, that was worth sneaking out for," she says, giggling as I snuggle into the nape of her neck, not ready to break our contact. "I really needed that."

"Three times you did," I reply, now wishing we'd taken this to bed. "Although I may have been overly optimistic about an all-nighter in this state. Want me to call you a cab so we can get you home before anyone notices?"

Spinning around, with her arms circling around my neck, she lightly kisses me, turning on her appeal once again. "I was hoping you'd let me stay. Let's get cleaned up and get some sleep?"

-----

We're not even out of the bath before she makes her intentions entirely transparent. Almost jerked off to climax while she soaps me up under the guise of helping her injured boyfriend. Now with her grip literally around my balls, she tugs me to bed, guiding me to lie beneath her as she reaches for the lube. Then kneeling over me, tauntingly, she begins to brush her pussy over my shaft, rotating her hips as she coaxes me to fuck her again.

"When are you going to show me what a bad girl I've been, Matt?"

My body, in its exhaustion, has other ideas the moment I hit the pillow, and my yawn isn't the enthusiastic reaction she was hoping for. "Maybe in the morning? It's already three, babe, and I'm shattered." 

As I close my eyes, expecting to feel her cuddle against my chest, she begins to nuzzle into my neck, her tongue trailing over my collarbone. Then purring seductively, her teeth nip at my ear lobe as she steps up her offence to rouse me by grinding her pelvis against my thigh. "Wake up... I want you now."

Peeking out at her, I watch as, with a sly grin, she makes her descent down my body, tickling me with a flurry of kisses over my stomach. Her fist sliding over and around my member tightens its grasp as she pleasures me, quickly urging me into action yet again.

Groaning, I'm unable to take my gaze off her as I'm toyed with, becoming putty within her hands. Sleep is now the furthest thing from my mind. "Firmer, baby... Fuck... Yes, just like that, my gorgeous girl. You really know how to treat me good."

Now positioned between my legs, her tongue darts out, licking the cum beading from my cock. A satisfying moan of enjoyment exhaled from her lips.

"You taste yummy," she whispers, her eyes meeting mine before her deliciously warm mouth engulfs me, once again. 

My hand lingering at the back of her neck massages gentle encouragement as she twirls her tongue in spirals around my throbbing cock. For someone so inexperienced, she more than enough makes up for it in enthusiasm.

"Slower..." I murmur as she rapidly flicks against my tip. My balls grasped within her palm are gently tugged, then fondled against each other as a fingertip lightly caresses my perineum. I'm too relaxed with her to even flinch as it slips further back as she probes my boundaries, searching for where the line end. "Baby, I don't know what I did to deserve this, but please don't stop..."

"You like that, huh? Then what about this?" she says, smirking as a lubed finger teases in circles over my anus, sending a tingle of anticipation through my body.

"Mm-hm, if you promise to be gentle. I like being played with."

"You do?" Her green eyes darken as she begins to apply pressure, observing the tip of her finger dip inside, passing with ease through my sphincter. "Who'd expect you to be into anal play?"

"I'm willing to try anything with you," I respond, hoping to deflect from the truth that it's not my first time receiving such special treatment. But the middle of sex isn't the greatest moment to discuss my intoxicated or high foray into sodomy with my ex. "I love it when you're being naughty with me... suck me... please?"

"Then lay back, and enjoy." 

Rapidly, she begins to bob on my cock as she continues to violate me with the solitary finger. It's not bad, just it's not doing a great deal, and I kinda feel like I need more, although her tongue is an absolute wonder. Bathed in her lush warmth, wrapping around and over, she ties me into knots as I twist her curls in my palm, lost in thought.

Maybe I should ask her now? 

With growing expertise at reading my body's reactions, Louise continues to focus every flick of her tongue over the head of my cock with her hand now pumping my shaft. The attention is just incredible, the care entirely unrushed that it's impossible to not fall inexplicably in love with her.

Suddenly, there's pressure as another finger starts to edge inside as if she's reading my mind. Then, curling towards me like a mild flutter, rhythmically, she strokes along my canal in exploration before stretching them out within me and thrusting like she's fucking me.

"Uh, you're gonna make me cum so hard, baby. The way you're swirling your tongue... Fuck me..."

Almost too perfect, and far too soon!

Her grip shifts back to my balls, and a firm squeeze ultimately undoes me. My fingertips clench my sheets in an attempt to steel myself, but there's no holding back as my excitement rises just from the idea of what she's doing. Her intense gaze softens as I lose control from her touch and become powerless before her. With my balls throbbing and my arse clenching in waves, a whole-body spasm ripples throughout me. Crying out orgasmically, I ejaculate, spurting my hot seed into her mouth, shuddering, and stunned by the sheer intensity of it all.

"Mm..." she hums with satisfaction as she briefly closes her eyes and swallows my load, almost savouring it. "So it turns out the rumours between the girls are true but don't worry, I can keep your secret."

Instantly, my blood runs cold, and my mind races to the worst. I don't remember saying anything to out myself. "My secret? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you're really open-minded sexually and enjoy it dirty," she says, grinning as she climbs up on my lap. "There are bets wondering how far you'll go."

"Well, for someone who was supposedly a virgin, you're far from innocent," I quip, now recovering from becoming her quivering puddle. "Like, what the fuck was that? Where are you learning how to touch me like this?"

"I read porn, and it gave me a lot of ideas of what I want to try with you."

"Are you telling me you have dirty magazines?" I respond, my mind-boggling with this new disclosure. How did I get lucky enough to meet someone this sex-positive? "Would you like to try reading some together? Or watch porn? I have a lot of stuff- Uh, I mean, I have good internet!"

My recovery is remarkably poor, and pouting with offence, she becomes deadly serious, "I read erotica, Matt. I'm not interested in your spank bank."

"Not even a little? I'm sure you'd find something of interest if you-" 

Licking her lips, she leans back, parting her moist cunt between her fingers, becoming an instant distraction. I'm mesmerised watching her begin to pleasure herself, leisurely trailing her fingertips along her sex as she sighs and unfurls before me. At this time of the morning, and after the day we've had, I'm surprised she still has the energy. "Like what you see?" 

I find myself nodding, already stroking over my cock in my eagerness to coax myself hard to perform for her again. She's really pushing me to breaking point, but I hate to disappoint.

"Mm, baby girl, you know you're making it difficult to resist you..." I sigh, casting a glance at my alarm as she mounts me. "Even at four-thirty in the morning..."

Roused from my weariness, with renewed vigour, my kisses almost devour her, becoming possessive as she drags her nails across my shoulder blades. Then with her palm sliding against mine, she pins me down beneath her, making a playful bid of dominance over me. "Good, because tonight I want to discover everything that makes you tick and uncover all the other dirty secrets you're still holding back on."

"Maybe next time, if you beg me nicely," I respond, teasing her with a gentle brush of my nose. Then unprepared to surrender, I roll her beneath me and suckle her breasts, nibbling at each of her erect areolas, standing proud in the chillness of my room as we mate once more. "I'm so incredibly lucky to be with you, Louise, and I hope you know I love you to the moon and back."

-----

"Matthew!" The pounding on my door wakes me from the dead of sleep with a startle. "I swear you better open this door right the fuck now before I break it down!"

Stumbling out of bed, I snatch up some boxers in a daze, slits for eyes as I accommodate to the light. I don't even know what time I finally got to sleep after Louise was finished with me, but the scent of her sex lingers upon my skin. What seemed like a good idea at the time was definitely not the rational decision I should have made.

"Louise, baby..." I urge, trying to make out the time on my alarm clock before realising it's past ten. "Oh, fuck, we've overslept, babe!"

Louise jumps out of bed, scrambling around nude as she searches for her clothes, which are still downstairs. "Shit, I haven't got anything to wear! What the hell am I going to do?"

"You'll have to grab something from my drawer. Just stay here, and I'll deal with him, sweetheart."

I'm still not with it as I unlock the door, stark naked to my father glaring at me. I may as well be staring into the face of death.

"You better have a good fucking explanation for this," he hisses, shoving me towards the stairs as I struggle to pull on my boxers with my cast, then follow him down. "I've just come home to twenty missed calls and Louise's parents screaming at me on the doorstep. Swear to me that isn't Louise you've got in there?" 

"Yeah... She is here," I reply, unable to lie that it isn't exactly what it looks like as I hesitate at the kitchen doorway. With our crumpled clothes on the tiled floor, it's clear as day what we've been up to. "If they're still outside, I'll go speak with them, but can I just discuss something with-"

"Is this him?" I spin around, instantly realising we're not alone, as her father approaches from the porch and shoves me backwards. Taken completely unaware, I fall down hard as he towers over me, and his fist collides with my face, blinding me with pain. "The next time you come near either one of my daughters, I will break both of your legs. Do you hear me? Stay away."

"With respect, Sir, I cannot do that... I love your daughter-"

As I try to get to my feet, hoping to reason with him, he knocks me down again before my father can shield me. "You better get the fuck out of my house before I knock you out, pal."

"Then you better get your son into line then! There's no way I'm allowing my daughters to throw their lives away for some drugged up, little prick like him!"

The air thickens as they eyeball each other, sizing each other up, and it's then that I realise Louise's family isn't too dissimilar to my own. Her fears about her parents' reaction are real, and I must step up to get her out of that situation.

While the standoff continues, neither of them ready to back down, Louise appears in a pair of my pyjamas. Pale with fright at how quickly this has escalated, she steps in front of me in an attempt to diffuse the situation, her hand trembling as it lingers for support on my shoulder. "Daddy, I'm fine, so please, just stop? I chose to come here by myself to get some space."

He completely brushes her off with a forced calmness, unwilling to listen to the truth. "Is this the kind of loser you want to spend your life with? Do you think he's the type to care for you if he knocks you up? Go wait in the car-" 

"Louise, we need to tell him," I interrupt, knowing the sooner this is out in the open, the better as tears streak down her cheeks.

"Tell me what?" Confusion suddenly appears on his face as he looks between us, then settles on her stomach, she's subconsciously cradling. "She's not? Don't tell me you've done that to my daughter?"

"Dad... I..."

"You fucking bastard! If you lay another finger on her, I will fucking kill you! Do you hear me? I swear to God I will tear you apart if you so much as look at my daughter again! Louise, get in the car now."

My father prevents him from swinging for me again as I hold Louise back, hoping to stop her from leaving until he's calmed down. Her safety is now my biggest priority. "Stay here with me, Louise? You don't need to go back with them."

She drops eye contact as she shrugs me off and walks away from me, smiling wistfully as she obeys her father instead. "I'm sorry, Matt."

The moment they leave, my Dad rounds on me, his grip painfully digging into my bruises as he grabs me by the shoulders and puts me against the wall. In the same clothes, he left the house in yesterday and the stale scent of alcohol hanging over him, I know where he's been. "Tell me this isn't fucking true?" 

"It's true." His narrowed eyes widen as my response sinks in, and in a fury, he smacks me across the face, then raises his fist to me, prompting me to continue. "She's around twelve weeks..."

I drop to my knees, winded by a punch to my stomach. "That girl had her head screwed on straight, Matthew! How could you? I thought I brought you up better than that!"

"It just happened."

"These things don't just happen!" he continues to yell, still worked up by the previous altercation. "Once everyone has calmed down, you're going to her house and doing the right thing. You're marrying this girl even if I have to drag you there, do you hear? Why do you keep giving me this stress? Your brother doesn't give me half the amount of shit that you do-"

"How is any of this stressful for you when it's between Louise and me? It's my life and my business."

"The whole time you're living under my roof, it is my fucking business when you're bringing it to my front door! Who do you think got the grief when your aunt found out about your drug problem?" Gesticulating towards me like a madman, he continues to shout at me, listing off my faults, one by one. "It's just one thing after another with you. Then there's the vandalism, the fighting, and the police caution for possession. Enough is enough, Matthew, so you're going to get your shit together and raise this kid. Do I make myself fucking clear? If not, you can pack your stuff and get out. This will be the last mistake you'll be making in my house."

"I don't know how you can stand there acting like you weren't the same age as me when you had John! I didn't plan for this, but I don't need anyone forcing me to be with Louise, which is more than could be said about you and mum. I know you've always seen us as the biggest mistake you've ever made."

If a look could kill, I would be struck down in an instant, but the anger rapidly fades from his face. 

"Not once have I seen either of you as a mistake! Do you honestly think I regret raising you both with your mother?" he says, unable to hide the hurt in his voice at my accusation. "I've only wanted what's best for you, and I've been working my arse off to provide for this family, but you keep throwing it back in my face no matter how much I help you."

"Then where were you yesterday when I needed you, Dad?" I spit out in anger, gesturing to the cast on my hand. "I can tell when you've been drinking. So, what's the name of this new woman you're fucking, or is she just another escort? The apple doesn't fall so far from the tree, does it?"

Rubbing his knuckles, he frowns regretfully. "Sadly, it doesn't, and I was hoping for more from you."

-----

I return to sixth-form a week later, accompanied by my father, who drops me off at the gates. After our argument, it seemed like we'd grown closer, but Louise was now ignoring me. The moment I walk in, I can feel the air of hostility aimed towards me, and as I approach the lockers where I'd normally meet Justin, Ashleigh strides up to me then slaps me across the face.

"I'm surprised you dared to show up here. You should leave before my Dad comes to deck you again."

Ignoring my stinging cheek, I shrug her off, knowing she's trying to get a rise out of me. She isn't worth the hassle.

"Have you bragged about her to all your mates yet? Seems she came off worst, though. You should be ashamed of what you did to her."

"I don't need your shit right now, Ash. Just leave me alone."

"Why? Are you worried about what else I have to say? Everyone knows you're a coward who discarded his girlfriend the moment he found out she's pregnant."

"You know that's a fucking lie! I love Louise!"

"Well, of course, I know it's a lie when I was the one to spread it. But it seems you're less popular than you thought you were, so let's see how long you'll last before you're forced out of here," she says, grinning with glee. "Did you really think I'm going to allow you to play happy families after what you did to me?"

It feels like a knife being twisted inside me, and my anger rises at the sight of her triumphant, smug face, knowing there's no chance of reasoning with her. Even after breaking up nearly two years ago, she's still not over it, and clearly, in her own pettiness, she'll rather see me suffer than learn how to move on. 

If only I hadn't downplayed her involvement to the police to smooth the conflict away.

"You're still going to overreact about that? I'm sure no one remembers the fact that you're shit in bed or that you pad out your bra," I respond, my lip curling as I zero in on her insecurities. "Maybe that's why I never realised you're related to Louise because, unlike you, she's actually able to satisfy me. I think I'm going to enjoy welcoming her into my bed as my wife..."

"You're a cunt."

"Then that makes two of us, love. Now, why don't you run along to that boyfriend of yours and tell him how you're still not over me? With a snap of my fingers, I bet you'd still let me fuck you if I was desperate enough."

With a flick of her blonde hair, she turns her back on me then links arms with Sadie waiting for her. I shouldn't have taken the bait, but her look of superiority deserved to be wiped from her face. I'm almost not sorry for being a bastard to bring her down a peg.

"Sorry, I'm late," Justin says, clutching his side as he pants, exhausted beside me. "Alarm didn't go off. So what the hell was that about?"

"Nothing..." I say as I turn the key in my locker. Before I've fully opened it to collect my textbooks, post-it notes and condoms begin to spill out onto the floor. With some nearby classmates erupting into laughter, I slam it shut in a fury, then clench my fist as I confront them. "Who the fuck did this? Was it you, Craig?"

"Matt, let it go! You'll just make this ten times worse with Louise, okay?" Stepping in the middle, Justin blocks me from clashing with the group I'm eyeballing. "Come on, let me walk you to your form room."

I'm reluctant to drop it, but my anger dissipates the moment his hand reaches out and gently squeezes my arm. With a broad, friendly grin radiating across his face, my stomach pangs with sorrow at what never had a chance to be, but I'm thankful to have my best friend back. So with a nod, I allow him to guide me towards my class and try to ignore the ache returning to my heart. 

When I arrive at Maths straight after registration, I'm not entirely sure what my plan is, but I waste no time walking towards the chair beside Louise. However, before I can sit, my teacher, Mr Davies, steps in front of me, pointing to the empty desk at the back. "Sorry, Matthew, but I need to move you. I'm sure you can understand why so let's not make this harder than it needs to be."

Sighing at the injustice, I slam my rucksack onto my new desk in frustration, then lean back in the chair. Louise hasn't answered my calls in days, so I've only bothered to come in to speak to her personally. Still, it's clear from how she's being shielded that getting close to her will be impossible. Unfortunately, Ashleigh's little stunt to make me look like the bad guy seems to have worked.

I need to find another way to get through to her.

Paying little attention to the lesson, I rip out a sheet of paper from my notebook then attempt to condense my words in a note for her. There's no guarantee she'll read it, but I'm running out of options after being ignored, and I need her to know that I'm still behind her one-hundred-per cent. 

"Louise, I'm not sure where I went wrong, and I know this week has been difficult for you, but please reconsider. Try to give our love another chance? You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I can't stop thinking about you. I miss you, and I want us to raise our child together. Please can we meet at lunch?"

With Mr Davies facing the whiteboard, I fold my note into a plane, but unfortunately for me, it gets caught on a strong draft and misses my mark, landing beside my teacher's foot.

"Matthew Lewis, I presume this is yours?" he says, glancing down at the name addressed on the wings. 

"No, Sir..."

"Then you won't mind if I read this out to the rest of the class?" he threatens as he picks it up and starts to scan the contents. "Would you like me to share this?"

"No! Could you just put it on her desk, please?"

With a look cast at Louise, who has continued to ignore my existence during class, unlike the others now staring at me, he screws the note up and tosses it in the waste bin. "You clearly know all of this we're covering today with how much time you seem to have on your hands. Perhaps you can come up here and demonstrate how to solve this to the rest of the class?"

"Do I have to? I'd rather not."

Thrusting the board marker at me, a knowing smile spreads across his face. "It wasn't a request, Matthew. Explain how to calculate integrals by using integration by substitution."

I'm not sure why he's going as far as this to make his point but unsettled by his demeanour, I have little choice but to do what I'm told. So, standing in front of the class, avoiding eye contact with Louise only a metre away, I solve the question with my voice wavering with nerves. "Am I done now?"

"Yes, you can return to your desk," Mr Davies replies, patting me on my back. "Isn't it astounding what you're capable of when you apply yourself, Matthew? Stay behind after class so we can talk."

Fuck!

With the bell ringing for break, the others gather their belongings, some of them throwing curious glances towards me as they leave. However, to my surprise, Louise retrieves the scrunched letter I'd written on the way out the door and folds it up into her pocket. Admittedly, it came at the expense of being humiliated, but this is my first small win.

"I did as you asked, Sir. Please may I leave?" I say, anxious to follow after her.

Shaking his head, he locks the door, then sits on the table in front of me, seemingly at ease. "What's going on, Matthew? I've been your teacher for the past seven years. You used to be a promising student, receiving commendations across several subjects, so why are you wasting that talent?"

"I just find it hard concentrating," I reply with a shrug.

"You're throwing paper aeroplanes at girls in class instead of trying to learn, Matthew. Do you think they appreciate being harassed?" 

"I was only trying to get Louise to talk to me!"

Nodding with understanding, he folds his arms across his chest. "So from what I read, I'm to assume that some of what I've been hearing is true, then? I've been Louise's form tutor for two years, and I can tell you now that she doesn't handle stress. Passing her notes, texting and calling her incessantly will make her close off to you. She needs space to breathe. Do you not realise that she's getting all of this at home?"

"If I don't try talking to her, I'm scared she'll think I don't care."

"I'm sure she knows that you do, but frankly, you are harassing her. She showed me some of the messages and the sheer amount of calls you've made over the past week. You're coming on far too hard, and it needs to stop," he says, pausing for a moment before softening. "I know you're a good lad deep down, so try to think about how she's feeling and wait for her to come to you? Focus on getting on with your work and passing your exams for the time being."

"But what if she decides she doesn't want to be with me?"

"Then you need to learn how to live with her decision and be civil. At the end of the day, the children in the middle of arguing parents suffer the most. I know you're probably thinking I'm patronising, and I can't imagine how I would have coped with parenting this young, but you'll need to provide for this kid in six months, whether you're ready for it or not. Have you had career advice?"

"I've arranged to work for my Dad. It seemed the best option given the circumstances."

"Well, if you change your mind, you only need to ask, and my door is always open if you need someone to speak to," he says, drumming his fingertips on the desk as he checks the clock above the door. "Right, I better let you go before you're late. I hope you'll take my advice on board and keep out of trouble, okay?"

As much as I want to pursue her, I'm numb as I walk down the corridor, realising that he's right. However, I don't get far before I'm pulled through a doorway with a firm tug on my jacket.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise, Louise," I say, surprised as I glance around the mops and cleaning fluids in the storage cupboard. "But I'm sure there were much better places we could have done this."

"I know, but it's the only chance we'll get for some time," she murmurs against my lips, her hands seeking out my manhood. "I was so worried my dad was going to kill you because you weren't fighting back."

"Hitting the father of the woman I love wouldn't make for a great story to tell our children someday," I laugh as I lower her panties. "But, perhaps we should do this the right way around from now on and wait until we make our relationship official? In the eyes of the law and if you believe in it, G-"

Becoming rigid, her voice becomes accusatory as she scoffs. "God? Are you saying what I think you're saying? Since when are you religious?"

"My family are Catholic, Louise, so there is a certain expectation on me to marry. And it would mean the world to me if you both took my name," I reply, realising I may have made an error.

"Let me think on it..."

"Sure, we can wait a few months." Hard and fast, we begin to fuck against the shelving as we continue talking, knowing we don't have much time before the break is over. "You really do know how to make me work for it, though. Death threats from your Dad, a sister who hates me. You're lucky the sense of danger is a turn on."

"I know, but we need to be quiet about us for now. Give my dad time to calm down, and adjust. I know we're strong enough to get through this, so trust me, okay?"

"I want to, I really want to, but that's a lot to ask. I mean, those rumours are fucking awful, and I look like a total cunt. Can't you say something at least to your close friends?"

"You know I can't without Ash finding out. So just bear with it, please, baby? It's only temporary."

Inhaling the scent of her hair, I think it through. The centre of my universe has shifted, and it's no longer about what I want but what Louise and the baby needs. "I haven't got a choice, have I? Just promise it won't be for too long, okay?"