“Did you mean what you said?” James asks softly the next morning. “About.. wanting a baby?”I look up from the cookie coated sheets I was currently stripping, “I did.”He gets a brief flash of excitement in his eyes, “what changed?”I sigh, “honestly? Everything.”“Like?”“Like,” I start slowly. “Our parents know about us. That was the big one that was stopping me, I think. And then we got married, which was one of my original stipulations.” I pause before continuing, trying to keep my voice under control, “and even though it’s only been six months since.. my abortion, I feel like we are in a better place now. I’ve got my photography and you’ve got your architecture. I feel like I wouldn’t mind being pregnant now.”To say the last four months have been busy would be an understatement. We were still staying with Annie and Georgie in Australia but had come home for Christmas and New Year’s. After I’d told James about the conversation with our parents, things had gotten infinitely better
The next few weeks are a whirlwind as we get back to Annie’s house and tell them that we will be moving out once we find a place. Annie and Georgie are understandably sad about us leaving but also happy for us as we explore the next chapter of our lives. Annie did make a request that if we needed any furniture for our home, to let her know and she’ll send us some of hers from the different rooms in the house. James and I both agreed we’d let her know but we both knew we did not want the haunted furniture in our home. Provided that we could find one. “Why does the housing market suck?” He groans one night as he scrolls through houses on his laptop. “Who has 500k for a one bedroom fixer upper?” “More importantly,” I add as I scroll through my own housing search. “Did you know we can’t buy a house in a different country unless we plan to live there for at least five years and are working in that country?” “So dumb,” he agrees. “Obviously we will be there for five years and how
The festival is in full swing by the time James and I make it out of our hotel room. I’m back in my snowsuit and James, as usual, only has on a light jacket. How the man doesn’t freeze is beyond me, but at least it makes it easy to undress him later. As we wonder through the giant sculptures made of ice and snow, I take as many pictures as I can, always asking the artist before I do. Thankfully most of them speak a little English and are more than happy to pose with their art. The ones that don’t are a little more hesitant, but when I show them my magazine badge, they usually agree. We wonder the festival for hours, browsing the stalls of homemade chocolates, breads, leather goods, even handmade journals and clothing. Other stalls were full of alcohol and steins, candy coated fruit and toys. By the time we’d walked the entire festival, I’d taken hundreds of photos and had half a notebooks worth of artist names to match their sculptures. Five hours after we started, James and I ma
The next morning I wake up to a blinding headache and to James setting a tray of food onto the bed. When he sees that I’m awake he starts talking excitedly, “so today I thought that we could go to the aquarium. Supposedly there’s a really nice one around here and they’ve got a new exhibit with baby penguins. What do you think?” “I think,” I groan as I sit up. “That it’s far too bright in here.” “You’re the one who insisted on trying all of Yuri’s flavored vodka,” he laughs. “He just kept bringing out more,” I shudder as I try not puke from the memory. “Why did he have so many?” “He owns a bar babe,” James reminds me as he sits on the bed and grabs a piece of toast. Taking a bite of it he adds, “but twelve different flavors does seem a bit excessive.” He holds the toast out, “bite?” “Get that away from me,” I gag. Laying back down I pull the pillow over my head. Vaguely I can hear James laughing but the bed moves as he gets up and presumably moves the food away from me. T
A month later and we find ourselves in Alaska watching the northern lights in a glass igloo hotel. While I wasn’t to thrilled about going from one cold climate to the next, I had to admit that the light show was worth every freezing minute. Especially since I got to cuddle some sled dogs our first night there. We’d decided to do the sled dog tour that ended up on a mountain peak with a clear view of the lights. The company had set up large canopy tents with an assortment of chairs, blankets, food and drinks. Several cozy campfires are spread throughout the small area and if it wasn’t for the fifth other people there, it would be one of the most romantic places we’d ever been. As we waiting for the show to start, I walked around the camp and took pictures of all the dogs and the camp, along with anyone who wanted their pictures taken. And when the lights started, we all moved from the tents and away from the fires, towards the edge of the mountain with our chairs and blanke
Six months later and I’m sitting on the floor in a hotel bathroom, a pregnancy test in my hand. “James!” I yell from the bathroom. “James!” His feet slap the floor as he runs towards me, the door opening quickly as he rushes in, “what’s wrong?” His voice gets a note of panic when he sees me sitting on the floor, “what happened?” I hold up the pregnancy test for him to see, “I’m pregnant.” He sits down next to me, “are you sure?” I nod, “yeah. It.. feels the same as last time.” He swallows loudly, “are we.. happy?” “Yeah,” I whisper. “Yeah we are.” And unlike last time, I was. Over the past six months we’d traveled the world for my job, visiting every place imaginable and I’d made more money selling my pictures then I’d ever thought possible, to the point where we’d never have to work again if we didn’t want to. I never thought that I’d be the breadwinner in this relationship but I was enjoying being a sugar mama. James and I still hadn’t found a house to call our o
"I need a favor." My stepbrother James doesn't look up from his game as he grunts, "what?" "I need you to have sex with me," I rush out. There's a palpable silence as James slowly puts his game controller down and turns to me, "you want me to what?" He asks, dumbfounded. Taking a breath I repeat myself, "I want you to take my virginity." His mouth opens and closes a few times before he finally gets out, "but- I'm your brother!" "Stepbrother," I remind him. "No blood relation and it's not like we are exactly close so it won't mess up what little relationship we have. And besides, isn't this like every boy's fantasy? To fuck their stepsister?" "Well yeah but.. it's not like we ever expect it to happen," he says softly. "Well now you have the chance," I tell him, desperately trying to convince him. "And this weekend is perfect, we'll have the house to ourselves until Sunday." He runs a hand through his dark shaggy hair, "why me? Why now?" "Well, as you know I'm going to
"So," James says awkwardly as he taps his legs, "how do you want to do this?" We sit side by side on his bed, not looking at each other. "I don't know, how do you usually start?" "Uhh.. making out usually." "I'm ok with that if you are," I tell him. "I want this to be as normal an experience as possible." "Too late for that," he mumbles. But he turns to me, his blue eyes unsure as they meet mine, "but I will do my best to make this normal." I give him a small smile, "thank you." He nods and leans in, stopping a few inches away and waits for me to come meet him. I close the distance and meet his lips briefly before pulling away. "See? That wasn't so bad," I joke. He doesn't answer, but something replaces the unsure look in his eyes as he leans back towards me. He kisses me again but this time he leans into it, taking control. His lips move against mine, leading mine in a dance that he was obviously experienced in. He bites my bottom lip suddenly, making mine open in a slight