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ALLISON

A llison is enjoying listening to Russell share the intimate details about his family. She realizes she’s never taken such an interest in anyone before, not even her most significant boyfriend, Chad. She’d been seeing him when Emma had been attacked and treated so terribly. He’d been the one who’d shown her men couldn’t be trusted, especially not with her heart.

They spend the next hour talking about their childhoods. Russell shares what it was like growing up as an only child until he was ten. “I was so happy when mom and dad told me they were having another child,” Russell says with a grin. “I’d been wanting a little sister for a while, someone I could look out for, be the big brother. It’s true what they say, be careful what you wish for. Instead of one sister, I got three.” He laughs, causing Allison to laugh, too.

“I can relate,” Allison giggles. “I wanted a little sister I could boss around like Monica did me. I ended up with a little sister and a little brother, but somehow, I was never the boss.” Russell laughs at her dejected tone.

They talk more about his little sisters and their struggles since losing their father while they eat their dinner. Time passes much more quickly than she could’ve imagined. By the time they’ve finished dessert, they’re both yawning.

Allison bites her lower lip watching Russell stretch. His body is a work of art, hard lines and smooth muscle. Her body responds instantly, readying itself for his impressive cock. She’s more than ready for them to finally come together. Her hand reaches for him without her command, but she isn’t upset about it.

At the same moment, a text alert sounds from the nightstand where her phone is laying. “Shit!” she exclaims, being startled from her dirty thoughts of Russell’s cock. “Ignore that,” she murmurs after getting over her fright. Russell is gazing at her like he’s ready to devour her, even though they’ve just eaten a four-course meal. A loud, piercing ring tone blares from her phone. Emma’s ringtone. “Dammit!”

Allison jumps up to grab the phone, shooting Russell an apologetic look. “What?”

“Well! Hello to you too, Miss Grumpy Pants. Who pissed in your Cheerios?” Emma questions.

“You did!”

“What? How?” Emma’s confusion is easy to hear.

“You are twat swatting,” Allison informs her. Emma’s startled, high-pitched laugh rings in Allison’s ears.

“Oh my God! That’s a new one!” Emma continues to laugh, drawing a small smile from Allison.

“Clam jam?” Emma’s peeling laughter causes Allison to pull the phone from her ear. She spares a glance at Russell who is grinning from ear to ear.

“I just called to have you come try on your dress,” Emma finally manages to wheeze out around her giggles. “Mom has the alterations finished. You can get back to what you’re doing after.”

“Crap! Alright. I’ll be right there, but it’s under extreme duress.” More laughing from Emma. Allison ends the call, turning to give Russell a sympathetic look. “I have to go.”

Russell nods, pulling her close. “I heard,” he says, with humor lacing his voice. “Twat swatting?” His body shakes with silent laughter.

“Well, it’s cock blocking when a guy is kept from getting laid, so that’s the best I could come up with.” Russell holds her close and continues to shake all over.

“Very clever, sugar.” He’s laughing at her. She pushes away from him, rolling her eyes, and barely keeping the grin off her face. “Come to my room when you guys are finished with the dress?” Russell asks.

“I’ll try, if there’s no more clitorference, I’ll be there.” Russell belly laughs at that one, before he presses a kiss to her forehead. Allison grabs her room key and they head out, going their separate ways once in the hall.

Allison makes her way to Emma’s room. “I’m sorry for interrupting,” Emma says, sounding truly remorseful. Allison pulls her in for a hug.

“I’ll forgive you this time.” Emma grins. Allison knows she could never really be angry with her cousin. They’re closer than sisters.

“Here, Ali girl, try this on,” Aunt Margaret thrusts the dress at her. Allison turns to let Emma unzip the current dress she’s wearing, allowing it to fall off since it’s only her, Emma, and Aunt Margaret in the room.

The dress fits perfectly, molding over Allison’s curves like a glove. “Oh, Allison,” Emma breathes. “You look gorgeous!” Allison moves to the large mirror in the room, stepping back to get as full a look at herself as possible.

She’s surprised at how good she looks. She’s never felt beautiful or sexy before, but remembering the way Russell looks at her, she believes Emma’s assessment. Allison can’t wait for Russell to see her in it.

Turning to the side, she glances over at Emma and Aunt Margaret. “It does look nice, doesn’t it?”

“Emma’s right. You’re gorgeous,” Aunt Margaret declares. “You’re going to drive all the single men crazy and make them horny.”

“Mom!” “Aunt Margaret!” Emma and Allison shout-laugh simultaneously.

“What?” Aunt Margaret shrugs. “It’s true. You’re beautiful and smart. You’re the total package. I’m not wanting to marry you off, but I tell it like I see it. I know you’re not ready to settle down. You’ve got more stories to tell, but any man with eyes and any sense will want you.”

Tears spring into Allison’s eyes. She believes Aunt Margaret is being honest. She sees Allison for more than just a woman to marry and have babies. “Thanks, Aunt Margaret. You’ve always been so supportive of mine and Emma’s dreams, even though they don’t fall in line with what the family expects.”

“I haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be young, to want a career.” Aunt Margaret spears the younger women with a sharp gaze. “I had a fulfilling career before Emma was born.”

“Oh, mom!” Emma exclaims. “I’m sorry if having me messed up your career.” Aunt Margaret gives her a stern look.

“I waited until I felt I’d achieved my career goals, before I had you. I don’t regret having you for an instant. My only regret is waiting so long,” Aunt Margaret says sadly. “We were never able to have any more children. I’d gotten too old to safely have more by the time we decided to try again.

“I know our family is pushy about getting married and raising children in the church. It can make a young person want to avoid all of that, but don’t let them keep you from your joy. Whether it’s having a big family or having a successful, fulfilling career, or both. You do what makes you happy and gives you joy. Life is entirely too short to be unhappy.”

Emma and Allison sandwich Aunt Margaret between them in a fierce hug. All three women have tears in their eyes. “Mom, I still can’t believe you said the word horny.” All three of them burst out laughing so hard, causing more tears to fall.

“I’ve tried to conform to the family rules to keep the peace,” Aunt Margaret says, “and because I wanted you to be a respectable young lady, but sometimes you just have to say what’s on your mind. Don’t tell your father. He’s still in denial that his baby girl is having sex, even though she’s getting married in two days. I don’t think he could handle knowing his favorite niece isn’t still a virgin, too.”

“I thought Daddy liked Curtis?” Emma sounds worried.

“He does, my girl. Curtis is a fine man and your father knows he’s perfect for you, but he still wants to pretend that you’ll just magically present us with grandbabies. He doesn’t want to think about how you make them.”

“Ewww, Mom!” Allison laughs at Emma’s discomfort. She shouldn’t laugh. She should feel sympathy for her, because she wouldn’t want to have this discussion with her own mother, not that it would ever happen. Allison’s mother avoids discussing anything of an intimate nature. She probably hopes her grandchildren are produced by magic, too.

“Now, get that dress off,” Aunt Margaret commands. “Don’t you girls have a party to get to?” Ah, crap! Allison had let the bachelorette party slip her mind while she’d been talking with Russell and lusting over him. She wishes she’d gotten his number so she could text him and let him know she won’t be back to her room until much later.

Allison slips off the dress and dons her other one. “I forgot about the party,” Allison whispers to Emma. “I don’t have a way to let Russell know.”

“Oh, don’t worry about him,” Emma whispers back, glancing at her mother who is busy hanging Allison’s dress up. “Curtis and the guys are coming, too.”

“They are?” Allison frowns. Russell hadn’t said anything about them coming to the party. “How are you having a bachelorette party with your fiancé there?”

“It’s a combo,” Emma shrugs. “I don’t like going to bars, you know—” Allison nods. She understands, after what happened to Emma. “I’ll feel better having him close, but I still wanted us to get to drink, dance, and have some fun.”

A banging on the door causes the women to jump. “Emma! Let me in!” Susie Beth calls from the other side of the door. Emma hurries to open the door. Susie Beth rushes in looking adorable in a short gold dress. Her wavy, brown hair is hanging loose around her shoulders and flowing down her back. “Are you all ready? We need to go.”

“I’ll see myself out,” Aunt Margaret calls, heading for the door. “You girls have fun.” The door closes behind her.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Emma questions, giving Susie Beth a hard once over. “What’s wrong?” She obviously sees something in Susie Beth’s demeanor that Allison is missing.

“Nothing,” Susie Beth dismisses Emma’s concern with a wave of her hand. “I’m just ready to get this party started.” She waggles her eyebrows, but her eyes don’t hold the humor her actions are emitting. There is something off with Susie Beth. Before she can join Emma in forcing Susie Beth to confess what she’s trying to hide, Emma’s phone rings.

“Hey Curtis,” Emma coos into the phone. Her voice gets that dreamy tone she uses when talking to her lover. She listens a moment before saying, “Okay, we’ll be down in a minute. I love you.” Her ghost of a smile widens at whatever he says in reply, then her face flushes a deep shade of red.

Hmm, Emma’s man is talking dirty to her. Allison smiles, happy for her cousin and the love she’s found. Emma is back to the fun loving, carefree woman she’d been before her attack. Curtis is to be thanked for that.

“It’s time to go,” Emma announces when she ends her call. “There are a couple of SUVs waiting for us.” They head out into the hall meeting up with the women who belong to Curtis’s teammates. Allison is thankful Emma had kept this little excursion from their family. Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie would be blocking the elevators while they lectured the women about loose behavior.

They step out from the lobby into the cool night air. “Party time!” Susie Beth yells rushing for the first SUV sitting at the valet stand. Suddenly, a large figure slips out of the passenger seat and opens the back door for her. Susie Beth skids to a stop, arms flailing. The move reminds Allison of Scooby Doo. “What the hell?”

Bull smirks at Susie Beth as he reaches for her arm, gently pulling her toward the door he’s holding open. “I’ll be your escort for the evening.” A distorted string of words erupts from the tiny woman.

Even though Allison can’t understand what Susie Beth is muttering, she can’t keep from sharing a grin with Emma, because Susie Beth is going full-on cartoon in the flesh. This time she reminds Allison of Yosemite Sam from Looney Toons, letting loose a string of curses. Tonight is going to be interesting.