The night she's been daydreaming about

Mrs. Hayes looked down at them with her dark green eyes, her face unfazed. "All the fuss you had here waked me up." Her eyes went from Priscilla to Allen. "All of this over a girl? I'm surprised."

"I didn't know you were home yet." Allen said.

"Of course, I told Mrs. Olivier not to tell anyone, as I wanted to rest." She paused for a second to grab some air. "If you're still to argue about your personal affairs, do it somewhere else." Mrs. Hayes tilted her head to one side. "And settle your 'business' with this girl before he arrives." She looked at Allen up and down, and then at Priscilla. "And you, stop involving too much. You always get in trouble for spoiling him too much."

With nothing else, she left.

"As charming as ever." Priscilla said with disdain. Allen stood there in silence, something Priscilla was not comfortable with. She looked at her brother with a half smile. "What she said is not true."

Allen laughed sarcastically. "Which is why you couldn't even find anything to say, right?" The sting of hurt visible in his eyes.

"No. I just wanted to think the right words because I love you." Priscilla insisted. "I believe you don't open up easily, and I guess I was too skeptical at first. But I, from all people, know who you really are. And I know your feelings pretty well"

Allen looked at her, his eyes clear and bright, his mood finally easing down. He knew she was right. From his family, he could only feel at ease around Priscilla and Mrs. Olivier.

"So…" She cut the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him, bouncing happily. "My lil brother is in love!" She shrieked on his shoulder, muffling the sound."

Allen cringed at her words and tried to calm her down, grabbing her by the shoulders, but it did not work out.

"Just don't say another word. It took me a fucking half of my brain cells to just accept it, OK?" Allen said, uncomfortable at his sister sudden excitement.

She stepped back, with a huge grin on her face. Her mischievous expression making him feel nervous.

"We shouldn't keep Iry waiting."

Again, he felt a cringe at how she pronounced Isabelle's name; suddenly feeling he made a mistake by telling her how he felt. The sensation washed away, though, because deep down he knew his sister was always there for him. He, for once, felt really excited to tell her about himself. About how he was becoming better.

In the end, the watched an old rom-com proposed by Priscilla —who definitely did it on purpose just to see the awkward aura between them—; specially knowing that Allen is not particularly a fan of these kinds of movies.

To her surprise, it was nothing like that. She even delighted herself watching her little brother in a whole new phase. How he lowered his voice whenever he was talking to Isabelle, how his eyes irradiated that unusual warm energy from them whenever he looked at the read-head, how delicate he was every time he wanted to touch her.

Priscilla thought Allen looked like an entire different person. Someone that had always known what love is. Yes, she and Mrs. Olivier loved him enormously, but their mother's indifference and their father's humiliations were something that cut too deep in Allen's heart. Priscilla knew it all too well.

For some reason she could not comprehend, their parents never treated her that way. It was since Allen's arrival that they changed so drastically. Of course, they were never too loving or warm towards her, either, but things went out of control for Allen.

And yet, here he was. Sharing careless laughs, sweet smiles. Hugging, for God's sake.

Priscilla watched them snuggle in the sofa's corner, watching the movie and joking around about the main characters. She felt her heart flutter when, finally, the fact that he was in love with her sank in. It's not that she believed he was incapable of it, but rather that a girl could manage making him fall for her. Priscilla knew how indifferent and unapproachable Allen could be; even how mean.

The movie ran on the background of her mind as Priscilla felt the sudden wave of relief. Maybe their relationship was not going to be forever, because no one can ever know, but she could tell it was the key to Allen's healing.

---------

Isabelle found herself feeling a knot forming in her stomach, looking at the bed in front of her.

The memories of their first time together flowed unstoppable through her mind, increasing her heart beats rapidly. It was already time to sleep, and it was decided that she should share the room with Allen, as she was his guest.

Or at least that what Priscilla told her, even though Isabelle could see a hint of mischief in her eyes.

She swallowed, trying to calm down, but the anticipation was too much for her brain to handle. She did not want to admit it to herself, but she was actually hoping for this to happen. To be alone with him. To have a chance to repeat their encounter one more time. Her thoughts made her feel embarrass of how much she wanted him.

How much she wanted to be his again.

"Iry?" The sound of Allen's voice right beside her ear made her jump.

"Y—Yes?" She stuttered, nervous that he could somehow find out about her thoughts.

Allen cocked his head to one side. "I asked if you needed something else before going to bed?"

"Oh, no. I'm great!" Her voice was higher than normal, denoting how nervous she was.

Allen smiled. "Alright."

He walked back and turned the lights off, leaving only the nightstand lamp on.

The dim light crushed Isabelle's brain cells once more, as they created some sort of romantic atmosphere around them.

With ease, Allen approached her and lead her to the bed by the hand. Then, he jumped on it, tapping by his side, so she joined him.

So she did. Isabelle let herself lay down beside him, immediately feeling hos his warm arms quickly embraced her. Allen hugged her tight, a sudden rush of happiness overwhelming his senses after he remembered the words Isabelle said earlier.

Allen's face reached the curve of Isabelle's neck, and smiled against her scent.

He felt like he could stay like that forever, embracing her tiny frame until they fell asleep. Exactly the same way they did that first time together. And he knew. He knew something was different since then. For the first time in his life, or at least since he could remember, he wanted to connect with someone.

Almost like instinct, his hand started roaming her skin like if it was something natural, caressing all the way across her arm, her hips, her waist, rolling down her stomach and up almost touching the curve of her breasts. Allen wanted to feel her, he wanted to memorize the sensation her skin left in his.

To Allen's dismay, his determination was weaker than he thought. He wanted only to show a subtle hint of affection, and yet, there was his arousal: threatening to do what it pleases. His hands traveled over her with second intentions now, almost like if they were swallowing her whole only by his touch.

Every part of her, every detail, every curve of her body seemed to be his Kryptonite. He could not control what she does to him, and even though at the beginning it represented a problem to him, now he finds himself wanting to get lost in it and never come back.

Isabelle felt it too. The pull and the need of his touch over her. Only that every touch only sent heat waves across her body, feeling that well known tingles in between her legs.

Her heart beat faster than before, letting him get away with his tease.

Again, Isabelle's mind was running wild with her expectations. Her wait only increasing her need. When did she turn like this? Was she ever this physical? The only answer she got, was that she has only felt like this around him. Allen was the reason she turned out like this. She did not mind, though. Was there something to be ashamed for?

No.

But before she could even move and let her body respond to his touch, his hand came to a stop; hugging her once more.

Allen rolled his hand into fists and closed his eyes, squeezing her a little harder. He did not want to do it. He wanted to be sure, just like Cassidy said. After their conversation they had about relationships over lunch, he had been thinking about it. He wanted to make things right, and fucking her every time he had the chance was not part of the concept.

So, he came to the conclusion that, even if he was dying to be inside of her, he had to just suck it up. And he was going to do just that.

Allen breathed in air, and slowly let it out, trying to maintain control. His upper body was hugging her tightly, but he tried to get his dick anywhere near her, so she did not notice his excitement —and he would not have more temptations than he already had—.

Isabelle stayed quiet, not knowing if she did anything wrong.

After a couple of minutes without Allen moving again, she started feeling a lump over her chest; disappointment hitting her hard. She could not believe it. She was sulking at the fact that she was not going to sleep with him today again.

Isabelle covered her face and bit her lower lip, feeling absolutely embarrassed about it.

It took a toll on her to fall asleep after her failed attempt to relax, but she managed to let herself go once the fatigue was stronger than her own shame.

—------

That following morning, the news said many people had to be evacuated on the other side of the city; those that had the great river right beside them.

Isabelle called home early in the morning to check everything was alright, feeling at ease the moment she heard their jokes about spending the night out. They were not very happy about it yesterday, yet their daughter's safety was more important than the "morality" of it.

On the other side, Allen could not sleep more than three hours. He was the only one to blame, as he was the one that started teasing and ended up aroused the whole night about it. IT was not until he got up and found his own release in the bathroom that he could finally sleep a little by the end of the night.

Even so, he found himself happy about the fact that he was able to do what he wanted: be around her in that kind of situation, without falling into temptations. Well, or at least further temptations.

Breakfast was ready when Isabelle and Allen were summoned to eat, finding Priscilla sitting in the table with a huge smirk crossing her face. He knew it was all about, but decided to ignore her for the time beign.

"So, how did you sleep?" Priscilla asked Isabelle, her inquisitive blue eyes drilling a whole on Isabelle's face.

"Pretty well!" She answered while busying herself with a little piece of bread in her hand.

"I see…" Priscilla's eyes landed on Allen's. "But I can tell you didn't sleep one bit." She smiles mischievously.

"The whole incident thing wouldn't let me sleep." He answered back, his features in his usual indifferent phase.

"Right." Priscilla let it at that, but was going as hell to be sure to squeeze the truth out of him later.

After breakfast, Mrs. Olivier offered them strawberry milkshakes as a dessert, when a click sound echoed in the kitchen; the front door announcing that someone just got home.

The sound that immediately triggered the "fight or flight" response on Allen's body. He knew who it was. His body tensed, and his heart started pounding, feeling a strange sensation down his throat.

Isabelle watched as Allen's back straightened up, the blood draining from his face. His eyes nervously searched for Priscilla, how was equally pale as him. Priscilla started to get up from the table when a tall, build man entered the kitchen, dresses with a tailored, expensive suit.

He looked like an older version of Allen, as he was incredibly handsome as well. The navy blue color of his suit enhanced the light blue eyes he shared with his children; setting them coldly at the new face in the place.

Isabelle started to raise from her seat to introduce herself, when Mr. Hayes' words, sharp and cold, cut her.

"Keep your whores out of the house."