A blanket of snow covered the tranquil forest, and Joseph and Rose shared a serene and gentle smile on the headstone.
Curtis carefully swept the snow off the grave, laying down a bouquet of chrysanthemums before kneeling on one knee to apologize to the resting souls. "Joseph, Rose, the monster who took you from us has finally been brought to justice. I'm sorry it took so many years to give you this peace."
Bundled up in a white down coat and wearing a soft suede hat, Leanne had her nose slightly reddened by the chilly northern wind.
Looking at the photo that captured the ever-youthful faces of her parents, she finally felt a lighter heart when remembering them.
"Mom, Dad, I'm going to have a baby," she whispered, her hand gently touching the photo, her heart swelling with love. "I'm going to be a mother."
The little girl who lived under the wings of her parents was about to become one herself, ready to love her child and teach them how to love and be loved.
Curtis took her hand and promised the gentle faces on the headstone. "I'll take good care of them, protect them. I promise."
As they left the graveyard, the snow-covered steps were slippery. Leanne held Curtis' hand, carefully taking each step with a side stance.
Curtis found her duck-like posture amusing, and he walked down two steps to stand before her. "Hop on. I'll carry you."
Leanne peeked at the long staircase below, not too proud to accept help, and climbed onto his back, her arms wrapped around his neck.
With her legs secured by his arms and the cold winter wind brushing through the trees, the quiet of the graveyard was thick with the reassuring crunch of his shoes on the snow. The weight on his back was his life's commitment, securely held in his care.
Leanne's cheek rested against Curtis' neck. The subtle scent of wood and cold on him brought a sense of warmth untouched by wind or snow.
Walking along, she suddenly turned her face to look at his profile. His long, curly lashes and the proud arch of his nose were a sight that caught her breath.
While lost in the moment, her gentle breaths tickled his neck like a feather's touch.
After a while, she blurted out, "Curtis, you're handsome."
Curtis paused momentarily before continuing down the steps, slowly saying, "Can we talk about something?"
"What?" Leanne looked at his lips moving.
"Can you try seducing me back home instead?" he said, "Doing it here, in front of your parents, makes me feel like a beast."
Leanne felt unjustly accused. "I was just saying you look good. How is that seducing you?"
"You said I look good, and it means you're fancying me," Curtis teased, "Bold of you to say it in the broad daylight. What else wouldn't you do?"
II
After two seconds of silence, Leanne suddenly brought her lips close to his ear, touching it briefly before blowing gently.
Curtis' muscles tensed as he turned to meet her mischievous smile.
"That's what you call seduction," Leanne chuckled, leaning into his shoulder.
Curtis licked his teeth. "Okay, you'll see."
Once in the car, as Leanne shed her bulky coat, she found herself in his embrace, his body separating her knees.
He leaned in, and she anticipated a kiss, inching forward.
But his lips grazed past hers to find her earlobe, kissing it before lightly biting, his fingers tracing gentle paths along her spine over her soft cashmere sweater.
Leanne's breath hitched, eliciting a faint moan, to which Curtis playfully asked, "What was that?"
"I didn't moan," Leanne denied.
"Is that so?" Curtis' kisses moved to her lips, his hand cradling her neck as he deepened the kiss, his other hand gently caressing her, provoking a reaction that made her grip his shirt, disrupting her breathing rhythm.
The car smoothly navigated the winter roads as their intimate moment concluded, Curtis easing back to see Leanne's eyes filled with a damp desire, perhaps heightened by her pregnancy hormones. Throughout, his touches remained over her clothes, lightly teasing, yet Leanne was left hanging in a delicate balance.
Curtis struggled against her longing gaze, his fingers brushing her moist lips, his eyes darkening. "Aren't you trying to seduce me? How come you're the one losing control?"
As the fog in Leanne's eyes slowly dissipated, she stared at him for a few seconds, then, biting her lip, turned to slide off his lap.
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