A Merry Little Christmas

by Melanie Schuster

  Donnie almost fell off the bed. “What do you mean, we’re not married? Of course we’re married.”

  “I don’t have a ring. There aren’t any pictures of me anywhere in this room, much less anywhere in the house. And we haven’t made love at all. We’re newlyweds, so you say, but you never put your hands on me. I think you’re lying to me.”

  Donnie moved from his position to sit closer to Angelique. He held his hand out to her and she placed hers in it in a gesture of trust. “I’m not lying to you, Angel. We really are married; I have the certificate if you’d like to see it I don’t have as many pictures of you as I should, but that’s your fault,” he teased her. “You only like to take pictures, you don’t like to be in them. But I do have a picture of you.” Reaching over to the small chest that served as a nightstand, he opened the top drawer and took out a framed photograph and handed it to her.

  She made a soft sound of surprise as she looked at a picture of her in a fantastic tangerine-colored dress. She was smiling brilliantly and looked beautiful and happy, even to her own eye. “Where was this taken?”

  “This was from your brother Marcus’s wedding. You were the maid of honor,” he told her. “And as for us not making love, baby, you’ve been in an accident. What kind of husband would I be if I was pawing all over you before you had a chance to recover?”

  Angelique finally put the picture on the nightstand. She looked deeply into Donnie’s eyes. “So it’s not because you don’t want to make love? Are you sure? I thought you just didn’t think I was sexy or something.”

  Donnie laughed out loud and grabbed Angelique, pulling her into his embrace and rolling over so that she was on top of him. “You, not sexy? Oh, my God, I’ve been putting ice down my pants and taking cold showers and sleeping on the couch, anything I can think of to keep my hands off you. I’ve been going out of my mind from wanting you, baby.”

  Angelique felt better from hearing his heartfelt words, but she still had one question. “But where is my wedding ring? I don’t have an engagement ring, either. Why is that, Donnie?”

  Donnie hesitated only briefly. The things he’d just told her weren’t whole truths, but they were more truth than fiction. He cared about her more than he thought possible and he just couldn’t stand to have her look so bereft. Making himself another promise to make everything right as soon as possible, he sat up and gently set her aside so he could retrieve something else from the drawer by his bed. He took out a Tiffany box and handed it to Angelique. “It has to be sized, which is why you don’t have it on. But here you are, my dear.”

  She opened the box to find an ornate wedding ring set in platinum with a huge center stone and an elaborate wraparound band. “Wow. Put it on me, please,” she said eagerly. He did as she asked and slid the ring on the proper finger, and, as he’d said, it was several sizes too big.

  “See why it’s still in the box? We’ll get it fixed as soon as possible. Do you want to keep it on? You could put it on a chain or something.”

  Angelique shook her head and put the ring back in its box with no reluctance. “No, I can wait. It’s beautiful, Donnie, thank you very much,” she said but without the exuberance he would have expected. Just then Jordan and Pippen started barking like mad. Donnie laughed and said the snowplows must be out. “Let’s go see what that racket is all about, it could just be their way of telling me they’re hungry.”

  At the mention of food Angelique commented that she was hungry, too. “Can we have some soup?” she asked. “Some of that soup with hamburger.”

  Donnie was delighted. “I think you’re starting to remember things. I made you hamburger soup not too long ago,” he told her. “Do you remember anything else?”

  “I’m not sure,” she replied. “Who is Evie?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next morning Angelique awoke to the sounds of Detroit digging itself out of a record-breaking snowstorm. She was warm and comfortable, although a little bit unhappy that her husband wasn’t in the bed with her. But on the other hand, it was probably better that he was gone. Angelique had suddenly remembered everything, every single detail of her life and their life together. It was just like Dr. Feinstein said: after a couple of days, her memory had returned. She should have been elated but she wasn’t. She was both happy and sad, an odd reaction. She was happy because during the brief time that she’d had amnesia Donnie had been so loving, and caring, just what she wanted from him. She was sad because she had no doubt that as soon as he knew her memory was back, they’d return to their farce of a marriage and she’d be sleeping in Siberia, aka the guest room, once again.

  She didn’t want to get out of bed, for fear of breaking the enchantment that had surrounded them. When she thought about what they’d done the night before, she had to wipe her eyes because the memory was so poignant and sweet. They’d had lunch and talked some more, then Donnie took the dogs out and Angelique had persuaded him to let her come out as well. He agreed that she could come in the backyard for a few minutes, only because she’d never seen so much snow in her life. He made sure she had on enough socks and sweaters and two thick scarves as well as a knit hat and two pairs of gloves with her warmest coat. “I can’t move!” she complained. He insisted that she needed all that gear and finally took her outside into the backyard. It was like being in a snow globe or being somehow transported to a Christmas card. Jordan and Pippen loved the snow and raced up and down with great enthusiasm. She and Donnie played like a couple of children until it got too cold even for Angelique. When they finally came in the house, they dried the dogs with old towels and Angelique made big cups of hot tea. It was one of the best afternoons she’d ever had.

  After dinner that night, Angelique questioned Donnie about her photography. “What kind of pictures do I take?” Donnie answered that by getting out her portfolio, which was stowed in the guest bedroom. He’d told her, “I have to confess, Angel, I’ve never looked in this, so this is all new to me, too.” He’d unzipped the portfolio and they began looking at her photographs together. Donnie had been stunned as he’d seen die range of her work. They pored over the pictures together as Donnie told her she was having an exhibit at the African-American museum the following month.

  “A whole exhibit? Me? Wow. Is my stuff good enough for that?” she’d asked him.

  He’d answered that hers were the most profoundly moving works of photographic art he’d ever seen. “I’m totally humbled by your talent, Angel, I really am.”

  She had teased him by saying, “Bet you didn’t think Evie could do this, huh?” He had confessed that Evie was his pet name for her, or it had been back when they didn’t get along. She’d responded by saying something about SpongeBob and they ended up chasing each other through the house with the dogs joining in and the entire evening had been warm and funny and eventually romantic. After things calmed down, Donnie had lit another fire and they sat on the sofa holding each other, talking very little. They simply stared at each other and kissed once in a while, very softly. It was enough just to be in each other’s arms, more than enough. When it was time for bed, Angelique suggested that she sleep in the guest room so as not to disturb him and he’d looked at her like she was crazy.

  “You’re never sleeping anywhere but with me, Angel. Come on, let’s go to bed.” And they slept in each other’s arms all night, blissfully at peace until she woke up this morning and all her memories were back.

  She squinted her eyes slightly and realized that she also remembered what had happened the night they got married! Even that had come back to her, but instead of being elated about it, she just wanted to make it all go away again. Because with her memory returned she would have no chance of keeping her marriage. None whatsoever. Her eyes were moist from unshed tears and her throat burned with the effort not to cry. Somehow she had to let Donnie know how she felt about him, let him know that she didn’t want a divorce. But how? Subterfuge and lying weren’t her strong points, which was why the whole fake marriage thing w
as wearing on her. She was used to being in hot water; it was a chronic condition when she was growing up. She could take whatever punishment was dealt out; she was quite stoic about it. But if she told Donnie the truth, that her memory was back and she was in love with him, how would he react? She could hear him coming down the hall and smiled in spite of her angst. He was singing and making a lot of racket, even though he wasn’t wearing boots. She considered pretending to be asleep but she wanted to see him too badly. He stuck his head in the door and gave her his most charming smile.

  “Good morning, baby. I’m going out to clean out the driveway and the walk. I just wanted to let you know I’d be outside,” he said.

  “Good morning to you, too. What would you like for breakfast?”

  “Whatever you feel like fixing. Don’t go to too much trouble, you’re supposed to be taking it easy, remember?”

  She gave him a ravishing smile of her own. “I’m fine. I really am. You be careful out there.”

  By the time Donnie had cleared a path to the garage door, retrieved the snow blower and cleaned off the driveway, the sidewalks, the front and back steps and the back stoop, Angelique was all ready. She’d had a nice long bubble bath and was scented and lotioned and dressed in an outfit that wasn’t blatantly sexy, but eye-catching all the same: jeans with a scanty little rose-pink sweater with a deep V in the front and back. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry because if her plan worked, it would only get in the way. She’d made a wonderful breakfast consisting of salmon croquettes, grits, and biscuits, and she had the eggs whipped and ready to go into the skillet to be scrambled. She’d sectioned two grapefruits and put them in some nice little glass bowls and set the table attractively. Now all she needed was her husband to come in the back door. He did, covered in snow and looking exhausted.

  “Do you want breakfast first or a shower?” she asked.

  “If I was a gentleman I’d say a shower, but I’m starving, so how about some food?” he replied with a sheepish grin.

  “Wash your hands and have a seat,” she invited. “It’s all ready except for the eggs.”

  After devouring the breakfast he couldn’t stop praising, Donnie went to take a shower. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of another cold shower, but he couldn’t be in the same room with her without wanting her. She looked so sexy in that sweater, he wanted to forget breakfast and drag her into the shower with him. He could picture her wearing bubbles and nothing else, a seductive smile on her face waiting for his hands to bring her to fulfillment. He groaned aloud as he realized that it was precisely this kind of thinking that got him into trouble. Turning the cold tap up high, he gave himself an arctic blast of water before getting out of the shower, then took a towel off the warmer and wrapped it around his waist before heading into the bedroom. He was shocked to find the fireplace lit and Angelique sitting in the middle of the bed. She looked at him with a shy smile and said, “I need to talk to you about something, Adonis.”

  “Sure, Angel, what is it?” He was on his way to the closet when he realized what Angelique had called him. “You called me Adonis. You remembered! Your memory is back.” He sounded slightly dazed

  “Yes, it is. I remember everything, Adonis. And what I have to tell you is this. I want... I want you...” she said in a voice so soft he could barely hear her.

  He couldn’t stand looking at her another moment He came over to the bed and sat down so that he was propped up on the pile of pillows with his long legs extended, then held his arms out to her. She went into them willingly. He held her for a long moment loving the feel of her body next to his, die softness of her sweater teasing the bare skin of his chest. He tipped her head back and kissed her eyes, her cheeks, and her tempting neck. Pulling her even closer, he began to speak in a voice full of passion aching to be fulfilled.

  “Let me tell you what I want Angel. I want to be a real husband to you, in every sense of the word I want to be the last face you see at night and the first one you see in the morning. I want to be with you for as long as we both live, until death do us part I want to make you laugh, I want to comfort you when you cry, I want to be your friend, your lover and the one you turn to for shelter in the storm. I want you, my Angel. Just you. I love you, Angelique Clarissa Deveraux Cochran, and if you can find it in your heart to forgive me for being an idiot I’d like to start right now. Can you love me, Angel? Can you look past all my imperfections, all my stupidity and my selfishness and trust me to be the man you need me to be?”

  Angelique was trembling from emotion and tears were running freely down her face. Donnie kissed them all away with a smile. “Hey, you don’t shed tears, you cause them, remember? Don’t cry, baby. I’m going to tell you a secret. I can’t stand to see you unhappy. It makes my heart break in a million pieces when you do that,” he whispered.

  “But I’m not sad, I’m happy,” she told him. “Do you really love me?”

  “Absolutely. Even though you used my toothbrush, I love you. Even if you start calling me SpongeBob again, I love you. I love you, my Angel.”

  Her eyes closed and he cupped her face in his big, warm hands to bestow the first real kiss of their marriage. Their lips touched in a delirium of desire that was all encompassing. They parted their mouths at the same time, to give and receive the passion that had been building for so long. Donnie began an exploration of her mouth with his tongue, licking and caressing with her as a willing accomplice. The moans of pleasure that filled the room expressed their joy at becoming one. They broke apart long enough to divest Angelique of her clothing and take the towel off Donnie. At last they were in each other’s arms with nothing between them. With the heavy draperies drawn, the fire was the only light in the room. It bathed them in a golden light that served to echo the fire in their hearts. Donnie reached into the nightstand to retrieve a condom.

  “We have plenty of time to make babies. This is just us, Angel. Just you and me and all the love I have for you,” he told her as he rolled the condom onto his now-massive erection. “Now come here and let me love you.”

  He positioned her on top of him and they lay there, barely breathing as they learned the feel of each other. He kissed her again and again, stroking her body over and over, loving the feeling of her silky skin. He kissed her neck and her shoulders and she tightened her grip on his shoulders, sighing in ecstasy as his touch unleashed feelings she didn’t know she could have. He rolled over so that their positions were reversed and he was lying on top of her as her hips began to move in the ageless dance of mating. He slid his hands down her body and held her in place.

  “Not yet, Angel, not yet,” he groaned He kissed her collarbone and licked her down to the beguiling breasts he had desired for so long.

  He captured a nipple in his mouth and kissed it as thoroughly as he’d kissed her mouth, tenderly at first, then increasing the pressure until she screamed his name. After treating both breasts to this sweet torture he began to take her body to higher levels of abandon, using his tongue to explore her stomach, her navel and her sensitive inner thighs. She wept out loud, crying his name helplessly as his seeking mouth finally found what it yearned for, the most feminine, intimate part of her that yielded up its sweet nectar as he pleasured her beyond imagination. Waves of startling excitement washed over her as he worked his magic; she felt like she was exploding into a comet of unending bliss.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t stand any more sensation, he finally relented and kissed his way back up to her waiting lips and repeated the pulsating rhythm as their mouths sought more and more of each other. When they finally stopped, she couldn’t speak, she was so spent from the release to which he’d brought her.

  “Adonis... oh, Adonis, I’ve never done that before.” She sighed.

  “Did you like it?” he asked as he waited for the wild pounding of his heart to subside.

  “I loved it. It was beautiful,” she whispered.

  “You’re beautiful. And I’ve never done that before, either, so we’re even,
” he said quietly.

  She looked at him skeptically and he confessed. “There was never anybody I wanted to get to know that well, if you know what I mean. I always said that was for my wife on our wedding night. And that’s you and this is it, our wedding night.”

  Touched to her heart, Angelique pointed out that it was still daytime. “Well, then, we’ll just have to do this until it gets dark,” he growled. “Come here, baby, we have work to do.”

  This time she would not be denied; she forced him onto his back and straddled his body with hers. He held her hips as she looked down at him, her face a picture of innocent sexuality.

  “Are you ready for this, Angel?” By way of answer she moved her body and adjusted her hips so that the broad tip of his erection was positioned against her opening.

  “Yes, Adonis. Yes, yes, yes!” Her head went back and she slid down onto his massive hardness, crying out loud as he filled her. He held her firmly as they established a pace that brought them both the pleasure they wanted to give each other. She leaned forward, clutching his broad shoulders and felt herself lowered onto the bed as he turned her onto her back. He didn’t stop the pumping, rhythmic motion that was bringing her back to the peak of frenzied ecstasy she had just ascended; she matched his every move until they were both bathed in sweat and screaming each other’s name.

  Hours later they were still wrapped in each other’s arms. They had gotten up a few times to feed the dogs and let them out, to get something to eat and to shower together twice, but for the most part they were content to make love over and over until the shadows lengthened and the day began to fade into dusk. They also talked, making plans for their future and continuing the process of getting to know each other. They were feeding each other grapes in the middle of the big bed when Angelique gave him a sideways glance.

  “You know about it, don’t you?” she asked. At his inquiring look, she elaborated. “You know my big secret about being dyslexic, don’t you? You had to figure it out when I was trying to read to you yesterday.”