Takes You

by Nicola C. Priest

  I close my eyes when his free hand comes up to stroke my cheek. God, I love this man. I never thought I’d meet anyone who could invoke this much of a reaction in me. Have I really got it all wrong? My heart is screaming at me to believe him, but my head doesn’t want to listen.

  “Cris, what date is it?”

  I open my eyes, confused by his question. “November eighteenth. Why?”

  “And what date was our first official date?”

  May eighteenth, I think to myself. That’s not a date I’m ever likely to forget. It was the day the man in front of me asked me out. The day my life changed forever—not that I knew it back then. What does our first date have to... Oh my god!

  “Today is our six-month anniversary.” I see him smile as I confirm what today is, and suddenly feel bad because I didn’t remember it.

  “Exactly. I’ve arranged all this stuff for us to do over the weekend, and I knew if I saw you, I wouldn’t be able to keep it to myself and it would ruin the surprise. I realise now that was a stupid idea. It’s made you doubt me and my feelings for you.”

  Tears spring to my eyes again, but this time it’s for an entirely different reason. This handsome, sweet man—the same man I was having doubts about less than an hour ago—wanted to surprise me for our anniversary. How could I have been swayed so easily? “I’m so sorry, Cal. I feel like an idiot.”

  “Hey, don’t do that. I shouldn’t have lied to you, even if it was for a good reason.”

  I smile at him through teary eyes and shift closer, wrapping my arms around his waist as I rest my head against his shoulder. When his arms go around me, I feel a wave of emotion sweep through me, and I can’t hold back the tears any longer as they slide down my cheeks, soaking into Cal's t-shirt.

  “I thought you’d had enough of me. That you not coming to see me was your way of saying it was over.” I sniffle and will the tears to stop as his arms tighten around me. God, I feel so stupid. How could I have doubted him?

  “Never, Cris. I'll never get enough of you. You’re all I think about. You’re all I want—no, all I need to make me happy. There will never be another girl for me, Cris. You’re it for me.”

  I lift my head to look at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. He really means it. I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking the worst of him, of us, and I was way off base. He really does love me.

  “I’m sorry I doubted you, Cal. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  His hand goes up to tangle in my hair, tugging gently so I have to look up at him.

  “And I promise not to keep you in the dark about stuff, especially if it means I’m not able to come and see you.” Leaning down, he drops a kiss against my nose, making me smile. “So, do you want to know what I’ve got planned for us this weekend?”

  I grin up at him, my hand moving from his waist and coming round to his front, tugging at the material of his shirt until my fingers find the bare flesh of his stomach. I see his eyes darken immediately, and the grip he has on my hair tightens, sending a shot of pleasure right through me.

  “It’s been six weeks, Cal. A girl has needs. What do you think I want right now?”

  And just like that, all my doubts are erased as his lips claim mine.

  Chapter 15

  Crissie

  Christmas Eve 2006

  Chester, England

  I am so excited I could pee my pants.

  Well, not really, but you know what I mean. Tomorrow is the first Christmas for Cal and me, and I can’t wait!

  We’ve agreed to spend Christmas Eve with his parents and sister, then we’re going back to his flat for the evening, then going round to my mum and dad’s to spend Christmas Day with them. It’s weird having to split my time between two families. It’s the first time I’ve had to do it, and it’s something I know I can get used to.

  Right now, Caleb is in the shower as I try and decide what to wear. I’ve decided on my favourite dark blue jeans that I know Caleb loves. He can’t stop staring at my backside when I wear them, and it’s strangely empowering knowing I can affect him in that way.

  We’ve been together almost eight months now and that feeling never gets old. Every now and then I’ll catch him watching me for no reason other than he wants to. He tells me he thinks I’m beautiful all the time, and when he’s staring at me like that, he’s wondering how he got so lucky. Every time I tell him it’s the same for me. Yeah, we can get quite sappy when we get going.

  Flinging open the door to Caleb’s wardrobe, I look through the few items of clothing I have hanging in there. At the moment, my clothes are split between home, Caleb’s flat, and the house I’m sharing with his cousin, Elise, when I’m at college. I’m just hoping I have something here I can wear.

  Caleb told me his family don’t really ‘dress up’ for Christmas, but he has always made the effort to look presentable, so I feel the need to do the same. Not that I’d go round looking a mess. I know his parents like me, so I don’t want to give them any reason to change their minds.

  Reaching out, I grab one of the hangers and pull out the black, slash neck top Caleb got me for my birthday. Its long sleeves come down to my wrists and the soft fabric is loose, apart from the bottom that tightens around my hips. Due to the slash neck, the material falls off one shoulder, creating a casual yet elegant look. I loved the top when he gave it to me and have only worn it once before.

  Deciding the top is perfect, I close the wardrobe and hang it on the front, before I turn, stopping dead in my tracks when I see Caleb stood in front of me wearing nothing but a towel around his slim hips. His dark hair is damp from the shower and sticking up at all angles due to the towel he’s rubbing though it.

  Water droplets are present on his chest, almost screaming at me to come and lick them from his skin. I swallow hard and look up at him, seeing the smirk on his face, and my cheeks flame red. I’ve every right to ogle him—he’s mine, after all—but I still feel embarrassed when he catches me doing it.

  Suddenly aware I’m only wearing my jeans and a bra, I instinctively cover myself, an action which only gets a snort from Caleb as he walks over and gently tugs at my arms until they’re back by my sides.

  “If you can ogle me, then I’m damn sure I can return the favour,” Caleb says with a grin as his free hand comes up, his fingers lightly running across the swell of my breasts, following the black lace of my bra.

  I suck in a breath, my body reacting the way it always does when he’s near me. He drops the towel he has in his other hand and it then comes up to join the other, his palms scraping over my sensitive nipples. My eyes connect with his, and I see what I always see when we’re together; desire and passion. He reaches round me and unclasps my bra, the lacy material falling to the floor.

  Reaching out, I tug at the towel around his waist and it comes away easily, joining the other in a soggy heap. Looking down, I see his reaction to me jutting out from his body. Tentatively, I close my hand around him and stroke gently, hearing his breathing change almost immediately.

  “God, Cris. That feels so good.” His hands close over my breasts and squeeze, causing me to close my eyes briefly as I let the sensations wash over me. I open them to see Caleb’s head thrown back, his eyes tightly shut as I continue to stroke him. His hips are moving with my hand, setting a steady rhythm that matches the beating of my heart.

  I’ve not touched him this way before. I’ve always been too nervous about doing it wrong but seeing how he’s reacting to my touch makes me wish I’d plucked up the courage to do this sooner. If he reacts like this to my hand, I wonder…

  “Son of a bitch!” Caleb shouts out as my lips close around him. I look up his body to see him gazing down at me, his hands now pressed against the wardrobe doors to keep himself upright. His breathing is ragged, and his body is tense as my hands rest on his firm thighs. I can feel the muscles bunch up tightly as I swirl my tongue around the head of his penis.

  Empowered doesn’t even come close to how I feel right now
. Being able to bring my man this much pleasure, whilst at the same time feeling strong and in control, is a powerful combination.

  I open my mouth wider and slide down his length, and I hear the rumble in his chest as he struggles to remain still. Part of me wants him to lose it. He’s always so gentle with me that, just once, I’d like him to give up a bit of that control and lose himself. His eyes are closed again, and when I graze my teeth lightly across the sensitive skin, they open immediately and look down at me. I release him briefly.

  “Let go, Cal. I won’t let you fall. I’ve got you. Always.” I see a look cross his face as I close my lips around him once again, and this time he does what I ask. He let’s go as he starts pumping his hips, his penis tunnelling in and out of my mouth. All I can do is hold onto his thighs and match his rhythm as I take him.

  “God, Cris, I can’t hold on.”

  As I look up at him, I shake my head, and I see the moment he understands as his whole body tightens, and in one powerful thrust, he empties himself down my throat. I swallow repeatedly until he stops, a strange sense of female satisfaction washing over me as he pulls out of my mouth and collapses on the floor next to me.

  He’s breathing quickly, and his eyes are closed. I’m unable to stop the grin that spreads across my face when he eventually sits up and looks at me. “I don’t know how the hell you knew how to do that, Cris, but that was amazing.”

  I can’t wipe the smile off my face at the fact that I’ve given him pleasure in the most intimate of ways. “Merry Christmas, Cal.”

  When he bursts out laughing, I join him, and we just sit there, me topless and him naked, right in the middle of his bedroom floor.

  “That was lovely, Mrs Roberts. Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome, Crissie.”

  I smile at Caleb’s mum as we all sit around the dining table after enjoying a full roast dinner of chicken with stuffing, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, and various vegetables all topped with a thick, rich gravy. I’m so full I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to move for the next hour, at least.

  Caleb it sat to my right, his hand now resting on my knee as he pushes his plate away and takes a sip of wine from the glass in front of him. Lizzie is to my left, and clearly still unsure about me dating her brother as she’s hardly spoken to me since I arrived.

  “I hope you’ve got room for pudding, Crissie,” Mr Roberts asks. “Elaine’s Christmas pudding is renowned in these parts.”

  “I’m sure I’ve got room for a small piece, Mr Roberts.”

  “Crissie, how many times do we have to ask that you call us Elaine and Peter?”

  I smile at her and feel Caleb squeeze my knee. As I turn to him, he smiles and picks up his wine glass before standing.

  “I know we usually do this tomorrow,” Caleb says as he looks around the table before settling his eyes on me, “but seeing as we’ll be spending tomorrow with Crissie’s parents, I wanted to do this now. Crissie, it’s a tradition in this house that on Christmas Day, we each take turns in telling everyone what we’re thankful for, kind of like Thanksgiving in America. Well, this year, for me, is a no-brainer. I’m thankful for you, Crissie. I’m thankful that you agreed to go out with me eight months ago. I’m thankful you’re the strong, wonderful woman you are, and most of all, I’m thankful you’ve made me a better man. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, Crissie, so thank you. Thank you for being mine.”

  I can’t help it; the tears come thick and fast as he speaks, and in front of his family too. Standing, I take his wine glass from his hand and put in on the table before I wrap my arms around him and hold him. I’m so lucky to have him in my life.

  As I hold him, I feel a hand on my shoulder and pull away, turning to see Lizzie looking at me. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a bitch, Cris. You don’t deserve the way I’ve treated you. I guess I was just jealous that my brother has someone. I admit I thought you were just another fling for him, but I realise now I was wrong. I’ve never seen my brother like this before, over anyone. You’re good for him, and it’s clear you love him, and he loves you. Will you forgive me?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive, Lizzie. You were just looking out for your brother. But you’re right, I do love him, with everything I am.”

  “I see that now. Friends?”

  “We were always friends.”

  Releasing Caleb, I lean in and hug Lizzie quickly. When we’re all seated again, I notice Mrs Roberts dabbing her eyes with a tissue as her husband rests his hand on her shoulder.

  “Allergies, Mum?” Caleb asks with a soft smile as his mum sniffles and nods. “Thought so. So, where’s that Christmas pudding?

  It’s almost midnight before Caleb and I walk through his front door after a lovely day and evening with his family. Lizzie and I are back on track, and I finally started calling his parents by their first names, earning me a hug from Elaine and a shoulder squeeze from Peter.

  I drop my handbag by the sofa and fall down into the cushions, quickly followed by Caleb. It’s been a long day, and I am ready to climb into bed with Caleb cuddled up behind me and sleep until we have to get up to go to my parents’ house tomorrow.

  I stifle a yawn as Caleb slumps to the side, his head now resting in my lap. He grumbles when he lifts his legs from the floor and tucks them in behind him on the sofa. I shake my head and grin at him as I lift my hand, threading the silky strands of his hair through my fingers. I hear a soft moan escape past his lips as his body relaxes.

  I know he loves it when I run my fingers through his hair like this. He’s been wearing it longer recently, which I wasn’t sure of at first, but now, knowing how much he likes it when I do this, I’m happy with his decision.

  “I love it when you do that,” Caleb says as he sighs deeply. “It feels so nice.”

  “I’m so tired. I think your mum has put me in a food coma.” I hear him chuckle as he shifts onto his back, his legs stretched out and hanging over the arm of the sofa and looks up at me.

  “Yeah, she has a habit of doing that,” Caleb says with a grin as he reaches out, takes my hand, and places a soft kiss against the knuckles. “I’m happy you were with me this year. It wouldn’t have been the same without you there.”

  Smiling, I continue stroking his hair, and his eyes close briefly before they open again to peer at me.

  “I wouldn’t have been anywhere else,” I say quietly, just at the clock on the mantelpiece gently chimes. “It’s midnight. Merry Christmas, Cal.”

  He smiles up at me before launching himself off the sofa and vanishing behind the bedroom door. He returns a few moments later with a small box in his hands. As he sits next to me, he hands it to me, and I smile at the wrapping paper. It’s not Christmas paper, as you would expect at this time of year. Instead, it is covered in lots of little kittens playing with balls of wool. It’s so cute and so me, and the fact he knows that makes me smile even more.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s a present,” Caleb says, without cracking a smile, causing me to narrow my eyes at him.

  “I know that, genius. I mean why are you giving it to me now?”

  “Because I want you to open this one, just the two of us.”

  I look at him as I turn the small box over in my hands and begin to open it. We agreed to wait to open our presents until we arrive at my parents’ house. My family have always opened presents together and wanted that tradition to continue, something Cal was happy to do.

  Looking down at the present I hold in my hands, I’m torn between tearing into the paper in my eagerness to find out what he’s bought me or taking my time to preserve the pretty paper and the cute kittens. I can see the amusement on Caleb’s face as I choose the latter, carefully pulling at the tape holding the paper together.

  When I have the paper removed and folded neatly on the sofa next to me, I’m left with a square, black, velvet box in my hands. I know its jewellery; this is just the right kind of box. Unless it’s a pen? No, Cal wouldn�
�t buy me a pen, would he?

  Taking a small breath, I open the box, unable to stop my gasp as I take in the contents. The simple gold chain is stunning in and of itself, but it’s what hangs from it that I can’t take my eyes off. Nestled into white satin sits my name in a beautiful sweeping script font, with one diamond and one peridot dotting the “I’s.” The design is gorgeous in its simplicity, and I instantly love it.

  “Oh, Cal, it’s beautiful.” I can feel the tears forming in my eyes as he takes the box from my hands and removes the delicate chain from the satin interior. As he works to undo the clasp, I give him my back and sweep my hair off my neck, smiling when I see him pass the chain around my neck and fasten it.

  Dropping my hair so it falls around my shoulders, I turn back to Caleb and look down, seeing my name resting against my skin. I peer up at him after several moments to see him smiling at me.

  “The stones are our birthstones. A Diamond for me, and a peridot for you.”

  “I love it, Cal,” I say as I throw my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

  We separate after several minutes, and I look down again, lifting the chain so I can see my name more clearly.

  “You deserve pretty things, Crissie.”

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Cal, but I thank God every day that you asked me out all those months ago.” I hug him again, but this time I press my lips to his. I feel my body react almost as soon as our lips meet. Within seconds, I’m tugging at his shirt as his fingers work on the button and zipper to my jeans, and I know we're not going to make it to the bedroom.