by Vicki Keener
“I told you my thoughts on that and I meant every word.”
“This will sound so selfish on my part. I don't want anything or anyone to interfere with the bond I have with you. Your love is enough for me. Are you appalled?”
“No. I didn't give it a thought, but now that you mention it, I agree with you.”
“When we're married, I'd like for you to support me so I can use my salary to help children in need and I want to do it in a personal way.”
“How, honey, and of course, I'll support you.”
“I don't mean glorifying my name with good deeds. I want to contact people who are aware of needy children. Ministers, doctors, educators, all sorts of workers who are involved with those who can use a hand. I want to donate my money, remain anonymous and yet help children.”
“You needn't wait until we're married. Start gathering information. May I join you in this effort? The company supports charitable events, but I do very little personally. Darling, we can make hundreds of kid's lives better. I love the idea and applaud you.”
“Cray, I'm under the impression that every man wants a son to carry on his name when he's gone. I am willing to give you a child. I'm not too old to have at least one child.”
“Thank you for saying that, but my ego doesn't demand I have a child to further my name. My three brothers can do that. We can share our love with dozens or hundreds of children. At some point, we may not want to remain anonymous if we can provide a greater impact. You lead and I'll follow wherever you want to go with this endeavor.”
“It's prudent to arrange for a legal foundation, so the dollars are tax deductible, but for now I'd rather do it on a smaller scale.”
“That's fine with me. Honey, you don't need to keep your teaching position. You worked so hard for your education and I'm not encouraging you to quit, but I do want you to understand it's not necessary if it turns out that you'd rather devote your time to charity.”
“We're making monumental decisions, Cray, after meeting mere days ago. Are we foolish for doing this?”
“My love for you is true and it's good. Of that, I have no doubt. I made a lot of snap business decisions and the majority are successful. Those decisions are made with my head and my gut. My love for you combines my head and my heart. Every instinct, emotion and feeling tells me you're meant to be my life partner. We are not a mistake.”
Angelica stood, took his hand and said, “Come to bed with me and show me again the ultimate expression of our love.”
He grinned, stood, lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want you to kiss me, touch me, nurse at my breasts and when your hand discovers my readiness, I want you to enter me, stroke in me, throb in me and take me to the place that only you can.”
As she talked, he did her bidding and when she became slick and warm for him, he entered her. They reached ecstasy together and cried the others' name at the same time.
Each afternoon, she arrived at his place in time to prepare dinner for the two of them. He offered to take her out to dinner, but she preferred to cook for him and spend the evening alone with him. They spent their evenings after dinner talking and getting to know each other better. She marveled at the subjects they covered and how often their views matched.
She found their mutual satisfaction in bed mind-boggling and every time they reached a new plateau of enjoyment she assumed they'd reached the pinnacle, but the next time they made love they surpassed the pleasure of the previous encounter. There were no boundaries they didn't breach and no surface they wouldn't use when the need arose.
In the midst of a serious discussion, they'd pause, gaze at each other and forget everything else, but pleasuring the other. Angel quickly learned that it thrilled Cray to disrobe her when she wore one of her many peignoirs. She made a trip to her apartment and packed a suitcase full of them, pleased that her taste in lingerie finally was appreciated by the man in her life.
He came home to her in the evening, bringing a bouquet of flowers and a wrapped gift for under the tree and on the twenty-third of December after they'd eaten, he said, “Honey, tomorrow we leave for White Plains. There are gifts for you under the tree that are best opened with just the two of us present. May we celebrate a private Christmas tonight?”
She laughed and her eyes sparkled. “Are they X rated, sexual in nature, kinky? What's in those packages?”
“Nothing pornographic, I assure you, but they are personal. I prefer the gifts be for our eyes alone.”
“Will the gifts lead to sex?”
“I certainly hope so since we haven't missed a morning or night since you moved in with me.”
“The thought of what those boxes contain is making me hot.” She removed her sweater and bra, straddled his lap and kissed him. “Could you go for a quickie, sailor boy? I'll make it worth your while.”
“My God, Angel. Get naked.” She slid off his lap and shrugged off her slacks and panties while he tore his clothes off and reached for her.
“Good grief,” she said, gazing at his lap. “What caused that?”
“You. Babe, I need to be in you when you're ready to take me.”
On her knees, straddling his legs, she said, “Watch this.” Her hand grasped his erection, rubbing it against her opening.
His eyes didn't leave her actions and he hardened further. He moaned. “You're killing me. I'm so hard it hurts.”
In one long, slow, glide she impaled herself on him and then rose and lowered moving faster with each stroke until he grasped her waist and pushed into her as far as he could go and released. “Stay with me,” she whispered, reaching and finding her release.
He held her tight against him and said, “I'm sorry. I didn't wait for you. I'm so sorry, honey.”
“Hey, babe, did you feel me come?”
“Of course.”
“Then what's the problem? You got carried away and that's what I wanted.”
“I could have left you high and dry.”
“Not a chance. You see to my needs in the most creative ways.”
“We are good together.”
“You just figuring that out, sexy?”
“No, I thought it worth repeating.”
“While you get ready to repeat the act, I'll open my presents. There are some for you under there, too.”
“It won't take long once you model for me.”
She flung herself across his lap with her arms around his neck and said, “Let's spend the whole evening and half the night fucking. What do you say? Tomorrow we'll be at your parents and we should behave with some decorum.”
He nuzzled below her ear and said, “You come up with the best ideas.”
“I do, don't I? Will it bother you if I stay naked to open my presents? Since you mentioned me modeling, I assume there are clothes.”
He laughed. “Why would it ever occur to you that your nudity bothers me except in the very best way?”
Fifteen minutes later she sat on the floor in the midst of wrapping paper, bows, open boxes and tissue paper, sorting through the myriad of packages containing dressing gowns, lingerie, filmy negligees, exquisite robes and satin night gowns with plunging necklines. She picked up a short black chiffon top, stood, put it on, stood, bent over with her back to him and said, “This surely has a bottom, but I can't find it.”
He moved behind her, slid his arm around her waist and said, “Hold that pose and don't bother trying to find the bottoms. I want you.” He walked her to the back of the sofa and bent her over the back rest. With slow, deliberate moves, he entered her. “Am I hurting you?”
“No. Cray, harder,” she said panting with desire.
He plunged, retreated and plunged again.
“Cray, I...I...oooh.” She collapsed against the so
fa, spent from release and he came hard and fast. They stayed locked together until their breathing slowed.
He turned her in his arms and said, “I couldn't resist. Are you okay?”
“I'm so okay. Can we do that again? Often?”
“Yeah, but we'll do it in bed. If we're going to make a night of this, expect a repeat performance later.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“I love my gifts. I guess you figured out that I love pretty night wear.”
“I'm glad you like it, but I bought you these things for my benefit.”
“Then you made us both happy.”
“Honey, move in with me permanently. I'll have a car take you each morning to the university. There's a lot of cold weather ahead in the coming months. Think how cozy our evenings can be. As soon as dinner is over, we can both dress in our fancy nightwear and see where it leads.”
“Okay, I'll live here with you as long as you wear the silk pajamas I got you and the matching robes and slippers. Isn't it funny that we both chose the same gifts for each other?”
“That's a deal. I love you and it doesn't surprise me that we bought the same things. It's one more instance of how suited we are for each other.”
“Will you make love to me tomorrow night in your childhood bed with your parents nearby?”
“I couldn't stop myself if I wanted and I assure you I won't even try to behave. It's Christmas Eve, our first. I consider it mandatory. I'm praying that fifty years from now I'll still be able to get hard with you next to me in bed.”
“I'm told you have to use it or lose it. I'll see to it that you continue to use it. Cray, I've never been so happy.”
“Me, neither, honey.”
“It's getting late and my backside is cold. I need to clean up this mess and get ready for bed. I should shower, too.”
“Try on this robe, honey,” he said lifting a warm, luxurious robe from the pile on the floor. “I'll help you straighten the room and then join you in the shower. We'll cuddle in bed.”
“I'm pretty sure I'm finished for the night as regards sex.”
“As long as you're not completely sure, there's hope for me.” He spoke while they gathered the used wrappings and stuffed them in a garbage bag.
She grinned and said, “Cray, you're not eighteen anymore, but I understand that hope springs eternal.” She folded the gifts and arranged them in the boxes under the tree.
“You've thrown down the gauntlet and I bet I'll rise to the challenge.”
“Insatiable. That's what you are. I'm heading to the shower.”
“Good. Get clean and refreshed, ready for round two.”
Fresh from the shower, they pleasured each other orally and fell into a deep sleep. When he spooned her, she learned she could sleep without fear of smothering. In fact, she discovered she loved sleeping with his hand around her waist or on her breast.
She woke a few hours later to the sensation of gentle, seductive stroking. She turned to face him and he continued his ministrations until she threw her leg over his hip and begged for him to enter her. They made slow, lazy love, climaxed and went back to sleep.
The next time she woke that morning she said when she woke, “Did we set a record last night for multiple orgasms?”
“Could be,” he said. “I can't guarantee constant activity like that in the future, but I wouldn't mind a repeat performance at some point.”
“Want to hear something surprising?” she asked, nuzzling close to him in bed.
“Sure.”
“The more we do it, the more I want it. Is that scary or what?”
“I wouldn't classify it as scary. It's my dream come true.” He rolled on top of her.
Chapter 9
Angelica and Cray were the last ones to arrive Christmas Eve. Mona answered the door and hugged them. “You're the last ones. Angelica, brace yourself and come meet the family. Cray never brought anyone home with him for Christmas Eve, so they're champing at the bit to meet you.”
“I suppose you gave them the rundown of what to expect,” Cray said.
Mona laughed and spoke to Angelica, “I told them you weren't what I expected Cray to fall for and that I had no idea where he found you and what you do for a living. They're as nervous as a kid on his first day of school. I've got them going and I swear Mom is bracing herself for the worst and Dad and the guys are writing questions in their minds to interrogate you.”
“Mona,” Cray said, “why did you do this?”
“It's fun making them squirm and they're going to be bowled over when they see Angelica and learn how intelligent she is. I'm messing with them Cray. They mess with us, why not turn the tables on them for a change? Angelica, you can handle them.”
Angelica smiled and said to Cray. “She told me she was going to do this, honey. It'll be fun.”
“You know they're going to love her, Cray.”
“The two of you women together worry me,” Cray said. “Let's go face the music.”
The men stood when Cray entered the room, holding Angelica's hand. “Mother, Dad I'd like you to meet Angelica Andersson. Angel this is my mother, Gwen, and my father, Alexander.”
“Andersson is spelled with two s's,” Mona said. “She's Norwegian by birth, but an American by naturalization.”
“Honey, this is my brother Lake, he's next to me in line and my brother Ladd and finally Birch. Of course, you know Mona.”
“If you're wondering about the strange names, Angelica,” Mona said, “the boys are named after our family's maiden names. I got stuck with Mona because that was my maternal grandmother's name.”
“Mona, damn you,” Lake said. “You led us to believe.....well, never mind, but she's gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Lake,” Angelica said, “You siblings share an amazing resemblance and since I think Cray is the most handsome man I ever saw you may conclude that you're included in my evaluation.”
“Except for Mona, you mean,” Birch said. “She's a foundling left on our doorstep one bitter cold night and it's obvious her mother couldn't abide the sight of her.”
“Sibling rivalry,” Angelica said, laughing and turned to the elder parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, it is so gracious of you to allow Cray to invite me to your lovely home on a family holiday.”
“We wouldn't have it any other way, Angelica,” Gwen said, “and please feel free to call us Gwen and Alex if you're comfortable doing that.”
“Thank you, I'm very comfortable calling you by your first names. Please may we sit so these gentlemen no longer need to stand? You obviously raised them well, Gwen.”
Gwen smiled, pleased with Angelica's compliment. “Lord knows we tried hard enough. Four boys so close in age were a handful. It convinced me that if I could raise the four of them to school age, there's nothing I can't accomplish.”
“Admit it, Mom,” Birch said, “Mona gave you more trouble than the four of us put together, but then what can you expect from a homely foundling?”
“You're a jerk, Birch Phillips,” Mona said. “Men adore me; they clamor for my attention.”
“Yeah?” Birch said, “they must be ancient and blind.”
“Stop it, you two,” Alex said, “We have a guest and it's Christmas Eve. Cray fix Angelica and you a drink. There's eggnog there if you want that.”
“I'd love a plain eggnog,” Angel said.
“No wine, honey?”
“I can drink wine year round, but eggnog seems the perfect drink at Christmas. Gwen, the Christmas decorations as we pulled up to the house are stunning. It's elegant yet cheerful and welcoming.”
“Yes, we labor from Thanksgiving on to meet Mother's demands,” Lake said.
“He's lying,” Mona said. “Mom has people who come and decorate
inside and out. Nice try, Lake. Who are you trying to impress?”
“Did Cray tell you that tonight is when we eat our big holiday meal and open our gifts?” Gwen asked. “On Christmas Day we relax, chat, play games and just enjoy our home time.”
Angelica smiled and said, “He did and that's exactly the way we do it in Norway.”
For the next two hours the eight people, drank, chatted and laughed. Mona and Angelica kept the gaiety going and Cray beamed at how well the woman he loved fit in the family and how much the family embraced her into the fold. By the time they entered the dining room to enjoy a sumptuous meal there were no strangers at the table.
While they waited for another course to be served, Cray stood, raised his glass and said, “Mother, Dad, I'm not sure I ever told you how much I appreciate the way you raised me with so much love and interest in my pursuits. It's time to remedy that. Thank you. I love you both.” He noticed his mother dab her eyes with her napkin. He turned to Angelica. “Angelica, Angel, my love, you've brought me happiness I didn't realize I lacked. Will you....”
Angelica interrupted and said with her eyes twinkling, “Aren't you supposed to be down on one knee?”
Mona burst out laughing and the rest followed.
Cray laughed, cupped her face and kissed her while getting on one knee. He fumbled in his pocket and withdrew a dark blue velvet ring box. “Marry me, honey.”
With her hand caressing the side of his throat, she said to the rest of the group, “I asked him first and he's accepted. He had me worried for days.” They laughed again.
Cray slipped the seven karat center stone on her left hand. She gazed at it and he said in a concerned voice, “Don't you like it?”
“Another outrageous display of extraordinary wealth.” She smiled at him and said, “I love the ring and I love you more.” She rose, pulled him to his feet and kissed him with ardor while the family applauded, moved from their chairs and surrounded the couple, offering Cray congratulations, Angelica best wishes and admired the ring.
“I'm still hungry,” Angelica said after the good wishes and while they laughed they went back to their seats and the dinner continued.