The Light in Your Eyes (The Light in Your Eyes #1)

by C. M. Carpi

  I put on a white shirt and went downstairs as I smelled the most delicious pancakes and bacon.

  “Daniel?” — I called him while going through the kitchen, but there was no one there.

  The table was set and in there was a glass bottle, filled with yellow roses in the center. I was going back to the living room when I felt his hands around my belly.

  “Good morning, love.” — He kissed my neck when I turned to look at him.

  “Good morning.” — I stood tiptoe and kissed him in the mouth. — “You need to stop waking up before me.”

  “Someone has to make you breakfast.”

  “That’s true.” — I said snuggling in his arms. I loved it when he embraced me like that.

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  “A surprise?” — I let go of him immediately. He gave me a half-smile and his eyes shone in excitement. — “I love surprises!”

  He grabbed his coat, which hanged beside the front door and came back with a little envelope in his hands.

  “Here” — He gave me the envelope.

  “What is this?”

  “Open it.” — He smiled, looking more excited than I was.

  I opened the envelope and put my hand inside it slowly. There were some papers and I took them. It was a picture of the Eiffel tower in the winter of 1920. It looked like a picture he kept in his office and after taking a good look, I noticed it was the same picture. He stood in front of me as I looked at him and frowned. He smiled.

  “Happy thanksgiving.” — He pulled me and rubbed his mouth on mine.

  “Are we going to Paris?” — I asked. Then I noticed that in the back of the picture there were two tickets.

  He assented and rubbed his nose on mine keeping his eyes closed. He moved as we were dancing, slowly.

  “Just the two of us.” — He kissed my cheek, my ear and my neck. — “As I promised.”

  “December in Paris?” — I put my arms around his neck. He assented and bit my chin softly. — “Sometimes I think you aren’t real.”

  He opened his eyes and they went dark for a moment. His hands went to my hips and grabbed me while he rubbed his erection against me. He put me against the wall and pressed me. I pulled his shirt and he raised his arms to help me taking it off. He didn’t unbutton my shirt, just pulled it through my head and threw it on the floor.

  “You’re so beautiful, Elena.” — He put his mouth on my ear while grabbing my breasts with both hands. He really knew how to start me.

  I moaned on his mouth and threw my head back when his fingers pressed my nipples gently, making my muscles contract.

  I held his face firmly and kissed him. I moved my hand down his chest and his perfect abdomen until I got to his pants. I grabbed his hips and moved him towards me.

  His mouth went down my neck and bit the soft skin around it. Then he got to my nipples and did the same. He took off my pants without moving his mouth from my skin. I loved it when he touched me. I loved to feel the warmth of his skin.

  “Your smell…” — He said with a hoarse voice while kissing all the way to my mouth. — “It’s intoxicating.”

  I put my hands inside his pants and he helped me take off his underwear. Ah! I would never get tired of looking at him. He pulled me down to kiss the extension of my neck while his hand went down my breasts, my hips, and my groin.

  “I want you bad, Elena.” — He said on my neck before biting it and pulling me up. — “So much…” — He was very excited. His voice showed it. I was excited as well. I opened my legs and put them around his hips.

  “You have me entirely, Daniel.” — I whispered on his ear and a moan escaped his mouth when I bit his neck. With no previous warn he penetrated me. I threw my head back and closed my eyes. This feeling was the most intense.

  “Don’t close your eyes, love. Not now.” — He growled. — “Look at me.” — He said every time he went inside. — “Look at me.” — One of his hands held my waist and the other my chin, making it impossible to look away.

  I’m not sure how cold it is outside. I heard it was going to be the colder thanksgiving in years, but inside this room, I’d say it’s summer. Our bodies felt like one.

  “Elena…” — He sounded desperate.

  He started moving faster and more intense. My body responded and exploded when the orgasm finally came as I held his face. His eyes burned me as he finally came inside me.

  He held my waist and pulled me down lying on the floor and pulling me over him. Our heartbeats finally went slower. His hands went up and down my back slowly. His touch on my skin was too intense; making me lay over his nude chest.

  “I’d stay here forever.”

  “So let’s stay here forever.” — He embraced me. — “There’s no other place I’d rather be.” — He kissed my hair and relaxed. I looked at him.

  “I’d love to, but...”

  “No but.” — He interrupted me.

  “We have a dinner…” — He interrupted again and moved over me.

  “It can wait a little.” — He kissed my neck again.

  “And, then, we have a trip to Paris three weeks from now.”

  “Then we have time.” — He said before kissing me.

  * * *

  The Marshall family kept a house in Hamptons. The property wasn’t a mansion, like the ones around, but it had ten rooms and it was very charming and completely surrounded by green area and the beautiful blue sea right in front of the entrance door. The temperature wasn’t as high as it should be and the beach was completely empty, but it still was the most astonishing view ever.

  The men sat in front of the big full screen TV with beers, talking and laughing while watching the football game.

  “Daniel!” — Someone shouted while throwing Daniel a bottle of beer.

  “Hey!” — I needed to shout so they would hear me.

  Everyone responded together.

  “Elena!” — Jess said from the kitchen door and ran to my direction.

  She didn’t go to Beaufort for the holidays and when Sophie invited her to spend the weekend she didn’t have to ask twice. Although it wasn’t my intention, Jess had become part of the family and everybody loved her even when she wouldn’t stop talking. I have to agree this was her allurement.

  “Hi Jess, glad you came!” — I embraced her while we head to the kitchen to help with the dinner.

  The women gathered around the marble countertop, even Susanne and little Rachel, who lived with Scott and Paul since last week, were there. She was charming, a little princess only three years old. There were little cherries printed on her white dress and satin ribbons on her hair. Her skin was very white and her hair and eyes very dark. I called her Snow White and she loved it.

  “Auntie!” — She jumped on me and didn’t leave my side until dinner.

  “Hello, Snow White.” — I said picking her up and kissing her nose. — “I missed you, little princess.” — She’d spent an entire afternoon with me at the Hangar during one of her visits before getting adopted.

  “She already found you!” — Aunt Ellis went inside the kitchen and pat Rachel’s back. Rachel shrugged and her red mouth got heart-shaped. — “How are you, Elena?”

  “Very well, Aunt Ellis.” — She practically made me call her that since we knew each other. — “How is it to be a grandma?”

  “I’m loving it!” — She touched Rachel’s cheek and she shrank.

  “Elena, dear. Can you cook?” — Sophie asked in irony.

  I started laughing. She blinked at me and started cutting the asparagus and carrots. Susanne took a pumpkin pie and an apple pie from the oven, Jessica was preparing her delicious mashed potatoes, and Aunt Ellis was responsible for the turkey. It wasn’t a surprise to them that I was a complete disa
ster at cooking. Perhaps I should take some classes with Jess next year. I really need to learn how to cook something besides pancakes.

  “Having a cooker like Daniel, why would she learn it?” — Olivia said while passing by and kissing me. — “Let’s have a glass of wine while these women stay in the kitchen.”

  * * *

  “Dinner is served!” — Susanne said after the game was over.

  Everyone settled around the big round table in the dining room. Jack, Susanne’s husband, was among the men as well.

  They were all talking and laughing at the same time, but when Daniel stood, they suddenly got quiet and looked at him. They seemed satisfied and surprised.

  “I know this is awkward” — He started a little shy. — “My father or Uncle Carl traditionally gives thanks” — He looked at them on the other side of the table. They nodded and smiled. — “But I’d like to do it today.” — I looked at Olivia and she had eyes fixed at him and a discreet smile. I saw the shining in her eyes and I could see the same in Aunt Ellis’s.

  “This is my first thanksgiving here after…” — He cleared his throat and looked down before looking at me. I smiled and motivated him to continue. — “After the accident I walked away from you and I know this was hard and I’ve hurt you, not once but several times.” — When he stopped again, Sophie, who sat beside him, touched his hand and he closed his eyes for a moment. — “And never, not even in my darkest days, you gave your back to me. You always surrounded me with unconditional love. Today I’d like to thank you for this love and for the great family I have. You too, Susanne and Jack.” — He proposed a toast and everyone did the same. They were thrilled, and I saw it when Susanne got the napkin to wipe the tears from her eyes. — “I also want to apologize for what I’ve done to you in special.” – He pointed to his parents and they nodded with a smile. — “I’m very sorry, really.” — His voice choked, but after taking a deep breath he continued. — “I should have said it before, but I wasn’t seeing things clear. Thanks for never leaving me alone.” — He smiled and everyone smiled back. — “I love you.” — And they raised their glasses again.

  Taking a quick look around the table I noticed all women had teary eyes, even Jess who was a tough one, but the truth was she’s the biggest sentimental I’ve ever known. The men were serious, but they were very affected specially Owen, who kept his head down while Caroline laughed and cried at the same time. She was the only one capable of doing that.

  Lucy couldn’t hold her tears, not even Thomas, who used to make jokes all the time and even in the most difficult moments. Scott was knocking the table, and Paul, who only knew Daniel recently, was very sentimental.

  When Daniel put his glass on the table, Rachel get off from her grandpa’s nap and walked to him, putting her hands on his legs and making him look at her. He ran his hand on her hair and she hugged his legs while smiling.

  “Luv you.” — She said with her childish manners. I had the impression of seeing him with teary eyes, but if they were there, he disguised really well before picking Rachel up.

  Everyone repeated her gesture and embraced him.

  * * *

  “That was beautiful, Daniel. What you’ve said to them...” — After dinner we went to the veranda and sat on a wooden swing with two blankets. I sat between his legs and lay my back on his chest. He embraced me and pressed my body making me feel warm. — “It really thrilled them.”

  “I should have done this more often.”

  “I’m sure they know that, and that they always loved you.” — He kissed my neck and my cheek in a gentle way, holding me closer to him.

  “I know I said this before and I know what you think about it, but I want to thank you too. Again.”

  “Daniel…” —I faced him, but before I could say anything, he put his finger on my lips and caressed my hair and my face. His blue eyes were focused on my face, like he wanted to memorize every centimeter.

  “Thank you for loving me.” — He looked deep into my eyes and drew my eyebrows with his finger. He put his finger on my lips and I closed my eyes for a moment. — “Thanks for making me happy every day in a way I never thought I deserved.” — I smiled while wiping some tears from my eyes. — “Thanks for being the love of my life” — I choked and embraced him, laying my head on his neck and he held me back. — “I love you, my love” — He whispered in my ear and held me closer. — “Very much.”

  “I love you, Daniel.” — I whispered before kissing him. I moved back for a second just to look at him. He held my face with both hands and smiled. He was the only one who could smile and make me fly to the moon.

  I can’t remember a happier thanksgiving.

  Daniel

  She wasn’t on her bed. The clock on the bedside table showed it was 5 a.m. This was the third time this week that I woke up in the middle of the night and she wasn’t there.

  I went to the living room and hoped to find her lying on the couch or eating something in the kitchen like she did the other night, but everything was dark and silent. I went back the hallway and I was coming inside the office when I noticed the light in the terrace. What the hell is she doing outside in that cold?

  I grabbed our plaid blanket and went up there slowly.

  Last night she seemed distant and quiet, she tried to deny it but I knew it wasn’t true. During breakfast she didn’t want to have the croissants I bought, and she said she wasn’t hungry. She ate half an apple and had a cup of tea, she also didn’t want the black coffee she had every day. She went back from the Hangar earlier and spent the rest of the afternoon in her bed. She never did that.

  The night before, she had nightmares. I asked if they were about her parents and she denied, but she didn’t want to tell me.

  During dinner, she said she felt sick and left without touching her food. I knew something was wrong but she kept saying no.

  She was sitting on her armchair wrapped in a blue wool blanket. She held her knees with her arms and moved back and forth slowly. She had her eyes closed, but I wasn’t sure.

  I leaned on the wall behind her on the top of the stairway and watched the beautiful girl in my terrace. I still couldn’t believe she was there, and that she was mine.

  Is it possible to love someone that much? I loved her so much that it hurt. I loved her so much I felt scared that one day it could be over.

  I was so lost in thought that I didn’t realize when she got up. Her scream brought me back on my feet.

  “Wowww!” — She put both hands on her chest. — “Jesus Christ, Daniel. Do you want me to die?”

  “I didn’t mean to scare you.” — I said moving closer to her.

  “Then why are you there like a ghost?”

  “Sorry” — I kissed her hair and embraced her. She was shaking.

  “I almost died.” — I laughed and pulled her back to the armchair.

  “Why are you out in the cold?” — She shrugged and jumped on my lap.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Are you okay?” — She assented and laid her head on my shoulder. — “Are you sure? It’s been a while since you slept the entire night. Last morning I found you lying on the couch.”

  She took some time to answer.

  “Elena?”

  “I don’t know what’s happening to me, Daniel.” — She answered and I heard her voice choking, but I wouldn’t let her go just to watch her face. Our bodies perfectly placed and I felt the scent of her hair. — “I have the feeling that something bad is going to happen” — She hesitated before continuing. — “I don’t like to feel that, I…”

  “Shish. It’s nothing, dear.”

  She assented and stayed silent.

  “That bed is too cold without you.”

  “I’m sure it is.” — She kissed my neck.

 
“Let’s go back inside?” — She refused and held me closer.

  “I want to see the sun rising.”

  “We will freeze.”

  She raised her head and looked inside my eyes.

  “Please?”

  “Okay.” — I pulled the other blanket on us.

  She stood silent until the first sun shines started emerging and announced the coming of a new day. The sky was a total blue and it was very cold.

  “These are the best days.” — She whispered in my ear and fell asleep.

  I put her on bed carefully, but she woke up as I held her.

  “Daniel?”

  “I’m here, love.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Elena.” — She kissed my chest and fell asleep again.

  Elena

  “They’re already here.” — He turned off his cell phone and put it on his pocket. We spent the whole afternoon at Murray’s cheese and Eataly buying the ingredients for dinner he decided to invite his family for. It took longer than we expected.

  “Oh, damn!” — I said seconds before the elevator’s doors opened.” — I left my purse in the car.

  “I’ll get it for you.”

  “You’re late!” — Thomas was near the elevator with the rest of his family. I put the packages on his hands.

  “I’ll get it.” — I sent Daniel a kiss. He was outside while I pressed the garage button. I felt chills all over my spine when the doors closed. It must be the anxiety, I thought while the elevator went down. Will he like it? He told me he loves it. The doors opened and I focused on the place. The garage was darker than minutes before.

  It’s all right! Calm down, Elena!

  As soon as I left the elevator, the lights went on.

  The car alarm rang on the other side of the garage and I started walking faster. I felt very anxious all of a sudden, but I tried to relax. It was just someone arriving.

  I grabbed my purse and locked the door as the footsteps stopped. Why am I so scared? As I started walking to the elevator, I understood what was happening. The nightmare, the feeling that pursued me for days. The chills. They were warning me.