Faithfully (The Getaway Sequel) - Chapter 24
I woke up just after 8 in the morning on Christmas Eve. In the words of Willy Wonka – I had much to do and less time to do it in. That day was going to be quite busy – we had lunch with my father (whom Faith had not yet met) and then I was taking her into the city to see The Nutcracker. Before all of that, I had to get started on one of her Christmas presents.
A few days prior, I had managed to get out to the store and buy a whole cart full of decorations for the outside of our house to surprise Faith. I knew she had wanted the outside to match the festive feel of the inside but her fear of heights kept her from doing it herself. She didn’t ask me to do it because she thought I was too busy, but what she didn’t quite understand yet was that I was never too busy to make her happy.
I kept the lighted garland up around the door that she had put up, adding some lighted suction-cupped snowflakes to the windows on the side. My neighbor, Gary, let me borrow his ladder so I could go up on the roof and attached the white twinkling lights on both ledges of our roof. Thankfully, the snow hadn’t made a reappearance since early December so it wasn’t as treacherous up there as it could have been. I put on the lights just to make sure that they worked and I didn’t have a Clark Griswald moment later when I tried to show them to her. Heaving a sigh of relief when the lights went on, I turned them back off, stowed the ladder and went back inside to a sleeping Faith. I resisted the urge to climb into bed and wake her up with a kiss and opted for a shower instead. Putting up lights can be sweaty work!
“Tom?” she called from the bed after I got out of the shower.
“Yeah, baby?” I asked, peaking my head out of the bathroom.
“I didn’t hear you get up,” she said with a yawn, stretching her arms up.
“I just got up a few minutes ago. Lots to do today, you know.” Faith got up on her knees in the bed and smiled at me.
“It’s Christmas Eve.” Her eyes were big and sparkling and her hair draped over her shoulder in bedhead curls. She was wearing big comfy pajamas and looked like the most adorable creature on the planet. She still took my breath away – even in sweats.
“It is,” I nodded, walking out in a towel.
“Is this one of my Christmas presents?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows. “Seeing my hot, nearly naked boyfriend dripping wet in a towel? Because, honestly, it’s the nicest one I’ve ever gotten.”
“Well, hopefully,” I said softly, taking her face in my hands and leaning down to give her a soft kiss. “That will change tomorrow morning.”
“What did you get me?!” she asked, bouncing a little on the bed.
“I cannot say. They are surprises. One, though, you will get tonight.”
“I love surprises. And you.” She put her hands on my bare sides and looked up at me. “Last night…that was…mind-blowing.”
“I must say, it was pretty fantastic.” I gave her another soft kiss. “Now, go get that sexy bum in the shower. I’m going to go run a few errands and I’ll be back around noon. We leave for my dad’s place at one.”
“Errands? What kind of errands?”
“Christmas errands,” I said with a smile and a wink.
“Oh, goodness. Just like a man to put it off until the last minute.”
“Hey, now,” I said defensively. “Some of them are time-sensitive!”
“What the heck does that mean?” she giggled, getting off the bed.
“You’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?” I asked.
“I suppose….” She said softly, looking down at my towel. Then, before I even knew what happened, she ripped my towel off of me, slapped my bare ass and ran into the bathroom giggling.
“You’re lucky I don’t have time to come in there and spank you back!” I yelled through the door.
“That’s too bad, Tom. I’d like that.” Part of me, well…part of my anatomy, wanted very badly to forget about my errands and bang down the door and then bang my girlfriend, but I pulled myself together and got dressed, heading out into the bustling city to complete my shopping.
Nerves jumbled inside of me as I showered and got ready for lunch with Tom’s father. It seemed strange to me that I hadn’t met him yet and had met his mother on several occasions. She even took me to lunch a few times and we had started to get on really well. I think she saw how happy Tom and I made each other and that really made her warm up to me fast. I had hoped that Tom’s father would have the same reaction.
I stared at my closet for a good thirty minutes trying to decide what to wear. It was just a lunch with Emma, Tom and their dad so it wasn’t fancy. But should I wear a dress? Slacks? I had no idea. Tom told me that his dad was a chemist and had been the head of a pharmaceutical company, but other than that he really hadn’t spoken about him often. He did seem pleased to see him today, though, so that made my nerves settle a bit.
Eventually, after must deliberation and trying on about four different outfits, I decided upon grey slacks and a red v-neck sweater. I would be wearing a dress that night to the ballet, so I thought casual would be best for the afternoon. I dried my hair and curled it slightly, pulling back the sides and fastening them with bobbi pins. I put on a light red gloss on my lips and headed downstairs to find Tom coming out of his office.
“Oh, there you are,” he said with a brilliant smile that made me melt a little bit. Coming up to me, he put his hands on my shoulders and kissed my temple. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you…what were you doing in your office?” I asked, eyeing him with concern. “I thought you were out.”
“I was. I just got back. Don’t go in there.”
“Now I’m going to want to go in there,” I said with a sly smile.
“Don’t. Unless you want to run Christmas and make me cry.” He gave me a pout.
“Well, when you put it that way…” I put my hands on his neck and leaned up to kiss him. “I will stay away.”
“Good girl,” he said with a pat on my behind.
“Thomas. What is it with you and my bum?” I giggled.
“What, besides the fact that it’s the most amazing ass I’ve ever seen?”
“You can’t talk to me like that now. We have to go!”
“You’re right,” he said with a shake of his head, as though he were shaking the naughty thoughts out. “I’m sorry. You really do look lovely. My dad is going to love you.”
“I hope so,” I said warily, knitting my brow. “I’m so nervous.”
“Please don’t be. I know we should have done his a long time ago, but I really don’t see him much except for big holidays. I always switch Christmas Eve and day with them. He got the eve this year. Honestly, I think its better that way. Tomorrow there will be a lot more people at my mum’s.”
“I’m nervous for that, too,” I frowned. Tom wrapped me in his arms and pulled me to his chest. “Marlena is going to be there tomorrow, isn’t she?”
“Please, Faith,” Tom sighed. I could sense some tension in his tone. He hated that I disliked Marlena, but he didn’t see the way she acted when he wasn’t around. She definitely didn’t like me. At first she was kind of nice, but I think once she realized how in love Tom and I were she started to get nastier because she desperately wanted to be the one he cared for that way. I should have been happy, knowing in my heart that Tom chose me and I had him completely, but there was still a part of me that was so jealous of her. I kept telling myself it was because she had known Tom so much longer than I, but there was something else there…something that irked me to my core. I think she had even permanently put me off wanting to pursue make-up as a career because I knew I’d have to deal with her all the time.
“I was just asking,” I said, stepping back from him.
“I know what you were asking. You really need to stop with this, now. I love you. And only you.” Tom cupped my face in his hands and looked me in the eyes. “No more jealousy. Okay?”
“I’m trying not to, Tom. You know I am.”
“It hurts me that you can let yourself feel that when you know there’s nothing to be jealous about.” It hurt him…wow. That struck a nerve. Hearing him say that made me feel so guilty.
“Oh,” I frowned, looking down. Tom lifted my head back up. His eyes were big and sad and his forehead was all wrinkled again – like a puppy.
“It makes me feel like you don’t trust me.”
“You know I do, Tom. You’re the only person-“ I stopped, trying to find the right words. “I never thought I’d be able to love-“ I lost it again. What was I trying to say? I couldn’t get it out. “You know…you know what I’m trying to say.”
“I think so,” he said with a small smile, rubbing his thumbs on my cheeks gently.
“I don’t know where I would be if you hadn’t come to me,” I said softly, feeling the tears start to come. “If you hadn’t been so…wonderful to me. From the night we met again in Paris…I still don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such a wonderful…” I felt the tears touch my eyes.
“Come here,” Tom said, pulling me back into his chest and wrapping his arms around me. “Do you hear that?” His heart was thumping in my ear. “That’s yours.”
“I know,” I whimpered, squeezing him. “I love you.”
“I love you, Faith,” he whispered, kissing my hair. I looked up at him and he wiped my cheeks. “No more tears. It’s Christmas.”
“Right,” I said with a small smile. “I’m sorry.”
“No need,” he replied, taking my hand in his and kissing it. “I’m famished.”
As we left, I kept Faith distracted so she wouldn’t notice the decorated house behind her. It wasn’t lit, so it was easier to hide, but I didn’t want her to see it until tonight when we got home from lunch. I was successful, and when I heaved a heavy sigh of relief in the cab and Faith asked me what was wrong, I jus said I was nervous about lunch with my father. She clenched onto my hand the entire way.
We got to my father’s a little before two. Emma answered the door and said dad was cooking up a storm. “So, that’s where he gets it,” Faith said with a nudge to me. “It smells delicious.” We walked in and took off our coats, gloves, and scarves and headed into the kitchen.
“Dad?” I called. He turned around with an apron on. Underneath I could see that he had his infamous reindeer jumper on. But there was something different about him…I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“Hello, son,” he replied, looking at me and then at Faith. “Well, goodness me. Aren’t you a beauty?”
“Thank you, sir,” Faith said softly, her cheeks turning pink.
“Told you,” Emma said proudly, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter.
“Oh, please. Call me James.”
“It’s nice to meet you, James,” Faith said, extending her hand. But dad took her into his arms and hugged her, instead. I don’t think he’d ever done that with any of my exes, so I was startled. He held her at an arm’s distance and looked at her face.
“You are so beautiful! Well done, Tom.”
“Thanks, dad,” I said, feeling my cheeks get red. My dad had just made me blush – that felt weird. “What’s for lunch?”
“I’ve got a nice strew brewin’ here. Do ya like stew, Faith?” he asked in his Scottish accent. He was being so congenial and happy and talkative…it was so weird.
“What is going on with him?” I mumbled over at Emma.
“He’s got a new girlfriend,” she responded. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“Well…that’s good, then. Right?”
“I suppose. She’s due to arrive any minute now.”
“What?” I asked, and as if on cue, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Dad exclaimed, running (yes, running), to the door. We walked out and followed him and I stood with my mouth agape as I saw the woman who entered. “SOPHIE!” Dad exclaimed, taking her in his arms and kissing her. My dad had never been one for public displays of affection. I shook my head, looking again just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
Sophie was wearing a tight red dress and her hair was blonde gigantic. I found myself wondering what she was hiding in there. She was curvy, but my dad had gotten a bit curvy in his old age, too. She didn’t look much younger than my dad, which relieved me. Her make-up was well done but there was a lot of it. But, as a whole, she had a kind demeanor.
“My darling,” she replied with an accent, kissing him on both cheeks.
“Is she French?” Faith asked with a whisper. Before I could answer, they were walking towards us.
“Kids, Faith, this is my Sophie.”
“Bonjour,” she said. I glanced at Faith and she smiled and nodded.
“Sophie, this is my boy Tom.”
“Oh, my, my…what a handsome young man,” she said, giving me a big smile. “You look just like your father did when he was younger.” How did she know that? How long had they known each other? “He showed me pictures!”
“Thanks,” I said with a smile.
“And this is his girlfriend, Faith. They met in France just like you and I did.”
“Awww, la ville del l’amour,” Sophie replied, clasping her hands together and sighing. “What a lovely couple you two are. So beautiful – like a doll,” she said to Faith.
“Thank you,” Faith smiled, hugging my side.
“And this is my youngest – Emma.”
“What a pretty young thing you are, my dear!” Sophie exclaimed. She embraced and kissed us all on the cheeks one by one. She was so…exuberant and flamboyant. I think some of that had rubbed off on my father, who was normally kind of dull. We just didn’t have much in common so we didn’t talk much. But now we had at least one thing in common – we found love in Paris.
As the afternoon went on, I found myself liking Sophie more and more. She was actually quite sweet, and the way my dad looked at her made me smile. He had been alone for quite some time, and this was the first time I’d seen him genuinely happy since I was a kid. We talked about Paris a lot, and Emma pouted the entire time saying she wanted to go and find a boyfriend. Sophie said she knew several young men she could introduce her to, but Dad squashed that immediately. He was still her little girl, after all.
I was grateful to Sophie. I don’t think lunch would have gone nearly as well if she wasn’t in my dad’s life. I had been having visions of my dad, me, Emma and Faith just sitting around a table and picking at our food, not saying a word. But the conversation was flowing and interesting and I actually didn’t want to leave. After we exchanged gifts (mostly wine, jumpers, etc), we had to leave to go back to change for The Nutcracker.
“I’m so sorry we didn’t get you anything, Sophie,” I said as we were saying our goodbyes.
“Oh, no matter, my dear. Meeting you and your Faith was present enough!”
“It was great to meet you. I’ve never seen my dad happier.”
“That is wonderful to hear. I hope we see each other again, soon.”
“As do I.” She gave me a kiss on each cheek and I reciprocated.
“Dad,” I said, giving him a hug. “Merry Christmas. I’m glad you’re happy.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, son. Faith is an angel. Don’t let her go.”
“Good.” He clapped me on the back. “Love you, son.”
I had put a timer on the lights, praying that they would go on and be lit when we pulled up. I held my breath as we turned the corner and heard Faith gasp. “Tom…what…who did that?!”
“That would be me,” I said, pointing to myself. Faith turned to me and the look on her face was better than anything I could imagine her getting me for Christmas. We got out of the cab and I paid him while Faith looked up at the house. When I got over to her, I wrapped my arm around her waist and looked up at it. It looked quite good.
“When did you do this?!” she asked. Her face got serious when turned to me and asked, “Do you have a clone you’re not telling me about?”
“No, darling,” I laughed. “I did it this morning.”
“Oh, Tom,” she sighed, grasping onto my scarf and pulling me in for a kiss. I smiled against her lips and pulled her close, deepening the kiss.
“Ewwwwww,” one of the neighbor kids groaned. “Get a room!” Faith pulled away and looked back at the house, then back at me.
“This is the best Christmas present ever, Tom.”
“The look on your face is my best Christmas present,” I said, brushing her hair back behind her ear. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. I wanna keep it up all year!”
“I’m not so sure the neighbors would be very keen on that, love,” I giggled, pulling her in for another quick kiss. The neighbor kid groaned again.
“Shouldn’t you be trying to find the presents your mum hid or something?” I said to the kid. He grimaced at me and I laughed at him.
“We should go inside before the kids call the cootie police on us,” Faith said.
“Cootie police?” I laughed.
“Yup. It’s a real thing. Look it up.” She grabbed my hand and we walked inside.
My heart was still swelling as we took off our coats and scarves. I couldn’t believe Tom had done that for me. That was the sweetest thing he had ever done – and he could be very, very sweet.
We went upstairs to freshen up and get changed for the ballet. Tom wore a black suite and tie that fit him perfectly and made him look mouth-wateringly gorgeous. I chose a silver dress with a high neck and bow on the front with a deep V in the back. It had a festive vibe to it, and made me feel very pretty. I was pinning my hair up and putting a silver jeweled headband on when Tom came up behind me and put his hands on my waist. He leaned over and kissed my bare back. “You stun me every day with how outrageously beautiful you are. You know that?”
“I could say the same about you,” I said with a smile in the mirror. Tom smiled at me before going back down to kiss my back. The way his lips were touching me made me yearn for him – it was so sensual. “Tom…baby…” I turned around and Tom kissed me without saying a word, putting one hand on my neck. That kiss was just as sensual as the back kisses – it knocked the wind out of me. When he pulled away, I gasped for air.
“Darling, are you alright?” he asked, nuzzling his nose against mine and smiling at me with a wicked little sparkle in his eyes. He knew what he was doing.
“Fine,” I managed to get out. He smiled a wicked smile and leaned in for another kiss, barely touching his lips to mine before I put my hands on his chest and pushed back. “Stop.”
“What?” he asked, pouting.
“You know what, Tom,” I giggled.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He was lying through his teeth. I guess I’d just have to show him. I grabbed his tie and pressed my body against him, looking up at him through my batting lashes. Slowly, I ran my other hand up his arm, over his shoulder, to his neck and into his hair, all the while drawing my face closer to his. “What are you doing?” he whispered right before my lips touched his. I made a little ‘mmmm’ sound as I kissed him, massaging my lips with his and tugging on his tie. When I pulled away Tom blinked at me.
“Now do you know what I’m talking about?” I asked, letting go of him and walking away. I glanced behind me and Tom was gawking at me. “We’re going to be late.”
“You know…for the ballet, Tom,” I said.
“Oh…right. Yeah. Got it,” he said. When he caught up to me he put his hand on my back as we were walking down the stairs and whispered, “You are such a little minx.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said nonchalantly, grabbing my coat. Tom took it from me and held it open for me.
“I’m sure you don’t,” he said, turning me around. “Beautiful.”
When we got to the opera house, there were decorations all over the lobby and people dressed in their Christmas best. When I told Tom that my dad always took me to the Nutcracker on Christmas Eve and he said he’d take me, I didn’t expect it to be on Christmas Eve. Tom gave me the tickets a week before and I screamed and tackled him onto the couch. I had been so looking forward to it. Seeing all the little kids in their red velvet dresses and little suits with big, bright eyes made me a little melancholy. I missed the wonder of Christmas that only a child could feel.
“Are you okay?” Tom asked. “You look a little sad.” He wrapped his arm around my side and kissed my cheek. I looked up at him and then I realized that Christmas with Tom was just as good as that – if not better.
“I’m fine,” I said with a big smile, turning to him. “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome, my love,” he said softly, giving me a soft kiss.
“How did I get you?” I asked, looking up at the beautiful, sweet, caring, enchanting man that was holding me in his arms. He made my heart swell every day. He made me happier than I could ever dream of being. It was nights like this that made it all feel like a fairytale or a dream.
“You know the answer,” he said, taking a curl that hung over my face in his hand and placing it to the side. The lights dimmed. “Time to take our seats.”
I grasped onto Tom’s hand. It was light I time-traveled back to my childhood when the overture began to play. Even though the staging and costumes were different, the ballet still had the same wonderful, whimsical, Christmasy quality that it always had. I cried during the Pa De Deux, and Tom leaned over and kissed my cheek and whispered that he loved me. When it was over, the entire audience rose to their feet and applauded.
“Thank you for taking me, Tom,” I said on the car ride home.
“You are most welcome, Faith,” he replied, looking out the window. “Oh, look. It’s starting to snow.”
“Really?” I asked, looking up from Tom’s shoulder out the window. Sure enough, little white flakes were starting to fall from the sky.
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,” Tom sang softly to me.
“Just like the ones I used to know,” I finished, putting my head back on his shoulder as he hugged me to him.
When we got home, Faith and I got into our Disney Christmas pajamas that I had bought us and sat down to watch Love Actually with a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers since we were still so full from my dad’s gigantic feast. In the middle of the movie there was a knock on the door.
“Who could that be?” Faith asked
“I’ll go see. Pause the movie for me, love,” I said, unwrapping myself from around her and getting up to go to the door. When I answered it, a group of carolers dressed in Dickensian clothing started to sing ‘Good King Wenceslas’. “Faith!” I called over my shoulder. “Come here!” Faith rushed over and smiled widely up at me. I wrapped my arm around her and we listened to them sing. The snow was still falling and they had candles lit. They sang a few more songs and then wished us a Merry Christmas, to which we replied in unison, “Merry Christmas!”
“That was like a Christmas card with the snow and their clothes and the singing,” Faith gushed as we walked back over to the house. “That’s why I love living in London at Christmas.”
“So, it has nothing to do with me, then?” I asked.
“Nope,” Faith said flatly, sitting back down on the couch.
“Well, then. See if there are any presents under the tree for you tomorrow morning!”
“You wouldn’t!” she gasped, putting her hand on her chest.
“No, I’m not a Grinch,” I winked, pressing play on the movie.
By the time the movie was over, Faith’s eyes started to droop. “Someone is sleepy,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. She snuggled into my side and nodded. “Time for bed, princess.”
“So Santa can come?” she asked cutely.
“So Santa can come,” I affirmed with a little chuckle. I sat up and swooped her up in my arms, carrying her upstairs. We brushed our teeth and got into bed and I pulled her close. Faith looked up at me and scooted her body up so she could kiss me gently. “Goodnight, Faith. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Tom,” she said sleepily. I gave her one more kiss and then she rested her head on my chest and nuzzled against me.
When we woke up the next morning, Faith sprung up in bed and startled me. “IT’S CHRISTMAS!”
“Yes,” I nodded, laughing as I slowly sat up in bed. “So it would appear.”
“Tom! Aren’t you excited!??!” She grabbed my hands and pulled me up so we were both on our knees.
“Yes,” I said truthfully. She was so happy and she looked so ridiculously cute in her plaid Minnie mouse pajamas. “I’m very excited.”
“Yay!” Faith got off the bed and ran to the window. “WOW! Tom, come look!” Sleepily, I sauntered towards the window and looked out. The whole street was blanketed with snow. Everything was so calm and peaceful and beautiful.
“Wow…now that’s a white Christmas.” Faith turned to me and smiled. “I’m going to go get your presents and put them out while you brush your teeth and then we can switch, okay?”
“Okay,” she nodded excitedly. “But can I go first?”
“Sure,” I said. Actually, that would work out better for me because of one of her presents. When we switched, I put all of her presents out and lit the three and put on her Christmas playlist.
After we had both put our presents out, we met again upstairs and walked down together hand in hand. “Wow,” Faith said softly when she saw the tree. “That’s a lot of presents.”
“I could say the same about you. How many did you get me?!” I actually knew, because I counted when I went downstairs to put hers out. I had heaved a sigh of relief when I noticed that I got one more than she had gotten me.
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Do you want some coffee, baby?”
“Yes, please.” I waited for her in the kitchen while she made the coffee and then we went to sit on the couch.
“What was that?” Faith asked, leaning forward. “Did you hear that?”
“Hmm…yeah, I did. Sounds like something is moving over there. Why don’t you go look?” I smiled widely at her. She looked at me with a curious glance. “Go on.” I sat back against the couch and watched as she walked over to the tree, following the sound. Then she got to the white and pink hat box and she gasped, looking over at me.
“That’s not….” She started, pointing at it. It made a barking noise. “Oh. My. God. Tom…” she got down on her knees and smiled at me before opening the top of the box.
I knew as soon as I saw that box what was inside of it. It looked exactly like the hat box from Lady and the Tramp. When I opened the box, a tiny golden retriever puppy put its paws over the side and looked at me with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. I instantly fell in love.
“Do you like him?” Tom asked.
“Oh, Tom…he’s precious!” I grabbed him and picked him up, hugging him to me. Tom came over and knelt down beside me, scratching behind the dogs ears. “I’ve always wanted a golden retriever!”
“I remember you telling me that a long time ago. He’s been hiding over at Gary’s since yesterday afternoon. I just ran over and picked him up.”
“I thought I heard the door open!” I said. The dog started licking my face.
“What do you want to call him?” Tom asked, rubbing my back.
“Hmmm…how about Shadow? Just like in Homeward Bound.”
“I love it,” Tom beamed. I leaned over and kissed him on the lips. “Are you happy?”
“Elated,” I said, kissing him again and then kissing Shadow, cradling him in my arms. Shadow barked happily and licked my face, making me giggle.
“I’m so glad you like him,” Tom said with a happy sigh. “I was worried.”
“It is the best present ever. I can’t believe you did this!”
“Well, you still have quite a few to open.”
“As do you,” I said, putting Shadow down and letting him explore his new home.
“We’ll get him a collar on Wednesday,” Tom said. “I’ve got him all the other puppy things in my office.”
“You,” I said, putting my hand on Tom’s cheek. “Are amazing.”
“I know,” Tom said with a wink. “Now, what did you get me?”
“I’m afraid they’ll all pale in comparison to Shadow,” I said with a little pout, grabbing a box and handing it to Tom.
“I highly doubt that,” Tom said, ripping the wrapping off the box and opening it to find a red, white and blue plaid shirt. He took it out of the box and laid it over his torso. The colors made his eyes sparkle. “This is wonderful. I need more clothes.”
“I know,” I giggled. “I thought I would help add to your collection a bit.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” he beamed, giving me a kiss. He grabbed a box and handed it to me. In his fashion, I ripped off the wrapping and opened it. Inside was a beautiful silver jewelry box with our initials etched into it.
“Oh, Tom,” I gasped, covering my mouth. I opened it and it played ‘You Do Something to Me’. I couldn’t help the tears that came to my eyes. Shadow ran over and put his paws up on my leg.
“You’re upsetting Shadow with those tears,” Tom said sweetly, leaning over and wiping them.
“They’re happy tears. This is so beautiful, Tom. I can’t believe this…my presents suck so hard compared to yours.”
“No,” Tom laughed, grabbing a little box with his name on it. He opened it and his mouth fell open. “Two front row seats to the sold out U2 concert next month. Wow, Faith…how did you score these?!”
“I have my ways,” I said.
“Your gifts so do not suck. This…this is awesome. Thank you so much!”
We opened a few more little gifts and then Tom got to one that I knew he’d really like. When he opened it, his eyes got wide and he looked up at me. “This is for me?” He picked up the white lace lingerie and placed it over his body, chuckling. “I’m not so sure it’ll fit.”
“It’s for me to wear, silly,” I laughed, throwing a ball of wrapping paper at him. “And for you to enjoy.”
“Well, I can guarantee you that I will most definitely enjoy this.” Tom leaned over and gave me a soft, sexy kiss and lingered there. “It’s incredibly sexy. I can’t wait to take it off of you.”
“My turn,” I said playfully. Tom handed me a blue box that I knew was from Tiffany’s. “Tom…” I looked at him and he smiled widely at me.
“Open it,” he urged. I held my breath as I opened it and gasped when I saw the contents. Inside was a beautiful golden heart locket with a little diamond heart on it. “Now open the locket.” I did, and there was a picture of Tom and I kissing that he had taken months ago.
“Tom…I…It’s so beautiful.”
“You like it? I wasn’t sure which one to get…”
“This one is perfect,” I said, smiling at him. I remembered the locket Freddie got me – a big, grotesque silver thing that hadn’t even been real. It went off on the metal detector when I went through at the airport. I had always hated that thing. This, though…this was perfection. It was simple and beautiful and the picture inside was so much better than the one that was inside the other one.
“Let me put it on you,” Tom said, taking it from me. I lifted my hair and he put it around my neck and clasped it. “Even when I’m gone, I’ll be there.”
“I love it. I love you.” I kissed him.
“My turn again!” he smiled. “I hope it’s more dirty lingerie.” He opened the box and gasped. “Faith…you…whoa…” He took out the first edition Volume 1 collection of Shakespeare plays that I spent two months tracking down. “I can’t believe this. This is…sensational.” He opened it and gingerly went through the pages. “Othello…my favorite.”
“That’s why I got that one,” I said. Tom beamed at me. “I’m glad you like it.”
“This is the greatest present anyone has ever gotten me. I’ll treasure it. Always.”
We each got each other a few more things. I got Tom a framed picture of us that was taken last week in front of our tree by Luke and a snow globe with the Eiffel Tower in it for his desk along with a few more sweaters. Tom got me a beautiful pink and white lace dress and a gorgeous pair of shoes. All in all, I’d say it was the best Christmas ever.
“Someone looks happy,” Tom said as we sat by the tree finishing our coffee. Shadow was playing with a ribbon from one of the presents.
“I’m deliriously happy,” I said to him.
“That makes three of us,” he replied.
Faith’s last present to me was breakfast. In all honesty, I had been quite nervous about letting her cook by herself, but it actually turned out to be quite yummy. “All your teaching has paid off,” she said as she cleaned up. She wouldn’t let me touch the dishes.
“I’m hoping you’ll still let me cook for you, though. I love cooking for you. And with you.”
“Of course. If you think I’d ever attempt anything bigger than this by myself, you’re crazy!” Shadow appeared at her feet and barked, begging for leftovers.
“And so it begins!” I chuckled. Faith gave him a tiny piece of bacon. “We should probably put him in obedience training. Big dogs need that.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Faith said, crouching down and petting Shadow. “You’re going to be a good dog, aren’t you?” She was talking like one would talk to a baby. “Aren’t you, Shadow? My good dog.” She hugged him. I was so relieved that she adored him as much as I’d hoped.
The rest of our afternoon was spent eating the chocolates we got one another in our stockings and watching A Christmas Story and It’s a Wonderful Life. Around four, we went upstairs to take a shower to get ready for my mom’s party. “Can I join you in there?” I asked as she took off her pajamas. I don’t know why, but I was kind of nervous to ask. Maybe it was because it was Christmas and I didn’t think she’d want to do anything sexual or something.
“Definitely,” she said seductively as she shimmied out of her panties.
“Oh…good,” I gulped, taking in her naked form. She let down her hair and stepped into the shower, gazing at me as she started to soak her body. I stripped down lightning fast and got in with her, taking her in my arms and relishing in the feel of her naked, wet body against mine. We washed each other and shampooed each other’s hair (I had to lean down for her to do mine). We didn’t have sex, but it was sexy and I was seriously turned on. We had to be at my mother’s in a little over an hour, though, so I didn’t try anything. After we got out, we wrapped each other in big towels.
I was standing against the sink putting product in my hair when I felt Faith come up behind me and press her lips to my back. “Hi, there,” I said. She peaked out from behind me and smiled at me in the mirror.
“Hi,” she said softly. She gave me another kiss and I heard something drop, and then I felt her naked breasts press against my back. “You.” She kissed me again. “Are so sexy.” She kissed me again, putting her hands on my bare sides. “And romantic.” She started rubbing my sides gently, which she knew drove me nuts. I turned around to face her. “Do you want me, Tom?”
“Yes,” I said with a swift nod. “Definitely.”
“Good, because I want you so bad I can taste it.” She took my towel off me and looked down. “Yum.” Suddenly, she was against me, rubbing her body up against mine. She reached up to my neck and pulled at it, kissing me passionately. I grabbed her and she wrapped her legs around me. I felt my erection press into her wet folds and I shuddered. “Take me to bed, baby.”
“It has to be quick,” I said, looking into her eyes that were ablaze with passion. “We have to be at my mother’s soon.”
“Then be quick,” she murmured against my lips, pulling at my neck as she deepened the kiss. “Ahhh, yes,” she moaned as she tightened her legs around me as I walked her to the bed. I lay her down and got on top of her. “You are the sweetest man in the universe, and the sexiest man. I adore you.” She kissed me hotly. “Make love to me.”
“I love you so much, Faith,” I breathed as I kissed her lips down to her neck, all the while taking myself in my hand and guiding myself into her. “Oh, yes, darling…you feel so wonderful.”
“Oh, Tom,” she gasped, bucking up against me, deepening my possession of her. “Baby…” She grasped at my back and leaned her head against the pillow, arching her back. I started to move in circles and she groaned. Her mouth firmed a perfect ‘O’ as I started to move again in the opposite direction. “Just like that, baby…oh, wow…you’ve never done it like this before. Oh…oh…OH!” She grabbed the pillow that her head was resting on and moved her leg up to wrap around me, letting me go deeper. Moving inside of her in this way felt absolutely fantastic, like I was stroking the inside of her gently. I don’t know why I’d never done it like that before – it was mind-blowing. And it felt so good that it was impossible to keep going for long. Faith grabbed my neck and kissed me hotly, digging her heel into my bum and screaming against my lips. I felt her tighten around me and I couldn’t hold it any longer. I buried my face in her neck and moaned her name, spilling myself inside of her. Faith’s entire body shook over and over again as she clung to me for dear life. “Wow….Tom,” she said breathlessly.
“Was that quick enough?” I asked with a smile.
“Oh, baby…yes. But I want more…I want to do that again.” She caressed my face. “You’re so hot, Tom. And you’re so…so…I don’t even…” she crashed her head back against the pillow and giggled. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, darling. And as amazing as that was-”
“Amazing is an understatement.”
“Well,” I chuckled, giving her a kiss and brushing her still-damp hair back. “As amazing as it was, we do have a party to get to so round 2 will have to wait until later, I’m afraid.”
“I’ll be thinking of nothing else but getting you back here naked during the party,” she said hotly, her eyes gazing into mine with an intensity that started to make me hard again inside of her. But then I thought about the party and I pulled out of her. “I am so addicted to you.”
“I hope you stay that way,” I said, helping her off the bed.
“Oh, I will. There’s no cure for this one.” I stood up and she was staring at me. “I mean, really. Could you stop being so sexy for a minute?”
“I’m not THAT sexy, darling,” I laughed.
“Oh yes,” Faith said, putting her hand on my chest and moving it down my torso. “You are. Believe me, you are.”
“Get dressed, you insatiable woman.” I tapped her on the bum.
“Don’t. You know what that does.”
Since Tom’s mom’s party was an evening affair, I decided to wear a dress. I picked out a ¾ sleeve red lace dress with nude stockings and red shoes. Tom wore a black button down shirt and grey trousers. He looked delectable, and by the way he was staring, I’m pretty sure he thought the same thing about me. Yes, maybe I put in a little extra effort because I knew Marlena would be there and maybe I wore lace because I knew how much Tom loved it, but I still liked feeling pretty.
When we arrived at the party, Tom’s mom answered the door. There were a lot of people there, already, but Marlena just happened to arrive as we did. “Tom! And Faith!” The way she said my name made it sound like she was less happy to see me (go figure). She hugged Tom and kissed him on the cheek and did the same to me. “So good to see you both. And Diana! Wow, that dress! You are a vision.”
“Marlena, darling…wow. You look stunning.” She did. She was wearing a skin tight black strapless dress with a beaded bodice that made her big boobs look amazing. She always managed to make me feel underdressed and ‘cute’ while she was mind-blowingly sexy.
“Oh, this? This is ancient. Tom got it for me. Remember it, Tom?” she asked, turning around for him.
“Did I?” Tom asked, glancing at me apprehensively. I smiled at him and it must have been convincing because he smiled back, but on the inside I was screaming. He bought her clothes, too? I bet he bought her sexy lingerie. I bet he bought her lace. What if she was the start of his lace fetish? What else did she start with him? God, all of the visions were definitely not of sugar plums dancing in my head.
“You alright, Faith?” Marlena asked.
“Hmm?” I asked, looking up at her. “Oh. Yes. I’m fine.”
“You look cute,” she said.
“Thanks,” I replied, looking down at the ground.
“FAITH!” Emma called, running across the room. “Oh, don’t you look pretty? I love your dress!”
“Tom helped me pick it out,” I said, smiling up at Tom.
“Tom has great taste in clothes, doesn’t he?” Marlena said with a big smile, glancing over at Tom. The way her eyes lingered on him made me clench my teeth. I wanted to clench him and say to her ‘Mine. He is mine.’ But Tom would kill me if I did. Well, not kill me…but he’d be pissed. And then I’d ruin Christmas! I thought about the joke he made last night where he said he’d cry if I ruined Christmas. It was best to keep my big mouth shut.
“Emma, why don’t you go introduce Faith to some of the family. Tom, Marlena, come help me get the hors d’oeuvres and the wine, will you?”
“Sure, mum,” Tom said, giving me as sweet smile.
“Come on,” Emma said excitedly, tugging me away from Tom as he went off into the kitchen with Marlena and his mother. I went around the room attached to Emma as she introduced me to every single person in attendance. They kept asking where Tom was, and I felt like a broken record saying he was helping his mother. They all replied with how sweet he was and how nice it was to meet me and how pretty I was.
“And this is Uncle Bart,” Emma said.
“Hi,” I said, looking at him but quickly becoming distracted by something I saw out of the corner of my eye. Emma and Uncle Bart started talking animatedly about something but I was too distracted by Marlena and Tom. They were standing under the doorway and Marlena pointed up to what was above them – the mistletoe.
