Let Me Help You With That........

Rockies Christmas - Day 6

Warnings:  Shameless product placement plugs, NSFW, Sex

James is shaking me awake.  “C’mon.  I hate to wake you, but it’s snowing hard.  We gotta go.”

I sit up in bed.  James has opened the drapes.  It’s very dark.  And it’s snowing.  Hard.  Tossing the blanket aside, I grab some clothes and get dressed on the toilet.  James stops and looks at me.  “You said hurry and I have to go.”

Nodding at me, “While that is killing two birds with one stone.”

Within a few minutes, we’re dressed, packed, shopping bags in hand and headed down to the lobby.  James checks us out while I go get the Shelby from the valet.  The valet parks it close to the door under the portico.  James gets the soft top up while I put everything into the trunk.  I get into the passenger seat, James climbs into the driver’s seat and heads towards the freeway.  At a stoplight, there’s a McDonald’s on the other side of the intersection.  He looks at me.  “We can eat at home” I say gently.

As the light changes, James looks ahead but runs his right hand up my thigh to my crotch, “Deal.”  I squeeze my thighs around his hand for a moment, then release it so he can drive as the roads are sloppy.

There are pockets of clear weather on the drive back.  James keeps to the posted speed limit under the messy conditions.  Even in the worst parts of low visibility, I am not nervous with his driving.  I’d been more nervous on the back of the ATV.  But then I’d never been on one before.  The weather clears more as we approach Vail.  I can sense James relaxing some.  But he still keeps to the posted speed limits.  Once we get onto our road, he sighs.  I just rest my hand on his bicep.  Pulling into the garage, James turns off the engine and hands me the keys.  “Thank you.”

Smiling at him, “Did you have fun?”

Leaning over the gearshift, he kisses me.  “Yes!”

“I’m glad.” 

He pats my thigh.  “You said we’d eat at home.”  He gives me a look.  “We’re home.”  His hand travels up my leg.

I shove it between my legs, “ok.”

Like civilized adults, we get out of the car, collect the items from the trunk, James closes the garage door.  Once inside, dumping all the bags just inside the door, we are like a pair of teenagers running into our bedroom.  Clothes flying in every direction.  Arms snaking around each other.  Lips kissing whatever they connect with.  Ending up on the bed – almost – he’s pushing my legs apart to get at my cunt.  His tongue works its devilish magic on me.  Before I can completely recover, he’s flipping me over and pulling my hips up his thighs.  He’s not rough, but not exactly tender either, in seeking his release.  We collapse into a heap just as the sunrise peeps into the windows.  The clouds quickly cover it up.  Sleep quickly covers us both.

I stretch in his arms.  It’s 10 am.  Wrapping my arms around his head – which is buried between my tits – I kiss his forehead.  He stretches, squeezing me in the process.  “Morning.”  I kiss his hair.

Stretching again, “Mawhrning” he mumbles into my boobs.

Kissing his hair again, “What do you want for breakfast?”  He humps his hips into my leg.  I just giggle.  His stomach rumbles.  “I heard that.”  I can feel him smile into my breasts.  He looks up from my chest giving me his big blue puppy eyes.  “Breakfast sandwich.”  His eyes get sad, and I can feel his lips pout.  “Burritos?”  His eyes brighten and he wiggles his butt.  I laugh as he kisses my tits.  “Well, if you want burritos, I need to get out of bed.”

“Fawine” he mumbles from my boobs.  Then his lips are covering mine with tender kisses.

Climbing out of the very messy bed, I collect the clothes on my side.  He actually tidies up the covers.  Gathering the rest of the clothes tossed all over our room, I dump them into the dirties hamper.  Pulling out a pair of jeans and a sweater, I head into the bathroom.  Again, I get dressed sitting on the toilet.

“How did I not know you do that?”

“Do what?” I ask while wiping.

“Get dressed on the toilet.

“Saves time.  I realized in college that I could sleep in another five minutes by getting dressed on the toilet.”  I wash my hands.

His face scrunches up a minute.  “Ok.”  Then he looks at me, “As long as you clean up after.”

“Always.”  I kiss his chin.

Making my way into the kitchen, James follows me.  He turns on the tree lights and opens all the drapes.  Then he turns on the Christmas music.  As I’m scrambling the eggs, he checks the water in the tree.  What happens next is like a ballet in the kitchen.  I hand him the syrup as he puts the tree pitcher in the sink.  I pull out the shredded cheese as he grabs a towel.  I reach for the saltshaker, and he smacks my ass before grabbing the pitcher and heading to the tree.  He turns on the fireplace after watering the tree.  I finish the burritos as he’s putting the pitcher away.  Handing him his plate, he grabs my neck and plants a kiss on me.  I follow him with my plate into the living room.  It’s snowing lightly out the windows.

“I hope this holds off until the kids get here tomorrow” James says quietly looking out at the snow lightly falling.

“Which airport are they coming into?”

“Eagle county.”

“At least that’s a shorter drive.”

“Yeah.  I rented them a van.”

“You’re worried.”

He looks at me with a soft smile.  “I trust them.”  He looks out the window, “I don’t trust the world with them.”  I lean over and kiss his cheek.  Collecting his plate, I take them to the kitchen.  It takes a little bit to unload the dishwasher and reload it.  In returning to the living room, James is working on the outside light strings.  Between the two of us, we get them out the patio door and hung on the balcony railing.  After brushing off the snow coming in the patio door, I take more of the empty bins back to the storage area.  I had to start stacking some that probably came in from the garage.  Pulling from another bin, I find a wreath.  James finds the door hanger and puts it up on the front door.  I find some holiday soap dispensers.  Filling them from the bottle under the kitchen sink, I distribute them to the bathrooms around the house.  James is standing in the middle of the living room staring at the fireplace.

“You ok?”

“Yeah.  I just can’t remember where the wreath is that hangs there” he points to the chimney. 

I pause a moment.  “There’s a large flat red bin over your workbench.”

He spins to me, “That’s it!”  He plants a kiss on me and almost skips to the door.

Digging through the last few bins, I find some candle holders.  There’s actually quite a few.  I put a pair on the kitchen table.  I’m holding the others when James returns with a huge wreath made of poinsettias that look real.  “Will you please help with this?”

“Sure.”  I set the candle holders on the table.  “What do you need?”

“Will you please move the step ladder in front of the fireplace?”

As I position the ladder, “Should I turn it off?”

Shaking his head, “I won’t be up here that long.”  He reaches up and finds the hanger in the stone.  The wreath is gorgeous.  Climbing back down, he folds up the step ladder, he puts it by the door leading to the storage room.  His eyebrows knit together again, “Tree skirt and stockings.”

Shifting the bins left in the living room, “Some of these haven’t been opened yet.”

We both dive in.  I find the stocking holders.  James finds the tree skirt and stockings.  He’s looking a little concerned.

“What’s wrong?”

“You don’t have one” as he fondles the stockings in his hands.

“Hang on a sec.”  I go to the shopping bags left by the garage door.  I find the one I want and return to the living room, “Here.”  I hand him a stocking.  It’s covered in books, pens, pine boughs, and gold stars.

His eyes soften, “That’s perfect for you!”  He puts the hangers on the mantle and hangs the stockings.  “There.”  Turning, he collects the candle holders, “These go here.”  Following him to the dining table, he spreads them around the table.  “There.”  He wraps an arm around my shoulders, “What’s next?”

“Need to get the last of the bins downstairs and wrap up what we bought yesterday.”

“I’ll get the bins if you’ll wrap.”  He looks at me, “Please.”

I squeeze him, “Of course.”

I go to the shopping bags.  James’ hand pops around me, “I’ll do this one” he kisses my shoulder grinning.  I pat his ass as he leaves.  Taking all the shopping bags to the room that I’d made into my office, I set them on the floor.  Returning to the storage room, I dig out the long bin that holds the wrapping paper.  I also manhandle the smaller bin filled with bows at the same time.  It takes me a couple of hours to get things wrapped up.  I put tags on my gifts.  On the bottom of the gifts from James, I stick post its of its contents along with a gift tag.  It takes me a couple of trips between my office and the tree to get everything under the tree.  I set James’ gifts on the table.  The bins have all been removed from the living room, but James is nowhere to be seen.  His guitar comes screaming from his studio.  I just smile and head into the kitchen.  I spend the next couple of hours baking up some of my favorite sugar cookies.  Digging into the pantry I find storage tubs for what I’ve made.  I also dig out some serving platters, give them a wash and set them on the dining room table.  Grabbing my phone from my purse, I look up a frosting recipe.  The only thing I need is food coloring.  Pulling out the step stool from the pantry, I start digging through all the kitchen cabinets and shelves in the pantry.

“What are you doing?”  I jump slightly.  He puts his hands on my hips as I climb down the step stool, “Sorry.”

“I was looking for food coloring.”

“If there’s any here, it’s going to be really old.”  He folds up the stool and leans it up against shelves in the pantry.  “What do you want it for?”

“Decorating those” I point to all the sugar cookies sitting on the kitchen table.

“My little steam engine!  You have been busy!”

“It’s fun!”

“But I don’t have cookie cutters.”

“I bought some yesterday.  Nothing fancy.”

He wraps me into his arms, kissing me.  “My talented little steam engine!”  Another deep kiss.  “We still have to pick up the roast tomorrow.  We can grab food coloring then.”

I squeeze him, “That will work.”

“What do you want for luner?”

My eyebrows meet my hairline, “What?”

“Lunch.  Dinner.  Luner.”  A smile replaces the question, “What do you want?”

His hands rest on my hips, “Well, I’m thinking about doing pulled pork for tomorrow.  There’s the roast on Christmas.  How about brats?”

“Only if you grill onions with them.”

“That’s a federal offense to NOT grill onions with brats” he deadpans.  Then a huge smile spreads across his face.

“Is there anything I can do to help with luner?”

Easing his grip on me, “Don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll get the last of the bins downstairs.”

He pulls me back, kissing me.  “Thank you.”

I caress his cheek, “You’re welcome.”  He again releases his hold on my hips.  As I pass the table, “Oh.  These are your gifts to the kids.  There’s name tags on them and post its on the bottom of each with the contents.”

“Perfect.  I’ll finish those up.”  He pulls out a couple of onions and starts slicing.

There were only a couple of bins left that I shift to the big storage room.  By the time I get back to the kitchen, James has the brats going in a cast iron skillet.  I stand and watch him.  His eyes bright as he’s cooking.  He looks at me smiling, his eyes deepen in color.  In a short time, he’s got our luner plated and handing me one.  The cheddar brats are smothered in grilled onions and kidney beans on the side.  Again, we sat in the living room to eat.  I couldn’t finish and set my plate on the coffee table.  I lean into his shoulder.

“Hey.  C’mon sleepy head” he’s laughing gently at me.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“Well, it’s been a long day.  We did leave Denver at 5:30 this morning.”

Yawning, “Wah timawh is it now?”

“Bedtime.”  He pulls me off the sofa then collects his plate.  I gather up mine.  James closes all the drapes while I finish loading the dishwasher.  He sets his on the counter before turning off the Christmas tree lights.  I put his dishes into the dishwasher, toss in the soap pod and start it.  Holding out a hand to me, James gently guides me to our bedroom.

The covers are barely draped over both of us before we are asleep.

if only those shorts were ... well ... shorter........

Rockies Christmas - Day 9

Warnings:  Happy Birthday Lars!, Snowmobile use, Severe accident (no one dies), Severe Angst

There’s a buzzing noise in the room.  I feel James shift, his hand slapping around on his nightstand.  The buzzing stops, but his phone is powered on.  The light from the screen seems exceedingly bright in the dark room.  Then it’s on speaker mode and ringing.

“Jah?”

James in full voice sings Happy Birthday to Lars.

“Thanks, you inconsiderate bastard!”

“Hey, I’m not the one who decided to be born the day after Christmas in Denmark!”

I love to hear these two rib each other lovingly.

I can also hear that James is not really awake.  He ends the call without telling Lars about the biggest news of the day.  He sets his phone down on his bedside table, snakes his arms around me and we are both back to sleep.

The smell of coffee wakes us.  I untangle myself from James, kissing his forehead in the process, and head to the bathroom.  He’s still face down in the pillows when I come out.  Grabbing a clean pair of leggings and a t-shirt, I get dressed.  Grabbing a clean sweater, I smack the covers over James’ legs.  “C’mon Grandpa!  Wake up!”

James rolls over, “Oh yeah!”  He slides from the bed, uses the bathroom and gets dressed while I make up the bed and toss the dirties into the hamper.

Getting into the kitchen, the three girls are cooking.  “Dad, we used some of the roast to make breakfast tacos.”

“That’s fine and smells great!” James smiles. 

Looking out the window, it has stopped snowing, and the sun is trying to shine through the clouds scudding across the sky.

CBF comes from the living room with the tree pitcher, “Where does this go?”  Both Cali and Marcella point to the end of the counter.

James makes our coffees, and we take them to the kitchen table.  A few minutes later, we are served breakfast tacos.  Basically, breakfast burritos just in smaller tortillas.  And a little messier.  But they are really good.  The three boys start grabbing plates.  “They cooked, we clean up” CBF says.

“Hey Dad, can we take out the snowmobiles?” Castor asks.

“They haven’t been used in a couple of years.  They’ll need some work first.”

MBF speaks up, “I’ve worked on engines before.  I’ll be happy to help.”

Nodding, James stands up, “Then let’s get out to the shed.”  The four men leave through the garage.  I hear, “Damn!  Nice Shelby!” as the door closes.  I can only giggle and imagine the looks on the boys’ faces when James tells them it’s mine.

The kitchen is clean and tidy.  “I hate to do this” as I pull out the big mixer.  “But I’m going to make another mess.”

I put together the batter for something Grandmother called Date Nut Bread.  I get it into the oven.  I may have over done again as I doubled the recipe.  The girls all sit at the counter watching.  We talk about a lot of things from fashion to hit songs on the radio to hairstyles.

I can hear the snowmobile engines being turned on and off in the background.

“How did you meet Dad?” Marcella asks.

“It was a blind date.”  I get looks from his daughters.  “Derek, one of the editors I work with knows someone on your Dad’s crew.  Derek wanted me to go to a car show, but it was a charity event and I would need a date.  Derek was taking his own girlfriend.  Sooo, I needed a plus one.”  Checking the timer, “Derek reached out to Martin and called in a favor.”

“I think I remember a Martin.  Short guy?”  I nod.  “Bald?”  I nod again.  “He’s a nice guy.”

CGF asks, “You like cars?”

“And football.”

“Jets or Giants?” Cali asks.

“Seattle Seahawks.”  That got me some looks.  “Blame my college roommate.  She’s from Seattle.”

The garage door opens and James walks in carrying a red helmet wearing a heavy snowsuit.  “Whose going?” 

Both Marcella and CGF speak up. 

“Marcella, can you please show CGF where the big snow suits are?”

“Sure!  C’mon!”  The two women leave.

James looks at Cali.  “How you doing this morning?”

“Better” she smiles at her Dad.  “The rolls that Kira made don’t make me want to puke every ten minutes.”

“That’s good news!  I’m glad you both are feeling better!”  He wraps an arm around me, “Wanna go?”  He’s got the huge cheshire cat grin smeared on his face.

“No, I’ll stay here.  I have Date Nut Bread in the oven.”  I smile up at James, “Go have fun!”

He kisses me, “We’ll be back before sunset.”  He smacks my ass as he walks towards the garage.

“How much longer on this date bread nut stuff?”

I huff out a laugh, “Date Nut Bread.  It’s almost done.”

“It smells really good!  Thanks again for showing me about the baking soda.”

“You’re welcome.”  The timer dings and I test, then pull out the pans.   The snowmobiles roar down the driveway.

We talk about how she met her boyfriend.  How she and her siblings got along as kids.  How it was tough being the oldest daughter of a megarocksuperstargod.  I slice a piece of the bread for Cali.  She nibbles.  “Dis ish wrewwy good!”

“I hope you both like it!” I grin. "It's better with cream cheese on it."

My ears pick up an engine.  A single engine.  I look at Cali then I run to the front door.  There’s CGF.  Alone.  Her machine stops just before the front steps and she yanks off her helmet.  “Castor gave me this” as she pulls his phone from her snowsuit.  She puts in the passcode.  There on the screen:  Use house phone.  Jacobs 439-555-2122  Coordinates:  yadda yadda..  Dad’s unconscious.

I wrap my arm around her and pull her into the house, “How long did it take you to get here?” I calmly ask.

“Twenty minutes, I think.”

Grabbing the phone in the kitchen, I dial the number.

It’s answered, “Hi James!”

“This is Kira.”

“Who?”

“The new girlfriend.  James is down.  I have coordinates.”

“Give them to me.  What happened.”

I give him the coordinates and hand the house phone over to CGF, “Just tell him exactly what you saw.”

“We’d been in a field.  James said that he was going to check out the sides of the field.  He wasn’t going really fast.  The next thing … his snowmobile rears up and over and James is under it.”

Cali’s grabbing my arm.  Tightly.  CGF hands the phone back to me.  “Ok.  They are out there.  I’ll get the chopper in the air right now.  The others will have to ride their machines back.  I can’t take them with me.”

“I understand.  Where will you take him?”

“Denver, Swedish.  I’ll call this number when I have him onboard.”

“Thanks.”  The call ends.  I dig out my phone and call the bands travel agent, “Jordan?”

“Hey!”

“James is hurt.  He’s being airlifted to Denver.  I’m going to need a chopper for seven soon.”

“What happened?”

“All I know right now is that he’s unconscious.  There’s a medivac chopper headed out to collect him.”

“Hold the line.”

The three of us girls look at each other as a helicopter zooms over the house.

“Ok.  The Eagle county airport.  Call the number I just texted" my phone vibrates "to you when you leave the house.”

“It’s gonna take about 30 minutes for the kids to get back to the house.”

“Kira, just call that number.  There’s a chopper on standby for you.  Do you want me to call anyone?”

I heave a sigh, “I guess Lars.”

“Will do.”

“This is a fuck of a present.”

“Oh shit.  It is his birthday.”

“Maybe Pete first?”

“Good idea.  You have my number if you need anything.” 

“Thanks.”

That call ends.  I look at the two young women in front of me.  “We need to get some things pulled together.  As soon as the others get back, we’re leaving.  CGF, go get out of those wet clothes.  Toss some dry clothes into a backpack for Castor.  Cali, can you put together some clothes for the others?”

“On it.”  She turns, then stops, “How are you so calm?”

I smile at her, “You can’t hear my heartbeat.”  Nodding, “Let’s go ladies.”  I dash into our bedroom and pull on jeans, a bra and a thermal shirt.  I grab another pair of sweats and shirt and stuf them into the bag.  A run through the bathroom, I grab a hairbrush.  Returning to the kitchen, I grab a handful of granola bars and toss those into the big purple bag.  I pull my wallet from my purse on the counter, along with both our phones and add those to the purple bag.  “Shoes” I mumble to myself.  Going to the garage door, I pull on my mukluks.  I also grab our coats.  Just as I return to the kitchen, the house phone rings.

“Yes?” My voice much louder than I wanted.

“I’m airborne.  The others are on the way back.  He’s still out.”

“Thanks.  Fly safe.”

“Thanks.”  The call ends.

Cali and CGF are standing there.  “The others are on the way back.  James is still unconscious.”  I look at both of them, “This will be the hardest part.  Waiting for the others to return.”  I grab CGF’s arm, “Ya did good.”  She starts to cry.  I just pull her into a hug.  Cali joins in.  “Hey.  Seriously, ya did good.”  We stand there together for a time.  I double check that the oven is off and put the loaves into storage bags.  I heave a sigh, “Let’s get the bags into the truck.”

“Dad’s truck?” Cali sounds slightly aghast.

“We can’t all fit into my Shelby.”

“The Shelby is your car?” CGF’s voice is a little squeaky.

“Yup.”  I grab the key fob for the truck and my purple bag.

The girls grab the backpacks they’d packed, “Seriously, you are going to drive Dad’s truck.”

“Cali” I turn and smile smally at the young woman, “yes, I am going to drive that damn behemoth.”  As I open the garage door, “It’s the only option.”  I hit the button for the garage overhead door and plop my purple bag on the console between the front seats.  “I’m going to back it out.  CGF, go get your machine.  We’ll just park them all in here for now.”  As she runs, “Please don’t hit my Shelby” I give her a smile.

I had to spend a moment or so adjusting the driver seat from the settings for James’ 6 foot 1 body to my 5 foot 2 one.  I finally get it set and back his damned truck out pointing it down the driveway.  Just as CGF gets her machine in the garage, I hear the others coming.  Cali tosses the bags she’d packed into the bed and climbs in the back seat.  CGF helps point the other machines into the garage.  Castor jumps into the passenger seat dropping something to the floor between his feet.  Pointing to the item, “What’s that?”

He picks it up, “What’s left of Dad’s helmet” he says softly.  It’s split almost in two.  He puts it between his feet again.  His hands are shaking.  I rest my hand on his arm.  He pats my hand.

I heave out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.  Then I lean out the window, “Marcella, please check that I locked the front door.”  MBF joins Cali in the back seat. 

Marcella climbs in, “Yes it’s locked.”  CGF squeezes in the back too.

“Sorry for the tight fit back there.” I hit the button on the remote and watch the garage door roll all the way down.  “It’s only till we get to the airport.”  Leaving the driveway, my phone syncs up.  I hit the message app and call the number that Jordan had given me.

“Eagle Airport Choppers.”

“My name is Kira.”

“Are you on your way?”

“Yes, we are.”

“What are you driving?”

“A big ass truck.”  I can hear the huffed laugh on the other end.

“We’ll have the chopper ready for you when you get here.  You can park the big ass truck in the hanger.”

I actually laugh “Thank you!”

“See you in about 40 minutes?”

“Highway patrol can mail James the ticket.  Thirty.”

“See you then.”  The call ends.

I hit the freeway and punch the gas.  Fortunately, the road is clear, there is no snow falling, very little traffic and the gas tank is full.  I don’t even look at the speedometer.  I keep my eyes on the road.  “There’s some granola bars in this bag” I elbow it to Castor, “if you’re hungry.”

Castor pulls the bag into his lap, “Thanks.  Anyone else?”  There were a couple of takers.

“Hey, I have dry clothes for you guys in the back” Cali speaks up.

“Let’s not forget those bags at the airport” Marcella adds.

Twenty-eight minutes later, I’m parking the truck in the hanger.  I hand the fob over to the chopper pilot, “Please don’t ding his truck.”

“No ma’am, I won’t” he smiles at me.  He puts me in the co-pilot’s seat, the kids all get the back seats with the bags on the floor between their feet.  “This will take about 40 minutes with today’s weather.  I have gotten permission to land at the hospital.”  He taps my arm pointing at my feet, “Ma’am, I do ask that you keep your feet off the controllers there.”  I nod and tuck my feet under the seat.  Moments later we are airborne.  I try to keep from shaking.  The panic is trying to set in.  The what if’s are beginning to run amuck.  What if he’s paralyzed.  What if he never wakes.  What if he’s suffered brain trauma.  I feel a hand grab my right arm from behind.  I recognize the nails.  It’s Cali.  I just put my hand over hers and squeeze.  That’s when I realize that I’ve been twisting the ring on my finger and it’s sore.  Denver begins to loom up out of the snow.  I make sure that I’m not hitting any of the flight controllers as the pilot brings the chopper in to land.  He powers down and the blades slowly come to a stop.  He rests his hand on my arm, “We all hope that James is fine."

I nod nervously, “Thank you.  I will keep you informed.”

“Please do.  I’ll be happy to make the return flight with one more onboard.”

“Thank you.”  I climb out of the chopper and collect my purple bag. 

A nurse greets us on the helipad.  “I was told to expect you.  I’m Nancy.  This way.”  She leads us into a waiting area.  “Please have a seat, the doctor will be right in.” 

My heart is racing.  This is either really good news.  Or super bad.  Cali sits next to me, holding her stomach.  “Upset?”

“Yeah, and I didn’t grab the baking soda.”

“We’re in a hospital.  I’m sure they’ll have something” I pat her arm.  She grins.

A middle-aged doctor comes in, “Kira Mooreland?”

“That’s me.”

“Would you come with me please?”

“Doc, these are his children.  Whatever you’re going to tell me, you might as well say it right here cause I’m just going to tell them.  It’s better coming directly from the doctor’s mouth.”

Nodding, he pulls up the magazine strewn table and sits.  “Then let me be blunt.  He’s damned lucky.”  He leans elbows on his knees.  “James does have a severe concussion and some major bruising.   Other than that, he’s fine.”  I hear all the kids heave a sigh.

“What about his neck?” I ask.

“He’s had a full CT scan.  The herniated disc is actually fine.”  I heave a sigh.  “I’m going to keep him under tonight.  You can see him tomorrow morning.”  He stands, “But not before 7am, please.”

“Thank you doctor.”  I stand and shake his hand.  “By the way, you might have to secure his wrists to the bed frame.  He’s known for pulling out his IV ports.”

The doctor cocks a grin, “Yeah, we already discovered that.”  The kids laugh.

“Doctor, he’s also a recovering alcoholic.  Please keep the pain meds to the minimum and non-narcotic.”

“I will see what I can do.  I appreciate the information.  I will also add it to his permanent records.”

“Thank you again.  We’ll see you tomorrow morning.”  I sit as the doctor leaves and heave a sigh.  Now.  To house six kids.  I call Jordan.

“Kira.”

“He’s fine.  Severe concussion and bruising, but fine.”  I hear a breath of relief on the other end.  “They are keeping him at least tonight.”

“I’ll get you rooms.”

“Can you please get me a suite?  I don’t think any of us want to be separated tonight.”  I see all the kids nodding.

“Let me see what I can book.  One night or two?”

“Do two, can always cancel the second.”

“Two it is.  You’ll need car service too.”

“Yes please.”

“Ok, van.  We do have a couple of people in the area that I can call on to be runners.  Do you need anything?”

“Hang on.”  I look to the kids, “Do y’all need anything?”  Nodding at Cali, “Besides baking soda?” I smile.  I pass along the two requests – a box of baking soda and a bottle of melatonin.  “Hey Jordan, can we please get some catering?  Pasta maybe.”  Again, all the kids nod.

“Sure.”  I hear clicking on a keyboard.  “Ooookaaaayy, the car service van will be at the hospital main entrance in about 5 minutes.  I didn’t want to send it to the ER door.”

“Understood.”

“Runner tells me that he’ll have your asks at the hotel about the same time you guys get there.”

“Jordan?”

“Yes?”

“You deserve a raise.”

“You get them to agree to that and I won’t say no!”  I just laugh.  “Kira, call me if you need anything.”

“I will.  Thank you again for everything.”  I end the call.  “Ok, car service will be at the main entrance in five.”

The seven of us collect bags and coats and wander to the main doors, getting lost once in the halls.  It was a minute before the van showed up.  We climb into the black vehicle.  The driver was smooth and courteous.  Once at the hotel, I go to the front desk.  “Checking in.”

“Last name please?”

“Mooreland.”  I put my driver’s license on the counter.  I can see his eyes widen as he starts clicking on the keyboard.

“Thank you.  How many key cards would you like, Ms Mooreland?”

“Seven please.  And I prefer Miss” I say kindly.

“My apologies, Miss Mooreland.  The key cards will take just a moment.”

“Castor?” a voice behind me calls out.

“Timothy!” Castor moves to shake the man’s hand.  He has several bags with him.

“Miss Mooreland?”  I turn back to the desk.  “Your key cards.  The elevator is just there.  You will need to use a key card on the pad for the Penthouse.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Please do let us know if you need anything during your stay.”  I just nod at him.

Collecting my purple gym bag, I nod to the kids.  They follow, as does Timothy – who is carrying a very large bag – probably dinner, into the elevator.  I tap a key card on the pad and hit the P button.  The doors open on the biggest hotel room I’ve ever seen.  It was like walking into someone’s super fancy living room.  There was even a grand piano.  Like roaches in the light, the kids scatter to claim a room.  Timothy sets the bag on the dining table.  He rests his hand on my shoulder.  “Jordan told me.”  I can only nod.  “Here’s my number.  If you need anything.”  He hands me a business card.

“Thank you.”

Timothy pats my shoulder and yells bye to Castor.  Then he’s on the elevator. 

Sighing, I drop my purple bag on the sofa and start pulling dinner out of the bags.  Two large containers of pasta, two kinds of sauce, breadsticks, tossed salad, cheese packets, plates, utensils and napkins.  Lots of napkins.  Cali comes over and grabbing some breadsticks, helps me get things sorted.  “Hey dorks!” she yells.  “Dinner.”  Giving me a nod, she just smiles.

Grabbing my bag, I go into the big room and sit on the bed.  It looks so huge knowing that I’ll be the only one in it.  I shudder.

“You ok?” Marcella asks quietly.

I heave a sigh, “I haven’t slept alone since September.”

Marcella sits on the bed.  “I can see why Dad likes you.”  She looks at me, “Thank you.”  I look at her.  “We’d have been a mess today without you.”

“One of you would have stepped up.”

She looks at her fingers, “Maybe.”  She looks at me – with her dad’s blue eyes.  “Still, I’m glad you are here.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey Kira”

“yeah”

“Why don’t you have kids?”

A smile spreads over my face, “I didn’t find the right man until I was too old.”

She gives me a look, “You’re forty.  You can still have kids.”

I chuckle, “Marcella.  I’m two years older than your Dad.”

“Naw.”

“I can never call him Papa Het” I chuckle softly.

Marcella just starts laughing.  Castor comes to the door, “What’s so funny?”

Marcella points to me, “She’s older than Dad!”

“Naw.”

I just nod smiling.

“Wow!” Castor smiles.  “You don’t look it.”

“Thank you, Castor.”

“Ok, y’all.  The old lady” Cali winks at me “needs some alone time.  She’s taken care of us all day.”

I get hugs from all of them, Cali making sure to set the melatonin on the dresser and then closing the door.  I close the drapes in the room, take a melatonin and head into the bathroom.  I deposit my clothes on the counter and start the shower.  The room fills with steam.  I walk in and let the water pound on my back.  He’s going to be fine.  He’s not paralyzed.  There’s no apparent brain damage.  His neck is ok.  All those nasty what if’s float away.  But the terror that I’d buried for the sake of the kids bubbles up.  I slide down the wall of the shower stall to the floor sobbing quietly curling into a ball. Body shaking sobs.  I push away the images my mind had created during the day:  James in a wheelchair.  James never being able to play guitar again.  James having to exist in the terror of his own song.  I finally get to the hiccupping stage and stand up.  I do a quick body scrub and rinse.  Then turning off the water, dry off and wrap up my hair.  My sobbing had put my head in the stream from the shower head.  Pulling the sweats out of my bag, dress and climb into the massive bed.  Alone.

The stress of the day, the hot shower and the melatonin have me under in short order.

Rockies Christmas - Day 15

Warnings:  Snow Day, Wind event,

Guide: CBF = Cali’s Boyfriend / CGF = Castor’s Girlfriend / MBF = Marcella’s Boyfriend {I didn’t want to give them names}

I slowly rotate in bed.  My legs a little achy from being pinned by James earlier this morning makes me smile.  I can hear that the winds have picked up outside.  Reaching out I find his side of the bed empty.  The smell of onions being grilled floats into the room.  Sitting up, stretching, I make my way into the bathroom.  When done and cleaned up, I dig out a pair of stretchy pants.  I’m down to the bottom of the stack which means that I need to do laundry.  Pulling open the drawer that should have my tank tops in it, it’s empty.  Yup.  Need to get the laundry done.  I find a bra and taking one of James’ t-shirts – Bastardane – I finish getting dressed and head into the kitchen finding James at the stove with a huge skillet grilling onions.  I hug him from behind, “Morning.”

Twisting slightly and wrapping an arm around me, he kisses me, “Morning.”  He smiles at me and wiggles his eyebrows, “Feeling ok?”

I stand on tiptoe and kiss him, “I feel beautiful.”

Gently patting my ass, “Good.”  Then, “Hey, that’s my shirt.”

“Well, if the kiddos weren’t here, I’d be starkers” as I flash him my lacy bra.  I get a grin in response.

“Need to do laundry?” he smiles turning back to the skillet.

“Should probably change our sheets too” I purr at him as I head towards the coffee maker running my hand over his ass.

He nods in agreement, “Yeah, that’s probably a really good idea!”

Almost as if by magic, all the kids turn into the kitchen together.  “Damn, Dad.  You use a lot of onions” Cali declares sitting at the bar.

Looking at his oldest, “You have a problem with that?” he grins.

CGF sits next to Cali, “I don’t, except that they give Castor gas.”

“Tell us something we don’t already know” Marcella snarks at her brother.  He gives her a snarky smile back.

Marcella pulls out her phone as it buzzes.  James looks at her.  “Reminder that we need to check in to our flights.”

All the kids pull out their phones and check into their flights.  “Hey Marcella” Castor says putting his phone away, “Thanks for the reminder.”

“You’re welcome” she grins at her brother.

“Hey Kira!  Nice choice in shirts!” Castor grins.  I give him a pair of horns.

James finishes the onions and starts the eggs.  I see that he’s already put out the stuff to make burritos.  “Kira, will you please start the microwave?  I already have the roast beef in there.”

He’s even set the time needed.  I push the start button smiling at him.  Then grab our mugs and make our coffees.  A few minutes later, we are all sitting at the kitchen table enjoying our breakfast burritos. 

I watch as Cali and CBF keep giggling with their hands interlaced over Cali’s belly.

James smiles at them, “Moving more in the morning or evening?”

“A little in the morning.  More in the evening.” Cali smiles.

Nodding, “I’ll bet on an evening birth” James grins.

“Morning” Marcella speaks up.

“Midday” is CGF addition.

“Someone write these down!” Marcella giggles.

CGF finds a notepad and pen.  We all make our guesses.

“What does the winner get?” Castor asks.

“To change the first diaper” CBF suggests and there’s laughter all around.

A strong gust of wind hits the house.  “Picking up out there” James says looking out the window.  The wind picks up the loose snow and is blowing it all around.  The clouds in the sky are being torn apart and then put back together.  I shiver some as another gust lifts more snow from the patio.  “How many episodes to we have to finish Stranger Things?” James looks at Castor.

Thinking, “There’s all of season 4 – which is 9 shows, and I think we have 3 left on season 3.”

“Shall we do the long haul and finish this?” James looks around the table.  Another gust of wind hits the house.

“Sure.”  “Not going out in this.”  “Might as well.”  “Yes!” are the mixed responses.

Everyone helps get the kitchen and dishes sorted.  Carrying my coffee mug as I’d not yet finished it, we all make our way to the media room.  Marcella and Castor pull out some extra blankets as the room is little chilled today.  Sinking into our positions on the sofa structure, Castor fires up the system and starts the next episode. 

Between every other episode, there’s a bathroom break.  Someone gets something from the kitchen.  Someone takes all the dirty dishes from the previous kitchen run to the dishwasher.  As the second episode of the fourth season starts, there’s a very harsh gust of wind.  I wince and lean into James.  The power flickers.  “Hold on Castor.  Let’s see if the genny is going to kick in.”  The lights flicker again - then go out.  About 45 seconds later, they all come back on.  There’s a dull roar from outside.  “Ok.  The genny is on.  Go ahead.”

Restarting the TV, Castor starts the next episode.  James pulls me into a tight hug, “I got you” he whispers to me.  Smiling, breathing a little fast, I lean into his chest. 

Pausing before the fifth episode, it’s the usual bathroom and kitchen runs.  I lean back and look up at James, “How long will the generator run?”

Frowning slightly, “36 to 48 hours.  Depending on how many devices we have running.  The furnace is gas, but the fan is electric.  The biggest draw will be the TV, chest freezer and the fridge.”  He kisses my forehead, “I doubt the power will be out that long.”

Before the sixth episode, it’s a unanimous decision to have more Jambalaya.  CBF pulls the leftovers out and in short order, we are all seated at the kitchen table.  A couple more heavy gusts hit the house.  One of them followed by a loud thud.  I jump.  James kisses my hair, “I should check on that.” 

MBF stands, “I’ll go with you.” 

The rest of us clean up the lunch dishes.

James comes back in the house after being outside for a time, “Hey Castor, where are the keys for the rental van?”

“Uhm, by the front door.”  Castor follows his Dad and I follow Castor.  “Everything ok Dad?”

Nodding, “The van is fine, but that old oak dropped a branch.  I’m going to move the van just to be on the safe side.”

“Is that side drive slick?” Castor asks.

“A little.”

“Let me grab my coat.  It might need a shove.”

James back tracks into the kitchen, stopping to give me a reassuring kiss.  He smells of fuel.  Then he, MBF and Castor go out the side door by the kitchen.  I see the two younger men walking beside the van, hands on it, with James in the driver’s seat.  He slowly moves it up into the small, protected area in front of the side door.  The three stomp the snow off their boots before coming in the door.

“Thought we couldn’t park there, Dad” Cali teases.

“Hey, my house, my credit card on the rental van” James grins at his daughter.

Holding her hands up, “I concede the point!” she laughs.

The two boys put their coats on the coat rack by that door.  James takes his into the garage.  I stand at the end of the hallway waiting for him.  “I topped off the fuel in the genny” he smiles at me.  “Diesel fuel stinks” he grins at me before kissing me gently.  He stops in the kitchen to wash his hands.  Several times.  He just grins at me.  Another powerful gust hits the house.  I shiver.  James pulls me into a hug, one arm around my waist, the other tenderly cupping my head.  I wrap both my arms around his waist.  Gently easing his hold on me, “You ok?”  I heave a sigh and smile at him, nodding.  We all make our way back to the media room. 

Castor stands and stretches before the last episode.  “Who’s up for some snacks?” he grins.  Again, we all head into the kitchen.  Some popcorn is made.  James, MBF and I make sandwiches from the last of the roast beef.  Cali heats up some rice and tops it with butter and salt.  Grabbing a couple bags of chips and everyone grabs a Liquid Death can from the fridge, there’s a parade back to the Media Room.  Castor is the last one to enter the media room, carrying one of James’ guitars.  Grinning, “Here Dad, in case you want to play along!”

Laughing with his son, “Thanks, but that’s not my line.  That’s Kirk.”

“No, it’s yours.”

“I do a short solo in the middle.  The lead is all Kirk” James smiles at his boy, taking a bite from his sandwich.

“I thought this was all you.”

“Sorry Castor” James smiles.  “They even cut my solo from the show.  This rendition is all Kirk.”  Seeing the look on his boy’s face, “But I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

Castor, setting the guitar on the counter, “I honestly thought this was all you” he grins at his Dad.

“It’s me in Jungle Cruise” James offers.

“We should watch that next” MBF offers.

“How about we finish this show.  Next time we’ll do a movie marathon” James counters.

“Deal!”

Castor starts the last episode.  Everyone sits up to headbang when Eddie starts playing.  When the lines comes, we all shout “Most Metal ever!” laughing.  I smile at James.  He pulls me into a kiss.  When the episodes ends, Castor flops back on the sofa, arms raised, “We did it!”  There’s general laughter.

“You guys should pack up tonight” I offer.

James nods in agreement, “Excellent idea.  With the winds, you’ll want to leave a little early in case there’s trees on the freeway.”

Looking up at his Dad, “That corner there at Wolcott can be tricky.”  James just nods.

“Ok dorks” Marcella turns to her counterparts, “Let’s bag up.”

Castor powers down the system.  The kids all depart to their rooms.  I gather up the blankets.  James helps me, grabbing his guitar before turning off the lights in the room.  Leaning his guitar against the wall, the blankets get dumped on the floor in front of the washer.  “I’ll get to these when the power’s back” I tell him as he pulls me into a hug, my hands rest on his chest.

He kisses my forehead.  “What about the wind here has you jittery?” his eyes search my face.

“The winds here just sound … savage.”  I pat his chest, “The winds in the city just don’t sound like the winds here.”

Cupping my head into his chest, “I can understand that” as he pulls me in tighter.  I lean my head back looking into his face.  “From the sounds, I think the worst is over” he looks at me a gentle smile on his lips.  Leaving the laundry room and taking my hand, James reaches for his guitar and is almost bowled over by Castor.

“Yikes!”  Castor grabs his Dad.  “You ok?”

“I have enough bruises, thanks son” James teases Castor.

“I was just coming back.  I forgot to put your guitar away.”

James hands the axe to his boy, “Here ya go” he smiles.

Smiling, “Thanks.  I’ll put it back.”  Castor heads up the hallway, “Night Dad.”

“Night Castor” he watches the young man retreating up the hallway.

I rest my hand on his forearm and let it slide into his hand, smiling gently at the megarocksuperstargod dad at my side.   Sighing, he gently squeezes my hand.  Then turning to me with a gentle smile, we walk into the living room.  I see that there are some things the kids have left in the room and start collecting them.  James stops me, makes me set the things down and smiles, “Hey dorks!  Y’all left things in the living room!”  I raise my eyebrows at him.  “What?” he grins.

“So you started the dorks thing?”

“No.  That was actually Lars” he smiles.

Soon all six young people are in the living room collecting their items.  CGF and Marcella do a thorough search of the room as well as the kitchen.  With a “Good night!” they return to their rooms.

James turns off the lights in the living room.  With a sigh, he turns off the tree lights.  The room is very dark indeed.  Draping an arm over my shoulders to my other hip, he leads us to our bedroom – making sure to close the door behind us.  After climbing into bed, he’s fidgety.  I roll over, “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t like sleeping with the genny running.”  Reaching to my bed side table, I hand him the TV remote.  With concern etched on his face, “Are you sure?”

“Positive” I caress his face.

He sits up against the headboard and turns on the TV.  I completely roll over, putting my head into his lap.  His fingers play with my hair.  I drift to sleep. 

I feel him shift me gently off his lap.  That’s when I realize that the faded roar of the generator is silenced.  James is cold when he curls up against my back.  “All good?” I whisper.

“Yes, other than I’m cold” he snugs up closer.  I pull his arms tighter around me.

Sleep grabs us both.

Hiya! As a big fan of your works, I was wondering, would you ever consider writing something like a prologue to “Snow Way to Escape”? Like how James compared Kira to his exes, the money counting thing, how he failed to notice she moved out of bedroom? I thinks it’d be an interesting story to read, but of course, your blog, your rules. Thanks 😊

Hmmmm!!! I will have to think that one out! Thanks for idea!! This series is going to be a monthly installment. Had to do something while job hunting! I think I can work that into the "year anniversary" chapter.

Hope all is well in your world and that you have a wonderful Holiday Season!

H4H

Getting Business Done

On man!  I can see how this can become addictive!!!    I hope y’all like this one!!!

Warnings: Smut, Unprotected sex, slight degrading and confrontation, NSFW

You are very happy in your job.  You’d been there for several years.  Your boss, James, is a good looking – hell – handsome man.  Standing 6’1” with silvered short cut hair, horseshoe mustache, heavily tattooed, he could be an imposing figure.  Until he smiled.  It was always bright and his bluer than blue eyes would sparkle.  Both of you had been through some tough times.  His divorce.  Your long term relationship ending.  Having to move the company office due to water damage.

Then came the contract that on the surface looked to be a dream deal.  You, James and his business partner Chad, have spent numerous late nights in the conference room going over every word in the contract.  Finally, the day the customer was to come into the office to sign the deal arrived.  James had promised everyone that should this deal get signed, he was taking everyone out to dinner.  Studying your closet, you select the lacey purple dress.  Since it was July, the short skirt would be acceptable.  Somewhere in the back of your mind, you hope that James likes it too.  Quickly collecting your work things you hurry to get to the office.  You end up parking your car next to the huge black tuck that belongs to James.  You collect your things, get out of the car, lock it and get to your desk just inside the front door.  Your computer is just finishing powering up when you hear James walk up behind you.

“Hey, do you think this paragraph is really correct?” he sets down the stack of papers on your desk, pointing to the words in question, his other large hand resting gently between your exposed shoulder blades.  You really have to concentrate on the words and not the feeling of his hand on your back.  Pulling up the document on your computer you get to the paragraph in question.  You do a quick read through and make some edits.

“Does this work better?”

James flips the papers over grabs a pen and scribbles some changes.  You quickly make them.  He leans over you again to read the paragraph.  His cologne is just enough to be alluring. Looking sideways at him, his lips curl up into a radiant smile.

“That’s it!”

Hitting the print icon, “It’s on the printer!” 

He pats your back and leaves your desk area “I’ll go get it!”

You watch James go down the hallway.  You can’t help yourself.  He’s wearing the black jeans that just fit his ass perfectly.  The cowboy boots are perfect.  A white button down shirt with the rolled up sleeves exposing his tattooed forearms.  Your heart flutters.

The front door flies open and in walks the customer.

“Mr. Mancini, welcome to ….”

Mr Mancini almost throws his phone at you.  “You need to fix my travel!”  You take a step back as his face is filled with rage.  “I hate that airline!  And where is my coffee!  I told you to have my coffee waiting!”

You start out calmly, “Mr Mancini, I didn’t do your travel, but I will see what I can do …”

“You will fix it!  And get my coffee now!”  He’s yelling at you full volume.  In all your years of working, no one has yelled in a rage at you.  “I said now!”  Mr Mancini manages to land a backhanded swipe across your left check. 

It sends you stumbling into the short file cabinet behind your desk where you collapse to the ground.  Your head reeling.  From down the hallway you hear Chad yelling and a roar that can only come from James.  Chad is pushing the customer back.  James leaps the countertop of your desk to plant one foot on either side of you, hugging you with his lower legs.

“Chad if you want this contract, it’s yours.  But I want nothing to do with that man.”  The tone in James’ voice is one you’ve never heard him use before.  Low.  Growl.  Dangerous.  Leaning down, James tenderly puts his hands on your shoulders making you jump slightly.  “Hey”  His voice now a gentle rumble next to your ear.  “Can you stand up for me?”  You are shaking to your core and can’t move.  Gently lifting you, James collects you into his arms and bulldozes his way out the front door, leaving the shouting voices behind.

Taking you to his truck, he balances you on his knee while he opens the passenger door.  He hoists you into the passenger seat and secures the seatbelt.  Making sure that you are completely inside, he closes your door.  Moments later he’s in the driver’s seat and the truck roars to life. 

You are totally numb.  He tenderly grasps your left wrist, “Hey” his voice a gentle rumble, “stay with me.”

Your eyes lock onto his tattooed hand.  The warmth of his fingers are slowly warming your cold arm.  “What did I do wrong?” comes out in a squeak.

His fingers gently squeeze, “Nothing.  You did absolutely nothing wrong.”

The tears start to fall.  You can’t stop them.  You’re afraid to move.  Moving would let the dam break.

His voice a comfort, “I’m taking you to my place.  You don’t need to be alone right now.”  The truck makes a right turn, “Don’t worry.  I got you.”  It seems like moments later the truck pulls into his driveway.  He jumps out and pops open your door.  Undoing your seat belt, James scoops you out of the big vehicle, kicks that door closed and carries you inside.  He kicks off his boots just inside the garage door.

You barely notice where you are.  You are only acutely aware of being in James’ arms.  The warmth he radiates.  The rumble of his voice.  The hints of clean cotton shirt, his cologne and cigar from his neck as you rest your head on his shoulder. 

He sinks into the sofa, which puts you squarely in his lap.  He gingerly brushes a stray bit of hair from your face.  “You are safe now.”  That simple declaration opens the flood gates.  Your sobs are uncontrollable.  James just wraps you up in his arms securely.  “Let it out.”  He tenderly tucks you closer to him, “It’s ok” he coos into your hair.  He gently strokes your hair.  Your sobs slowly ease to hiccupping, then to sniffles.  The shoulder of his shirt now soaking wet.

James, holding you even tighter to his chest, leans over to the sofa table, collects the tissue box, sits back and hands you several.  Turning your head away, you blow your nose.  He gently wipes away the tear streaks down your cheeks with his thumbs.  His fingers gently lift your chin, “Let me see.”  His blue eyes filled with concern.  You let him turn your head.  His fingers gently touch your cheek.  Your face still being tender from being slapped, you flinch slightly.  He cups your head in both his hands and pulls you closer, “No bruise.”  His lips press tenderly to your forehead.

You pull back, blinking slowly, looking into his big blue eyes seeing the concern shift to – well – something more.  The denied tension inside you bubbles up flushing all other feelings away.  You take a shuddering shallow breath as he leans in closer, his eyes locked on yours.  You meet his lips.

A silent explosion happens between the two of you.  You both feed from the other.  His hand cups your head and his other arm wraps around you holding you close to his chest.  Your arms wrap around his shoulders and neck.  You are both panting when the kiss slowly breaks.

Almost in a whisper, “HR isn’t going to like this.”

A smirk spreads across his face, “I can fix that.”  He kisses you again, “You’re fired.”  A longer kiss.

“Ok.”  You relax into his arms.

He shifts you off his lap forcing your legs to pop up.  “Where are my shoes?”

His eyebrows scrunch up, “Maybe in the truck.”  He gently shifts your legs so he can stand.  Holding out his hands to you, you stand.  James gently pulls you toward him.  His fingers softly caress your arms, up over your shoulders, down your back – slowly unzipping your dress at the same time.  A shiver runs through your body.  You rest your hands on his waist.  At the end of the zipper, James fingers start working up your back, slowly pulling your dress open.  He pauses for just a moment when he expertly unhooks your bra.  His fingers pull both clothing articles off your shoulders.  They puddle around your bare feet.  Leaving you standing in front of this imposing man naked – save for the lacey purple thong.  Locking your eyes to his, you hook your thumbs into the waistband.

James’ hands quickly covers your, “I’ll get to that” his lips silence yours “In a moment.”

Your hands ghost up James arms.  His large hands rest on your naked waist.  Your fingers trace their way to the buttons on James’ shirt.  You undo the top button.  James’ fingers are making lazy circles on your hips.  The second button is undone.  You pull the fabric open and kiss the bit of his chest newly exposed.  He inhales sharply.  Another button undone.  Another kiss to his chest.  Another hitched breath.  Reaching behind him, you untuck his shirt from his jeans.  James grabs his shirt and yanks it open, the remaining buttons pop off in all directions.  You run your hands up his body to his shoulders pushing the ruined fabric from his body where it joins your dress on the ground.

You take a half step back, but James’ arms pull you back into his body.  His lips crash into yours.  Your arms wrap around his now bare back.  Your palms plant on his skin pulling him closer to you.  You can feel his erection pressing against his jeans.  His chest hairs gently rub against your very erect nipples.  Your loins flutter in response as a whimper escapes you.

Not breaking the kiss, James lifts you and carries you from the living room to his bedroom.  Kneeling up onto the bed, he lays you out under him.  His lips not breaking from yours.

Finally pulling away from your mouth, James kneels up.  His eyes drinking in your body.  His hands exploring your curves.  “You are beautiful” he breathes.

Reaching up, you undo his belt buckle and pull the leather from his pants and toss it aside.  The belt buckle clatters on the tile flooring.  James reaches to undo his jeans, but you gently push his hands away.  Smiling down at you, James lets you have your way.

Running your hands down his hips to his thighs, you feel his body respond to your hands.  James sighs deeply. Slowly your hands move to the front of James’ thighs just above his knees and slowly up.  Your fingers find his erection held in check by the fabric of his jeans.  Firm.  Strong. Throbbing.  You palm slowly up his cock.  James sucks in a sharp breath.

Pushing your arms to the side, he leans over you.  Planting his hands on either side of your body, kissing you.  He slowly lowers his body over yours.  You whimper.  “Just wait” he smiles at you.  “You can have that soon enough.”  His kisses slowly move down your neck to your chest.  “You first” he whispers into your ear.  You whimper as your pinned hips try to buck up into his.  He moves slowly down your body.  Kissing.  Nibbling.  Sucking.  Licking.  Making you moan and whimper as he leaves his love marks on your flesh.

He positions himself on his stomach between your legs.  His eyes lock on yours, his grin deliciously evil.  You wiggle your hips silently begging.  Resting on his elbows, his hands cup your butt and lift your hips to his mouth.  His gaze shifts from your eyes to look hungarily at your sopping wet thong.  He inhales deeply about half an inch from you making you whimper in anticipation. 

Flipping your legs over his shoulders frees his hands.  He pulls his knife from his back pocket.  Your eyes open wider at the blade when he snaps it open.

“I have wondered if the carpet matches the drapes” he chuckles.  The sharp blade slices the waistband easily of your thong.  James closes the blade and tosses the blade in the general direction his belt went.  Your hands fly to cover your crotch as James literally sucks the fabric from your body.  He groans in ectasy as he savors your essence from the fabric.  He spits the destroyed garment to the side.  Opening his eyes, he sees your hands covering your privates.  He looks curiously up at you.  Seeing the twinkle in your eyes, he smiles and kisses your knuckles, “Please?"”

Grinning and wiggling a little, “What do you think?” biting your lower lip at him.

Gently licking your knuckles, “They match” he chuckles.

Smiling, you move your hands, “Ta dah!”

His eyes open wide, “Ahhh!  Bare floors!”  Kissing your pubic bone, “Why?”  His fingers squeeze your ass cheeks.

Letting your fingers caress his face, “Personal preference.  I just don’t like hair … there.”

James sends his tongue in a long slow lick from your taint to your clit making your hips thrust up into his face, pulling a long groan from you.  Licking his lips, his blues eyes catch yours, “Yeah.  Hair would just get in the way.”  He lowers his mouth back down and his tongue starts exploring your sex.  His licks, swirls, suckings and tender nibbles render you unable to form a coherent word.

As the tension in you builds, he lowers your hips to the bed, wrapping his arms under your legs up over your thighs so that his hands grasp your hips, locking you in place.  The sudden inability to move intensifies the sensations that James is doing to your nether regions.  A few expert licks from James’ tongue sends you over the edge.  Your body tries to buck against the restraint James’ hands have your body. Your vision blurs and the moan becomes a scream of release.  His tongue keeps working your clit, overstimulating you to the point where you can longer move.  Panting.  Barely able to move.  Vision blurred.  You are only aware of his mouth on your cunt.

James slowly pulls away from your overstimulated clit.  He presses feather soft kisses on your inner thighs.  Slowly he releases his hold on your hips.  You are weak from release.  James slowly works his way up your body leaving a blazing trail of kisses, licks, nibbles and hickies on your flesh.  It feels like he is reviving your body with the intensity of his lips.

Your eyes flutter open to find his bright blue eyes directly in front of you.  Your arms don’t want to respond, so you crunch up and lock your lips to his.  James kisses you back with a passion that reaches deep into you – to your very soul.  His eyes fill with everything his kiss gives to you.  Passion.  Desire.  Wants.  Needs.  Lust.  You two feed off that kiss.

Recovering, you realize that he has shed his jeans.  His naked body is pressed against yours.  His erection is twitching at your dripping opening.  Your fingers find his face, tracing his eyebrows, down his nose, his mustache.  His lips kiss your fingertips, gently sucking on the pads of your fingers.  Reaching between your bodies he teases your clit with dripping end of his cock leaving you moaning and wiggling under his torturous teasings.  The only words you can barely utter “James, please.”

James grins at you and slowly pushes the head into your soaked pussy.  The size slowly filling you makes you suck in a deep breath, your eyes flaring wide.

“Shh, shh” James coos at you as he pauses.  “Breath” he whispers.

It takes you a few moments to adjust to the feeling of him stretching deep inside you.  Once the discomfort dissipates, you rock your hips up and hook a leg around his waist, your heel digging into his ass forcing him still deeper into you.  This action makes you both inhale deeply. 

James plants both his hands above your shoulders.  His knees nudge up tight against your hips, forcing him still deeper into you.  He lowers his face down to the crook of your neck, his panting breath warm on your flesh.  You can tell he’s holding back.  Waiting on you.  Wrapping your arms around him, you turn your face to his ear right by your lips.  Kissing his ear, you whisper, “yes.”

James’ groan reverberates through your body as he slowly starts moving his hips.  His shaft gets impossibly thicker, stretching and filling you as never before.  At first, James’ movements are slow.  You can feel every vein in his cock, the shape of the head as he slowly moves in and out of your tight hole.  His voice growls in your ear “You are so tight.”  He grunts as his cock drives slowly into you “So wet.”

Your fingers dig into his back, clutching his neck.  You tighten your leg around his waist “All for you” as he dives deeper.  He growls louder and sinks his teeth into your shoulder.

Arching your back, you cry out in both ectasy and pain.  You use all your strength to hold his head close to your neck.  Jame’s teeth tighten on your shoulder.  He keeps a steady rhythm pounding his hips against yours.  The pressure building in you.  The room is filled with the sounds of wet flesh slapping wet flesh as he pounds away in you.  The obscene sound of his cock sliding in and out of your pussy.  Both of you are reduced to primal grunts and groans.  You rake your nails down his back.  Letting go of your shoulder, he lifts his head roaring, his hips slamming even harder into you.  You reach down and claw his ass.  He cries out again.  His thrusts slamming you into his arms above your shoulders, holding you for his pounding pleasure.

The orgasms crash into you both at the same time.  The gummy walls of your cunt squeeze his cock intensely as his cum fills you.  James manages a few jagged thrusts before calming and slowly lowering his weight on to your body.  His softening cock slides from within you.  You can feel the warm mix of your climaxes seeping out.

His hands caress you.  Starting with your hair.  Slowly touching your face.  His fingers gently closing your eyelids.  “Just feel” he whispers into your ear.  His fingers glide gently over your neck, over your shoulder.  As they move over your bicep, sleep grabs hold and pulls you under.

A gentle rumble in your ribs pulls you back to wakefulness.  Your left arm is over your head, your right hand is draped over James left arm – which is wrapped around your ribs.  He is sound asleep, his face burrowed into your left side.  The top of his head pressed into your armpit – keeping you from lowering that arm.  His left leg is up over your hips.  Your legs dangle over his right thigh.

You have not felt this way – safe – in ages.  You softly trace the intricate tattoos on James’ left forearm.  He snorfels into your ribs which tickles and makes you giggle.  He tightens his hold on your ribs and blows mouth farts on your side.  You squeal in laughter.  He blows another.  “Stop!  I gotta pee!” you cry out in laughter.

Rising up on his elbow, a smile spreads across his face to his eyes.  James leans over you planting a kiss on you.  He releases his hold on you, “Bathroom is that way” he points.

Slipping off the bed you make your way to the door indicated.  Finding the toilet in it’s own little room, you sigh in relief.  Washing your hands after, you quickly return to the bedroom. 

James passes you “My turn” landing a backhand smack to your bare ass.

You stretch out on the bed.  James returns and spoons up behind you, pulling you into his body.  Kissing your neck, “Oh shit.  I bruised you.”  You can feel his fingers tracing out the spot on your neck.

“That will cover up ok.”  You roll to your back within his arms.  “At least you didn’t draw blood.”

Shaking his head, “Not my thing.”

Smiling, you pull his face closer and kiss him.

“Shouldn’t you be at work?” James grins at you.

Doing an exaggerated pout, “I got fired.”

James, trying to be serious, “I know a guy.  I could put in a good word for you.”

A wicked smile grows on your face.  “That’s sweet.  But …”  Leading with your hips, you manage to roll him to his back letting the momentum carry you up on top of him.  “There’s a new position I thought I’d try for.”  You grind your dampening crotch into his quickly growing erection.

“Oh!  That’s interesting.”

Reaching between your bodies, you place his cockhead at your entrance, “I hear the interview is very penetrating” as you slowly sink down his length, stretching your depths.

James groans and pulls down on your hips, driving deeper into you.  “Well, that’s a great opening” he manages.  Using your Kegels, you grip his cock, squeezing and releasing.  He groans again.

James thrusts his hips up, overbalancing you.  Catching yourself on his shoulders – your left hand sliding off and landing by his neck.  James cups the back of your head and kisses you as you keep your actions working his cock.  Breaking the kiss, “That’s great multi-tasking abilities” he hisses.

Planting both your hands on his chest, you sit back up driving him deeper into your wetness.

Feeling his response, you speed up the rhythm.  His eyes roll back as you can feel his cock twitch inside you.  James reaches for your clit, but you grab his hands, “uh huh.  This is all for you.”  A few more strategic grinds and Kegels and he is undone.  With grunts and groans he fills your insides, your gummy walls milking every drop out of him.

James’ hands caress up your sides gently urging you down to his side.  He kisses your forehead, “You’re hired” he smirks.  You kiss his face and neck.  He lazily wraps his arms around you and heaves a sigh.  There you two linger. 

Then with a speed and agility you didn’t know he had, you are caught off guard as you find yourself on your stomach, he is behind you, his knees have knocked yours wide and you are impaled by his cock slamming back into your still dripping cunt.  His large hands pulling you tight against his body.

You can feel his chest hairs grazing your back as he leans over you, “Now.”  He slams into you again, “Let’s talk benefits.”

Only one word barely escapes your lips “ok!”

I went snorfelling and found this!

Rockies Christmas - Day 4

Warnings:  Shameless product placement plugs, NSFW, Sex, oral sex, Holiday sex

It’s dark still as I roll over and pat his side of the bed.  Empty.  I listen.  He’s in the studio, guitar screaming.  Having a house does have its advantages over an apartment.  Stretching, I decide to get up.  Pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a light sweater, I make up the bed. 

I grab the dirty clothes hamper and lug it to the laundry room.  After starting a load, I go to the kitchen.  Starting the coffee maker, I pull out what I need to make omelets.  I make our breakfast bopping out to what James is working on in the studio.  I put our plates on the table.  James has already turned on the tree lights. 

I make my way into his studio.  He’s just cranking on his guitar.  I lean against the wall and just watch him create.  He’s completely lost in his music.  I love to watch him.  His eyes closed, head thrown back just rocking out.  The tune ends.  He clicks on his computer.  He puts his guitar into its stand, and scrubs his eyes.

“Damn!  That sounds great!” as I walk toward him.

He turns and looks at me, a big grin plastered on his face.  “I’m really happy with that one!” he pulls me close. 

I cup his face and kiss him.  “Breakfast is ready.”

He plants a deep kiss on me, “Great tune followed by breakfast!”  He kisses me again.

“C’mon, the omelets are getting cold.”

Wrapping his arms around me, crushing my face into his chest, “Omelets!” as he carries me – laughing – to the kitchen.  Putting me on my feet, he sticks his finger into the middle of his omelet, “Still warm!” 

“Sit!  I’ll go get the coffee.”  I love seeing him happy.  His glacier blue eyes glittering, a cheesy grin plastered on his face as he digs into his omelet.  Fixing our coffees, I set them on the table and dig into my own plate.  The winds gust against the windows.  James’ playing had covered that sound.  I tense up a little.

James stands and goes to the living room.  A moment later, Christmas music is filling the house.  “That better?” as he kisses the top of my head.

“Yes, thank you.”

His hands squeeze my shoulders, “I got you.”  He reclaims his seat.

I smile at him.  “Are you done?”

“With my omelet or playing?” he grins at me.

I lean on the table, “Both” I smile at him.

“Yup” he pats his stomach.  Then he points at his empty plate, “Did Grandma show you how to make omelets?”

“She did.”  I collect his plate and mine.  Moving into the kitchen, I put them into the dishwasher and start it.

James stands, stretches – his shirt rising up showing off his belly just above his waistband on his sweats – smiling at me.  “Let’s finish this tree.” 

“What time did you wake up?” as I follow him into the living room. 

Shrugging, “Didn’t look at a clock.  Knew I needed to get that tune recorded.”  He stops short, I plow into his back.  Laughing, he grabs me to keep me from falling.  Turning to me, “You ok?” his hands on my waist.

“I prefer to slam into this side” I purr up at him bumping my hips into him.

He kisses my forehead, “Later” he wiggles his eyebrows at me.  “Now.  Ornaments.”

Smiling up at him, I step back.  As he begins digging out the ornaments, I take the bins that we’re done with to the storage room and re-shelve them.  I also take all the cushions from the patio furniture to the storage room too.  His eyes twinkle as he hangs the ornaments.  I wonder if there are enough ornaments as it has to be a 12 foot tall tree.  He tells me the story behind each one.  There’s probably two dozen or more made by his kids when they were in grade school.  His face is glowing in the memories and lights from the tree.  He finally steps back moving the step ladder out of the way.  Nodding, “I think that’s got it.”

“It’s beautiful” I almost whisper.

“Almost” he grins at me.  He goes to a drawer in the wall unit, “Here.”

He hands me a paper wrapped item.  I slowly unwrap it.  “My snowflake!”

“I grabbed that just before we left NY.  I wanted you to have an ornament on the tree here.”  He gives me a goofy look, “Tree here Colorado home - here.”  I try to not laugh, but loose that battle.  He joins me.  Once we get our selves together, James kisses me.  “Where do you want to hang it?”

I approach the tree.  There’s a branch with nothing on it.  I just give him a look as it’s obvious now he’s left that spot open.  “There.”  I point grinning at him.

He comes up to me, “There?”  He wraps his arms around me, “Can’t you reach that branch?” grinning at me.  I reach up as far as I can, but the branch is still about three inches out of my reach.  “C’mon!” his fingers tickle me.  “Reach!”  I’m giggling and squirming.  His arms tighten and he lifts me up about an inch, “Stretch!”  I’m outright laughing now.  Another inch, “So close!” he’s laughing now too.  I put my hands on his shoulders and push up – wrapping my legs around his thighs – and finally hang my snowflake on the tree.  I find myself under him on the floor laughing.  His face is buried into my neck laughing.  He flops to his back breathing hard with a smirk on his face.  Rolling over, I straddle his hips.

His eyes, gawd, those stunning blue eyes, look up at me.  His hands rest on my thighs.  I can feel him getting hard.  “What are you thinking?” I purr.

“That I might have an early present for you.”

I raise my eyebrows, “Something just … pop up?” as I grind into his growing erection.

Nodding, “You could say that.”

I push myself to my feet, ass in the air – downward dog from yoga coming in handy - but grab the waistband of his pants and pull them off.  His erection stands tall.  I drop my pants, stare into those blue eyes, put my fingers on his belly and slowly kneel back down – one hand guiding him into me.  “I have something that you can … open … now” I sigh out as he fills me.

His fingers grab my hips, “Ohhhh, you are wicked.”

I rock my hips, my gummy walls grabbing him, “Yes, I am.”

His hips buck up as his hands pull down on my hips impaling me.  My head lolls back.  I lean back resting my hands on his thighs.  His hands roam over my body, his hips not stopping.  My breaths start shortening.  He lifts a knee overbalancing me into his chest.  He rolls us over, pulling out of me slightly, “Not yet” his lips on my neck.  I whine loudly trying to force him back into me.  I just get an evil grin from him.  He knocks his knees up against my ass, lifting my hips.  His left hand runs up my body from pubic bone to sternum holding my back to the floor.  His right hand grabs the base of his cock.  He teases my clit with his cock head gently.  I paw at his thighs as I can’t get a grip on them trying to get him into me.  I’m a gasping mewling mess at his mercy.  Without warning, he slams into me.  His balls slapping my taint, his left hand holding me firmly in place, his right hand pulling my thigh.  I can only cry out in pure pleasure, “awgain.  Please … James … again.”  He pulls out slowly, “As you wish” and he nails me hard several times in a row.  My body arches off the floor even with his weight pinning me in place.  He hooks my knee with his arm and tosses my leg over his shoulder.  My other leg follows.  He holds me by my thighs tight to him.  I reach for him and manage to get my fingers behind his knees, and I pull.  He grunts.  He thrusts.  He ruts.  Hard.  Deep.  He’s growling at me.  I tug his knees again, he bottoms out in me and we both explode.  The cheery holiday music is drowned out with our total porno soundtrack sounds.  He slowly sits back easing out of me.  He lowers my legs to either side of his body.  My eyes blink open.  I’m looking up into the tree.  My head is literally a good foot under the tree.

“uhm, James” I tap his knees, “a little help here.”

He snorts in laughter, “That’s a sight!”  He grabs my hips and tugs.  “Wonder what the Big Guy would think to see you under there!”  Then he helps me sit up. 

“That I’m a very naughty good girl!” as I laugh.  Then I grab my stretchy pants and stuff them between my legs. 

“Leaking?” he asks merrily.

“Half that leakage is you!” I grin back at him.  He stands up and pulls me to my feet.  I crash into his chest, “woah.”

“You ok?”

“Headrush.” 

His fingers stroke my hair, “Take your time.”

I push back a little, “Can’t.  Still leaking.”

“Puddle?”

“Working on pond” as I step away from his body and head towards our bedroom with my yoga pants clasped between my legs. 

As I’m passing the bed, James pushes me on to it.  He starts crawling up the bed looking every bit the hungry lion.  “You can leak all over the bedding” as he grabs my pants and tosses them aside.  I creep backwards up the bed, chewing my bottom lip.  “I’m not done with you yet” his voice a low velvet rumble.  He grabs my ankles and pulls me back toward him as I let out a yelp.  He yanks my legs wide and flops between them, his hands holding my knees wide.  His eyes are still staring me down as he licks his lips.  A loud whimper escapes me.  He presses tender kisses to my pussy.  I squirm without escape.  An evil grin spreads across his face, “The second one usually takes longer.”  His tongue flicks my clit.  I gasp.  “And I’m not in any hurry.”  He sinks down between my legs, his tongue starts gently lapping at me.  Small, precious, tender little licks that last forever.  And not long enough.  His glorious eyes holding mine.  He slow blinks me and sends his tongue on a broad stroke from my entrance to my clit.  My head hits the pillow. 

And the headboard. 

Reaching up with both arms, I push myself down some.  Right into his mouth.  His chuckle vibrates my cunt.  I moan loudly.  His mouth latches onto my clit with a power suction.  I cry out and my hips buck up into his mouth, making him chuckle again.  It’s almost too much and not enough at the same time.  My hands lock over his still holding my knees firmly and obscenely wide.  His tongue starts flicking my clit while it’s still trapped in the suction of his mouth.  “Ahh  gawds  Jaammess” and I am thrown down the Mt Everest of orgasms.  James locks my hips with his hands holding me tightly as I thrash in his grip.  My vision blurs, my body twitches, my voice just whimpering mewlings.  I feel the tension ease on my clit as he lets it literally pop out of his mouth.  I feel him crawl up over me.  Tucking me into his arms, his legs gently pull mine together.  I whimper softly.  I can feel his lips next to my ear, “Shhh” his breath warm on my skin.  I try to reach up to grab his arm, but I have no strength.  I feel his chest vibrate as he chuckles, “Ooops.  I may have overdid.”

I manage to get my head to turn towards him, “I’m not complaining.”

His hands caress from the crown of my head down to my neck, “You can barely speak” he chuffs at me.

I kinda laugh as my eyes try to blink open.  Those big blue eyes are right there.  I kiss his lips.  His mustache smells of me.  His hand cups my face holding us in the kiss.  I let him tuck my head under his chin, “Shhh.  No rush.”  I heave a sigh and he pulls me closer.  I drift in the far reaches of the galaxy.  Somewhere in the background Bing Crosby is caroling about Christmas chestnuts.

James shifting my arm wakes me.  “Hey.  Didn’t mean to wake you” he whispers. 

“Stsok”

His eyes light up, “Man, you are still gone!”  His fingers caress my face.

I stir some, “Ow.”

“What hurts?”

Trying to sit up, “Kinda everything.”  I scrub my eyes, “And I gotta pee.”

“Yeah, I do too.”  He releases his hold on me.  Sliding off the bed, he gently pulls me to my feet.  I grunt softly.  I can feel him laughing softly.  As soon as my bare feet hit the cold tile floor in the bathroom, I’m wide awake.  He lets me use the toilet first.  I’m shivering slightly while washing my hands when he’s done.  He quickly washes his and puts his hands on my shoulders, “You need a robe, c’mon.”  Sliding into the big comfy robe, I shiver once more.

“I’m hungry.”

James considers a moment, “There’s leftover pizza.”

I nod, “That sounds really good.”

Making our way into the kitchen, I grab a plate and a couple cold slices of my – as James calls it – fruity pie and take it to the living room.  James heats his meaty slices and joins me. 

The windows behind the tree are quickly fading to black as the sky turns to night.  The lights on the tree make the ornaments sparkle.  There are no other lights on in the room.  I lean into his bicep, still munching my pizza.  “That’s a pretty tree” I sigh out between bites. 

“yes it is” he breaths at me.

We sit for a time just being.  Leaning into one another.  The Christmas music still playing softly.  Happily munching left over pizza.

I rock my head back, looking up at him.  His eyes are closed.  I take his plate and stand up.  He sniffs awake.  “C’mon.  Beddy-boo time” I coo at him.

“Mmmk” he mumbles standing.

I push him towards the bedroom, putting our plates into the sink on the way and quickly follow him.  He’s climbing into bed holding the covers up for me.  I let the robe slip off and climb into bed.  His arms snake around me pulling my body tight against his.  As I curl up around his arm as my pillow, my eyes drift closed. 

Michael Bublé is serenading us to sleep.

Rockies Christmas - Day 2

And here's today's!

Warnings: Fluff mostly. Christmas tree cutting, chainsaw and ATV use.

I roll over into his body.  He’s still gently snoring, one arm wrapped around my shoulders.  Laying on my side, I rest my left hand on his chest.  My ring glints in the rising sun.  The memories flood my brain.  Me almost walking out on him a few months ago.  The talks – some heated – during that snowstorm that trapped us in this house.  The trip to California for him to work on some songs.  Me getting super sick while there.  The trip to NYC.  His face seeing the Parade in person.  The trees in Santa’s wonderland.  The look in James’ eyes.  My insides still flutter seeing the ring.  My heart is still rapting around the clouds.  My brain no longer screaming ‘Hold on a second here’. 

We have both made changes.  Both worked on becoming better people.  Better partners.  Better lovers.  Well, the last one has never really been an issue.  I can still feel how he’d stretched me out in the shower yesterday when we got back to the house.  Home Colorado home.  I snicker softly to myself.  He shifts slightly in his sleep, his arm tightening slightly around me, then relaxing again.  His tattoo laced body is still in excellent shape.  His arms tight from years of playing guitar.  His legs strong from his stage stance – legs wide and leaning back.  His chest firm.  His belly might be a little poochy since we have eaten a lot over the past couple of weeks.  I smile gently as I run my hand over it.  A couple more weeks won’t hurt.  His hand gently cups mine.  “mmm” he sighs.

“Morning handsome” I whisper.

He lifts my hand to his lips, “Morning gorgeous” he whispers back.

I lower my head back to his chest.  His hand starts playing with my hair.  He heaves a sigh.  Looking up at him, “You ok?”

He pulls me closer, “Yeah.”  He kisses my hair, “I’m good.”  His blue eyes catch mine.  “I’m better than good.”  He kisses my forehead, “I’m great.”  He pulls me closer.  “How you doing?”

I lean in to his body, “Wonderful.”  He cocks a smile and wiggles his eyebrows.

Both our stomachs rumble.  And we both burst out laughing.  He flips the covers off us, “C’mon.  Let’s get breakfast” as he pushes me from bed.

I flip the covers back over the bed, “You making or me?”

“Will you make your breakfast sandwiches, please?”  His big blue puppy eyes blink at me.

Giggling, “Yes!”  I grab my robe, “You get to make the coffee.”

“Yes!” he grunts as he pulls on a robe.

Twenty minutes later we are sitting on the back patio, the firepit lit, munching happily on our breakfast.  My toes are shoved under his thighs in his chair.  Between bites, his hand wraps around my ankle gently.  We watch the wildlife – namely birds and squirrels – play in the trees.

Sighing, I look over at him, “What’s the plan today?”

James rubs from my ankle up my calf, “Well, I should probably find the decorations in the garage.  There might be some in the big storage area off the media room.”

“Where do you store your tree?”

He just points to the woods.  I give him a look.  “I go cut one” he says plainly.

“Like, with an axe, cut one?” my eyebrows are nearly at my hairline.

He sits up in his chair, “You’ve never cut a Christmas tree?”  I slump and give him a look.  “Oh.  Right.  Big city girl.”  He stands up and pulls me to my feet, “Then to the forest we go!”  He turns off the firepit, grabs our plates and almost shoves me inside.  Our breakfast dishes get dropped into the sink, and he’s pulling me to our bedroom.  “You’ll need something that you won’t care if it gets sticky.”

“Sticky?”

A kiss to my forehead, “Sap.”  He stops a second and really looks at me.  “You’ve never had a real tree.  Have you?” 

I just shake my head.  “They are super expensive in New York City.”

“What kind of tree did you have?”

“I still use my Grandmother’s aluminum one.”

“WHAT??”  Shaking his head, “Nope not here.”  He gets a really big grin, “Oh!  This is going to be fun!”  He smacks my ass, “C’mon!”

Ten minutes later, I’m dressed in a pair of his old sweatpants over my stretchy pants with one of his old t-shirts under a super baggy sweatshirt that both look like he’d worn them to paint something.  My big winter boots complete my outfit.  We put together a cooler - filled with some quickie sandwiches, a few Squeezed to Death cans, some granola bars and a couple of chocolate bars - that he’s strapped onto the back of the huge ATV.  James pulls out a chainsaw in its case, some rope and small toolbox from the back of the garage and adds them beside the cooler.  He was super careful moving the big machine past my Shelby.  “We should drive that once more before winter really sets in” he mentions in passing.  He closes the garage door and plops me onto the rig.  Grabbing a helmet, he straps it on me.  He puts on his own helmet and climbs up onto the ATV.  Sitting between my knees he turns, “Try not to pull me too hard with your arms.”  He pulls my knees into his hips, “Squeeze here.”  I nod.  “If you need my attention, tap my back.”  Again I nod.  “You ok?”

“I’ve never been on one of these.”  I look at him, I can’t hide the concern on my face.

He smiles at me – our helmets won’t let him kiss me – “I got you.”  He cocks a lopsided smile, “You trust me?”

I smile at him, “Completely.”

His smile broadens, he pats my knees, then turns and fires up the machine.  Its huge engine screams to life vibrating me.  He scooches back a little, pulls my one knee a little tighter into his hip and slowly pulls the rig down the driveway.  I gently wrap my arms around his mid-section, trying to keep my knees locked tightly to his hips.  I can tell he’s having a blast.  I’m still terrified that I’m going to fall off the back.  But I begin to realize that he’s not going to let that happen.  He takes us up into the hills.  I think we’re on a trail.  I could be wrong.  My helmet takes a branch or two, so I lean in a little closer to his back.  Eventually, he pulls the rig to a stop and kills the engine.  The quiet is deafening.  He spins to look at me.  His eyes sparkling with joy.  “Well?”  He tugs off his helmet.

I nod, “Ok.  It was fun.”

He helps me pull my helmet off, “Sorry about those branches.  That’s why the helmet tho.”  Then he plants a toe curling, earth stopping, crotch instantly sopping wet kiss, on me.  Pulling away from me, he’s just smiling.

“I have never seen you so happy.”

“I love being out here.”  He helps me off the ATV, “I love getting up here.”

“You love the engine.”

Nodding, “Nnyeah, that too!”  Another big smooch.  He walks me a few feet, “And this.”  He turns me.

I gasp.  I didn’t realize how high we’d gone.  There is the valley floor laid out below us.  The houses tiny.  The highway looking like a thin grey ribbon.  Suddenly, the cry of an eagle.  James spots it and points it out to me.  I can only stand there staring.  I lose the big bird in the sun. 

James’ hand slides down my arm to my hand, “This is as far as I take the 4-wheeler.  Where I want to cut the tree is up this way.”  He undoes the straps and grabs the chainsaw.  “Can you carry these please?”  He hands me the rope and the toolbox.  I collect them from him.  As we walk away from the ATV, James pulls the key.  “Don’t want those pesky peeping tom squirrels stealing it!”

I laugh at him and follow his lead.  I have no idea how far we walk.  He leads the way into a grove of evergreens.  He sets the chainsaw down.  We were both panting.  He looks at me, “You ok?”

“A little light headed, but ok.”

“Yeah, I forgot about the altitude.”  He sits on a fallen tree and pats it.  “Come sit for a minute.”  I sink onto the trunk.  James is looking at the trees.  “Now.  To find one that’s fairly straight.  Branches evenly spaced.”

“How do you know how tall?”

“Height isn’t the issue.  I can always cut some from the bottom at home.”  He looks at me, “Those lower branches can be used to decorate the house.”  He holds up a finger, “But it can’t be too tall, then it will be a pain to get down the hill.”

I cock a look at him, “Down the hill?”

He just laughs, pats my thigh, and standing, “C’mon.  I want to get home before dark.”

I stand, collecting the rope and toolbox then follow him into the trees.  After a few hundred feet, we come into a bigger clearing.  Well, a clearer space.  With the stumps in the area, it is obviously where he’s cut trees in previous years.  He smiles at the look on my face, “Yeah, me and the kids have thinned trees here for a long time.”  He sets the chainsaw down on a large stump.  “Some of these were cleared before I found this spot.”  I perch on the stump.  James looks around at the trees.  “Here.”  He holds his hand out to me and leads me to a good-sized tree.  “What do you think of this one?”  We both walk around it. 

“Where will this go?”

“I usually put it in the corner windows by the kitchen.”

Shaking a couple of boughs, “It looks good to me.”

“I think we have a tree!”  He goes to the uphill side of it, “Watch it and see if anything flies or scampers out of it.”  He shifts a couple of boughs and literally gives the trunk a couple of solid kicks.  “Anything?”

“I didn’t see anything.”

“Good.  We’re not taking somebodies home.”  He almost skips to get the chainsaw.  Carrying it back with the rope and toolbox, he sets up a work area a distance from the tree. “Don’t want it coming down on the case.”  He pulls out a pair of blue plastic gloves for me and puts on his big leather work gloves.  Pulling out the chainsaw, I take a step back.  The chain looks absolutely wicked.  Before he starts it, “I want you to stay where I can see you.  Once this starts, I won’t be able to hear you.  And this can take off a limb in a heartbeat.”  I can tell he’s serious.  I nod.  “I’m going to try to lay it down that way” he motions with his arm “so stay over this way.  But be ready to jump if the tree decides to fall the wrong way.”  Again, I nod.  He leans into me with a quick kiss.  Then setting the chainsaw on the ground, he yanks on the starter rope, and it buzzes to life.  It’s ear splitting in what had been a quiet forest.  James shoves his way into the boughs on the downhill side.  The pitch in the chainsaw noise drops as it starts to cut.  I can see the sawdust flying out of the branches.  The tree is vibrating violently.  He shifts to the uphill side of the trunk.  Then it starts to lay down, almost gently.  James steps out of the boughs and guides the tree all the way to the ground.  He lets the chainsaw sputter off.  “Ta dah!” he grins.  “One Christmas tree!”  He moves to the work area and puts the chainsaw down.  “Now,” he pulls me to him, “to get it home.”  He gives me a quick kiss.

It took us some time to lash the tree up so that the branches were all pointed to the top of the tree.  The smell of fresh pine fills my nose.  James makes a couple of loops around the lower branches to make pulling the tree a little easier.  I carry the chainsaw case and toolbox.  Watching him makes me smile. “What?” he chuffs.

“You look like a woodsman.”

“Why thank you!”

I just smile at him. 

We pass the big stump where we’d taken a break.  There were a couple of times when the rope around our tree gets snarled up in bushes that I work free.  Finally, the ATV comes into view.  James drops the tree next to the rig, panting.  I’m not far behind, breathing just as hard.  “That’s a work out.”

His hands on his knees, “No shit.” 

My little plastic gloves are all sticky with pine sap, so I tug them off and stuff them into the sweatshirt pocket.  I pull open the cooler and hand him a Squeezed to Death can.  He chugs a good portion of it.  He hands me the can and I finish it.  Putting the empty can back into the cooler, “How does the tree go on the ATV?” as I look between the two.

James smiles, “It kinda gets drug behind it.”  He goes to a nearby fallen log and reaches under it.  He pulls out two long poles.  “I keep these here” he grins.  They have been drilled with a huge bolt through one end.  This bolt James attaches to the cargo basket.  About halfway down the poles is another shorter one that James positions across them.  They now look like a huge capital A bolted to the cargo rack.  Grabbing the tree, James positions it on that cross bar between the two long ones, top of the tree between his feet.  Seeing what he’s going to do, I go hold the tree while he finishes tying it in place.  He drops an arm around my shoulders, “You might have to snug up close to me.”

Wrapping an arm around his waist, “That’s not a problem!”  I brush the pine needles and sawdust from his hair.

He kisses my hair, “Sandwich time.  I’m starving.”

Sitting on the ground, we eat the sandwiches, granola bars with the chocolate bars after.  The last cans of Squeezed to Death are finished and tossed back into the cooler with the other wrappings.  James straps the chainsaw and the cooler back in place.  “Ready?”

Standing up and brushing off my butt, “Yup.”  He helps me onto the ATV seat and makes sure that my helmet is secure. 

“I might have to stand up on the trip back.  Put your hands here” he takes my hand and puts them on the cargo post, “and lean back.”

“ok.”

He gives me a kiss, puts his own helmet on, straddling the machine he powers it on.  He nods at me, I grab the cargo post.  He slowly starts moving the machine and watching the towing poles.  Since he’s not sitting, I have to hold on tightly to the cargo rack posts.  The trip back was much slower than the trip up.  We pull into the driveway just as the sun is setting.  Powering off the big machine, James sits between my knees and pulls off his helmet.  I pull mine off.  I can tell he’s exhausted.  He gets off the ATV, helps me off and opens the garage door.  I pull off the cooler, toolbox and chainsaw case.  As I walk toward the garage, he stops me and kisses me.  Although he’s exhausted, I can tell he’s happy.  I set the items on his workbench in the garage.  He digs out a huge tree stand from the garage shelves.  I help him get the stand onto the trunk.  He stands the tree up in the middle of the driveway and pulls the ropes off.  The branches spring open.  James grabs the garden hose and sprays down the tree thoroughly.  Tons of dust and dirt fly out of the branches.  He puts the hose back and stands behind me, his hands on my waist.  “It’s gonna be a pretty tree.”  He pulls me towards the garage door.

“You’re just going to leave it there?”

He huffs a gentle laugh, “Well, yeah, city girl.  Right now, it’s dripping wet.  It’ll get sprayed down again tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll bring it in.”

“Why spray it down?”

He runs his fingers over my neck lightly “To get the creepy crawlers out of it!”

I squeak at his fingers.  “Spray it all you want!”  I bat his fingers from my neck, “You know I hate spiders!”

“And that’s such a disappointment for Kirk” he sighs dramatically.

“I’m not interested in Kirk” as I grab his ass.

He grabs my waist, “Good!” pulling me into a deep kiss.

I look into his eyes as we part the kiss.  They are almost glowing. 

He looks at the ATV, “I should put that in the garage.”

“C’mon.  I’ll help.”

He undoes the towing poles and I lay them down between his truck and my Shelby.  He pushes the ATV in the garage far enough so that the door will close. 

Once inside, I take his hand and lead him upstairs to our bathroom.  I start the hot water filling the tub while he uses the toilet.  He comes out carrying his pants.  “That’s a look” I sigh.  He just smiles.  I help pull off the rest of his clothes.  “In” I point at the tub.  He slowly sinks into the hot water.  Taking off my clothes, I lob all our sticky dirties towards the laundry basket in the corner.  I grab a couple of towels and drop them on the floor at the end of the free-standing tub.  Kneeling on them, I dig my fingers into his shoulders and neck.  He groans sharply.  I take the warm water and let it flow from my hands over his shoulders.  I continue to give him a rub down until he’s not groaning as badly.  He grabs my left hand and pulls me to the side of the tub and pulling a little harder on my wrist, I step into the tub sinking down between his legs.  He pulls my back into his chest wrapping both arms around me, his hands cupping my breasts.

“That was fun today” he breaths into my hair.

“I did enjoy that.”  I lift his right hand and kiss his thumb joint where it joins his hand, sucking softly on the tender skin tattooed with his barbed M there.  He just moans softly.  I pull his right hand to my chest.  My left hand gently caresses his neck and shoulder.  His breathing evens out.  I just smile and let him snooze a bit.  The water gets a bit chilly, “Hey, c’mon” I say gently.  He sniffs deeply, stirring awake.  Exiting the tub, I grab a towel and quickly dry off.  He stands up and steps out of the tub.  I take the other towel and dry his back, then he takes the towel and dries the rest of himself off while I drain the tub.  I take his hand and lead him out of the bathroom, tossing both towels on the counter and flipping off the light.  I flip back the covers on the bed and gently push him in, climbing in next to him.  He pulls me to his side.  I flip the covers up over us.  He’s asleep before I can get the lights turned off.  I curl up next to him, my head on his chest. 

I fall asleep listing to his steady heartbeat.

Did anyone else notice that his Scary Guy is branded into his hat?