I Had To Chuckle!! This Came Up In My FB Feed!!

I am reduced to a sticky mess.....

Happy 1995🍻🍻

Somebody's happy!

Reflections

Finally fulfilling a request for a backstory. I hope this answers some questions from the "Snow Way to Escape" start...

Warnings: The ending NSFW, p in v sex, Anxiety mentioned.

Reflections

Here I lie.  In a bed in a private overwater hut in the tropical heat of the Maldives.  Naked.  He’s lying on my body, also naked.  His head between my breasts, the silvered hairs on his head tickling my chin.  One tattooed arm looped under my right arm.  The other draped over my side, that tattooed hand resting on my left bicep.  His stomach pressing into my groin.  Our legs a tangled puzzle.  The air filled with the scent of tropical flowers, salt from the sea, and the aftermath of our last round of lovemaking.  Sex.  Fucking. Probably round number six for the day.  He’s sound asleep.  I kiss the top of his head, with memories of how I got pinned here under this megarocksuperstargod flooding my brain.

Derek, a former co-worker, had wanted me to go to a charity car show event.  Derek was taking his girl Sasha.  I needed a date, soooo, he called in a favor.  Long story short, James ended up being my plus one.  Or I was his plus one?  We never did get that sorted.  He was reserved when we first met.  Not sure if I was fan or not.  But that changed when I about dove under the hood of the 1953 Buick Skylark that was on display at the car show.  I love a well put together automobile.  That the car is painted purple helped!

“You like it?” James asked me, with a grin growing on his mug.

“It’s beautifully done!” I smiled as I tried again to get closer to it, but respecting the rope line.

“You want a closer look?” James grinned as he easily stepped over the rope line.  I guess I had a dumbfounded look on my face.  “It’s ok.”  His grin going what I came to know as his psycho grin.  “It’s my car” as he held out his hand to me.  Derek nudged my shoulder.  I stepped over the rope line and James pointed out all the modifications that he actually did himself.  Opening the driver’s door “Have a seat” he smiled at me.  “Would you like to fire it up?”

“Sure!  But I can’t reach the pedals” I giggled, wiggling my feet a good foot from the pedals.

“Skooch over then.”  I slid over to the passenger side as James stepped into the car.  The car rumbled to life.  James told me more about the car as he revved the engine.  He finally turned the engine off.  “What do you think?”

I gave him a sidelong glance, “Meh.”  Then bust out laughing at the look on his face.  “It’s gorgeous!” I grinned broadly at him, my eyes flaring wide at him.

“I’ll have to show you my other cars!” he grinned from ear to ear.

The rest of that day, James and I wandered the car show checking out the other vehicles on display.  He admitted that he’s not done any cars in recent years and his welding is now used making tables for charity auctions, or repairing the heavy equipment he uses at both his Colorado and California homes. 

I don’t know when or where Derek and Sasha left us during the show.  I took some ribbing from him the next work day.  James took me out to dinner that night.  We had sushi.

Over the next two weeks, James would call or text me inviting me out to dinner about every other day.  There was something beneath the rockstargod mask that he wore in public that pulled me in.  He made me laugh.  Granted, most of the time it was his kooky really bad dad jokes.  There was an innocence in him.  It’s still there.  It’s hidden unless he’s alone with someone that he’s super comfortable with.

The band headed out for the European leg of the tour.  James would call or text me everyday.  When they returned to the states from Europe, James asked me to join him on the road.  I had some PTO accrued, so I took it.  Being on a tour is mind boggling.  The sheer number of people in the stadium stands every show night.  The sheer number of people that keep the production running.  The fact that there’s a routine that sets up is a help.  But it’s still mind dumbing.

As summer began to fade, James begin asking me about the possibility of staying with him when he returned to Colorado.  Hindsight being 20/20, I now know that he was terrified of having all that time off.  Alone.  His divorce long since finaled.  The recent girlfriend being shifted out of his life.  His kids having their own lives.  The other band members having family commitments that he didn’t want to intrude on.  I remember there was something in his eyes when he asked me.  The vulnerability peeped through.  I said yes.

That’s when the comparisons started.  “Well, the wife would fold the sheets this way.”  “The ex would keep the ketchup in the cupboard, not the fridge.”  My constant come back:  “They aren’t me and I’m not them.”  Those comparisons would pop up randomly.

But my moving into his Colorado house was almost our undoing.  It started out great.  We’d go on hikes.  He’d take me to the best steak houses for dinner.  Almost like he was showing me off.  I went with him when he took his big ass truck in to the dealership for some warranty work.  He was talking with the service dept guy and I was left in the show room.  That was a mistake!  That’s when I bought my Shelby.  Since I basically paid cash for the car, I was the one who drove us home that day. The truck had to stay for some parts to arrive.

“You gonna let me drive this?” James asked on that drive home.

“You gonna let me drive your big ass truck?” I gently snarked back.

“I don’t even let Lars drive my truck!” he laughed.

“Well, like me, Lars wouldn’t be able to reach the peddles!”  We both laughed.  I finally let him drive the Shelby at Christmas.

He’d get snappy when I had to spend hours doing my job.  The comparisons to the ex’s soon became a daily thing.  About everything.  The laundry.  The dishes. How I cooked.  The cleaning.  When the mail got pulled from the mailbox.  It was like he was angry that I wasn’t treating him as a megasuperstarrockgod like the way he’d been treated on tour by everyone.  Only Lars, James’ tech and security guy would knock him back down to reality. And they weren’t there.  I was.

The almost final straw happened when we had gone grocery shopping.  I had picked up something that he snorted at.  So, I put it on the belt and paid for it myself after he’d paid for the other items.  I used cash.  Don’t know why, but I did.  That night before going to bed was the first time that he counted his cash before going to bed.  That had hurt.  It was also the first time I ever played like I was asleep when his hands started groping my body.  The bigger dig was his re-counting his cash in the morning. I moved my stuff out of his bedroom into a spare bedroom in the basement about a week later.  He didn’t seem to notice.

A week after that is when a freak September snow storm had foiled my plans to leave.  It was like the universe said “No.”  I had walked out the front door of his house to see that a two foot drift of snow had accumulated in front of the garage door.  It was snowing so hard that I couldn’t see the end of the driveway.  My little Shelby wouldn’t have made it very far in that snowfall.  For a second I had considered taking his big ass truck.  He could have slammed the front door shut leaving me outside instead of standing there yelling at me.  As I had passed him on my way back into his house, I had slapped my goodbye note into his chest.  The next afternoon, we started repairing our relationship.  We were honest with each other.  With ourselves.  Some discussions ended in tears.  Some with laughter.  He won a few.  I had changed his mind on a few.  There are still topics that we have agreed to disagree on and just won’t bring up.

The longest conversation was about anxiety.  We both suffer from it.  His a little more broad than mine.  That discussion was actually very calm.  Neither of us raising our voices.  Both of us shedding tears at some point.  We stayed up all night talking.  Him relating times on the road where he’d been almost paralyzed with fear that he wasn’t good enough.  How the other three had basically pulled him cringing onstage.  The times he’d cried himself to sleep after shows wondering if he could carry on.  The temptations of the road hard to ignore.  And at times, largely given in to.  He did tell me that he is grateful that I feel no need to keep alcohol around.  I assured him that I’m not missing out on anything by not keeping liquor around.  His other road addictions – gambling, strip clubs, food – I have promised him I will help with those.  He whole heartedly and gratefully agreed.

And now.  Here I am.  Pinned in a bed on a tropical island by James’ body.  He snores softly into my boob.  I caress his silvered locks.  The sun makes my diamond encrusted eternity band glitter.  His promise ring to me.  That he’ll work to earn my forgiveness every day.

I have already forgiven him.  I forgave him completely months ago.  But, he doesn’t want to hear it.  So, I will keep it to myself.  I whisper into his hair “You’re doing great James” kissing the top of his head.

I feel his lips curve into a smile against my breast.  His head rocks back and those glorious blue eyes open “Thank you.”  He kisses me.  Then his big blue eyes look deeply into mine.  “What are you thinking?”

“How I got here” I murmur softly, smiling at him, my fingers gently playing with his hair.

He slowly slides to my right giving me a wonky grin, “Well, first it was the truck to the airport, then a great big plane, to a smaller plane…”

Laughing loudly, I gently smack his bicep.  He kisses me again, his eyes twinkling, chuckling softly.  This bad-dad-joke telling dork of a supermegarockstargod holding me.

I caress his cheeks, pulling his face to mine, kissing him.  He eagerly kisses me back.  His hands gently squeezing me.  His lips find my neck.  Nibbling, licking, sucking, leaving little love marks all over my skin.  I moan in his hold.  My fingers gently digging into his shoulders as my body arches against his.  My fingers find his silvered locks, snarling into them.  Holding his head to my neck.  He shifts his body back between my legs.  His teeth gently nibble the magic spot.  I groan loudly as my body sags in his hold.  His big hands gently find my breasts.  Then his tattooed fingers gently start working my nipples.  Squeezing.  Rolling.  Tugging.  Each action pulling another groan from my mouth.  Each action pulling my hips up into his body.  His lips loudly start working towards my nipples.  He moves from one nipple to other, leaving little licks and nibbles between my breasts.  I place a million little kisses to his hair on the top of his head.  My lips tasting like the salt in his locks.  From sweat after fucking.  Our swim in the ocean.  James slowly lifts his body to his knees, holding his weight on his elbows, his lips still working on my flesh.  I suck in a sharp breath as his teeth nibble my right nipple, my body squirming in his hold.  His tongue gently flicking my nipple trapped in his teeth pulling a loud moan from my lips.  Pulling up, he lets my nipple literally pop from his lips.  Then his lips are kissing mine as his knees budge up against my legs, spreading them, his hands pressing down on my hips keeping them pinned to the bed.  Almost painfully slowly, James works his way down my body leaving nibble marks all over my flesh.  His hands hold my legs open.  He actually slows as he approaches the juncture between my legs.  I whimper as I struggle happily in his hold.  Then gasp loudly as the pointy tip of his tongue dips into the top of my cleft.  His groan reverberates through my body as his mouth locks on to my pussy.  Another gasp is pulled from my throat that becomes a moan as my body arches up from the bed.  His hands hold my hips down as his tongue works its magic on me.  Slowly.  It’s too much and not enough at the same time.  My sight blurs and my mind stops actively functioning.  It only concentrates on what his tongue is doing to my sex flesh.  My fingers tangle into his hair, pulling.  I feel his chuckle just before I explode into his mouth.  I feel his suction on my pussy increase as I flood his face.  The pressure on my cunt continues as he overstimulates me.  I scream as another climax slams into me.  He slowly eases me down from that high.  Then chuckling softly wipes his mustache on my inner thigh making me giggle and squirm.  He licks away the mess.  He lifts his head looking up my body.  Those stunning blue eyes locking with mine as he starts to grin madly at me.  Rising fully to his knees, his eyes not leaving mine as he grabs my legs.  Then flips me over.  I squeak.  He quickly pulls me up his thighs, guiding his cock into me, pushing his rigid dick all the way into me.  Deep into me.  Stretching me.  My breaths come out in hitched gasps.  I feel his heavy balls gently swinging between my thighs.  I push my body back against his with my arms, my fingers clutching the sheets, my teeth finding the pillow as I whine loudly.  His fingers wrap around my hips digging in deeply holding my hips close to his pelvis.  I struggle in his hold.  “Tell me” he growls softly at me.  I whine.  His large hand smacks my ass hard.  “Tell me” the growl becomes lower.

“Faahck me James!  Fuck me hard!” I almost scream.

“Happily” he grunts as he starts rutting into me.  Hard.  Fast.  Deep.  I can only whine in his hold.  Happily whine.  His rhythm steadily harsh.  I struggle some in his grasp.  I wrap my feet around his legs and pull.  “ahhh.  Gonna be that way are you?”  I nod vigorously, knowing he can’t see the grin on my own face.  He keeps thrusting harshly into my cunt.  His big hand finds my butt again.  I bark in shock at the pain flaring in my ass cheek, my back arching deeply.  “Liked that did you?” he growls at me.  I again nod vigorously, panting hard.  He smacks my other cheek.  Another sharp bark is pulled from me.  He ruts harder into me, his hands digging deep into my hips pulling another loud gasp from me.  His grunts get more feral.  He hoists my hips up his thighs as I am sliding down his sweaty skin.  My own body coated in a sheen of sweat.  I reach back and paw at his knees, my fingers not finding purchase on his slick skin.  His fingers find my clit as I feel his cock thicken inside me.  Stretching me more.  Twitching deep inside me.  His strokes get sloppy.  His fingers on one hip tighten.  His other fingers find my clit.  We both slam over into orgasm together.  He roars.  I scream.  Loudly.  He thrusts a couple more times into me.  Deep.  Then he lets me slide down his thighs slowly to the bed.  His cock sliding out of me.  His body lowers over mine.  His breath hot on my back, cooling the sweat.  His fingers gently tangle into my hair, pushing it up over the pillow.  His head comes down on my left shoulder.  I look over my left shoulder into his blue eyes.  “hi” he mumbles.

“hey” I groan sleepily.  My arms and legs feeling like they are filled with lead.

His fingers gently making lazy circles on my back make me shiver and giggle.  His lips gently kiss my shoulder.  My neck.  He rolls me over.  His large hand palms up my body from my hip over my stomach stopping momentarily to squeeze my boob before gently wrapping around my neck, sliding around to the back of my head.  His lips find mine.  Gently.  Tenderly.  Sucking on my lower lip softly.  My body arches under his hand which he flares open wide into my sternum pressing down gently on me.  I whimper and gently kiss his lips, my hands wrapping around his head.  His hands wrap around my back as he keeps kissing me.  I feel his hips slide from the bad.  He pulls me with him.  I wrap my legs around his waist.  I’m still kissing him as James carries me out of our private overwater hut.  Into the Arabian Sea.

I swim to the surface, sputtering out water.  “Ya could warn a girl!” I laugh.

James is also laughing, “I’m taking you for a swim!”

Oh honey!! Let me help you with that zipper!!!

Don't freak out, just be cool ...

Had this thought the other day and had to capture it! Just a short one! Well, for me!

Warnings: NSFW, Verbal Abuse mentioned, full on sex.

It’s been 30 years since I’ve actually seen Mark!  We went to high school together.  We’ve stayed in touch through the years.  After he left the armed services, he went into private security.  He’s now the personal security guard for – of all the people on the face of this planet – James Hetfield.  THE James Hetfield.  Metallica’s James Hetfield.  Mark has been around the world with them now several times.  Mark has shared photos of his journeys with me.  On the rare occasion, I get a photo of Mark and James romping about in a foreign city.  Mark made me promise that I’d never tell a soul who he works for.  I haven’t. 

Well, does my diary count?

The new tour is coming to the city I now call home.  Mark wants me to come on down to the show!  Of course I said yes!  Mark told me that he’s planning on taking the day off so that we can hang.  I get to the stadium and find the security check-in.  I have to wait for Mark to come collect me.

“Y/N!” Mark yells from behind me.

“Mark!” I yell as I run to meet him.  He swoops me up and spins me a couple of times.  “Whoah” I mumble as he puts me back on my feet, grabbing his arms.

“Head rush?” Mark grins at me.

“Ya think!” as I smack his chest.

Mark takes me back to the security check-in table and I get my pass.  An All Access pass.  I give Mark a side hug “Thanks.”

“Hey, you have helped me out with all those late-night calls when I was deployed.  This is the least I can do for you” Mark returns the hug.  “Now, this way.”

He walks me out onto what should have been an NFL field.  But instead, there sits Metallica’s massive stage.  He tells me all about it as he walks me around it, by it.  Up on it.  Being early on a summer afternoon, the black stage is very warm.  I wipe my brow. 

“Yeah, it gets a little warm in the day up here.  Let’s go get something to drink” Mark helps me off the stage.  “Canteen is this way.”

He leads me into the bowels of the stadium.  I find it fascinating as I love football as much as I love Metallica.  The place is huge.  All the hallways are super long and it takes forever to walk them.  When we get to the catering area, someone approaches Mark with a question.  Marks points me toward a counter, “Head on over there.”  Then he yells “Hey chef!  Hook up Y/N with whatever she wants please!”

The big guy wearing a chefs’ smock grins “You got it Mark!”  He smiles kindly at me, “What can I get you?”

“Just something to drink please” I smile back.

Chef points to a list on the counter, “Which would you like?” he grins.

“Oh!  A Severed Lime please!”

“Be right back!” he spins toward the big refrigerator.

A hand claws down on my shoulder “Just what do you think you’re doing here, Y/N?”

I turn to see Jolene.  Someone that went to high school with Mark and me.  She has always hated me.  “Getting something to drink” I respond flatly.

Jolene grabs my shoulder harder “Watch the attitude Y/N.”  She points to the security emblem stitched on her shirt “I can kick you out!” she snarks.

Chef has returned with the can and is trying to hand it to me.  But Jolene smacks it away.  It lands with a clang on the floor and rolls across the area under a table.  “You don’t have the right creds to be in here” a vicious gleam flares in Jolene’s eyes.

Several things simultaneously happen next:  I hear Mark’s Keep Cool signal.  I stomp my right heel twice in rapid succession on the floor in response.  Jolene is trying to pull me from the counter when a very large, very tattooed hand drops over my other shoulder to rest on my sternum, gently tugging me back into a very tall frame just as James Hetfield leans over and – Keep Cool Y/N! – kisses me.  Not a big kiss.  But not just a peck either.  “Hey babe” he rumbles at me a little loudly.  “Everything ok?” he grins at me, his stunning blue eyes sparkling.

“Just getting a Severed Lime” I smile at him, proud of myself that I didn’t squeak.  My heart is beating a zillion miles an hour.

“She’s leaving!” Jolene tries again to tug me.  “I’m kicking her out.”

“Uhm, no you’re not.”  James’s voice is firm.

“Fine!” Jolene snaps.  “You both are getting kicked out” she snarls at me.

“Nope.  You’re getting kicked off my tour” James stands up.

Jolene grabs my ponytail, yanking it hard.  Almost pulling me to the floor.  “OW!” I yelp.

James keeps me from being yanked from his arm and pulls me tighter to his chest, his fingers griping my sternum tightly, his other hand cupping the back of my head.  “Mark!”

“On it, James.”  Mark grabs Jolene’s wrist, “You’re supposed to be at Merch” he barks at Jolene.

“I’m bored there.  I belong back here” Jolene snaps.

“Jolene, you belong wherever you are assigned.  I gave you a chance because we went to school together.  But this is the third strike.  Now c’mon.”  Mark tries to spin Jolene to leave the catering area.

Jabbing a finger at James “Just who the fuck is he?” Jolene snaps angrily at Mark.

“He’s the guy who signs my paycheck.”  Mark spins Jolene from us successfully “This way.”  As they walk away, “You Chillin’ James?” Mark asks.

“Yeah.”  James’ fingers ease on me “We’ll be in the Chill.”  Marks responds with a thumbs up.  Looking at chef “Sorry about the commotion” James apologizes.

“No harm done, James.  Y/N, here’s your drink” chef smiles at us both.

“Thanks” I reply softly, taking the new can with one hand and rubbing my very sore head with the other.

James rotates us.  Keeping an arm draped over my shoulder, he walks us out of the catering area.  My arm automatically wraps around his waist.  I hear the commotion in the hallway as Jolene is loudly begging Mark to let her stay.  James holds open the door to a room that has a sign taped on it James’ Chill.

Inside, there are a couple of comfy chairs, a small sofa and a couple of tables.  There are deep purple drapes on poles covering the cinderblock walls and the two torchiere lamps give the room a warm feeling as I notice that the big fluorescent lights overhead are turned off.  One table has some munchies on it.  The other holds a couple of guitars and a small amp.  There’s a very large opened road case with clothes hanging on one side, the other filled with drawers.

“Please, sit” James smiles at me.  I sink into the sofa, still rubbing the back of my head.  James looms over me, “May I check?”

Tenderly pulling the elastic out of my hair, “Yes, please.”

His fingers very tenderly search through my long hair to my scalp.  “I’m not seeing any blood” he gently finger tidies my hair as he sits on the sofa next to me.

I sigh, “Well that’s good.”  I rub my scalp again, “It’s probably going to be tender for a while.”

His fingers are still playing with my hair.  “Probably.”  I look sideways at James.  His eyes are roaming over my hair.  I look at my hands holding the unopened Severed Lime can.  “May I ask you a question?”

I look at him “Sure.”

“When I kissed you – which was Mark’s idea” I snort a giggle “you didn’t seem surprised.”

“Mark warned me.”

“How” James’ eyebrows furrow together.

“He cooed like a mourning dove.”

“So that’s what he was doing” James grins.

Chuckling, “That’s been his Keep cool just roll with happens next signal since High School.”

“Ahh” James nods in understanding.  “But you didn’t respond.”

“Yeah I did” as I thump the floor with my heel twice, grinning.

“Ahhh!  Yes, you did.  Didn’t know what you were doing” James huffs a soft laugh.  “Who was the security girl?”

“Jolene.  We all were in school together.”  I again look at the can in my hands.  “She’s always hated me.  Don’t know why.”

“Oh.”  He twists slightly on the sofa to face me.  “Mark has told me that you were there for him during deployments.”

“Yeah.  He’s always been like a big brother to me” I smile at James.

He fidgets some “So, would he mind if I kissed you again.”  I just blush furiously.  “Would you mind” his fingers gently lift my chin “if I kissed you again?”

“Not at all” I whisper.

Still gently holding my chin, he leans in.  I meet him halfway.  We both breath in deeply keeping our lips pressed together.  His fingers on my chin slide up the side of my face to cup my head.  My fingers gently wrap around his wrist.  A feeling of electricity passing between us.  We are eagerly, tenderly, kissing the other.  I am trembling slightly.  Finally parting the kiss, he rests his forehead on mine. 

His blue eyes finding mine.  “You felt that too?” he whispers. 

“uh huh” I manage, still trembling gently.

He too is quivering “Glad it’s not just me.”

I huff out a small laugh.   And kiss him again.  His fingers still cradle my head as he returns the kiss.

A knock on the door and we jump apart like a pair of teenagers caught necking by our parents.  Grabbing my leg just above my knee, squeezing, smiling at me, “Sandman!” James says loudly standing.

For some reason, I put the cold Severed Lime can on the back of my head as Mark walks in.   “Hey” he nods at James.  “Y/N?  You ok?” as Mark sees the can on my head.

“Jolene yanked my ponytail really hard” I grin gently.

“You OK?” Mark is immediately in Big Brother mode.

“I’m fine.”

“She’s not bleeding” James offers.  Seeing the look from Mark, “She let me check” James reassures the big ex-Marine.

Nodding “Well, that’s good.”  Turning back to James, “Lars needs you in the dining room.  Something about an interview next week.”

Grimacing slightly “I hate those” James shoves both hands into his front pants pockets.

“Yeah, I know.  But they want all four of you” Mark rests his hands on his hips.

“Is there a bathroom around?” I ask quietly.

“Oh yeah” James smiles gently at me.  “That door right there.”

Setting the can down on the table with the munchies, I make a quick exit.  After using the toilet, I am washing my hands when I hear the two men:

“Do you think she’d like to have dinner with me after the show?” James asks.

“I know she’d like that.  But James, please don’t hurt her.”

“You know I won’t intenti…”

“I know you won’t mean to.  But her last relationship, the guy was a dick.  I heard some of what he’d say to her.  He was verbally abusive to her” Mark’s voice very quiet.

“Just verbally?” concern lances James’ voice.

“She claims that he never hit her.  She has no reason to lie to me.”

“Other than you’d go murder the fucker!” James chuckles.

I can almost see Mark’s head bobbing around “Yeah I would have!”

In the following silence, I flush the toilet again, run the water in the sink.  Grabbing another paper towel, I walk out the door.

“Feel better, Thumper?” Mark grins.

I smack Mark’s arm “Only you!”

James just looks at Mark.  “That’s what I called Y/N in school for her little bunny kicks.”  Mark does his bird call again.  I automatically thump the floor twice.  The three of us burst out in laughter.

James rests his hand on my shoulder, “Mark is going to stay with you during the show?”

I look up at Mark.  “Like I’d let her go out on the floor alone!  She’s 5’ 2”!  She’d get slaughtered!” Mark laughs.

“Take her up on the F&F” James looks with a grin at Mark.  Then gives me a wonky grin “You’ll be able to see from there.”

I smile at him “Thanks.”

James grabs a phone from the table with the guitars “Then I’ll see you two out there!”  He turns to Mark “Darren tonight?”  Mark nods.  “Lars is in the dining room?”  Mark nods.  “The others there too?”

“Heading that way” Mark nods as he opens the hallway door.  “Got everything?” as we all walk out into the hallway.

James pats down his pockets “I think so.”  The two men fist bump.  James gives me a smile and starts down the hallway.  Then he spins makes a quick trot back to me, kisses me again, and walks back down the hallway.

I stand there a second in shock.  I look up at Mark.  “Damn Y/N!” Mark grins at me.  “You just landed the biggest fish in the sea!”

My hands kinda flap as Mark leads the other way down the hall “I didn’t mean to!”

Mark pats my back “Be glad you did!”  Mark looks over his shoulder towards James’ retreating figure, then back to me.  “You two will be good together!” he grins at me.

Mark leads me back out to the field.  The floor has already begun to fill in with fans.  The seats are a little sparse, but it is still early.  Mark tucks me in behind his frame.  I rest my hand on his back – just like we used to do at the big concerts when we were in high school.  I ask him to take me into the Pit because I want to stand on the fifty-yard line in the center of the field.  He does and takes a picture of me there.  Looking like a dork.  Then we walk around the field.  I’m not really impressed with the first opener.  So, Mark takes me to the lounge and we grab something to eat.  We watch the stage get changed to the second opener.  The seats are beginning to fill.  I like the one song for this second group.  Otherwise, meh.  When that act ends, Mark walks me back down to the field from the lounge.  And to a tower.  He flashes his pass and leads me up onto a platform.

“James thinks you’ll be able to see better from here!” Mark laughs.  “Welcome to F&F!”  I give him a look.  “Friends and Family!”

“I don’t know how to act!” I grin.  Mark looks confused.  “I’m used to seeing just shoulder blades and elbows at a concert!”

We both burst out laughing.

Then it starts.  The Metallica walkout songs.  I bounce a couple of times with joy.  And perhaps I’m a little giddy.  They take the stage in full roar with Creeping Death.  The next two and half hours I get an unimpeded view of them.  Of him.  He keeps looking over towards me and each time his grin gets bigger.

When the field lights come on and Metallica are doing the usual end of show antics, Marks leans into my ear, “We need to get you down to the car.”  He grabs my hand as we exit the platform.  I walk very close behind Mark, with my other hand planted in the middle of his back.  When we get past the security barricade, I am able to walk beside Mark.  He takes me back to the Chill room.  There he loads up the backpack that is tucked into the big road case with some of the munchies and several cans of Severed Lime.  I use that bathroom again.  There’s mouthwash on the sink.  I use it since I did have garlic fries.  As Mark walks out of the room carrying two backpacks and down the hall – with me trotting behind to keep up with his long legs – he goes into the catering area.  There on a table are five to go bags, and several Hydroflasks.  Mark looks a little flustered as his hands are full.  I look at him and he hands me one backpack.  Mark stuffs a couple very large Hydroflasks into the backpack and zips it closed.  “Keep that upright please.  Those two Hydros like to leak.”  Then he grabs three of the to go bags, his backpack and nods at me.  “Let’s roll!”

He leads me down another hallway, then through a set of double doors into the stadiums loading bay.  There sits a very large black sedan, engine idling.  Marks takes me to the driver’s side back door.  “Ok, you get this side.”  I put the backpack on the floor between my feet.  Marks stacks two of the to go bags on the transmission hump on the floor.  Looking at the passenger side front seat.  “Shit.”  Mark closes my door, runs around the car, opens the front passenger door and hits the button to move that passenger seat forward.  Mark puts both hands on the seat and leans over it looking at me.  “He’s a good guy, Y/N.  He won’t talk much on the drive to the hotel.  He might want the camo hydro on the drive.  That one is on the side so that you won’t have to unzip the bag much.”  Mark smiles at me.  I thump the floor twice with my heel.  Laughing “That’s my Thumper!” Mark exits the car, closing the front door.  I make some minor adjustments to the to go bags and the backpack when the passenger back door is opened.  And James – wearing a black robe with flames on the sleeves – slides into the back seat.  He’s sweaty, but smiling.  The big sedan heads out of the loading bay.  I realize that Mark moving the passenger seat up meant that James and his long legs would easily fit into the back seat.  James just grins at me. 

“Drink?” I whisper.  He huffs out a soft snort and nods.  I find the camo hyrdo and hand it over.  James takes a couple of solid pulls from it and leans back in the seat.  I just watch him.  The sedan slows at a red stop light.  James sits up and hands back the hydro.  I put it back into the bag and zip it closed.  Just as the big sedan starts to roll again, I sit back up.  James holds out his left hand to me.  I gently rest my right fingers in his palm.  He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of my hand.  I shudder out a soft sigh.  Smiling softly, James pulls my hand to his chest, holding it there.  I smile back at him.  The big car pulls into the portico of one of the fanciest hotels in town.  Two valet are quickly there.  But they open both doors on the passenger side.  The driver hops out to open my door.  I grab the backpack and both to go bags and quickly follow James.  He’s waiting just inside the hotel lobby doors giving me a wonky smile.  He wraps an arm around my shoulders and we get into an elevator.  The doors open on the top floor. 

One of the security guys there greets us.  “Hey James!  Show sounded great!” he comments as he leads us down the hallway.  He taps a key card on the door.  James gently pushes me through the door and quickly follows me.  As the door clicks closed, I move into the room and set the backpack down in a chair at the table and the to go bags on the table, kicking my shoes off.  James comes up behind me and rests his hands on my hips as I open the backpack and pull out at least the hydros – just in case the bag falls over.  His nose buries into my hair.  I shiver slightly.  My hands ghost over his.

“I’m sorry I don’t talk right after a show.”

“You don’t need to apologize” I grin turning towards him.  “You just sang for a good two hours!  I understand.”

His stunning blue eyes lock with mine.  His hands slowly wrap around to my back – one on my lower back, the other travelling up to my neck, his fingers gently cupping it.  I wrap my arms around him and pull myself into his body as our lips meet again.  Gently.  Tenderly.  He rests his forehead on mine.  “How’s your head?” he grins.

I grin “Doing great.”  I let him pull me into a hug.  My nose buries into his chest.  I inhale deeply.  Faintly, there’s cigar.  Sweat.  The fabric softener from his robe.  I feel his breath in my hair as he leans into my head.  From his robe, “I heard you and Mark talking.”  His fingers clench gently on me.  “I have just one ask.”

He urges my head back, kissing down my forehead, my nose to my lips.  His stunning blue eyes lock with mine.  “Ask” he says gently.

I whisper “Please don’t call me ‘babe’.”

Lifting his head some “Is that what he called you?” concern knotting his eyebrows together.  I can only nod.  He kisses me tenderly, “Then I will find something else to call you” he smiles at me.

“Thank you” as I pull him into another kiss, y body relaxing in his hold.

He tightens his arms around me.  Our lips still eagerly kissing.  He gently reaches under my shirt.  When his fingers touch my skin I shiver and a stuttered sigh is pulled from me.  Our lips are still kissing as his fingers reach my bra.  With a deft flick, he unhooks it.  My body arches into his.  His thumbs hook my shirt and bra lifting them both.  Gently parting the kiss, I raise my arms as he tugs the fabrics from my body.  His left hand quickly splays open on my now fully exposed back, holding me.  I watch his face.  His eyes follow as his right hand softly caresses my left cheek, slowly slides down my neck to my clavicle, then agonizlingly slowly to my breast.  He tenderly cups it.  I hitch a breath.  His right hand eases its hold but my lefthand snaps up to hold his hand on my breast.

As his left arm gently hitches me closer “Are you sure?” he purrs.  His blue eyes searching mine.  I nod slowly chewing on the corner of my lower lip.  He kisses me.  His fingertips on my breast find my nipple tenderly playing with it.  I whimper into the kiss.  Slowly he moves us towards the bed.  As the back of my legs hit the mattress, I start to sink.  With a speed I didn’t know that James possesses, his fingers hook the waistband of my shorts and thong, removing them from my body with one swift motion.  I am left sitting on the bed totally naked.  But I don’t feel naked under his gaze. 

His hands cup my face, kissing me.  I lean back, my arms pulling me up the bed, his hands on either side of my body hold his weight as he follows me, his knees naturally going between my legs.  Spreading them.  I can smell myself.  His hand grabs my thigh stopping me.  He kneels up.  I am quivering as he eases the robe from his lean, firm body.  His erection proudly standing at attention.  Again, he leans over me, kissing me.  His lips blazing a trail from my face, down my neck, to my breasts, my stomach.  He lowers himself between my legs grinning like the Cheshire cat at me.  I answer the question in his eyes with a short nod.  I know that I am a sopping wet mess.  His grin goes wicked as he sticks out his tongue.  With the very pointy tip, he licks into the very top of my cleft.  His grin is even more wicked.  I whimper.  His tongue delves deeper into my wetness.  My back sinks to the bed as he groans happily into my pussy.  His arms snake under my thighs, wrapping over my hips.  Holding me.  His tongue is non-stop gently swirling around my bud, searching through my folds, dipping teasingly into my opening.  I squirm in his hold, whining.  His fingers dig deeper into my hips.  I look down my body to see the silvered hair on the top of his head between my legs – his feet up in the air wiggling.  He tenderly sucks on my clit drawing a loud moan from me.  My hips try to buck up into his mouth, but his hands prevent them.  An “uh huh” from him reverberates through my cunt as I feel his lips smile.  My fingers find his hands on my hips and grab his wrists.  He begins licking me with broad tongue laps.  Again I squirm in his hold.  He only grips me tighter keeping his tongue working on me.  My head rocks side to side as I whine loudly, the knot in me tightening quickly.  I start panting hard as he finds the spot.  His tongue concentrates on that spot “pahhleez” I whine loudly.  He chuckles and uses a slightly harder pressure on that spot.  I hitch a deep breath “Th  deheere” I pant out as my eyes fly open wide.  Another lap from his velvet warm tongue and I explode.  I grab a pillow and scream into it.  He overstimulates me making my body convulse.  My eyes close when he finally – with a gentle parting kiss – extracts his mouth from between my legs.

I feel him move on the bed.  His arm runs under my right thigh to grab my left leg as his other hand grabs my right arm.  In a swift action he flips me over.  I yelp.  His lips press between my shoulder blades as his hand slowly runs up between my legs, his fingers wiggle against my clit.  My hips lift as I whine loudly.  He huffs out a soft laugh against my back.  In a blink, he’s kneeling between my legs.  His hands grab my hips hoisting them up his thighs.  “I don’t want to rush ….”

“Gawdz pahleez faahkkkk me!” I beg.

His fingers grip me tightly “Gladly!”  I feel his hand between our bodies.  Then his cockhead is gently pressing against my entrance.  My back arches allowing him easier access to me.  He grunts softly as he slowly pushes into me.  Spreading me.  Drawing a long low loud moan from me as his girth presses into me.  Bottoming out in me, James holds my hips tight to his body.  His hands hitch me up gently thudding a little deeper into me.  I wallow in his hold.  I hear him chuckle as I squirm.  “Ready?”  I nod slowly.  His hand connects sharply with my ass “I want to hear you.”

“Yaeezzz!  Paahhhleeezz!”  My begging only making me wetter.

He smacks my other ass cheek “Please what?” his voice a deep growl.

“Fuck me!” I yell.

“Be happy to!” I hear him grin before he starts doing what I just begged of him.  His hips begin thrusting his rigid cock in and out of me at a fast pace.  I feel the rigid veins of his shaft sliding deep into me.  His fingers hold me tightly, digging into my hips.  I know will be bruised.  I wrap my feet around his legs, pulling.  His motions become a little harder.  I groan happily.  My hands push on the headboard.  Into his hips.  My butt cheeks shake in his hold.  He ruts into me grunting.  Thrusting deep into me.  He hitches me up his thighs as we both are sweating.  The knot in me tightens up again.

“Harder!” I plead.

He snarls as his hips begin slapping into me.  Hard.  Deep.  Fast.  I whine loudly.  My feet tug him hard.  I feel him get impossibly thicker inside me.  Twitching.  His right hand reaches around me and finds my clit.  With a few flicks, I am tossed over the edge of my orgasm again as he explodes deep inside me with a roar.  I bury my face into the mattress as I scream in release. 

Slowly, he eases me down his thighs to the bed, his cock gently sliding from within me.  His body gently sinking over mine.  His lips gently pressing kisses to the back of my neck.  We shift to our sides so that I am wrapped up in his arms, my back pressed up tight against his chest, one of his arms now my pillow.  His lips still leaving a million tiny little kisses on the side of my neck and over my shoulder. 

I reach back and pat his hip, “I should go and let you sleep” I murmur groggily.

His arms pull me tighter into him “No” he purrs.  “You fit perfectly right here.”  I nod slowly.  “There is no need for you to leave.”  His lips kiss my neck just below my ear.  “Ever” he whispers.  “My little bunny.”

I would kill to have this man be looking at me......

I went snorfelling and found this!

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.

Rockies Christmas - Day 7

Warnings:  Mostly Fluff, Slight parentage angst, Stranger Things mentioned (lots!), Shh! There's a secret! Don't tell James!!

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

Getting this posted early. I suddenly have a craving for sugar cookies....

We both roll over at the same time stretching and yawning.  The sun is just climbing above the mountain tops.  James checks his phone.  “The kids are on the way.”

I flip the covers off us, “I should check the sheets on the other beds” as I get out of bed.

Climbing out on the other side of our bed, “I’ll help you.”

Pulling on sweats, tidying up our own bed, we both check on the other bedrooms.  Fortunately, there was only one bed that needed to have sheets put on it.  Once that is done, James sets about making his pulled pork.  I turn on the Christmas tree lights and start the stereo playing Christmas music.  “Kira?”

“Yes?” I return to the kitchen.

“Would you please turn on the outside lights on the patio?”

“Sure.”  I go to the patio door and flip on the switch.  I also check on the water in the tree stand, which was full.  Then I turn on the fireplace on low. 

Returning to the kitchen, James is scrambling eggs for us.  I put some sourdough bread into the toaster.  I’m buttering the slices just as James is covering the eggs with shredded cheese.  We sat at the kitchen table to eat.  Between bites, James fills out the name tags on his gifts.  I put them under the tree.  When I get back to the table, James is working on unloading the dishwasher.  I help him reload with the breakfast things and the pulled pork prep.  It’s not quite full when he starts it.  “We’re going to need some of those things later” is his reasoning.  He gives a quick check on the pork, then wrapping his hands over my shoulders, he moves us to our bathroom.  It’s by no means a short shower, nor one of our longest ones.  But most enjoyable.

Knowing that it’s the first time I’ll be meeting his kids, I pick out a pair of black loose-fitting pants and a bright red sweater.  I spend a little bit of time on my hair, French braiding it back.  James kisses my exposed neck that is usually covered by my hair.  I smile at him through the mirror.  He’s wearing a pair of black jeans and a green sweater.  I head to the living room just to make sure everything is tidy.  James wraps his arms around me, “It looks great” he whispers into my ear.  “They are going to like you” I feel his lips smile on my neck.  I breath out a small smile pressing my cheek into his.  His phone buzzes.  James makes sure that I’m steady before collecting his phone from the charger in the kitchen.  “The kids are in Denver.  Their flight here is on time.  At the moment.”  He scrolls on his phone, “And the roast is ready to pick up.”

I nod, “I’ll go get the roast.”

Looking out the window, “Take the truck” James says.  It’s snowing lightly.

“No.  I’ll take the Shelby.”  His eyebrows furrow ogether.  “If something happens to the rental van, everyone can squeeze into the truck.”  I look at him kindly.  “It would take a million runs in the Shelby.”

Nodding, “You’re right.”  He kisses my hair, “Just be careful.  There will be all kinds of idiots out there today.”

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I look up into his blue eyes, “I promise I will be good on the road.”  He leans down and kisses me gently.  I smile at him as we break the kiss.  “So, roast and food coloring.  Anything else?”

“The roast should be XX pounds and have good marbling….”

I press my fingers to his lips, then press his hand holding his phone into his chest.  “I’ll send you a picture.”

He laughs, “Ok.”

I grab my coat from the hooks by the garage door along with my wallet, boots, phone and the keyfob.  “I’ll let you know when I get to the store.”

“Please do.”

Smiling at him, I head into the garage hitting the button to raise the big overhead door.  I had to seriously move the driver seat forward on the tracks after James drove it to Denver and back.  Backing the little speedster out, I hit the remote button and the big door lowers.  The roads are slushy, but not too bad.  I only hope that they stay that way until his kids get to the house safely.  The parking lot at the store is a little crowded.  I deliberately park in the back of the lot in the Shelby.  Yes, it’s a longer trek into the store.  But it’s a Shelby.  I send a quick text to James.

Grabbing a cart from the parking lot, I push it in the store and to the butcher’s counter.  I give them the order number.  “Ahh.  There was a mix up and the big one that James ordered isn’t here.  But I have two for him to select from.”  I pull out my phone and make the butcher spin each roast while I video it.  I send the file to James.  I stand there a minute in awkward silence, giving the butcher a wonky smile.  My phone rings.

“That’s not what I ordered.”

“Hi.  There was a mix up.  These are what they have.”

“Can we get both of those?”

“James wants both.  Is that ok?”

The butcher nods, “For James, yes” he grins.

I smile at the man, “Thank you.”  Into my phone, “He’s wrapping them both up now.”

“Thank you.  Oh.  Horseradish please.”

“I’ll get some.  I’ll text you when I’m heading back.”

“Ok.  The kids flight is delayed 20 minutes.  Their flight crew is an inbound flight that was delayed.”

“I hope that’s the only delay for them.”

“Me too.  See you soon.”  He ends the call.

Taking the first wrapped roast from the butcher, “James wants horseradish.  I have no clue.”

Nodding, he sets the second wrapped roast in the cart, “Here, let me show you.”

Thirty minutes later and three texts from James, I have the roasts, horseradish, food coloring, pecans, buns for the pulled pork, sweet potatoes, sprinkles of all kinds and marshmallows paid for and in the trunk of the Shelby.  I fire it up and dial James’ phone.

“Hi!”

“Hey, I’m leaving the parking lot now.”

“Perfect!  The kid’s flight is in the air.  And I checked on the rental van.  It’s ready for them to collect.”

“Good.  I’ll be home soon!”

“See you then!”

I end the call.  The traffic is a little busy.  The snowplows have been through making the roads less slushy.  I get home without incident.  Parking in the garage, I make James hoist the roasts into the kitchen.  He’s smiling like a Cheshire cat as he checks them out.  His pulled pork is beginning to fill the house with a delicious aroma.  He settles the roasts in the fridge, and I kick him out to finish the icing for the cookies.

“Did you leave any sprinkles on the store shelf?” as he looks through the bags on the counter.

Shrugging my shoulders, “A few.  Maybe.”

As I’m finishing up with the icing, the doorbell rings and the front door is thrown open at the same time.  “Hey Dad!  We’re home!”

“I hope you don’t plan on doing laundry!”  James yells back as he heads to the front door.

I hear them greeting each other in the hallway, the voices getting louder as they approach the kitchen.  One of his daughters sees me in the kitchen.  She almost slams her purse onto the counter - I jump slightly - “I’m not calling you Mom.”

“Marcella!” James admonishes, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.

“James” I hold up a calm hand at him.  Looking to Marcella, “I don’t want you to call me Mom.”  That took the wind out of her sails.

“Why not?”  Obviously, Castor.  He’s the spitting image of his Dad in his 20’s.

“I’m not your mom.”  I can see the looks passing between the three kids.  “Just because I am involved with your Dad does not automatically make me your Mom.”  I smile gently at them, “You have a Mom.   And it’s not me.”

“Sooo what do we call you?” Cali asks. 

“Kira.”

Marcella moves her purse to the end of the counter.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have slammed my purse.”

“No worries” I smile at her.  “Do you guys want anything to drink?”

James has moved behind me and puts his hands on my hips and shifts me toward the kitchen table, “They know where the fridge is” he smiles at me.  Then he checks on the pork.

CBF looks over the counter, “Is that pork?” his eyes filled with joy.  And the two of them start to compare notes on pulled pork.

“Wow Dad!  The tree is gorgeous!” Cali says from the living room.

I watch James as he smiles, “Thanks!”  He grins at me, “It’s Kira’s first real tree!”

Cali joins me at the kitchen table, “Really?”  I just nod.  “I loved the picture of you two at the Parade on Thanksgiving.”

“That was a great day” I smile, fingering my ring.  James gives me a knowing look.

Castor sits by his sister, CGF on his knee, “Where are you from?”

“New York City.”

Cali, nibbling on a slice of bread, “What do you do?”

“As in work?” I ask back.  She nods.  “I’m an editor.”

“Books?” CGF asks.

“Books, articles.  I have done a couple of technical papers, but not really good at those.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not a scientist.”

There are some chuckles.

CBF stands behind her, rubbing her shoulders.  She has stopped nibbling the bread.  As the others are discussing books they’ve read – a couple that I know the editors – Cali pales a little.  Then she quietly gets up and finds a bathroom.  Books are still the topic of discussion when she returns, her cheeks a little pink.  CBF returns to rubbing her shoulders.  The general topic of books shifts to comics and graphic novels.  Cali nibbles on the slice of bread again.

James joins us at the table, pulling his chair close to mine, leaning on the table.  His eyes are sparkling. 

A phone rings.  Everyone checks their pockets.  Castor answers his.  “Hi Mom.   Yeah, sorry.   We landed about an hour ago.   The flight from Denver was a bit bumpy.”  He crosses his eyes.  James smothers a laugh.  “The roads were plowed.    Snow is light right now.   Supposed to get heavier tonight.   Hang on” he turns his phone to the table while hitting speaker, “Ok.”

“Merry Christmas kids!” their mother’s voice comes from the phone.  The kids all respond, “Merry Christmas!”  James rests his hand on my thigh.  I just smile at him.  Castor turns off the speaker, “Ok Mom.   We will.    Love you too!”  He gives me a look as he ends the call.  I just smile at him.  There’s a moment of silence.

“Did you kids leave all your luggage in the hallway?” James asks.

MBF pops up, “There’s still a couple of bags in the van.”   The kids all get up and head into the hallway.  I can hear James’ three tell their significant others where to find their rooms.  The front door opens and closes a couple of times, I am assuming bringing in luggage.

James leans over to me, his fingers gently lifting my chin, and kisses me.  I caress his chin, my thumb gently teasing his funky little soul patch.  He grins at me.  A couple of toilets flush.  He taps his forehead against mine, “It’s going to get noisy.”

I peck a kiss to the end of his nose, “That’s ok.”

From down the hall by his studio, “Hey Dad, mind if I play?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”  James gives me a lopsided grin as the drum kit in his studio gets a beating.  He pats my back between my shoulder blades and goes to join Castor in the studio.  Moments later his guitar is adding to the music.  Occasionally they stop playing and laughter is heard coming down the hallway.

Cali and CBF re-join me at the kitchen table.  “What do you think of Colorado?”

“It’s a lot different from New York.”

“What’s the biggest difference?” CBF asks.

“The number of people per square inch” I deadpan.

Cali giggles, “I have been there with Dad a couple of times.  How did you get him to the Parade.  He usually hates crowds.”

Shrugging slightly, “It was his idea.”

Cali leans on the table pointing toward the studio, “Who is that and what have you done with my Dad?”  Then she breaks out laughing.

“Oh my gawd!  Cali get in here!” Marcella calls from the living room. 

I follow Cali and CBF to the living room.  Marcella is pointing to one of their school made ornaments.  “I can’t believe Dad still has these!”

“I remember making that!  Ms Green was a fun teacher!” Cali’s eyes light up.

They spend time pointing out different ornaments reminiscing about them.  Cali points to my snowflake. “That’s new.”

“That one is Kira’s” James says as he and Castor enter the living room.  I hope my blush isn’t too evident as I remember what happened immediately after hanging the snowflake.  James claps his hands together, “I think the pulled pork is ready.  Who’s hungry?” 

There’s a chorus of “Me!”  I notice that Cali blanches a little and forces a smile.  CBF is right there beside her, his arm around her waist. He gently kisses her temple.  She smiles at him.

James puts the final touches on his pulled pork.  I pull out some sides.  Marcella and MBF pull out plates for everyone along with silverware.  It doesn’t take long for everyone to fix their plate and find a place in the kitchen to sit.  I sit on a barstool at the counter with CGF.

CGF points to my ring, “Did you two get married?”

“No.”  I set my fork down seeing the look in her eyes.  “That’s a long story.  And now isn’t the time” as I watch James and his kids.  “And it’s not an engagement ring” seeing the look in CGF’s eyes. 

“It’s complicated?” she asks quietly.

“A little” I say gently.

She smiles, “I get it.”  She takes a couple of bites.  “You two look really happy.”  I just smile.  “Castor said that he hasn’t seen his Dad this happy in a long time.”

“That makes me happy.”  I smile at her then turn my gaze to the table as laughter breaks out.  CGF also smiles.  “I know that he’s happy you kids are all here.”  CGF smiles back.

“Ok.  Let’s clean this mess up and make another!” James says taking his plate to the kitchen, scraping it into the compost bin and putting it into the dishwasher.  He looks up at the silence from his kids.  “What?”

Cali points to her Dad but looks at me, “Again, who is that and what have you done with my Dad?”

James rests his hands on the counter, “She made me better” he grins at me.

Collecting my plate, “And I can say the same thing about you” as I scrape my plate and put it into the dishwasher.

James grabs and dips me, planting a solid kiss on me.  My arms automatically wrap around his head.  There’s a chorus of “Ewww!”   “Get a room!”   “Dad!” from the table.  I know that I’m blushing when he puts me back on my feet.  Looking at the table, his kids are all smiling.

With so many hands helping, that meal is quickly put away.  I notice that Cali didn’t eat a whole lot.  James rubs his hands together.  “Now, someone was busy yesterday!” he gives me partial psycho grin.  He pulls out the big bins I’d found to store the cookies.

Marcella’s eyebrows are in her hairline, “You made those?”  I just nod.  “How many did you make?”

I shrug, “I tripled the recipe, so maybe 100?”

Castor collects the bin from James, “Holy shit!  You had to spend a lot of time baking!”

Hoisting a thumb at James, “He was cranking out something amazing, so I just kept baking.”

Putting his hands on hips, “So this is my fault?”  The grin on his face belays his words.  I just smile and nod at him.  Nodding, “I’m good with that.”

I pull all the frosting bowls out of the fridge, “These might be a little stiff since they are cold.”   There are eight different containers that I’d colored.  I pull all the butter knives out of the drawer.  James locates a couple of small spatulas.  He also grabs the bag of sprinkles.

I see Cali quietly rejoin the table.  CBF gives her a look.  She just smiles at him and takes a seat.

Castor pulls out a cookie and munches it.  “These are really good!”

“Thanks” I smile.

James munches one too.  “Grandmother?”  I nod.

“Grandmother?” Marcella asks.

“My Grandmother has an amazing collection of recipes.”

Asking softly, “Is she still around?”

“No.  She passed when I was twenty-six.”  Looking around, “We need something to put these on.”  I go grab a couple of big platters from the dining room table and turning almost face plant into James.

“You ok?” his concern genuine.

“Yes.”  I stand on tip toe and kiss his chin.  Seeing the look in his eyes, “I promise.  I’m ok.”

Looking at the platters in my hands, “We’re going to need more.”  He pats my ass as we go back to the kitchen.

The kids have dug into the cookie decorating with glee.  I set the platters on the table.  James comes back with some big plastic platters that he puts on the counter.  Then he joins in the fun.

Again, with so many hands, the cookies are mostly decorated in a short time.  Like anything with sprinkles, they are all over the table and floor.  Some of the cookies are elaborately done.  I feel like the few I did look as though they have been done by a grade schooler.  James smiles at me.  Then sucks frosting off his finger.  I squeeze my thighs together.  His grin goes mildly wicked.

“I have an idea!” James speaks up, “Let’s watch Stranger Things!”  Everyone is in agreement.

“Right after I’m done making cookies” Castor smiles at him.  “Please Dad?”

“Sure.  Let me help.”  James grabs about three undecorated ones and takes a bite out of the stack, his eyes sparkling.

I watch as Cali slips away quietly again.  I take one of the empty frosting dishes to the kitchen, put it into the dishwasher and fix a glass for Cali.

When she returns, “Hey Cali, come here a sec please.”  She comes into the kitchen.  “Here.”  I hand Cali the glass.

“What’s this?”

“A bicarb.”  She just looks at me.  “It’ll help your tum.”  I look at her, “And it won’t hurt the baby” I say softly.

She pales, “How do you know?”

Smiling gently at her, “Before Covid, I worked in an office that was mostly women.  Chug that.  Don’t sip.”  She does and gags slightly.  “I know it tastes weird and bad.” 

“What is it?”

“Baking soda and water.”

“That’s it?”

“Uh huh.  Give it a minute.  But be aware, that sometimes it might make you throw up more.”  I give her a lopsided smile.  “Is there anything that you can keep down?”

“Mostly just bread.”  She smiles gently, “And the cookies are ok.”

“I’ll make sure that there’s bread on the table for you.”  Suddenly she lets out a very large belch.  “You are your father’s daughter.”  She laughs.  “Feel better?”

“Yeah.  Thanks.”  She rubs her belly. 

I take the glass, “I’ll leave the box here.  A good sized spoonful and cold water.”

“Do you think Dad will be mad?”

“Why would he be mad?”

“We’re not married.”

“Ah.”  I look at her, “I don’t think so.  You are going to make him a Grandpa.”

Huffing a laugh, “Yeah.  The Mighty Papa Het will become The Mighty Grandpa Het!”  We both giggle.  “I have this”  she pulls out a sonogram photo from her purse, “I didn’t have the time to get a frame for it.”

Taking her hand, “Come with me.”

From the kitchen table, “Where are you two going?” came James’ voice.

Cali winces.  “Gift stuff” I say back.

“Hurry up!  We want to watch the show!” as he finishes munching the cookies in his hand.

“This will just take a minute Dad.”

I take her to the room that I’d claimed as my office.  Picking up the silver frame off my desk with two doodled post it notes, I pull them out and hand Cali the frame.

“This is from Tiffany’s.”  Her eyes wide.

“uh huh.”

“What did you take out?” her curiosity genuine.

I pick up the post it notes, “We got stuck in that September snowstorm.  We’d had a fight.  As an apology your Dad invited to me to dinner in the formal dining room by leaving these on the floor.”

“What are they?”

Holding out one, “Rose petals.”  Showing her the last one he’d given me where he’d drawn a full rose.

“That’s so romantic!”  She smiled.   “Are you sure it was Dad?”

“Yes, it was your Dad.”

“Why didn’t he just get a real rose?”

“Well, the 21 to 24 inches of snow on the ground and zero visibility might have had something to do with that.”  Cali just nods with a smile.  I open the closet and pull out the wrapping box, “Here’s a bag and some tissue.”  In a short time, the frame is wrapped in tissue and tucked into the bag.  Cali adds the gift tag and we were headed back up the stairs.  “Drop that under the tree” I whisper to her.  The kitchen table has been cleaned up.  The floor has even been swept.  I kinda like having a lot of hands to help out.  Going to James, I grab his hand, “C’mon.  You said that you wanted to watch the show” as I tug him towards the media room.  Within minutes, the eight of us are in the media room tucked under blankets and James starts Stranger Things, episode 1.

We only get three episodes watched when everyone is either yawning or lightly snoozing.  James powers off the system.  “Ok you dorks.  Bed time.”

There isn’t any push back from the kids.  As I walk past the kitchen, I start the dishwasher.  Looking out the window, James wraps an arm around me, his lips right by my ear, “Your Christmas wish.”  It’s snowing.  Hard.  I just smile up at him.  James takes my hand, and we go to our bedroom.  He pulls me to him and kisses me deeply.  “I told you that they’d like you.”  I caress his face and smile.  “I’m sorry about how it started with Marcella.  I should have ask…”

I press my fingers to his lips, “It’s ok.  So, there was a bump at the beginning.  At least it got taken care of.”  I pull his head to mine and kiss him.  “They are good kids.”  I kiss the end of his nose, “They are good young adults.”

He rolls his eyes.  “I know.  I can’t believe that they are all in their twenties.”

I squeeze a little tighter, “They will always be your kids.”

“And speaking of kids” James lets go of me and disappears into the closet.  He comes back with a shopping bag, “I need to stuff the stockings.”

“Hang on a second.”  I go into the closet and pull out the bag of stuffers I’d bought.  Going back to James, “I’ll help!”

He snakes an arm around me, kisses me, “Let’s do this!” he whispers conspiratorially.  As we make our way to the living room, James is softly humming the Mission Impossible theme.  I’m trying to not burst out laughing.  Once the items in our bags are distributed into the stockings we almost run back to our bedroom. 

He literally tosses me onto the bed before launching himself at me.  I grimace slightly and close my eyes.  He lands to my side but immediately grabs me and pulls me to him kissing me deeply.  We tug the clothes off the other, our lips not leaving each other’s except to pull off sweaters.  His hands are roaming my body when he suddenly stops.  His head pops up.  Then I hear it.  The unmistakable sounds of sex.  And not from us.  James drops his head to my neck.  “oooohh!”  I wrap my arms around his head trying to not giggle too hard.

“That’s not right” he mumbles into my neck.  “Them’s my kids.”  I stroke his hair.  His lips kiss my neck.  Leaning up on his elbow, “This is weird.”

“What?” my fingers gently caressing the nape of his neck.

“I mean I know it’s natural and all” there’s the loud noise of climax “but my kids.”  He whines and his eyebrows are knotted up.

“Here, let me help.  Computer, play classic Christmas music.”  The robotic voice answers, “Playing Christmas music from Kira’s Amazon Music.”  Mannheim Steamroller starts.  The sounds from outside our room are blurred out.  James rests his forehead against mine.  “Better?”  He nods.  I tug the covers behind me down and roll us that direction. 

He grabs the covers from under his hips and tugs them out then up over us as he lays down.  I rotate in his arms, curling around his right arm as my pillow, his left arm snugging me closer to his body.  His nose is buried in the back of my neck.  “Kira, Merry Christmas” as he gently kisses my neck.

I kiss his bicep, my fingers cupping his elbow, “Merry Christmas James” I whisper back.  His left arm tightens for a bit, then loosens as he drifts off to sleep.  I am not long behind him.

Rockies Christmas - Day 10

Warnings: Some angst, Hospital stay, Shameless product placement

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

A hand on my shoulder is gently shaking me, “Kira.”  It’s a hand much smaller than James’.  “Kira.”

I roll over scrubbing my eyes, “mmmyeah.”  I look up and there stands Cali.

“It’s six fifteen.  Thought you’d like some breakfast before going to see Dad.”

Yesterday slams into my brain.  “Thanks.  I’ll be out in a minute.”  She nods, smiling softly, and closes the door on her way out.  I swim to the side of the massive bed.  Scrubbing my eyes again, I get up and go to the bathroom.  After flushing, I wash my hands and splash water on my face.  I change clothes quickly back into what I’d worn yesterday.  Returning to the bedroom, I pull out my brush, do a quick raking on my hair and bun it up again as I open the door.

Timothy is there with a couple large bags from McDonald’s.  I just huff a smile.  Cali comes up to me, “We may have ordered too much.”  There’s concern in her eyes.

“We’ll leave a note for the cleaning staff.  They’ll appreciate it” I console her.  Finding an Egg McMuffin, I pull out a chair and sit.

“What do you want to drink?” Cali asks.

“Oh wait!” Timothy speaks up.  “Jordan told me.  Here.”  He hands me a SB cup.

I chug part of it.  “Bless you both!”  I hear a phone ringing in my room.  I quickly find that it’s mine.  “Hi Lars.”  I walk back out to the table.

“Hey.  How you holding up?”

Sighing, “I’ve been better.  Sorry for the crappy Birthday present yesterday.”

“Hey, that wasn’t on you!” Lars laughs.  “I just talked to him.  He sounds tired but good.”

“Who can sleep good in a hospital?”  I hear the Dane laugh.  “We’re just getting ready to go see him.”  Cali is bouncing, “Hey Lars, Cali wants to talk to you.”

“Put her on.”

“Hi Onkel Lars!” as she hits speaker.  “Is Auntie Jess there too?”

“Yeah, so are the boys.”  A chorus of Hi’s from the background.

“Uhm.  You’re going to be Store Onkel Lars.”

“Say what?” Lars’ voice says.

“Onkel Lars, I’m pregnant.”

“You’re making James … a Grandfather?!” there is happy cheering in the background.

The room on this side of the pond erupts in laughter.  “Yes.”

“Well, it’s about time one of you did!” he laughs.  “I’m … we’re very happy for you!!”

Cali hands the phone back to me.  I take it off speaker.  “Hey Lars.”

“Hey.  Tell that lunkhead to stop showboating.”

“The kids say that he wasn’t showboating.”

“Please tell me he was wearing a helmet.”

“Yes.”

“Thank god.”  I hear him chew on his toothpick.  “Ok, Jess is excited, she wants to go baby shopping for Cali.”

“Hey, I really hope that you did have a good day yesterday.”

I can almost see him nodding, “I did.  Until that lunkhead of yours took a spill!  But I’m grateful he’s going to be ok.”

“Oh!  So now he’s my lunkhead!”

“This time yes!” Lars laughs.

“I don’t know if the others know.”

“I’ll call them.  Kira, it’s all good.”

“Thanks Lars.  I’ll keep you posted.”

“Please do.  Farvel!”  He ends the call.

I chug more of my coffee and finish the sandwich.

Castor stands up and starts clearing away the garbage.  “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Cali finds a pen and paper and leaves a note for the cleaning staff.

I look up the number for the car service.  “The van will be downstairs in ten.”  That put a hustle in everyone.  Shirts are changed, coats grabbed, last bites of breakfast taken, shoes found and put on feet.  Grabbing both phones, my wallet and my jacket along with a key card, we all pile into the elevator.  Shortly after we get to the lobby the van arrives.  Same driver as the night before.  Piling in, I watch the Christmas decorations go by on the drive to the hospital.  The same ones that I’d been happy to see just a few days ago with James at my side.  Getting to the hospital, I lead the way to the nurses’ station.  After getting his room number, we make our way to the floor.  The elevator doors open and there stands the doctor.

“Wow, you are punctual” he smiles.  “He’s actually awake.  But please, don’t over tax him.”  Motioning with his hand, “This way.”  As we get to the door, he puts a hand on my arm as the kids all enter the room, “This might be a little much for him.”

“I’ll kick them out soon, but I’m not going to deny him his kids.”

The doctor nods as he walks away.

I enter the room.  There’s one IV bag hung and a heart monitor beeping.  The kids have all taken up space around the bed.  I can’t see him.  I can hear him.  Lars was right.  James sounds exhausted.  I wait patiently.  They are chattering about the hotel suite.  The helicopter ride.  That the other machines got back home ok.

“Is Kira here?” comes James’ voice.  Castor looks over his shoulder at me.  He steps aside.  James is pale but alive.  He looks like he’s been in the boxing ring with George Foreman.  The whole left side of his face is bruised.  That eye a little swollen.  He’s holding a cold pack in his right hand which looks a little puffy.  But those eyes.  Those big glacier blue eyes.  They are perfect.

“I’m here.”  He smiles and reaches out for my hand.  I take his left hand with my right.

Cali speaks up, “Hey, let’s go do some after Christmas sales shopping.”

“Then maybe hit up a movie” Marcella pitches in.

They all bid us goodbye and tumble out the door.  Then it’s quiet and just us.

“Hey” he says, his eyelids dropping.

“Hey.”

He tugs me, “Come here.”

I climb into bed beside him, making sure that all the tubes and wires are not being pinched, and stretch out beside him, my head cradled on his left shoulder.  His hand rests on my hip.

He looks at me, “I’m sorry.”

I press my fingers to his lips, “You didn’t do anything wrong.  The kids have assured everyone that you were not showboating.”  He barely shakes his head.  “I’m just grateful that you were wearing your helmet.”

“That bad?”

I lift my head up, “James.  It’s split in two.”

He sniffs out a smile, “Explains why my head hurts.”

I caress his chin, “Sleep.”

He snugs me in closer to him, “Ok.”

My eyes close shortly after his.

I hear the nurses coming in and checking monitors.  I hear other machines beeping down the hallway.  I hear his heartbeat in my ear.  I feel his hand resting on my hip.  I say a prayer and thank those in the great upstairs for watching over him.  I feel the tear leak from my closed eye warm my cheek before warming the hospital gown covering James.  I have no idea what time it is when my eyes finally crack open.  James’ hand is playing with my fingers resting on his chest.  I rock my head back.  His eyes slit open.  “Hey.”  I smile up at him.

“This bed sucks.”

I pat his chest, “Most hospital beds do.”  I wiggle a little.  He winces.  “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“Right now, everything hurts.”  He tightens his arm around my back.  “But, I do gotta piss.”

Snorfelling at him, I detangle myself from him, the wires, tubing and slide from the bed. 

A nurse walks in, “Ah.  You’re awake.”

“And I gotta piss.”

“Here, let me pop these off.  That will make it easier.”  She pops off all the heart monitor leads. 

He swings his legs off the bed, the sheet still wrapped around his legs and slowly stands.  Then sits quickly grabbing his left knee with a wince.  I lift his gown.  His left leg from mid shin to almost waist is black and blue.

“I think I know where the snowmobile landed on me” he grimaces.

The nurse hands over a plastic urinal bottle, “Use this right now.  I need to get your doctor in here.”

I help James get lined up in the bottle.  His head leans onto my shoulder.  I hear his pee hitting the plastic container.  He heaves a sigh.

“Better?”

“mmmmhmmm.”  He’s still leaning into me.  I lift his gown and remove the urinal.  Closing its lid, I set it on the floor.  Then I help him shift back into the bed.  I move the urinal into the bathroom by the toilet and wash my hands.

The doctor comes in the room as I exit the bathroom.  The doctor flips back the covers and hoists the hospital gown.  James’ left leg, hip and part of his torso look like a Jackson Pollock painting done in blues, purples and flesh tones.  The doctor runs his hands over the area watching James’ face.  “I know that you were seriously burned, but don’t let that pain tolerance hide if these hurt” the doctors’ words are kind.

“It hurts” is all James says.

“I don’t really want to give you a narcotic pain med.”  He pulls the covers back over James’ body.  The nurse reattaches the leads.

“Please don’t.”

“Okay.  I’m going to give you a high dose of naproxen.  But to do that, you’ll need to stay another night.”

James just nods.

“I would highly recommend that you” he looks at me, “sleep on his other side.”

“Alright.”

He writes up the order and hands it to the nurse.  As he walks out, “You both should have a sleep study done.”

We both just look at each other.  He looks at me.  “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For being a pain.”

“Turn around is fair game.”  He looks at me.  “Halloween?” I grin.

“Yeah, but you didn’t end up in the hospital.”

“True.  But I didn’t have a five hundred pound snowmobile land on me.”

“Seven hundred, but I concede the point.”  I look at him.

“What?  Dad concedes a point?” Castor says coming in the door grinning.  The other kids follow in.

They start talking about the bargains they’d found.  The movie that they went to see.

“Hey Dad” Marcella pipes up.  “We brought you two a late lunch.”

“Oh yeah” CGF pulls out a bag from her backpack.  The smell fills the room.  MBF closes the door.

“I know that Dad wants the meatball sub,” Cali says.  “I hope you’ll like the turkey one.”

“Thank you.”  I take the offered sandwich.  “This is huge!”

“Castor will finish whatever you don’t” says CGF.  “And something to wash them down.”  She pulls out a pair of Severed Lime cans.

James almost inhales his sub.  “Gee Dad, you weren’t hungry at all!” Castor teases him.

“Nope.”  James lets out a huge burp.  “Not at all.”  I smile at him as he looks at me.

The nurse comes in with a new IV bag loaded with the pain meds.  “Oh good, you’ve eaten.  This med might have upset your stomach without food.”  She quickly changes out the bags.  “Uhm, where is the…?” she looks at me.  I point to the bathroom.  “Thanks.  I’ll collect it later.”  She walks to the door, “Those really smell good!” as she leaves.

“You kids aren’t eating” James says.

“We ate there” MBF says.  “We thought that you two might be hungry and hospital food is horrid.”

“Yes, it is.  Almost as bad as the beds.”  James tries to shift some and winces.

“You need to move up the bed?” I ask.  He just nods.  “Castor, MBF will you two please help?  Grab under the arms.  Now.”  They pull James a good six inches up on the mattress while I hold the bottom sheet from sliding with him.  His eyes close for a minute.  I rest my hand on his chest.  He rests his hand over mine and opens his eyes.  I can tell he’s ready to drift back to sleep.

CGF speaks up, “I think we need to let him rest.”  She wraps an arm around Castor’s waist, “C’mon.”

Cali whispers to me, “You staying?”  I just nod.  Cali smiles at me, then leans over and kisses her Dad on the cheek.  “See ya later – Grandpa!”

He smiles and his eyes brighten some, “See you later little Mama.”

As the kids file out, I hand Castor the rest of my sub.  He smiles at me, his eyes lighting up.  Damn.  He has his Daddy’s eyes.

Once the door is closed, James pats the bed on his right side.  I climb in, again making sure that I’m not on any wires or tubes.  His hand curls around my head, playing with my bun.  I reach up and pull off the hair tie.  His fingers snarl into my hair, caressing my scalp.  Those fingers in my hair slow.  Then stop.  I grab the TV controller and start a long movie.  The nurse comes in a couple of times to check the IV flow.  She also collects the full – and leaves an empty – plastic urinal bottle.  She smiles at me each time.  The movie ends and I start another.  James shifts some in his sleep, groaning softly.  The next time the nurse comes in, I ask her quietly about using arnica oil on James.  She lifts her eyebrows and just as quietly says that she’ll ask his doctor.  About an hour later she comes back with a bottle and a towel.  She hands me the bottle and lays the towel over my hip.  “I guess you know how to use this.”  I just nod.  Memories of various aftermaths of being in bed with James flow through my brain.  I gently work the oil into the bruises on his body.  I can’t quite reach his leg, but the worst part on his hip and torso I am able to rub the oil in.  Again, I start another movie.  It’s getting dark out.  The nurse comes in again, this time changing the IV bags.  James shifts in his sleep while she’s there.  He again moans softly.  She pulls up his chart on the computer and makes notes.  She smiles at me as she leaves the room.  I hear my phone buzz.  It’s Cali.  She’s asking for an update on James.  I send her the snoring emoji.  She replies with a thumbs up.  About eleven, James wakes.  Sorta.

“I gotta piss.”

“Hang on.”  I climb out of bed, grab the urinal and put in place.  “Let ‘er rip” I say. 

He smiles at me, “I could get used to this.”

As he finishes, I cap the bottle, “Yeah, I don’t think so.”  I put the bottle in the bathroom, wash my hands and climb back in bed.  He’s already half asleep.

“Thanks for staying with me” he mumbles.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way” I kiss his chin.

His grin slowly slips as he surrenders to sleep again.  I curl up against him.  The nurse comes in again to check the IV.  She leaves and returns with a blanket for me.  “See you tomorrow” she says kindly before leaving the room.  I pull the blanket up over me, my head on his chest, my eyes close.