I wind my arms around her and pick her up. “Bed,” I say between kisses. “I need you in my bed.” She nods and wraps her legs around my waist.
“I’ve waited so long for you, Cam. You know I’m never letting go, right?” I murmur as I carry her to my bed, nibbling on her neck.
“Then hang on,” she says coyly. Her words float in the air, spurring me on further.
I lay her across the white blankets on my bed and take a moment to appreciate her beautifully naked body. I want to burn every curve, every freckle into memory. She reaches for the blanket to cover up, uncomfortable with my stare.
“No, Cam, don’t. You’re gorgeous, love. I just want to see you, appreciate you.”
Clearly nervous, she takes a deep breath and fixes the rumpled duvet.
I crawl up the bed and cover her body with my own; her skin against mine feels amazing. “Let me show you,” I say, searching her eyes, reassuring her of my feelings.
Her hand snakes into my hair and cups the back of my neck, pulling me down to her. Her eyes never lose their hold on mine. “Show me then,” she whispers.
I smash my lips to hers, my hands exploring the curves I adore.
Slowly, I sink into a bliss I’ve never known.
Baring my soul, I wedge myself into the heart of the only woman I’ve ever wanted to hold forever.
We find oblivion in something neither of us have ever had, nor wanted…until now.
Lakin
“You know, I never got to eat my birthday cake,” Campbell says as she lackadaisically swirls her fingernails across my chest. Our bodies are tangled and twisted together, the blankets and sheets in complete disarray.
“That’s not true. I distinctly remember you tasting the frosting. Besides, sex is always better than cake.”
She rises up from my shoulder. “Blasphemy,” she declares.
“Okay, how about sex with me is always better?” I chuckle and she nestles back into the crook of my shoulder.
“Oh shit, I forgot your birthday present,” I exclaim, bouncing Campbell from our comfortable cocoon as I struggle to get out of the bed.
“I think you and the cake were present enough, Mr. Ryan,” she jokes, wrapping a sheet around her body.
“I’ll be right back,” I say excitedly as I pull my boxers briefs on and dash out of the bedroom in search of her gift. I had it in my jacket pocket earlier tonight, but locating the jacket proves difficult. I let out a sigh of relief when I reach into the pocket and brush my fingers along the edges of the box. Now that I can truly call Campbell mine, this present takes on a whole new meaning. I’m so glad I took the risk to buy it.
I race back to my bedroom and playfully hop onto my bed next to Campbell. “You’re ridiculous,” she laughs before kissing her fingertips and touching them to my cheek.
When she attempts to pull her hand back, I grab her wrist and bring her fingers to my mouth, kissing the pads of her tiny fingers. “Close your eyes,” I tell her.
She hesitantly complies and I turn her hand over, palm up. I place the small box wrapped in shiny blue paper with a black bow in her hand and scoot back on the bed.
“Okay, open your eyes,” I tell her once I’ve given her a little space.
“Blue.” She grins. “Did you wrap it yourself?” she asks.
“I know it’s your favorite,” I say. “I have to admit, though, I went through a whole roll trying to wrap it. I now know why I have all Christmas presents gift wrapped at the stores; wrapping is a bitch.”
She giggles. “Well, I appreciate the thought. I know I haven’t received a lot of gifts in my life, but I would say you nailed the wrapping job.”
“I wasn’t going to let someone else package this, nor any other future gifts for you, Cam. Let this be the first of many, love,” I tell her, encouraging her to finally open the present.
My excitement is willing her to just tear it open, but she does no such thing. She slides her finger under the tape and lightly separates the paper, careful not to tear it. She folds the paper and lays it gently on the bed, like she would use it for some future gift.
Her eyes widen when she uncovers the square jewelry box. She immediately looks to me and fumbles to say anything coherent.
“Simmer down, Cam,” I laugh. “I’m young and in love, but I’m not stupid. I get that marriage is off the table. Just open it.”
She relaxes at my words and snaps open the box. Immediately she frowns, misunderstanding the pendant that lies inside.
I take it from the box and hold the gold circle in my hand. She snaps the box shut and places it next to the paper.
“This is a love token. Women used to send their soldiers to war with a token of their love around their necks. It was usually a coin that had a hole in it. It was a reminder that no matter what they faced, not to forget the comfort of the love they had at home. So, I had this one designed for us.”
“Am I going somewhere?” she asks hesitantly.
“You’ve already been to war, Campbell. That necklace you wear now is a reminder of that. This one is different.”
She protectively grips the flower necklace that hangs from her neck. I’ve never seen her without the necklace; I’m aware of its value to her. She’s told me a foster parent, Sharon, gave it to her, and although she’s shared little else about it, I understand its significance.
I show her the same flower engraved into the white gold pendant. “It’s always important to remember where we come from, even if it’s painful to think about,” I explain, rubbing my finger across the forget-me-not on the medallion. “But this,” I say turning the token over to reveal the words inscribed, “is the promise of your future.”
“What does it say?” she asks, taking the token from me and examining the Irish words etched into the metal. Both of our last names are derived from Irish and English origins dating back to the Norman Conquest of 1066. So I thought it fitting that Gaelic be used on her gift to reflect the words that connect us.
“Forget me not, my love,” I tell her. “These words, this token, is your past, your present, and hopefully a future with me. I’ve wanted to be with you since the night I met you at the bar with Brooks, and I have never been able to untangle myself from your web. I know I’m not the relationship guy. I realize I’m a risk, and I absolutely know that you’re scared of what attachments could do to your heart. I’m not asking you to wear it right now; honestly, I don’t want you to. When you’re ready to take a more permanent leap with me, that’s when I’d like to see it around your neck.”
Her eyes move from mine and fixate on the token, no doubt mulling over my explanation. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Campbell, I–”
“No, let me get this out,” she interrupts, before bowing her head, hiding her eyes from me. “I don’t share with people about how I grew up; I don’t want people to think that where I came from is all there is to me.”
She pauses and I reach for her, grabbing her hand to thread our fingers together.
“There are things that happened that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to share with you, Lakin. But I need you to know that what you did for me this evening, the cake, this gift…it’s overwhelming. It reminds me of all the things I never had while at the same time, it makes me so thankful it’s you here to offer me these things.”
I take the token from her and place it back into its case. Her body immediately relaxes as I alleviate the pressure of the moment. “Thank you,” she exhales when she hears the box snap shut.