Chapter 23: Trim-a-Tree

Tuesday & Wednesday, December 4th & 5th, 2007

Hath and David opened boxes of ornaments, and David whistled. “There must be hundreds of ornaments here!” It was true. There were two boxes of boxed Hallmark ornaments and another three of the traditional glass balls in every color imaginable; some frosted, some with glitter, some that looked so fragile that they’d break if you looked at them cross-eyed.

“Yep, and they all fit on the tree,” Hath responded, as she took the first ornament out of its box. It was a white frosted globe with the Twin Towers superimposed over an American flag. She had tears in her eye when she hung that one in a place of honor in the center of the tree, and paused a moment after hanging it. David took her hand and they stood there for a moment. With a squeeze, Hath released his hand and they opened more little boxes.

One by one, they hung the ornaments on the tree, Hath telling David their stories. She had ornaments from friends and relatives all over the country, and some from abroad. She had ones her niece had made, and some she had made as a child. When everything was in place, Hath stepped back into the circle of David’s arms, and they gazed at the tree.

“It’s just beautiful,” David said. “Not just the ornaments and the lights, but the love in each bauble and trinket,” he kissed the top of Hath’s head, and turned her to look at him. “Just beautiful.”

Hath threaded her hands into David’s hair, and brought his head down for a kiss. “Thank you,” she said. “For everything. For dinner, and decorating, and helping me trim my tree.” She paused to trail a hand down the side of David’s face. “Thank you,” she said again, a moment before David’s mouth reclaimed hers, their tongues twining in an intimate twist.

“It was my absolute pleasure, darlin’,” he answered a full minute later. The two were breathing hard, and Hath’s pulse was racing. She just couldn’t believe he’d gone through all this trouble for her. Hell, she still couldn’t quite believe he wanted her, and they’d been together for a month.

Locking eyes with David, Hath led him upstairs to what she thought of (now) as their room. Aiming the remote at the stereo, she clicked on the CD – it was Joss Stone; the young singer’s sexy, soulful voice filling the room. David took Hath into his arms, and they swayed slowly to the music, kissing tenderly.

I've been running around
And I gotta slow down and spend time with my man
From city to city
Pleasing the world but neglecting him
Living on the road is so damn tough
Talking on the phone is never enough
I gotta get back to the place that I'm used to

Hath looked deep into David’s blue-green, and was lost. It would be so easy to fall in love with someone who looked at her like that. Shaking any remaining traces of self-doubt from her mind, she smiled and closed her eyes on a sigh, and melted against him, head tucked under David’s chin, moving with him like they were one.

And I, I felt like I need to be in the arms of my baby
And I, I gotta find my way back home to my baby now

I've been lacking affection
Craving for the touch of his gentle hands
So much love and devotion
No matter what I go through he understand

David’s hands were caressing Hath’s back and moved to her shoulders to slip her suit jacket from her. Instead of dropping it on the floor however, he stepped back and hung it on a hanger, and put it in her closet, because he knew that’s what she would have done. He smiled at her and pulled her back into his arms.

He sends me flowers but they don't compare
To how he runs his fingers through my hair

David chuckled and pushed his hands into Hath’s hair, undoing the twist she always wore. He groaned when the silky locks, still damp from that morning’s shower, fell around his hands and wrists.

“I love how your hair is still damp,” he said, burying his face in it.

“It’s thick, it takes forever to dry,” Hath answered softly, “and doesn’t when it’s all wrapped up.”

“It smells delicious,” David said, moving to nuzzle her neck. “You smell delicious,” he said.

David’s breath on Hath’s neck made her shiver, and her nipples pebble. While Joss sang on, Hath pulled at David’s sweater until it came up and over his head. Smiling, she folded it neatly and placed it on the blanket chest at the foot of the bed. Boldly staring at him, one by one Hath slid the buttons free on her silk shirt, and watched, fascinated, as David mirrored her actions. She slid the shirt from her shoulders, catching it at her elbows. She slowly unbuttoned her shirt’s cuffs, and her pulse kicked up when David did the same with his. The shirt dropped to the floor behind her, leaving her in a peach demi-bra and black skirt. David sucked in a breath, and dropped his shirt to the floor.

Hath slowly approached David, their eyes glued to each other. With a smile, Hath lightly traced the Joker tat on David’s chest, remembering the first time she touched it. The same little electric sizzle was there, tickling her fingertips. She leaned in to swirl her tongue around David’s nipple and he groaned. Emboldened, Hath nipped at him, making him hiss and wrap his arms around her. David gently pulled Hath up to and against him, and walked her backwards until she was pressed up against the wall. He leaned into her, pressing is erection into her, and kissed her soundly.

Hath tried to loop a leg around David’s waist, but her skirt was too tight; she couldn’t. David chuckled and pushed the offending garment up around her waist and grabbed and lifted Hath’s thigh; anchoring himself to her. He rubbed against her until his pants were damp with her juices. Hath ripped her mouth from David’s and cried out his name as the orgasm overtook her.

“Jesus, David, I need you inside me, NOW,” she hissed.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, after which Hath flicked him. “Ow! Okay, okay, ‘miss’!” he laughed. He swung Hath up into his arms and strode toward the bed. He dumped her unceremoniously in the middle of the bed, making her squeak. David shucked his pants and was on her in a flash, tearing her panties away, leaving her in a bunched-up skirt and bra. He thrust roughly into her, his frenzy driving her up and over the edge again; making her scream.

“God, I love it when you scream,” David said, panting, as he strove for his own release.

“Baby, I love it when you make me scream,” Hath said on a whisper as her eyes rolled back into her head. “Do it again,” she begged. So he did. He screamed too, and collapsed on top of her. He worked her skirt off her, gently stripped off her bra, pulled the covers up over them, and held her until they both fell asleep.

Late the next morning, David left for the airport. Hath wanted to go with him, but he told her he wanted to take the image of her all rumpled and creased in bed with him. He kissed her, told her he missed her already, and was gone. When he left, Hath noticed that he left a t-shirt for her in the bathroom. She smiled and slipped it on, as a tear slid down her cheek.