Cole (The Leaves)

by Hartnett, J. B.

  “We think… she may have passed.” I delivered this news delicately, but he seemed to have no emotion to the idea that Marla had died.

  “Do you love… my daughter?” He asked.

  “She’s my sun and moon.” I answered using his words, never breaking eye contact.

  “Are you ready to order?”

  “Go. Away.” John snapped viciously at the poor woman. She wouldn’t be coming back.

  “She doesn’t know I did this, Mr. Parker. I will protect her from any more pain until my dying breath, but her memory of going to Disneyland with you is the one and only happy memory of her childhood she has ever shared. She thought you just left and considering what you left her to, she might find it hard to forgive you at first but I’m sure after she hears what you have to say, that’ll change. She’s your child. If you can assure me you won’t hurt her…”

  “I would never hurt her, my God, if I’d had any idea what Marla was capable of…” His words pained. “I would always have treated her as my blood.”

  “She has people in her life now that love her, would do anything for her, but having you walk her down the aisle, I want to give that to her Mr. Parker.”

  “Please, Mr. Carlyle, call me John.”

  “Call me Cole. Here’s my card. I’m sure you need some time to think about…”

  “No. Enough time has already been stolen from us. I’ll talk to my wife and I should call my son. He’s nineteen, his name is David. He’ll love the fact he has a sister. My wife however is gonna go ballistic that I kept this from her.” He chuckled and shook his head back and forth. “I can’t believe it. All this time.” He reached into his back pocket and took out a black leather wallet. He took out several cards and opened a small envelope and handed a photo to me. “She’s five there. It was her kindergarten photo. Poor thing lost that tooth two days before and cried that she was going to look ugly. I told her the tooth fairy paid double if you lost a tooth before picture day. Every year on her birthday I go to a restaurant by myself and order a slice of chocolate cake to go. It was her favorite. Then I go home, lock myself in my office and tell my wife I’m not to be disturbed under any circumstances. I sing “Happy Birthday” to that little girl in the photo, have a few bites of cake, then I drink until I pass out. So if you’re wondering if I’m gonna break her heart Cole, the answer is no.”

  “Talk to your family, John. Prepare them. I’ll speak with Anika and I’ll arrange a meeting.”

  I left a twenty on the table, feeling as if I should compensate our waitress for John snapping at her, stood up and began to move away.”

  “Mr. Carlyle?”

  “Yeah?” I answered.

  “You’re nothing like your father.”

  “Thank you.”

  Cole 16

  Anika

  “How many decorations did my mother buy?”

  The dining table was covered with boxes and bags of festive décor. “I’m sure when it’s all taken out of the packaging it won’t look like there’s much here. I have an idea. How about we put all of this on the floor and put beach towels on the table so nothing will get broken. Then we can lay everything out and this can kind of be like, ‘Decoration Central’.”

  I continued taking items out of the bags and turned to a magazine I had opened on the table. “According to Martha Stewart, we have to start with the lights. Really, we need a proper stand, a nice deep bucket to keep it well hydrated… fire hazard apparently if we don’t… then if we organize by color… this is like putting Ikea furniture together, geez!”

  He laughed at me and handed me a fruity cocktail. “Yummy. What is this?”

  “A Snowball. I was gonna make them when everyone comes for Christmas Eve.”

  “It’s delicious. I’ve never heard of it and that’s saying something. But it’s really strong and I promise I’m not criticizing your bartending skills, but we may want to arrange taxis if we’re serving these. Or get some sleeping bags this week… keep ‘em comin’.”

  Cole laid a huge grey quilt over the table, perfect for this project, and I took off every plastic tag and label from our decorations. Our decorations. Patricia insisted that we needed special plastic storage boxes, whose sole purpose was to house Christmas decorations. I decided not to argue with her. When all was said and done, Cole appeared behind me, wrapping me in his arms. “Our first Christmas. Ready to go get our first tree?”

  “I’m not even sure we need the tree. Everything lying out like this is pretty, right?”

  He chuckled. “Come on. We have a long night ahead of us, what with tree trimming and egg nog and… other things.”

  “Other things?” I asked as he led me to the garage.

  He didn’t answer me. I was okay with that, his silence spoke volumes. He rounded the car and began to take a quilt, identical to the one on the dining table off of the car. “Why do you have so many of these quilts?”

  “They were used to transport your painting.”

  At that moment, he stopped what he was doing and spread the quilt across the hood. I turned to open my door, but he came behind me and slowly pulled me back with him toward the front of the car.

  “What are you doing?” I asked like a clueless idiot. I mean, I assumed he was going to try something, but in the garage wasn’t what I expected.

  “Having an appetizer.” He grinned.

  “What do you mean?” Before I knew it, he lifted me onto the front like a giant hood ornament.

  “I have to honestly tell you I’m thinking we’re never gonna get that tree.” I sighed.

  “Oh, we’re getting the tree. I just want to make it a night you’ll never forget.” His hands were at the waist of my jeans, flipping the button open with ease to shimmy them down my hips forcing me to lie back and wait for the inevitable delight that was Cole Carlyle’s tongue.

  “You know, one day I’m gonna beat you to this specific activity.” My hands found their way into his thick hair.

  “I look forward to it.” He said, breathing lightly over the cotton of my panties, his lips barely touching the skin hidden beneath.

  “Oh, you are so good at that.”

  “And I haven’t even started yet. Are you comfortable?”

  “I could be lying on a bed of nails and it wouldn’t matter.” I felt him pull his mouth away from me, but only for a moment, as his hand pulled the fabric to the side and flicked my clit quickly with his tongue. “Oh, God-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen don’t tease me, baby.”

  “Ah, but the tease makes it that much better when you get the reward, doesn’t it?” He said this, then darted his tongue inside me. I couldn’t control the little moan that escaped my lips as he slipped one finger inside and moved it slowly in and out. “I think that answers my question.”

  “Yep.” It was all I could manage to say.

  “Anika, you have no idea what giving you pleasure does to me.” He said as he added another finger, easing into me as he spoke. “How many times should I make you come before we leave?”

  “Surprise me, I can’t concentrate.”

  He continued his slow advance with his magic fingers. I expected him to keep talking to me but he didn’t. He withdrew his hand and circled his wet fingers over my clit and replaced them with his mouth. Cole never ceased to surprise me with his innovation or sex-pertise, but he tilted his head just a little and it was as if he was making out with me… there. It was freaking amazing. I wanted to tell him, but I’d lost my ability to form words so instead I just whimpered something like, “Fuhreakingamazzzfuhahhh” to which I felt him smile. I came hard and quick, rising off the car and letting my head fall back with a thud, not caring at all.

  “That was one.” He said pulling his face away, but never taking his fingers from me while I shuddered.

  “Tree. Cole. Tree.” I said, trying to catch my breath.

  “Are you sure?” He asked, withdrawing his fingers slowly.

  “Phew. No, I’m not, but I know if we don’t go now, we’ll never g
et out of here.” I giggled.

  “Come here.” He commanded, helping me down from the hood. He pulled up my panties and jeans and buttoned them again. He tucked my hair behind my ears and kissed me lightly, my scent and juices still evident. It turned me on all over again, but I sensed the moment was turning into something tender and not sensual. “I love you Anika. Remember this: this memory right here, we are going to have so many more. I hope you didn’t get me anything else.”

  I moved from him to encourage us both to get into the car. We both stood at our respective doors, looking at each other through the windows, our voices echoing clearly throughout the garage. “Anything else? I haven’t given you anything yet.”

  “Yes, you have.” He stated as he slid in and shut the door. I got in and clicked the seatbelt into place.

  “I would’ve remembered if I’d given you something already.”

  “Baby.” He took his hands from the steering wheel and cupped my face with them, “You are the gift. I figure you’ve covered every Christmas, birthday, whatever requires a gift. I don’t think you can top you.”

  With that grand statement, he proceeded to pull out of the driveway and toward the Boy Scout Christmas tree lot.

  “How am I supposed to respond to something like that?” I noticed him smirking. “I can see what you’re doing over there, Cole. You keep beating me to the punch. It’s not fair!” Of course I wasn’t pissed, but I could see he was enjoying my little rant.

  Parking the car he turned to me, “Remember when you masturbated in front of me after the party?”

  “Yeah.” I said it with attitude, but didn’t quite pull it off… at all.

  “You win.” He leaned over to me, his lips hovering just above mine and took off my seatbelt. In a low rumbling voice he continued, “And when we get home later…” his hand found its way inside my coat and barely brushed my shirt with his fingers, “after we decorate our tree and have something to eat…” He moved in a circular motion over my nipple making it harden, “I’m going to lay you down on the empty table and fuck you until you scream my name.”

  “Oh my God…” I let out on a breath “I think you’re going to make me come just from talking dirty to me.”

  He rained little kisses on my neck, giving my nipple a final pinch through my shirt before he drew away from me. “See? You’re the gift that keeps on giving. Come on, let me buy you a Christmas tree.”

  ***

  Watching my man carry a large, fluffy, pine tree and setting it up in the stand… well, it was kind of hot. Cole seemed to make everything look hot, whereas I sometimes felt like I’d been fed awkward pills. The only thing that could have made the scene more perfect would have been a red flannel shirt with rolled up sleeves and an axe flung over one shoulder. Maybe a few days of facial hair growth. Wow. I couldn’t recall ever being this way in the past, but I guess since we were getting married in… twelve days. Twelve days!

  “Twelve days!” I could feel my eyes wide with terror. Cole had just finished stringing the lights around the tree… as instructed by Martha.

  “Twelve days?” He feigned ignorance with a smile.

  “I know you know what I’m talking about. Aren’t you freaking out? Even a little bit?”

  He approached the table and leaned over casually picking up a large glass bauble. “No. Do you know why?” He was annoyingly calm.

  “Enlighten me. Don’t get me wrong, please, just… freaking out a little bit.”

  I took the ornament he’d picked up and gave him a different one. He walked to the tree, talking to me as he studied its placement. “My mother has given me a six page itinerary and checklist. The only thing you and I need to do is be ready at noon. She and Anthony are doing the stressing out for us so we don’t have to. We’ll have the rehearsal dinner there on Thursday, which has also been arranged. You and I already bought the thank you gifts… really, is that the only thing that’s bothering you?”

  I stood there and racked my brain. Nope. There wasn’t one damn thing wrong.

  “Holy. Crap.” I said quickly.

  “What is it?” He strode toward me. Probably thinking I was about to have a full blown anxiety attack.

  “I’m happy.”

  I smiled brightly at him and watched his concern fade and transform his features into pure joy. He hugged me and kissed the top of my head, “Me too, Anika. I can’t remember ever being this happy.”

  We listened to Bing Crosby and ate a roast chicken dinner we’d picked up while we were getting the tree. When it was done, he led me to the couch to sit down and admire it. It stood to the left of my painting, taking center stage in the open plan living area. The twinkling white lights sparkled and the fire place cast a warm glow over the cream colored couches. I leaned into his shoulder and whispered, “Home.”

  After a few minutes he asked, “Anika?”

  “Mm hmm?” I sleepily answered.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “You have to ask?”

  “I have something to do tomorrow and I want you to join me. You may not like it at first, but I want you to promise you’ll give it a chance. I wouldn’t ask you to do anything if I thought for one moment it would bring you pain.”

  I sat bolt upright. “Do you not recall earlier this evening when I was freaking out a little bit?”

  “Uh, yes?”

  “And you basically told me not to worry?”

  “Yes.” He said exhaling.

  “Now, I’m freaking out.”

  He laughed, “No Anika. You don’t need to freak out. This is a good thing. Or at least I think it will be.”

  “Is it a threesome?” Every single guy I’d dated had always asked me to have a threesome. Every. Single. One.

  “What?”

  “Two guys and a girl or two girls and a guy, because I’m telling you now, I don’t think I can watch you with another woman and you don’t seem like you’d be down with me and another guy.”

  “Anika…”

  “It’s the butt, isn’t it? You want the butt. I told Evan the same thing, Aimes loves it in the butt and don’t you dare tell her I told you that-”

  “Anika, it’s…”

  “Look, I trust you, Cole. I wouldn’t do it with Evan. He kept insisting, but I read this book once and it was like, the ultimate act of trust and intimacy so, I’m willing to try and see how it goes…”

  “Anika!” He yelled.

  “What?!” I returned.

  “Anika…” He said with amused calm. “We can discuss anal sex and threesomes another day. It’s nothing like that I absolutely guarantee. However, for the record, I can’t share you with another man, so I think threesomes are out of the question for us. The other thing though, we can explore that later if you want to. This has nothing to do with sex.”

  “Can’t you just tell me so I won’t stress out about it?” I said in a faux whiney voice.

  “No, baby. Just trust me.”

  “I hate surprises.”

  “I know you do, but have I given you a surprise you haven’t liked?”

  “Not yet.” I smiled.

  “Okay then. In the meantime, why don’t I alleviate some of your stress?”

  He pulled me into a deep kiss, our tongues mingling softly. I ran my hands over his chest, clad in a soft cashmere sweater. I felt his nipples harden under my touch and delighted at the small little groan when I shifted myself to straddle him.

  “What are you doing?” He asked as I lifted his sweater and shirt over his head.

  “Taking off your clothes, what did you think I was doing?”

  “That’s what I hoped you were doing. Except…”

  “Except what?”

  “I had something else in mind.”

  “Ohhhkayyyy…”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll make it worth your while. Don’t move, alright?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You have no idea how appropriate that is.” He said this ominously, suggestively. I didn’t know wha
t he had planned but just the sound of his voice lit my insides on fire. “Sit on the floor, face the window and close your eyes.”

  “Cole?”

  “Don’t overthink this, Anika. Just relax.” Yeah. Easy for him to say. I did as he asked and listened to him move about the room. I felt him next to me again. “I want you to keep your eyes closed and just feel, okay? Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” I answered nervously.

  “Now, we begin.”

  This was something different. I knew immediately Cole was testing our boundaries. I trusted him, implicitly, but there was something very alpha-male in his behavior that I’d seen only a glimpse of here and there.

  “Anika…” He spoke softly above me, taking my hair from its elastic band and spreading it around my shoulders, combing through it with his fingers. He started at my scalp again and tugged it, sending warmth thru my body.