Liz was less than thrilled about that, but it made him happy, and as long as she didn’t have to eat it too, she could deal. Jonathan made sure to give them “alone time,” but Liz kept Sean to just a hug and a kiss. She was adamant about going slow this time. So what if she had to buy a few packs of double A batteries?
By mid-November, Sean persuaded her into French kisses and dry humping on the couch—not that she needed much persuasion. And if she accidentally forgot to wear underwear . . . oops.
Thanksgiving rolled around and everybody was invited to Liz’s apartment.
“Let me get this straight,” Sarah asked on a late-night phone call. “You’re going to introduce us to Sean, like we’ve never met him before.”
“That’s right,” Liz said, brushing flour from her forehead. She was baking the rolls the night before so it was one less thing she had to do tomorrow. “We’ve started over.”
“You have issues.” Sarah laughed. “What am I supposed to bring again?”
Liz almost dropped the phone. The stores were probably all out. What was she going to do?
“Just kidding. The yams are cooking away. And before you go and harass anyone else, Holly and Marc have the fruit and quinoa salad; Peter and Pol are bringing the artichokes; and Brian was bringing the pies—I double checked, they’re vegan.”
Liz let out a huge sigh. “Don’t do that to me.”
“What’s Mr. Perfect—I mean the sexy stranger I’ve yet to meet—bringing?” Sarah moved the phone away, but Liz still heard her say, “Cole, the baby needs to get changed. Can you do that? I’m on the phone.”
“Nice excuse,” Liz chortled.
“Any port in a storm.”
“Sean’s bringing a fruit platter and his sister-in-law, Laverne, is bringing wine.”
“I like her already,” Sarah said.
Dinner went well. Liz was lucky to have such good friends. Not only did they eat her tofurkey, but everyone pretended this was the first time they had met Sean. It helped that Brian left Sabrina home. Liz wasn’t quite ready to forgive her yet.
Sarah gave Liz an early Christmas present, subsidizing the amount of the nipple tattooing that her insurance didn’t cover.
“I don’t know how I can ever thank you,” Liz said, her eyes and nose filling up.
“Just don’t put them on the Christmas cards,” Sarah joked.
She even went to the plastic surgeon’s office with her. For a moment, Liz had a flashback to the cancer treatments. Sarah had been there for her then, too.
The procedure didn’t take as long as she thought it would. Liz marveled at the results. Now, when she looked in the mirror, Liz saw a familiar body. Instead of the lifeless lumps, her breasts almost looked perky. She should have done this right away, but she hadn’t been ready for it. Liz remembered she didn’t think she’d ever show them to anyone again, so who cared. It was a marvel that she was ready for Sean to see them, scars and all.
And at almost the last minute to register for the January semester, Liz’s new scholarship came through. It was just for the one class, but it was a start. She was able to start pursuing her dream after all.
“We’re going to go see the Rockettes to celebrate,” Sean said and arranged for Jonathan and her to go with him to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas show. They went during the week. No need to wrestle with the weekend crowds.
Then they headed over to Rockefeller Center to get their picture taken next to the angels blowing horns. Liz held his hand and started to feel pieces of her life clicking together. After ice skating, they ate roasted chestnuts from a street vendor and drank hot chocolate. And, of course, before going home, Jonathan conned them into hitting the Lego Store. Sean kept him busy building a few mini figs while Liz arranged to have a package shipped to her.
Before she could blink, Christmas Eve came. Liz made a special dinner for just the three of them. After dinner, they went caroling and came back to put the finishing touches on the tree. Jonathan and Sean ate their weight in popcorn, but the garland still looked all right.
Jonathan was fast asleep by ten. After Liz checked on him, she opened the door to her bedroom and crooked her finger at Sean. If she had anything to say about it, they’d be opening up more than their presents.
“I have a surprise for you,” Sean said, kissing her.
She unbuckled his pants. “I bet I know what it is.”
“Wait,” he said. “I want to do something for you.”
Liz quivered. “Anything.”
“Be right back.”
Being left alone in her bedroom on Christmas Eve was not what she had in mind. Did she put him off too many times? Was she too subtle about tonight? Damn it, she was going to get laid. Liz was about to chase after him when he shouldered into the room. He was carrying a kitchen chair and two large shopping bags.
“What’s all this?”
He closed the door and locked it. “It’s your Christmas gift.”
That’s what I’m talking about.
Setting the chair against the closed door, Sean pointed. “Sit here please.”
“Well, since you asked so nice,” she said and sat.
“Do you trust me?”
“Sure.” Liz arched a look at him.
He dangled a pair of handcuffs in front of her.
Oh my.
“Can I cuff you to the chair?”
Words failed her so she could only nod. He cuffed her hands behind her back through the chair’s slats so she couldn’t move.
The blindfold came next. Liz’s panties were already soaked and he hadn’t even done anything yet.
“Can you see?” he asked.
“No.”
“Can you get your hands free?”
“No. Do I need a safe word?”
“Just say stop or no, that’ll work.” Sean kissed her, flipping up her skirt and fondling her thighs. Then he moved away just when things were starting to get good. She heard him rustling around, getting undressed. She wondered what he was up to. Liz let her imagination go wild. Would he put his cock in her mouth while she was helpless to stop him? That made her writhe on the chair until she realized that position would be too awkward to be fun.
More rustling and she wondered what was taking so long. Just come over her and touch me, she wanted to scream. Liz didn’t mind being handcuffed to the chair, but the blindfold was starting to annoy her. “Are you almost ready?”
What was he doing anyway?
“Patience,” Sean chided.
After a few more moments, the only clue was the clack of keyboard keys.
“You better not be turning on a webcam,” she warned.
“Trust,” he said in the same scolding tone.
A seductive beat full of drum and bass rolled across her senses as music started to play, soft enough that it wouldn’t wake Jonathan.
The blindfold came off.
“What?” she managed.
Sean was dressed in a tuxedo.
“Nice.”
He started to strip, starting with the jacket. His hips undulated to the beat as the coat fell to the ground. The shirt was next, button by button. Each beat and drive of the music revealing Sean’s hard, muscled chest and stomach.
Liz’s mouth was dry. Her pulse was pounding with the music and she could feel the bass on her clit.
Then he revealed the V on the planes of his hips as he opened his pants, sliding the zipper down. He wasn’t wearing underwear.
“I’m all out of dollar bills.” Her voice caught on the last word when he let his pants fall and stepped out of them.
“I’ve got no place to put them.” Sean stalked toward her chair.
His cock was erect, thick to bursting. She hadn’t seen it in a while. Liz pulled on her handcuffs. She wanted to be free to touch him. He straddled her on the chair and gave her a lap dance that teased her into biting his arm. Brushing his abs in her face, she could feel the hot, velvet length of his cock. He backed off and continued the dance. H
ead thrown back, Sean pantomimed fucking her. The head of his cock glistening with wetness showed her he wanted her, too. As the song ended, he turned away from her and danced the last few beats to show off his back and ass.
“Still think I wasn’t a stripper?” he challenged.
“Uncuff me,” she said, not recognizing the hungry voice as hers.
“You don’t want to watch me play with myself?” He stroked his hand down his chest and grabbed his cock. “I’ve been doing a lot of this lately.”
“I can help with that,” she breathed, straining at the cuffs.
“I didn’t want to presume,” he said, still pumping his cock.
Liz’s toes curled as she watched, riveted. He was the sexiest thing she had ever seen. “Sean, uncuff me.”
“I will,” he said. “But my hands are full right now.” Coming closer, Sean knelt at her feet. He pushed her skirt all the way to her waist with one hand, all the while fisting his cock. She spread her thighs.
“Yeah,” he grunted. “Show me that pretty pussy of yours.”
Liz rattled her cuffs. “Please. I’ll do anything.”
“Will you let me take off your panties?”
“Yes,” she moaned.
He peeled them off her. Pulling her down on the seat with a rough tug, he spread her legs wide. Sean looked his fill.
“Can I lick you?”
“Yes,” she panted.
Flicking his tongue from back to front, Sean moaned. “I missed how you taste.”
“More,” Liz said.
“Not just yet.” He stood up, rubbing himself again. She tried to hook him with her ankles, to draw him closer, but he was just out of reach.
“Did you want something?” He came around to her side, brushed the head of his cock over her cheek.
Turning her head, she opened her mouth. He let her suck on the head. To hell with the angle being awkward.
“Oh, your tongue should be a lethal weapon,” he said, his voice deep from desire.
Liz wanted more. She bobbed her head and he stepped closer.
“Do you know what it does to me to see you sucking my cock while you’re handcuffed and that wet pussy is mine for the taking?”
She slipped him out of her mouth. “So take it.”
He took a step back and resumed jerking off. “Are you sure?”
“You weren’t the only one dreaming of Christmas orgasms. Santa may only come once a year, but you and I are going to enjoy each other year-round.” Liz licked her lips. “I liked the taste of you in my mouth,” she purred. “Bring it back so I can suck it down my throat.”
“Coming,” he told her. “Don’t look away.”
As if she could. He erupted, spurting over his chest and stomach. Nostrils flared, Sean grunted like an animal, his whole body shaking.
“Now,” he said. “I’ll uncuff you.”
Liz was tearing off her clothes one handed after he freed one wrist, not waiting while he opened the other handcuff. He helped her, stopping only when he realized she was taking off her bra.
“Are you sure?” he said.
“Get on that bed, O’Malley.”
He did what he was told. The frenzy was riding her and she stripped completely. Not giving him a chance to react, she straddled his face. Sean reached up to hold her hips as she undulated on his mouth and tongue.
Sean knew just where to lick. Liz leaned back so she could feel the rasp of his whiskers against her inner thighs. He clamped her close, growling into her pussy. The vibrations tickled like the bass line. Stars exploded under her eyelids and her orgasm shook her apart.
Liz thought she blacked out for a second because in the next moment, she was flat on her back. Her legs wrapped around Sean’s waist as he drove into her.
“Yes,” she cried out, forgetting to keep her voice down.
Sean’s mouth covered hers as she continued to cry out her pleasure. His body was relentless. Thrusting hard, deep, and fast, Sean’s thick cock filled her over and over again. He was like a machine and soon she was writhing, needing more. Needing him. She came again. Liz’s fingers dug half-moons into his shoulders. His mouth absorbed her screams of pleasure, grinding until their teeth clacked. She went limp, enjoying the push of his body into hers while he finished in a shuddering mass of moans.
Not done by a long shot, they rubbed each other’s bodies. He poured coconut oil over her and it didn’t even occur to Liz that she was rubbing her breasts over his chest until the oil he poured over them dried. As Sean reached for the bottle of oil again, she straddled him. His cock fit inside her like it belonged there. She sighed, taking the bottle away from him. Squeezing her inner muscles, Liz rocked a bit on his cock. When she had his full attention, she squirted oil over her breasts and began to massage it in. She felt him swell inside her. Loving the rapt attention on his face, she acted as though she could feel herself tugging on her nipples. Hefting her breasts, she offered them to him, but he was too transfixed to do anything but sigh her name. Taking his hands, Liz placed them on her chest and encouraged him to stroke them. She rode him hard.
It was thrilling to take a man like this again. Watch his lust-soaked face as he lavished attention on her body. It was getting her off.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he said. “I will never get tired of telling you that.”
“I won’t get tired of hearing it,” she said, leaning down to kiss him.
She bounced rough on him, needing to feel him penetrate deep. When she came, her muscles contracted so tight that he cried out. Liz kept it up until she squeezed another orgasm out of him.
Cuddled up next to him, she played with his balls while he tried to get his breath back. “I’m making up for lost time,” Liz purred in his ear and nibbled on it.
“You’re going to give me a heart attack,” he told her.
“I loved it when you danced for me.”
Pulling her on top of him, Sean poured more oil on her back and massaged it in.
“You are so damn sexy,” she murmured in his ear when he soothed a sore muscle.
Turning her over, he nestled his cock in the curve of her ass and repeated the oil down her front. Pausing to rub her clit, Sean sucked on her neck while the other hand held her in place by clamping on her breast.
Liz felt loved, owned, and thoroughly decadent.
“I love you,” she keened when his fingers wouldn’t stop until she crested. Her whole body jolted as if she was connected to a live wire. “I love you,” she sobbed out again.
“Mine,” he claimed, turning her again so he could kiss her lips.
The night went on like that until all the coconut oil was gone and their bodies were exhausted and sore. The sheets would never be the same either.
“Merry Christmas,” he said in her ear as their caresses grew more lazy and loving.
“Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” she asked.
“Not yet. I’ll get your ass later.” He tickled his finger over that little area.
Wrapping her legs around his, Liz sighed in contentment. “I might even wake up for that.”
Epilogue
Sarah and Cole were hosting a New Year’s Eve ball at the Ritz Carlton. Jonathan convinced them to make it a costume party. He was a yellow minion complete with fart gun, thanks to Sean. He fell asleep in a Queen Anne’s chair that was older than most of the party-goers. Sean carried him up to their suite and Mrs. Ritter, dressed as Mary Poppins, was pleased to call it a night and watch over him.
Peter and Pol went as Sherlock Holmes and Watson. They planned an elaborate murder mystery for the guests to figure out. Honey and Marc came as Holly Golightly and George Peppard’s characters from A Breakfast at Tiffany’s, although Marc looked more like Hannibal from the A-team. Liz thought it must be the cigar. Brian was there solo, as Sabrina was finally in rehab. He was hoping she’d pull herself together, but the last he heard, she was offering blow jobs for uppers. He was dressed as Frankenstein and wa
s content to eat all the marzipan cookies in sight.
And, of course, Liz convinced Sean to wear his Prince Charming costume again. She had plans on how the night was going to end after all the champagne was gone. And it didn’t come close to how Disney ended the movie.
They wandered through the hotel looking for Peter’s next clue.
“This way,” Sean said, dragging her behind a large potted plant.
“I’m stumped,” Liz said. “I think I need more champagne.”
“I need more you,” he growled and thrilled her by pushing her up against the wall.
“Why Prince Charming, what ever are you going to do to me?” Liz fluttered her eyes closed and waited for the kiss that would melt her garter belt off. But it didn’t come. She opened her eyes, just as he was dropping to his knees.
“Sean, not here,” she whispered, scandalized.
Yes, here!
But instead of crawling under her skirt, he pressed play on his iPod. “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” started up. He set the iPod on the rim of the plant.
“What are you up to?” she asked, looking around to see how private they were.
He reached into his jacket pocket and held up a ring box.
“Liz Carter, you would make me the happiest man in the world if you would be my princess. Marry me?”
Don’t start blubbering.
“I asked Jonathan,” Sean said. “And he gave me two thumbs up.”
“Two thumbs?” Liz’s lips quivered. “That’s quite an endorsement.”
Taking the ring out of the box, he slipped it on her finger. She counted three lovely round diamonds.
“That represents me, you, and Jonathan,” he said.
“Yes,” Liz said, tears dripping down her cheeks. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
He shot to his feet and whirled her around. And then she got the kiss she had been waiting for.
Publisher’s Note
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. The American Cancer Society reports that about 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
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