A Christmas Wish--A Contemporary Erotic Feel Good Christmas Romance (Darkest Fears Christmas Special, Book Four)

by Clair Delaney

  “Grief, my love, changes with time.” He softly whispers. I open my eyes and look up at him. “But it will always be there, I will always miss them. But the pain of missing them is not so hard now, because I have you to hold me, to comfort me, beautiful you who makes my days so much brighter, and my nights so much warmer.” He reaches up and places his hand on my cheeks, and just stares at me, in that way of his. How is it he always knows the right words to say? I feel that funny feeling in my abdomen again. Like my soul or my heart is expanding with love.

  “So you’re not sad we won’t have a big Christmas?” I softly ask, searching his face for the answer.

  He slowly shakes his head from side to side, keeping his eyes locked onto mine. I can't help swooning as I stare up at him. He really is the most beautiful soul I have ever known. I mean yes, he’s handsome, really handsome, but there’s so much more on the inside than I could have ever imagined.

  “So, now that’s out of the way. Would you like to go out and have some fun?” He asks, he’s definitely in high spirits – Which really gives me the kick up the butt that I need – Enough with all this melancholy Coral! - I will make it my mission to enjoy this Christmas with my husband, and not allow any sad thoughts to enter my mind. And to be fair, once I give myself a mission like this, I rarely fail - Look out Brighton, the happiest girl in town is about to hit the streets!

  I can't help smiling at that last thought. “Yes, let’s go and have some fun!” I say excitedly to Tristan.

  “Ok baby,” he replies, laughing at my expression. “Was there anything in particular that you wanted to do first?” He adds.

  “No. I want to do all of it!” I say, and start bouncing up and down with excitement – It’s amazing what can happen when you really put your mind to something...

  Christmas Eve

  THE LAST FOUR DAYS, I have to admit, have been magical. Once I got my head around the fact that this Christmas was not going to be like any other, and that it was going to be all about me and Tristan, I really started to enjoy it – It has been very special having him all to myself, and although I wouldn’t have said this four days ago, I am actually relieved I don't have all that preparing and cooking and more cooking and hosting to do, and making sure everybody is happy and having a good time. The only thing I have concentrated on is Tristan, and his happiness. And it’s felt really, really good.

  And as far as Christmas Eve’s go, this has to be the best one I have ever had. My morning started with being woken up by my lovely husband with breakfast in bed. And because he’s a big softie with a heart of gold, he really thought about it, and presented me with pancakes – Yes, pancakes!

  The first time we had breakfast together was at my studio back in July. I had almost broken my nose playing on the bouncy castle with Lily, and it was Tristan that stayed over and nursed me that night. I clearly remember him leaving the following morning to get us some breakfast, and my worries that he wouldn’t return, but he did – with pancakes. So Tristan presenting them to me this morning was a sweet reminder of how far we’ve come, and the wonderful, magical memories we have made so far.

  And as we ate Tristan’s homemade pancakes, we talked about that morning, and he gave me his version of events, and I cringed several times when he told me of how defensive I was, and then he told me a story about his folks, and a talk they had with him not long after he split with Olivia. His Granny had told him that he would meet the right girl one day, and that she would love and cherish him, and his Gramps had told him to stop being so nice, and to only open his heart to the woman that felt the same way about him. And then he told me all about how I was that girl, and that his Granny was right, that we really did meet each other at the exact right moment in both of our lives. So true!

  After breakfast we made love then showered together and made love again and then we went downstairs and opened a couple of presents we had both decided to give each other on Christmas Eve.

  Then the afternoon fun started – I got dressed up in my sexy santa suit, and I don't quite know how it happened, because we were in the living area, but somewhere in between the sexy fucking and drinking champagne cocktails, we have ended upstairs, lying on our bed.

  Tristan turns on his side. “I have an idea,” he says, running his hand up the inside of my thigh.

  I can't help laughing, wondering what sexual delights he has planned for us.

  “I’m all ears,” I chuckle.

  He hesitates taking a deep breath, then begins. “Coral, I have had so much fun today, it’s been the best Christmas Eve I have ever had, but there’s something else I want,” he tells me.

  “Anything,” I whisper, wanting to make this his best Christmas yet.

  He leans down and plants a kiss on my outer thigh. “I know this might sound...silly, but I...” he pauses, shaking his head at himself.

  “What is it baby?” I ask, placing my hand on his cheek.

  He kisses the inside of my palm, and keeps my hand held tightly in his. “I want to take you dancing,” he softly says.

  “Dancing?” I squeak, which makes him laugh.

  “Yes,” he chuckles.

  “You want to go clubbing?” I ask, shocked by what he’s asking.

  He shakes his head with that shy smile I fell in love with. “No, not clubbing. I just thought, even though it’s just us, that we could make the most of it. I bought you a dress you see, and I have a tux, I just thought...it would be nice to dress up, drink champagne, and spend the rest of the night here, dancing in each other’s arms,” he says, and plants another kiss on my thigh.

  I stare up at him, thinking how romantic it would be to spend Christmas Eve in my husband’s arms, and what a wonderful idea it is.

  “Tristan,’ I whisper, smiling up at him. “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” I say.

  His face lights up. “Yeah?” he says, excited now.

  “Of course,” I say, chuckling at his expression. “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve,” I reach up and softly kiss his lips.

  “Right then,” he says, getting to his feet. He marches over to his closet, opens the door and disappears.

  Then I remember what he said. “You’ve bought me a dress?” I call after him.

  “Yes,” he says, marching out of the closet with a big white box that has a red ribbon tied around it. “For you my love,” he says as he places it down on the bed next to me.

  I quickly get to a seated position. “Thank you Tristan,” I say puckering my lips for a kiss. He smiles broadly, leans down and gently plants his lips on mine.

  “You, my lovely wife, are most welcome,” he softly says against my lips.

  I beam back at him, feeling completely and utterly in love.

  “Open it then,” he chuckles excitedly.

  And feeling excited too, I lean forward and pull on the soft, red satin bow, and feeling a strange fluttering in my stomach, I slowly lift the lid. Inside is a red dress, a beautiful shade, that looks sparkly and Christmasey and I’m already in love with it. I carefully lift it out of the box and fan it out.

  It’s a halter neck in the most beautiful material that has a really soft mesh overlay that glitters and sparkles as you move it. The bodice is fitted and then the dress falls right down past my knees, very 1940’s, and very sexy. I can tell Tristan has bought this particular dress because it isn’t showing loads of cleavage, if anything it’s doing the opposite and leaving plenty to the imagination.

  Tears bubble to the surface as I gleefully hug it to me. “Tristan I love it,” I tell him.

  “There’s more,” he says, smiling widely. “Look,” he gestures with his head to the box again.

  With an excited smile I lean forward, and inside the main box, is a smaller box with another red bow around it that I hadn’t even noticed. Tristan holds his hand out for my dress, so I pass it to him, and as he carefully hangs it up.

  I pick up the box, noticing it’s heavy and pull the tie. Carefully lifting the lid, I fin
d the most beautiful pair of red, sparkly, platform heels I have ever seen in my life, they match the dress perfectly. They are sexy and elegant and - my breath catches, suddenly realising what they remind me of.

  “What is it?” Tristan asks, already at my side.

  I swallow hard, and turn to look at him, and I find my voice is already telling him the story without my say so. “When I was little...before everything went wrong, I had a favourite dress and a favourite pair of shoes,” I smile and shake my head, ‘like most little girls do I guess. The dress was white and fanned out prettily, with a red shiny red belt that wrapped all the way around, and I used to feel like a princess when I wore it,” I laugh again, remembering feeling like that.

  Tristan smiles sympathetically at me, takes my hand he’s been holding and gently kisses my palm.

  I look down at the shoes again. “And the shoes...they were my Wizard Of Oz shoes. Like these,’ I lift up one of the shoes Tristan bought me, ‘they were so similar in colour, and whenever I wore the dress, I wore the shiny, red shoes.” I take a moment, and then continue. “I used to believe that if I clicked them together, that I would disappear to a magical place like Dorothy,” I laugh again at hearing myself say that, even though it’s true, Tristan chuckles once.

  “And then, when things got bad, I used to hide under my bed, put them on and click them together, over and over again, just hoping that one of the times they clicked I would be gone from that place, and taken to a place of magic and wonder and happiness,” I shake my head, laughing again that I actually did do that.

  “Oh baby,” Tristan soothes, softly tucking my hair behind my ear.

  I smile shyly at him then frown. “Oh...I’m sorry,” I say, starting to feel like an idiot for saying that and bursting the bubble of this lovely, thoughtful gift he has bought me. “I spoiled it...Oh Tristan...I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have’ – His lips reach mine, softly silencing me, and my guilt is easily forgotten.

  “You’ve not spoiled a thing,” he says as he pulls back. “That was very sweet Coral, and I think, that before everything happened, you must have been such a happy, sweet little girl, and if I met you back then, I’d have adored you just as much as I do now.” Tears bounce down my cheeks at his words. “Hey now,” he says, gently enfolding me in his arms.

  I squeeze him tight, and immediately feel lighter, and so grateful. “Thank you Tristan, for everything. For you, for this house, for how safe and secure you make me feel. For this beautiful dress and shoes,” I croak, half laughing now.

  Tristan pulls back, takes one of the shoes in his hands and inspects it. “Well I think,” he says, glancing up at me, ‘that you have new Dorothy shoes. New Dorothy shoes to start all over in.”

  I gasp, and look down at the shoes. “I do don't I,” I say, my voice high pitched and excited, and tearful all at the same time.

  “Click away my darling, because whatever you wish for, I will make it come true,” he says.

  “Tristan,” I mewl, feeling so moved by his words. I slowly fall towards him, knowing full well he’s going to catch me, and sink onto his lap. I look up at him, feeling nothing but love, a pure unconditional love. His arms tighten around me, as he leans down and plants his lips on mine. And I close my eyes, feeling the safety and comfort of his arms holding me tight.

  “Are you game my love?” He asks, and I know he means the special evening he wants us to have.

  I open my eyes and like an excited child, I nod my head several times. His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles back at me, and his dimples go into overdrive – He’s happy, which makes me so happy too.

  “I shall go and get ready,” I tell him in a teasing tone.

  “Ok,” he laughs, and helps me to my feet...

  AS I STAND BEFORE the mirror in our bedroom, admiring the dress, but most of all the shoes, I realise I actually do feel like a princess. I have styled my hair in a forties wave and pinned up the right side, and matched my makeup to the dress, which means I have red lipstick on. And I feel like I should be in an American Christmas commercial - Tristan knocks on the bedroom door, pulling me from my crazy thoughts. After giving me this beautiful gift, he left me to it and showered in the spare bathroom downstairs, giving me strict instructions not to leave the bedroom, as he has another surprise for me.

  “Come in,” I softly say.

  Tristan opens the door, and I drag my gaze away from the woman dressed like a princes and turn to look at him – and I’m blown away. He looks amazing, so dashing and handsome in his tuxedo, and it looks like the very one he wore when we married. His hair is styled into place, and he smells amazing.

  “Wow,” I whisper shyly – I still wonder sometimes how it is that he came to being mine – all mine.

  “Beautiful,” he responds as he walks towards me, his eyes filled with love and adoration.

  I hold my hand out to him, and as he reaches me he gently takes hold of it, but then turns me so that I’m facing the mirror again, and he’s stood behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist. And yet again, I can't help glancing at his wedding ring sitting on his finger, knowing what it represents – Us.

  “Coral, you look amazing,” he softly says, and gently kisses my naked shoulder.

  “I only look like this because I happen to have a thoughtful, caring husband who buys me wonderful gifts,” I tease.

  “Oh yeah?” He says, teasing me back. “Well we better be careful he doesn’t find out about us,” he whispers.

  I chortle at him.

  “Are you ready?” he asks.

  “Yes,” I smile back at him in the mirror – and my excitement reaches an all time high as I try to work out what it is that he has planned or bought me.

  “Good,” he says and with another kiss to my shoulder, he smiles widely and holds out his hand.

  I gently place my hand in his and we begin walking carefully down the stairs, but as we reach the top of the last flight of stairs, Tristan stops and turns to me. “Wait here a second?” he asks.

  “Ok,” I say smiling widely at him.

  He then runs down the last part and when he reaches the living room, he stops and checks something out, then looks up at me and nods once. “Come on baby,” he says, his hand held out to me.

  I carefully step down the last flight, holding onto the banister as I don't want to go flying in these heels, and reaching him I place my hand in his.

  Pulling me to him so my back is to the living area, he whispers, “I really hope you like this surprise,” then he gently turns me around.

  “Merry Christmas!” A loud cheer echoes out.

  How I don't faint with shock I don't know as all of my family and friends are stood in the main hallway – all dressed up in swanky suits and beautiful dresses.

  My chin has most definitely hit the floor. What the hell?

  Everyone is here. Gladys and Malcolm – Debs, Scott and Lily – Rob, Carlos and Mei – George and Phil – Danny, Joe and her kids, and Bob. For a moment, I think I’m actually having some kind of hallucination, then I think I must be dreaming, so I discretely pinch my arm – No, I definitely felt that.

  And I’m frozen to the floor, my legs wobbling slightly, as they all stand there smiling and laughing at me, loud and lovely, and full of Christmas cheer. Tears bubble up and spill over my cheeks. I literally am speechless. Tristan wraps his arms around me from behind and squeezes me tight.

  “Merry Christmas my love,” he whispers in my ear.

  My hands come up to my face, I’m trying to stop the tears, and I’m shaking my head in wonder at it all. “You did this?” I manage to croak.

  “Yes,” he laughs.

  “And they were all in on it?” I ask.

  “Yes, took some convincing,” he says. Explains the declines!

  “Oh Tristan!” I gush, turning and crushing myself to him. Reaching up I kiss his cheek, then his lips. “What’s happened to our sexy night together?” I whisper.

  “We’ll have plenty of those in Hawaii,”
he whispers, ‘this is Christmas Coral, it’s a special time of year when we should all be together - don't you think?” he asks.

  I frown up at him. “But you said you didn’t want me hosting!” I retort.

  “And I don't,” he replies, ‘but this isn’t hosting.”

  “It isn’t?” I ask, wondering what he means.

  “Later, I’ll explain everything later. Come on darling, everyone wants to say hello,” he whispers, rubbing my back.

  I gaze up at his big, warm chocolate eyes. “Thank you Tristan. Merry Christmas,” I kiss him several times on the lips, ‘god I love you,” I add.

  “I know,” he laughs, ‘as I love you. Now go and say hello,” he orders.

  I turn around, take a big breath and scream, “Merry Christmas!” out loud. And run towards Rob who wouldn’t you know is at the front of the crowd.

  Within minutes I have hugged and kissed all the people I love – except for one that’s missing – And right at that moment the door bell pings. I glance to my right to see Rob is busying himself by handing out cocktails that look ready-made – and I wonder how Tristan did all of this without me knowing.

  And then I watch Tristan as he waltzes down the hallway, and opens the front door with a wide smile on his face. And in steps...Joyce? I take a second look – thinking that I’m imagining her there, smiling back at me from the front door, but it really is her, Joyce is stood in my living room, here in Brighton – and I haven’t seen her in what feels like forever – and I just want to burst into tears.

  “Joyce!” I scream out loud.

  “Coral!” she screams in equal delight, and hands her bags to Tristan.

  “You’re here!” I manage to say – still shaking my head in wonder at it all.

  Joyce smiles widely at me and nods her head, then opens her arms out wide, and without a second thought I run towards her.

  “Oh Joyce!” I gasp as we embrace each other, holding on so tightly.

  “Oh my dear, dear girl,” she whispers, squeezing tighter several times.