What a New Year's Eve

by R. E. Laurel

  “Victor, you really shouldn’t have.” Teresa cried.

  “Really, you didn’t have to,” Nan added.

  They held up their arms to show bracelets of gold and silver bands.

  “David Yuma!” Nan added, “thank you.”

  Maren picked up a box the same size as theirs. Opening it she gasped. Her gaze fell onto a bracelet of rose gold bar chain with diamond. Speechless, she stared at it, she watched as he took the box from her hands to remove the bracelet.

  “You like it?”

  “Very much.” She looked into his face so close as he concentrated on the task of working the clasp. Finished, he looked up to see the small smile and the look of love in her eyes. “Merry Christmas my gorgeous Maren,” he whispered before lightly brushing her lips with his. Pulling away she held up her arm. “I got a bracelet too.”

  “That was so romantic,” Nan softly said, then gave Rick a light tap on his thigh, “Why can’t you be like that?”

  “What! I love you!”

  “Never mind.”

  Maren had another box placed in her lap from Rick. She looked at the tag and then to Victor. “Another from you?”

  “There are more somewhere in the piles.” He was abruptly shut off when everyone thrust a gift at him. Together they opened their gifts. He stopped when Maren burst out with laughter. “What?”

  Her hand laid on the material. Looking at him she said, “I saw you remove this from the rack and walk to the elevator. I thought you were stealing it.”

  “That’s the one I showed you,” Belinda laughed recognizing the color showing through Maren’s fingers.

  “I watched you two that day and went right to it knowing it was the size you wore.”

  Maren held the lace corset mint green trimmed in white along with matching thong up then noticed a hunter green babydoll top with thin straps laying beneath it. The deep V in front and back covered just enough. The bottoms were matching panties but see-through green lace.

  “My sister is not wearing those!” Rick declared.

  “It sure beats those flannel pajamas she wears.”

  “You said you liked those,” Maren defended her sleepwear of choice.

  “They’re fine but this is better.”

  “Here Victor. Is another for you,” Belinda said while handing him the flat box. She gave Maren a quick glance as he opened it.

  “Oh my,” he trailed off looking at the photo in the sixteen by twenty-five frame. “So this is what steampunk is.”

  “Turn it around,” Teresa said smiling at the photograph.

  Maren simply stood on the bottom step of her wide stairway. She wore a deep brown skirt, cut short to mid-thigh in front to show her legs and then the skirt draped long on the sides and back. A beige plain blouse is worn beneath a dark brown leather corset which only emphasized her breasts and tiny waist. On her hands, she wore brown lace open fingered gloves. Dark brown leather lace-up heeled boots with gold tips reached mid calve. Her hair is worn back on the sides but arranged in deep soft waves fell around her face and shoulders. She stood, right leg straight, left slightly bent at the knee with her foot pointed out. Her right hand was dominantly placed on her hip while her left hand hung loosely at her side. Her face looked mildly to the side, chin tipped as her eyes demurely looked down, the other her eyes were lifted to the camera in a seductive look with ever so slightly a smile.

  “We all have clothing like that and a lot of our friends. We go out to eat in the group and usually wear them.” Rick said getting an amused look from Victor.

  “Who took the pictures?”

  “I did,” Belinda confessed.

  “You sure caught her spunky attitude in it. Perfect. They all are,” he added fingering through the remainder of her in different poses. The one of her one leg on her bed the other on the floor and the innocently seductive look on her face caused his body to react with the lack of knowing her for a couple of weeks. “These are saucy, hot.”

  “Let’s check the food, you guys relax,” Teresa suggested, leaving the room with Nan, Belinda, and Maren following.

  Teresa opened the oven and found the button popped on the turkey. Getting oven mitts she removed the stainless roaster to place on hot pads on the island where she began to spoon the stuffing out and mix with a dry serving. Maren removed sweet potatoes to put the dish on the table on one of the many hot pads. Humming White Christmas, she returned to place fudge on a plate while Nan dished out noodles and mashed potatoes. Belinda worked at the vegetables.

  Maren removed containers of cookies from the freezer, knowing they would be thawed by the time hands would be ready to grab for them.

  “Why do we do this every year?” she asked.

  “What is that?” Teresa answered, looking closer to see how much more stuffing was inside.

  “Make so much food,” Maren waved spread her arms in the air, “It’s unreal.”

  “It’s all about the leftovers,” Belinda laughed.

  “I want you to know that we really like Victor, Maren. He fits in so well.” Teresa said, giving her a brief hug.

  “He really does, doesn’t he. Despite the life he grew up with, this is what he has always wanted. He told me.”

  “What is that?”

  “A family that loves each other. He doesn’t have that. It’s so sad. That’s why he was always uncaring about a lot of issues.” Maren explained while lining a menagerie of cookies onto an oval platter.

  “Davis! We need the turkey carved, please!? Teresa called out to her husband. The call sent three men and a baby into the kitchen.

  “Guys, go to the table. I have seating cards on the plates,” Maren laughed as Victor grabbed an orange cookie while Rick grabbed for a date pinwheel. “You’re going to ruin your dinner,” she scolded, playfully slapping away hands as they reached for another cookie.

  Davis carried in the carved turkey as everyone took their seats. Victor stood to get the clicker to light the tapered candles on the table while everyone got settled, eyeing the turkey.

  “Everything is lovely,” Belinda said, happy she was invited since her family was out of town visiting family.

  “This is my time of the year. I love it all.”

  Nan added. “I can see why now. It’s breathtaking.”

  “Thank you, everyone.”

  “Are we going to give thanks again,” Victor wondered.

  “Sure, Daddy do you want to begin?” Maren asked.

  They sat quietly listening to everyone say their thanks. Maren softly added, “I am thankful for my family, my friends, for the way my life is turning. Victor, I thank God every day for you. You have made me realize what I can do. I love you very much.”

  “I’m thankful for my new friends, new family. I am thankful for what I have, and for the help, I can give to those less fortunate. Maren has opened my eyes to so much and she understands what I am talking about. And I’m so in love with her.”

  Teresa clasped her hands together while releasing a squeal of surprise and happiness. “Oh my! That’s the best news I have heard in a long time! I just want to hug you both!”

  “Let’s eat first,” Davis suggested through a smile.

  CHAPTER 28

  Among the constant conversation, the meal was eaten. The dishes were placed in the dishwasher getting washed. Cookies in their plastic containers. The last of the wine poured into the pair of stem glasses sitting on the marble top coffee table. Everyone was gone to get ready to celebrate again with other family members.

  Victor stretched out on the couch holding the photos of Maren. He recalled seeing her in a white camisole with a black jacket with sheer sleeves Victorian ruffle at the neck and thought she looked rather good in it.

  “What a day, huh?” She asked, turning off lights in the dining room and parlor to enjoy the warmth of the fire in the fireplace and the lights from the tree and mantle. She sat on the other edge of the couch, her legs stretching above his, grinning as he held the frame up to look at her photogr
aph.

  “Sure was. It was the best Christmas I have spent in a long time.”

  “No plans to fly off to warmer countries?” she asked.

  “Initially I did but that all changed over a month ago,” he began to chuckle. “I can’t get over how open you are with your family and held up the lingerie I got for you.”

  “They pretty much know me and I don’t embarrass that easily.”

  Sitting up, he placed the frame on the floor. Reaching out, his hand grasped hers to ease her towards him. He laid back down taking her lightweight on him. His hand cupped the back of her head, bringing her face to his. His lips covered hers in a wild, warm kiss.

  Her kiss was filled with a hunger for him. It had been a long time for any intimacy or any time spent alone. His lips nuzzled along her neck. She savored his touch, his attention. A cry changing into a moan of desire slipped from her. Her fingers gripped onto his upper arm, feeling his muscle contract from her touch.

  “I’m still hungry,” he murmured at the wild pulse in her neck.

  “I’m full,” she weakly answered while sitting up to look at his face. Standing, his hand remained on her thigh. “I have to check something. I’ll be back.”

  “I’ll be here.” He sat up reaching for the pictures of her. He couldn’t get over the quality they were and how Belinda captured her personality. His eyes shifted from the movement he saw from his peripheral vision. He grinned when he noticed her arm reaching around the doorway and the box being lifted containing her lingerie. “Little conniver,” he snickered.

  Maren stood in front of her mirror in the walk-in rubbing her hands over the lace corset as the top fit her like a second skin. Slipping into the thong bottoms she then pivoted around, checking out the rear view and again wondered what it was about her that made Victor fall so in love?

  “I guess I shouldn’t wonder just love that he does. Because I certainly love him.” Brushing her hair and applying some fresh lip gloss she felt a renewed determination and left her room.

  On bare feet, she silently walked down the steps and stopped at the doorway to find him still looking at those pictures. With sure steps, she stood next to the couch. Reaching around his shoulder, she grasped the frame to set near the tree and then turned back to him. Six steps later she stood in front of him and his awestruck expression.

  “It fits,” she announced while doing a small circle in front of him. His mouth gaped open and eyes gleamed as they roamed down her tiny figure. His hands laid on her outer knees and slid up, feeling the smoothness of her skin beneath his hands.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, sitting back as she knelt both knees on the sides of his legs to sit on his lap. They gazed into one another’s eyes.

  “Mr. Victor Montgomery Neal the Sixth, I am in love with you.” Grinning at the feel of his hands slipping beneath her top. His finger slipped along the top of her panties following the lace around her hips to her belly then stopping. “Ou, Mr. Neal but you have such a fantastic touch.” A gasp ended her sentence at the touch of his finger sliding lower beneath her panties.

  Maren brazenly reached for the hem of his sweater and began to tug, then ease the material up higher until he lifted his arms and shifted to give her easier access. In one lithe move, she removed the article of clothing and tossed on the floor behind her as she then slid her hands on his chest, a finger tracing the tribal tattoo on his shoulder.

  “Is there anything else you want for Christmas?” Maren asked with an innocent grin.

  Victor studied her and notice in his gorgeous angel a bit of a wild side emerging. “Not just for Christmas but always,” Victor growled before his lips took slow possession of hers, the kiss urging for, asking for, waiting for the desirous response from his pleasurable lady.

  “I want you so bad,” she whimpered against his mouth, feeling his hands beginning to open at the clasps of the top.

  Sitting up she watched him as he undressed her. His pale blue eyes shot sparks as he gazed onto her bared breasts. He leaned into her, his lips kissing her neck, his arm wrapping around her waist his other her shoulders. She held onto him when she felt herself being picked up to be carried to the tree and laid onto the floor. He hands slid to her hips and down her legs to remove her bottoms to drop off to the side. She waited, watched as he undid his jeans to remove them and his underwear before joining her on the floor.

  He lay between her slightly bent legs, the touch of heated flesh on heated flesh driving him crazy with passion. His lips pressed to hers in a wild, wet kiss. Not having the chance to be with her, touch her, become one was too long ago. Her hands roamed freely over his back then his shoulders. He felt them slide to his chest then biceps.

  “Love me,” she whimpered, watching as he braced himself on his elbows to look into her eyes. Her mouth gaped open in the gasp when he shifted then slowly penetrated her and paused. It was like the first time again, she swore.

  Victor never felt the passion surge inside of him the way it did whenever he was like this with Maren. He entered her slow, completely and pause before repeating over. The slower the better this time. Each thrust brought a gasp, a cry, another cry, and moan. This time, he decided to take his time, take the pleasure in her body, her fiery moves, her impassioned touch, matching his thrusts with a tightening of her knees against his hips, then his waist. The desire mounted but he remained slow with hard thrusts until together they felt the waves of their bodies against the other.

  “Maren, you’re like a dream come true. I love you with all of my heart.” He whispered against her mouth before giving her a tender kiss.

  ***

  Maren woke in her bed with an arm draped over her hip and the feel of his naked skin against hers. She smiled, savoring the feeling and not wanting to move. His chin lightly rests on the top of her head. She listened to his even breathing and smiled again. After they made love he carried her up the stairs and dropped, yes dropped her in the middle of her bed. He crawled beneath the covers, laughing at her surprised squeal to snuggle against her and he stayed in the position all night.

  Pressing her lips together, she tried to slide away from his arm so he wouldn’t wake. Sitting on the edge of the mattress she glanced over her shoulder to find her pillow now wrapped in an embrace. Smiling, she went to grab a shower before going downstairs and leave him to sleep. He had been working so hard on her shop and his businesses that she knew he had to be tired. But then, last night he sure didn’t seem that tired.

  “There you are,” Victor said coming into the living room.

  She had been sitting on the couch watching television while eating some fresh fruit from a salad her mother brought yesterday while looking at the clothing that he bought for her and the bracelet.

  “Just relaxing. Did I tell you how much I love this bracelet? And well, everything. You know my tastes.” She complimented.

  He bent to retrieve the pictures before sitting next to her, stretching his jean covered legs out in front of him.

  “You really like that?” She wondered.

  He nodded, “Very much. I’m going to hang one of the menagerie in my main office and one in my houses. Well, I’ll need to have more made since in my two main homes I’ll want one of each to hang there.”

  “Oh. How many houses do you have?”

  “Three. A log home in the Rockies, a beach house in Cozumel. I’m going to sell the one in Austria.” He looked at her when she remained silent and reached an arm out to use a finger to push her chin up, closing her mouth. “Problem?”

  She blinked her eyes, his question shaking her from the mild shock she felt. “Three?”

  “Uh huh. I rarely get to Austria so I’m going to sell that one. Four, counting the apartment. Are you surprised?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Speaking of home.” He began.

  “I didn’t realize that we were.”

  “I was getting to that. I want to take you to my home and meet mother and father if you want to go.”


  “Mother? The mother?”

  He nodded, “I have a few things to say to her and over a phone just won’t be worthy of them.”

  She nervously swallowed, “W-when do you want to go?”

  “We can leave today. I’m finding it surprising that they are in the same building this holiday.” He added sounding confused.

  “Where?”

  “The Bahamas. We’ll only stay overnight since you need to return to the boutique.”

  “Are you speaking with them?”

  “Only when necessary, gorgeous.” He smiled at the disgusted look on her face. “Pack a light breezy outfit.”

  ***

  An hour later they were on his private jet. The rich décor of the interior was simply breathtaking. They sat on a slightly curved burgundy cushioned couch, opposite them, were rows of double recliners. A large flat screen television hung at the front.

  He showed her the bar, bathroom which contained a walk-in shower with gold trim and brass accessories screamed luxury. The master bedroom sported a king size bed, walk-in closet, and dressers. The walls were a simple beige contrasting the dark wood trim and more brass handles. She believed this showed his personality, simple yet elegant.

  She watched as he poured a glass of champagne for them then hand her one before returning the bottle to the bucket. “Did you design and decorate this?”

  “I had help with that but pretty much my concept”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you. Have you ever been to The Bahamas?”

  “I’ve rarely traveled out of New York,” She confessed before taking a sip of her drink. “This is good.”

  “One of my favorites but if I’m drinking alcohol I prefer a good beer.”

  “Wine or a mixed drink for me. Or a good glass of ice water.” She added smacking her lips at the taste of her drink.

  “We have a good three to four-hour flight. We may as well relax and get ready for the possible war.”

  They spent the flight sipping champagne, watching a movie and yes once again he sat through The Christmas Story, dozing off and on and enjoying being with each other.