The Christmas Present

Lying naked together afterwards Mitch eased back and inspected her from head to foot. When his eyes moved back to her face and he met her gaze again, Sharni raised an enquiring eyebrow at him.

 He smiled and said “just taking stock, I didn’t get the chance before.”

“And?” she said returning his smile.

“As I said earlier, beautiful,” his expression was serious.

Sharni blushed, “thank you.”

He gave her a quick kiss and with a rueful grin he said “you know I didn’t mean to do that the minute I walked in the door.”

“No?” she teased.

“No” she said his smile widening.

“So how do you explain it?”

“You. I’d been thinking about you all day, wanting to be here with you and then when you kissed me, I just couldn’t control my response.”

“I’m glad you couldn’t” she said.

“I just don’t want you to think this is all I’m after. I want to get to know you. Spend time with you. I like you as a person.”

“So we won’t be doing this again?” she said pretending to misunderstand him and feigning a seriousness she didn’t feel.

“I bloody well hope so” he growled.

She laughed. “It’s fine Mitch. I was as much to blame for this” she said indicating their current state of undress, “as you and I’m not worried it’s all you’re after.”

He smiled “good.”

“But as for me, well that’s another story. For me, it’s all about the sex” she teased with a wicked grin.

He laughed, “in that case maybe I should just shut up?”

“What a good idea” she teased and leaning over, she brought her mouth down hard on his.

The Christmas Present

“How was your day?” Mitch asked after dragging his mouth away a little later. His gaze remained glued to her lips and his breathing was erratic, while his hands held her hips hard.

Sharni was watching him with a similar intensity and in the same distracted tone as he’d just used she said, “good thanks, you?” They were talking but neither of them were concentrating on the words being spoken.

“Not bad” he said “but not as good as this.”

Sharni took a deep breath, “no not as good as this” she said and almost before the words were out of her mouth they were kissing again.

Mitch moved his mouth to her ear, his breathing was ragged “you’re so beautiful Sharni. You know I want you, right?”

“I want you too” she said and she felt the tremor that passed through him.

“I don’t want you to feel pressured” he said kissing her throat. “I want this to be right for both of us. If you want to wait…..”

“I don’t feel pressured” Sharni said tilting her head to expose more of her neck to his mouth.

“I mean I know we’ve only known each other for what wouldn’t even amount to a day in actual hours but…..” his lips moved along her jaw.

“It feels like much longer” Sharni said finishing the sentence for him as she began to shake with need.

“Yes” he said. “I like you Sharni, really like you.”

“I like you too Mitch” Sharni said “and I want you now.”

“Oh god yes” he said and there was no more talking for a while. With his mouth never leaving hers, their clothes were removed and discarded and like they two halves of the same whole they came together. Their bodies uniting in a heated but tender exchange where each gave as much as they received.

Going Home

Part 114

Turning Grace over Josh frantically checked for a pulse and finding it took a deep breath. He lifted her up and carried her out into the lane where there was more light, but where he could still watch the gunman. Checking her left arm Josh could see the wound and pulling out a dressing, applied pressure to stop the bleeding. Then glaring up the lane he wondered where the hell the ambulance was. As he looked back to his left he could see the gunman hadn’t moved, just as bloody well too, Josh thought. If he so much as twitched he’d take great delight in shooting him. Even though he was only young and obviously scared, he’d shot Grace and if he caused any more trouble he wouldn’t hesitate to stop him. Then hearing footsteps in the lane Josh turned to see Lawson and Dom hurrying towards him.

Taking in the scene Lawson pointed to the gunman in the alley “Dom get him out of here.” Then turning to Josh he asked “bad?”

Josh shrugged “don’t know she’s lost a bit of blood.”

“The ambo’s will be here in a minute” then hearing the sirens approaching he turned his head and added “make that now. You going with her?”

Josh nodded.

“Thought so, okay keep me informed and we’ll come to the hospital when our shift finishes.”

Nodding again Josh replied “thanks.”

“Well you’ll be no bloody good to me anyway, will ya.” Lawson said with a wry smile as the ambo’s put Grace onto a stretcher.

Walking next to the stretcher as she was loaded into the ambulance Josh took a breath as some of the tension he felt was relieved now that help had arrived. But he wouldn’t be happy until he knew she was going to be okay.

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The Christmas Present

The next day Sharni got a text from Mitch first thing. She smiled as she read it. He said he would be at her place by nine that night. She couldn’t wait. All day she bubbled over with excitement and she knew it was visible when several times during the day different family members asked what was going on. But how could she explain that the usual Christmas festivities were underpinned with anticipation. She didn’t want to share Mitch just yet. She wanted to hug the knowledge of him to herself for a while. So she just told them she was feeling the Christmas spirit more than usual that year and this seemed to satisfy most of them.

Late afternoon Sharni headed home. It had been nice being with her family but she was looking forward to spending the evening with Mitch. It had been a long time since she’d had someone special to share Christmas day with. 

Still full from lunch she didn’t bother with dinner. She’d bought some leftovers home that she and Mitch could share later if they were hungry. So after showering and changing into a light floaty top made from blue chiffon and a short, white, full skirt Sharni opened a bottle of sparkling wine and sat down to watch a movie.

On the dot of nine her door bell rang and she hurried to answer it. Mitch smiled down at her and reaching out to clasp his hand she pulled him inside and closed the door. 

“Merry Christmas” he said.

“Merry Christmas” she replied and then reaching up, she kissed him.

Mitch folded his arms around her and for several minutes they remained in the passage. Then easing back Sharni grasped his hand again and led the way into the living room. When they’d taken a seat on the couch she said “would you like a drink?”

“Mmm” he nodded “soon” and moving her to sit on his lap, his mouth was back on hers.

Sharni smiled against his lips and shifted so she was facing him, her knees on either side of his thighs. He pulled her closer.

The Christmas Present

After breakfast Mitch followed Sharni to her house. She let them in and led the way into the living room. Gesturing for him to take a seat she sat down next to him.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” she said her eyes on his mouth.

“Sure” he said.

But making no attempt to turn on the tv Sharni leant forward and kissed him. As Mitch folded his arms around her she sighed against his mouth.

Several minutes later Mitch moved back and teased “I like this movie.”

She laughed and picking up the remote she made herself comfortable against him and turned on the tv. Mitch wrapped an arm around her waist.

For the next couple of hours they watched old Christmas movies which was about all that was on. Not that it mattered, they missed large chunks of them anyway as they became lost in numerous kisses.

“Do you have to do anything to get ready for tomorrow?” Mitch asked later that afternoon.

“I just have to make a salad.”

He nodded “are you busy for both lunch and dinner?”

“No just lunch” Sharni said “you?”

He grimaced “just dinner.”

“Damn” she said.

“I could come by afterwards.”

“I’d like that” Sharni said.

He smiled “me too” and lowering his head he met her mouth once more.

It was after midnight before Mitch left. He’d said he wanted to be the first to say Merry Christmas to her and Sharni wasn’t about to argue. She didn’t want to say goodbye to him at all.

When she’d shut the door on him she remembered how she’d mused when they’d first met that he’d make a hell of a Christmas gift and with a smile she realised she was right. After spending the evening kissing him all she could think about was unwrapping him.