A/N: Thank you so much for your continued support! This chapter is extremely fluffy; enjoy it. Please review if you have the time! As always, you can follow me on twitter at literarylolita and tumblr at cortneycreates dot tumblr dot com.
Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi, William Blake's poem Love and Harmony, or any other pop culture references.
"Breathe in for luck, breathe in so deep, this air is blessed, you share with me. This night is wild, so calm and dull, these hearts they race, from self control."-Dashboard Confessional, "Hands Down"
Eli
"Baby Boy, wake up." My mother's voice interrupts the very deep sleep I'm enjoying.
"MMph." I roll over and pull my pillow over my head.
"Elijah." Her voice has taken on a rare stern tone.
"Umph." I toss my pillow to the side and sit up. "Fine," I yawn, stretching my arms over my head. "I'm up."
"Guess what?" Cece's voice is bright and bubbly. I've never understood why she's such a morning person.
"What?" I ask as I rub the sleep out of my eyes.
"School's cancelled."
"WHAT?" Now I'm really awake. I have an important meeting this afternoon with Simpson and Becky motherfucking Baker. She wants to "discuss" the musical's production and script with an "unbiased third party". Bullshit. She just wants to screw up my play. "Why?"
"Snow. Nearly a foot of it!" Cece's gazing out my window. "It's so pretty."
I join her and frown at the weather's unfortunate turn. "I have that meeting with Simpson and Fred Phelps today." A slightly buried thought pops up and it makes me groan in annoyance. "AND it's Valentine's Day! Clare and I are supposed to go to a poetry reading."
"Eli," Cece reasons, "you can reschedule your meeting. The play isn't for a month and a half."
She's right. But what about Clare? I sigh. We might not be the cheesiest couple in the history of romance, but I know that deep down Clare likes the sappy shit from romantic comedies. (And in all honesty, sometimes I like to BE a sap.) There's no way she doesn't want Valentine's Day to be at least somewhat special.
"I'm pretty sure the reading will be cancelled, Eli," Cece says gently.
I flop back down on my bed. "Great."
"I'm going to go make cookies. I just love baking when it's cold!" She exits and takes her perky mood with her. My phone rings before I can indulge in too much sulking; Clare's face lights up, and the sight slightly improves my mood.
"Good morning," I answer.
She giggles and my stomach jumps. It's a wonderful sound. "Good morning, Eli."
"So…no school."
"Yeah." She sounds disappointed. "I know you were looking forward to that meeting."
Of course she does. She knows about everything important to me. "I can reschedule that, Clare. I CAN'T, however, reschedule Valentine's Day."
"Eli, it's okay. We can go out anytime."
"That's not the point. I want to be with you."
"I want to be with you, too." She sighs. "Mom and Glenn took a few days off from work; they're at the cabin. Glenn decided to open it for a 'romantic getaway'."
I laugh at her fake gagging sounds. "So it's just you and Jake walled up in your house from the snowstorm?"
"No, just me. Jake's actually at Katie Matlin's."
I raise an eyebrow. "He's at the former school's president house at eight-thirty in the morning?"
"He was there last night. The snow started coming down pretty hard and her parents let him sleep on the couch."
"What was he doing there in the first place? Isn't he seeing Jenna?" The dude seriously gets around.
Clare laughs. "You know, I don't know what's going on with all of that, and to be honest, I really don't care." I grin. If I had any doubts Clare had some lingering feelings for Jake, her statement just erased them completely.
I glance at the clock again and groan. "I have to go eat breakfast and take my pills."
"Okay. Maybe we can have a phone date later?" She sounds hopeful.
"Of course, Clare. I'll call you later."
"Bye, Eli."
Later that morning, after showering and mindlessly flipping through the channels in the TV room for an hour, an idea hits me.
"Hey, Cece!" I yell. I hop over the couch and into the kitchen.
"Yes, Eli?" She's pulling her cooled cookies off the sheets and placing them on plates.
"Are Bullfrog's old snow boots still around?"
"Yeah, I think they're in our bedroom closet. Why?" She offers me a cookie, but I wave it away.
"Can I borrow them?"
She grins, and I can tell she knows where I'm going with this.
"You're going to walk the mile to Clare's house in all that snow?"
"...Yes."
"Aren't YOU a romantic?" She teases.
"Well," I start, treading carefully. "She's all alone."
"Oh?" Cece sits on one of the stools by our counter.
"Her mom and stepdad are off being romantic and gross like you and Bullfrog-"
"Hey, now!"
"-sorry, but it's true-and Jake got stuck somewhere overnight. I don't want her to be by herself." I walk over to Cece, place my hands on her shoulders, and stare at her with faux drama in my eyes. "It's VALENTINE'S DAY, Mom!"
"You're pulling the 'Mom' card." She rolls her eyes. "You must really need to get laid."
I choke on whatever words I had originally planned on saying. "Mom, we're not-"
"I saw that new box of condoms." She points her finger at me as if to chide me. "You really should learn to zip your backpack."
I groan and sit on the stool next to Cece. "We've talked about it," I admit. "If and when the time comes, I want to be prepared." I look at her, complete honesty on my face. "But we haven't slept together yet."
She sighs and places a hand on my arm. "Baby Boy, just be careful. Please."
I laugh. "Well, that's why I bought the condoms-"
"No, Eli," she interrupts. "I mean with your heart. I truly believe that you are in a better place than you've been since you were little, and I know you and Clare have something special-" a sob forms in her throat and tears well up in her eyes. "But if something goes wrong, I just…if anything happened to you, I'd lose my damn mind."
Guilt courses through me, so I attempt to ease the levity in the room. "I guess then we'd know it runs in the family."
"I'm serious, Eli." She looks at me, pained, and I pull her into a hug.
"Cece, I am so sorry for the times I scared you. I promise, as long as I can help it, I will NEVER hurt you like that again."
She squeezes me tightly before pulling back and nodding. "I guess you better pack a bag then." She wipes away her tears and gestures at the cookies. "I'll pack some of these so you can take them to Clare."
I shoot her a thankful grin. "You're the best."
"I know," she responds with a wink. "Go get ready."
I'm packed, bundled up, and out the door in ten minutes.
Later…
By the time I reach Clare's doorstep, my teeth are chattering, I can't feel my feet, and my entire face is likely red. The carnations I bought for Clare last night look wilt pathetically in my gloved hands. Cece laughed at me when I told her a little cold air wouldn't harm them much and apparently with good reason. I ring the doorbell, and after what seems like an eternity in the icy air, Clare flings open the door.
"Eli!" She looks surprised but happy.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Clare." I offer her the flowers and smile sheepishly. "I think they're dead."
Her smile reaches her eyes as she takes the flowers and ushers me inside. I numbly kick off Bullfrog's too-large boots and drop my backpack.
"You walked here?" she asks with laughter in her voice.
"Yes," I answer, still shivering. "I didn't want you to be all alone. And I didn't want our Valentine's Day to be completely ruined."
"Well, I just have the most devoted boyfriend ever." She leans up to kiss me, and her lips are so, so warm against my frozen ones. She pulls away in alarm. "Eli, you must be freezing."
"Nah…I'm a man. I can take it." My chattering teeth betray my words, though. Clare marches me upstairs, dropping the flowers on her coffee table along the way.
She leads me into the bathroom, and I'm not entirely sure where she's going with this. I finally stop shivering enough to really look at her and smirk at what she's wearing. "Nice jammies, Edwards."
A blush crosses her cheeks as she tugs on her care bear pajamas pants. "Well, I wasn't exactly expecting company," she says sarcastically. Her arms cross under her breasts, and oh my God she's not wearing a bra. I force my eyes away from her boobs and look her up and down. Her hair is half-up and kind of messy, she has either little or no make-up on, and the look on her face melt my heart.
"You're so damn beautiful." I want to touch her, but my hands are still frozen.
She flushes again at my comment, but ignores it and points at the shower. "You. Get in."
I raise my eyebrows. "Care to join me?"
She rolls her eyes. "Keep dreaming, Goldsworthy. The hot water will thaw you out."
She exits the room, hips unintentionally swaying; the sight gives me a problem I take a little too long in the shower fixing.
Later…
"Oh, GOD, Eli…" Clare moans. "These cookies are SO good…"
She's killing me.
We've spent the past hour or so watching some movie of the week on Lifetime and mocking it senselessly.
"Glad you like them. I TOTALLY made them, by the way." She lays her head in my lap and my hands automatically reach out to play with her hair.
"You are full of so much crap," she declares while she finishes off the cookie. Instead of responding with a witty remark, I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it.
"So, a lazy-snow day-Valentine's Day…" I start. " Best date ever?" We both laugh.
"I've had worse." She sticks her tongue out at me, and dirty thoughts about where I'd like her to put it swim through my mind. She sits up and surprises me by swinging one leg around both of mine and straddles me. My lips are on hers in an instant, and when our tongues tangle she moves against me. I break the kiss to mind attention to her neck; each soft kiss earns me a breathy moan in response. She twitches, seeming to want something more. I just wish I knew what.
The first time we dated, Clare let me touch her…well, everywhere. We never saw each other completely naked, but it's safe to say that we touched every inch of each other before our relationship imploded. I remember the first time I made her cum. One Sunday afternoon I convinced her to make out with me in the back of Morty at the abandoned church, and when my hands teased the thighs under her uniform skirt she didn't stop them from trailing upward. That was the day I found out she wasn't a screamer, but rather an extremely sexy moaner. Her face twisted into a look of intense pleasure, and when her back arched off the floor of Morty I wanted nothing more than to make her mine.
The memory of Clare getting off makes me even harder than I already am, and when she leans back and reaches down to squeeze my cock through my pants I can't keep quiet. "God, Clare…" I throw my head back against the couch and she smirks, far too satisfied with the effect she has on me. She slides off of me, and I literally let out a whine of disappointment.
"Where are you going?" I attempt to pull her back onto my lap, but she tugs on my hand.
"My room." The look she shoots me is dangerously suggestive. "You coming?"
I swear we run like the Flash to her room; I have her panting on her back in less than a minute. She rips my shirt over my head and I return the favor.
"Eli," she moans between hot, nearly sloppy kisses. "Touch me."
She doesn't have to ask twice. I trail my kisses down her neck and over her breasts, teasing her nipple with my breath. I continue to kiss down her body; when I reach her hipbones, I rise up and slowly take off her childish pants. She squirms in anticipation, and when I brush her white cotton panties aside her breath hitches.
"Eli…"
I insert one finger in her, then two, and nearly blow my load when I feel how wet she is. And fuck, I want to replace my fingers with my cock. "Clare…" I marvel, pumping my fingers in and out of her. "God, I haven't touched you like this in so long…"
"Shut. Up." Her voice is tight, and when I add my thumb to rub her clit, it doesn't take long. "Eli…OH God…"
I smirk as she tightens around me and bucks against my hand. Stroking her gently, I do my best to help her ride out her orgasm.
She leans back on her pillow and tries to catch her breath. I take in her nearly naked form and don't even bother to hide my staring.
"You're checking me out, Eli." Her voice is still deep from arousal; my cock twitches at the sound.
"Can you blame me?" I want my tone to be teasing, but it sounds far too deep and suggestive. "You're amazing." I lean over her and she pulls my head down for another heated kiss. As it continues, she manages to awkwardly ride me of my sweatpants. I buck my hips against her, trying so hard to show some restraint, but the way she meets my thrusts make it extremely difficult.
"Eli…" Clare gasps when I break the kiss and bury my face in her neck. "Make love to me."
I freeze, sure I haven't heard her right. "Come again?"
She moves my head and forces me to look in her eyes. "I want you to make love to me."
I gulp. "Now? Are you sure?" But I search her eyes with mine and I already know the answer.
"Yes." She kisses me slowly. "I love you. I've loved you for a long time and I want this." Her hands play with the back of my neck and I take a moment to relish in the sensation. "As long as YOU want this," she adds with just a hint of insecurity.
"Are you kidding me?" My eyes light up and I kiss her forehead. "Of COURSE I want this. I just want to make sure you're ready."
"I am. Emotionally and otherwise." She pushes me off her so she can open her nightstand drawer. Inside I see a box of condoms.
My eyes widen at the sight of birth control in my extremely pure girlfriend's pink bedroom. "Damn, you're prepared."
She laughs and opens the box, handing me a condom. I awkwardly pull down my boxers, not missing how her eyes widen at the sight of me. As I roll it on, Clare shimmies out of her panties and I can't keep myself from ogling her amazing body.
I place myself at her entrance, and she holds on to my shoulders. I search her face one last time, looking for any doubts and find none.
She cries out when I push into her, alarming me immensely. "Oh my God, are you okay?" I'm trying not to shake, but everything feels so intense and my nerves are getting the best of me.
"Yes," she says with a wince. "Just…just give me a minute." I lean down and kiss her clenched eyelids and allow her to adjust to my size. It's a damn good thing I got her off earlier, because I can tell there's no way that's going to happen her first time.
"You can move," she whispers.
I do, thrusting in and out of her as slowly as my body allows. It's so hard; she's slick and tight and I just want to bury myself in her as deep as possible. It's been a long time since I've done this. Unfortunately, there's no way I'm going to last for long.
"I love you," I whisper in her ear.
She smiles up at me, and I feel her body relax a bit beneath me. After a moment, her hips start moving with mine, and fuck, I've never felt more turned on.
"God, Clare…" I'm moving faster now, and she doesn't object. She rubs her hands up and down my back, kissing me hungrily. "Eli…" Her voice drips with pleasure, and the sound of my name is all it takes for me to lose it. Her hands hold my slowing hips as I cum hard inside of her. I collapse on top of her soft skin when it's finally over.
"Wow," Clare croaks. I pull out to take care of the condom situation. After tossing it in the wastebasket I curl up next to her, spooning her from behind.
"'Wow' would be right," I agree, kissing her sweaty curls. I stroke her stomach for a bit before I ask her the questions weighing in the back of my mind. "Are you okay? Do you regret it?" I try and fail to keep the worry out of my voice.
She turns around so that she's facing me. "I'm wonderful, Eli." Her hand reaches up to play with my hair and I sigh with relief. "I don't regret it. It was perfect."
I smile. "You know, I always thought this would be planned."
"Sex?" She asks with an arched eyebrow.
I laugh. "Well, our first time." I stroke her side, still in awe that my beautiful girlfriend is naked next to me and that we just made love. "I thought you'd want it to be more special and less spontaneous."
"Eli!" She laughs, but her voice is serious. "Being with you made it special."
I pull her closer as an amusing thought occurs to me. "Clare, do you realize that we just made love for the first time on Valentine's Day? We are complete and total clichés."
Laughter rumbles through her body. "I think I'm okay with it. Just this once."
Later…
"The snow is starting up again," Clare notes as we wash the dishes. After a short nap and, to my pleasure, another romp in Clare's bed, we made a makeshift Valentine's dinner of frozen pizza and ice cream sandwiches.
"It sure has," I note. It's true; it even looks as if the flurries are mixed with ice. "Good thing I have an overnight back."
She elbows me. "Who says you're allowed to stay over?"
I frown. "But…I thought you'd want me to…and…"
"I'm kidding, Eli!" I scowl and smack her with my drying towel.
When we're done with the chore we head up to her room for bed. I notice the William Blake book I bought her a few weeks ago sticking out from under her pillow. "How did I not notice this earlier today?" I ask when I pick the book up.
"I think you were a little preoccupied," Clare drawls.
"Well, my hot girlfriend was naked, so I think it's understandable that I was distracted." I tickle her side and she smacks my hand away.
I sit up against the headboard and Clare places her head against my clothed stomach. Much to my chagrin, Clare insisted it was too cold to walk around the house naked. "I've been reading it before bed," she says, gesturing to the book in my hands.
"Oh really? Maybe I should read it to you tonight. A little bedtime story." I'm teasing, but her face flushes.
"I'd actually like that."
I open the book and search for the only William Blake poem I'm really familiar with. Clare looks up at me with love in her eyes before closing them.
Clearing my throat, I begin to read:
Love and harmony combine,
And round our souls entwine
While thy branches mix with mine,
And our roots together join.
Joys upon our branches sit,
Chirping loud and singing sweet,
Like gentle streams beneath our feet
Innocence and virtue meet…