Claire had the day off from work. It was a good thing, too. She would have all day to prep herself - and calm herself down - for the big date that night. She was sitting at her kitchen table, having her usual breakfast of eggs and toast, when she heard a ding on her phone. She looked down at the screen and saw she had a text message from Jamie.
Jamie: You're in trouble, lass. Do ye know what ye did to me last night? ?
Claire smiled, mischievously. She had known exactly what she was doing when she teased him last night.
Claire: Whatever do you mean, love? ?
Jamie: Ye ken very well, Claire. You had me so worked up that I couldn't sleep.
Claire: I'm sorry, Jamie. I hope you were able to take care of it - or do you need me to take care of it tonight?
Jamie: You're incorrigible. But I love you.
Claire: I love you too. So what time are you picking me up?
Jamie: Is 7:00 ok?
Claire: Sounds great. What are we going to do?
Jamie: First dinner, then the rest will be a surprise.
Claire: I can't wait.
Jamie: Me too. Have a good day, love.
Claire: You too, Jamie. ❤️? ﾟﾒﾋ
She smiled warmly, her heart filled with such happiness. She was so excited to meet her love.
Around five o'clock, Claire took a shower - her second of the day. She wanted to look her absolute best and she wasn't taking any chances. She padded out of the bathroom with a towel on her head and went to put on her sexy new underwear. She didn't know what was going to happen tonight, but she figured it didn't hurt to be prepared. She dried her hair and pinned it up, a few loose tendrils framing her face. She smiled at herself in the mirror. Not bad. She finished her makeup and got dressed, saving her shoes and jewelry for last. She was ready.
Jamie had just got into his car, ready to go pick up Claire. He sat there for a moment, taking deep breaths to calm himself. He grasped the steering wheel and bent his head to rest on it for a moment. It took several minutes, but he finally collected himself. This was it. Tonight, his life would change forever.
Claire walked back and forth in her living room, working off the nervous energy she felt. Any moment he would be here. She poured a glass of wine and drank it down rapidly. She needed a bit of liquid courage.
Twenty minutes later, Jamie was outside her door. He painstakingly unclenched his fists, smoothed his hair back, and took a deep breath. It's now or never, he told himself.
Claire heard the knock on her door and jumped. Dear God, what am I doing? You're meeting the man of your dreams, that's what! she told herself. Buck up Beauchamp and open the freaking door!
She took a deep breath and reached for the handle. The door opened and there, standing tall and beautiful, was Jamie. He looked amazing. His hair was a beautiful auburn, with curls at the ends. He wore it longer than most men, and it suited him very well. He wore a blue suit jacket, trousers, and a blue tartan button down shirt, open at the throat. He was resplendent.
"Sweet Jesus!" he exclaimed, standing there with eyes wide and mouth open. His eyes took her in from head to toe, starting with the wild curls on her head and the beautiful pale skin of her neck and shoulders. His gaze drifted down as he admired the shape of her body all the way to those amazing legs. "Claire! You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen!"
She blushed. "And you, Jamie, are amazingly handsome…and hot!" He chuckled and gave her a dazzling smile. After a moment, she realized they were still standing in the open doorway. She grasped his hand, so warm and big, and said, "Come in, love." She led him inside and kicked the door closed behind her. She couldn't stop staring at his face.
He swallowed, then cleared his throat. "Claire, I have no words for what I'm feeling right now. God, you are so very beautiful." She could feel his hand tremble as he stepped closer. She had to look up - he was very tall. "Before we go to dinner, can I ask ye something?"
"Of course."
"Claire, I would like very much to kiss ye. Would that be ok?"
"Oh, Jamie. Yes!"
His hands moved to cup her face as she reached toward him, putting her hands on his waist. He looked deeply into her eyes, then down at her lips, moistening his own in anticipation. He moved toward her, closing his eyes just as his lips brushed hers. Her mouth parted slightly as he kissed her, slowly and tenderly. The kiss deepened, and she responded in kind, emitting a soft sigh.
Jamie lowered one hand to rest on her waist, pulling her closer to him. She felt amazing. He loved the feel of her body against his - the roundness of her breasts against his chest and the curve of her waist where he held her. He elicited a sigh of his own as he continued to kiss her.
After a few moments, they pulled back, slightly breathless. They both smiled and leaned in to give each other a lingering hug, Claire's head resting comfortably against his chest.
Jamie pulled back at last, taking her hands into his, smiling so brightly that he seemed to be lit from within. "I suppose I should say hello. We kind of skipped that part."
She laughed. "I suppose we did. Hello, love." She squeezed his hands, as much for support as for affection. "W-would you like a glass of wine before we go?"
"Aye, I'd like that, thanks."
She turned to go into the kitchen and he walked over to the couch to sit down. She watched him as she uncorked the wine bottle. He was astonishingly handsome. Her hands trembled a little as she poured the wine into two glasses. After composing herself once again, she went into the living room and joined him on the couch.
He raised his glass to her, and said, "To new love and new beginnings." They clinked glasses and drank, celebrating the new adventure they would soon share.
Jamie drove them to a very exclusive restaurant, the best in Glasgow. He helped her out of the car and held her hand as they went in. Once they were seated, Jamie reached across the table to take her hand again, brushing her knuckles with his thumb.
"Sweet Claire. I am in awe of you. I hardly know what to say, except...I love you."
"Oh, Jamie, I love you, too." She smiled warmly, squeezing his hand.
They talked all throughout dinner, smiling and sharing soft touches whenever they could. Their eyes never left each other's face. It was as if they were afraid the other would vanish if they looked away, even for a second. There was a sense of magic in the air around them - this moment was a dream come to life.
After dinner, they left the restaurant, but instead of heading to the car, Jamie led her in the opposite direction.
"Where are we going?" Claire asked, curious.
"I want to take ye somewhere special. Don't worry, it's not far."
After walking a couple of blocks, they came upon a lovely green space. Jamie led her past the gate and into a lush garden, full of flowers of every kind.
"Oh, Jamie, this is beautiful!"
"It gets better," he said, with a smile.
He led her through the garden until they came upon a small loch. Just beside the shore, there was a bench, situated under a trellis full of roses. They sat down on the bench, looking over the water. The moon's glow sparkled like diamonds on the surface.
Claire sighed and leaned her head on Jamie's shoulder, holding his arm. Jamie bent and kissed the top of her head, saying, "mo nighean donn."
"What does that mean?"
"It means my brown-haired lass."
"It's so beautiful, the Gaelic language. Do you know a lot of it?"
"Aye, my Da thought it was important to keep our Scottish heritage strong and he taught me and Jenny to speak it."
"Your father sounds like a wonderful man."
"Aye, he is." He looked at her then. "He will adore you, Claire. He appreciates strong, intelligent women. My Mam was a lot like you, I think. I was very young when she died, but I remember her. She was very strong and confident - regal even. She and Da were truly equals and loved each other very much." He looked deeper into her eyes. "I want us to be that way as well."
She smiled warmly and took his hand into hers. "As do I, my love."
He turned to her, then, and leaned to kiss her. This time, the kiss grew deeper and more passionate. He reached to cup her head in one hand, while the other moved around her to bring her closer. Claire put her hand on his chest and could feel the rapid beat of his heart. It seemed to beat in time with hers in that moment.
After a deep, languorous kiss, they pressed their foreheads together and enjoyed the closeness for a little while.
"Jamie, this is wonderful," she said softly, almost a whisper.
"Aye, it is. Better than I could ever have imagined."
His hand started to move over her back, caressing softly. She put her hand on his thigh and whispered, "Do you want to go back to my place?"
"Aye, I do," he whispered back.
Looking at each other, they said, with their eyes, everything that needed to be said. As they stood, Jamie leaned to pluck a red rose from the trellis, presenting it to Claire with a bow. "My Lady, Claire. Please accept this token of my love."
She took it with a smile and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Jamie...Let's go home."
They walked back to the car and Jamie helped her in. Once they were both inside, he looked at her and smiled, taking her hand and bringing it to rest on his leg, their fingers still entwined. She felt the muscles of his thigh flexing as he drove. Just that small movement sent delightful shivers down her spine.
The drive home was relatively quiet, both of them thinking about what was to come. When they walked through the door of Claire's apartment, she pulled him in, closed the door and had him pressed against it in seconds. They kissed again, passionately, urgently. Her hands went under his coat, smoothing over his chest, then this shoulders, pushing the coat off in one fluid movement. His hands roamed over her back then slid down to cup her ample bottom.
"Christ, Claire," he said, breathless, "Ye have the roundest arse I've ever seen. Sweet, Holy Lord!"
He continued running his hands over her as she began her own explorations, caressing his chest, his hips, and his very well defined arse.
She whimpered at the feel of him and the way his hands felt on her body. She wanted more. Grabbing his hand, she pulled back and led him to the couch. He sat down, then grabbed her waist as he slowly leaned back, bringing her with him. He maneuvered them so that they were lying side by side, facing each other.
They kissed again, slowly at first, then their building passion sparked again, leaving them panting as they tried to consume each other. Jamie ran his hand over the curve of her hip, then her thigh, pulling it up to rest high on his leg. He caressed her smooth skin as he continued kissing her passionately.
"Jamie." she whimpered. "Oh my love. I want you so much."
"Me too, Sassenach."
Claire took his hand from her thigh and brought it up to her breast.
"Oh, God, you feel so good. I canna help myself." He leaned to kiss her neck, sucking gently, before moving down to kiss the skin just above the neckline of her dress. He nuzzled her between her breasts, feeling the soft satin of her dress against his skin.
"Jamie!" she cried out, desperate for him. She began moving his hand down her body, over her belly and then...the hand stopped.
"What is it, baby?" she said, breathless.
"Claire, we canna…not yet."
She looked at him, puzzled. "You don't want to?"
"Oh, Lord, I want to, more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. But…"
She could see the turmoil in his face. She reached up to cup his cheek. "It's ok, you can tell me."
He took her free hand in his, bringing it up to his lips, kissing her fingertips.
"Claire, I love you, more than I can say. I want for us to have a real life together. I guess I'm just afraid if we jump into this too soon, we may jeopardize that somehow. Does that make sense?"
"Yes."
"We don't have to wait long, I promise. I don't think I can wait that long anyway," he said, smiling.
"Ok. It's just…I want you so much."
"Oh, Claire. You have no idea how hard it is for me to stop right now. I want nothing more than to take ye right here."
From the feel of his body next to hers, she could tell he was certainly more than ready, but he was right. Perhaps it's not the best idea for a first date. They would be together very soon, and it would be wonderful.
"Jamie?"
"Yes, love."
"Will you hold me?"
"Aye, I'd love to, mo nighean donn. Come here."
She reached up to turn off the lamp. He turned her to face away from him so that he could hold her close, spoon-fashion. He took the blanket from the back of the couch and covered them both.
"I love you, Claire."
"I love you too, Jamie."
He squeezed her tight, kissed the top of her head, and closed his eyes, giving over his dreams to her keeping.