Chapter 7

Jun shifted underneath me, and I felt my body hardening in response.

"Kiss me, Joe."

My last shred of resistance crumbled, and I did as she asked, drowning in the pleasures she was offering. Our mouths met eagerly, seeking what we needed to satisfy our desires. I ran my fingers through her hair, its silky caress inviting me to explore further. Jun slid her hands up and down my back, the deepening pressure with each stroke, communicating her increasing urgency, and reflecting my own.

Impatiently, she yanked at my shirt and I sat up, grinning as I moved aside so she could pull it over my head. I then returned the favor, removing her shirt with equal eagerness, before gently easing her capris over her hips and off of her legs.

Jun's eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she did the same for me, tugging at my jeans as if their mere presence somehow offended her. Once they had been removed she stopped for a moment, simply staring at me, as if she…

"You're sure, Jun...?"

"I'm sure!" she smiled. "I just never realized how beautiful you were, Joe."

That was certainly not a word I had ever heard applied to me, before.

"Isn't that my line?" I asked her, lazily tracing the shape of her curves with my hand.

"I'm not preventing you from saying it."

"I'll do better than say it." I grinned, my eyes communicating the full scope of my intentions.

"Promises, promises…"

"I can fulfill my promises." I drawled, leaning over to kiss her gently, even as my hand crept around her back to unfasten her bra. Once the clasp was undone, my lips traveled down, tasting the soft skin of her neck and shoulders, while my fingers teased at her breasts.

"Joe…"

Jun's hands gripped my neck, my hair, pulling me closer to her as she threw her head back on the pillow. I pulled her bra straps down and off of her arms, unconsciously sucking in my breath when I saw the perfection that I had just uncovered.

"You truly are exquisite, Jun." I whispered, tracing the soft curves, hardly daring to touch such flawless beauty.

Jun's only response was a sharp intake of breath as I placed kisses along the path my fingertips had traced, softly caressing her with my mouth, drawing upon the creamy satin of her flesh with my tongue. The taste of her filled me, satisfying a hunger I hadn't even been aware of, as every one of my senses was overwhelmed by the incredible woman in my arms.

Soft moans at the back of Jun's throat encouraged me onward, and I continued to pleasure her as she gave herself over to me completely, trusting in me to care for her with tenderness and passion.

Jun's reaction to my touch pleased me more than I had thought possible, and that alone was nearly enough to satisfy my desires.

Nearly.

Gently, I slid my hand down, across Jun's stomach, lingering briefly as I raised my mouth up to kiss her again. She grasped my head with both hands, pulling me toward her, even as I brushed against the center of her femininity with my fingertips.

Jun gasped, as if she hadn't expected the intensity of her reaction to my touch. Her head lolled to the side, staring at me with glazed eyes.

"Joe…" she whispered throatily, before closing her eyelids and surrendering to the flood of sensations overtaking her. For a brief moment, I felt them too, and I soared with her, joining her in the emotions she was experiencing.

Finally, I could stand it no longer, lowering my body and kissing the entrance to her womanhood, finding myself instantly addicted to the taste of the passion she displayed so unashamedly before me. I found myself entranced by the movement of her graceful form as she writhed on the bed before me, cresting the wave of her ardor, filling me with her essence as I greedily accepted all that she offered.

But even I had limits, and my own physical needs were crying out for satisfaction. Reluctantly I pulled away, moving up to kiss her, murmuring endearments in her ear as I slid into her welcoming body.

Jun's inner warmth pressed tightly around me, and I moved forward…

Only to find myself stopping.

"Jun…" I said, my voice ragged with emotion, "you never told me…"

"Please, Joe…" she turned to me, tears in her eyes, "there's no one else… I told you that…"

"Yes, but…" I hesitated. Could I really do this? Could I live with myself if later on…

"I want you, Joe." Jun insisted.

"It will hurt." I warned her.

"I know," Jun whispered, "but I also know that you'll be gentle."

I moved again, and Jun brought her hips up to meet mine, even as I embraced her, covering her face with kisses to take away the pain that she, of all women, did not deserve.

She cried out, and I hesitated for a moment.

"Don't stop, Joe… please…"

I moved again, slowly, hoping that she wasn't just putting on a show for me, but she closed her eyes, a serene expression settling onto her features as she embraced me.

"Jun…"

My body rose to the occasion, achieving a gentle finish as if it were aware of the great honor that had been bestowed upon it. I couldn't prevent a tear from falling down my cheek as I looked upon the face of the woman who had given me her greatest of all treasures.

"Thank you…"

It was such an inadequate expression of my feelings, but it was all that the numb mass of my mind could think of, at that moment. I was completely overwhelmed with the love I felt for this woman who had offered me everything, asking nothing in return, but that I accept it.

"This is one Christmas present I'll never forget." I whispered, tenderly brushing Jun's hair from her face.

"Neither will I." she breathed, smiling at me in a way that made my heart ache. "I've waited so long, and it was more wonderful than I had ever imagined."

"You're the one who's wonderful." I insisted, pressing my lips to hers.

For the first time, I truly understood the pure happiness that came from loving another person, and the intimacy that could exist when there was more than just physical attraction between two people.

As we drifted off to sleep again, a sense of happiness grew in my heart, overwhelming me until it expanded to encompass me, the woman by my side, and beyond.

Joy to the world.

All I had needed to achieve that, was what I had had all along.