Hey all. Just giving a shout out. Kind of M-ish coming up. Nothing hard core, but I just wanted to cover my bases, be cautious and the like. ;-)
"Feel like the Stay Puft marshmallow man." He grumbled, looking sour.
Gillian frowned before glancing back and forth, intimating that they weren't alone. "Come on Cal. It's only for a few minutes. Besides, everyone is in the same boat, literally and metaphorically speaking, of course."
"Yeah yeah." His eyes narrowed as he looked past her. "No fucking way."
"Cal!"
A roaming photographer was dodging in and out of the crowd, liberally snapping shots of fellow marshmallow people.
"Didn't sign up for this."
"I'm sure they do it every single time. You can deal with it."
Cal glowered.
"Hey guys! Can you squeeze together real quick for me?"
"Not only can I not squeeze together with my wife with this ridiculous thing on, I'm pretty close to throwing some plonker photographer overboard so they can swim home if they ask me to smile big." His tone was deadly serious.
The young man faltered. "Uh, o-kay. Never mind, we'll catch you some other time."
"Good luck with that son."
Gillian seem alternately horrified and amused. "Cal I can't believe you just said that."
"Sure ya can darlin'."
(BREAK)
"When James was a little over a year, my mom flew out and stayed with him so we could have a proper honeymoon." Gillian paused and took a mouth full of salad.
"Well, a cruise would explain the lifejacket drill."
She washed her romaine lettuce down with a tiny sip of wine. "You were not a happy camper."
"That I do remember. Probably just anxious to get my bride alone." Cal gave a smirk before watching her take another bite, the fork slipping smoothly in and out of her mouth.
Swallowing, he turned his attention back to his own food.
Emily had volunteered to watch James while they went out to dinner. She was apparently trying to make up for some perceived infraction. He was pretty sure he knew which one.
When his eyes moved back up to her, Gillian was blushing prettily. "You were a little anxious."
Cal's mouth went slightly dry. "Was I?"
Casting him an easy grin, she nodded. "Yes, you were actually a bit afraid."
This time his mouth just dropped open as he stared at her.
She stared back, continuing to grin.
"You're messing with me."
"Nope." If asked, she would deny it, but she secretly was having a little fun with him.
"Afraid."
"Yup."
He rolled this around in his head for a moment, but had to ask regardless. "How so? I mean, the word 'afraid' shouldn't be in my manly vocabulary."
Stifling a snort of laughter, she smiled, slightly embarrassed at the sound that managed to escape. He found her adorable as his eyes roamed over her and noted that the blush had moved down across her chest and cleavage.
"Seasickness."
"Say again?"
"You were afraid that you'd get sick." She tossed her hair casually back over her shoulder as she explained. For a moment he tuned out, just watching her hair settle, knowing how soft it felt against his fingers.
"…fishing trip."
"Sorry?"
Gillian narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. "I said that years ago you went on a fishing trip with friends and the water was exceptionally choppy. All of you wound up sick over the side."
"Feeding the fish."
"Apparently."
"Oh. I was being a bit daft I guess. Huge ships and crappy little fishing boats have little in common."
"Other than floating in the water?"
"Well, yeah, that."
Her smile turned sympathetic. "I guess it was just a really miserable experience for you. On the plus side, we brought a large supply of Dramamine…just in case."
Propping his face in his hand he gazed at her, his expression suddenly unreadable. "As it happened, I didn't need it. Turned out to be a non issue."
She waited. He was right. Bringing her glass to her lips, she started to take a sip.
"Also, if memory serves, when we arrived in Jamaica, we took a bus to the other side of the island to hike up Dunn's River Falls, which I have to say was worth it. Quite beautiful it was. And at the top we went off the beaten path a little ways for a make out session and a quickie." He took a bite of his steak. "Good thing it was off season."
Gillian almost dropped her wine as he grinned at her mischievously, eyes darkly sparkling. "Ready for dessert?"
(BREAK)
Emily was curled on the couch, nose in a book when they got home.
"Have fun?" She peeked up at them, smiling.
They seemed to be a bit more relaxed with one another, almost like before. Or at least getting there.
"It was quite revealing." Cal commented glibly while Gillian blushed again.
Emily's eyes shifted from one to the other, amused at the little exchange. "I put James to bed about 15 minutes ago. He had a little meltdown earlier but I think he was just tired."
"Thank you Em." Gillian smiled and headed for the staircase to check on her son.
Cal shoved his hands into his pockets, looking at his daughter. "What are your plans tonight? Heading out now or…?"
Snapping the book shut, she unraveled herself from the couch and got to her feet. "Actually I was going to stop by Eric's."
Her father grunted with a frown. "Sure you don't want to stay around a bit?"
She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Sorry. There's a project we're working on that we really need to finish up."
"I bet."
"Funny, dad." She put her arms around him, looking up into his face. "I'm so glad that you're okay."
Cal gave her a sideways grin. "'Course darlin'. I tend to land on my feet a lot."
Her face turned serious. "For how long?" She gave him another peck before gathering her things. "Anyway, got to go. Tell Gillian I said 'bye.'"
"Will do luv."
The girl flashed another smile over her shoulder before disappearing out into the night.
Feeling like something was stolen from him, he stared at the closed door, a creeping sadness moving through him. His daughter was all grown up and he didn't really remember how she got that way.
(BREAK)
In true pre-schooler fashion, the boy was sleeping half way in and half way out of his bed. His head and shoulders were in danger of an impending floor collision, while the other half sprawled with one foot anchoring him between the wall and the bed.
Gillian gently moved James around to position his head back on his pillow knowing that it was futile but feeling compelled nonetheless. He let out a loud sigh and she froze for just a moment and waited. Fortunately, he didn't awaken. She tucked the blanket around him, leaned over and kissed him on the forehead before quietly retreating from his room.
She startled slightly to find her husband leaning against the doorjamb watching her, his face in shadows. Moving past him, she gently closed the door behind her.
"Emily leave?"
"Yeah, meeting up with the boyfriend." His voice sounded pained.
Wrapping her fingers around his, she led him downstairs.
"They've been together a while Cal."
"She said 7 months or so."
He flopped on the end of the couch and she kicked off her shoes and curled her legs under her next to him.
"I think she might be getting a little serious with him."
"She's only 22." He stared down at the floor in front on him. "But then again, it's like, holy crap, she's 22 already? Don't remember it happening."
"You know something?"
"Huh."
"Even parents without head trauma go through that. Kids grow up way too fast."
"True enough."
"Cal?"
"Yeah, luv?"
"What do you remember about that day in the cemetery?"
He tilted his head, thinking. "Pretty much what I said. Wait a second." Cal's hazel eyes found hers, a tender smile working its way onto his face. "When the little guy was laughing and messing around the grave markers, you said something to the effect that kids remind us what's important."
Nodding, Gillian could feel her eyes blur slightly.
"Important to enjoy what we have, yeah?"
Her tears were overflowing once again.
Cal touched her face, smirking. "You are quite the crybaby aren't ya?"
Sliding a bit closer, he put his arm around her, feeling her immediately melt into his side.
Resting her wet face against his shoulder, she was reminded of how she loved the solidity of him; she loved how he smelled and how she immediately felt safe. She'd missed it. She'd missed him. Snuggling closer, she snaked one arm around his ribcage, rubbing lightly. A sigh of contentment slipped from her as she felt his lips press to the top of her head and his fingers played with her hair. They moved to stroke her shoulder and upper arm, gently massaging as she relaxed even more.
"Gill?"
"Hmmm?" She smiled as she felt him kiss her brow.
Cal moved his other hand to her face and tilted it up to him. "Just so you know." His face was so full of tenderness that she felt her heart start to swell. "There's one thing I could never forget."
"And what's that?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"How much I love you." Still caressing her face, he slowly lowered his lips to hers. His kiss was warm, soft, sweet and completely undemanding.
Her hand reached behind his head, threading through his hair to anchor him to her. She was the one to deepen the kiss but he happily followed her lead. Gentle nibbles, a slow dance of tongues, the occasional clash of teeth and they pulled away slightly, keeping eye contact.
"I've missed you." Her blue eyes were dark as she stared up at him.
He took her chin between his forefinger and thumb. "I'm right here, luv. Not going anywhere." A teasing smile touched his eyes. "At least not physically."
"I love you Cal." Gillian pushed her lips up against his once again.
Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to sink into the kiss, his heart accelerating, as she became more demanding. One of her hands rubbed his upper thigh igniting a tingling burn as he heard himself groan into her mouth. "Want to be careful there darlin'." His voice was rough, accent thick.
She started to plant feather light kisses over his neck, jaw and ear. "What fun would that be?" The low, throaty whisper caused his tenuous grip on self-restraint to spiral out of control. Using his body to propel her backward, he lay down partially next to her, partially on top on her, one knee between her legs. One hand explored the swell of her hip before gliding up to her belly and the curve of one breast, the other threaded in her hair to keep her still while he covered her neck with kisses down to her clavicle.
Her entire body trembled with the onslaught as warmth spread through her. She wrapped her arms around him, throwing one leg behind his thigh and moving her head back to allow him better access. His hands and lips felt so good. She was so caught up in sensation that when the thought of whether or not this was a good idea popped into her head, it was like a balloon deflating.
Cal immediately felt the difference and pushed himself off her quickly, practically retreating to the other side of the couch. His eyes were still dark with passion but confusion and fear were taking over. "Gill? Did I do something wrong?"
Breathing hard, she already missed the heat of his body. "No, no, you didn't."
"I don't understand." He looked like a little kid who just dropped his ice cream cone. Gillian would have laughed if she didn't feel so crappy.
How could she articulate it? Saying it was her not him was never a comfort to anyone. "I'm wondering if we should really do this."
"Okay." His eyes were searching but he waited.
"Um," dropping a hand on top of her head, she looked at the floor. "I feel like I might be…uh…taking advantage."
Cal's face washed blank.
A few moments later, she chanced a look at him just in time to see the edge of his mouth twitch upward. His whole countenance broke into a grin shortly thereafter. "Seriously? You seriously think you're taking advantage of me?" He was suddenly in her face, just a breath away. She gave a little gasp at his sudden movement. "Darlin', that is just not possible. Despite the fact that I have loads of memories of making love to you that are beginning to multiply like rabbits, what man wouldn't want to be 'taken advantage of' by someone as bloody gorgeous as you are?"
Now she just felt stupid and it must have shown for he gently pulled her into his arms. "No luv, I appreciate what you were thinking. Please don't feel bad. Just know that I'm on my way back. I may not be quite there but I'm working on it." Tilting his head, he gave her his mischievous smile. "Think of it as therapy."
Gillian laughed despite herself before his lips once again took hers in a fiery kiss.
