Christmas in July, lol. I will let you guys assume that I did that on purpose. ;) The epilogue will likely not take six months to get posted...or so I hope, heh. My apologies; I truly never meant to let the time get away from me on this one.
-nine-
The sunlight of Christmas morning was filtering softly through the curtains, bathing the cabin in a magical glow. It was just another element of perfection that added to this, the most wonderful Christmas morning Eric had ever had. He was unsure for how long he'd been awake, for time seemed all but nonexistent to him as he watched the beautiful woman sleeping next to him.
To wake her would be such a crime in his eyes – he hadn't even been able to make himself do that the night before. Snuggled against his side by the fire, she had drifted into a sated slumber, and Eric had held her, gently stroking her hair until long after the fire had died. And then, he had taken every last precaution as he'd lifted her into his arms, making sure not to jostle her into waking as he gently carried her up the stairs.
He'd taken the utmost care as he'd tucked her into his bed, smoothing her hair and dropping a kiss to her forehead before slipping in beside her, taking her into his arms. And then she'd unknowingly stolen his heart all over again, with the way she nestled against him and sleepily murmured his name.
And now he was privileged enough to wake before her, to unabashedly gaze upon her as she slept so deeply. He wasn't sure how long he'd been watching her; all he knew was that if she hadn't begun to stir, he would've been content to watch her forever. As she slowly traversed the gap between sleep and waking, Eric's eyes were fixed to her, knowing that if there was one sight more adorable than a sleeping Calleigh, it was a waking Calleigh. Fluttering eyelids, an occasional twitch of her lips, all of it was enough to bring a smile to Eric's lips, but none of it compared to the unshielded depth in her emerald eyes as her body finally crossed that barrier into consciousness.
She gave a deep, well-rested yawn as she stretched luxuriously, her legs brushing against Eric's in the process. Blinking slowly, she was seemingly unaware that Eric's heart was fluttering in his chest at the sight of the smile that leisurely touched her lips. She watched him for a moment, noting the intensity in his gaze, the intensity which was trained upon her and her alone. "What are you doing?" she asked sleepily, her thickened accent like the sweetest music to Eric's ears.
His fingertips traced a gentle path along her jaw, lingering just beneath her chin. It was as though he just couldn't keep his hands off of her – her skin was addictably soft, and he couldn't get enough of the way it felt beneath his touch. He was just absolutely smitten with everything about her, and everything he thought he couldn't possibly fall farther in love with her, she sent him flying head over heels again. "I was watching you sleep," he replied softly.
Sheepishly Calleigh nibbled at her lip, feeling the heat rush quickly to her cheeks. Already Eric had left her blushing more times than anybody else she had ever been with, and if she were honest with herself, Calleigh didn't dislike it. "Why?" she drawled quietly, shivering slightly as Eric's dark eyes flitted to her lips.
The teasing nibble of her lip was much too tantalizing to Eric – for just the briefest second, he marveled at the realization that he would never have to resist kissing her again. Hand lightly cupping her cheek, Eric leaned in and captured her lips, kissing her softly. Sweet, simple, yet oh so perfect – the icing on the sweetest cake was the soft whimper that reached his ears as he pulled back once more. "Because you're beautiful," he murmured, letting his touch drift slowly into her sleep-tousled hair. The strands shimmered like gold between his fingers, mesmerizing him with its softness, its beauty. Her beauty. "So beautiful…"
Calleigh gave a soft sigh of his name, her cheeks bearing the most adorable hint of pink that Eric had ever witnessed. She left him with a dilemma – the emerald of her eyes, the rosy tint of her cheeks, or the shimmery gold of her hair…Eric could no longer decide which color was his favorite. Forgoing the making of that impossible decision, Eric instead chose to capture her lips once more, his heart leaping as she responded eagerly.
Their lips meshed with a slow, sweet rhythm that was so very reminiscent of the seamless way their bodies had moved together the night before. Kissing her was addictive, something Eric knew he'd never get enough of, and he found it nearly impossible to break away from her. He didn't go far, though; Calleigh's soft whimper of protest had him pressing a kiss to the corner of her lips, then tracing his lips along the curve of her jaw. He shifted beside her, and Calleigh giggled quietly as the kisses trailed downward.
Automatically she tilted her head, offering him better access to the creamy skin of her throat. "Eric…" she murmured, shivering as his lips lingered over the erratic beat of her pulse.
A protest it was not, and Eric smiled against her skin, continuing his sweet seduction. She squirmed lightly as his tongue dipped in the juncture of her shoulder and her throat, and Eric knew that by the time they went back to Miami, he would have a mental catalogue of the spots that turned her to jelly in his arms. And then, when they made it home, he'd make it his mission to find the rest of those spots and pay each of them the attention they were due. For the meantime, his lips continued along the path he'd set out, ending with a lingering kiss to her bare shoulder. His breath tickled her skin, and Eric's heart fluttered as her eyes slowly opened. Her eyes met his, and, holding her gaze, Eric dropped one last kiss to her shoulder. "Merry Christmas," he breathed, mesmerized by the vision of beauty before him.
Before Calleigh could react, Eric was moving, rising to a sitting position with a playful grin on his lips – to Calleigh, he looked like he was the kid who'd gotten everything he'd wanted on Christmas morning. And with a sudden flutter of butterfly wings in her stomach, she realized that if he was anything like her, that was possibly exactly how he was feeling.
The thought left her smiling uncontrollably, though it faded slightly as the reason for Eric's sudden movement became clear to her. His eyes sparkled as he retrieved a small, elongated box from the nightstand drawer. It was wrapped in shiny emerald paper and tied with a simple, silver bow. Calleigh felt her heart skip a beat, and she too sat up, letting the covers pool at her hips. "Eric…"
The uncertainty was clear in her voice, though it only made Eric's grin wider. He'd expected that from her; after all, twelve hours ago, they weren't even them yet, not technically, at least – though the first move had yet to be made, Eric knew he'd been in love with her for years. Reaching out, he took her hand and placed the box against her palm. Her eyes watched the motion, almost mesmerized as Eric gently curled her fingers around the box. "Open it," he murmured, shifting beside her again. His new position placed him practically behind her, and unable to resist, he dropped another slow kiss to her shoulder, chuckling as she continued simply to gaze down at the box in her hands.
She remained motionless until she felt Eric's lips close playfully over her earlobe, the gentle tug leaving her body covered in goosebumps. "Eric, I can't…" she murmured, softly shaking her head.
Amused, Eric chuckled against her skin. "I know, I know – you're supposed to open Christmas presents in front of the tree," he teased, playfully nudging the strap of the pajama top she'd put back on the night before out of the way. It fell limply against her upper arm, and Eric brushed his lips over the tiny patch of skin he'd revealed. "Not in bed. But I thought maybe you'd want to make an exception, just once…"
Preemptively, he brushed his fingers through Calleigh's soft blonde locks, reveling in the smoothness as the strands threaded between – not even the finest silk could ever compare, Eric was certain. Gathering her hair, he gently draped the locks over her right shoulder, pausing to press a kiss to the skin he'd uncovered on the other side. The motion seemed to draw Calleigh from her trance, and with a slight tremble in her fingers, she slowly tugged the silver bow free, letting it fall forgotten to the bedspread. "I really shouldn't…" she insisted, gingerly picking at the emerald paper.
Eric didn't reply; he simply watched her fingers with quiet fascination as she peeled away at the paper at an agonizingly slow pace. His own heart was pounding, and he couldn't help but wonder if she could hear it, maybe even feel it against her back as he peered over her shoulder. The anticipation was killing him, and it was all he could do not to reach around and rip the box open himself. "Calleigh…" he groaned playfully, nuzzling lightly at her neck. "You're driving me crazy…"
The low rumble of his voice left her shivering, but while she enjoyed the playful teasing, her own anticipation was quickly overpowering her. A giddy smile quickly tugged at her lips, and with a deep breath, she ripped the rest of the paper off to reveal the plain, white box beneath. With a cursory glance to Eric, who'd rested his chin atop her shoulder as he watched, Calleigh gently pried the lid from the box.
And what was revealed inside was enough to steal away her breath. Emerald eyes were greeted by the soft sparkle of diamonds, and just as she had before, Calleigh felt her smile slowly fade a bit in stunned silence, the only word she could manage a hushed whisper of his name. "Eric…"
She was speechless, and Eric couldn't help but grin widely. He knew Calleigh had never been one for elaborate jewelry, but the necklace contained within the box in her hand had been perfect for her. Several weeks before, Eric had accompanied an old friend on a quest for the perfect gift for his fiancée, and somehow Eric had been the only one of the two not going home empty handed. He'd seen the necklace and found himself unable to pass it by – it'd had Calleigh's name written all over it. It was subtle yet beautiful, and at Calleigh's continued immobility, Eric chuckled softly. "You like it?" he asked, snaking his arms slowly around her waist. With fingers far steadier than Calleigh's, he slowly extricated the necklace from its box, letting the diamonds shimmer as they moved in the light. The sparkle wasn't quite as brilliant as the one Eric loved seeing in Calleigh's eyes, but then again, nothing could compare to that. Separating the ends of the chain, Eric gently looped the necklace around her neck, letting his touch linger against her skin as he took his time with the clasp.
The diamonds fell along her neckline, and Calleigh lifted a hand, gently taking them between her fingers as Eric hooked the clasp. It was beautiful, and she did like it, but it was clear that it was not a piece of inexpensive jewelry. Swallowing hard, she allowed the diamonds to fall once more against her skin. "Eric, when did you…"
Her voice trailed off once more into silent awe, and Eric smiled brightly as he looped his arms once more around her waist from behind. "A while back," he murmured simply, brushing his lips softly against her temple. "I saw it…and couldn't help but think of you."
Closing her eyes, Calleigh's mind drifted to the gift stowed away in her own bag for Eric , and while it too was not on the inexpensive side, somehow that seemed different. Her fingers once more found the diamonds along her neckline, and finally her smile returned fully. There was something intimate about his gift, and Calleigh couldn't help but find herself thrilled by it. "You really shouldn't have, you know," she whispered, feeling her heart bubble over with contentment.
"Nah, you're wrong about that," Eric breathed, pressing a kiss to the spot behind her ear. One kiss, two, a third, and then his fingers were lacing sweetly with hers in her lap. With every word that he breathed, his lips caressed her skin, leaving Calleigh unable to catch her breath. "Do you have any idea how happy you've made me?" He paused, delighting in the soft whimper of pleasure that escaped her as he nuzzled against her. When he continued, his voice took on a deep, husky tone, leaving Calleigh no choice but to melt in his arms, bearing no defense to his seduction – and glad for that. "You're so beautiful…so beautiful."
Releasing her hands, Eric slowly trailed his fingertips over her bare arms, feeling the goosebumps rise beneath his touch. "I never want to let you go," he breathed, and Calleigh couldn't help but gasp softly as his hands came together along her neckline, his fingertips reverently caressing both the diamonds and her soft skin…but mostly her skin. "You deserve so much more than just this. And if you'll let me, I want to give you so much more…"
She squirmed against him, feeling suddenly dizzied by his proximity. His scent, so masculine and uniquely Eric, was washing over her in waves with every breath she took. The slow, open-mouthed kisses he laved upon the base of her throat would've destroyed her concentration completely if Calleigh hadn't been trying so desperately to hold on. But before she could let go, she couldn't let herself forget about her own gift for him. Eyes still closed, she attempted to extricate herself from his arms, but Eric only smirked and held her that much tighter. "Eric…" she protested, shivering as his fingertips skimmed beneath the hem of her top, unabashedly exploring the soft, taut skin beneath.
He was driving her crazy with kisses to every inch of skin he could reach, and while at the moment that only meant her shoulders and her throat, it was more than enough to draw from her the soft whimpers, the quiet sighs that Eric had fallen in love with the night before. While his fingers quested beneath her top, he brushed his lips back toward the spot behind her ear, knowing she could feel his breath against her sensitized skin. "Hmm?"
When Calleigh found the breath to reply, there was no conviction whatsoever in her whispered words. "Stop seducing me…"
Eric gave an answering chuckle, once more catching her earlobe playfully between his teeth. His words held all the conviction that Calleigh's had lacked. "Not a chance."
It took all of her willpower to resist when all she wanted was to give into him, but Calleigh knew if she let him have his – and her – way now, she would never make it out of the bed long enough to retrieve his gift. With a low sigh, she captured his roaming hands, stopping them in their tracks. Eric gave a quiet protest as she slowly pulled them away from her body, but the protest became a grin of surprise and desire as she shifted against him, straddling him as she turned to face him.
He was much too easy to predict, and Calleigh couldn't help but grin herself as his hands went immediately to her hips. His gaze, however, alighted along her neckline, drinking in the sight of the diamonds shimmering against her creamy skin. The sparkle in her eyes and her still tousled hair, along with the pink tint in her cheeks from his appreciative scrutiny completed the vision that Eric knew he'd never get enough of. "God, you're gorgeous," he murmured, once more awestruck by her beauty.
Hands on his shoulders, Calleigh captured his lips in lieu of a verbal reply. But it was merely a teasing kiss, meant to ratchet up Eric's heartbeat and leave him wanting more – before he had a chance to deepen it, Calleigh was breaking the kiss. She lingered, though, and Eric found it difficult to protest when she was still oh so close to him. "Cal…"
Another kiss. Then a whispered command against his lips, and Calleigh knew she'd finally gained the upper hand. "Stay here."
She squirmed against him, purposely elaborating her motions as she pulled away from him. Her intent was clear, and Eric did not approve – he wanted her to stay right there. "Mm…where are you going?"
Calleigh grinned, stealing one last kiss. "You'll see."
His curiosity was piqued enough that Eric didn't protest as Calleigh slipped off of his lap and out of the bed. Her bare feet hit the cold floor below, and Eric had to bite back the urge to pull her back into his arms as she gave a visible shiver. She grinned through it, though, and with a playful wink, she turned and made her way quickly toward the bedroom door.
If the flirty wink hadn't done him in, the mesmerizing sway of her hips as she moved was definitely enough to leave him appreciatively licking his lips. She was amazing, and just as amazing was the fact that she was now his, just as much as he was hers. He'd never really known what real love was, but the sensation he was basking in now, this heart-fluttering, all-encompassing emotion…there was no doubt in his mind that was what it was.
He was in love with her. In love, and falling farther every time he thought he couldn't fall any more.
It was only a few moments before Calleigh slipped back into the room, but to Eric, the short absence felt like an eternity. The grin on her lips sent Eric's stomach into a somersault as she approached the bed, her hands hidden behind her back. Her eyes sparkled as she maneuvered her way back onto the bed, reclaiming the spot she'd only just vacated. Between that grin and that sparkle, it was all Eric could do not to lean forward and kiss her with everything he had, but before he could act on that desire, Calleigh was revealing what she'd kept hidden behind her back. "Merry Christmas," she cooed, holding out a small wrapped box, similar to the one she herself had just opened.
Taking the box into his hands, Eric lifted a teasing brow. Playfully, Calleigh rolled her eyes in response. "I know, I know – it makes all my protesting a bit hypocritical," she admitted with a smile, lifting a hand to brush her fingers reverently over the diamonds at her neckline, much to Eric's delight. "I, uh, I hope you like it as much as I love mine, though," she added, her words widening Eric's grin.
His thoughts drifted back to the magical night before as his fingers tugged at the ribbons tied neatly around the box, and Eric couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "I thought I told you I'd already gotten everything I wanted, though," he recalled softly.
Calleigh's cheeks flushed, remembering that particular conversation – as well as the delicious events that had followed – all too clearly. Smiling sheepishly, she ducked her head, her fingers picking absently at a stray thread on the comforter. "You did," she acknowledged quietly, pausing for a moment before her emerald gaze once more met Eric's. "However, I also remember you saying that you wouldn't say no to more…"
Eric couldn't help but smirk. "That's true," he conceded, tearing the wrapping paper from the box in his hands. "Although, I believe I meant more of you…"
The seductive comment only deepened the blush in Calleigh's cheeks. Tilting her head toward the gift, she tucked her hair behind her ears, struggling to fight back the bubbly feeling his words elicited in her. "Just open your present," she commanded sweetly, grinning adorably.
Getting Calleigh flustered was far too much fun, Eric decided. Definitely something he would have to spend more time doing in the future. Just the thought of that left him feeling even happier – their future together. And this was only the beginning of it. Complying with her request, Eric pushed the discarded paper out of the way and set about opening the case he'd revealed. With a sense of excitement that he couldn't quite contain, he carefully opened the case.
His eyes widened as the contents were revealed to him – a shiny new watch that left him glancing to Calleigh, almost certain that one of them, either the watch or Calleigh herself, might not be real. "Wow, Calleigh…" he murmured, the awe plain on his face as he gently lifted the watch from the case. It was clear from first glance that there was nothing cheap about it – it was the kind of watch Eric had allowed himself to covet for mere minutes before turning his back on it, choosing something much kinder to his budget. That choice clearly hadn't worked out in the end – he had no idea where the remains of that watch had ended up. It was always a hazard to wear something valuable in their line of work; there was no telling when something would happen – Eric knew, in fact, that Calleigh's reason for wearing so much black nowadays was because she'd ended up with many a lighter outfit rendered unwearable by a spill or another case-related incident.
His old, well-worn watch had fallen victim to a similar case-related calamity, and Eric had simply never had the time or the money to suitably replace it. Now, thanks to Calleigh who was grinning as though she had just opened the best gift, he wouldn't have to. "How did you know?" he asked, smiling happily as he slowly secured the watch around his wrist – a perfect fit.
Calleigh shrugged, her eyes lighting up at the clear delight on Eric's face. She'd worried it would've been a bit much, but all her worries were certainly at rest now. "I, uh, I'd noticed that you hadn't bought a new one," she said quietly. "Or if you had, you weren't wearing it…" Pausing, she shrugged once more, nibbling thoughtfully at her lip. "I'd never seen you without it though until it was broken, and I just assumed you'd never replaced it – it just seemed strange to see you without one, I guess."
Eric would be the first to admit that he was feeling a bit too much excitement over a watch – he felt like a kid on Christmas morning who had just opened the best present ever. But it wasn't just the watch that left him feeling so over the moon. "Leave it to you to notice the little things like that." His words carried the awe that he still felt – so many years he'd spent thinking Calleigh was out of his league; to hear her admit to noticing him enough to know when something was different…it was overwhelming to him.
He lifted his eyes just as Calleigh averted hers. It was clear she was suppressing a smile as she nibbled sheepishly at her lip – it was adorable, and Eric tilted his head, an amused grin teasing at his own lips. "What?"
Calleigh shrugged. "I just…" She paused, feeling the heat in her cheeks. The confession was bubbling up within her, almost overflowing just like the giddiness that left her fidgeting with excess energy. But why hide it, she wondered. All of the deeper emotion had come to the surface last night – even if it did leave her cheeks tinting, what need was there to keep it to herself? "It's you, Eric," she continued quietly, almost so softly that Eric could barely hear her. "I – I couldn't help but notice."
She cleared her throat, her eyes darting downward rather suddenly – the feeling of complete openness to him was still new to her, after all. "And you were always asking what time it was," she added quickly. "Or pulling out your phone to look, or –"
With a whimper of surprise, Calleigh abruptly found herself cut off as the hand that now wore the watch quickly found the back of her neck, pulling her in quickly for a kiss that left her reeling. She responded happily once the sudden shock had passed, allowing Eric easy access to her mouth. Shivers danced along her spine as their tongues sought each other out, mingling in a kiss that was languid yet breathtakingly passionate. Bracing herself with a hand on his thigh, Calleigh leaned closer, wanting as much of him as she could possibly get – or maybe he was pulling her closer; Calleigh couldn't really tell, nor did she want to expend the energy thinking about it.
Against her lips Eric gave a soft groan, finding himself drowning in her sweetness, both her taste and her intoxicating scent. The softness of her lips against his would be enough to leave him dizzied by desire every single time, but coupled with everything else about the woman who was suddenly in his arms matching his demanding kiss stride for stride, it was enough to drive him wild.
Without breaking the kiss that had become more essential than oxygen, Eric slowly gave into the temptation to lay back, bringing her with him as his head softly hit the pillow. Calleigh gave a quiet mewl of pleasure, a sound that left Eric utterly melting. If that weren't enough, her hands had begun to roam, her fingertips dusting almost innocent brushes over his chest, his shoulders; touches so light they were like feathers to his skin.
Her locks of blonde fell around them as they kissed, locking them away from the world with a curtain of soft vanilla. Just him and her, and Calleigh knew she could happily stay like that forever. Unfortunately, the slow burn in her lungs was quickly deciding otherwise for her – it was becoming far too much to ignore, and reluctantly Calleigh broke the sweet connection between their lips just enough to take in a deep breath of air. Stars danced before her eyes as they slowly fluttered opened, though quickly they cleared enough for her emerald gaze to meet the deep chocolate orbs that belonged to the man who was unquestionably her other half. The shiver that coursed through her body was inescapable as the depth of emotion in his dark eyes washed over her, submerging her in an emotion she hadn't quite known before Eric.
Panting slightly, Eric lifted a hand, brushing his fingers through her locks of golden blonde. His palm skirted her cheek, and Eric couldn't ignore the way his heart fluttered as she leaned into his touch, craving as much of it as she could get. "You're amazing; you know that?" he breathed, languidly stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Amazing…"
Calleigh grinned shyly, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering about madly. It was inconceivable, the way he managed to make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world just with his eyes, his voice. And in doing that, he had given her the best Christmas morning she'd had in a long time. It was almost childlike, the sense of holiday joy he had rekindled within her; holiday joy that had all but been extinguished in her youth.
Christmas and love; both of them he had made magical for her.
Reverently Calleigh traced her fingertips along his jaw, tickled slightly by the stubble that grew there. Her breathy words did little to convey all that she truly felt inside, but Calleigh forced that from her mind, knowing she would have many more Christmases to fall in love with him, all over again. "Merry Christmas, Eric," she murmured softly, her gaze locked with his.
It certainly was, Eric thought as his heart leapt within his chest. And then Calleigh's lips found his once more, and that was the end of his thinking.
--
The snow was lightly falling once more outside the cabin, issuing a soft glow in the otherwise darkened night. On the inside, the light was just as sparse and ethereal, provided by the almost ignored flicker of the television, the dying embers of firelight, and the soft, romantic glow of candlelight. And yet, none of it went at all noticed by the couple curled up together on the couch, much too absorbed in one another to note anything else.
It wasn't until the fire was gone and the screen silent – both of which were started hours beforehand – that the small bubble of their private world broke through to the surface, leaving them both suddenly disoriented, lost within a haze of each other. Long, lazy kisses, slowly wandering hands, and an ever growing desperate need to be impossibly close to one another had left them tangled together in the blankets, becoming more and more entwined with every minute that passed.
By mere chance, Eric glanced toward the suddenly silent television as Calleigh shifted against him. "I think the movie's over," he murmured, stroking his fingers through her hair.
Calleigh gave a soft hum, finally drawing herself away from the light kisses she'd been laving randomly along the base of his neck. Lifting her head and shifting again, she turned toward the blank screen, eyes blinking in confusion. "So…um, what movie were we watching?" she asked with a soft burst of laughter, shivering as Eric tilted his head and gently caught her earlobe with his lips. Quietly she moaned, unable to fight the urge to close her eyes.
Teasingly he swirled his tongue against her earlobe, loving the way Calleigh tensed in his arms. The idea that he could be the one to drive her so very out of her mind was exhilarating, a high he could never get enough of. Chuckling softly, he released her earlobe only to drop a lingering kiss to the sweet spot just beneath. "I don't really think we were watching," he breathed, another low chuckle emanating from deep in his throat. "And to think, I had such big plans for us to watch Christmas movies together all day today…" he teased.
Fighting against the warmth that surrounded her, Calleigh gently extricated herself from Eric's embrace, but only just enough for her to lift her head and meet his gaze. For the moment, she ignored the chill that surrounded her, knowing she'd be back in the warmth in due time. "Was that what you actually had planned when you first asked me to come with you?" she asked softly, a warm smile tugging at her lips.
For a moment, Eric was silent as he recalled the very sparse plans he'd had in the beginning – or rather, the plans that Valera had put into his head. The corner of his lips quirked; he would have to remember to thank her from the bottom of his heart. "To be honest, I really didn't have any plans when I asked you…I guess I never really thought that you would say yes."
Calleigh nodded slowly, nibbling at her lip. But before she could piece together a response, Eric was speaking again, saving her for the moment. "I did, however, think we would spend Christmas day together, obviously since we are here together," he smirked, drawing a quiet giggle from the blonde in his lap. "However, if last night hadn't happened like it had," he continued, drawing his fingertips over her soft shoulders, "I think we might've actually watched whatever movie we just pretended to watch."
Calleigh tilted her head, grinning. "Probably would've known what the movie actually was, too," she added, her eyes adopting her characteristic playful sparkle.
With a satisfied sigh, Eric rested his head against the back of the couch, turning his eyes thoughtfully upward as his thoughts drifted to the morning they had shared together. "This morning would've been a lot different," he added, bringing his gaze back to Calleigh. He smiled; he couldn't get over just how incredibly beautiful she was.
Shrugging, she continued his train of thought. "Wouldn't have fixed Christmas breakfast together…"
Eric tilted his head thoughtfully. "Nah, we probably still would've done that," he corrected, grinning. "It's the kisses you kept stealing while I was trying to make those cinnamon rolls you wanted that probably wouldn't have happened."
Calleigh laughed. "Me?" she protested, incredulous. "I'm pretty sure that was mostly you!"
The memories of the morning's events washed over him once more, and Eric smiled wistfully. "Maybe it was," he conceded, drawing a fingertip over the soft skin of her upper arm. It took her a moment, but Calleigh couldn't help but smile when she realized the shape he was tracing – a small heart. "But that was because you wouldn't stop teasing me," he added.
Shrugging her shoulders, Calleigh felt the teasing grin tug at her lips and made no effort to suppress it. "I didn't hear you ask me to stop," she replied sweetly, playfully batting her lashes.
"That's not something you will ever hear from me," Eric murmured, his quiet voice suddenly serious. His eyes had gone contemplative; so very dark and intense, and Calleigh found herself shivering beneath his gaze.
Lifting a hand, she slowly tucked her slightly tousled hair behind her ears. The abrupt shift in mood left her body feeling overly flushed, heated by a myriad of emotions that she couldn't even think about trying to separate. It would require too much thought, too much analysis on her part, and right now, all she wanted to do was curl up with Eric and watch the snow fall outside until she fell asleep in his warm arms. "Well, I'm glad things turned out differently than we expected," she admitted quietly, lacing her fingers with his beneath the blankets.
As though knowing exactly what she wanted, Eric shifted slightly, pulling her close as he lay back on the couch. Immediately she snuggled deep into his embrace, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Her breath tickled his skin, and Eric swallowed hard, finding it near impossible not to stray into the vision in his mind – she was the rightful owner of his heart, and it was already far too easy to see himself giving her not a necklace, but another piece of diamond jewelry, one that would cement the rest of his future with her. It was almost overpowering, the vision, and when he spoke again, his voice was hushed, almost heavy with emotion. "I'm glad you came with me," he breathed, nuzzling softly into Calleigh's hair. Eyes closed, he breathed in deeply, savoring her scent and letting it wash over him with every breath he took. A million breaths he could take, and Eric knew it would still never be enough.
Calleigh closed her eyes, feeling her heart swell within her chest. Against her ribcage it pounded out a quick, fluttery rhythm, one that echoed perfectly the beat of the heart over which she'd rested the palm of her hand. She brushed her lips against his throat once and again. "Me too," she whispered, a sleepy smile gracing her lips as she realized the two simple words were some of the truest she'd ever spoken.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, draping the world in a magical winter wonderland. In the beginning, Calleigh had been impossibly excited about the prospect of witnessing her very first white Christmas, but now, as she snuggled into the unending warmth of Eric's arms, she knew that the softly falling snow was merely the frosting on the already perfect Christmas cookie.
All clichés aside, this truly was the best Christmas ever.
