Chapter Twenty One
Three corn dogs and a cherry coke later, Eddie returned to her room while Jamie headed out on his secret mission. "Okay, spill, what the heck is going on? Kara asked.
"Jamie's in a really bad place right now, he's in terrible physical and emotional pain. I should have pushed harder when he started to pull away, when he ended things, but I didn't. Stupid!"
"You didn't know, we all knew something was up but he was being very quiet…"
Eddie sighed, "I know he was, but this was me! Anyway, he wants to do something tonight. After he slept and we ate, he's more himself, he's smiling and his eyes are alive at least partly. Help me pick out something nice."
Eddie modeled for Kara while Jamie headed to the little shop he saw coming in. The sold ceramic trees and other decorative items. Jamie picked up a tree, some little carolers, and a snow globe then headed back to get ready for his time with Eddie. They lost two days, he wanted to make sure things were right before they left Montana.
Eddie knocked on Jamie's door at exactly six. She had chosen a blue halter dress with blue heels and her hair up. Jamie was in khakis and sport coat. When Jamie opened the door Eddie smelled smoked ham, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes. Christmas food. "Merry Christmas, Eddie," Jamie smiled and leaned over to give her a gentle peck on the lips.
"Merry Christmas," Eddie smiled and hugged Jamie tight. "This is …You got a tree...and the fireplace, Jamie you didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to do it," he replied. "You deserve it, we always had this holiday together and I wrecked that. Do you want to eat first?"
"I always want to eat first," Eddie laughed taking her gift for Jamie and putting it by the tree.
Jamie pulled out Eddie's chair and turned on the music…Christmas classics. He dimmed the lights and lit the candles on the walls. "Okay, I have to ask about this room," Eddie said as she bit into her ham. "How did you ever afford this? Did Danny do it maybe hoping?"
"No, Danny couldn't afford this room," Jamie replied with a smile. "But my Dad could and I think he's pulling strings for us too. It seems we're more acceptable now married to other people than we were before. That's life I guess. Do you like the ham?"
"I do like the ham, but I love that you did this, Jamie…" Eddie reached over and drew a little heart on his hand. "this is just…it's incredible."
When their meal was done, and room service took it away, Jamie went to the tree and took out two boxes, "Do you want to do this now?"
Eddie wanted to hold him, that's what she really wanted. She wanted to kiss him deeply, but Jamie had to take that lead, he had to tell her what he needed and wanted from her now, she couldn't rush him. Their intimacy had to be his choice.
"Sure," Eddie replied. "I actually can't wait for you to see what I got you." Eddie took the small square box and handed it to Jamie. Jamie handed her a bag that was pretty heavy all things considered. "You first," Eddie prompted.
Jamie carefully opened the package and opened the box. Inside was a silver and onyx ID bracelet that was inscribed in Morse Code. It was something that Jamie and Eddie used often to communicate with blinks, pen clicks, and other subtle signals. Jamie read the code and smiled, a tear stinging his eye, "Love is patient and kind," he read. "It certainly is, when it's true." Jamie cupped Eddie's cheek. He tipped his head and softly kissed her lips, his tongue gently parting hers land tasting her sweetness. "Thank you."
Eddie was rocked by the kiss, she didn't expect Jamie to be so intimate just now, still she stood on her tiptoes and returned his sentiment with gentility of her own.
It was Eddie's turn next to open the presents. She reached into the bag and found a collection of her favorite lotions, skin treatments and other products that she liked to use on her sensitive skin and a small box wrapped in silk. At first, Eddie wasn't concerned with the silk, she opened the velvet box and touched the pin inside. "Jamie?"
"You told me once that your mother had one and I know that you wanted one. You can wear it with your suits and things…it'll look so lovely." Jamie took the Cameo broach and pinned it on Eddie's dress just above her heart. " Wear it and think of your Mom and how special she was. Think of me too."
Eddie smiled and fingered the pin on her chest, "I love it. It's beautiful…"
"Yes," Jamie replied touching Eddie's hand. "It is…there's something else there…"
Eddie looked down at the silk nightie, "Oh Jamie…" she sighed. "This is…." The nightie was rose with silk and lace. It was gentle, feminine and a very intimate present. "It's…"
"Empty," Jamie replied. "It's empty…I'd very much like for you to fill it."
"Are you sure, Jamie?" Eddie asked. "I mean, you've been through so much…"
"I'm sure I want to see you in that nightgown…let's leave the rest to nature, shall we? "
Eddie smiled, "I'll be right back…" She hurried to the bathroom to try on the inviting piece of silk. It fit her like a glove, every curve hugged in just the right way. Eddie had never felt more beautiful…until she stepped out of the bathroom to Jamie…the look on his face as he watched her move closer to him, now only in his khakis and belt, made her feel on top of the world.
Jamie closed the final gap and reached up to let Eddie's hair down. The blonde curls tumbled free from their clasp, Jamie discarded the clip and ran his fingers through the golden tresses. He stepped closer and pulled Eddie to him, simply holding her and rubbing his hands up and down her small body. Jamie rested his head on Eddie's head and rocked.
Eddie was content with this level of intimacy, after all that Jamie had been through she didn't expect for him to even kiss her. So, she was surprised when Jamie did dip his head and take her lips again before drawing her hands to his chest.
"Are you sure?" Eddie murmured as Jamie worked his fingertips under the strap of her nightie. "I don't…"
"I'm sure," Jamie replied. "I'm sure that I want this…nothing compares to this with you, Eddie nothing and nothing would ever ruin it. There's no comparison, Eddie, none at all…This is love…and I want to love you…"
Jamie knelt at Eddie's feet and gently pulled her hands until Eddie sank to her knees on the bearskin rug, the firelight illuminating her hair. Jamie took her hands and placed them on his belt, she held back a little bit, needing him to take the lead.
Jamie undid his belt and fly, then pushed his pants off his hips…Eddie could see he was ready for this, ready for her. "I love you, Jamie," Eddie whispered as she waited for him to remove the night gown she'd put on for him.
Jamie slid the pink silk off Eddie's shoulders and down her breasts. His mouth followed the trail of the silk each little kiss burning the flesh. Eddie shuddered at Jamie's touch, every nerve and fiber of her body was acutely alive. Eddie didn't initiate any attention, this time she let Jamie lead, let him set the pace…Slow and tender was the word of the day.
With the nightgown, off to the side and Jamie's clothing lying with it, Jamie laid Eddie down on the bearskin rug. She parted her thighs to invite him in closer, Jamie sighed and laid over Eddie, warming her body with his, touching her moist velvet flesh to be sure she was ready for him. "Say yes,' Jamie urged her, wanting to be sure he had her permission as much as she wanted to be sure he was in control.
"Yes…" Eddie panted. "Oh, yes…"
Jamie moved slowly, gently filling Eddie's core as her thighs involuntarily clamped around his waist. Their bodies moved in fluid motion, a dance as old as time, rhythm as old as love itself…Jamie buried his face in Eddie's chest, inhaling her scent, enjoying her softness…As they reached a simultaneous climax Eddie though she heard Jamie sob…though when she opened her eyes, she only saw a smile.
Jamie didn't dislodge himself from Eddie for the longest time, they both wanted and needed to stay connected as intimately as two people could for as long as possible. Eddie stroked Jamie's hair as he dozed with his head pillowed by her breast. This was their time, their special time…and it would stay that way…the how and the why, that was for tomorrow, for tonight was solely about their love.
When their heartbeats returned to normal, Jamie lay on his back with Eddie pressed against his uninjured side. She had been very careful to avoid causing him any pain, physical or emotional.
"What are you thinking?" Eddie asked Jamie as he absently stroked her arm, their bodies still glistening with perspiration.
"Nothing," Jamie replied honestly. "Absolutely nothing." He dropped a kiss on Eddie's head. "What are you thinking?"
Eddie signed and rubbed her finger between Jamie's nipples, "That this is bliss, pure bliss."
Jamie ran his hand through Eddie's hair, "It is that, and we have five more nights of this...if you want it."
Eddie propped herself up on her elbow, "Of course I want it," she replied quickly. "I love you Jamie, I've wanted this for a year. I know you did too, so let's make the most of it."
Eddie got up from the cocoon of quilts and covers and grabbed the calendar for the week. "We have today pretty free, just that one mandatory eastern...and tomorrow is full up and we're separated mostly...Detectives in one seminar and Sergeants trainers in a different one. That's going to be tough, we don't even have the same lunch."
"What about that night?" Jamie asked. "Is that..."
"That is wide open and we have a fifteen-minute break at two thirty, we can try to get a soda or something..." Eddie winked when she said or something.
"Jamie, I want you to know that as much as I love making love, that's not all this is for me. I want our friendship too, our connection. We can take this part as fast or as slow as you need us to."
Jamie's eyes filled up with tears, "I just can't believe I let it get this far. And I still don't know how to get out of it. With Claudia, it's not a matter of saying I want out, she's...relentless and she's...I'll need that therapist to help guide that, it can't come down on Max. He's the one thing I can't give up and won't sacrifice to her."
Eddie sat on the rug again and curled back up to Jamie. "Of course, you won't and I won't let you. We will get through this part together, we...even under the guise of being friends. We will do it as a team."
"Reagan and Janko ride again," Jamie laughed. "I can do this with you, Eddie. I can't do it without you."
"You won't be without me," Eddie promised. "You won't be without me, I love you so much..." Eddie pulled Jamie into her chest. She would be wearing many hats with him; lover, partner, caregiver, friend...That was all right with her. She had to be what he needed her to be, he always had been what she needed...except...but that was past...they had the future now.
"Try to sleep..." Eddie felt Jamie getting heavy against her. "I'm here, try to sleep."
Eddie was surprised about how well he did, the trauma he experienced would have kept some people being able to let go. Eddie relished in this, she knew it might not come so easily for him again.