Much quicker this time! The big moment has arrived...hope I did it tastefully. Not too M.
CHAPTER 36
Gillian hesitantly knocked on Cal's office door, her hair wet and shiny from the afternoon summer storm that had hit the area. She had been caught in it as she walked from her first therapy appointment to her car. Somehow, she didn't mind the drenching she was getting. It felt appropriate on a day like today, where everything she had experienced had been laid bare at the feet of a fellow professional.
"Describe for me what happened Gillian. And if you can, try not to leave anything out," had been Dr. Felicia Mercer's advice after they had exchanged pleasantries and a few professional stories. Gillian had done her best, some of the memories coming easily while others reducing her to a puddle on the floor.
The worst to retell were the events of that night. The horror of discovering that Emily was about to be filleted right in front of her was perhaps the worst moment of them all. She could still see the menacing blade, pressed tightly to Emily's neck. Gillian had known that if she didn't intervene in some way, the teenager's life would end before it had barely begun. The second worst moment for Gillian was the moment she realized that her attacker had plunged a knife into her body and was about to do it again. The feeling of utter helplessness still paralyzed her. Dr. Mercer had been patient, letting her take long pauses in between the play by play. Once it was all out there, on the table to be analyzed by someone other than her or Cal, she felt cleansed. Let someone else carry the burden around for a while.
Cal's door swung open in a hurry as his concerned face met her soaking wet one. A grin instantly formed as he pulled her into the office, water dripping onto his floor. "I'd help you get out of those wet clothes darling, but you know, office ethics and all." He gave her a playful wink as he wrapped her up in the blanket that he stored under his couch.
She sat down and pulled him down with her. Cal wrapped his strong arms around her now shivering body and kissed her forehead. "How did it go?"
"Better than I expected. She asked me some tough questions but they helped."
"Really?" The relief on his face was hard to miss. "Do you need to go back?"
"A few more times. She gave me some homework and some advice. It was nice to talk to a neutral party."
Cal smirked. "Are you saying I'm not neutral?"
"God no. Whenever we talk about what happened, the look of rage that crosses over your face almost scares me."
Cal shrugged, aware that he had a hard time masking his emotions where Gillian was concerned. "Just being protective of my woman, that's all."
"Mmmmm," she hummed, "and I love you for it. Dr. Mercer really helped me today though. She helped me start the process of moving forward from where I am right now."
"Moving forward how?"
"With healing, with my career, with my relationships." Gillian gave him a beaming smile.
"Oh, and what relationship did you discuss with the good doctor?" Cal's face was only inches from hers, the smell of his aftershave driving Gillian mad.
"With you of course." She nodded and looked at her lap. "We mostly talked about you."
Cal felt a lump form in his throat, hoping that the therapist's advice would move them in the direction that he desired and that they both needed. He was relieved when Gillian tightly gripped his hand. "She said that we needed to move forward, you and I. She also wanted to make sure that our relationship was based on something solid, not intensified temporarily due to a crisis."
Cal was suddenly curious. "And you told her...?"
"I told her that you and I have had eleven years together. That we have been through rough times and have come out better for them. I told her that I love you now more than I ever thought possible and that I was confident that you felt the same."
Cal let out a low, almost wolfish growl as he looped his arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, ignoring her wet clothes. "I most certainly do," he whispered huskily into her ear. Gillian turned to face him as she passionately kissed him, groaning as her tongue gained entrance. Gillian was aware that Cal's hands were roaming her body, finding their way underneath her wet clothes and caressing her warm skin. Gillian followed suit, wrapping her arms round his waist, hands kneading his toned back muscles. "God Gil, I love you," Cal proclaimed between kisses as he felt himself getting highly aroused. Remembering her desire to not consummate their relationship here in his office, he pulled back, taking her flushed face in his hands.
Gillian read the unasked question in his face. Nodding her head, she smoothed her fingers over his eyebrows, along the side of his face before lingering on his lips. "I'm ready Cal, if you are."
Cal hungrily reclaimed her lips. Still kissing her, he stood up and placed her back on her feet.
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Cal was happy, and warm and thoroughly spent. As he ran his hands down Gillian's naked hip as she lay with her back towards him, he could scarcely believe that they had finally reached this moment. His bed was filled with her scent, that intoxicating scent that drove him wild. Their lovemaking had been tender, much more so than he had ever experienced. Sex with Zoe had always been a quest for dominance, each person fighting to take control. Not so with Gillian. She was giving and kind and he relished the sexy noises that she made when he returned her generosity.
Her body was a wonder, it truly was. Once he had finally seen all of it, his breath had left him. The overwhelming urge to kiss every inch of her took over and he proceeded to do exactly that, lingering in the spots that caused her to gasp. The only tense moment came when he reached her belly, the scars pink and puckered and still painful. He felt her stiffen and draw in a long breath. Cal stopped what he was doing and moved back up to her head, his fingers gingerly tracing her scars while his lips gently kissed hers. "You're beautiful love...in every way." He felt her relax and he moved further south, sweetly kissing her healing wounds.
It wasn't until he slipped inside of her that his emotions threatened to spill over. The moment was just so perfect as he gazed down at her tear streaked face, a look of pure joy flooding her features. They fit together beautifully, as if their bodies were created only for each other. He began to move inside of her, ever diligent in making sure he wasn't hurting her still fragile body. When she cried out in ecstasy, screaming his name as she did so, he couldn't hold out any longer. His climax was mind blowing and more intense than he thought possible.
Now, after having cleaned up and cuddled for a while, he had watched her drift quietly and peacefully off to sleep, his eyes never leaving her. His hands continued to touch Gillian's smooth, creamy skin as he planted kisses on her freckled shoulders. She didn't stir, her body utterly exhausted from the effort. "I love you darling," Cal whispered as he kissed her ear. The tiniest of smiles danced across her peaceful face as she continued to slumber. A feeling of warmth and peace so powerful hit Cal like a sledgehammer. She was his. Oh God, she was his! He could scarcely believe it but now that he had her, he didn't ever want to let her go.