AN: Today I took the 'easy' route of just writing a feel-good / smut chapter, because I just didn't feel like writing certain characters.
After Charlie had watched Finn put on his Santa act, which he was hilarious at by the way, handing out presents starting from the little ones and then getting to smaller gifts that were meant for the grownups. The kids all got two presents and adults one, meaning that the family definitely had some system of dividing up gifts when there were so many of them so they all wouldn't end up with 10+ presents. Some of the kids sang carols or read out some small poems, the adults watched, clapped and took photos. Every now and again Charlie, who mostly just stood in the back, could see Finn looking at her, like he was missing her already. Charlie really didn't know what to do with herself. She didn't remember when she'd felt someone care like this, not her to care about someone like she did - she would've probably called this feeling something more even, but didn't dare to say it yet, even to herself. Not to cry right there, whenever her mind drifted to their impending separation, she simply tried to focus on the event, but even that was hard. She was just fighting one of those moments when Diane, Finn's mother, came to talk her, seeing her all by herself for a moment.
"Your family must be missing you during the holidays," she said.
"Yeah, I would've gone to my sister's in Boston if I weren't here. But my mom and dad, that would be two separate visits unfortunately," Charlie admitted.
"That's too bad," Diane replied. "And what does your sister do?" she continued.
"Olivia is an artist, sculptor mostly, a little mixed media," Charlie replied
"Oh, that's interesting! And she is successful at this?" Diane inquired.
For a moment Charlie wondered whether this was the talk to find out whether she was a threat to their wealth. If it was, Diane was doing a good job at it, asking by showing genuine curiosity, not probing in an unpleasant way. She was the kind of person that it was very easy to open up to and she did, telling her about Olivia, her mother and father, even a little about how she used to live in Montreal before her sabbatical and about her childhood in Nova Scotia.
In the meanwhile Finn had almost finished handing out gifts.
"Charlie, darling! This one is for you," Finn called out, breaking character. But the kids were all exploring their gifts and not really paying much attention anyways.
"Me?" Charlie hesitated, feeling a little speechless. Sure, she had figured they'd exchange gifts with Finn later, but she hadn't expected anything from his family.
"Yes, you… now come on, how about a kiss for Santa's helper," Finn asked with a wide smirk.
Naturally, he got what he asked for, though just a quick one, and Charlie thanked the family for the gift and returned next to Diane to open it.
Inside the tote bag she found a small drybag which was perfect for documents and a few key items. Right now contained numerous items intended to make her sailing journey more comfortable. There was a sailing hat, to protect from excess sun, a pair of warm socks, sunscreen, a retainer for sunglasses and a waterproof action camera with a handle.
"Oh my god, this is so thoughtful, thank you," Charlie said, unsure to whom to say it to. It was the perfect amount of personal but not too much, though the camera was definitely a little over the top in her opinion.
After the gifts had been handed out the two large pavlova cakes were brought to the table, delicious looking fresh berries decorating it. They all ate it freely, wherever anyone wanted, not necessarily taking their seats at the dinner table, and Charlie, who was now joined by Finn again, talked a little to Jamie. After discussing some aspects about Canadian tourism, even to her surprise, Jamie brought up some things he needed to discuss with Finn. It was also the first time Charlie heard Finn talk business with anyone, which was interesting to watch - the playful and sometimes a little goofy Finn transforming into work mode like that. She'd only seen Finn on holiday mode until now, well, technically this was still Finn on holiday mode, but it was a small glimpse and she truly appreciated it. While Finn had told her that there were things about the job that he wasn't too crazy about, she could tell he was pretty good at it. It was just the way that he spoke about it - names, numbers coming from the top of his head, suggesting ideas how to solve some particular situations.
It wasn't much later, when Finn had made their excuses to leave from the party, wanting to make it to Coochiemudlo Island for anchoring before dark. It was just off North Stradbroke Island, where they'd been to before, and the plan was to travel along the Southern Moreton Bay Islands southwards from there.
"You're a very lucky guy to have a family like that," Charlie commented as they'd rode off along the Brisbane river, Charlie having unexpectedly gotten a lot of hugs before leaving.
"Yeah, I know," Finn commented as he continued to helm, Charlie hanging out just by his side. "Most of my friends didn't have this and I was quite puzzled for a while why someone wouldn't want to spend time with theirs," he added.
"Thanks for inviting me," she said.
"Of course, love. I couldn't leave you alone for Christmas, could I? But I also just really wanted you to see it for yourself - what they are like. They have their share of quirks and they're far from perfect, but this is why I keep coming back here each year," Finn explained.
Sailing, like actually sailing, without just travelling for a day or two by a sailboat was definitely something Charlie had a lot to learn about, Finn taking it upon himself to make sure she knew the basics of whatever he was doing. He was teaching him to read maritime signs, signals and everything he could think about, that concerned the boat and the area's natural conditions, which wildlife to watch out for and so on.
As they reached the anchorage, they got settled on the boat, having not had much time to do it earlier. They then ate leftovers from the party that Diane had insisted they bring, and even if it was cold, it tasted wonderful, in the smooth evening air, at the aft deck, the mood lighting setting a nice and romantic atmosphere.
"Merry Christmas, Finn," Charlie said as she handed him her tablet, after they'd finished their meal and simply lingered for a while.
For a second he was a little confused, but as soon as he saw what she was showing him he got it.
"You got me plane tickets?" he said, as he glanced at the New York - Montreal plane tickets on the screen. She'd set the date as soon as the second week in January, for a weekend, and obviously she had all of his details from the photo of his ID already.
"And this," she handed him a black and orange rope bracelet that she'd woven herself. This type of bracelets used to be popular amongst sailors all up the East coast of North America, Nova Scotia included, and she'd found it fitting and a little bit more personal than the expendable plane tickets that would just be discarded after their use. She knew it wasn't fancy, kind of childish even, but having not had much time and not really knowing her way around Brisbane that well to think of something more elaborate that was what she'd hoped would be enough. "And you can change the dates of course," she added concerning the tickets, seeing him go thoughtful, sad, at the sight of those tickets for a moment.
"Thank you," he said, urging her to sit closer and kissed her. He put on the bracelet after the kiss broke, and asked, "I love it, really. You did this yourself?" He was actually a little amazed - the bracelet was so simple, yet personal. Finn was no stranger to wearing jewellery thus he really did love it. It felt like having a piece of her with him. And he actually considered it rather universal, the black tone being dominant along and neutral enough to go with pretty much anything.
"My grandpa taught me when I was little," she confirmed.
Finn wasn't really sure what to say to her about the tickets. It was tricky from many aspects - accepting that they were going to be long distance was still hard for him to accept - even though it had been him who had clung to it in the first place. Then there were the additional issues concerning their schedules - sure, Montreal wasn't far at all, but at least for the first few weekends Finn was most definitely going to be out working the Manhattan night scene, reconnecting with his contacts, which really meant that his weekends weren't going to be that flexible, quite contrary to her corporate schedule. But he did appreciate the gesture - it was her telling him she wanted to see him again and soon, not that he didn't already know it, but it was just emphasized this way.
After quietly stroking her shoulder, his arm stretched over the seat back, as had become sort of their thing, he realized it was his turn to give her her present.
"I'm usually a pretty good gift giver when it comes to my friends, if I do say so myself," Finn began, rising from his seat, and headed downstairs to one of the cabins they mostly used for their luggage at this point to get the gift. "But I'll admit, I struggled with this," he confessed. He hadn't bought girlfriends Christmas presents before - he'd even browsed one of those "best christmas presents for girlfriends" lists for ideas, realizing that there were few things that were less original than something anonymous like that. What he didn't tell her right then was that there was another gift he'd gotten her but was saving for New Years, but with this he'd eventually gone with something fairly superficial, hence feeling a little hesitant to give it to her after getting something much deeper from her.
Finn handed her Bendon Lingerie gift box with the appropriate holiday wish written on it's cover. The black box itself had a pink bow on it and was lined with similar pink fabric. There was a gorgeous black lace underwire bra, mostly see through, inside with a matching set of panties. But the panties weren't just regular panties, they were the crotchless kind.
Finn smiled hesitantly as she looked the set over. Charlie was definitely blushing a little. She'd opened up a fair bit about her sexuality, and felt comfortable with Finn, but this was certainly something else. Besides, what Finn didn't know was that she'd never actually gotten lingerie as a present before. And while the sentiment was a little selfish behind a gift like that, surely, it did do her good - making her feel desired.
"I just thought you'd look amazing in this," he added.
Charlie was unsure what to say as she felt the amazingly delicate texture of those items.
She turned towards him, seeing him worry adorably about her reaction, and placed her arms around his neck, caressing the back of his hair. "Thank you," she said, looking him in the eyes up close. She kissed him then, slowly, and said in a whisper, "I think I'll just have to go and try it on…," with a sexy smile and slipped out of the booth couch and headed downstairs with the items in hand.
Finn had to seriously hold back not to head down right after her, and he almost didn't. But he knew she'd probably want a few minute's head start. When he finally did, the sight that greeted him was definitely a gorgeous one. Charlie was sitting sideways on the double berth, one leg hanging halfway down from the bed, which on this boat were quite high up from the floor, about 40 inches or so.
"Oh, wow," Finn exhaled, taking in her sensual form.
She reached out her hand, inviting him close, and slipped her hand under his shirt, while kissing him.
"Did I get the size right?" he asked, wanting to confirm it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Perfectly," Charlie replied, actually feeling a little puzzled how he'd managed that.
Finn took the opportunity to touch her back, letting it fall downwards, feeling the texture of the side of the panties, and over to her thigh.
"I'm a selfish man," Finn shook his head. "I'm not sure if this really was gift for you or me..," he added with a satisfied smirk.
"Well, it's really rather gift wrap, isn't it? And I really don't mind being the gift," Charlie replied, smilingly. The way Finn was looking at her, made her knees weak, hence she was glad she was sitting.
She pushed her formerly braided hair over her shoulder, as if inviting him to taste her skin. And that he certainly did - his lips and tongue devoured her, tasting the slight saltiness of her skin, letting his fingers caress her body.
Charlie loved the firmness him and urged him to take off his shirt. He complied, tossing it wherever.
He stole another kiss from her. There just was something about kissing her - it didn't just turn him on, it took him somewhere else - somewhere where it was just the two of them, though that could've been said about their current situation nonetheless. They had not only chemistry, but also deep intimacy and trust.
Finn was almost about to object, as her hands were already unbuttoning and unzipping his shorts, demandingly, but he really couldn't. As he was naked, he suggested climbing on the bed, wanting to really see her. Damn, how incredible she looked.
They kissed a while longer, sideways, her knee bent over his hip, while his hands felt her. She wasn't flat, skinny and boring as he'd now begun to see other women - her curves felt delicate under his touch, giving him something to hold on to, but not too much, something to really caress - she felt so real. Her nipples protruded through the fragile lace, and he just couldn't resist, kissing them through the material, making Charlie's head fall back with a gasp.
He saw her wanting to go for oral, propping herself up to her arm and beginning to change positions, but with her looking as gorgeous as she did, he didn't just want to leave her waiting, hence he instructed her to climb on top of him. He could see her hesitate, but she eventually positioned her beautiful crotchless pussy just above his mouth, taking his member into her mouth at the same time, almost losing all concentration when his tongue touched her. It had been a big step for her, to get comfortable with this, but she really wasn't complaining - he was amazing at it.
The tongue flicked across her lower lips, then latched at her clit, making her writhe and for a moment stopping what she was doing herself. Finn's hands went around her thighs, feeling the texture of the lace. As he continued, his tongue teased her, moving up and down, before sucking on her clit again, and little by little he could sense her hips beginning to move, wanting more - guiding him too. He almost wanted to praise her for that - taking control of her satisfaction.
It was then Finn was almost distracted by her mutual ministrations, her hand holding the bottom of his shaft while her tongue circled him, then sinking into her mouth, each time wetter and deeper than the last, causing him to groan. She could read him pretty well by now, knowing that blowing him was definitely a weak spot for him, hence she stopped, and climbed off of him.
As she was kneeling besides him, unsure for a second what position to take, he propped himself up and kissed her. After finding out her ex had never wanted to kiss after receiving such wonderful attention from her - he'd made it a point to always kiss her. It was appreciation and assurance, that he wasn't like that. Say what you will, but one always compared actions to those of exes, and he didn't want to leave a hint of doubt in her that this was better.
She then turned to her stomach, but kept her legs fairly closed, allowing him to view the laced back with a little round hole with a pearl on the top.
"What a sight," he commented, approvingly and kissed her neck and shoulder, while his hands fondled her thighs and as, little by little moving closer to her core again.
"Ah, I want you so bad," Charlie pleaded, his touch having that effect on her.
It really was like showing someone who'd been deprived of water a bucket of water.
He felt her moist center again, her moans making it impossible to delay this any longer.
"Fuck... the franger," he groaned in slang, having forgotten the condom.
"Just leave it," she begged, desperate to feel him.
And so he did, for the first time truly feeling the hotness of her, feeling each sensation of her smooth and moist core.
"Bloody hell!" he only managed to gasp as he continued to move, thrusting into her. He'd honestly forgotten what a big difference this made.
He could see her hand travel down to her clit, while arching her back, making her ass stand out even more prominently. As he saw her body spasm, he could feel it also from the inside, he finally let go of himself too, filling her, while still continuing to move, unwilling to stop. And it definitely paid off - causing another climax for her.
Finn sank on top of her, kissing her over her shoulder, before they both rolled onto their side, panting. He wrapped his arm around her tightly, nuzzling into her neck.
"That was amazing," he murmured into her neck.
"You're amazing," Charlie said, as she turned, wanting to face him and let her fingers run through his messy crazy hair.
AN: Thanks for all the reviews! Also - what do you think the gift at New Years will be?