Chapter 8 - Diamonds Aren't a Girl's Best Friend
The excitement Callen had arrived home with disappeared as he stared at the blue velvet box in his right hand. The well-intentioned plan to propose in Aruba abruptly had another complication. Where would he keep the ring until then and how would he get it to Aruba without Katie seeing it? He certainly wouldn't put it in his checked baggage. For his own piece of mind, the ring would have to stay on his person. Then there would be a few days before he would take Katie to the place Nell was arranging for him. The pit of his stomach tightened as he opened the safe where he stored his gun and placed the small box inside, closed the lid and locked it.
Finally accepting that his plan wasn't going to pan out, Callen called Nell and informed her that he wouldn't be needing her services after all. After a long pause Callen assured her the proposal was still on but not in Aruba. Originally the plan was to take Katie away for a weekend to a place on the coast with a hammock, a sunset, and a secluded cove but time was scarce this time of year to do that. So, then with Nell's help he was going to arrange that in Aruba. He took a deep breath, slowly exhaled and refocused his mind as he made his way to the kitchen. As he busied himself with preparing the food for a barbecue dinner, his thoughts were again consumed with ideas on where he could propose to Katie. The ideas that came to him weren't appealing. The beach where they went on their first date. Not original. Fancy restaurant with strangers around them. Extremely impersonal. At their house-warming party with friends and family? Again, very impersonal. Christmas? No. He didn't want the focus to be taken from the holiday.
A text from Katie informed Callen that he had less than thirty minutes before she returned home. Dinner was prepped, and he was eager to spend time with her but the daunting task of figuring out where and when he could propose, made that earlier formed knot in his stomach even tighter.
As Callen laid back on the outdoor chaise lounge for two, he welcomed the sound of neighbourhood children playing as a distraction to his consuming thoughts. Childhood memories flashed through his mind as he heard the distant laughter and words of "You're it". He had been a smaller than average child but when it came to playing tag, he surprised people, young and old, with his agility and speed. Another fond memory pushed forward as the wooden swing dangling from the tree moved gently in the breeze. He didn't have the heart to remove it when the landscapers did the back yard after building the deck. Alaina had often pushed him on that swing after school. The sounds of laughter that came with that memory were too precious (and scarce from his childhood) to not have a visual reminder of them. His body was soon relaxing as was his mind. And then suddenly Callen sat up with a jolt. He knew where and when his marriage proposal to Katie would take place.
"Hey there," Katie said as she walked out on the deck and immediately noticed the pleased look on his face.
Standing up, he gave her a quick kiss and took the large bag from her arm.
"We did a little shopping afterwards," she said with a hint of guilt for impulsively spending money.
Callen grinned and asked what she bought.
"It's for you," she replied as she reached in the bag and pulled out a leather gym bag. "An early birthday present."
"Very nice," he said as she handed him the bag and he admired the softness of the material. As he turned it around he noticed a capital "G" on a tag attached to the strap.
"I know you like the bag you have. This isn't meant to replace it. Consider it a spare in case you want a change."
He placed the bag back into the large store bag and embraced Katie with both arms. "Thank you for the beautiful gift."
"You're welcome. I know you said you didn't want anything but when I saw it, I swear it was calling me to buy it."
"Talking gym bag, really?"
A warm smile played on Katie's lips as Callen pulled her closer. "You hungry?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"I'll fire up the grill."
"I'll put the bag in your closest and then I need to change. Be right back."
As Callen lit the barbecue, he felt an inner peacefulness that had been a long time coming. A true, inner peace that can't be explained but only felt. Life was still complex at times but moments like this with Katie, at home, just hanging out, were the foundation of that peace. When Katie came back outside Callen had already brought out the salad and fruit bowls for them to eat while the burgers were cooking.
"This looks good," Katie said as she scooped some salad onto her plate.
"I know you're not keeping track, but I owed you a dinner for not being here on Wednesday."
Callen's attempt to make up for missing his day off (and Thanksgiving) was bitter sweet. She was grateful for his modern views on things like making meals for them but she also knew the struggle for him to balance his personal life with work was on going and would most likely continue until he retired. It was important to him to be as invested in their relationship as she was. And for that, she was grateful.
"If the burgers taste as good as they smell I might have two," Katie replied as she put dressing on her salad.
Callen gave her a knowing smirk as Katie never ate two burgers. He too was grateful for their similar views on life in general, but it was Katie's acceptance of him as G. Callen (past, present and future) that had him doubtless she would stand by him, always and forever.
They finished their meal as they talked about various things and when Callen brought out a raspberry & chocolate cheesecake from Katie's favourite bakery, her eyes widened in delight.
"You keep going there and we will need to have sex every day to help burn off these calories."
No sassy comment or smirk came from Callen as he cut another piece and offered it to her.
Katie insisted on cleaning up as Callen had cooked the meal. He took the opportunity to put on a fresh shirt & obtain the ring from his gun safe. He had no doubt she would say yes but he was still apprehensive about his wording of the proposal. What he planned to say had been rehearsed for a few months but now that it was 'show time' his memory of everything was foggy. As he walked out on the deck, his mind started to settle. There laid Katie on the lounger for two, under a blanket and two mugs of steaming tea on the table.
"Come join me," she said as she pulled the blanket back.
The dim light from the outside lanterns was romantic but he still needed a few more moments to gain his composure.
The flick of the outside light startled Katie.
"What are you doing? Turn it off, it's too bright."
"I have something to show you and you'll be able to see it better with this light."
Katie was annoyed as she just wanted Callen to join her and spend some time cuddling as the sky darkened and the moon was on its ascent into the sky. "Fine. Just hurry up."
Joining her on the lounger, his positioned his legs over the edge with his upper body facing her. Callen pulled the box from his jean's pocket and used the acceptance that he had never been more certain of anything in his life as the lead-in to his proposal.
"I've had a lot of uncertainties in my life but sharing the rest of my life with you isn't one of them."
Katie's eyes widened as she stared at the box.
As he opened it, Katie caught a glimpse of the dark blue gems and the bright, outside light made the diamonds glimmer. Then as he continued to speak, their eyes met with an unprecedented intensity.
Everything else he had planned to say was now redundant. "Kathryn, will you be my wife?"
She didn't mean to hesitate, but she did. He had totally caught her by surprise.
When his eyebrows raised, the questioning look prompted her response.
"Yes."
Callen gently took her hand and placed the ring on her right hand's ring finger.
"It's stunning," Katie said as she took in the elegant beauty of the ring and the realization that she would be marrying the man she loved with all her being. And who loved her to the end of the Earth.
"Your hesitation there had me worried for a moment," he said with a half-smile as Katie's gaze went from her ring to his eyes.
Tears were welling in Katie's eyes as she pointed to them. "I … oh my … I'm sorry. I …"
Although the location wasn't as planned, he was confident that he had made the right choice to propose at their home.
"I love you Katie," Callen said as he felt a few tears enter his own eyes.
"And I love you Callen. Now kiss me."
"Still one of my most favourite things to do."
"Please turn that light off first," Katie requested as she leaned back, wiped her lips and watched Callen walk across the deck. His physical appearance was the first of his many layers of beauty. Compassion, loyalty, genuine maleness and his role as protector, were just a few layers that assured Katie that she was with the man she would spend the rest of her life with.
With the light turned off, Callen got under the blanket, pulled Katie on top of him and proceeded to kiss his fiancé.
It hadn't been the intention to remove their clothes outside but it happened. With shirts gone, mutual nipple play ensued. The cool air heightened Katie's arousal as Callen's mouth was attentive with each breast. It wasn't until he took a breast in each hand and massaged the soft flesh with a firmness that had Katie squirming below him, begging for more.
Callen drew back as he put his fingers on Katie's lips and mouthed "Listen". The Special Agent's keen awareness of his surroundings had alerted him to movement in the neighbour's back yard. Katie nodded as they put their shirts back on and went inside.
Katie was blushing slightly, as she undressed and got into bed, wondering if the neighbour's had heard her moans of pleasure. But that thought quickly disappeared as Callen entered the bedroom, picked up the sex toys from the dresser and handed her the pair of diving dolphins. Having read the instructions, Katie gave a quick tutorial for both item's uses. He still couldn't believe he was about to put a dolphin shaped cock ring on. With all the advancements in technology this century, why were there wires on sex toys?
Glances between them were exchanged as Callen adjusted the blue and white mammal so that its nose was centered.
"What? I want to make sure the nose gets you in the right spot."
"You were adamant about not wearing one of those."
"Yeah, well I changed my mind," he said as the vibrations on his tesitcles started to tingle in a pleasant way. "Did you see the other thing they had? It's was a hallow tube with straps. That wasn't going anywhere near me. And besides, this is a love ring."
"I like this one, it's cute," she said as she reached out and touched the nose, then lightly moved her finger down the length of his erection.
"I don't think cute will be your word of choice when I'm done with you."
"You'll never be done with me."
"Touché," he replied.
"So how should we do this? she asked.
Callen was feeling brazen, "Well, we have two dolphins and two holes."
A part of Katie's body responded with a tightening of the muscles.
"Technically we have three holes.
It was Callen's turn to clench some muscles.
"Let's try them out individually so we get used to how they feel and learn what settings we like", Katie said as she turned on her toy and placed it between her legs.
Callen's eyes widened. Watching a beautiful and confident woman maneuver a sex toy to a position that made her moan was something Callen had never witnessed until he met Katie. And it was a sight he would never tire of seeing. Alluring was the first word that came to him but then as her hips began to rise off the bed and her legs spread, the only words in his vocabulary were Hot. As. Fuck. He climbed into bed next to her and laid on his back. His erection, with the toy at the base, was now the focus of Katie's attention.
"Stroke it," she commanded as she turned up the pulse on her vibrating toy.
It wasn't long before Katie felt her body tense as the rotating beads vibrated her inner core and the mammal's nose on her clitoris took her over the edge. Callen slowed his strokes and waited a few moments for his fiancé to enjoy the euphoria her body had just endured.
"Give me a moment and then we'll see what you can do with your dolphin," Katie said as she placed hers on the nightstand.
A few moments later Katie got off the bed and leaned over the edge. The wait was worth it. Callen (and his dolphin friend) stood behind Katie, eager to begin.
Already well lubricated, Callen slid in to Katie like butter melting on a hot knife. Enticed by the position, her warmth and added stimulation from the sex toy, he reached for the tube of lubricant on the bed. Oh, how she loved when he added this form of stimulation. The coolness of the gel heated the fire burning within her as she awaited his touch. He needn't ask if she was okay as the soft moans of pleasure spoke for her. Katie wasn't the only one in their relationship who could multi task and Callen's only regret now was that he had been such an ass when his lover suggested going to an Adult Store. His movements were slow at first as Katie adjusted to the third form of stimulation from his middle finger. Neither of them were comfortable with objects penetrating such a delicate part of the body but after experimenting both agreed that a finger wasn't an object.
With his free hand, thanks to the dual action device strapped on him, he placed his right hand on her hip and moved in a slow, steady rhythm. Every movement brought him not only closer to his climax but to his new future as a husband and eventually, as a father. What seemed like an endless journey, of longing to love and be loved unconditionally, was now over. Thrusts of his dick into her warmth, as his finger pressed against the equivalent of her G-Spot, along with clitoral stimulation from the toy, created an unprecedented feeling in Katie.
A few strands of blonde hair had fallen from Katie's up-sweep and Callen stopped, moved the strands aside, and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "What do you want?"
Katie's response added a little more love to Callen's heart for the woman he was going to spent the rest of his life with.
"Come with me.
As much as he wanted to stay in their current position, seeing her face was something he needed so he said "On the bed". He laid down on his back and carefully observed Katie's actions as she slowly crept her way up the length of his body. The vibrations of the sex toy still pulsating, the passion between them intense, the skin to skin contact causing a pleasant friction as she sank down on him, breaths of passion filling the air. Katie's focused turned to pleasuring Callen with various movements of leisurely moving up and down to a fast but steady impalement that cause her breasts to move in a way that Callen very much appreciated.
Katie then settled in to where the toy's nose gave her sweet spot the stimulation she would need, in conjunction with Callen's upward thrusts of his hips. Their faces close, words of encouragement and love mingling with their breaths, Callen's grip on his fiancé tightened. Letting go wasn't an option until the built up (pleasurable) tension was first released by Callen, then Katie.
"Can we skip the next three weeks and go straight to Aruba?" Katie asked as they enjoyed a late-night snack of tea and cookies in the living room.
Callen smiled as he had been thinking something similar.
"I love Christmas and I'm looking forward to spending time with our friends and family but the time we have together, just the two of us, I love that even more."
"After two weeks of sun, sex and sand you may wish for something else."
Katie's face and tone were serious, "I will never wish for anything but time with you."
As soon as the words left her mouth she realized how they might be interpreted but Callen understood and pulled her in for a hug. "That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me."
Two Weeks Later
"The decorations look amazing," Katie said as she and Callen sat on the couch admiring their crafty styles to putting up Christmas decorations while waiting for guests to arrive for their Christmas Open House/House Warming/Engagement Party announcement. "I'm glad we didn't keep it simple."
Strands of coloured indoor lights adorned the door frames and room openings with mistletoe hanging near the front door. Other Christmas and Winter pieces were placed on surfaces around the main living areas. On the mantle above the fireplace, a pair of glass snow people on skates and Santa Clause in a wooden sleigh, with the magical bag of toys slung over his shoulder, were placed on either side of a homemade Christmas tree made by Katie when she was seven. The center piece of the decorations was a five-foot Blue Spruce tree in front of the living room window. Modern white lights along with decorations from Katie's childhood and recently purchased items gave the rooms the festive feel they had wanted. The festivness also stirred up emotions in Katie that she still struggled with at times, especially on holiday's.
"It's days like this that are bitter sweet."
Callen pulled her closer to his side and kissed the top of her head knowing her struggles were as real as his. Maybe not as eccentric, but as real.
"Thank you for understanding about waiting until today to announce our engagement. I wanted to tell the world but I needed to tell my mom and Michelle first."
Callen had been very understanding when she mentioned it the night he proposed and then together, they visited both memorial sites that weekend. "I haven't said anything before but I've been to my sister's grave a few times to talk to her."
"It helps, doesn't it?"
"More than I thought it would," Callen replied as he glanced at his watch. "I'll take you there one day."
Katie just nodded because as much as she wanted to be there with him, it was a stark reminder of the loses they shared.
It was time to lighten the mood so Callen mentioned Arkady Kolcheck. "Arkady texted me earlier to confirm he was coming today."
"I can't wait to meet him," Katie said enthusiastically.
"He can take some getting used to Kates."
"I'm sure I'll like him. Any friend of yours, is a friend of mine."
Arkady's eccentric ways and often dry sense of humour had him wondering how she would react. Callen didn't think the distinguished, grey-haired Russian would come to his house for a social event. But he was somewhat pleasantly surprised when the confirmation came.
Callen glanced at his watch. "We have twenty minutes before the first guest should arrive."
Katie had drifted off into her thoughts as she held up her ring. "Diamonds aren't a girl's best friend," she announced.
"What?"
"That song, Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend?"
He nodded.
"I had one best friend growing up."
Callen couldn't relate to that.
"Then I lost her."
Callen could relate to that kind of loss.
"I never thought I would have that same connection with someone again. But I do."
Callen shifted his body to look in to her eyes knowing she meant him.
"It's okay, I know Sam is your best friend."
"Yes he is. I trust him with my life and the lives of the people we work with. But I trust you with everything else."
If that didn't say Katie was Callen's best (non-work related) friend, she didn't know what could.