Chapter Sixteen
Christmas
Part One
She waited anxiously for morning, tossing and turning. She repeatedly glanced over at Grant to make sure she hadn't woken him with her jitteriness. She had moved into his room, but still kept her old one with most of her stuff. However, day by day more and more of her belongings took up residence in his dressers and closet. He hadn't said anything so she assumed it was ok with him that she was barging into his personal space.
She rolled onto her side, facing his sleeping form. She studied his chestnut hair and strong bone structure. He wasn't a "hunk" or "superstar gorgeous", but he was ruggedly handsome and undeniably attractive.
She gently ran the tip of her finger along his nose, but yanked it back when he stirred. Smiling, she did it again, but this time without any results. Disappointed, but not dissuaded, she caressed her fingertips along his side. He jerked, his eyes fluttering open. "That tickles," he mumbled. He shifted until he was on back, his eyes closed once again. Ellie scooted over, draping half her body over his and traced lazy circles along his chest. He held her tighter, dropping a drowsy kiss in her hair. "Go back to sleep, Ellie."
"I can't," she whispered. "I'm too wired."
Alan groaned, prying his eyes half-open to stare down at her wearily. "Ellie, did you sleep at all?"
"A few minutes here and there." She tapped her fingers up and down his abdomen. "But I can't help it. Christmas has always gotten me too excited to sleep. I know I'm a grown woman now, but the enthusiasm is still there." She casually allowed her hand to wander lower and she smirked at his quick intake of breath. "Don't you want to pass the time with me?"
"So now I'm just a convenient object you can play with to pass the time?" he joked, sleep still calling for his attention. He yawned and his eyelids drifted shut. "Besides, we already did it three times tonight. Your stamina can't possibly be that high."
Ellie sighed. "You're right. But I need to do something. Can't we just get up now?"
Alan growled in the back of his throat, rolling his back to her. "It's not even dawn, yet, Ellie." He felt her snuggle up to his back and felt the urge to sigh in relief. He was dead tired from their sex marathon and just wanted to sleep the morning away. Yet, he could appreciate her excitement. "Give me another hour or two then I promise we can go open presents."
"Deal."
Part Two
There was an insistent shaking and Grant moaned when he realized it was Ellie jarring him awake. He tried to ignore her, but she wouldn't have it. "Alan, I let you sleep two hours precisely. Now get up. I even made your favorite breakfast."
He groaned and pulled him self up, glaring at the clock. It read 5:30AM. He sighed, lifting himself from the bed and shuffling after her into the living room. She had talked him into setting up a small artificial tree (he had flat out refused a real one) and it's twinkling lights now blinked at him as he strolled over and plopped himself down on the couch beside it.
Ellie disappeared into the kitchenette and returned with two plates piled high with Italian sausage, scrambled eggs made with cheese, and rye toast. He accepted the offer gratefully and dug into his meal. He would've eaten burnt rubber at the moment: his body desperately needing to refuel from their festivities last night. When they were finished, Alan washed the dishes while Ellie dried and put away. Stumbling back into the living room, Ellie dropped herself on the floor beside the tree. "Come sit next to me, Alan."
Grant settled himself beside her and couldn't help but grin at her. "You're adorable when you're being childish."
She ignored him and instead handed him a green wrapped gift. "I searched high and low for this. I hope you like it."
Grant paused then, tentatively tore open the present. He lifted the lid of the box and chuckled. Inside was a cowboy hat; much like the one he had lost in the accident. For some odd reason, he had never gotten around to replacing his missing hat. Alan glanced up at Ellie's pleased face and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Thank you, Ellie. I couldn't ask for a better gift." He set the hat on his head and smiled. "Perfect."
They continued swapping gifts until all had been unwrapped, the paper strewn across the room. Ellie gave him a final kiss of thanks before standing up and collecting the torn up wrapping paper. Alan vanished into another room and her back was turned to him when he entered with a rather large gift. He set it on the end table and waited until she noticed it on her own.
Ellie turned around, looking for more mess to clean up when her eyes fell on the gift. It was huge and not wrapped, but draped over with a blanket. She glanced in awe at Grant before approaching the gift. She lifted up the cover and gasped, glancing wildly at Grant. "Oh my god!" She peered into the cage at the parrot. "How did you know I've always wanted one?"
Grant shrugged. "I have my ways."
She lunged herself at him, dropping the pile of paper she had picked up, and kissed him passionately. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She pushed him onto the couch and continued her assault. "It must of cost you a fortune. That is an Amazon Yellow Naped Parrot and it costs roughly nine hundred fifty dollars!"
"I know," Grant laughed. "I searched all kinds of parrots and that is supposed to be the most talented – and largest – of all the Amazon parrots."
Ellie gazed into his eyes, her own welling with tears. "I love you so much, Alan. I can't believe you spent over a thousand dollars on me." Alan was always griping about the lack of funding and the constant rise in bills. To buy a parrot, cage, and supplies would have painfully dented his wallet.
Alan shrugged. "Just don't expect a birthday gift," he teased in mock seriousness.
"I won't," she retorted sincerely. "I don't think I could even accept anything else from you." She kissed him deeply while pulling down his boxers. "Now let me thank you."
End Chapter Sixteen
I don't know crap about parrots so I could be wrong about the parrot she had in JPIII. But, hey, they're both green. And the Amazon Yellow Naped really is the most talkative, playful, silly Amazon parrot. And it really does cost $950 according to the website I found: www.junglenest.com