Part 4
Despite his injury, Jack insisted on taking Samantha's overnight bag and carried in into the bedroom area. She brought in the garbage bags filled with presents and busied herself sitting them around the tree. Placing the gifts was a challenge as Jack had already put so many underneath. Just as Samantha placed the last gifts under the tree, Jack came up behind her and kissed the back of her neck. She smiled when Jack walked over to an old record player and put a record on. The old fashioned sound of the holiday record would have seemed strange anywhere else, but seemed oddly suited to Jack. Samantha was rapidly discovering that Jack was a series of incongruous juxtapositions, a deadly killer capable of great cruelty and a technological genius who at the same time was a gentlemanly romantic and an old-fashioned eccentric.
"Sit with me and tell me about your day," Jack commanded gently, gesturing at a black leather chaise.
"There's not much to tell." Samantha sat beside him and gently curled around him. "Chloe seemed happy and Angel tried to get me to go with her to Maryland. It was strange-"
"How so?" he prompted.
"When I was home with them it seemed surreal. I felt almost as if I was watching myself speak to them and go through the motions. Jack, to be honest in the last two days, the only time things seem real to me anymore when I'm near you," she confessed.
Jack held Samantha tightly, his hands enjoying the contrast of the soft texture of the velvet and the silkiness of her skin. Pleased that she felt their growing closeness and that she was confiding in him, he encouraged her to continue. "Does that disturb you?"
Looking up at him, she responded. "Yes and no. I feel as though reality is slipping away from me and I don't seem to be bothered by it. I guess the not minding is a little disturbing."
"Samantha, your moral compass is realigning. There is nothing to fear, is there?"
Looking into Jack's eyes her concerns faded and she shook her head.
"Embrace the transformation. Embrace your omnipotence. All this time you've fought your very nature and denied your superiority. Samantha, you are so close to realizing your full potential, just let yourself become," Jack instructed sibilantly.
As he spoke, there was a small hint of his madness in the fanatical gleam of his eyes. She found herself aroused by the glimpse of his darker side. "Jack," Samantha sighed and pressed her lips against his intently, as if trying to devour a part of his insanity into herself.
"My Samantha," Jack purred against her. "Everything is going to be perfect, you'll see. We're together at last and having our first Christmas together."
"Yes! Our first Christmas!" Samantha exclaimed excitedly and wriggled off the chaise.
A combination of amused and dismayed, Jack asked, "What ARE you doing darling?"
"I have something I want to give you right now," she informed him, disregarding her dress and crawling on her knees searching through packages.
Jack watched her, reveling in seeing his beloved in such an unguarded and uninhibited moment. She was so intent on her search, she didn't notice as he stood up and walked quietly to his desk. As she searched, Jack popped a fresh video cassette into the video feed to record her revelry a pleasant change from using it to monitor Sharon. Then he picked up his camera bag that held his 35 mm camera and brought it over to the tree and started snapping photos.
"Got it!" Sam declared triumphantly waving a small package in the air. "Jack! What are you doing?!?"
"It's our first Christmas as you pointed out, so I thought it required recording for posterity."
"Are you going to photograph me all day?"
"Probably," he responded and after snapping one last photo, sat the camera down.
Samantha ushered him back to the chaise, despite the joy of the day, she was still very concerned about his leg. "You need to stay off your feet so your leg can heal properly."
Jack made a slight pout and agreed. "Suppose so."
Joining him on the chaise she handed him his gift and placed a hand on his thigh on his uninjured leg. "Besides, the sooner your leg is better, the sooner we can-"
At that, Jack cut her off pulling her tightly against him and plundering her mouth with his. He continued to kiss her hard until she was gasping for breath and whimpering against his mouth. "I think you'll find Samantha, that I am well on the road to recovery."
"Oh God," she moaned as he resumed his assault on her mouth.
Finally Jack withdrew his lips from hers and gave her a wink, "Now shall I open this?"
Open huh? Oh the present, she realized dazedly. Jack's mouth she decided should be registered as a deadly weapon. A blush crossed her face as unintentionally the thought that his oral talents extended to areas other than kissing crossed her mind. Her blush deepened as Jack seemed to read her mind. He brought her hand to his mouth and flicked his tongue against the knuckle on her left ring finger while looking pointedly her lap and then darting his eyes back to her crimson face. Pulling her hand away Samantha fought to regain her composure. "Please do."
"Please do what, Samantha?" Jack provoked.
"Jack!" she groaned in amused exasperation. "Just open it already!" Seeing Jack's eyebrow quirk in amusement, she amended, "The present, open the present."
Having teased his Samantha enough for a little while, he slowly started to unwrap the gift. Inside the paper was a small white box, which he lifted the lid to reveal inside. On a deep green velvet bed was a pewter Christmas ornament. Apparently Samantha had grasped the meaning of his snowmen on the tree and it's tongue-in-cheek Jack Frost meaning. The ornament was a male and female snow couple that was engraved with 'Our First Christmas.' A lump forming in Jack's throat, he pulled himself up with his cane and walked away from Samantha, the ornament clutched in his hand.
Not the reaction she hoped for, she thought as she watched him walk to the smudged windows by his desk. Maybe he thought it was too much, like she was pressuring him for a commitment or something. After all the years he'd spent pursuing her, she though he would be pleased with the gift. Before opening the ornament he'd been all smiles. Sam stood up and walked over to where he was standing. He was stiff as a stone statue, except for the swift turn of his head away from her as she approached.
"Jack?" Sam tried gently. He ignored her and brushed his hand with the ornament over his turned face. "Jack, I didn't mean to upset you. It wasn't meant to make you feel pressured for a commitment or anything. I just thought you might like it. I'm sorry your upset, you can throw it away if you like. Will you look at me damn it!?!"
Slowly Jack turned to her and she saw what he'd been trying to hide from her. There were tears in his eyes. "Like it? Samantha I love it and will treasure it until the day I die."
"Then why?"
"Because," he replied, several tears trailing down his face. "Serial killers don't cry dammit! I didn't want you to see me like this."
"I like seeing you like this," she told him softly and caressed the tears from his face. Finding her own eyes tearing up in empathy and feeling the same overwhelming emotions.
Still distraught at his emotional display, Jack took comfort in Samantha's similar response held her tightly. "Shall we hang this together?"
"I would like that Jack."
The couple clung to one another as they walked to the tree and found a spot for the ornament. Jack decided it should be in a prominent spot that was already occupied, so he pulled off the priceless glass ornament and tossed it carelessly, letting it shatter on the floor near the piano. Happily, with her hand in his, he guided their special ornament to the now empty place on the tree. After admiring the newly placed ornament, they shared a chaste kiss.
Sam pulled the chaise closer to the tree and insisted Jack sit back down. From the new vantage point Jack could admire their ornament. "Feel up to another present?" she asked teasingly. "Or should we wait until after dinner? I should start cooking soon."
"I think I'm up to it. However my Samantha, you aren't cooking anything."
"Jack I appreciate the idea, but I hardly think you're up to standing long enough to cook."
"Wait and see," he informed her with a smile and cast a glance at his watch. It was a little after four, so the delivery should arrive within the hour. Pointing at a package, he told her to open it.
Sam picked up the gift he indicated and sat beside him and opened it, it was a large velvet jewelry case, which she opened to reveal the most exquisite ruby and diamond necklace and earrings she'd ever seen. Even to her untrained eye, she could tell the set easily cost more than most houses did. Samantha gasped, "Jack-"
"Damn, I thought that was the one with the emeralds, I thought they would be pretty with your dress. Try one of the others that's the same size."
Sam's eyes widened as it dawned on her that there were more than half a dozen such packages. The next package yielded a similar set in sapphires. "Jack did you buy out an entire jewelry store?"
"Oh these have been waiting in my safety deposit box since I bought them at Sotheby's last year. There was a special jewelry auction so I popped over to England and picked up a few trinkets for you. Ah yes, I remember the emeralds were in two boxes, I think that one is the necklace. We can try to find the earrings later."
Opening the package Jack instructed her to, Samanatha's breath caught. The latest of the so-called trinkets was the correct package. White diamonds sparkled in a stunning circle to support one enormous tear shaped emerald. As he placed the large gem around her neck, she found her voice, "Jack darling, where am I ever going to wear a zillion carat emerald?"
"The emerald is only a little over 50 carats and you will wear it wherever you wish. Please don't spoil this with protests about money or practicality Samantha. Carefully divided into a lot of dummy corporations I have more money than we could even begin to spend in a hundred lifetimes. I've waited for so long to be able to spoil you. Please Samantha, you don't have to ever wear it in public if you don't wish to but it means so much to see you wearing it here and now." He looked slightly disappointed and hurt as he spoke.
"It's beautiful Jack," she reassured him and kissed him. "I would be proud to wear this and any of the other lovely things you've given me anywhere." He brightened slightly, but still seemed concerned. So she suggested, "Maybe if you're up to it, you can take me and my amazing necklace out for New Year's Eve."
"If you like," he replied cautiously.
Giving him a kiss, she looked at him earnestly and explained her reaction a little further. "Jack, I love the necklace. After all this time of resisting you and us, I feel a little guilty having you give me such lavish gifts."
Satisfied upon hearing the entire truth, Jack smiled and teased, "Well I suppose a little guilt on your part is all right. After all, you did shoot me."
"Jack!" Samantha exclaimed in mock outrage and gently swatted his arm before she and her necklace surrendered to Jack's mouth. After touching his lips to hers, his mouth trailed down her throat, tantalizing her neck with kisses along the edge of the necklace.
An electronic buzzer invaded Jack's explorations noisily. He stood up and walked to the door and spoke into the panel beside it. Satisfied with the response, he pushed a button to give admittance to the building. Several minutes later, he opened the door as half a dozen men arms full made their way into the room. Behind them were two more men struggling with a large fold table.
"Set up near the tree over there," Jack pointed to an open area.
"Of course, Sir." one man answered. Sam watched as with military precision the team of men set up the table and covered it with a long white cloth. The packages the other men were carrying were opened up and serving dishes were laid out on the table. The large banquet table was rapidly filled with a feast that would have easily served ten people. The men left promising to return momentarily with china and the wine and champagne assortment that had been ordered.
"Told you you wouldn't have to cook."
"Jack, you are amazing! But why on earth so much food?"
"I wanted to make certain you didn't have to lift a finger during our holiday and I wanted to make certain I had everything on hand you might crave."
Wrapping her arms around him she whispered as the catering staff reappeared with the rest of the order. "In that case, I appreciate the break from cooking. But as for my cravings, I think those can only be satisfied by you."
When they were alone again, Jack urged Samantha to get a plate as he uncorked a bottle of champagne and poured two crystal stems. He sat his glass down and put on another record before finally picking a few items and placing them on a plate. Wordlessly she took his plate and glass to the chaise for him, so he wouldn't have to balance them along with his cane. He picked up the champagne bottle and joined her. As the sun sank, the place took on a romantic glow from the clear Christmas lights and flickering candles scattered throughout. Samantha smiled as she looked at her plate and her eye caught the sparkle of the huge emerald, money was apparently no object as far as Jack was concerned when it came to seducing a girl.
Jack watched attentively as she ate, refilling her glass before it was empty. When he noticed she didn't like the one type of pasta on her plate, he fed her some of the kind she did from his plate. Since he actually liked both kinds, he allowed her to feed him from her plate. After dinner, he allowed her to make up desert plates for each of them while he broke open another bottle of champagne and reached into the packages under the tree, quietly pocketing a small one. Although the desert plates were completely identical, Jack insisted on feeding Samantha from his and she reciprocated with delight, enjoying the torrent of kisses that fell in between bites of mocha mint cheesecake.
As she laid the plates on the table, Jack lit a cigarette and smoked it nervously. Throughout their afternoon, he had smoked many times and even had to refill the elegant silver case which housed his cigarettes once. Samantha has indulged in a couple and pulled the cigarette from Jack's fingers and took a puff after walking back to the chaise. Sitting beside him as she sipped champagne, she noticed his agitated state. Quietly she watched him go through three cigarettes in a row and watched him drain his glass and refill it several times. Jack was definitely up to something, he brought a small package from the pocket of his robe and he held it looking at it.
"Samantha, I love you. From the first moment I saw you, all my dreams and ambitions have been about you," he handed her the package.
Slowly she began to open it. It was the size of a ring box, the paper tore away to reveal a velvet ring box. Oh God, he's going to propose. Was she ready for this? The game had brought them to a level of intimacy few couples would find in a lifetime. She had broken how many laws finding him when she shot him and did it without thinking twice. Jack told her once her life was on the same path as his there was no turning back and she'd known then he would want to make her his in every conceivable way. Yes, she was ready she thought as she opened the box with a smile. Expecting to see a diamond or other engagement ring sparkling, she felt disappointed and forced herself to maintain her smile as she saw inside the box. The ring was shining gold band of filigree hearts with an a scattering of colored stones; although it was lovely, it didn't look like an engagement ring.
"In Victorian times," Jack instructed her. "Courtship was an artform and men would express their love for a woman through the language of flowers and poetry, as I have throughout our courtship. A man would employ clever puzzles and acrostics to convey their regard throughout their pursuit, just as I always have."
Samantha looked up Jack and found her smile coming naturally again as he mentioned puzzles. There had to be a reason for his impromptu lecture on Victorian courtship and it would be true to form for Jack to make a puzzle out of even their most serious moments. Was that was he had done, had he created a puzzle? Puzzles were the theme of their relationship, how many puzzles had he created for her, even his security code was a puzzle related to her. Anxiously she waited for Jack to continue.
"Diamonds as engagement rings are a modern invention and rarely do modern trappings suit me," Jack told her and mentally she agreed with his sentiment. For a second Jack hesitated, then found his voice again. "In Victorian times a man would offer his beloved a Dearest ring as a betrothal ring. A Dearest ring was a series of stones that the first letter of each stone would spell out acrostically the word Dearest."
Jack rose and carefully got on one knee in front of Samantha. Seeing a flash of pain cross his face as he knelt before her, she felt touched that he was so determined to do everything perfectly. Samantha looked down at the ring again, excitement mounting as she followed the stones in the ring with Jack's next words. "Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz. No jeweler could manage a ring truly worthy of you on such short notice, so I searched through antique stores and found a Dearest ring for you until I can commission a proper ring for you."
"Jack," she breathed softly in anticipation.
"I could speak of my love for you until the end of time and I still wouldn't find words that did justice to the depth of my feelings for you. Your eyes are the only place I can see my true reflection or that I ever wish to. You are the one puzzle I've never been able to solve, let me have a lifetime to solve your mysteries. Marry me Samantha?" Jack half asked and half demanded looking up at her, his face beaming adoringly at her.
"I can't imagine anything more wonderful than to become Mrs. Trades. Yes Jack, I'll marry you," Samantha answered.
His usual composure noticeably absent, Jack trembled slightly as he placed the ring on her finger. Observing his rare moment of vulnerability, Samantha leaned foreword to kiss him and reassure him of her sincerity. At first he returned the kiss cautiously as if uncertain how to proceed, but as Sam thread her fingers through his hair, Jack moved closer as they sealed their engagement. Caught up in the moment, Jack forgot his injured leg and started to push Samantha back onto the couch. The effect was quite seductive until sharp pain coursed through him and he swore loudly.
"Jack, I know what you want, what we both want, but I don't think you're really well enough." Sam soothed after making certain her wounded fiancé hadn't done any irreparable damage.
"I suppose," he replied sulkily.
Samantha groaned inwardly as he pouted. Throughout their game she'd always found Jack's sibilant voice sexy, but now faced with him aroused and pouting he was damn irresistible. The next few days while they waited for his body to heal would be very long for both of them. Carefully Jack stood up and made his way to the Christmas tree, searching intently. As many items remained, it could take days to get them all opened. Jack walked slowly back to Samantha and handed her an envelope that has 'Sam' scrawled on it. Even now that they were together he seemed to prefer calling her Samantha, but used Sam in writing. She opened the envelope and pulled out folded sheet of paper and read it while Jack sat down beside her.
"You son of a bitch!!" Sam laughed. "Lessons at the firing range!"
"I just wanted to make certain you hit what you aim at next time."
Pretending to be offended, she retorted, "Next time I shoot you it will be intentional!"
"Will it?" Jack asked seductively and drew her close to him. Slowly and deliberately he trailed kisses down her neck and to the swell of her breasts above the fabric of her dress, pausing to taunt her. "If you wish to hurt me, I can think of far better ways for you to do so that wouldn't force me to deny you the pleasure of my body."
Jack pushed Samantha onto her back on the chaise, taking care to place his weight on his good leg as he moved on top of her. Breathing against her mouth, he demanded, "Do you really wish to hurt me Samantha? Do you?"
Whimpering slightly, she panted, "No. Never ever again Jack. Even if you hurt me, I'll never hurt you again."
Wanting to test her, he decided to push a little. Jack grabbed her wrists and pushed her arms over her head. Though it was a strain in his injured state, he ground against her slightly and kissed her with savage intensity. Lifting his face from hers he stared down at her, all polite veneer gone as he growled. "I am death to many who cross my path, but I would die before hurting you. Do you understand, my Samantha?"
"Yes." She quivered underneath him. On some level she knew he was trying to frighten her by showing her the darkest part of him. The barely restrained power with which he held her still, even injured was damn impressive. But rather than feel alarmed, Sam felt aroused by Jack's display. Didn't he understand, she really did love and want all of him?
"Samantha," he murmured staring into her eyes. Though he would never admit to it, he longed for her to reassure him.
Sensing what Jack needed, she arched against him. "If you're trying to scare me, it won't work Jack. I love and want every part of you. Did you think I would be afraid because you're a killer?"
Releasing his grip from her wrists, he reluctantly answered, "Maybe."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her. Tracing around the two piercings on his earlobe, she confessed. "After all the crime scenes you created and after all the people you killed that were close to me, I should hate and fear you. But I can't. Even before I knew I loved you I could never bring myself to hate you, no matter what you did. Maybe we're both insane because God help me, but I want you Jack. I look back on all you've done and all your capable of, not with revulsion but admiration for your artistry and stronger desire than I ever had for the husband you killed."
"Samantha!" Jack exclaimed in ecstasy and allowed her to pull his mouth down to hers.
When he finally pulled his face back to study hers, he took her newly engaged hand and kissed it tenderly. Jack sat down beside her again and offered his hand to help her upright. Sam poured more champagne for them while Jack lit a cigarette. After accepting a puff when he offered it to her, she grabbed a couple gifts for them to open. More jewelry joined Samantha's pile along with a Rolex watch, several first edition books, and a pair of mother of pearl opera glasses with a small scattering of diamonds. Jack grinned gleefully as he opened an ornate silver dagger with a wicked looking blade, followed by a silver flask that had a ring of silver roses decorating the top part and a pair of white sandwashed silk pajama pants. They took a brief break in their celebration so she could put the food away and he could change into his new pajama pants.
Jack returned to the living room in his new pajama pants, which she immediately decided were worth every cent and more. Pulling away from thoughts of Jack's well defined masculinity, Samantha opened a mink coat, which Jack told her was turn of the century so the minks had be sacrificed decades ago. She had to laugh, Jack though nothing of killing human beings, but worried for the welfare of animals. Looking back she decided she shouldn't be surprised, after all Jack merely locked a guard dog up when he killed a man by breaking his back last year. Ah the idiosyncrasies of her Jack. After several more gifts, Samantha stifled a slight yawn. It wasn't that it was so late, it was only ten, but after recent events and excitement, her energy was down.
"Tired, my Samantha?"
"No," she protested. Even though she was, she didn't want the day to end.
"Samantha, you may lie to anyone else, but not to me. I think you'll open one last gift and then we'll go to bed."
"All right, which one shall I open?"
Jack pointed to a box and she started to open it. Inside was a box from Victoria's Secret that had more than twenty gift cards taped to it. Noticing the quizzical look on her face, Jack explained that they had a $500 limit per card so he had to buy her a lot of small ones instead of one good sized card. Sam smiled with feminine delight as she imagined all the lovely bits of naughtiness she would purchase, and refrained from mentioning that she would likely buy out the entire Atlanta store and still have cards left. After accidentally hurting Jack's feelings earlier, Samantha vowed she would never show anything but delight over any gift her ever gave her.
Opening the box, she gasped, "Oh Jack!" Wrapped in tissue paper was the most amazing satin nightgown and chiffon robe she'd ever imagined. White, frothy and utterly feminine, the peignoir set was exquisite. "I've never owned such a beautiful nightgown before."
"Put it on," he suggested. "Change in the bathroom while I turn down the lights."
In the bathroom, Samantha hesitated as she changed. The gown while long enough to sweep her ankles, left a lot of cleavage exposed. It wasn't that she didn't want Jack to see her like this, but there had been a lot of sexual tension in the air. All evening long, she'd reminded herself over and over that he was injured and that even if he could manage the pain for tonight that it would delay his recovery in the long run. Samantha told herself she was marrying Jack and that they had a lifetime ahead of them, but God in heaven he looked sexy in the pajama pants she'd purchased. She brushed her hair out and started to put the sheer robe on, but stopped as she caught sight of herself in the mirror, the line of the gown was ruined by the line of her panties. Contemplating the wisdom of flirting further with danger she removed them, added the robe and walked into the bedroom area.
Jack had turned out all the lights but the Christmas and computer lights and had lit several candles around the bed. Gone was the Christmas music on and in it's place was something very old and romantic, she didn't recognize. Lounging on the bed, Jack looked up at her and smiled, his even white teeth gleaming in the candlelight. Suddenly shy, Samantha cast her eyes down as she removed the robe and walked to the bed.
"Who is it? The music I mean."
"The singer is Nina Simone, the song is 'I Put A Spell On You.' I've longed to dance with you to it, but I fear that will have to wait until a later date."
Jack reached out to Samantha and she decided he knew a thing or two about spells himself. As their lips met, she smelled the faint scent of fresh smoke on his hair with it's trace of roses from his custom blended tobacco and she could also detect the sandalwood scent of his cologne. His hands skimmed along her curves gently as he teased her mouth with his. A moan escaped her as he drew her against his sinewy body and his hand found it's way to her breast then pulled back. Jack took the strap of her gown in his fingers and slowly pulled it down exposing her taut nipples to the air.
"So beautiful," he whispered against her neck, his hand cupping her breast as his thumb teased the rosy peak.
Samantha kissed him and ran her fingertips from his chest to his stomach. Enjoying the feel of his hands on her, she moved closer still to make his explorations easier. As Jack replaced his hand on her breast with his mouth, he moved his hand to the swell of her hip. His breath quickened and he groaned as Samantha brushed him her thigh she pressed against his arousal that strained against the thin layers of silk between them. She reached down and caressed his erection, then stopped because they were getting so carried away.
"Jack-"
"Hhmm?" he smiled up sensually from her aching breasts.
"I want you, I really do. In fact I've never wanted anything more but we have to stop," Sam explained wistfully. She really didn't want to stop, but for his sake they had to.
Jack lifted his mouth to Samantha's and kissed her intensely, cutting off her protests as he took her hand in his and guided it to his hardness. Unable to resist, she started slowly stroking him through the silk pajamas. Satisfied by Sam's lack of resistance, Jack removed his hand from hers and gently tweaked her nipples. Through the silk she could feel his growing passion and she whimpered into his mouth. Shifting uncomfortably, her excitement mounted until she was aching for release.
Pulling his mouth from hers, Jack said, "I can't make love to you the way I want to, my Samantha."
Reluctantly she ceased her caresses below his waist, despite the intensity of her need, she replied, "I understand."
Jack chuckled slightly and pulled the skirt of her nightgown upwards. "I may not be be able to make love to the way I wish to, but I did think we might relieve some tension."
"Please." she begged, allowing him to guide her hand to the waistband of his pajamas.
His mouth sought hers as his fingers sought out her wetness...
Author's Note: Yes I know an evil place to stop, but at least Jack made one heck of a marriage proposal. I stopped here because I think the next part of this is going to have to be posted on my site when I launch it because it moves beyond an R rating. Am creating artwork for the site and have gotten permission from Skewers Melanie-Anne and Robin to include some of their work on the site. Hope to launch soon, will keep you updated. As always reviews are appreciated.