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Chapter 17

Love is in the air

Tris' POV

It has been a long day filled with beds to be made, bathrooms to be cleaned and countless errands to be run. All of which has participated in keeping both Tobias and I apart. I did see a quick glance of him this morning out of one of the windows I was cleaning. It looked as if he was attempting to help my father cut up some wood logs for our guests' cabins. I both appreciated and admired him for it. Caleb is supposed to be in charge of the task, knowing dads back just can't handle the stress of the ax, but for one reason or another he was unable to do so this morning.

I admit that I stared longer than I probably should have. I just couldn't bring myself to look away. His arms, although hidden away in all those layers, looked so strong. His smile as he and my dad spoke was breathtaking.

Ever since our date last night I have been dying to get close to him all day. But like I said… Obligations took precedence over my love life. All night and day, I couldn't get last night's date out of my head. The twinkling lights, the delicious food and desserts, the fireplace, the candles, even the wine was all an added bonus to the night we shared together. For the first time in such a long time I didn't want it to end.

I can still feel the zing that ran through me every time we touched. No matter how gentle or innocent the touch was I felt as if a bolt of lightning was rushing through his touch and up towards my heart. Even our kiss was beyond anything I have ever experienced before. The feelings of his full lips against mine, the taste of his tongue, the feeling of his hard body pressed against mine…. Had me tossing and turning in my bed all night long.

All night I have been hoping and wishing to somehow bump into him. But I have had no luck with the sudden extra chores and errands. Christina and a few other guests even needed a lift into town for last minute gifts. How can I be the one to say no to that, when there is no one else to do it?

By the end of the night, when all the guests were all talked out, full and headed back to their rooms or cabins I had been contemplating on this moment. Whether or not this would be a good idea or something that made me look too desperate. But I guess the pull I have been feeling towards Tobias runs too deep to ignore. If it was, I wouldn't be standing here with a tray full of hot cocoa mugs and cookies outside of Tobias' door.

I take a deep breath as I balance the tray with my left hand, as my right hand lifts to knock on the door. Is this a good idea? It's so late, but his light is still on. Perhaps he wouldn't mind some company with a little midnight snack to help. But-

"Hey, it's late. Are you okay?" Tobias asks, swinging the door open. My mouth waters at the sight before me. I almost forgot the tray in my hand, as my eyes are glued to his muscular arms. Tobias is wearing a white sleeveless tank top and black sweatpants. It should be illegal for a man to look this good in sweats.

"Um. Yeah…" I stutter, I pause for a moment clearing both my throat and my mind. "I'm sorry." I finally got out, "I saw your light on and I thought since we were both awake maybe we could use a midnight treat," I explained holding up the tray. I see the smallest amount of hesitation in his eyes, before it turns into a smile. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe this was all in my head.

"A midnight snack.. Huh?" What did you bring?" He asks, curiously as his right eyebrow lifts.

"My mother's famous hot cocoa and I happened to snatch a few of her cookies," I say, showing the tray of goodies.

"Sounds too good to turn down…" He says, stepping back and holding the door a little wider for me to come in. I smile, shrugging off the doubt that I felt and make my way inside the room.

Unlike Uriah and many of the other guests Tobias seems to be one of the neatest guests I have ever seen before. Other than a few personal items such as his luggage and laptop…You would never think this place was even touched. The bed is well made, the towels are folded, even the pillows have been fluffed. I'm impressed.

Tobias' POV

"I'm sorry he is right… One day of Christmas is more than I need," I burst out. Unable to agree with the character Brady on screen. I admit I just about cringed when Tris suggested I watch a Christmas Hallmark movie on TV. I mean isn't it enough having all this Christmas around you as it is… Do you need to add to it? I could really go for some old fashion murders right now. Like Halloween or Friday, the 13th. But I admit this movie is pretty intriguing, given my similar circumstances.

"Oh, come on… How can you possibly think that one day…. 24 hours can be enough to enjoy the real meaning of Christmas?" Tris protests.

"Because the whole point of Christmas is to give things to someone that they obviously don't need… Spend way too much money that most people can't afford… to only end up having to spend time with those people out of obligation," I begin explaining my side. "I mean the only true upside to it all is the food."

"What about everything that comes with it?" She asks. I lift an eyebrow wondering what she could possibly be getting to.

"You know all the little things that lead to the big moment… The excitement of getting the Christmas tree and trimming it, the music and the lights…" She continues, the twinkle in her blue gray eyes only gets that much brighter.

"You mean all those annoying little things that have to get done?" I ask.

"They don't HAVE to get done... They are fun to do. You just haven't been doing it right all these years." She says, smiling.

"Oh, I haven't… Have I?" I ask. "And how have I been doing them wrong all these years then?" I ask, leaning into her. I take a deep breath of her delicious scent.

"You haven't had me by your side." She points out, glancing down at my lips. It's all the invitation I need. I lean in further, crashing my lips firmly with hers, letting them form around each other. I love the taste of her so much, I want more. I need more. My right hand holds her head firmly, exactly where I want her. I look for every possible sign that she might not like or want this… but if there is she doesn't give off the signs. If anything, her body and moans tells me that she wants more just as much as I do. Our lips finally break from each other when I feel the fabric of my tank top slowly raise up my body and over my head. Talk about who makes the first move. I lean back in, needing more of her when she pulls back. The finger of her right hand slowly traces the tip of the flames of my tattoo that sits just above my collarbone.

"Do you want to see my tattoo?" I ask, turning around without even thinking. I quickly realize how comfortable I am around this woman. It's one other thing that surprises me about her. I'm normally not so comfortable around women, even those that I'm physical with.

I gasp at the sudden sensation of her finger tracing the first circle nearest to my neck. Her finger so lightly tracing over each flame. Then she slowly goes down to the next circle beneath it, she traces the hands that are jointed lightly. I swallow hard past the lump in my throat. I have never felt anything like this, as if each touch, each stroke with her finger sends jolts of electricity to my heart and groin. I clear my throat, hoping to somehow clear my sudden foggy mind.

"These symbols… they're gorgeous. Why do you have so many?" Tris asks, softly.

"It's a reminder to myself to never be just one thing… I want to be brave, selfless, honest, intelligent and kind." As I call out each meaning, I feel her hand fall upon the symbol. When her hand falls on the last symbol for kind I can no longer take the distance between us anymore, I turn around taking her into my arms before I confess one last thing…"Although I'm still working on kind," I say just before I crash my lips against hers, taking her, tasting her and needing her.