Pressing a hand against the door, she was tempted to close it on him. Immediately, he stuck his hand out and stopped the door. He didn't ask to be invited in but stepped inside anyway. She watched his lips quirk in surprise as he took in the decorations. She felt violated and embarrassed that he was witnessing her private joy. Her arm reached over and rubbed the other self-consciously. She didn't meet his gaz.
Instead, they both watched the flickering lights of the tree.
"Beautiful, Liv..."
Turning to face him, she watched him defiantly, "What do you want? Why are you here?"
He shrugged out of his coat comfortably and took a seat on the couch. She stared at him ludicrously.
"I am breaking tradition."
Her brow creased in confusion, "Excuse me?"
He bent forward and began unlacing his shoes to slip them off, "I am not going to California. Mellie is going to visit her family in Massachusetts. The kids and I are staying here. Well, we're staying in Virginia but we aren't leaving."
She blinked.
He was breaking tradition.
The significance of his words made her throat itch.
"Why are you here," She placed emphasis on the final word.
"I am breaking tradition," He pushed his shoes off his feet.
"I heard you the first time," She sniped.
Standing, he shook his head and smiled wryly. Why was he smiling? Was he making fun of her? She didn't know but she was not going to excuse his behavior. She took a step away but he was faster. In two strides, he was standing before her and grinning impishly. She was growing irritated with his chipper disposition. She understood that he was excited for avoiding the celebrations in California, but what impact did that have on her? Did he want a 'congratulations'? She really couldn't feel that celebratory that he had entered her life twice today and would leave it soon. Hadn't they agreed that permanent separation was best for both of them?
Swallowing, she stared into his bright eyes, which only seemed to grow more beautiful with the soft flickering lights reflecting in them. Her breath hitched as she sadly looked into his eyes. Releasing a shuddering breath, her eyes closed disappointedly when his hand cupped her cheek. His thumb caressed her high cheekbones and she bit her lip. His opposite hand touched her lips. A thumb swept over her lip and tugged it from its hiding place. She sighed painfully, one minute. It was all that she was ever granted. This was her Christmas present to herself –one minute.
She could feel his breath fanning across her lips. He was so close and always so far away. His nose gently bumped hers. When her eyes opened, she was surprised that he hadn't pulled away. It would hurt so much more when he had to. It always did. He merely caressed her face and drew her in. She smiled sorely, how would she pull away after one minute? Although, she knew that a minute had long passed. Finally, her hands came and captured his shirt. Her fingers held his shirt and knitted in the material. Choking on her breath, she opened her mouth to speak to 'ask him to leave, stop hurting her,' but the words never came. He merely shook his head and stopped her. He lowered his lips and chastely kissed her lips silencing her. When she tried to speak again, he kissed her again. He had never kissed her like this before. There wasn't desperation to his kiss. There was a gentle perfection to the tantalizing touch. The pressure against her lips was heartbreakingly perfect. He pulled away slightly after every short press to her mouth. His tongue only hardly touched hers. The tease of his lips brought her closer each time. While their breaths grew heavier which each passing moment, she realized they were sighs of relief, yearning, passion, and… love. The kisses were relaxed and familiar, as if they had all the time in the world. The sighs of usual lust and desperation were currently quelled. Her fingers twisted in his shirt harder.
This was far worse than the latter.
He paused and she caught the smile again.
"Don't smile," She whispered.
"Why," He asked genuinely.
"We have nothing to smile about."
"I have everything to smile about," He countered, "I am breaking tradition."
Sinking his fingers into her hair, he pressed her tightly to his chest but didn't kiss her. She was surprised by the lack of urgency. It was so unusual from their typical trysts. What was he playing at? Pulling away, his grasp remained tight but shifted to her neck and small of her back. The smile still hadn't left his face. She wanted to yell and scream he was leaving her in a few mere hours. It didn't matter if he was in California or Virginia. The distance didn't matter. They would be apart for Christmas. This would be her torture. She would be subjected to days before or after Christmas when all she wanted was simplicity. She wanted to wake to find him in bed on Christmas. She wanted children to unwrap presents with him. While she loved Karen and Jerry, they weren't her children –their children. She wanted his children. She had reviewed adoption agencies and cryobanks but it all came back to the same factor. If they weren't his, she couldn't bring herself to truly want them.
"Mr. President," She reluctantly pulled away.
He grasped her hands and stopped her, "I am breaking tradition, Liv."
She snatched her hands away and asked tersely, "Why do you keep saying that? Are you drunk or having a seizure?"
He grinned and cupped her face, "Maybe both. It seems surreal or unreal. I don't know if I'm going to wake up and realize I dreamed it all. I keep waiting to wake up."
"You're not dreaming," She said firmly.
"Good," He whispered, "Good."
His thumb brushed over her cheek, "I couldn't keep doing it."
Her brow creased curiously, "Doing what?"
His smile grew, "Watching Hallmark and wishing we were a movie."
Unable to help it, she burst out laughing, "That was the worst line ever."
He chuckled and rested his forehead against hers, "Mellie isn't coming back. I sent her to Boston to expedite the divorce. On January 1, I am going to be a single man—"
She gasped and began to speak.
He pecked her lips, "No, sweet baby. You can't talk me out of this."
He smiled, "I am breaking tradition."
She grinned and breathed, "You're breaking tradition."