Chapter 45

In your eyes, I am complete

"Now I know how Prince Charming felt" Patrick teased as they walked in and out of the rows of trees.

"And how is that?" Robin asked as she trailed her fingers along the pine needles.

"Well, he witnessed the rejection by almost every woman in the kingdom when he tried to get them to fit the shoe left behind and I've witnessed the rejection of almost every tree in this lot."

Playfully slapping his arm, she rolled her eyes. "I don't want just any old mangy tree. All of our friends are coming tomorrow night to help us decorate - it needs to be full and lush - a thing of beauty even."

Chuckling, he shook his head. "I see. So, like everything else you've overanalysed this and have some kind of spreadsheet outlining what constitutes a perfect tree?"

"As if." Dropping his hand, she walked ahead of him to the next row of trees. "It wasn't a spreadsheet," she muttered, "it was a flow chart."

He could not keep the smile from his face as he watched her inspect the trees; snowflakes landed lightly on her lashes, her cheeks were tinged pink and her brown eyes shone brightly. If he had seen a more beautiful sight, he could not remember what it was. She was steady, strong and sexy and he was finally understanding what all the fuss about relationships was about.

During his radiation treatments where he had to lie perfectly still, not even moving a muscle, his mind would run at a rapid pace trying to process as many thoughts at once as he possibly could. Yesterday's treatment had left him wondering how he would be handling this if he were on his own, if he were still in Manhattan - he couldn't conceive of it. He had always prided himself on his independent nature, on his ability to do anything on his own - as he had always done ever since his mother's death and his father's abandonment but Robin was slowly teaching him that it wasn't failure to depend on another person. No matter how difficult or scary things could be, there was always her hand to hold, her lips to kiss, her eyes showing warmth and love - things he had never sought out but now could not live without.

"I found it!" Robin's voice rang out from the depths of the forest of trees.

Grinning, Patrick jogged to where she was, finding her standing proudly beside a large tree, beaming.

"So, this is it?" he asked as he pretended to cast a skeptical glance over her find.

"Yes!" she replied excitedly. "Can't you see how perfect it is? Look at the density of the needles, how full the branches are - what more could we want? It's perfect."

He threw a mischievous look in her direction. "So I don't get a say? You've decided it's perfect and I'm just here as the hired help to carry it?"

Robin shrugged, playing along. "Well, you're welcome to find a tree better than this but that's going to take a while and I was...well it's just that...I'm cold."

"You are?"

"Yes" she nodded. "It happens when I don't wear any underwear. I need to warm up and well...I heard that skin to skin contact is the best way to achieve that." She gave him a playful wink.

"No...no underwear?" Robin shook her head as she smiled. Feeling his throat go dry, he instinctively licked his lips and reached for the tree. "Sold!"

Grunting and groaning, Patrick paused and wiped the perspiration from his brow.

"A little more to the left" Robin coached. "You're almost there baby, you're so close."

Tossing a glare over his shoulder in her direction, he shoved the tree to the left of the window. In the 45 minutes that the tree had been in the apartment, it had fallen over four times and Patrick was quickly losing patience. Holding it, he quirked his eyebrow upwards.

"Your majesty? Does this meet with your approval?"

She nodded. "It's perfect. That way when we get the lights on it, it will be visible from the streets."

"Hallelujah. Now do I get my reward?"

Robin pulled the elastic from her hair and shook her ponytail out. She smiled as she noticed his breath quicken as he watched her silky brown hair cascade over her shoulders. "Hard work deserves a long, hard reward."

Patrick growled as he walked towards her. "Oh it will be hard alright."

"I'm counting on that" she told him as she held her hand out to him.

Linking his fingers through hers, he stretched his body along hers and nipped at her neck, then the soft flesh of her earlobe and along her jaw line, delighting in the way her skin warmed under his touch.

Robin's eyes fluttered closed as he made contact with her. He had a way of touching her with the tips of his fingers, with the whisper of his lips that set her body on fire. She curled her fingers through his thick, dark hair and drew him closer yet. She loved the feel of his body pressed against hers as he hungrily feasted on her skin.

His hands slid under her sweater and came to a stop as they cupped her breasts.

"What?" Robin asked, prying her eyes open.

"You weren't lying" he said huskily, flicking his thumbs across her hardening nipples.

She shook her head. "I would never lie to you."

He buried his face in her neck, sucking gently on the soft, exposed skin as his hands continued to explore her body with abandon. As his fingers slipped past the waistband of her jeans and found their destination, Robin began to writhe underneath him, her hips rising to meet his hand in growing, needful anticipation.

Patrick smiled as he pulled her sweater from her body and tossed it to the floor. He had never lacked for female company and he was very sure of his ability to provide pleasure but he had never known another person's body as well as he knew Robin's. He knew exactly how to bring her to the brink and pull back leaving her begging for more. He knew just how to touch her so that she was ready to jump from her skin in desire. He knew how to kiss her so that her body trembled and her muscles rippled in answer. But Robin knew his body too. She could drive him wild with a look, let alone a touch. Her mouth on his skin made his knees turn to jelly. Her hair splayed across his chest sent his pulse racing. And that filled him with a sense of completion that he had never experienced.

They made quick work of each other's clothes, wrestling to pull off jeans and shirts and tangle their bodies together. They pulled away only long enough for Patrick to sheath himself before they twisted together again.

Despite the issues that surrounded them, they made love freely and without pretense. There were no walls to hide behind, no defences to be raised – it was, in many ways, the greatest honesty they shared as a couple.

As their climaxes crested and Robin's name tore from his lips, the collapsed against the plush cushions of the couch, their bodies covered in a sheen of perspiration.

"God" he panted, "if I had any idea that Christmas tree hunting could be so fun, I would have done this a lot sooner."

Grinning sleepily, Robin kissed the tip of his nose. "Don't you know yet, it's not the activity? It's who you're with."

Nodding in agreement, he stroked her flushed cheek with the back of his fingers. "Damn straight."

Bussing her lips, he rose from the couch and tossed another log on the fire before retrieving the chocolate brown afghan they had kicked to the floor in all their activity. Walking back towards her, he paused, staring at her.

Feeling his eyes on her, Robin shifted on the couch. "What?" she asked as she held her hand out for the blanket.

"You are so beautiful" he whispered.

Her entire body blushed and Robin covered her face with her hands.

Giving her a curious look, Patrick joined her on the couch, wrapping them both in the blanket before pulling her hands to his lap.

"Why do you get all squirmy when I tell you that?"

"I don't" she protested lightly, not quite meeting his eyes.

"Hello? Did you want to try that again? Robin, from the very first time we met, I told you how attractive you are and you always get embarrassed – I don't get it. Do you not know how beautiful you are?"

With reddening cheeks, Robin met his eyes and was momentarily breathless at how filled with love and sincerity they were.

"I know I'm attractive" she told him quietly.

"No" he interrupted. "Not attractive – beautiful, sexy, stunning…"

"When you say that, it doesn't sound like me."

Tipping her chin up towards him, he frowned. "What do you mean it doesn't sound like you? It sounds exactly like you – have you seen you?"

Robin giggled despite herself. "Patrick, I've never been the gorgeous one among my friends – I was cute and smart and fun. My best friend is a model who could stop traffic with a flick of her hair-"

"I've seen pictures of Brenda and while she is a beautiful woman, she has nothing on you."

Snorting, Robin rolled her eyes. "I think you may be biased. I'm not fishing for reassurance Patrick – it's just….you're kind of as enthusiastic about my looks as your about my brain and that's kind of new."

"Who are these idiots that you dated who didn't see you for the heart-stoppingly beautiful woman that you are?"

His arms snaked around her waist as he curled her into his body.

"It's not that men haven't appreciated me Patrick. It's just your….enthusiasm…is a little overwhelming at times."

Nuzzling her neck, he pressed his hips against her. "You have no idea how enthusiastic you make me."

Pushing him back against the couch, Robin straddled him. "Show me" she growled seductively. His eyes danced playfully in response as he reached for her again.

As the tree crashed to the ground for the fifth time, Robin looked over her shoulder and groaned. Patrick turned her head back to him.

"It'll keep – but I won't."