Five days before Christmas
Charlotte's standing in front of the counter in her bathroom. She studies her hair and straightens the few stubborn pieces. She steps back a little and smoothes down the front of her silver, sparkly, just-above-the-knee dress. She runs a brush through her straight blonde hair and flips the ends in front of her shoulders. She smiles at her reflection and adds a thin layer of lip-gloss and a touch of mascara and eye shadow. She lets out a breath and cleans off the counter. She turns off the light and walks into her bedroom. She sits on the edge of the bed and slips on her black heels. Tonight's the annual Christmas fundraiser for the hospital. She stands up and shuts her bedroom door, checking herself out in the mirror hung behind the door. Perfect. She pulls away the strand of hair that's caught in her lip-gloss and grabs her silver clutch off the dresser. She walks out of her bedroom and leaves her apartment.
Violet and Cooper are sitting in the lobby of the building where the fundraiser is. He's swirling his drink around his glass and Violet's sulking. "Why are we here so early and why am I even here? It's the same thing every year."
"It's good to get out of the house, Vi—have some fun, a drink, listen to some music, hang out with people who aren't mentally unstable."
"That's debatable." She looks up when she sees Charlotte walk through the automatic door. She growls at the blonde.
Charlotte rolls her eyes and continues into the ballroom.
"And this is a fundraiser for St. Ambrose—a fundraiser for Charlotte Cruella King."
"Who cares?" He stands up and pulls on Violet's arm. "Come on, sourpuss. There are appetizers and your drink glass is empty. We're gonna go have some fun before all the boring speeches and auctions start."
She grunts. "You're in a good mood tonight."
"It's free food and drinks and an excuse to leave the house. Besides, there are tons of hot women here. One of them is bound to come home with me tonight." Though he only has his eyes on one.
Violet slaps him. "Is that all you ever think about? Women?"
"No." He pulls her arm. "Come on. Sam, Addison, Naomi, and Pete are in there."
She nods and follows him into the room.
Cooper leaves Violet at the bar and slips next to Charlotte, who's standing at the appetizer table. "Hey."
Charlotte lifts her head and her eyes wander around the room. "May I help you, Dr. Freedman?"
"Oh, come on." He pauses. "Nice dress." He inconspicuously brushes his finger against hers.
She pulls her hand away and swallows. "Thank you."
He leans in and pretends to reach for a mini crab cake but he whispers in her ear. "Come over tonight after this shindig."
She sucks on the inside her lip. "What for?"
"You know what for," he whispers, his eyes bright, and he walks away, brushing his hand against her exposed shoulder blades as he passes.
She swallows and bites the inside of her cheek. He had to go and say that. She closes her eyes for a split second and then rips into her roll. She looks around the room at all the dolled up doctors. She hates these events. Boring speeches, arrogant doctors, dry conversations. She'd rather be at home, but at least there's food and bottomless drinks, and it does bring in significant money for the hospital. If that allows her to keep her position, she'll suck it up for these once in a while events.
Cooper's sitting at a round table with the rest of his colleagues. He's sipping at his beer and looking around the room. He spots Charlotte across the room and he can't help but stare at her. She's in a sparkling, hip-hugging, strapless dress, with her hair just hitting the tops of her shoulders. She looks beautiful, he observes. Her legs, her tight little body, her breasts, she looks incredible.
"Cooper?" Violet says.
He swallows and his eyes follow Charlotte as she moves from table to table making fake-polite conversations with her staff.
"Cooper?" Violet repeats and waves her hand in front of his face.
He blinks and shakes his head. "What?"
"Addison asked if you had plans for the holiday."
"Oh."
"Where are you tonight? You're obviously not at this table." Violet looks around the expansive room. "Who's the lucky woman, Coop? Who's the skank who has your attention tonight?"
He bites his bottom lip and quickly scans the room. "The brunette across the room," he lies.
"No wonder you're staring at her. She's all boobs," Violet says, taking a sip of her drink.
Cooper stands up. "Excuse me."
"You never answered Addison's question, Cooper."
He nods. "Right." He pauses. "No plans. I don't celebrate Christmas, unless I have a real reason to. I'm Jewish, remember?"
"Did you get your secret snowflake gift yet?" Violet asked as a reminder, knowing he probably didn't.
"Crap. We're doing the exchange tomorrow, aren't we?"
Addison nods. "Yes."
"Um. I will be late tomorrow." He laughs and walks away, slipping out of the ballroom and into the lobby.
Charlotte walks out of the ballroom and runs into Cooper as he comes out of the bathroom. "Oh, hello."
Cooper smiles, adjusting his tie. "Hello." He leans back against the wall and looks at her. "I have a proposition."
"I'm listenin'." She normally would just ignore him, but he's smirking at her, so she knows he's got something on his mind that she'd like to hear.
"Sex. Handicapped bathroom. Right now."
She stays silent, as if she's contemplating this. She swallows and looks back at the closed ballroom door. "Give me ten minutes. I have to go to the bathroom and then I have to introduce Dr. Davenport."
"I can wait." He looks around and plants a deep kiss on her soft, pink lips.
She pushes him back and swallows. She adjusts her dress and looks around. "Not here," she says defensively.
"You liked it."
"Did I say I didn't like it? I did like it, but we're in the middle of the hallway, at a benefit for my hospital with all of my staff in the room behind me, not to mention all your nosey coworkers at Oceanside Wellness, where gossip spreads faster than a cold." She pauses. "Now get out of my way." She pushes him to the side and walks into the women's restroom.
He smirks and pulls on his suit jacket. Ten minutes. I can wait ten minutes. I definitely wasn't going to last until tonight. He sits on the bench and a few minutes later, he watches as Charlotte walk out of the bathroom, giving him a sultrily look as she opens the double doors and walks back into the ballroom. He swallows and scratches his chin. Damn her.
Cooper pushes Charlotte up against the wall, one hand on her hips, the other one quickly unzipping her dress. His lips are pressed flush against hers. He slides his hand up, her dress bunching, showing more of her leg. He rests his hand on her cheek, his fingers tangled in her hair, and lets out a breath against her lips. He feels her hot breath on his skin as he kisses her.
Charlotte moans, pressing harder against the wall behind her. Her fingers are weaved through and hooked on his pant loops.
He pulls her dress down, exposing her lace, strapless bra. He brushes his hand against her bare her shoulder, her warm skin against his palm causing him to shiver. He pulls her closer to him, yanking down her dress all the way, so it falls into a pile at her feet, and rests his hands on her hips, digging his fingers into her muscles. This beats a boring speech any day.
Their movements slow down, their breathing quickens, and the room falls silent for a minute. She unbuckles his belt and tosses it to the side. She hastily unbuttons his shirt, practically ripping it open, and takes off his jacket and shirt, dropping them on the floor. She lets out a grunt as she adjusts herself under him. She pushes on his shoulders and flips, so he's against the wall now. She runs her fingers through his hair as she bites on his bottom lip.
His hand wanders up her back, his palm flat against her skin. He kisses to the side of her lips, brushing his lips against her cheek, and then nibbles on her jawbone, just below her right ear. "You need to be in there to introduce someone else?" He whispers.
She rests her palm against his chest and moves his chin so that his lips are aligned with hers again. She leans forward and presses her lips against his. "Dr. Davenport always takes forever." She pauses. "Go quick, but—."
"Don't rush it," he finishes.
She nods, kissing him hard.
He smirks and fiddles with the flap on her bra clasp before unhooking it. He rips off her bra, exposing her breasts, and his hand instantly slides up her torso, brushing his palm against her nipple.
She shivers, biting his lip a little.
"This really beats a boring speech," he mumbles against her lips.
She nods in agreement. "Mmhmm." She lifts her chin and pushes her lips against his more, her tongue grazing the inside of his chin. "Condom?" She asks before they're too far in this to stop.
"Jacket pocket."
She smacks her lips. "A man that's prepared, I like."
He laughs. "Always. Never know when an opportunity will present itself." He pushes her back and steps away from the wall. He looks down at the floor, and they fall to the tile, Cooper pinned under Charlotte as they resume their kissing.
Cooper rejoins his friends and colleagues at the table and takes a sip of his room temperature beer.
Violet raises an eyebrow and looks at him. "Where'd you go?"
"Needed some fresh air."
"Uh-huh," Sam says, raising his hand. "Show me some love."
Cooper high fives him and shifts on his chair.
"Unbelievable," Violet says, shooting Cooper a look.
Pete shakes his head. "Not all that unbelievable." He pauses. "So who was it and is it worth sharing?"
"That brunette that just walked in and oh, yeah, it's share worthy for sure."
Violet stands up, picking up her glass. "I need a drink."
"I'm coming with you," Addison said.
"Me too." Naomi stood up and the women walked away from the three men sitting around the table.
"While we're in here listening to a speech about an addition to the hospital, and listening to the women go on and on about their nonexistent sex lives, you're off doing God knows what with a smoking hot chick," Pete says, bitterly.
Cooper laughs. "I've got game. I'd share if it was transferable." He stands up. "I need another beer. This one's warm and gross." He leaves the table and walks over to the bar.
Four days before Christmas
Cooper, Pete, Sam, Naomi, Addison, and Violet are all gathered around the kitchen table. "Cooper, it's your turn," Addison says, looking at the earrings Violet got her in their Secret Snowflake Exchange.
Cooper hands his wrapped box to Sam. "Merry Christmas, Sammy. Sorry about the whacked wrapping." He laughs.
Sam unwraps the gift and lifts the lid. He pulls out the pair of fuzzy socks and looks at Cooper. "Socks?"
"Hey, I went through a lot of trouble to pick out those socks."
"They have little stethoscopes on them."
Everyone snickers.
Cooper covers his face with his hand and fakes a sniffle. "I put a lot of thought into that gift, Sam. I'm hurt." He grabs the socks. "You don't deserve these socks. It took me forever to decide between the rubber ducky ones and those."
"Thanks, man. I love the socks."
He lifts his head, pulling his hand away from his face. "You do?"
"Yeah."
"Will you wear them right now?" Cooper pauses. "I'm kidding—so who's got a gift for me?"
Addison slides a bag over to him. "I do."
Cooper pulls out the contents and takes a whiff of the cologne. "Now you're making me look bad, Addison."
She laughs. "It smells good, doesn't it?"
"It'll definitely get me laid." Not that I need the help. One text and I'm good to go.
Violet rolls her eyes. "Is that all you ever think about?"
"I'm a man—so yeah." Cooper laughs and sets the bottle of cologne on the counter. He looks at his watch and pushes back from the island. "I have a patient."
"I'm having everyone over for drinks on Christmas Eve, are you in?" Addison asks, putting in her earrings.
"Yeah." Cooper smiles and disappears down the hallway towards his office.
Three days before Christmas
Cooper's sitting on an exam table in the ER when Charlotte walks past his bay. She turns her head and looks at him. "What the hell happened to you?"
He laughs. "Aggressive patient."
"Ouch," she says, seeing the gash and raised bruise above his right eye. "Stitches?"
He nods. "Kid was—."
"Completely off his rocker?"
"Yeah."
"Sucks."
He nods. "So Dr. King, what are your plans for Christmas?"
"I've got a date—."
He blinks.
She rolls her eyes. "With a glass of wine, my fuzzy slippers, and a good book."
"Oh, come on, don't you celebrate anything? Don't you have friends? Family? Anyone?"
"Everybody's got a family. I'd just rather be alone than spend a holiday with my crazy kin."
He laughs. "You can spend it with me."
"I'll pass."
"We can have sex under the mistletoe—mix up the tradition."
She smirks, but quickly shushes him. She walks closer to him and examines his head wound. "Sex is fine," she whispers.
He nods. Guess my holiday won't be boring after all.
"Have fun with the stitches." She laughs and disappears down the hallway.
He smiles and lets out a breath.
Christmas Eve
Cooper's sitting on Addison's couch with a beer in his hand.
Violet's next to him, hugging a pillow. "You have a hot date for tomorrow?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Who is she—what's her screen name?"
"I'm capable of having a date with someone who I didn't meet on the internet."
"Yeah, ok, sure—what's her screen name?"
"Rocketgirl23," he tells her, saying the first thing that popped into his head. "She's into all that frea—."
She holds up her hand. "Eh."
He laughs and takes a sip of his beer. "What are your plans?"
"I was thinking of crashing Alan's and Cami's Christmas party."
"Violet."
"I'm kidding." She pauses. "Addison invited us over for dinner."
"I'd go, but I have plans."
"Rocketgirl23."
He nods.
"I think it's time for you to pick up women the old fashioned way, Coop, 'cause the way you're doing it now, isn't working."
"Who said I wanted it to work?"
"You want kids and wife. I'm your best friend. I know. But you're not gonna find your wife on the internet."
"Tons of people find their soulmates on internet dating sites every day."
"Not the way you do it."
"Point taken—but Rocketgirl23 could be my wife one day and who will be laughing then? Not me, I'll be too busy shagging my extremely hot and freaky wife." He laughs.
She pushes him. "You're disgusting."
"Say what you will." He pauses. "When's the last time you got laid?"
She stays silent.
"Exactly—open your mind, Vi." He finishes his beer and stands up. "I need another beer. You want another drink?"
"No, I'm good."
"Suit yourself." He disappears into the kitchen, setting his empty bottle on the table and grabbing a full one from the refrigerator.
Christmas
Cooper's lying on his bed when there's a knock on his door. He stands up and pads through the living room. He peers through the peephole and quickly opens the door. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too," Charlotte says, playing with the strap of her coat.
"You have a present for me?"
She nods, a smirk on her face. She pushes past him, heading towards the bathroom. She slides the door open and disappears inside.
He follows her and sits on the edge of the bed, facing the door. His pants are getting tighter just thinking about what she's got up her sleeve—or under her coat.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door slowly opens and Charlotte leans against the doorframe, her face turned towards him, her arm crossed over her bare breasts.
His eyes widen as he takes her all in—braless, skimpy little red panties with a rubber, black buckled belt around the waistline, Santa hat. He swallows. "Why, hello there, Mrs. Claus."
She sucks on her nail and watches him sweat and squirm. God she loves seeing him like that. "You been a naughty boy?"
"What do you do to naughty boys?"
"Teach 'em a lesson."
Cooper bites on his bottom lip. "What do you do to nice boys?"
"Cast 'em out to the wind—let Mr. Claus deal with 'em."
"You've seen the list. Am I naughty or nice?"
She slowly walks over to him and leans over him, pressing her lips against his. She breaks the kiss and sucks on her bottom lip. "Does that answer your question?"
He nods, sucking in air.
She nibbles on his earlobe and kisses just below it. "These are crotchless panties, by the way."
He shivers. Holy crap.
She rests her hand on his chest and pushes him back.
He falls onto the mattress and looks up at her. "What are you gonna do to me?"
"Oh you'll see," she teases.
He scoots back to the pillows, his hands shaking a little.
She crawls onto the bed and straddles him. She lowers her head and runs her tongue along his bottom lip. She grazes her teeth against his lip before kissing him.
He rests his hands on her exposed thighs and reciprocates her kisses. He's a little too eager, he realizes, she realizes too.
"Down boy," she says, deepening their kisses.
He can't help it.
Charlotte's tangled in the sheets while Cooper's fishing around in his closet. She angles her head and sits up a little. "What on Earth are you doin' in there? Lookin' for monsters?"
"Looking for your gift."
"Why's it in the closet? And I thought we weren't exchangin' gifts."
"We're not, but I got you something anyway. You don't mind do you?"
"No—well, depends on what it is."
He laughs and pulls the envelope out of his jacket pocket. That's where I put it. I knew it was in one of my pockets. He turns around and crawls back into bed. He hands her the card and leans back on the pillows.
She opens the envelope and reads the card. She rolls her eyes. "These corny cards are gonna get old fast, Coop."
"I can attest to the fact that you did not get a snow job for Christmas," he says, pulling down the sheet and gently sucking her nipple, flicking his tongue over it.
She cringes and sucks in air. "Mine are all real, Skippy."
He backs off and smirks, pushing his lips into hers, mumbling against them.
She pushes him back and takes the extra thing out of the envelope. "A gift certificate to a spa?"
"You're tense all the time. I can feel it in your muscles. It's a package, so you get a facial, massage—the option of it being hot stone or regular—and a manicure or pedicure."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." He takes the card and gift certificate out of her hand and tosses it behind him.
She blinks, letting out a soft laugh. "Ok."
He smirks and kisses her. "Round two?"
She nods and flips on top of him, pressing her lips against his.
I skipped Two days before Christmas on purpose (in case you're wondering if I can count)
Please review :)