I wake up and open my eyes just to see these absolutely mesmerizing grey eyes. Christian observes me and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. My mind is blank and I don't say a word but close my eyes and enjoy his soft touch. His finger frees my bottom lip which I was mindlessly biting and his hand wanders to the nape of my neck and pulls me to him. My eyes are still closed as I feel his soft lips brushing against mine. A shiver runs through my whole body and a hushed moan escapes my mouth. He reacts and pushes his lips against mine and gives me this sweet little kiss, which sets my body on fire. Just with his lips. I imagine what he can do with other parts of his body. He doesn't deepen the kiss which makes me even needier, so I grab him by the scruff of the neck and roll him onto me and he ends up between my legs. I wrap my arms around his neck and open my mouth to take out with the tongue tango. He responds to my invitation and we are smooching in a way, which leaves me breathless. His lips shift, roam along my chin to my throat and end up at my suprasternal notch. I toss my head back to give him easy access and bury my hands in his hair. Then my alarm rings and I sigh deeply. "Time to stand up I guess", I say, trying to motivate my ass to move out of bed. Just one more day before my weekend begins is a more motivating thought. Christian grumbles as I make my move out of bed and tries to hold me back making me giggle.
After breakfast I go to work. I've hardly arrived, when Mr. Roach summons me to his office. Today, he is very moody and screams at me. Apparently there are financial problems and there were some wrong decisions in conjunction with some authors. After a screaming fit and after he gives me a pretty big stack of papers, which I have to work on today, I leave his office with a big lump in my throat. On my way to my desk, I run into a wall of muscles.
"Jack!" I shriek, kneel on the floor and pick up my papers, which I dropped. I have to concentrate not to cry.
"Ana? What happened?" Jack asks alarmed. "You look like somebody had cornered you." He kneels on the floor too and helps me gather the papers.
"I was in Mr. Roach's office and … well, today he's a bit off", I whine, trying to avoid the sobs.
"I know, I had my fare share of him today, too", he says sympathetic and we go to my desk. After I put down my workload at my desk, Jack takes my hand and guides me to the kitchen. He makes some tea for me and puts a cup of it in front of me.
"Ana, don't take Roach too seriously today. He has to face some problems, but it's nothing personal. You do a good job!" I smile because I am flattered. I empty my cup and squeeze his hand.
"Thank you very much, Jack!" I say and go back to my desk. I work through my papers and manuscripts and soon I'm in a good workflow and finish my work in time. Shortly before closing time, Jack comes by again.
"Hey Jack!" I say and smile at him.
"Ana! Do you want to join us for a drink after work at the bar? We're all heading to Fifty's across the street", he suggests.
"Yeah, but only for one drink", I say and pack my things. We share an elevator and go down to meet with the others. We go to the bar and I drink a beer. Jack does not leave my side and chats with me the whole time. I can't help but like to chat with him. He's an interesting man with whom you can have easygoing conversations. We discuss our love for literature, in which we have different tastes. I love the classics like Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen, while he favors American literature written after 1950. It's good to have someone who knows about my favorite hobby, to be able to exchange opinions. When this develops further, he has the potential to become a good friend of mine. We will see.
After a tiring day at the publishing world and one beer, I go home. And when I say home, I mean home. Home like in husband, children, house with a fence, just a little puppy is still missing. I go to the living room and find Christian on the couch with a story book in his hands, Andy on his lap and Tommy by his side. He reads them a story and I lean on the doorframe. I think, I'm falling for this moron. I smile and greet my men and smooch my way through and tell them I'm going to the kitchen. Christian stops me before I make it and tells me his plans for the evening.
"I spoke with my father and he's going to take the kids this evening so we are free. He'll bring them back at ten PM. So there is no need to cook dinner", he explains with a shit-eating grin on his face. I get closer to him and wrap my arms around him.
"Any plans for this evening?" I ask him interestedly.
"You know, just the ordinary: wine, dine and sixty-nine", he counters with a serious face. I snort and look at him debating with myself if he is serious. He chuckles, closes my mouth which has dropped open and goes back to the boys on the couch. I need another moment or two to collect myself while willing the butterflies in my belly to stop flying.
I go to the table and drink a glass of wine, which Christian had poured for me while he resumes reading the story. After the end of 'The cat in the hat' Tommy asks:
"Are you going to leave us?" Fuck. What is he doing? I turn around and look at them.
"No, I'm your daddy", Christian answers bewildered.
"Sometimes daddys leave", Tommy says thoughtful.
"Well I suppose that's true, but I'm not going anywhere", Christian reassures him.
"Good!" Tommy stands up and goes upstairs. Christian looks at me with a puzzled look. I shrug my shoulders. As Tommy comes back, he has a sculpture in his hands. From afar I can't recognize what it is.
"Ooh! Is this a present for me?" Christian asks surprised.
"Yes, I made it with two plastic cups and paint and a pipe cleaner", Tommy explains proudly.
"I love this, this is getting a special place in my bedroom", Christian beams and hugs Tommy.
It's a winners cup with '#1 DAD' written on it. I stand up and go to the front door. I need some air so I step outside, closing the door behind me and sit on the same spot as yesterday. Tears are slipping down my face. After some time I see Ray approaching our house. Swiftly, I wipe the tears and greet Ray, who eyes me suspiciously. Suddenly he hugs me tight and whispers in my ear: "One day, everything that hurts us will only be remembered by the good things, the great memories that will always make us smile. Annie, enjoy the ride as long as it lasts and save the memories for later." With that said, he walks inside, collects the kiddos and makes his way to his car. I watch them leave. Christian hugs me from behind and says: "Broccoli, you have to get ready. We have to leave in thirty minutes. There is a dress on the bed." I turn around, look him in the eyes, hug him and go inside to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I go to the bedroom and freeze. Wow, what's that?
A little black dress, black heels, black naughty underwear and some jewelry. This outfit totally screams Kate. I smile. It's been a while since I had a high quality outfit. I put it on and make my way downstairs and another heart attack is waiting in the hall. Christian is dressed in the grey suit, which he will also wear tomorrow at the wedding. He's just rrroooaaarrrr. His gaze roams my body up and down, then he offers me his elbow and says: "Ready?"
"Yes!"
He guides me through the living room towards the back door and I look at him confused. He chuckles at my bewildered expression. In a moment we are at the back door and he stops in front of it. He looks at me anxiously. I have to admit, I have not looked at the back yard in days, so suddenly I'm anxious too. He opens the door and what I see takes my breath away.
Oh. My. Fucking. God. This is the most beautiful back yard I've ever seen! Beginning at the patio, he attached old pairs of jeans to the railing and filled them with earth and plants are growing out of the top of them. It looks so funny. As I go along, I see a path through the back yard, made of slices of a tree. The path goes past the playground for the kids to my little garden. I go along the path and look at the playground. It's unbelievable, what you can do with so-called waste. Christian built a two-story house with the wooden pallets. Next to the house, he built a sandpit, made out of wooden pallets, too. On one of the boards there are stones glued on it in the form of footprints – two big and to small ones. Aaaaaaawwwwwwwww. There are also two giant teecups made out of old tires, that the boys can sit in. In between them, there are nine tiles and stones with x's and o's painted on them to play Tic Tac Toe. And of course, on one of the remaining trees, there's a swing made from another old tire. I turn my eyes away and go to the end of the back yard. There is a spiral herb garden and a container garden along the fence with vegetables in it. On the fence hanging, are some old boots with strawberry plants in them. I giggle. Next to the container gardens, there is a pyramid of tires, filled with plants too and above the pyramid, there are tires hanging on the fence, and of course, there are plants in them, too.
I don't know what to say. No matter how long Christian will stay with us, this is a gift which will last forever. Every fucking time I go in this back yard, I will think of Christian and our time together. Oh how I love it. I did not know how talented he is. Of course, he found the ideas on the web, but the realization is a whole different thing. I make some steps in Christian's direction and tears are falling freely down my face, again. I see Christian smiling, he looks satisfied.
"Oh Christian! I love, love, love it so much. I'm speechless", I say while I wrap my arms around him.
"That's good. I was working my ass off. But it was worth it", he expresses smugly.
A timer beeps and I jump a little in surprise. Christian smiles apologeticly.
"Excuse me!" he says and goes to the door. A few moments later, he returns with a kettle and puts it on a table, which is surrounded by candles and is set with linen napkins and a beautiful, little flower bouquet. He pulls out a chair for me and then sits in the one in front of me.
"I hope, you like it", he says unsurely. "I worked my way through that cook book. It's a chicken gumbo."
"Christian, it will be perfect, just like the spaghetti the other day", I say taking his hand in my hand. He entwines our fingers and pours us both some wine. I enjoy our dinner and can't get that smile off my face. We're talking about all the world and his brother. I like this Christian, I mean when he's open, smart and almost funny. After dinner he stands up and reaches out for my hand. "Come, dessert is going to be served in another place." He helps me stand and pulls me into him. I caress his cheek, give him a sweet little kiss on his mouth and follow him into the house.
We go upstairs to the bathroom, which is filled with scented, lit candles and joss sticks. Next to the bathtub, there is a bottle of wine, two glasses and chocolates. Christian runs us both a bath and looks at me with an inviting smile. "Yes, you can stay, but your clothes must go. I find your lack of nudity disturbing." He steps behind me and zips the dress open. Slowly, his hands roam my body while undressing me. Because of the candles, the room is heated and I'm feeling comfortable. I turn around and begin to unbutton his dress shirt. In doing so, I glance at his scars on his chest and tense a bit. He takes me in his arms, while his hands are looking for the bra clasp and unclasps it while he's kissing my temples. Meanwhile, I unbuckle his belt, open his pants and pull them down. My index finger hooks under the edge of the waistband of his boxer briefs and I pull it a little letting the waistband snap.
"Come on, don't let me do all the work here and join me in the tub", I say, turn around and bend over while pulling my panties down. I think my bare ass is now in great view, because I hear a sharp intake of breath. I smile and climb into the bathtub. I draw up my legs and Christian sits behind me, pulling me into him. Oh how I love this. He takes a sponge and washes me, while feeding me chocolates and refills my glass in between. I lean more into him and enjoy the contact, while he kisses my neck. I like these occasions of body contact. I have a feeling, that this is more intimate than actually having sex, but what do I know. After the sponge has touched every part of my body, I put my glass back, turn around and lie between his legs. I lay my head in the crook of his neck and giggle.
I whisper: "There's a stabbing sensation on my belly."
He chuckles and explains: "That is your own fault!"
I hesitate a moment, but then I take his member in my hand and begin a sensual massage while he groans and caresses my back.
Then I whisper: "Christian?"
"Hmm?" he murmurs abstractedly.
"You don't know how grateful I am. The back yard is such a big and appreciated gift!" I whisper thankfully.
"I'll do anything to see you smile!" he says and raises my chin to be able to kiss me softly.
The kiss quickly becomes hot and steamy and when I can't breathe anymore, I break away and kiss my way down to the object of my desire, in order to let my tongue explore his manhood. Continuing to stroke it, my tongue takes turns swirling around the tip and licking up and down his cock. Christians sounds increase as I take him in my mouth as a whole. I start the final spurt and quicken my pace. Christian immediately reacts and begins to pant furiously. He cums explosively in my mouth and has to grab the rim of the tub. I swallow everything and grin. 'Yeah! I'm still able to do it!', I think to myself and wipe my mouth and stand up, leave the bathtub and put on my bathrobe. Then I grab my clothes and go to our bedroom.
As I put my clothes away, Christian comes into the room and has this satisfied look on his face. I smile and then, I hear the doorbell ring. Christian quickly dresses in his pajamas and goes downstairs to answer the door. I change in pajamas too and soon after, my boys burst into the room. I hug and kiss them and shoo them into their room. After I help them change, Andy decides he wants to celebrate a pajama party in my bed, because now we're all wearing them. I giggle and nod my head. My boys cheer, take some books and run to the bedroom. I tell them, that I'll make some hot chocolates and go downstairs. Christian tidies up the kitchen and I make four cups of cocoa. I tell Christian about the plan and he grumbles: "But right after they are asleep, I carry them to their room and put them in their own beds. I don't want to share you tonight!" I smile, kiss him and slip two cups into his hands. We make our way to our bed and enjoy our cocoa. Then, we all make ourselves at home before Christian starts to read out a book. The kids are such bookworms, just like their mother. I lay there and observe my family while running my fingers through Tommys hair and listening to the adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Eventually, I fall asleep.
First of all I would like to thank ashley . mercer . 16 for beta reading this chapter and doing an awesome job. (Don't forget to check out her Twilight story /s/11208820/1/Isabella-s-Odyssey). Normally, GinnyGinervaWeasley would beta read my story, but after 12 chapters of my crappy writing, she needed a time out for vacation ;D. (Check out her profile, she wrote 18 stories for Harry Potter, Hunger Games and Het Huis Anubis/House of Anubis - /u/2088539/GinnyGinervaWeasley)
If you want to see the garden, visit my pinterest board. You find the link on my profile.
Guest (Apr 26) - I do what I can ;) There are two more updates till the end.
Westie80 - Thanks for your review!
Christian618 - Hold on a little more, soon it's over ;). I think everyone will suffer for a while.
ashley . mercer . 16 - It's ok, you gave me a heart attack, but only for a little while ;). Soon it's over, but yeah, it will definitely be hard for them all, when he'll remember.
emi17 - I'm afraid you'll have to wait and see what will happen. I just can't give anything away yet.
Guest (Apr 27) - If English was my mother tongue, it would be easy to update faster, BUT it's not and trust me, you want to wait until all my beta readers edited my story ;) In the meantime, I give you a virtual glass of whine! (I mean how embarrassing is it to write 'glass of whine' after learning English for 12 years at school! And that was just a funny error ;D!)
Old Soul in Wonderland - Well, welcome back! ;) I have to catch up so many stories as well ugh! I think you are the one and only not looking forward to the end! At least the only reviewer. We will soon find out what happens in the end!
Pielietje - THAT depends, how you all like my end ;).