By the time CC was well-rested, she opened her eyes to the brilliant sunlight peeking in between the cream-colored blinds that were left partially opened. She languidly stretched her arms and took in her surroundings. Niles was nowhere in sight but the memory of their first night replayed vividly in her head, making her blush as a giddy smile crept at the corners of her rose-colored lips.
She lost count how many times Niles had roused her from her sleep with his sweet caress and hungry kisses, wanting to make love again. She would always let him. She can't deny him anything, specially when his expert kisses knew how to ignite the fire within her, and just after each time they made love, she would wearily fall asleep, only to be awaken again once Niles believed she had been given adequate rest.
How she loved how his lips and tongue and hands worshiped every part of her. How her heart soared with all the praises and sweet nothings he whispered in her ear each time he connected his body with hers through the ferocious thrusts of his enormous shaft inside her.
He was extremely gentle and patient the first two times they made love, but the third time, CC could feel his touch and his kisses have become hungrier, and once he felt CC responded with equal fervor to his love making, he gradually increased the tempo until by the last one just before Niles let her sleep she thought he was going to rip her apart. Yet, each one felt more magical and wonderful than the last. She didn't know if it was because each time they made love, she felt herself getting closer and closer to Niles… and falling harder and harder that by the last time Niles exploded inside her semi-conscious body she sighed "I love you, Niles".
Perhaps it was all Niles needed to hear or it was enough to satiate the hunger in him that he kissed her tenderly before gathering her in his arms to let her finally get a good night sleep.
"What's that big smile, sweetheart?"
Niles came in a few minutes after she had awaken and rolled on the bed, remembering their first time the previous night.
Too embarrassed to reply, she just flashed him a shy smile. Niles slid beside her on the bed and kissed her temple.
"How are you feeling?"
"Happy… but…"
"…a little sore?" asked Niles with sweet understanding.
"Lie down for a while, darling. Let me sooth that tenderness," he said, pushing her back down on her back that for a moment CC though he was going to touch her again but to her relief and disappointment he had a cold wet towel with him, and he pressed it gently between her thighs.
She involuntarily sighed with pleasure.
"That feels better doesn't it, love?" he said.
After a few minutes he wiped the traces of their lovemaking between her thighs and kissed her.
"I made you breakfast."
Niles gave her a quick peck on the forehead before placing the breakfast tray table in front of her. Finding the beautiful blond sprawled on his bed beside him upon waking up early that morning, he wanted to pinch himself to make sure he was not dreaming. Vision of her in his arms, sharing his bed plagued his dreams over the years and now it had become a reality.
CC almost asked why he had left her alone? She wanted a hug. She should have a hug after he had worn her out last night but caught herself before blurting it out. She didn't want to appear needy.
As though reading her thoughts, Niles sat beside her on the bed and snuggled close, pulling her to nestle on his chest as his snaked arms around her.
"First I find you smiling then your face is all red?" He kissed her temple affectionately.
Her blush deepened, unable to find the words. Niles was amused and hugged her tighter. He had never seen a tongue-tied, embarrassed CC in their whole thirteen years of knowing each other. CC did not know the word embarrassment, not even when she unknowingly online dated Brighton Sheffield, or when she paraded down the block to her car with her black dress up, giving people a peek of her undergarments or when she mistakenly spoke ill about a backer whom she didn't know was actually the person she was conversing with.
Caught in an embarrassing situation, CC was either haughty, indignant or unbothered. It fascinating to see a different behavior.
"It's a lovely meal but it's too much. I can't even finish half of them," said CC, changing the subject.
Feeding Niles a slice of an apple to shut him up before taking a bite for herself but Niles was relentless. He smiled sweetly as he chewed his apple.
"CC you should eat more than usual. You got to regain your strength," he said with a glint in his eyes, kissing thee side of her face.
"Niles! Stop teasing me!"
He chuckled, embracing her tighter.
"Sorry, can't help it… Oh, CC, you made me so happy."
"How did I do for the first night?" she asked without a tinge of bashfulness, a giddy smile on her face.
"You did splendidly, my love," he said kissing her temple without releasing her from his embrace.
"Really?! Then you wouldn't mind if we do it again tonight?" she asked.
"Why wait tonight?" he teased.
"Niles! Not now! Tonight," she insisted with a big smile.
"You know I can't deny you anything," replied Niles.
A few minutes after they have shared breakfast, Niles left the back room with the breakfast tray table, CC felt fully awake. Ignoring the tenderness between her thighs, she slid out of bed searching for her dress and panties that were nowhere to be found. She caught sight of Niles' old Oxford debate team shirt and slid it over her head, thankful it was long enough to cover her until her mid-thigh. The faint scent of Niles that clung to the shirt brought a smile to her face. It felt like she was still surrounded by his strong arms.
Her foot groped for her bedroom slippers but couldn't seem to find it. Begrudgingly she bent a little beside the bed in search of the elusive purple, fluffy slippers and to her horror, she noticed little specks of blood stains on Niles' bed sheets, the sign of her virginity. Her cold feet slipped into the fluffy footwear she found underneath the bed and dashed out of the room, taking the offensive sheet with her. She didn't need blatant proof that they made love, that she had given herself to the man she loved.
She ran down the laundry room, careful not to trip on the three small steps leading down to it from the dirty kitchen. She eyed the numerous buttons on the machine, trying to decipher the logical way to operate it, hitting the top of the machine with her palm in frustration when she didn't know what comes after the ON button.
"You are one unreasonable woman, Martha!"
CC heard Edward's frustrated tone from the laundry room. They must be back from visiting friends and relatives.
"Niles is forty-two. Let him decide for himself. If he doesn't want Kate, then he doesn't want her. If he wants CC, let him have CC. It doesn't need any explanation. The heart wants what the heart wants. Of all the people, you as his mother, should be the one to understand and support him in all his decisions. Give him some credit…"
Beads of perspiration formed on CC's forehead. She shouldn't be right in the middle of this argument, but she had no other exit except under their noses.
"Don't contradict me. I'm his mother. I know what's best for him. I will not let him fall for this American bimbo who has not the least bit notion how to love and care for him. For heaven's sake did she expect my son to wait on her hand and foot. She needs a butler, not a husband," retorted Marcia.
Even before she heard Niles's voice interrupting his parents' argument, CC recognized his presence nearby. The pleasant smell of his cool water aftershave and perfume penetrated the air.
"I can't believe my own mother would so much as insult me. You think I'm not someone a woman like CC can fall in love with?"
His voice was strained, trying to keep his temper intact.
Marcia's voice was earnest, almost pleading as she persuaded her son to see things her way.
"No! I don't mean that…"
"Then what do you mean, mother?" continued Niles, his voice louder and fiercer, CC could tell he had closed his distance to his mother.
"We visited Kate. She told us what you said. She was very hurt ad upset… Listen, Niles, Kate is the best woman for you. She's beautiful, she can cook and bake, keep house, sew and knit… She can take care of you, Niles. Not like CC…"
Niles sniggered. "She sounds just like you, mother."
"I don't need another mother. I already have one…" continued Niles bitterly.
"Most of all she loves you, Niles," cried her mother.
"But Kate won't make me happy, mother. CC does… just by her mere presence she does. Before you judge her, get to know her. She's not some bimbo! She's as beautiful as she is clever. Yes, her family has more money than she can spend but she chose to work rather than depend on family fortune, and she's got a flourishing career as a producer in the theater industry. She can't cook…"
CC wanted to butt in that she could fry an egg and toast a bread and that constitutes cooking but hearing the impassioned note in Niles' voice she decided against it.
"…she can't knit and keep house…but it doesn't matter to me. We have the same cerebral wavelength and that for me is more interesting than the traits you enumerated, mother. Those things you say CC lacks, I can make up for… and for what it's worth, what I lack, she makes up for. We fit perfectly like hand and glove…"
With Niles's last statement she choked, gasping for air and went to little fits of cough…god her head was in the gutter their frenzied love making flashed in her head; How from protesting he was too big to realizing their bodies fit perfectly well.
She gasped in horror knowing they must have heard her bouts of cough, consequently bumping into the washing machine's spin button by accident. The machine protested in a loud ruckus from spinning the heavy material of the bedsheet without water. CC gave out a little shriek.
Niles was first to burst in the laundry room, followed by his parents.
Niles first caught sight of her less than appropriate outfit, and then the terrified expression on her face. His large college shirt still covered all the essential parts of her, but with her dazed expression, a college ring dangling around her neck, tousled golden hair and bruised red lips from his constant onslaught, she looked like the cheerleader that spent the night at her boyfriend's fraternity house.
It amused him, and undeniably pleased him, that the vision she displayed had not been a part of her University Days; Unfamiliar with the sport of sneaking (to which Fran is privy to in her teenage years), it didn't occur to CC she strutted the tell-tale signs of their torrid night of what should be a covert lovemaking.
The wild bumping noises from the machines ceased as soon as Niles hit the OFF button to silence it.
"I…I was trying to wash some sheets. I don't know what happened. I'm sorry," she explained.
Niles gathered her in his arms protectively, kissing her head to calm her terrified expression.
"It's alright, darling. Nothing to worry about. I'll take care of it later…"
"No…"
Niles lifted an eyebrow in surprise at her protest.
"I mean I can do it myself if you would just tell me which button to push. I didn't destroy it, did I," she said in a calmer tone.
Niles checked what the problem was and discovered there was no water and soap on the machine.
"I'm sure it's fine, you just forgot to put some water…"
Niles caught her mother snigger.
"I'll take care of it later. Let's get you inside the room so we can find you something better to wear," he said gently, and gave his parents a pleading look not to say anything.
If she hadn't been dressed inappropriately in front of Niles' parents, she would have insisted on her way, but her judgement thought it better to bring her embarrassment back to the room with her.
CC complied when Niles took her hand and led her away from his parents' prying eyes. The older couple watched Niles and CC with their hands entwined, displaying much affection towards each other as they disappear upstairs.
"I don't like that woman. My son never went against my wishes. It's because of her my son answered back to me!"
With a louder, more persistent, indignant tone Edward retorted to his wife.
"I like CC. She is good for Niles. It is because of her that my son stood up for what he wanted. It is because of her that my son fought against the dictates of society and the people around him. I know she is the best for him because she makes him incredibly happy, and I will not let you ruin this for him."
Marcia disliked it when she and her husband argue but it seemed even her husband was under the spell of that woman.
"She's a vamp, I tell you. My poor Niles… Caught in the snares of that woman…"
"Marcia, at this point, as long as Niles loves her and she loves Niles I don't care if she's a hooker, an alien from outer space, a Russian spy, or a fortune-teller. As long as she's not an axe-murderer I'm good with it. I want some grand kids, you know."
"She can't even operate this bloody washer…"
Edward held his wife to look at him. He just had to make her understand.
"If you love Niles, you would at least be civil to CC. Stop finding fault in her. Do you know that each time you do that you hurt your son?"
She remained silent. Upset that she couldn't get her way.
"It will make Niles extremely happy if you would make an effort to be nice to the woman he intended to marry. Believe me Martha, if you don't want a rift between you and Niles you would stop controlling him and just accept that he is going to marry CC. He's not going to let her go, you know."
She looked inquiringly at her husband.
"I know because I could see he loves her… the way I love you. You are impossible a lot of times… but I still married you because I love you… and Niles would still marry her no matter how many times you try to put her down."