"Alright! Time for presents!" Nathaniel announces the event eagerly "Everyone is ready for their gifts?"
The loud cheers he receives make his grin grow wider. With the help of Ember, he begins to call out the names on each wrapping box, from whom to whom as they gather around him to receive their gifts. Rosalina tells her son to wear a Santa Claus outfit to match the spirit of the holiday, but Nathaniel profusely declines. However, that doesn't stop his girlfriend from being playful as Ember puts a red Santa hat on his head, making the blond blush at the cheers.
"You guys are so annoying! Up next…" searching for the name on the box, Nathaniel wears a sly smile as he announces the name in a teasing tone "From lover girl Primrose to her prince charming Caleb!"
"Nathaniel!" the raven head scolds her younger brother for the jest, but Caleb gladly accepts the small box in gratitude.
"Thank you, beloved."
Primrose only nods, finding his gentle appreciation lovely to receive.
When Nathaniel finishes his gift-giving session, everyone begins to open their gifts. From a tumbler to a new set of pots and pans to a gaming console, they are all in awe at the presents they receive.
Caleb slowly opens the small box he gets from Primrose, savoring the moment with each unwrapping he makes. Inside the box is a soft cloth wrapped around a delicate object, when he unfolds the cloth, his silver orbs shine a light of admiration as he stares at the gift Primrose has carefully chosen for him.
"Holly molly! Prims, is that what I think it is?" her younger brother wastes no time pulling the attention of everyone.
"Nathaniel, stop screaming!"
Inside the box is an exquisite silver pocket watch. The casing is pure silver, engraved with vine and primrose detail. The clock itself is a stunning piece of art, the deep maroon color matches the ruby earrings he is wearing, with details of what seems like the plasma tree, his greatest achievement. The numbers and hands of the clock are in a classic font, adding a touch of vintage to its appearance. There is a note within the box, beautifully written by her.
From Primrose to Caleb, my love for you only grows as each second passes by.
"Beloved…" the young lord stares at his gift in admiration, a beautiful watch that is wrapped with love and care "Thank you."
"You're welcome…"
Her face is painted in a lovely shade of red as she steals a glance at her father, silently thanking him for helping her choose the gift. Rosalina giggles at the silent exchange between Edward and Primrose, she almost can not hold back her laugh when she catches that prideful expression he has on his face. Edward may seem to be a stoic dad on the outside, but when it comes to his children, his father instinct always takes over.
Primrose also takes her time to open each gift she receives. When she opens a heavy box, she knows exactly what is inside. This is something that Lilian had promised her months ago, on the day the brunette planned to introduce her to Caleb. While Primrose finds her gift a tad bit too late, the book collection warms her heart as she knows Lilian always strives to get her the presents she wants.
Up next, she opens a small box from Caleb, feeling the heavy weight a contrast to how small the box is. She turns to him, wondering what is the gift inside. When she finally unwraps the gift, her pink lips form an 'o' as she stares at the lovely thing in front of her.
"Isn't that beautiful?" Lumera smiles at the gift on her pupil's hand "Such an artistic choice, Caleb."
Inside the box is a glass paperweight. The round shape of the glass amplifies the beauty of what is within it, a blooming blue rose that matches Primrose's penname, Azure Rose. However, the soft blue hue radiates around the paperweight carrying a sense of whimsicalness, the deep velvety blue color of each petal is a wave of peace in her heart, and she can feel butterflies in her stomach just looking at it.
"Caleb, this is…"
But that is not all, underneath the paperweight is an engraved line that says 'Caleb and Primrose's first Christmas'. Such a simple yet delicate line and she can feel her face turning red at the lovely note.
"Do you like it?" with one hand wrapping around her, Caleb pulls her close, letting the raven head rest against his tall stature.
"I love it, thank you so much."
As if Primrose has forgotten about the embarrassing topic she just had with the girls upstairs, she fully embraces the present moment, her eyes twinkling in joy as she holds the paperweight carefully in her hands.
"Goodness, it seems like Caleb and Primrose match each other's artistic vibe." Rosalina can't help but notice "I guess we can not beat them, right dear?"
Edward chuckles at her jesting tone, suggesting that the gift he receives from her is the most beautiful thing so far. Wrapping around his shoulders is a handmade cardigan that his wife has spent days, if not weeks, carefully crafting it. The softness of the yarn infused with the love she puts into her work makes him feel warm and fluffy on the inside. Rosalina never ceases to amaze him with her choice of gifts, whether they are handmade or handpicked by herself.
Leaning against her husband's protective arms, a satisfying smile forms on her lips as her eyes spark a light of joy looking at their children and the guests all gathering around the Christmas tree for their presents. The peaceful air of the holiday wraps around them like a soft blanket, shielding them from the cold outside as well as the worries of what has yet to come.
"May this Christmas fill with joy and happiness to you, my dear." planting a kiss on her forehead, Edward laces his fingers onto hers "I love you."
"I love you too, Edward. May our happiness go on forever." Rosalina leans onto him, savoring the precious moments with their children and guests, surrounded by the warmth of love and holiday cheer.
When Caleb and Primrose return to their apartment, the clock has stroked 11:30 p.m. This year's Christmas is embraced in snowy weather and Caleb can't help but tenderly brush off the snow on top of her head. His action doesn't go unnoticed as her face heats up at the affection and her mind swims back to the conversation she had with the girls back at her parents' house.
Caleb, ever the gentleman, opens the door to his apartment and invites her in. He hasn't forgotten about the talk she wishes to have with him tonight. As the door closes behind them, Primrose's body becomes stiff, without saying any word, she knows that those silver orbs are on her, watching her every move carefully.
Taking off her heels, the raven head slips on a pair of house slippers as she makes her way to the living room, followed by the vampire lord. He sits next to her, her slight trembling catches his attention as he wraps his long coat on her small shoulders, shielding Primrose from the cold.
"Thank you…" her voice is as soft as a feather, showing her gratitude for the affection.
"You…" looking at her nervousness, Caleb hums to himself, trying to find the right word to address what is bothering her "Is everything alright?"
Primrose turns to him, her face is engulfed in a crimson color. Chewing on her bottom lips, her hands curl into a fist, finger fingernails begin to dig into her delicate skin. Always the observer, the young lord pries her fingers away, saving her from bleeding as he sets a hand underneath her chin, pressing lightly on it to help release the tension on her lips.
"Primrose, what's wrong?" he asks again, this time, more assertive "You have been acting very strange, is there something on your mind?"
Instinct takes over her as she shakes her head, refusing to talk. But Caleb can tell how horrible of a liar she is, he gently guides her gaze back onto him, caressing the softness of her cheek with his palm as he coaxes her to speak up about her problem.
Primrose hesitates at first, her eyes flickering in uncertainty as she doesn't know how to address this delicate matter to him. She remembers Rosalina's wisdom, telling her that Caleb actually appreciates her innocence rather than finding it a hindrance. However, her kind words don't work their magic when she is in front of the young lord. As long as she doesn't hear it from him, her mind continues to swim in an unknown territory.
"C-Caleb…" taking in a deep breath, she summons her full force of courageousness as she addresses the elephant in the room "D-do you…uhm…I…"
The moment her mind thinks of what she is about to say, Primrose becomes a deflated balloon. Her courage doesn't work this time as she finds herself fumbling in her own words, unsure how to phrase it correctly. Caleb stares at her struggling to find the right word, unsure if he should keep a composed face or chuckle at her adorable antics. Even without her telling him, the young lord already has a guess of what she wants to address.
"Calm down now, Primrose. Take a deep breath…" the raven head follows his advice, inhaling with all her might "…breath out…"
She exhales, finding her mind clearer at the breathing practice. When the nervousness subsides, Primrose once again gathers her will to speak up and looks at him with determination fills her eyes.
"I…Caleb…Do you…" she slowly forms her sentence, her face becomes redder as each second passes by "D-do you like…uhm…well-endowed women?"
The room falls into a brief silence as Caleb slowly absorbs her question, raising a brow at why she asks him like that. As the silence grows louder, so is Primrose's embarrassment. Her voice hitches, finding a way to salvage the situation. Her fumbling words and frantic actions resonate with the storm that slowly rises in her heart and with the still air between them, Primrose realizes that she may have stepped into a landmine that she should never encounter.
"I-I'm sorry… I…"
Caressing her cheeks with two hands, Caleb takes in a deep breath before pulling her into a kiss. Unlike the usual sweet and gentle kisses they share before, this one is intense and fills with raw passion that Primrose has never seen before. The gentle side of the young lord is cast away, replaced by something more heated and fiery, and Primrose finds it hard to deny his access when she feels something soft licking her lips, asking for entrance.
The kiss draws a soft moan from her and Caleb can't help but want more. He wraps his arms around her, pulling the raven head into a tight embrace as she straddles his lap, burning face and an odd sensation in her stomach. Primrose grows more embarrassed when she notices his hands are on her lower back, pressing her against him. Her mind becomes panicky as she realizes what Caleb is alluding to.
N-no way…He is…
The raven head taps on his shoulders, finding this moment too intense for her poor fragile heart to experience. Caleb obliges, slowly releasing the raven head from their passionate moment. The natural pink color on her lips deepens into a shade of red that matches her flustered face. There are tears in the corner of her eyes, onyx orbs shine a light of defeat. This is too much for her to handle…
"Primrose…" his fingers lacing onto hers, a glint of desire resides in his silver orbs "Does that answer your question?"
She stares at him, in awe and embarrassment. She can't believe what he just did, what they just did. The gentle façade Caleb always has, she can never imagine that he can be that fervent
"C-Caleb…You…I…"
"You want more?"
Covering his lips, Primrose shakes her head violently. This is too much for her to bear, if they continue, who knows where this will lead them to?
"Remember this, Primrose…" his hand on her lower back keeps pressing her against his body, the heat she feels at their abdomens deepens the redness on her face "This is how I feel when you are with me."
The water mage manages to give him a nod, her body shivering in excitement at what has transpired between them. His answer to her question, while unspoken, makes her feel like she is walking on cloud nine. The kiss they share, the warmth of his embrace, the way his eyes flicker with a mixture of affection and desire, they are all for her and only her. Primrose hides her face in the crook of his neck, it would be a lie if she said that she is not proud of herself for stirring such a fiery response from him.
"I…I talk with Lilith and the girls today…"
With a flustered face, she recalls the conversation she had with the younger Vatore and all the women during the Christmas party, how they each shared their experience in regard to love and intimacy. The more she speaks about their little meeting, the more she tries to hide her face from him.
Her petite body, the modest size of her chest, and how inexperienced she is when it comes to that part of a relationship, she wonders if her lack of assets is something that leaves a foul taste in Caleb's mind. Maybe if she has that alluring beauty of Lilith, or maybe Lumera's sizable fruits, or her mother's charming wits, Caleb would desire her more.
There is no doubt that his silver eyes only lay on her whenever she enters the room, but the thought of him surrounded by many beautiful flowers, Primrose as a wildflower has nothing to compare to them. While the young lord never once makes her feel like she is unwanted, the insecurities within her speak louder than she originally thought.
And then, there is the topic of intimacy…
Caleb is no stranger to that, given he has lived almost 300 years and had partners before knowing her. Being inexperienced in that aspect of a relationship makes her wonder if she is able to meet his expectations or not. As the lord of the prominent Vatore family, Primrose can already imagine how satisfied his private life was with the previous women. And here she is carrying the title of being his mate yet she knows nothing of that sort…
"I don't know if I am enough to…" her voice trails off, unable to continue her sentence. She hides more in the crook of his neck, chewing on her bottom lips as she processes the ugly feeling that rises in her heart.
Caleb holds her close, a hand rests on her lower back while the other slowly pulls off the hair tie, letting her side braid slowly loosen up. The young lord absorbs her words, letting her insecurities sink in as he combs the raven locks gently, enjoying the feeling of her lush hair on his fingers. His lips curl up into a smile as he places a kiss on her cheek before inching closer to her ear, Primrose shivers at how close he is and how she can feel his warmth breathing on her skin.
"This is what I love about you, Primrose…" his words carry a tender reassurance, his gaze fixing on the strands of her hair entwined with his fingers. "Always wear your heart on your sleeves, never shy away from showing your true feelings. You don't know how much I try to hold myself back when I'm with you, beloved."
Her breath sucks at his confession and the tip of her ear turns an adorable red color when his lips brush against it. The hand that rests on her lower back finds its way underneath her sweater, making her gasp as the skin contact sends a chill down her spine. Caleb has never touched her there before…
The young lord stops for a moment, allowing Primrose to get used to the feeling of his hand touching her bare back. Her body trembles in his arms, unsure how she should react. This closeness is new to her. She has felt his hands on her shoulders, her arms, and all other visible places that are innocent to the eyes, but not like this. Caleb hums in response to her shaking body, with one lift and she is now cradling in his arms, like a prince carrying his princess. Her lips form an 'o', onyx eyes stare at his silver ones in awe as she notices where his gaze lands.
His bedroom…
Primrose's lips form a thin line, her face is bright red and her body shivers under his gaze. Unable to respond, the water mage circles her arms around him, timidly hiding away as Caleb slowly makes his way to the bedroom. When the door is closed behind them, Primrose flinches, her hold around him is shaky as she prepares herself for what is next to come.
Laying her down on his bed, Caleb can sense how tense her body is as she freezes the moment her back touches the softness of his bed. Caressing her cheek, the young lord leans down, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss, chasing away the fear that resides in her heart as his hand trails down, from her shoulder to her arm to the hem of her sweater before it rests on her stomach. Primrose holds onto his shoulder, fisting the fabric of his shirt tightly her face becomes redder when his hand slowly moves up, resting underneath her bra.
His face is now in the crook of her neck, trailing his kisses on the softness of her skin. Each time his lips touch her neck, Primrose hitches, his breathing grazes her skin, hot and intimate. Caleb moves up to look at her, watching the cold sweat run down her face, how her cheeks are flustered a crimson color, how the tears slowly gather in the corner of her eyes. As he inches his fingers slightly at her bra, a gasp escapes her lips. Her onyx eyes shut tight, unable to meet his gaze.
She is not ready…
Caleb takes in a deep breath, retreating his hand and caressing the softness of her cheek.
"Primrose…" the tenderness in his voice is palpable as he brushes away her tears "There is no need for you to force yourself like this…"
"…" the raven head opens her eyes as she looks at him, her expression is a mixture of relief and disappointment "I-I'm sorry…"
"Why would you say that?"
"I just…I just want to…" her whisper is soft and barely audible "I just want to m-make you happy, b-but…"
Caleb shakes his head, his fingers grazing her cheek and brushing away the falling tears. He knows that this is too much for her and yet, she is still putting on a brave face. Planting a kiss on her forehead, the young lord smiles gently at her.
"Primrose, nothing makes me happier than having you by my side. Since the day you accepted me back into your life, I have been the happiest man." his hand finds its way to hers, lacing their fingers together "Back then and even now, you have not changed, not even in the slightest. And I love you because of that."
Trailing his kiss down her cheek, he continues.
"The way you express yourself, how you look after your loved ones, that innocent light always shines in your eyes, how you show your vulnerability without the fear of being judged, and so much more." Caleb chuckles, remembering the fond memories of Primrose when he first met her "My beloved, my precious gem, never doubt the love I have for you."
"B-but…"
"If it is your inexperience, I don't care for the slightest. You are who you are, Primrose. I would never want you to change anything." his lips meet the tip of her nose and she can't help but giggle at how tickling it is. Her sweet laugh sounds like bells ringing in his ears and Caleb smiles "You are and will always be the one who holds the key to my heart, beloved."
Primrose stares at him, in awe at the sweet yet vulnerable confession. The tenderness in his eyes, the gentleness of his kisses, the sincerity of his words, her heart swells with love and she can feel butterflies in her stomach. Caleb leans down, closing the gap between them as they share another tender kiss, sealing away her insecurity with his love and affection.