Chapter 44: Gift Giving
Chapter 44: Gift Giving
IAN’s POV :
A MONTH LATER
"Alright everyone, have a great winter break.Merry Christmas,"
I said as soon as the clock struck three and the sound of the bell pierced through the air.
The kids roared in cheers as they busily grabbed their things and scattered out of the room.
"Merry Christmas, Mr.Hayes," they said to me as they walked out the door.
I nodded and smiled at everyone.
I was never big into holiday spirits, but this year, things were different.
Emma and I went to New Jersey for Thanksgiving, so I decided to spend Christmas and the New Year with her in Georgia.
We didn't get a chance to spend Christmas together last year so this was gonna be our first.
Walking out of the empty classroom, I went past several other students and teachers that greeted me with ‘Merry Christmas’.
That was great and all, but actually I was looking for someone else.
I didn’t see Emma anywhere though.
She must be out already.
After thanksgiving, things got pretty busy for her.
On top of exams and homework, she also had to take her SATs and did her college applications.
I was so damn proud of her.
I proofread her essay and I wasn't saying this just because I’m in love with her, but seriously, those college admission people would be dumb if they don't take her.
Making my way into the teachers’ lounge, I noticed the Christmas decorations hanging around the wall.
They also put up a plastic tree and a desk with what I believe to be fruit punch and cookies.
"Hayes! Merry Christmas,"
Pullman yelled at me from across the room.
He was holding onto a red cup and he was wearing that stupid Santa Claus hat.
"Hey, Merry Christmas, John,"
I nodded back at him.
He strode over to me and that was when I noticed he was talking to Erica Diaz just a moment ago.
She acknowledged my presence and let out a small smile.
I smiled politely back.
"So, uh, any plans for the holidays?"
John said when he was an arm’s length away.
"Not much.Just gonna kick it with my girl,"
"The long distance girl? You still on that?"
"Yeah,"I nodded.
"Still on that,"
"Well, hey, that’s good for you,"he patted my shoulders and suddenly he leaned into my ears and whispered,
“So, bro, I heard you had a thing with Erica Diaz a year ago.I was just wondering if it’d be cool if I make a move on her? Anyways you got a girl and everything,"
I stifled a laugh and said, "Dude, go for it, man,"
"Yeah? ‘Cause I just wanna make sure...bros before hos right?" he whispered back.
"John, I'm telling you, go for it," I looked him square in the eyes and smiled full of reassurance.
"Well, alright then," he nodded in excitement.
That stupid grin was back on his face as he made his way back to Erica.
I thought it was amusing that people actually believed Erica and I had something going on.
Anyway, I was done with school drama for the day.
I grabbed my things and made my way out of there faster than you can say spiked eggnog.
"Enjoy your holidays, Hayes!" John called out as I left the room.
"Oh, I will," I said to myself.
I had fun plans for the holidays.
Mainly it revolved around lazing around the apartment, working on my art pieces, and cuddling with my girl next to the fireplace.
She had been working hard lately and she deserved some rest.I wanted to take care of her.But before all that, I needed to make a quick stop at the mall.Yes, you heard that right.The effing mall.
I was only supposed to spend like thirty minutes in the mall.I just had to pick up something and leave.But then I ran into a couple of other teachers from school, they were having drinks at Chili's.
Yes, you heard that right again. They were being nice and they invited me over for a drink.
Normally, I would say no, but this was Christmas.And honestly, I didn’t have anything else better to do.
Emma was out with her friends.
Some girl called Madison was throwing this party at her house and I told Emma she should go.
We'd have plenty of time to spend together during the break, she deserved to enjoy herself with her friends.
I ended up staying for a couple of hours.
After her third glass of beer, Mrs.Duvall started singing karaoke and it was like a train wreck that you couldn't turn away from.
She was emulating her inner Freddy Mercury and even I had to admit, it was pretty damn fun to watch.
I got back to my apartment at around 10 PM or so.
I was fumbling with my keys a little, probably because I drank a bit too many shots of tequila.
When I managed to open the door finally, I swung it open and my eyes widened in shock.
My living room was covered wall to wall in glittery things, candles, and little fairy lights.
‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ was playing from my record player and I didn’t know I had that song.
"Emma?"
She was standing in the middle of my living room with this big smile on her face.
She was wearing a short red dress with a Santa Claus hat on.
While it was probably the same hat that John was wearing, but on her it looked amazing. "Happy early Christmas.I hope you don’t mind, I used the spare key out front,"
she grinned and bit her lip. "No, of course not,"
I shook my head quickly and closed the door behind me, "But, what are you doing here? I thought you were gonna be at your friend’s Christmas party,"
"I was.Ergo the outfit.Tiff and Carrie wanted to be Mean Girls.But anyway, I left early because I want to give you your present," she rambled and stumbled a little as she walked closer to me.
"Are you drunk?" I laughed as I caught her little body in my arms I drank a little, but I am completely sober,"she stated firmly, as firm as a drunk person would,
“Now, don’t you wanna know what I got you for Christmas?"
"It's not even Christmas eve yet," I said as I cupped her little face with my hands.
"I know, I’m just too excited.I can't wait," she squealed and took a couple of steps back.
She went behind the couch and pulled out this flat square red box tied with a gold ribbon on top.
"Well, in that case," I chuckled and lifted the brown paper bag I was holding in my hand.
"I have a present for you too,"
"Really?" her eyes widened ecstatically.
I nodded in response and she took the brown paper bag from me.
Inside, she found a big blue box with a white ribbon around it.
She looked like a little girl in a candy store as she sat down and started pulling the ribbon away excitedly.
"A box of panties?" she glared at me when she saw what was inside the box.
"You were afraid you're gonna run out, so," I gave her a playful smirk and she rolled her eyes at me.
"Ha-ha, very clever," she pouted and put the box away.
"That one’s more of a joke.This is your real gift,"I said as I took off my coat.
From the coat’s pocket, I fished out a small blue box with a white ribbon on it.
She looked at it cautiously, perhaps afraid that it would be another practical joke.
Slowly, she took the box from my hand and opened it.
The ribbon and lid went away, and inside laid a small heart- shaped pendant necklace.
"It’s a locket?" she gasped.
"Open it," I instructed.
"Our souls are the same..." she read the engravings on the inside.
"Your favorite quote from your favorite book,"
I smiled as she stared at me with wide glimmering eyes.Her breath was caught in her throat.For a moment, she just stared at me, not saying anything.
"Do you like it?"I asked her.
"l...I love it!"she jumped to her feet as she said it.
"I love you.Thank you.This is the best gift ever," she said as she stood on her tippy toes and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Really? I thought the box of panties was pretty good too," I laughed and she shoved me away playfully.
I took the necklace from her hand and turned her little body around.
Placing it around her neck, I clasped the lock on the back of her neck.
She turned around and admired the little gold thing resting on her chest, just below her collarbone.
"It’s so beautiful," she said as her hand went to touch the little thing.
"Now, you said you have a present for me?" I asked.
"Actually, I also got you two things,"
"Oh?"
"This is your first present," she handed me the red box on the couch.
I pulled the ribbon away excitedly.
I had never been so excited for a Christmas present in a long, long time.
"A sketchbook?"
I said when I saw what was inside. NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
It looked similar to the one I had, but the leather bound was new and crisp.
On the corner was my initials engraved in gold.
"I noticed you almost ran out of pages in your old one.An artist can never have enough blank pages to draw on," she answered me.
This girl had inspired me beyond my wildest dreaMs.Ever since she came into my life, I had so much more passion oozing out of my body.
It was only fitting that she got this for me.
She was my muse and I would fill these pages with her.
"This is great.I love it.Thank you," I said to her.
"I'm glad you like it.And I hope you'll like your second present just as much,"she said and her lips twitched into a smile.
"What is it?"
"It's not something that you can see...but it’s something you can feel,"
"Huh?" I looked at her quizzically, but she just smiled at me.
"Come with me,"she said as she pulled my hand.
I followed her as she led me to the bedroom.
She stopped her tracks when we reached the bed and she turned around to face me.
Looking up at me, her hands went to my shirt and she started undoing the buttons.
"Emma? What are you doing?"
She didn't answer me.
Instead, she took off my clothes and pushed me down on the bed.
I wasn’t complaining, but I was curious.
Standing in front of me, her hands went under her short dress and she pulled her underwear down to her feet.
I licked my lips instinctively at this.
I could feel myself getting rock hard just by looking at her like this.
My eyes darted to the nightstand where my box of condoms was on display.
As if she knew what I was thinking, she reached for the box and put them inside my bedside drawer.
"Emma...?"
Biting on her lip, she stepped closer and climbed on top of me, straddling me.
The short dress hiked up her hips as she was pressed up completely against me.
She found the dress limiting and uncomfortable, so she pulled it up swiftly over her head.
My girl was now naked, sitting on top of me, and for the first time, I was rendered immobile.
I swallowed hard as I watched her little hand unbuckled my belt and unzipped my pants.
She found my hardening length with her hand and she started stroking it.
Muffled groans escaped my lips as she leaned her face to my neck and started kissing me there.
"What are you doing, baby girl?"
I said again, but my voice came out in breaths.
She had pulled out my rock-hard length and it stood against the skin of her stomach.
"I started taking the pill a week ago.So, um, we don’t have to use that anymore," she spoke finally.
Her eyes darted to the bedside drawer and a naughty smile escaped her lips.
"For real?" I gawked.
"For real," she nodded.
I heard what she said, but for a while there I just sat and stared at her.
I couldn't remember the last time I had sex without condoMs.I got HPV freshman year of college for not being careful enough and that was one time too many.
Ever since then, my motto was to wrap it before you tap it.
Emma and I were dating, but I still wanted to be careful, so I kept using condoMs.She wasn't sexually active before me and I didn’t wanna force her into getting birth control.I thought about not using it with
her many, many times though.Pulling out would work, but I never wanna risk it.
But this, what she did for me...It had me blanking and grinning like a stupid idiot.
When I finally managed to pull my shit together, I got a firm hold on her and turned our bodies around.
She lay flat on the bed and I was hovering over her.
Pushing her apart with my knee, I let my shaft graze her opening and she let out a soft moan.
She was so wet already, so ready for me.
My heart was racing so fast as I put more of her wetness around my shaft with my hand.
I couldn't breathe when my tip finally entered her.
That flesh on flesh contact, it was so divine.
I pushed myself into her deeper, taking in her warmth and her tightness.
She felt so damn amazing.
When I was buried deep inside her, I stayed there for a while because the feeling was just too much.
That feeling of her warm wetness wrapping my length tightly, that was pure heaven.
"Oh, lan," she moaned and squirmed.
"Yeah, baby girl, I got you," I said through gritted teeth.
Holding onto her tight, I started moving in and out of her, slow and gentle.
I wanted to savor this moment as long as I could.
Emma started moving her hips to meet my thrusts and it was making it hard for me to keep it together.
Shit, she felt so good I could just cum right now.
My lips landed on her neck and I started sucking on her sweet spot.
My hands roamed her body and stopped at her breasts.
My fingers played with her nipples until they were erect and hard.
My thrusts grew faster and deeper and she moved her hips with me in sync.
Our bodies were molded into one and I never felt anything like this before.
"lan ah!"
Emma dug her nails into my shoulder blades as she clenched around me.
Her body convulsed as she screamed my name out loud.
She trashed her head back, riding the wave of release throughout her body.
I couldn't hold it anymore.
The feeling of her wet core clenching around my skin set the fire ablaze inside me.
I let go, screaming a string of curses as I came hard inside of her.
I came so damn hard, so damn much.
Not wanting to let this go, I pushed myself deeper and stayed inside her as I rode my orgasm.
As I let out a breath of relief, I opened my eyes to find her beautiful glimmering eyes staring back at me.
It was truly a sight to see.
She made my heart stopped a beat.
Needless to say, it was the best, present, ever.