Page 31 of Present Tense

There’s gold tinsel garland draped on everything with mistletoe and holly out the ass. Stockings with our names somehow embroidered hang on my mantle as well as two smaller ones that say “Tuxedo Cat” and “Other Cat.” Every surface is covered in some kind of Christmas shit, including a running train. I’m stunned. I don’t know how on earth she did all of this in two hours. It looks like that scene in Elf when he decorates.

“Is that a fake tree?” I crook an eyebrow.

“Yes, but we can put it on the back porch if you hate it. It was the only way to get a big tree fully decorated in my limited time frame and budget.” I should have given her my credit card. Shit. Wait. What? Why on earth would I give Jillien my credit card after twenty-four hours? Because it’s her. I want her to have things. Nina never asked. She just took, and took, and took, then lied about it. Jillien doesn’t care about money, so I want to give her mine.

“Turn around.” And she does as she was asked. “Goddammit, your ass is spectacular. It’s always been good, but how are you defying gravity?” I’m staring at her grinchy ass with the perfect amount of ass cheek peeking out from the bottom of the cheeky panties. I want to bite it.

“Remember that trainer I mentioned?” I stand a little straighter.

“Fucking him keeps it high and tight?” I ask.

“It helps, but it’s mostly the kettlebell swings and insane number of squats that keep it up.” I laugh. Jillien Thompson is standing in my house in lingerie she chose for me. She’s been waiting to be kissed and I won’t disappoint her. Her tongue almost tortures mine. We’re violently sweeping into each other’s mouths as if we’re starved. She reaches for my belt and I don’t resist. My pants fall to the floor as I stroke my dick. She stares at it like it’s a reward. I fucking like that a lot. I do it a little faster, and she moans and squirms a bit. She reaches for her waistband. I stop and cock an eyebrow.

“Please, Mr. Fletcher, I’ve been an awfully good girl.” I groan in response.

“Lose the panties. The shoes stay. I only want to fuck the bad girl right now. Are you ready to be fucked hard and fast? I have an appointment in twenty. Are you wet for me?” She smirks at me and nods. “Wrap around me.” I hoist her up, and she moans as I buck inside of her. “Christ, your cunt strangles my cock in the best fucking way. Fucking best. I’m not going to last.”

“Just what I had in mind.” I brace her on the wall and her foot wedges into the banister to counterbalance. She bounces, squeaking each time she comes down as I thrust. I pound into her as she slams down on my cock. “So fucking tight. You’re so perfect on my dick.”

“Liam! Oh, Fletch. Fletch, Fletch. I’m coming.” Each thrust is a gasp from her, and I feel her starting to come. I’m becoming an expert in her vagina. She then lets loose with a strange, new loud noise and begins to wiggle her ass a bit to get a different sensation. I come quickly with one tremendous thrust, but she’s a liar.

When I regain my breath, I tell her what I know to be true when she returns from the bathroom. “You didn’t come. That was total bullshit.” She grabs her panties off the floor and stands. We’re almost eye to eye in her heels.

“No. I did not.” She totally comes clean.

“Why the faking?”

“You have to get to an appointment. I thought it might help.”

“Don’t ever do that again.” My voice is rough as I tug her to me. “Let it be what it is. No need to pretend. I’ll get you off later. I promise. I owe you. But remember, no lying, no holding back. Nina faked it. All of it. Sex, and loving me. Don’t do it. And don’t peek in the bags. Go get dressed.” I grin at her. She’s in a full face of makeup, her hair is done, and as soon as she takes off her insane apron, she’ll be perfect.

“In what? I laid out an outfit for you upstairs.” She sucks on her pinkie, and somehow, my dick is stirring again. Then, she bends her knees into a broken doll pose, and I’m going to lose it.

“Fine. I’ll run and change.” I bolt upstairs, and she’s put out a sport coat and a gorgeous tie. It’s lime green, gold, and turquoise paisley. She follows me upstairs and is in the doorway, still wearing her elf apron.

“I thought the tie would look nice with your eyes,” she says meekly. She’s not one to do anything meek, but apparently, she’s nervous about what I think. But I’m dumbfounded at how much thought went into buying me a tie.

“Thank you. I never would have chosen this for myself.”

“I know. You’re more of a plaid guy or perhaps argyle.” She winks, and I wrap my arms around this insane creature. I kiss her slowly, sliding my hand to the back of her neck to control the depth and speed of the kiss. When I pull back, she opens her eyes, and it’s magic all over again. I smooth her hair behind her ears and hold her delicate jaw in my hand. She sighs, and I kiss her lips once more quickly. I’m in an insane amount of trouble. Now that I have this, how do I go back to the before?

I grab a black leather skirt out of her suitcase. “This. This and a white shirt, keep the red bra on, and no tights!” I put down my shopping bag. “Solution to our problem. I bought a lot of them.” She grins and holds a package of thigh highs to her chest.

I change quickly, relieved to see regular boxers and my favorite jogger cut ash gray herringbone wool pants. She couldn’t have known I love them, but I’m flattered she likes them. I grab the jacket, a light gray glen plaid in the same tone as the pants, with a thin blue stripe running through the plaid. I never noticed the blue before, but she must have, that’s why the turquoise in the tie. I’ve missed out on a woman’s eye all these years. If Nina bought me clothes, they weren’t to flatter me. They were to compliment her.

23

JILLIEN

He purchased these gorgeous stockings in every color imaginable and no annoying garter belt. He also got thigh high knee socks that come to the top of my thighs. They’re super cute. I’m stunned at how much access he wants.

I’ve slathered Aquaphor on my face and inner thighs to repair the beard burn. But the problem is, I’m not sure how much more my thighs can take. They need another day of heavy oil and healing. I may suffer just once more because it’s so fucking good.

Standing in the hallway half naked, surrounded by things that sing about mistletoe and holly, and behaving myself, I’m struck by gratitude. I’m used to being the one taking care of everything.

I did everything from Christopher’s taxes to changing a tire. I wrapped my own Christmas presents after having picked them out and paid for them. Ethan’s more me than him, thankfully. My son is kind and considerate and takes care of me as much as a twelve-year-old can. I try not to let him do it too often because I want him to stay a kid as long as possible. But having someone make a dinner reservation is utterly foreign to me.

Fletch bought me things because he was thinking about me, not because he had to. As I get dressed, I’m unsure if I should wear underwear or expose her to the elements. If we walk, I’ll opt for panties. That way, I won’t die from kitty-kat frost.