Happy Birthday.’’
The call surprised her. She blinked as Jack set a large bouquet of blue and grey (Sally’s favorite colors) roses on the table before her; she wasn’t used to this…
“How’d you know it was my birthday?”
Jack kissed her forehead, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. “You told me, remember?”
Sally thought back. And then she remembered that she had, in fact, told him. But she had told him, like, two years ago almost.
Something warm and bubbly well up inside of her as he kissed her, this time on the lips. They had been “seeing each other” for a while now and only just a few days ago had he started kissing her.
“I’m taking you out.’’ He whispered, brushing the hair from her cheek.
She blushed. “Out?”
He nodded, taking something from his pocket and stringing it around her neck. She jumped inside as the cold metal touched her skin and he tied the clasp.
Looking to the side she saw the reflection in the mirror above the sink. She gasped.
“Jack I-“
A diamond necklace with soft, orange pearls and slinky metal threads. She touched it, scared that it might fall apart at her touch. Tears sprang to her eyes.
“I can’t take this-“
“Oh posh.’’ He said, kissing her hair. “I bought it because I love you so much. So don’t throw it away or else-“ he put a fake anguished expression on. “You’d be-you’d be throwing my love away also.’’
Sally laughed, shaking her head as he took both her hands in his. Nobody had given her a gift on her birthday for the last two years. Jonah had completely ignored it…..
“What is it?” he whispered, tipping her head back, eyes full of worry. “If you really don’t like it, I’ll take it back to-“
She shook her head. “It’s not that….I love it, I really do, but……I’m just not….This is the first time I’ve gotten anything this nice in a while….”
Jack’s heart broke as he thought of the past years and how Sally had been wearing the same clothes in a close duration, the same shoes, the same sad expression. Then fury bubbled up inside of him as he thought of Jonah.
“Well.’’ He said softly, placing his hands on her waist and bringing her closer again. “Get used to it because it’s going to be happening a lot from now on. You know I love you right?”
Sally nodded, looking up at him and smiling slightly. “I know.’’
Sally didn’t know what to make of what Jack did for her the entire evening- taking her out to a secluded drop off, pulling her into a dance (she hadn’t danced in years) and then giving her more than she could’ve ever asked of him; a bracelet to match the necklace, and a sapphire ring shaped like the crescent moon. She had never had this much jewelry or this much attention. It was overwhelming to her.
“Something wrong?” he asked, as they turned in slow circles.
Sally shook her head, leaning her head against his shoulder. He was so warm, so soft…..she still couldn’t get over that fact. “No.”
Sally pressed herself closer, feeling unnaturally cold. The warmth of his body clashed with the coldness of hers, causing her to shiver somewhat uncontrollably.
All she needed was to get warm, to get out of the snow that was her mind, to be set free of her anguish.
But how can you be set free if you refuse to leave your binds?
Sally felt his breath against her hair and lost whatever control she had. Sally cupped his face and brought it down to hers, kissing him, feeling his resolve as he took over.
Her body shook as she slid her arms into his coat and around his chest; she wanted to be as warm as he was.
“-What’re you doing…” his voice came out ragged as he pulled away. He hadn’t expected her to do that. But the look on her face explained it all.
“…Make me as warm as you are…’’ her voice came out quietly, a beg as she kissed him again.
And it was all he could do to love her.
He pulled her close, lips meshing hungrily against hers, hand running up her back, squeezing lightly; a movement of possession, of claim. They moved back up against a broad tree in the shadowed wood behind them, their muffled breathing echoing around the small drop-off.
He looked down at her and his heart seized; the look of fear in her eyes told him that this was just a payback that she thought she had to give him. But then the look shifted-a look of anticipation, of need.
And suddenly he understood. He understood that she needed that confirmation, the silent agreement that he was there with her-for her-and wouldn’t leave nor would he ever hurt her.
He pulled away from her and gripped her hand tightly in his, leading her back home.
“I want to do this right.’’ He said, heart still racing, still terrified that she might regret this later.
They didn’t bother turning on lights as they stumbled to the bedroom, leaving the door wide open. He threw his jacket onto the chair by the vanity and turned to her.
She sat on the edge, looking up at him, and waiting.
“You’re sure you want to do this.’’
A silent nod and a flicker of a smile.
He leaned onto the bed, one knee in between her legs, covering her body with his. He bent over and kissed her. Her back touched the bed, and he crawled over her, his weight supported by his arms.. He kneeled between them and stood there for a moment to take inside her beauty. A smile lit up his face, and then he buried it in her embrace. Her breathing became irregular again as his kisses unleashed fire from her core. He grasped the soft, luscious angora sweater and pulled it upwards. With an involuntary jerk she stopped him, putting her hand over his. She had suddenly remembered the long, perpendicular scar she had on her waist, stretching from under her ribs to just below her nave…What would he think if he saw it? He’d be repulse and push her away from him….
Her heart stopped as his warm, careful fingers traced it, dewy kisses following. Tears sprang up in her eyes and she shut them tighter as she heard him mumble words of his devotion as he came back up and kissed her again.
Jack knew not to ask her questions-not to pry into why she had that scar, or how she got it. So he didn’t. He felt her tense when he kissed it, and he knew that she was ashamed. But he just cared-for the moment-about making her forget about it for a few hours.
She tried unconsciously to free herself from his touch, to protect her mind from the ever mounting pleasure. To be released in one way. His thumbs pushed against her flesh. Hard and soft respectively, her moans were louder now. In the back of his mind he wondered if they had already been heard from the people outside. But he didn’t care; he let his hands continue south towards her naked belly and legs. The scraping sensation on her velvety skin and her musky scent made him want to go fast, but he held back. He wanted her to feel how beautiful this all could be-how beautiful he knew she was.
“I love you.” He said, burying his face into her neck. He leaned back and placed his hands on her waist, hooking his fingers into the straps of her underwear. Her breathing became shallow as he slid the last small article of clothing off of her; sliding them down her legs and off the end of her feet; his eyes never leaving hers. She saw his eyes glance down at her core and she blushed harder. No other man besides Jonah had ever seen her naked; had ever touched her in that intimate way.
His fingers explored her body and an explosion sounded off in his brain, a sensation below his waist rippled up, making his completely aware of the effect she had on him.
He wanted to finish this, to finally delve into the emotions he had dwelled on in the past 3 years that he had dwelled on, that he waited for sally. Now his self imposed celibacy scorned him.
“Say it.” He said forcing himself to slow as he cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “Say you love me.’’
Tears welled up in her eyes, leaking out from the corners as she whispered it, her voice half a sob. He went again, covering her body with his and pushing just past the entrance.
Sally felt an explosion in her body, a blast of color and light. It had never felt this good, this bright. Every movement he made was tender and careful
“Jack-!” she called out, silence by his lips once more. He slowed and cradled her closer to himself, his hand falling and bringing her leg around his waist. He moved in slow motions, coming down and into her.
Jack watched as she bit her lip, drawing blood. And part of him felt joy t this.
He loved the sounds she made, how her body arched under his as he tried to hit all the right places.
Her fingers relented on his shoulderblades as they parted gently and lay there for a moment, catching their breaths.
"You're gorgeouse.'' he whispered, kissing her fingertips.
She was gazing at him with a look he'd never seen her use before. he touched her face and she closed her eyes, a smile spreading across her red lips.
"Sally?"
She looked at him again. he smiled.
"Let's get married.''
