Chapter 45

 

Alex heard Gaius calling to her mind, but her mind resisted. She felt so warm and at peace that she ignored the summons briefly. There was the sound of a door opening and closing, and then his voice was whispering her name in her ear. His palm began to pass over her back, and Alex finally willed her eyes to open and meet his.

“There you are.” He smiled, watching as the fog cleared from her eyes. He lay on his side, propped on his elbow, with his head resting in his hand. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

“Merry Christmas,” she murmured, rolling off of her stomach and onto her back.

Gaius settled his palm on her abdomen and began to caress her skin there. Alex lifted a hand and gently trailed her fingers through his hair.

“Did I hear the door open?” she asked softly.

“You did. I let Cara and her friends go downstairs,” he said, leaning down to kiss her temple.

Alex smiled and let her eyes close again.

“Don’t go back to sleep, sweetheart,” he whispered, moving his lips to her cheek and then her neck. “I want to give you your presents in private this year. Wake up for me.”

“I’m awake,” she sighed, shivering from the feather-light kisses he was bestowing on her. “Why do you want me to open my gifts away from the others?”

“I just do,” he said, pulling her into his arms and settling his lips on hers. Gaius held Alex to his body for several minutes until he knew she was fully awake. When he lifted his head, he saw the need clearly reflected in her gaze and he smiled all the more. He gently rubbed the tip of his nose against hers, then moved away for a moment to retrieve her gifts from the wardrobe.

Alex lifted herself up on her elbows as she watched him walk away, still blinking as her mind cleared. She sat up in the bed then, and pulled the sheet up to have something over her skin to warm her. She brushed her hair back and watched him make his way to the bed with four boxes. Gaius stretched out next to her again and smiled as he handed her the first box.

Alex lowered herself to her side and took the small gift in hand.

“What have you got up your sleeve, Mr. Marcus?” Alex asked him playfully.

“I have no shirt on, so no sleeves.” He shrugged.

Alex’s eyes roamed over him and she thought that was not the only garment he was missing.

Gaius chuckled as he watched the path her gaze took, and then he reached out to cup her face. “I love you,” he said, smiling as her eyes refocused on his.

“And I love you,” Alex said, turning her head to kiss the inside of his palm.

He lightly squeezed her face, and then released her so she could open the first gift.

She pulled the red bow off and slowly peeled back the silver paper. Alex saw the name of Garrard on the box within – the same jeweler in London from whom they had purchased their wedding rings. Alex looked back up at Gaius as she slid the top off to find a hinged box inside. She opened it next, and then gasped over the gift within.

“Gaius, what in the world?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“Well, I thought you would know what those were,” he teased, chuckling at her still. “Do you like them?”

“They’re beautiful,” she said softly, running her fingertips over two thin diamond eternity rings – a perfectly matched pair. “What made you decide to purchase these?” Alex asked, looking back up into his eyes.

Gaius slipped the rings from the box, then rolled away briefly to retrieve her ring bearing the yellow diamond Mathew had asked Gaius to find for her. He lifted it from his bedside table, then came back and took her right hand in his. Gaius slid one new band on, then the yellow diamond, and finally the second band. He smiled as he appraised the set on her finger, then he gently kissed the back of her hand and released her.

“Ah, I see now.” She grinned, holding her hand up to appreciate the way the three rings looked together. “They’re very small and delicate. I like that. Thank you, sweetheart,” Alex said, leaning in to kiss his lips.

“You’re most welcome. I wanted to give the bands to you with the original ring last Christmas, but I knew I had to pace myself,” he admitted, smiling. “Here, open this one next.”

Alex nodded and took the second gift in hand. It was not much bigger than the first, and she peeled away the shiny green paper to find another hinged box beneath it. She knew the logo on the outside well, and her eyebrows rose as she opened the box to find a very expensive aviator’s watch that was a perfect mate to the one Gaius most often wore. Alex’s mouth dropped open as she looked back at him, and she could not seem to close it.

“I think that face means you like it,” he played, and she nodded her head.

“I do, but it’s an extravagant gift, Gaius,” Alex said a bit guiltily.

“Well, sometimes I am going to splurge on you, so indulge me,” he said, running his fingers through her hair. “And I also wanted you to have this after the crash we suffered, for I don’t want you to give up flying or be afraid of it. We’ll always try to check over the S-92s and other aircraft a bit better from now on. Okay, love?”

“Thank you, Gaius. I understand the sentiment behind it now, and that makes it all the more meaningful. And no, I won’t give up flying.”

“Good. And now, for this,” he said, handing her a slightly larger box.

Alex took more joy from his youthful grin than she did the gifts, and she watched his eyes as she peeled away the gold paper. Beneath it, she found a nondescript, rectangular box. Alex lifted its lid to find a simple wooden frame with a letter already placed under the glass. She carefully removed it from the tissue paper and read its message.

Gaius watched Alex’s eyes fill with tears as she sat up a little more to read what he had framed for her. She held the frame with one hand while the fingers of her other covered her lips. He smiled as he saw the sheet roll away from her body, but because she was so engrossed in what she was reading, Alex never pulled it back up. Gaius reached out and skimmed his fingers over her lower back, and she then her eyes down to him.

“Thank you, so very much,” Alex breathed, nodding her head that she did indeed love the gift.

“Mathew wrote this letter to us both, and he sent it to the Nephilim’s European address you gave him before we left Africa. He details the success he and the others are having, what good purpose they’ve put the funds to that we generated for them, and how thankful he is to have met us. I knew when Gaillard forwarded it to me, that it would have to be framed and set somewhere special in Elysium when next we go home,” he said tenderly.

“Absolutely!” Alex grinned, reaching out to run her fingers back through his hair. “I love this.”

“I knew you would. And finally,” he said, placing a very large gift across her legs. “Open this, sweetheart.”

Alex did, removing the dark, navy gift wrap and silver bow. She took the lid off of the box and ran her fingers over the soft, red cashmere dress within. Alex chuckled and noticed that Gaius was still sporting his youthful grin.

“Very festive for Christmas morning. Shall I wear this today?” she played.

“And this,” he said, lifting the dress so she could see the garments beneath it.

Alex’s eyebrows rose sharply and she looked back to see Gaius’ chest shaking as he tried to suppress his laughter.

“Care to explain?” she asked, keeping an eyebrow playfully arched at him.

“This is why I wanted to give this particular gift to you in private. You’re my gift, Alex, all of you. And I was hoping that, perhaps,” he said shyly, “you might wear this for me this morning before we join the others.”

“So this is why you woke me early?” she chuckled. Gaius slowly nodded his head and leaned forward to kiss her side. “Well, who am I to refuse my husband on Christmas morning? Hold that thought, I’ll be right back.” Alex smiled as she slid from the bed with the gift in hand.

She refreshed herself and then placed the delicate, sheer garments on her body that Gaius had selected for her. She smiled again as she ran her fingers over the pale pink fabric, and then she left the bathroom to join him. His smile spread as he held out a hand and beckoned her back to his side.

Alex chuckled as she stood next to him, turning in a slow circle so he could appreciate his gift in full. Gaius rose to stand behind her, and she leaned back against his chest as his hands moved to encircle her. Alex sighed and closed her eyes as his lips brushed across her shoulder and neck.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered to her mind while he trailed his hands up her arms.

“So are you,” she said privately in return, shivering slightly from his touch and warm breath on her skin.

“Let me lead us this morning, okay?” he asked softly, and Alex nodded her head.

Gaius laced his fingers through hers and lifted her right hand, moving his lips from her shoulder down the length of her arm. Alex continued to sigh as he repeated the path along her left arm next. Then, he swept her hair over her shoulder and moved his lips along the skin on her back. Alex stayed adrift for many minutes under his care, and she reopened her eyes only when Gaius gently turned her in his arms.

He cupped her face and delicately matched his lips to hers. Alex played with the soft hair across his chest while he skillfully took her breath away. When his lips moved down her neck and to her collarbone, she had to hold on to Gaius’ upper arms so she could remain standing. But he wrapped his hands around her waist and then backed up until they were closer to the bed. Gaius sat on the edge and lifted Alex so she sat astride his lap.

His palms framed her face as his lips moved across her face, neck, and lower still. Alex ran her hands into his hair and tilted her head back as a heavy sigh escaped her lips. She felt him caress her body as he moved further back on the bed, still keeping her held gently in his arms. She whispered her love to his mind, and heard the words repeated with such tenderness that she smiled and kissed his forehead.

When at last Gaius turned and placed Alex on the soft bedding, he kissed and caressed every inch of the new garments until she was giggling slightly from the sensations. Gaius matched his lips to Alex’s, hoping to silence her, but he was trying to contain his own laughter and was not very successful. She urged him to love her and he told her he would… soon. Alex groaned.

He concentrated on her body for many minutes, bringing her fulfillment through his touch and kiss before they became one. And then Gaius turned and brought Alex atop his body, asking her to love him for a time. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply, lacing her fingers through his as she showed Gaius what lay in her heart for him. Alex felt him gasp against her lips, and she smiled all the more.

Soon, they were both lost to the beauty of their shared passion. Each touch and moment was filled with such abounding love that they were calling their surrender to the other’s mind. Alex kissed Gaius still as they gloried in the moment together. She gently lowered herself to lay atop his body as they calmed their erratic breathing and racing hearts.

She nuzzled the skin above his heart with her nose as his hands lazily stroked and caressed her back. Alex’s fingers leisurely meandered across his chest, and she paused occasionally to kiss the skin closest to her lips. She felt Gaius’ fingers thread through her hair, and then he turned her face up to look at him. Alex stacked her palms under her chin and smiled.

“Thank you, my love, for indulging me. For sharing yourself with me so completely. It’s all I really wanted for Christmas. Just you, Alex,” he mentally told her.

“I love you, too,” she mentally replied. “But you do know I have a few gifts for you under the tree downstairs?”

“No, they’re in the closet. I brought them up here last night so I could open them in our room, too.”

“Why did you do that?” Alex asked, not upset by the change, but genuinely curious.

“Because, our kind does not normally give many gifts for Christmas. And, though I know your mother and father will give Than a small basket along with the others, I did not want him to feel more awkward as gift after gift was exchanged between you and me. He’ll see your mortal family do that with one another. But, Alex, Than is still watching every move you and I make closely for an example to follow. So I thought it best if we let the fellowship of the day be a better lesson for him, than all of the offerings you and I might make to one another.”

“That makes perfect sense, and I’m glad you thought ahead so he didn’t feel any more self-conscious than he already does. You’re so kind and so patient, Gaius. I’m so blessed that you’re mine.” Alex smiled, though their words were still only being shared through their mental connection.

“Yours and no others,” he played back, running his hands over her hair again. “Shall I open my gifts?”

“You can. Though, you outdid me this year,” she said and grimaced. “My gifts are smaller than what you purchased for me.”

“I care not how grand or how small the gift is, you know that. I am just touched that you thought of me.”

“Well, then. I will be right back.” She kissed the skin above his heart once more before she moved away to the closet.

Alex found the three gifts that she had for Gaius and she brought them all to the bed. She sat next to him as he rolled to his side and propped himself up on his elbow. Alex handed him a small package to start with. He kissed her hand and then removed the gold paper. A box lay beneath, and he lifted the lid to find a bracelet woven of supple brown fibers and silver. Alex took it from the box and gently clasped it on his right wrist, testing its fit.

“This is a men’s David Yurman bracelet, and the silver clasp is fashioned in such a way as to look like a nautical knot. It’s called a Maritime bracelet, and when I saw it, I was reminded of our voyages on the sailboat in Santorini. I know you never wear any jewelry, other than your wedding band and watch, so if you don’t like it, I can always take it back.”

“You will not take this back.” Gaius grinned as he mentally refused her offer. “I like it, and it’s not constricting at all. No, this stays; and it is perfect, sweetheart. Thank you,” he said, leaning toward Alex so he could kiss her lips.

“I’m glad you like it. And for your second gift,” she said.

Gaius could hear the happiness in her tone through their connection. It compelled him to pull her down for another kiss before he could open his next present.

Alex played with his hair while he unwrapped the slightly larger box. She looked on with a gentle smile tugging at her lips as he removed a book with hand-drawn cover illustrations. Gaius flipped the book open and thumbed through the pages before he looked back up to her.

“I recognize this name, Amita. Is this from the teenager we worked with back in March, while we were in Rome?” he asked.

Alex nodded. “Yes, like Stewart, Amita loves to draw and, if you remember, she likes to cook too. The two of you talked about recipes and your love of creating new dishes constantly when we worked in the youth center. So, before we left, I asked Amita if she would create a cookbook for you of her favorite recipes, along with illustrations.”

“I promised to pay her well, and she was delighted to do this for you. Afterward, she told me she was going to use part of her profit to purchase additional blank journals and pen more collections of recipes to sell in the city. Who knows, maybe someday she’ll be a famous published chef,” Alex mused.

“I love this,” he said, nodding as he looked back down and continued to turn the pages. “She filled the book full,” Gaius noted in surprise. “Thank you for thinking of this. I’ll have to prepare something from these pages soon.”

“I like the sound of that,” Alex mentally teased. Then, she handed Gaius his last gift.

The present was much larger, and he took his time removing the festive gift wrap. He watched the delight and humor dancing through Alex’s eyes as he lifted the box’s top. He turned his gaze down to what she had selected for him.

Gaius sat up a little straighter on the bed as he removed the multiple shirts, jeans, and even a sweater that she had packed into the box for him. He smiled as he neared the bottom of the pile, looking over each item while he went along, but then he paused. Gaius arched an eyebrow as he slowly turned his gaze back to Alex. He found a bright blush beginning to cover her skin, and he grinned as he watched her shrug.

“Now it is your turn to explain,” he played.

Alex chuckled and nodded. “I thought these might also be a part of your gift, and items I would wear for you at some point. I had no idea that you would be thinking along the same lines and surprise me as you did this morning. So, now you have another few garments to look forward to,” she said, blushing heavily throughout her explanation.

“We’ve a little more time before we have to go downstairs for breakfast,” he said, raising his eyebrows in question.

“Yes, we do,” Alex chuckled and shook her head. She closed her eyes and held out her hand, waiting to see which gift he would select. She felt one placed into her palm, and she slid away to dress in the bathroom. Alex smiled when she finally opened her eyes, and then she slipped the delicate garment over her head.

When she returned, Alex found that Gaius had removed all of the packages and gift wrap from the bed and he was lying on his side once more to watch her entrance. Alex moved around to his side of the bed and she smiled as she watched him turn toward her. He reached out for her just as she was reaching for him, and they both continued to smile as Gaius lifted her and brought Alex into his arms.

He gently turned her until she was held at his side, and then let his eyes roam over Alex and her attire. Gaius slightly shook his head in wonder. Her brow furrowed as she saw a shadow flit through his gaze. One that Alex rarely saw now, but one she knew well.

“Gaius, what’s the matter?” she mentally asked him, reaching up to cup his face.

“Nothing is wrong, Alex,” he breathed, giving her a tender smile. “Sometimes, when I pause, I just can’t believe you are here with me. That we finally made it back to one another, and that I am no longer guarding you from a distance. I wanted so badly to reach out to you, but I knew I had to wait. Wait until you were ready for the knowledge of all this, and of us.”

“But I am so thankful for you, sweetheart, that sometimes just looking at you takes my breath away. This is why I tell you so often that you are my gift, Alexandria. For you are my home, in every way. And with you, I can finally breathe again and be at peace.”

“Oh, Gaius,” she said, pulling him down to kiss his forehead and then his cheek. “I know how blessed we are, and all that we’ve come through to find each other again. I’m going nowhere, and you will never be alone again. I love you.”

“And I love you,” he vowed, turning his face and capturing her lips with his. His hands slid along her sides and then back up to frame Alex’s face. The garment was soon set aside, and they were lost for a while longer, reveling in the true gift of their love, friendship, and passion.