True Lovers

Chapter 25 A Very Cuddly Christmas

My appetite had fully returned by dinner so I ordered platefuls of a rack of lamb, baked potatoes, asparagus, and for dessert, a cherry salad. Yeah, I wasn't up to eating anything that tasted like cake yet.

"What?" I asked Pierce over the table while chomping down a leg of lamb ravenously. He gazed at me with amusement in his eyes and shook his head.

"Nothing, you're just cute when you eat." He reached over and dabbed my mouth with his napkin. I grinned sheepishly with my mouth full.

"Sorry, I eat like a bear when I'm upset."

"That's okay," Pierce replied, interlacing his fingers over the table, "I'm more concerned about you still being upset."

"Oh, it's just... you know." I shrugged. "Trey's been nothing but a pain in the neck this whole trip, it's like he came along just to bring me down."

"High school is never easy, babydoll, for anyone," Pierce said gently. "Believe me, bullying and harassment are part and parcel of everyone's life at some point."

"Even for you?" I asked in surprise. Pierce smiled warily.

"Yeah, even me, believe me, that damn newspaper club was the bane of my existence back in the day."

"And mine," I said dismally. He nodded.

"And it's not like there weren't a few people who got on my nerves back then too. There was this girl who bothered my cousin a lot... I had to be his wingman to fend her off... she used to mess with your sister too."

"You mean Karen!" I exclaimed. "Yeah I remember her, Thea never stopped griping about her for a while." I sighed. "But it still sucks having a stalker." Pierce put his hand over mine on the table.

"You know I'm always here for you, babydoll. We'll get through anything together." I smiled at my golden boy.

"I know, Pierce, I love you."

"I love you too, babydoll," Pierce replied tenderly, lifting my hands to his lips and kissing it. "Hang on, I got something that'll cheer you up." He went over to his rucksack and took out a small blue box wrapped in a lavender ribbon.

"Oh, Pierce, not another present!" I smiled as he placed it in my hand. How does he have all these things ready? I untied the ribbon and gasped upon seeing two pretty little studded earrings, shaped like a four-pointed star with sparkles surrounding it.

"Pierce, it's beautiful, thank you!" I exclaimed in delight. He chuckled.

"Because you're my star," he said softly, and I hugged him with an 'Awww'.

"You say the sweetest things, sweetie..."

"Glad you like it. I had a feeling you had a thing for pretty things. I was gonna give it to you for Christmas in two days but since we're here... I figured now was a good time."

"Now's perfect," I beamed, putting the earrings on. "Oh, I didn't get you anything, I was gonna give you your gift when we got home!"

"That's okay, you being here with me is the greatest gift I could get, Amber," Pierce said, giving me an ardent gaze. In seconds, I was in his arms, exchanging passionate pecks. We eventually made it to the bed and continued making out, unbridled and uninterrupted. Sometimes it still amazed me that Pierce was my boyfriend—that he was in love with me and wanted me when he could've had anyone older and more sophisticated. Yet here he was, speaking love with his lips. Yeah, being with him here was a gift, one I would cherish while it lasted. Who knows when I'll get another night with him like this.

"Mmm, I taste cherry," Pierce moaned between my lips. I giggled and hummed in contentment at his open-mouthed kisses. He really knew how to strum me and get all the right notes out of me! His hands were passionate yet careful, tender yet fiery as they caressed my body. His seducing lips put me under a spell and I lost the ability to think as his kisses grew more intense in passion. Yet he was very gentle with me like he knew how to hold back and let go at the same time. He was in control but not restrained. I could sense how much he wanted me—because he loved me.