A/N: This is one of the first things I wrote when I started trying to really write again after years and years of not writing. It has not been beta'd....all constructive criticism is welcome.
"Are you sure, you're up for this, darling? " Tom asked as they strolled up the walk to the front door of his mother's house, his left hand lightly resting on the small of her back.
"Well it's a little late to turn around and take me home now isn't it?" Kerwin snapped at him. She felt him flinch slightly at her tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." She glanced his way, noticing that he looked straight ahead and wouldn't look toward her. She stopped walking, and looked down at her feet, sighing. "I'm sorry. This isn't your fault, but you couldn't tell it by the way I've been treating you lately." Kerwin rubbed her face with both hands. The last few months had been tough and he had been nothing but an angel to her. She had been an ogre. She wondered why he stayed with her, especially when she had been trying so hard to push him away.
Tom moved to stand behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Sweetheart, I know this is a hard time for you, and I know that you don't really mean it. It doesn't make me love you any less." He leaned over and left a kiss behind her right ear, nuzzling her curly hair with his nose. It smelled like a mixture of rose petals and vanilla and he had to stifle the groan that was bubbling up from his throat. He loved the smell of her hair. When she had left him for a short period of time, he had slept with her pillow in his arms, breathing in the essence of her until the pillow lost her scent.
Kerwin leaned back into Tom's chest, not able to fight it anymore. He knew her weaknesses and she noticed that he was starting to use them to his advantage at every opportunity. She loved it when he kissed behind her ear, almost as much as when he would bite down at the juncture of her shoulder and neck. It had only been a few months, yet it felt like so long ago since he'd last done so.
Tom moved his hands from her shoulders, rubbing up and down her arms. "You let me know when you can't take it anymore and when you are ready to go. They won't expect us to stay all day. We can just head home and relax on the couch with left overs." He leaned even closer to her ear whispering, "You know Mum will send us home with plenty of left overs." Kerwin giggled knowing he spoke nothing but the truth. Tom's mother liked to make sure that they were all well fed.
"Ok, let's go in. It's chilly out here." Kerwin turned slightly in Tom's arms, putting her right arm around his waist as they walked the remainder of the way up to the door.
They didn't even have to knock before the door swung open, Tom's mother standing on the threshold. "You made it! I'm so glad you're here! Happy Christmas!" she said and tightly embraced her son. When she released him, she turned to hug Kerwin. "How are you feeling, darling? I don't want to hug you too hard," she said gingerly hugging her daughter-in-law.
"Tired mostly. Still a bit sore. Merry Christmas."
"Come in out of the cold, you two. Give me your coats. What would you like to drink?"
"Eheheheh," Tom giggled. "We can take care of our coats, Mum. What would you like, sweetheart? A glass of wine?" Tom asked while helping Kerwin remove her long winter coat.
"A glass of wine would be lovely, thank you," Kerwin glanced back over her shoulder at Diana.
"I'll just pop into the kitchen and get one started for you, dear." Diana turned away from the couple to walk to the kitchen.
