Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart (26 page)

Then there remained only one small box. Kit
opened the tiny gift with trembling fingers. Inside rested a small
diamond pendant in the shape of a heart. Now Kit was speechless.
Her face flushed, her eyes filled with tears.

“You already have my heart, you might as
well wear it,” he said, combing his fingers through her hair.

She took his face in her hands to kiss him
deeply.

“When am I going to get a fashion show?” He
wiggled his eyebrows.

“Later.”

She planned a special dinner for Tunney with
his mother’s mushroom stuffing recipe, fished out of a dusty box on
the third floor, as the featured surprise. She turned on all the
outside lights. The single candle in the living room window blazed;
the tree winked and blinked. Kit played her favorite Bing Crosby
Christmas album, lit the candles on the table then opened the wine.
They sat down in the dining room to the festive table setting with
Christmas plaid cloth placemats on a dark green table cloth, and
candles burning. A seasonal centerpiece of pine cones mixed with
dried berries completed the magazine centerfold look. When Tunney
walked into the dining room, he stopped and stared.

“My mother would love this room…the
table…you have all her little Christmas things and the
colors…everything is beautiful, Kit.”

She bowed to cover her pleasure at his
praise.

“Glad you think Mary would approve. I know
she’d approve of my last Christmas present to you, Mr. Tunney
Nichols. I decided not to take the job with Blue Waters,” she said,
her eyes shining.

Tunney’s face lit up.

“The best present of all,” he said, toasting
with his wine, he kissed her hand.

They ate in silence for a while.

“Hey, is this my mother’s stuffing? Sure
tastes like it.”

“I found some of her recipes upstairs.” Kit
said.

“My favorite. How did you know?” He scooped
up a forkful of stuffing.

“Lucky guess.”

“I have one more present for you.” He tossed
a small envelope on the table.

Kit opened it to reveal a set of keys.

“What?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.

“Look out the window. See the fully loaded
Silver SUV? It’s yours. I can’t have you driving the rust bucket
during our winters here. It’s not safe,” he said, taking her hand
and leading her to the living room window.

“Tunney, I can’t accept this.” Her face
almost touched the window as her eyes perused the new car.

“Why not? Safety first. Please let me do
this for you. ” He draped his arm around her shoulders.

She kissed him and kissed him.

“Best…most amazing…Christmas present ever.
Thank you.”

They returned to the dining room and their
meal.

He shoveled a big forkful of stuffing into
his mouth. When he finished chewing he said,

“Best Christmas…ever.”

After dinner while Tunney washed the dishes,
she slipped away to the parlor and sat down at her computer. She
opened her email.

Sarah,

Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope
you are recovering fast and

Jim and the kids are taking care of things
so you can rest. I wanted to thank

you from the bottom of my heart. If you had
not convinced me to come to

Willow Falls; I don’t know where I’d be
right now. I know I wouldn’t

be the happy person I am. Without you, I
wouldn’t have met Tunney. Guess

I never knew what love was until now. I owe
it all to you. Sending you

love & tons of hugs. Kit

After checking a few more places on the
Internet, a ding beckoned her to return to her email where she
found Sarah’s reply.

Kit, So happy you’re happy. Things here are
a little crazy but with Jim and everyone helping out, we’re
managing to eat. I’m lucky to have them and you, too.

I’m so glad you and Tunney have found love.
Now you’ll stay in Willow Falls and be my friend forever. What a
merry Christmas, eh?

Hugs, Sarah

Kit returned to the kitchen to help. When
she reached up to put away the dishes Tunney came up behind her,
wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. She
eased her head back onto his shoulder. As he moved his hands up to
her breasts, he nuzzled her neck.

“This top feels as soft as...almost like
you’re not wearing anything…what is it?” he breathed into her
ear.

“Cashmere.”

The sweet gardenia scent of her perfume
seduced his nose. He took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar
fragrance he associated with touching and loving Kit.

She closed her eyes, leaning against him.
Passion sped through his veins. His hand massaged her through the
soft fabric. He began to get hard, and his breathing became
ragged.

About nine o’clock, he slipped upstairs.
After making special preparations, he dropped a small package into
the top drawer in the nightstand then returned to the kitchen.

At nine thirty, he laced his long fingers
through hers.

“Let’s go upstairs,” he whispered in her
ear.

When she got to the bedroom, a roaring fire
in the fireplace greeted her. Champagne in a bucket was icing, with
two flutes on the nightstand. A few candles stood, waiting to be
lit. The lights were out.

“Oh my God, this is so romantic…so unlike
you.”

“You think I’m not romantic?”

“Never saw this side of you.”

Tunney pulled her to him for a kiss, angling
his head. He slipped his hands under her tunic, his fingers
caressing the warm skin of her waist then her back. Slowly he
inched the top up, his warm palms on her skin until he lifted it
over her head.

“I’m not the only one with surprises
tonight,” he chuckled, gazing at her red lace bra.

A saucy smile stole across her face.

“Can I suppose…maybe hope is a better
word…the bottom matches the top?”

“See for yourself.”

Tunney slid his fingers under the waistband
of her velour pants and inched them down. “Don’t want to rush the
surprise.”

“Take your time. I’ve got all night.” She
smiled up at him.

When his hands moved the garment down to her
thighs he gasped at the sight of her red lace panties.

“My prayers have been answered!” He
chuckled.

“My turn.”

Kit undressed him slowly, unbuttoning each
button. She slipped her hands under his t-shirt to run them up his
chest. Tunney pulled his shirt off then yanked his undershirt over
his head.

“Better?” He asked, cocking an eyebrow at
her.

“Much.” She replied, her eyes darkening with
desire as she looked at him.

Tunney’s fingers skimmed the satin of her
bra cups seeking her nipples. He squeezed gently to make them hard,
eliciting a soft sound from her. Kit gripped his shoulders to pull
him down for a kiss. Her lips teased his, her tongue swiped across
his lips, into his mouth. Tunney slid his hands around to her back
and crushed her against his chest. He popped open the bra hooks and
eased her back so he could watch it fall to the floor.

“Love looking at you,” he murmured, staring
at her with hungry eyes.

“You’re overdressed.”

She unbuckled his belt then unzipped his
pants. When they hit the floor, Tunney stepped out of them.

“We’re even.” She said eying him from head
to toe.

“Too even.” Tunney slid his hands under the
waistband of her panties and down over her behind, taking her red
panties with him. When they were on the floor, she kicked them up
onto a chair.

“Now, we’re even.”

“Not yet.” Kit hooked her thumbs into the
waist of his boxers and slid them to the floor.

“Now!” She yanked down the bedcovers.

He popped the cork on the champagne then
filled the two flutes. Handing one to her, he stood looking her
over before making a toast. He raised his glass.

“Merry Christmas. You’ll always be my best
present.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t cry, honey,” he said, putting his
glass down on the nightstand, folding her into his embrace.

He took her glass, put it with his, then
clasped her hands in his.

“Give me your beautiful body, your heart…let
me make love to you,” he whispered, his mouth inches from her ear,
his warm breath tickling her neck.

Blinking rapidly, she nodded, letting him
lead her to the bed. The flames from the fire cast a soft glow
turning her skin to shimmering satin. The heat from the fire
couldn’t compare to the heat building up in his veins.

He skimmed his hands over her shoulders and
down to her breasts while his mouth planted soft small kisses down
her neck. She lost her hands in his hair. His lips followed his
hands down the center of her chest while his hands glided down her
smooth sides. He purposely didn’t touch her most sensitive places,
but rather kissed and caressed around them. Her breathing got
heavy.

“Tunney…”

“What sweetheart?” He raised his head to
look into her eyes.

“More…more…” Her hips squirmed.

“In due time. I want to touch you, feel you…
take my time, no hurry tonight.”

“Now…now…” Her hips had a mind of their
own.

Yet he didn’t move his hands from her
thighs.

“I want you to want me…” He spoke
softly.

“I do, I do…Tunney, I want you, I want you
to touch me…”

He moved his hands up over her breasts.

“Beg me to take you…” His lips closed over
her nipple.

“Please, oh please…touch me…take me.” She
tightened her grip on his shoulders.

Her blue eyes pleaded with him, they broke
his control. His mouth greedily devoured her breasts, sucking and
laving her nipples while his hand moved to explore her slick core.
She threw her head back as his hands worked their magic. He easily
slipped two fingers inside her, grinning when she groaned.

“Oh my God. Tunney…”

“Now?”

“Now.”

“Not yet.” He panted slightly.

“I’m begging…please…”

He shot her a wicked grin.

“If you so desire…”

Kit curled her fingers around him, surprised
to find him as hard as a rock. He tore the condom package, covered
himself quickly then gently pushed her back on the bed.

“Are you ready for me?” His dark eyes were
black with passion as they bore into her blues.

She muttered an unintelligible response. He
hovered over her only for a moment before repositioning her legs
then plunging into her. He groaned loudly as he moved all the way
in. Barely coherent, Kit cried out as her climax took over. Her
hips rocked with his as he thrust into her again and again. His
mouth came down on hers in a hard kiss, demanding, owning.

“You’re mine forever…taking you…oh, Kit,” he
murmured.

She became like putty, soft, pliable molding
her body to his. As he picked up speed, he felt intensity growing,
spiraling inside him. Her gasps grew sharper, more urgent exciting
him to the maximum. He felt her hips undulate with his in sync at
first then move faster. He changed his rhythm to match hers,
feeling their crescendo build.

Sweat broke out on his forehead as his
control began to slip. His fingers gripped the bed clothes next to
her head as he increased his thrust, first harder, then faster
knowing his control would break soon. Kit tightened her arms around
his chest, moaning loudly as her hips moved up and down with his in
rhythm. Her loud groan, followed by his name signaled her release.
Her eyes opened so she could watch him as his desire erupted,
exploding into an intense orgasm. He thrust into her two more
times, then moaned loudly into her neck.

Afterward they lay still. Drops of sweat
dripping from Tunney’s forehead pooled on the sheet next to Kit’s
head. Her fingers glided down his back. As he started to get up,
she pulled him back down.

“Not yet. Please. A moment longer.”

He closed his eyes feeling her strong, wet
muscles flutter slightly against his spent shaft. He kissed her
neck, combed her hair with his fingers. She held the bear hug
around Tunney’s chest for a few more moments before tapping him on
the shoulder. As he got up, his gaze landed on her breasts and
worked down, his lopsided grin grew wider than ever. She reached up
to push his hair off his forehead, smiling into his eyes. His lips
brushed hers in a sweet kiss.

They settled into the bed to watch the fire
while finishing their champagne. Tunney lay only half covered by
the sheet. The smell of the burning wood mixed with the lingering
scent of her perfume was intoxicating. Kit watched the light of the
fire dancing, creating angles and shadows on his handsome face,
chest and arms. She brushed her fingers through the dark hair on
his chest then cuddled up. He reached for her, pulling her up
against him. The crackling and hissing of the wood fire was like
soothing music.

Her eyes moistened, she reached up taking
his rough face in her hands.

“I love you. I love you, Tunney, do you
hear?”

His adoring gaze fell on her lips as he gave
her the gentlest, softest kiss.

“I love you, too, Kit. Have for a long
time.”

Tunney poured out more champagne. He made a
toast.

“To us,” he said, clinking his flute to
hers.

“To us.” A warm smile spread across her
face.

After they finished their champagne, Kit
reached for the light but Tunney stopped her.

“One more surprise.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Christmas Day when I was a kid, we went to
Kiwanis. We volunteered at the Christmas party for underprivileged
kids. The tradition stuck.”

“So tomorrow—“

“Right! I’ve been doing it ever since.
They’re expecting me tomorrow. Would you come with me?”

“Of course.” She pulled the sheet up.

“Good, because I already told them you’d be
there…”