Give Me a Reason (57 page)

“Yep.”

When Toni made no move to get up, Laura rolled her eyes. “
Will
you stand?”

“I’ll do anything for you, darling,” Toni said as she climbed
out of the chair. “Now, whatcha have in mind?”

Laughing as she wrapped her arm around Toni’s waist, Laura
said, “How about I take you upstairs so you can sleep it off.”

“Are you going to sleep with me?”

“No, I’m going to come down and put all these groceries away
so we can start fixing some things for tomorrow.”

“When the Scotch wears off, my muscles are going to hurt
again.”

“Then I’ll run you a bath.”

“Will you join me then?” Toni asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“You know…like we did last week?”

There was absolutely nothing Laura could do to hide the swath
of scarlet blazing across her face, so she didn’t even try. With a shake of her
head, she guided Toni to the door, and looking over her shoulder at her mother,
she said, “Good luck. Somehow, I think you’re going to need it, too.”

“From where I’m standing, I think
you’re
going to need a whip and a chair,” Eleanor said with a laugh.

Thankful Toni was wearing pajamas, when they got to the
bedroom, Laura managed to turn down the bed and get Toni into it without too
much difficulty. Arranging the quilt around her drunken partner, Laura sat on
the bed and looked at the woman she loved.

“What are you looking at?” Toni asked in a whisper.

“You.”

“Got a spot on my face?”

Lightly touching a patch of red on Toni’s cheek, Laura said,
“No, just some wind burn.”

“You mad at me?”

“No.”

“Don’t be mad at Bill. It wasn’t his fault.”

“I’m not mad at anyone, Toni.”

“You sure?”

“Positive,” Laura said with a grin.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Kiss me.”

With a sigh, Laura leaned in for a kiss and when the first
one ended, the next began. Tenderly, their lips met again and again, and
breathing deep, Toni threaded her fingers through Laura’s hair, and when the
tip of her tongue touched Laura’s lips, Laura couldn’t refuse. Tongues began to
explore, and smiles were born in their hearts and cores as they spoke their
love without words. Finally, feeling Toni’s hands begin to travel south, Laura
pulled away. “
You
need to get some sleep.”

“I’m not that drunk, you know?”

“I know, but you
are
tired.”

“I don’t want to sleep away the day.”

“I’ll wake you in a couple of hours. How’s that?”

“Promise?”

“Yes,” Laura said, watching as Toni’s eyes grew heavy.

“I love you.”

“You already said that,” Laura whispered.

“It’s worth repeating.”

***

Skipping down the stairs, when Laura saw her mother coming
from the bedroom rearranging her blouse, a hearty laugh escaped. “It seems I
wasn’t the only one needing a whip and a chair.”

“Yes, well, I forgot your father was an octopus in a past
life,” Eleanor said, following Laura to the kitchen. “But he should be asleep
for most of the afternoon.”

“I promised Toni I’d wake her in a few hours,” Laura said,
looking at the groceries piled on the counter. “So, where do you want to
start?”

“Well, the chicken, beef and bacon need to marinate overnight
for the soup, so I’ll start with that. How about you chop up the vegetables for
the stuffing? Can you handle that?”

Hearing a note of sarcasm in her mother’s voice, Laura said,
“You say it as if I don’t know my way around the kitchen.”

“Oh, you know your way. As long as it comes out of box or a
can, you’re good to go.”

“Ha ha. I’ll have you know that I made chicken soup from
scratch, and Toni thought it was delicious.”

“Chicken soup? Was someone sick?”

“Yes, Toni had the flu.”

“That explains it then. She must have been out of her mind
with fever,” Eleanor said under her breath.

“I heard that.”

Smiling, Eleanor went about preparing the meats for the soup.
A few minutes passed while both busied themselves with the tasks at hand, until
Eleanor asked, “So, what are your plans? You’ve never said.”

“What do you mean?” Laura asked, looking up from the cutting
board.

“Well, you’re engaged. Any thought of where or
when
you’ll get married?”

“Actually, we really haven’t talked about it. We have to find
a house first and—”

“A house?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m selling mine.”

“What? Why?”

“When Toni moved in she was my lodger, and in a way she still
feels like that at times. Like she doesn’t have the right to voice her opinion
because—”

“It’s your house and not hers?”

“Yes, and with all her insecurities, this is probably going
to be the easiest one to fix.”

“So any thoughts as to where you’ll move?” Eleanor asked,
reaching into a cabinet for a pot.

“Toni likes it up here.”

Seeing her mother’s head pop up like a children’s toy, Laura
smiled. “Sorry, Mum. I love you, but our jobs are in London.”

“They don’t have to be,” Eleanor said in a voice syrupy
sweet.

“Yes, they most certainly do...at least for now.”

Regarding her daughter through narrowed eyes, Eleanor asked,
“Are you trying to give me hope with that statement, young lady?”

“No, more like trying to get you off my back,” Laura mumbled.
A second later, Laura laughed as she dodged a stalk of celery, thankful that
her mother’s aim had never been true.

***

Toni drew a long, slow breath as she rolled to her side.
Casually placing her arm around Laura’s middle, she spooned against her and
sighed.

“Hiya,” Laura whispered.

“I thought you were supposed to be in the kitchen baking a
pie or something,” Toni mumbled into Laura’s neck.

“I was, up until about forty minutes ago. Mum and I decided
to take a break, so I came up for a short kip.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Exactly what purpose would that serve?”

“The usual purpose,” Toni said, placing a kiss on the back of
Laura’s neck.

A slow smile grew on Laura’s face. “You are in no shape for
that, Toni, and we both know it.”

“True, but haven’t you heard that it’s better to give than to
receive?” Toni asked, sliding her hand under Laura’s T-shirt.

Laura couldn’t help but moan when Toni’s hand covered her
breast. While a thin layer of fabric lay between Toni’s palm and her skin,
Laura knew that if she didn’t act fast, Toni’s skillful fingers would find
their way under her bra. The only problem was…Laura didn’t want to act fast.

Hearing no argument, Toni moved a bit closer and slipping her
fingers under the spandex, she smiled when she felt the erect nipple. Caressing
it gently, she listened as Laura’s breathing grew louder, but with no need to
rush, she continued to softly rub and tweak the tip until it was hard and
surrounded by pebbles of pink.

Laura closed her eyes and luxuriated in the sensual massage,
and when Toni’s hand finally began to creep lower, all Laura could do was purr
in anticipation.

Easily opening the snap of Laura’s jeans, Toni pulled the zip
down ever so slowly, taking great pleasure in the lackadaisical tempo she was
setting. Hearing a contented sigh slip from Laura’s lips when the zipper
finally reached its end, Toni pushed her hand under the denim, and Laura sighed
again. Toni’s fingers traveled over the silk of Laura’s knickers, and when
Laura shifted just a bit, Toni slipped her hand between Laura’s legs.

“Oh,” Laura said in a whisper as Toni rubbed her through the
silk. “Oh…yes.”

Toni continued to tease Laura through the fabric. Gently
wiggling her finger over the rapidly thickening folds, it didn’t take long
before Laura’s passion soaked through the material.

With a low, sultry growl, Toni moved her hand under the silk,
and before she reached the patch of brown curls, Laura raised one knee and
offered herself to her partner.

Laura was dripping with desire, and Toni’s fingers easily
moved through the swollen petals, pressing and tweaking, rubbing and wiggling,
until Laura began to pant. Short, ragged gasps signaled her need, and the sound
caused Toni’s own juices to flow free. Waiting only for a moment, Toni pushed
her finger inside of Laura.

Knowing they weren’t alone in the house, Laura bit down on
her lip to prevent the sounds of ecstasy from escaping as Toni entered her.
Craving all Toni could give her Laura grabbed Toni’s wrist and encouraged her
to go deep…and to go hard.

At first, Toni didn’t heed Laura’s request, but then slowly
she began to increase the force and depth of her strokes. Unable to move for
fear the bed would squeak, Laura could do nothing but lie there in silence as
Toni took her to orgasm. Again and again, Toni tormented Laura with skillful
probing until finally, Laura felt the contractions begin. Knowing she wouldn’t
be able to stop her cries of pleasure from escaping, Laura buried her face in
the goose down pillow as the climax swept over her.

Moving away enough to allow the heat between their bodies to
escape, Toni listened in silence as Laura’s breathing slowly returned to
normal. Smiling, she asked, “Are you still alive?”

A gurgle of laughter slipped from Laura’s lips as she turned
in Toni’s arms. Studying her face for a moment, she said, “You are the most
beautiful woman in the world.”

“Second most beautiful.”

“What say we call it a tie?”

Chapter Fifty-Four

“Absolutely not.”

“But it’s tradition.”

“I don’t bloody care!”

Coming into the kitchen with Toni one step behind, Laura
asked, “What the hell is going on?”

“Your father wants to get a branch from the rowan, and I told
him no,” Eleanor said, crossing her arms.

“Oh,” Laura said quietly.

“Hello? I’m new here. Could someone explain what this is all
about?” Toni asked.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Laura said. “It’s a Scottish tradition
to burn a small branch from a rowan at Christmas. It’s supposed to clear away
any bad feelings like jealousy or mistrust between family, friends and
neighbors.”

“That sounds like a great tradition to me. So what’s the
problem? Aren’t there any rowans around?”

“Yes, there are,” Bill said, pointing out the window. “Past
the maple, there are at least four or five—”

“And I had them all trimmed this past spring!” Eleanor said,
glaring at the man. “William, you can’t reach the branches without a ladder,
and I’m not having you traipse out there in the snow carrying a bloody ladder.
Now stop acting like—”

“I’ll do it,” Toni said.

“Toni…no,” Laura said, touching her arm. “You’re still sore—”

“Please, Laura. It’s a tradition, and after everything that’s
happened, having a bit more luck on our side sounds like a good idea to me. Don’t
you think?”

“I suppose—”

“Good,” Toni said with a quick nod. “Now, where’s the ladder?
Oh, and I suppose I’ll need a saw.”

“I’ll show you where they are,” Bill chimed in as he began to
head for the hallway.

“William!” Eleanor shouted, stopping the man in his tracks.

Slowly, Bill turned around, and with all the boyish charm he
could muster, he said, “Yes, dear?”

Eleanor knew she had lost the argument as soon as she saw the
playful look on Bill’s face. “Just please do me a favor and don’t hurt
yourself. Okay?”

Smiling, Bill strutted over and kissed her quickly on the
cheek. “Wouldn’t think of it, love.” Turning to look at Toni, he said, “Now,
let me just get my coat, and we’ll be off.”

Watching them disappear into the hall, Eleanor said, “Laura?”

“Yeah, Mum?”

“I don’t know about you, but I have this feeling we’re going
to have to keep those two separated.”

***

“I feel like I could sit here until spring,” Bill said,
relaxing into the sofa.

“You shouldn’t have had that last slice,” Eleanor said,
nudging the empty pizza box on the ottoman with her foot.

“I’m not full…just content. I can’t think of a better way to
spend Christmas Eve than with you three lovely ladies.”

The smile on Laura’s face matched that of her mother’s and
Toni’s, and gathering the paper plates and discarded napkins, she headed to the
kitchen. “Coffee, tea...or something stronger?” she said over her shoulder.

Three voices became one in an instant. “Stronger!”

Snickering, Laura tossed out the rubbish, and then opening a
cabinet, she perused her mother’s wine selection.

“Dry and red is my choice,” Toni said as she came into the
kitchen and placed the empty pizza boxes on the counter.

“I know what you like.”

“Yes, you do,” Toni whispered, wrapping her arms around
Laura’s waist.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been quite...um...
attentive
today.”

“Am I not always?”

“Yes, but after everything that’s happened, I expected you to
be a little…a little less—”

“Horny?”

“Yes!” Laura said with a laugh. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t
mind. I was just wondering why?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’m alive.”

“What?”

“I’m alive, and I feel good,” Toni said with a shrug. “I
don’t know how else to explain it, but sitting out there, chatting and laughing
as we all sat around eating pizza...it just felt so right. So...so normal and
comfortable.”

Turning in Toni’s arms, Laura looked up at the woman. “It
sounds to me like you’re happy.”

“I am,” Toni said as she leaned in for a kiss.

The kiss was slow and soft, and it would have lasted much
longer if Bill hadn’t shouted from the lounge, “Oi! Where’s our drinks?”

Amused by the interruption, they separated and while Toni
uncorked a bottle of Pinot Noir, Laura grabbed the glasses, and together they
returned to the lounge.

“It’s about time,” Bill said, sitting on the floor by the
tree.

“Where’s Mum?” Laura asked, handing him a glass.

“Using the loo.”

“Why are you sitting on the floor?”

“Your mother and I were talking while you were
snogging
in the kitchen, and we thought it might be
a good idea to open our presents tonight. Tomorrow is going to be chaotic
around here, what with all the children and the food, but of course, if you’d
rather wait...”

“No, we can, that is as long Toni doesn’t mind.”

“I’ve been wondering for days what’s in that large one,” Toni
said, pointing to a coat-sized box wrapped in foil. “Give it here, Bill.”

“No, no, no,” Laura said quickly, scrambling to intercept the
package before it got to Toni’s hands. “This one needs to wait, sweetheart.”

“They’re all going to wait,” Eleanor said, coming back into
the room carrying some shopping bags. “At least until we take care of a few
more things.”

“Like what?”

Smiling, Eleanor pulled a box of votive candles from one of
the bags and handed them to Laura.

“I can’t believe I forgot,” Laura said as her mother handed
her a lighter.

“Quite understandable, sweetheart,” Eleanor said. “Why don’t
you and Toni do the honors?”

“All right,” Laura said, reaching out to take Toni’s hand.
“Come on.”

When they reached the hallway, Toni pulled Laura to a stop.
“What’s going on?”

“Tonight is Christmas Eve.”

“I know that.”

“But in Scotland, it’s also called Oidche Choinnle.”

“Say what?” Toni said, jerking back her head at the Gaelic
flowing easily from Laura’s mouth.

Grinning, Laura said, “It means Night of Candles.”

“Okay?”

“You remember how I said that Mum likes to go all-out for
Christmas?”

“How I could I forget? I’m the one who was hanging lights
from the rafters.”

“Well, it’s her favorite time of the year because she loves
all the Scottish traditions, and one of them is to put candles in the windows
on Christmas Eve to light the way for the Holy Family. And legend has it that
shopkeepers used to give out Yule candles to strangers to help guide their way
and keep them safe, so tomorrow when everyone gets here, we’ll give the rest to
them.”

“Really?” Toni asked softly.

“Yeah.”

Smiling at the sentiment, Toni said, “Where do we start?”

“Upstairs. Let’s go,” Laura said, trotting up the stairs.

When they returned to the lounge a few minutes later, Toni
was surprised to see both Eleanor and Bill removing their coats. Noticing that
the crisscrossed stack of wood near the hearth had grown taller by a few rows,
she asked, “Okay, so what’s this all about, or did someone forget to pay the
power bill?”

“
This
is more superstition
than anything else,” Laura said, putting the remaining candles on the bookcase.
“It’s said if you keep a fire going on Christmas Eve, the sprites roaming
around outside won’t get down the chimney to wreak their havoc.”

“The
sprites
?”

“I said it was a superstition.”

Glancing at the stack of wood again, Toni said, “So, wait.
Are you saying someone stays up all night to make sure it doesn’t go out?”

“I’ll stoke it before we retire and then get up around three
to check on it,” Bill chimed in. “After all, we wouldn’t want any sprites
ruining our day, now would we?”

“Heaven forbid,” Toni said, smiling back at the man whose
eyes were filled with whimsy. “So, Bill, tell me, exactly what
does
a sprite look like?”

Placing his finger on his lips, he thought for a moment.
“Well, to tell you the truth, Toni, I’ve never really seen one, but I’m told
they’re a bit like an elf...only with teeth.”

“Sounds scary.”

“Yes, indeed. I’ve also heard that most have red hair, green
eyes and are about this high,” Bill said, holding his hand a few feet off the
ground as he glanced at Laura. “And they have one hell of a temper.”

“My hair is auburn. I’m taller than that, and Mum was right!”
Laura said, playfully bumping her hip into Toni’s. “We seriously need to keep
you two separated.”

“What are they up to now?” Eleanor asked, coming out of the
bedroom carrying what appeared to be more Christmas decorations.

“Just working on their comedy routine, I think,” Laura said
with a laugh. “What’s all that?”

“The new stockings. In all the commotion, I forgot to put
them up,” Eleanor said, setting the two cast-iron hangers on the mangle.
Placing the stocking on the hooks, she stood back and admired the embroidered
names of
Toni
and
William
stitched across the white bands. “That’s much better.” Turning around, she
handed a small package to Toni. “Hang that up. Will you sweetheart?”

Glancing at the package, Toni pulled the mistletoe from the
cellophane. “Now,
this
is a tradition I know
about,” she said. Walking over, she hung it from the garland draped over the
doorway, and then turning on her heel, she crooked her finger at Laura. “Come
here and be my first victim.”

Laughing, Laura sauntered over to Toni and looked up at the
sprig above their heads. “Just to let you know, in Scotland mistletoe is
supposed to bring luck and ward off evil spirits.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“And…um…it’s got nothing to do with a kiss?”

“Some people think it does.”

“Laura?”

“Yes?”

“I’m one of those people,” Toni said as she pulled Laura into
her arms and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

“If you two keep snogging, we’ll never get to the presents!”
Bill shouted as he topped off their wine glasses.

Grinning, Laura and Toni walked over and sat on the floor
near the fireplace, each taking a glass as it was offered.

“So, now that all the traditions are out of the way…” Toni
said, reaching for the large foil-wrapped package.

“Not so fast,” Eleanor said. Taking the rowan branch from the
top of the wood pile, she placed it in Laura’s hands. After one quick glance at
William, Eleanor leaned in close to her daughter. “Put it in the flames, Laura.
Clear away the bad feelings and make room for the good.”

With an infinitesimal nod, Laura smiled as she took the
branch, and crawling over, she placed it in the hearth.

“
Now
the traditions are
over,” Eleanor said, sitting on the sofa. “So which package first?”

“This one,” Toni said, grabbing for the large box again.

“No, not that one, Toni. Really…it needs to wait,” Laura
said, reaching for the box.

“Why?”

It was a simple question, but one not easily answered with
her parents sitting only a few feet away. Thinking quickly, the corners of
Laura’s mouth turned up just a hair. “Because
they
aren’t
white.”

Toni tilted her head to the side. Staring at Laura, she
replayed the words in her mind and when the answer came Toni’s eyes bulged.
“Oh!” she said, shoving the box into Laura’s outstretched hands.
“Oh...well...um...perhaps Laura is right on this one. Maybe I should wait
until...um...until later to open it.”

Bill’s eyes darted from Toni to Laura, and then back at
Eleanor. Shaking his head, he said under his breath, “I’m not going to ask.”

“Neither am I,” Eleanor whispered in return. “Neither am I.”

***

Kisses were given and looks of love were exchanged as they
opened their presents of clothing and books, and as the fire crackled in the
hearth and wine was sipped, love filled the room.

When Toni and Laura had returned to Stirling earlier in the
week to finish their shopping, Toni insisted they go to Barleys. After spending
a better part of a morning decorating the outside of Eleanor’s house with Bill
by her side, Toni knew what she wanted to get the man. So, strolling over to
their selection of gloves, she perused the rack until she found the perfect
pair of fur-lined leather worthy of the man who had become her friend.

Even though Laura was determined to buy her father only a
card for Christmas, while she was waiting patiently for Toni to decide on the
gloves, she noticed a display of woven scarves. Going over, she ran her finger
over the soft Scottish cashmere and debated. Convincing herself that her
decision was only because of the Christmas music spewing from the overhead
speakers, she pulled out one displaying the MacLeod tartan and then walked with
Toni to the register.

Toni watched as Bill carefully opened the gift from his
daughter, the smile on his face matching the one she had worn the day Laura had
bought the scarf.

“Oh, Laura, it’s marvelous,” Bill said, fingering the cloth.
“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, Bill,” Laura said softly.

“And these gloves, Toni. How very thoughtful of you.”

“I’m glad you like them, Bill,” Toni said.

“Well, it seems we made short work of that,” Eleanor said,
laughing at the emptiness under the tree.

“Actually, I have a few more,” Bill said, getting to his
feet. “Be right back.”

Disappearing into the bedroom, he emerged a minute later
carrying a shopping bag. Returning to his place on the sofa, he reached into
the bag and pulled out a small box wrapped in red foil. Handing it to Eleanor,
he said, “This is for you.”