My Father's Gift (24 page)

“You can use the bathroom first to get changed,” he said, indifferently.

D’Cerner removed her hat and tossed it on the king size bed that practically took up the entire room. 

“Cal,” she started, “we need to talk about…”

“There’s nothing that needs to be said,” he interrupted her,” just go change.”

Angrily D’Cerner snatched the bag off the chair that contained her nightgown and a hanger and stomped into the bathroom.

“Who does he think he is?” she muttered to herself.  “I’m not a piece of property that he can treat any way he wants.  I’ve got a good mind to walk out of here and keep going.”

When she took off her wedding suit, she couldn’t hold back the tears that streamed down her face.  She hung up the suit and put on the two-piece, floor length white silk ensemble that Cal had purchased for her.

“What a joke,” she thought.  “Some wedding night this will be when I can’t even have a civil conversation with the groom.”

After she changed, she pulled hairpins from her hair and brushed it out, allowing the soft curly locks to hang around her shoulders.  Then she put the lid down on the toilet and sat there pouting for a few minutes, contemplating staying in the bathroom all night.  Finally, she pulled herself together and decided that nothing was going to happen until they got a few things straightened out first.  She flung open the door and flounced out the bathroom, determined to have a showdown with Cal.

While D’Cerner was in the bathroom, Cal had turned down the covers on the bed and turned off all but one lamp, leaving the room in semi-darkness.  He had changed from his tuxedo into a pair of white silk pajama bottoms and was sitting in a chair in the corner with his fingers entwined as though he had nothing better to do than to sit there thinking.  When he heard D’Cerner turn the doorknob to open the door, he rose and crossed the room.

“Cal,” she started,”

“Take off the robe,” he said huskily.

“We need to talk,” she retorted, ready to argue.

But before she could say another word, she looked into his eyes and her tongue failed her when she saw longing and desire blazing a path right through her heart.  Cal pulled her to him and kissed her so urgently she forgot what she was going to say.  His hands were all over her, removing her gown and before she knew it, they had fallen backwards onto the bed, with nothing between them.  Not once did he say anything. The consuming passion said everything.  There was no need for words.  As their two bodies locked together, their only thought was to satisfy the passion.  Their movements became frenzied, as if they couldn’t afford the luxury of taking time to get acquainted. And because their mutual need was so great, it really didn’t matter.  After a short span of time they lay panting, not speaking, still basking in the afterglow of much spent emotion.

D’Cerner lay quietly, tears streaming down her face.

“Did I hurt you?” Cal asked, alarmed when he looked into her eyes.

“No,” she whispered, “I…”

He effectively silenced her with a deep probing kiss.

“Sh,” he uttered, as he kissed her wet cheeks.  “Don’t talk.  I know what you’re going to say and it’s all right.”

“But I wanted our first time together to be so special,” she whispered, tearfully.

“I know, baby,” he whispered as wrapped his arms around her.  “But it had to be this way.  After waiting two years to hold you, I simply couldn’t wait any longer.  We have the rest of our lives to take it slow and to discover what each of us needs.  And each time, that you’re in my arms, will be special.

They lay there for a while in each other’s arms and then began to cuddle with one another.  Cal looked into her eyes and she into his posing a question.  Then they began an exploration of each other as if they were the first to discover the human body.  Slowly Cal manipulated her sensitivities until she felt as though she was going to scream in sheer ecstasy of his touch.  She moved to get into a better position and when they couldn’t stand waiting a moment longer, they made love for the second time that night and words could never describe the intimacy they felt for each other.

“Are you happy now?” Cal whispered as he kissed D’Cerner’s shoulder.

“Mmm,” she sighed happily, as she snuggled even closer to his warm, slightly moist body.  “Extremely.”

Her body tingled deliciously as he continued to caress her shoulders with kisses. For almost an hour, he held her in his arms with her back to him.  Abruptly she turned to face him and looked into his eyes.  The intensity she had felt from the beginning was reflected in his soulful eyes.  The desire that strained to surface from the deep well of delayed gratification penetrated her very thoughts and ignited them both.  She responded to his caresses in kind, slowly tracing a path with her lips up his arm, under his chin, and down again through the soft mat of hair on his chest.  He lay back and watched her with unconcealed delight as her hand discovered him pulsating.  Cal gently turned her over on her back and stroked her cheek with his fingers and while she watched him, she was barely able to contain the convulsive sensations that gripped her.  He bent over her to brush her lips with a kiss while his hands began a gentle massage of her body.  She wanted to reach out and pull him against her, but she managed to restrain herself. 

As his hand continued its massage down her abdomen, a low moan escaped from deep within her.  Cal glanced at her and with the spiritual telepathy they once enjoyed now reconnected, they knew. The time was now.  His liquefied eyes captivated her and mirrored inflamed passion.  She put her arms around his neck and pulled him to her.  Their mouths met, first hungrily, then slowly as if they wanted to the moment to last for eternity.  Then, as their kisses demanded more, it was obvious she no longer wanted to exercise restraint.  With the ease of practiced lovers, they came together and their passion carried them into another realm where they were the only ones who mattered.

“Well,” D’Cerner thought, as she lay beside her husband of almost five hours, “he was certainly right about the fact that every time would be special.”

And as she reflected upon the events of the past twenty-four hours, she decided she really was grateful for her
Daddy’s
wonderful gift.

“No one will ever believe this,” she thought as she began to fall asleep.  “No one.  Two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it.”  She moved closer to Cal to curl up in the curve of his body and fell asleep smiling

*****

Cal woke up about three a.m. and smiled when he looked at D’Cerner who looked at peace and very much at home in his arms as she slept.  He moved gently to put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head as he settled a little closer to her in the bed.

“I almost blew this,” he thought as he gazed at her.  “Who would have thought that after everything that we’ve been through that we would have ended up here, together, married at last.”

He lay there holding onto D’Cerner, afraid that if he let her go, she would disappear.  He knew that his pompous attitude and insecurities had almost cost him this very moment, but looking back on it, he couldn’t see any other way of doing it.  If the two of them had not been so headstrong, they might have been able to avoid their near catastrophe and this time could have come for them a lot sooner.

Cal started thinking about the day before, his wedding day.  As much as he had wanted to make the day a beautiful one for her, he was afraid of his feelings.  He had spent so much time with her in the last month, that every time he saw her, he wanted her more.  His desire had become an obsession with him and he knew that if he had shown the least bit of affection to her, they would not have made it until their wedding day.  He had noticed how skeptical she looked as she had come down the aisle and had wanted to give her some assurance, but had stood there, motionless.  He had wanted to run around the church and shout at the top of his lungs, “look at my beautiful bride,” but propriety had restrained him and all he could do was to hopefully allow her glimpse into his soul through the twinkle in his eyes.

He knew she didn’t have a clue as to what his real feelings were, beyond the fact he had actually asked her to marry him.  He had almost blown that, too.  They both knew that this was meant to be, but somewhere along the way their stubborn attitudes had gotten in the way.  He almost felt that the only reason she had accepted his proposal was so they could get out of the dilemma in which they found themselves.  True enough, they both had choices in the matter, but their earlier choices had caused them both grief and almost cost them their ability to reach others, not to mention, almost losing her life.  Well, that was behind them.  What kind of future they would have together would depend entirely upon them and he knew it.

“I wish I could have told her sooner,” he thought sadly.  “If I hadn’t trusted my pastor so much, we could have shared this moment over a year ago.  Never again.  I’ll trust God and Him alone to direct my path.”

When he thought about how his pastor and Pastor Gibson had plotted to keep them apart, he shuddered.  “Maybe this came to past because our
Father
knew that in the end, we would both see through the ploys of the enemy,” Cal thought.  “Or maybe, we both had to run into brick walls in order to get us to line up with His plans and to put ours aside for awhile.”

Whatever the reason, they had made it back to the point from where they started and he was going to spend the rest of his life, loving her and making her love him as well.  He chuckled to himself as he thought about that.  “I think she already loves me, but getting her to admit it will take a miracle.  Do you hear that
Father?
  We’re in need of a miracle.”

I still perform miracles for those who believe and receive.

D’Cerner moved slightly at that moment and Cal thought she was about to wake up, but she only stretched and snuggled back up against him.  Cal wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close and laid his head on her shoulders and thought about the life they were going to have.  He fell asleep completely and thoroughly content, wrapped around the love of his life.

*****

Just before eight o’clock later that morning, they both woke up yawning and stretching.  D’Cerner smiled, as she looked at Cal, happier than she had ever been.

“Good morning, Mr. Recinoire,” she teased.

“Good morning to you, Mrs. Recinoire,” he teased back.  “You know, I like the sound of that.  I think I’ll say it more often, Mrs. Recinoire.”

“Fine.  I enjoy hearing it,” she said as she lifted herself on one elbow to look at him.  But you know what, there’s something else that I enjoy even more.”  While she was talking, her other hand was trailing down his body.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Cal laughed.  “Didn’t you get enough?”

“No and I never kid about something as serious as this,” she said seriously.  “But if it’s a problem, I can wait.”

“The only problem here is that we’ve waited much too long as it is,” Cal said huskily as he bent over to kiss her.

D’Cerner relaxed in his embrace and allowed his probing tongue to search her mouth thoroughly.  Pretty soon, having rekindled the spark from the night before, they were totally absorbed in their passion.

“You know,” said Cal afterwards holding her in his arms, “if we keep this up, we’re never going to get out bed and knowing you as I do, I’m sure you’re as hungry as I am.”

“That’s true,” she said attempting to stifle a yawn, “but who cares.”

“Well, I care and so should you.  We’ve got a plane to catch,” he said as he teasingly spanked her bottom and snatched off the covers.  “Come on, we need to get breakfast and get out of here.  I’ve got a surprise for you and I know you’re going to enjoy it.”

“Okay,” she got up laughing.  “You win.  I am hungry and I know we need to get ready to leave.  How about ordering room service?  That will save some time and maybe we’ll have time for one more…”

“No,” Cal said, failing at an attempt to be stern.  “We won’t have time or energy for anything if you keep this up.  But, I promise you, Mrs. Recinoire, that once we reach our destination, I’ll devote all of my time satisfying your needs.  Agreed?”

“Agreed,” she replied.  “Now, what do you want for breakfast?”

“I’ll order breakfast,” he stated.  “You go on and get dressed.  I know how long it takes you women to get dressed and we’re running out of time.”

“Okay,” she said running into the bathroom to start the shower.  “Don’t forget orange juice,” she yelled from the bathroom, “and get extra butter for the croissants.”

Cal laughed as he picked up the phone to order their breakfast.  She had eaten enough croissants on the cruise to last a lifetime, but she loved them and he was going to indulge her, just for today.  After ordering their breakfast, he arranged for someone to pick up their luggage and have it put into the limousine he knew was waiting.  He then picked out a ruby red pantsuit for D’Cerner to wear and selected a charcoal gray outfit for himself.  As he listened to the water running in the shower, he couldn’t help but remember how good she felt in his arms.

“Well,” he thought, “taking a shower together would save us some time.”  He wondered how she would react to that, but when he opened the door, he didn’t have to wonder long.

“Welcome,” she said as she looked at him with water dripping down her face.  “I didn’t think you would ever guess why I was taking so long.”

“You little minx,” he laughed as he stepped into the shower with her.  “Have you washed your back yet?”

“No, I couldn’t reach it,” she said as she demonstrated her arm would not reach.  “If you wash my back, I’ll wash yours and maybe even your…”

“Don’t get started again,” Cal laughed as he began to wash her back and kissing her at the same time.  We’ll wash now and play later.”

“Gee, you’re really a drag in the morning,” she said pretending to pout.  “I hope you’re in a better mood after you’ve had your coffee.”

“I’m in a better mood now,” he said, rubbing her back with a soapy washcloth, “but we really don’t have time.  It’s after nine o’clock and our flight departs at eleven.  That’s one of the reasons why I chose a hotel near the airport.  I didn’t want to risk missing our flight, just in case we decided that we really liked each other.”