He kisses my head "Hey I'll be back I just need my jacket" he takes off down the stairs. I change into my t-shirt climbing into bed waiting for him "Hey what's this?" he points to me in bed "Just waiting for you" he strips down climbing in beside me "Close your eyes" he says looking at me, closing my eyes I think he is going to get kinky but he places something in my hand "Open" I open my eyes seeing a small box in my palm. "What's this babe?" he smiles "Your real present" I open the box with shaky fingers as I do I see a gold locket with a purple stone in the center, Gasping I lift it out "Knox, you shouldn't have" I whisper.
He takes it from my hands "Here it opens" he pops the lip open showing me two small photos inside; I feel tears roll down my cheeks as I look at them. The first is of Summer and I last Halloween and the second is Knox and I in the hallway of the bar that night I wore all my leather. "Don't cry darlin" he wipes the tears with his thumb "Knox it's beautiful, how did you fit the pictures in there?" I snort and laugh at the same time, he grins at me "Paige was my wing man too" I kiss him softly on the lips as my tears continue. Picking up my phone I text Paige,
Me: I luv you xxx wing man
Paige: luv you too xxx
She is awesome I say putting away my phone Knox links his finger through mine "Merry Christmas Bailey" he looks at me with sincerity and love, wiping my face I straddle his lap putting my hands on his face "I love you Knox Merry Christmas" leaning in I kiss his lips tenderly deepening the kiss I taste his mouth with my tongue, he digs his fingers into my hips rolling me down. I lower his boxers releasing his straining shaft; I take the velvety flesh in my hand lowering myself onto him.
Knox groans into my mouth as I rock back and forth, our lips never part as we make love tenderly, Knox slides his hands under my t-shirt massaging my breasts breaking the kiss he sucks my nipple through my shirt as he uses his fingers to drive me over the edge following close after me. I lean against him letting my breath slow down as he kisses my cheek and neck, wrapping his arm around me holding me to him. "Bailey" I look up at him "yes" he sighs lifting my chin with his thumb and forefinger looking into my eyes "Darlin I am really sorry for what I did to you, I know it hurts when you see her. It hurts me too knowing I did something so stupid to jeopardize what we have and I just want you to know that I really love you and I am sorry"
I watch him for a minute "I know babe, I love you too and yes it hurts but I am getting over it, Just promise you will never do that to me again" I kiss his lips "I promise" he says rubbing my cheek with his thumb.
The next morning I wake up early going for a run, Christmas, I love it. The wind is cooling on my sweaty skin and I can see the sun peeking over the mountains to the east. Thinking of Knox in bed makes me smile he makes me happy, the blackness is at bay for now as our love grows the scars on my heart are slowly beginning to heal over. Sometimes I don't think I can handle being in love but being without it terrifies me more, I don't ever want to go back to the place I was in six months ago when life was numb and as barren as the desert. I have three great friends now although, Paige has been acting strange lately maybe she will fill me in when we go shopping. Ugh shopping with my mom, that should be interesting. Rounding the last corner I see Knox standing at the edge of the lake waiting for me, he smiles as I get closer "Mornin Darlin" stopping beside him I stretch on the wooden furniture "Hi babe, why are up?"
He smiles at me running his fingers through his hair "The bed was empty when I rolled over" he wraps his arms around me "Babe I am sweating" he kisses my shoulder "I don't care I like it when you sweat but usually I cause it" reaching behind me I circle his waist with my arms slapping his ass, we stand watching the lake for a little while "Hey I thought I heard Santa last night" he says in my ear making me laugh "Yeah, what was he doing?" I feel him smile against my neck as he kisses me "He was being very naughty, I can take you back to bed and show you what he was doing" laughing I turn in his arms "Ok Santa show me what you got" he smiles then turns bending down "Jump on" I climb onto his back and he walks me home straight up to my room. He shows me exactly how naughty Santa is, we lay on the bed panting, smiling at each other.
Knox gets up turning on the shower "You coming in Darlin?" peeling myself off the bed I join him in the shower "What are you and Max doing for dinner today?" I say washing his chest "He put the turkey in the oven for me this morning so I will do the rest" I nod "Did he not stay with Paige last night?" Knox turns me around squirting shampoo into his hand he begins washing my hair "No she went home to her parents" I digest this information as Knox massages my scalp "I wonder if she is ok, she has been acting weird all week" I say as he rinses my hair "Yeah, that's what Max said. I think he is taking it hard, Sarah did the same thing before leaving"
I feel bad for Max; he is really a nice lovable guy. Knox turns off the water helping me out, he wraps a towel around me kissing my nose "I will ask her during the week hopefully she will spill" he shrugs as he dries himself "Yeah maybe" after breakfast I kiss him goodbye "Hey do you want to stay with me tonight?" he asks pulling my bottom lip with his teeth "Ok, am I allowed to?" I kiss him back "George is in New York, he won't know" he smiles and I nod "Ok what time will I arrive?" hugging me tight "Any time you want Darlin, I'm there all day" we kiss goodbye again, watching him leave causes my heart to swell, I love him.
By two o'clock my mom arrives and we sit down to eat "Mom I mailed your gift last week sorry" she smiles at me "Don't worry Bailey I'll get it when I go home" she lifts the locket into her hand "That's nice sweetheart" I can't help the huge smile spreading across my face "Thanks Knox gave it to me" opening it I show her the pictures inside "They are nice" she smiles then turning I show dad, he smiles at me knowing how much Knox means to me. "That boy can cook Bailey," he says in all seriousness "Yeah I know, he is great and I will be staying with him and Max tonight" I announce to my parents who are both looking at me questioningly.
I laugh "Yes mom and dad you're little girl is all grown up and in love" my dad shakes his head while my mom looks between us "Sweetheart, are you being safe?" I nearly choke on my turkey and dad's face turn red "Eh yeah mom I am not stupid" she pats my hand smiling "Good because we are too young to have a grand baby" she nods at my dad who is hiding behind his hand. Wow how the hell did I get these weirdo's as parents, they are complete opposite I don't know how they got together. After dinner I give dad his gift, he just wanted books so that's what he got and a book about the FBI I picked up on my tour of Quantico.
I make my parents endure Bridget Jones again, well my dad snoozes and my mom reads a magazine making comments through out the whole movie. By five o'clock I am bored, going up to my room I pack an overnight bag to take with me. Just before I walk out of my room my dad comes in "Hi sweetheart" giving him a hug "Hi dad, you ok?" he nods "Are you having a good day?" he asks me looking weary "Yeah dad of course and thanks for my presents" he got me a newer iPod and the running shoes I wanted. He smiles "You're welcome but I have one more for you that I wanted to give you in private" he nods towards the door so I follow him into his room. He takes an envelope from his dresser handing it to me.
Ok this is weird, opening it I read the contents then look at him and back to the papers "Dad what is this?" I ask not understanding "It is my will, telling you that you get everything when I die and also I have set up a trust fund so you will have money to live off of while you are in school" looking between him and the papers "I don't get it dad please don't tell me you are sick" I can feel tears well in my eyes "No No Bailey" He sits beside me wrapping his arm round me "No I am not sick but I wanted you to have a copy so if and when the time comes no one can dispute it. And there is one stipulation in there that you may not like but I only did it to protect you"
I am flabbergasted I don't know what to say to this news, why on earth would he give me this now at nineteen "What is the stipulation?" he lets out a breath looking at me from the corner of his eye "Well, it's a prenup for your future husband, whoever he may be" I stare at him "Why dad I don't get it" he squeezes my shoulder "It says that when you marry and if it does not work out then your husband will not get any piece of my company or any monetary settlement from my company but if you use that money to buy items during the marriage that they will be split evenly"
"I still don't get why you gave this to me dad" he looks at me "Bailey you are my only baby, I don't want you to ever be in a situation like I was after my divorce and I see how you and Knox are with each other but before you get mad at me this is not about him. I only want to protect you" I nod "Ok dad, thanks. I am going to go over to Knox now I will be home in the morning" getting up I walk out of his room not really sure what the heck that was about.
I knock on Uncle Georges door by six pm, Max opens it "Hey sis" he says pulling me into a hug "Sis?" he laughs "yeah you will be one day, I can tell these things" he laughs at me I see Spike wander out for a nosey, picking him up I rub his head "Be careful Spike she is trouble"
"What the heck is with you two and this cat?" I ask putting him down Max rubs his head "He was my mom's" I nod "Where's your twin?" I ask looking around, Max points up "Bed said he wasn't feeling well" I look above me "Go on his door is closed, the one on the right as you hit the top" I start up the stairs wondering what is wrong with him. Opening the door slowly I peek inside, the room is pitch black I can't see anything but I hear steading breathing. Using my phone light I make my way over to him and sit on the edge of the bed.
He doesn't move I shine my phone around his room noticing his instruments. The room is quite large with a big desk in the corner housing his laptop and schoolbooks; he has his guitar leaning against it and a keyboard below the window. In the corner is another guitar that looks old and worn; I see the digital photo frame I gave him on his nightstand facing the bed. The walls are a dark blue with band posters everywhere and his photographs from his dad's house tacked up. I watch him for a while before lying down beside him waiting for him to wake up.
I play games on my phone until the battery is low so I turn it off, Knox still hasn't moved. What is wrong with him? Putting the back of my hand on his forehead he feels ok no hotter than usual, I get off the bed heading back down the stairs. "Max" I call "In here" I open the door to the sitting room; Max is on the sofa with the cat watching TV. "What is wrong with him? He hasn't moved in all the time I was up there" Max shrugs "Don't know he just said he didn't feel good after dinner and went to bed" looking at my watch it is now seven o'clock.
"What time was that at?" Max checks his own watch "About three I think" "Did you guys have a fight or something?" Max laughs at me "No Bailey we don't fight, we get pissed off with each other but we don't fight"
I just sit with Max watching a Christmas movie for a while when we hear movement on the stairs, Knox walks into the room wearing grey pajama bottoms that hang low on his hips and no shirt. His hair is messy as he runs his fingers through it "Hey Max did Bailey call?" Max doesn't answer just points over his shoulder to me in the armchair. Knox follows his gaze seeing me he smiles "Hey, what you doing sitting there?" he comes over to sit on the arm rest "I was waiting for you to wake up" he looks at me "What time is it? How long are you here?"
"It is just after eight so I am here about two hours" his eyes pop open "Shit, sorry" he kisses my head "You should have woken me Max" he kicks Max on the shoulder "Hey, asshole you said you felt like shit so I left you. I though Bailey woke you she was up there stalking your ass for an hour" Knox looks at me raising his eyebrow. I smile at him "It's not stalking when your together just watching" I say laughing he shakes his head at me "you're a little pervert" taking my hand he pulls me out of the room into the kitchen turning on the coffee pot "Sorry Darlin I only wanted an hour to sleep" "Are you ok?" I ask touching his forehead, he nods "Just a headache, I was on my computer for a while so it was probably that" I kiss his chest "Ok"
"So how was dinner with the folks?" he asks pouring our coffees "Oh god I have the weirdest parents ever" shaking my head remembering my dad's gift. "How is that? Your mom seems different" he shrugs putting my coffee down "No she is just a society lady all about the ball gowns and tea parties but my dad he kind of gave me a weird present" Knox sits on the chair beside me rubbing my leg "How weird?" he looks concerned making me laugh.
"He gave me a copy of his will and a trust fund and a prenup for my future husband" I say matter of fact; Knox chokes on his coffee looking at me. "So does that mean I am screwed for life?" I feel my cheeks burning, what the heck is he saying now. "I don't know what you mean" he takes my hand "I mean in a few years when we are older and get engaged and married I'm out of the will and the family business" he says with a cheeky grin, biting my bottom lip I suppress a smile "I guess so yeah" I say looking at him as he shrugs "Damn it, you better not divorce me then or I will have to stalk you back" he kisses my lips quickly. "You're an idiot," I say slapping his arm "You hungry darlin?"
"I could nibble on something" I say making him laugh "Oh my god Knox get your mind out of the gutter, I mean a sandwich or something small" he is still laughing at me "Well I wouldn't be able to help with the something small anyway" rolling my eyes I just laugh with him. What a dirt bag, my very own dirt bag who may possibly one day in the future wants to marry me. I can't stop the grin on my face as I watch him make turkey sandwiches while half naked, what a delicious sight. Max walks in to the kitchen followed by Spike "I knew I smelled food" he says stealing a piece of turkey. He walks behind Knox looking at him "Hey bro when are you getting new ink?" Max asks looking at his brother back, Knox shrugs "Don't know why?" Max taps Knox on the shoulder where he has a strange tree tattooed, it starts on his right shoulder blade with branches reaching over the shoulder to his upper arm. He has leaves on the branches with his parent's names inside and a double leaf with his and Max's name in there.