Chapter 29 – Grant
T his time is a gift.
She grins while I unfasten the bandana. “So, we can give being blindfolded for sex a resounding yes?” she asks.
Moving over her body, I capture her pert mouth for a kiss. “Yes, we can, wife. Particularly if you’re the one who’s blindfolded.”
“My bossy, controlling husband. You barely kept it on for five minutes when it was your turn.”
“Yes, because I love seeing you naked and I am a bossy, controlling husband at times.”
“At times?” she repeats with heavy sarcasm.
“Hold that thought,” I tell her, springing out of bed. “It’s not nearly as naughty and nice as your flash cards with spice but…”
“Cookies and milk?” Her surprise quickly shifts to tenderness. I’m glad to see it. She’s been a bit preoccupied at times the past couple of days when she doesn’t think I’m paying attention.
“Forgot to leave them out for Santa last night. My bad.” She giggles as I jump back in bed and pull her close, feeding her one of the gingerbread cookies.
“Mmm. This has been the best Christmas I’ve had since…” She grows quiet for a moment, kissing me softly on the jaw before she finishes. “The best Christmas since we lost Mom.”
I gently stroke her soft skin, wanting every holiday to be the best for my Daisy. “I’m happy to know that. It’s been even longer since I’ve enjoyed the holiday this much.”
I can’t be sure I ever loved it this much, no matter how much my mother tried. Even as a child, I was aware of the tension that used to run through this house. Perhaps it was why I grew to dislike big holidays. They seemed to compound that tension when we were forced to play happy family.
But, we got up extra early this morning because Daisy insisted we see our lighted tree before the sun was fully up. We sat in the semi-darkness, cuddled together on the sofa and staring at the twinkling lights together until Daisy nodded off, sweetly slumbering in my arms until it was time for an unsurpassed Christmas brunch. What could be more perfect? Nothing if you ask me.
Mimi and Daisy didn’t want our holiday meal to be separate from the servants who live here so we all gathered around the dining table with everything sat out buffet-style. I’ll admit I was glad Anders went to visit his brother. The tension between us might’ve spoiled the day, even if I am trying to put that behind me.
Poor Luis kept insisting he didn’t need to sit at the grand table until I made him take my grandfather’s place. It might’ve ruffled Radcliffe’s feathers a bit but Luis has always been unfailingly kind to me and, unlike Rat Fink Fisher, he never once told on me to get me in trouble with my grandfather. I’d taken Luis aside after our meal to ask a favor. He promised it would be taken care of and I know he’s a man of his word.
After that, Daisy and I had gone to the city, to Tina’s shelter where she spent the previous Christmas. My fucking heart. How did she manage for so long with so little help and maintain her sweet and generous spirit?
Tina said they always have plenty of volunteers on big holidays – “It’s every day in between that can be the struggle” – but she found something for us to do. Who would’ve ever expected a Barclay to spend his Christmas Day doing charitable deeds and serving those less fortunate? For the first time in my life, I feel like there’s a different purpose in my grasp, one that has little to do with how rich I might be. And, it’s all because of Daisy.
Once we returned this evening, while Daisy, Mrs. Keating and Mimi were sharing some god awful peppermint schnapps monstrosity, Radcliffe had found me for a quick word. “I hope this holiday has been a happy one for you, sir… the first without your grandfather.”
A momentary flash of melancholy before I had nodded. “It’s been an excellent day and I hope Linus knows that. I wish he could’ve been here to share it with us. I hope your day has been happy as well,” I’d replied, shaking his hand. He’s not such a bad man. Prickly, prideful and a bit of a snitch but not so bad.
Opening presents at last, I anxiously awaited Daisy’s reaction to her gift. I wasn’t sure what to get her when she takes so little interest in the sort of gifts most women I’ve dated care about. But, the huge box of art supplies and canvases had been a hit on top of the gold necklace with its daisy charm. “A daisy for my Daisy.” I’m not certain who was more misty-eyed over that, Daisy or Mimi.
“I love my necklace,” she says, finishing her cookies and milk.
“I love that you’re wearing nothing but your necklace for me,” I husk, lowering my head so I may suckle that pink nipple.
She rolls her hips, whimpering with need as I work her up again. Both of us are ready for another round. “Grant…”
“As tomorrow is my birthday, I have a request for which card we fill out next, wife.” I roll her over, shoving a pillow under her hips. “Only if you’re up for it though. You can always tell me no…”
My fingers slide over her round butt and she lifts her head when she hears the bottle cap opening. She gives me a sexy smirk and a nod. “I’m game as long as there’s a long hot bath to follow.” I promise her there will be. “Is this your dirty kink or a fantasy you’ve never acted out?”
“I’ll fill my card out later and you’ll know.”
I waft the bottle of lubricant under her nose. “Peach scented?”
“Yes, peach scented. For my sweet wife and her very sweet ass.”
∞∞∞
The next morning, I wake to a beautiful sight. Daisy is by the large bay window of our bedroom, staring out at the grounds of the estate as the sun comes up. “You’re as golden as the sunrise standing there like that, Goldilocks.”
She blushes. “There’s a fog rolling in. And, you can’t compare me to the sunrise.”
I stand and stretch before striding toward her naked with a playful scowl. “I just did. And, don’t tell the sunrise but you’re even lovelier.”
Her blush deepens but she looks uncomfortable. Am I coming on too strong? Saying it all wrong? I just want her to know… I just want her to stay. I would never pin my wildflower down but might I convince her that I was wrong to ever only wish for a paper marriage?
“Oh! Happy Birthday!” she squeaks, rushing to grab her nightgown and throw it on. “I’ve got breakfast in bed planned for your day! I’ll just go-”
“Daisy…” I capture her elbow and tug her toward me. “Are you alright?”
She chews at her bottom lip, her pretty blue eyes troubled. “It’s just that… I don’t have your present finished yet.”
I would almost swear she swerved from whatever it was she was originally going to say but Daisy gives me that tentative smile and my heart melts. “Is this the very secret present that forbids me from visiting your studio for the time being?”
She nods and her smile turns less tentative. “Yes, exactly. Soon but not yet.”
“I suppose I can be patient. Is anything else bothering you?”
“Well… Lincoln asked about your favorite birthday getaway that day at your office and I realized I never made a flash card for that.”
I’m scowling less playfully now. “Don’t pay attention to Lincoln. I don’t have a ‘favorite birthday getaway.’”
My drunken birthday weekend at the ski lodge with a wounded and vicious Emilia was a huge mistake, one for which I’ve finally realized he’ll never forgive me. If the roles had been reversed, if Daisy slept with Lincoln or any other man, I could never forgive him or forget it.
“But, he made it sound as though it was something you really enjoyed and I-”
“He meant skiing, Daisy,” I lie, not wanting to talk about Emilia or Lincoln with the trip to Vancouver so near.
“I’ve never been skiing.”
“Would you wish to try it?”
“I don’t know,” she says, turning away from me again.
What is bothering her?
I don’t know but there is something I can offer her as a distraction today if she might want it - another piece of my heart.
“There was something I wanted to do with you for my birthday. Something I want even more than breakfast in bed with you.”
She grins, looking less anxious at least. “Another spicy flash card?”
“No, although that was by far the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received,” I chuckle before sobering again. “What I want is to show you the hedge maze.”