Chapter 33
Chapter thirty-three
The days leading up to Christmas Eve flew by.
Cas kept me busy in the bedroom, making good on his promise to ravage me in the hot tub while it snowed, and has probably shown me every part of New York City on a tourist’s checklist. We visited the museums and bantered over art, went shopping in SoHo, ate a lot in Chinatown, and saw not one but two shows on Broadway.
To be fair, one of the shows was the Rockettes’ Christmas Program, which needs to be a yearly tradition.
One of my favorite things we did was walk through the holiday lights display at the Bronx Zoo.
The quality time together is exactly what we needed after everything we’ve been through.
Our late nights and long mornings in bed have become something of a staple.
The only thing missing is Roxy. We FaceTime daily something I assumed would upset Cas, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
He even pops onto the call most of the time to say hi.
Yesterday we traveled upstate to get a Christmas tree, then spent the rest of the day decorating it, watching movies curled up by the fire, and snacking on homemade Christmas cookies we baked. This man has ruined me for all other men. I’m positive he takes boyfriend material to the next level.
Cas is currently spending some time in the basement recording studio while I work on wrapping the artwork I drew him.
It’s a comic-style spread with several panels.
The first is an up-close of me tossed over his shoulder.
The kidnapping is definitely worth documenting.
The second shows him pulling my hair in our Mile High Club fantasy role-play attire, and the last image is the two of us kissing in NYC while sightseeing.
I also added the typography. It’s simple: Our First Christmas in NYC. I love the way it came out.
I place a ribbon and label onto his gift and head downstairs to put it under the tree.
We agreed on no gifts, but I couldn’t help myself.
Besides, I made this so it doesn’t count.
I don’t have time to argue with myself over it.
Cas’s tattoo artist should be arriving any minute.
I’m a nervous mess of energy but also strangely excited.
I always thought I’d get a tattoo with Roxy, but doing it with Cas is a welcome surprise.
How can I complain when he’s done nothing but show me what it feels like for someone to care?
The doorbell rings, sending me scurrying down the hall to hastily tuck my gift beneath the tree and sprint to the couch before Cas makes it up the basement stairs.
Once I’ve managed to arrange myself on the couch I swipe open my phone to casually doom-scroll, as if I’ve been here waiting the whole time. It’s not the least bit suspicious.
Cas jogs by, paying me no mind on his way to the door. From the entryway, I can hear them making friendly conversation followed by the shuffle of their footsteps right before they appear at the edge of the family room where I’m waiting. I look up from my phone to greet them right on cue.
“Vivienne, this is Travis. He’s done a lot of my work,” Cas says as Travis gives an awkward wave.
“Hi,” is all I can muster.
Cas tries to hide his laugh, but I catch him. Travis notices nothing; he’s already moved on to assessing the current layout of the room. “Am I setting up in the same spot we usually do?” he asks.
Cas nods.
“Are you my first victim?” Travis jokes with Cas as he begins to set up.
Cas’s gaze floats from Travis to me. He raises his eyebrow, tilting his head to the side. “Who’s going first, little muse?”
I stare at him blankly, still processing what I’ve agreed to do. “I don’t care.”
“Sus. You’re going first so you don’t chicken out,” Cas decides, narrowing his eyes. “You’re acting sketchy already. I’m going to have to keep watch over you like a hawk.”
I laugh. “Please do. I like it.” I bat my lashes at him.
“Oh shit,” Travis blurts out.
Ignoring him, I continue. “Besides, me, chicken out? I would never.”
“Super suspicious behavior, bro,” Travis hollers from across the room. “I think you’re making the right call.”
Cas smirks. “It’s settled. Take your pants off.”
I throw my head back laughing. “Not in front of your friends.”
He crosses his arms and tilts his head playfully. “My house, my rules.”
“Fine,” I sigh, rolling my eyes and standing up. I slide my sweatpants down slowly to reveal the yoga shorts I’m wearing underneath.
“Mmmmm. There’s my favorite real estate,” he remarks, not taking his eyes off my long legs.
I wiggle my hips, knowing it will drive him wild. He licks his lips as his eyes darken with desire.
“Come here,” he growls, reaching for me.
He nuzzles my neck, gently grazing his lips over my sensitive skin to whisper in my ear. Before he can say anything, Travis clears his throat. “When you’re ready, I’m all set up.”
He moves fast. Somehow he’s already transformed half the kitchen, including the table, into a mini tattoo station.
I take a nervous deep breath. Seeing everything all laid out makes it feel real.
Who am I kidding? This is real, and the moment the needle hits my skin it’s permanent.
Well, semi-permanent. I could always have it lasered off.
“Are you ready?” Cas asks, breaking my thought spiral.
“As ready as I’m going to be.”
“You’ve got this. It’ll be over before you know it, and I’ll even hold your hand.” He kisses my cheek, then leads me over and helps me onto the tattoo table.
“Damn, buddy, you really bagged yourself a hottie,” Travis exclaims as he snaps his gloves on.
“I know. Don’t get any ideas. I kidnapped her first.” Cas chuckles.
“Boys, I’m right here. Not appropriate. For the record, you only successfully kidnapped me because I let you.”
“Oof, bro and she’s spicy,” Travis groans. “You sure you want to get a tattoo with this guy?”
Laughing, I nod my head.
“Alright, she consented. You saw it, Cas.”
“I got you, bro. I told you she’s a willing victim.”
I roll my eyes. “You guys are both terrible. Cas, you’re lucky I’m possessive enough to want a matching tattoo with you.”
His eyes sparkle. “It’s because you’re obsessed with me.”
“It helps that you’re great in bed.” I catch him off guard.
“Does she have a sister?” Travis interrupts.
I cackle. “Nope, I’m an only child.”
“But she does have a completely unhinged best friend. You might get along perfectly,” Cas suggests.
“Roxy’s not exactly the commitment type. I don’t know about that.” My voice is hesitant.
“That’s okay,” Travis says with a wink. “Neither am I.”
He gets started placing the template on my thigh, and I shiver.
It’s cold. I stare down at it imagining what it will be like.
It seems weird to get a tattoo with him, but part of me really is as possessive as I tease.
I want to stake my claim and mark my property in a sense.
It’s a representation of something special we shared together for the first time, no matter how silly the tribute is.
We all continue to chat. Travis makes me so comfortable I don’t even realize he’s about to start.
It’s not until he warns me right before he turns the tattoo gun on.
I hold my breath, gripping Cas’s hand tight as I wait for the needle to make contact.
My eyes squeeze shut the moment it does. Fuck! It burns.
The tattoo machine’s buzz grows into background noise as I grit my teeth and focus on anything but the pain.
It’s not actually that bad, and after a few minutes my skin feels almost numb.
An hour in his chair goes fast. The line work was nothing compared to the shading.
The minute he switched to shading the design, I held on tight and may have broken one of Cas’s fingers.
A painful, cold sensation hits my leg, and I look down to find Travis wiping my tattoo down, cleaning up all the extra ink. Mentally, I count down the seconds until he applies the soothing goo to my irritated skin.
“What do you think?” he asks.
“I love it!” I gasp.
Cas beams happily beside me.
“I’m glad. We’ll go over tattoo care while I clean up and reset for Cas.” Travis talks for another ten minutes about all the things that go into caring for a tattoo, and then it’s Cas’s turn.
I sit down in the chair Cas pulled up. He takes off his shirt, and I can’t stop staring. I watch with my eyes glued to him as Travis places the stencil on his chest, right over his heart.
He really is a hopeless romantic. “Over your heart? This was your surprise location, huh?”
“Surprise,” they say in unison.
“The two of you are trouble.”
They don’t deny it.
“Do you want me to hold your hand?” I ask.
“I’m a big boy, but if you insist.” He reaches for me. “I promise not to squeeze so hard I break your fingers.”
“I didn’t squeeze that hard. Stop it,” I whine.
He blows me a kiss right as Travis turns the tattoo gun on.
Cas handles his tattoo like a champ. He chats through the entire thing like it’s nothing.
At first I’m amazed, but then I remember the man is covered in ink, so maybe it really doesn’t bother him—or he’s at least worked his way up to it not bothering him.
Cas and Travis continue their conversation while he cleans up, and I snuggle up on the couch with a plate of cookies and flip on a movie. My reward for not crying even though it absolutely hurt like a bitch.
Once Travis has left, Cas comes over to crawl onto the couch next to me. He swipes the last cookie off my plate without asking and stuffs it in his mouth.
“You’re welcome for specifically saving that for you.”
He nods his head obnoxiously.
I stand, taking my empty dish into the kitchen and setting it in the sink. On my way back, I take the long way through the family room, swiping my gift from beneath the tree. Cas eyes me, amusement on his face. “What’s that you have there?”
I sway sheepishly a few paces away from him. “I know we agreed not to buy gifts, but I made this one. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Well, now I’m really intrigued,” he says, sitting up, “but don’t think I’m going to let this naughty behavior of yours slide.”
“I can’t wait to be punished,” I whisper in a sultry tone as I take a seat on his lap.
“Oh you think so, huh?”
“Thinks so, what?” I ask innocently.
“You think you can just walk over and sit on my lap?”
I nod my head playfully, biting my lip. “I’ve tried to be a good girl this year,, and it is Christmas Eve.
“You’re funny.” Cas chuckles.
“Here. Open it.” I shove the gift in his hands.
“Alright, calm down.” He slides his finger beneath the edge of the paper, carefully ripping it open. “I love it,” he exclaims, crumbling the paper with his free hand.
He stands up in a daze, walking towards the basement and disappearing with my gift in hand. When he returns, he’s holding what looks like maybe a guitar behind his back.
“I also have a gift for you. But you only get to hear part of it tonight,” he confesses.
My heart explodes. He wrote me a song. It all makes sense now—the practicing in the basement and phone calls he walks out of the room to take. He’s been planning this the entire time and still tried to shame me for drawing him something.
Cas slides the guitar strap over his head and begins to strum a few chords. He plays an acoustic melody for a few beats, and then he sets his smoldering hot gaze on me and begins to sing:
I never thought one night could leave me so obsessed.
Chasing after you trying to change your mind.
Don’t be a one-night stand.
He plays several more chords.
I can’t settle for just one night.
I’m selfish. I want the rest of my life.
Oh please don’t be a one-night stand.
He stops strumming. “You’ll have to wait to hear the rest on New Year’s Eve.”
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying like hell not to cry over this man writing me a song. My song—my own song—and he plans to sing it in front of everyone in a few days. This is what he’s been working on.
“It’s beautiful, Cas. I love it!” I gush.
His smile stretches from ear to ear. “Good. I’m glad you like it.”
“I do. But Cas, I don’t think it’s fair I have to wait and hear it with everyone else,” I complain.
“Sorry, little muse, it’s worth the wait, though, I promise.” He sets the guitar down on the opposite side of the couch. “Come on, let’s go to bed so I can wish you a very merry Christmas.”
Cas kisses me under the mistletoe, then cradles me in his arms, carrying me down the hall and up the stairs.