“You do like to push the boundaries.” She moved her lips closer.
“You can’t talk.” He pressed his lips to hers, enjoying how their spirits seemed to join when they kissed. It was helping to alleviate the doubt which was building inside of him and giving him hope there would be a future together.
Dusty pulled away slowly, eyes closed as if enjoying the lingering sensation of the kiss. He enjoyed seeing the soft expression on her face.
“Let’s go put up the Christmas tree?” she said.
“Where is it kept?” Dusty paused and thought. “That’s right, in the garage. Come on.”
Blaise followed her to the garage, the outside lights pushing away the shadows of the night which always seemed darker here in the country than in the city. A few of the cats trotted in with them to check out what was going on.
“It’s on top of the cabinet…” Dusty pointed as she went to get it down. “There.”
“Let me.” Blaise nearly had to push her out of the way. “I want to help, you know.”
Dusty stopped. Her expression a little confused. “I know.”
“You don’t let me, though.”
“I don’t mean to, it’s just that I’m so used to doing things myself. It’s just the way it is on the farm.”
Blaise nodded. He was beginning to realize that. “Just remember, I’m here.” He ran his hand down her arm.
“I will try.”
It was the best answer he could’ve gotten from her. He reached up and shimmied the large box to the edge, then pulled it down with a little grunt. It wasn’t heavy, just oversized and awkward to maneuver.
“I’ll grab the decorations. They should be in a box over here.” Dusty moved a couple of boxes which were stacked up along the far side of the garage wall. “Here they are.”
“We’re set then.”
“We are.”
Blaise carried the Christmas tree box back inside with Dusty following behind juggling two boxes of decorations.
“I would’ve guessed you’d have a real tree for Christmas.” He put the box down on the carpet in the middle of the living room and began to open it.
Dusty shrugged her shoulders. “Never had the time to bother with getting a real tree.”
“Not with the harvest, I get it.” He should’ve realized.
“Yeah, and to get the right-size pine, we’d have to go to the Adelaide Hills, which is too far away.”
Blaise nodded as he pulled out the parts of the plastic Christmas tree. “This is a good one.”
“We did think about getting a eucalyptus branch one year, but again, there’s just not time for something like that. Hell, I haven’t even done my Christmas shopping.”
“What?” Blaise pretended to be surprised. “You mean to tell me you haven’t bought me a gift?”
“I haven’t. But I will, when the harvest is done.”
“Well, I guess I should be grateful that you’re going to buy me something, and that you don’t think I’ve been too naughty to get a gift.” He paused from unfolding the branches of the tree and winked at her. “I could be naughtier, though, if you like?”
She laughed and took out the gold tinsel from one of the boxes she’d carried inside. “Come here and let me wrap you then.”
Blaise stepped to her. She put the tinsel around his neck and used it to pull him to her. She kissed him, her lips setting a blazing heat on his. He moaned softly, feeling his body beginning to respond, despite the release they’d only had hours ago.
“Cool down, boy, we’ve got a Christmas tree to decorate,” Dusty said breaking the kiss and letting the tinsel fall around him.
