Chapter 14
On Christmas morning, the entire family opened gifts together. I tried to look enthusiastic while I sat in my flannel PJ’s, but I really wanted the next several days to be over so I could be on my way to the mountains. Javier was in Mexico and I couldn’t even text him since I didn’t have international service. My dad claimed it was a waste of money just so we could cross the border in order to dance at the pub.
Almost all of the gifts I received were for a future dorm room. Looking at the microwave, towels, desk accessories and personal safe, I secretly hoped I could return it all. I’d be cohabitating in an apartment with Javier and not a dorm room at a university next year. I thanked my parents and sister for the nice gifts and silently hoped that my plans with Javier came to fruition.
I watched my mother open her gifts. A scarf, clothes, and books. No jewelry. I’d bet she had no control over their finances and didn’t even know a purchase was made at that mall store. I’ll never let that be me. I felt so bitter when I thought about my dad taking advantage of my mom who’d given so much to him and our family.
We had a nice dinner together and I retreated to my room to start packing for my trip. Dawn came in and dropped down on my bed.
“Let me know how the skiing is here. I miss the snow.”
“I’ll do that. Maybe, we can go up sometime.”
“Is Javier going?”
I tensed. We hadn’t confided in each other very much since the night I left her at the pub. She knew Javier and I dated, but I’d never told her any of the details. I felt guilty as I lied to her, but I couldn’t take any chances. This trip meant too much to me. “Why’d you ask me that? I'm going with Veronica’s family.”
“If you say so. You really care about him, don’t you?”
I didn’t make eye contact with her as I continued to pull out clothes for the trip. “I don’t know what you're talking about. Yeah, I guess I care about him. I mean he’s my boyfriend.”
She sighed and got up off my bed. “Well, for what it's worth, I’m happy for you.”
She left the room and softly closed the door behind her. I looked after her for a moment. I missed my sister, but we weren’t able to recover from the events of the recent past. She took everything so seriously, just like Dad. To me, they were one and the same and I couldn’t chance being forced away from Javier.
~ ~ ~
On the day before New Year’s Eve, Dawn dropped me off at Veronica’s early in the morning. “See ya in a few days, sis.” I kissed her, then got out and unloaded my bag and skis onto the sidewalk in front of Veronica’s house.
“Have fun.” Dawn smiled and drove away.
Veronica and I carried my things to a SUV parked in the driveway.
“Whose car is this?” I asked.
“Javier’s dad is letting us take two SUV’s from the lot. He put dealer plates on them for us.”
“Very cool. Where is everyone?”
“At Javier’s. Come on, we need to meet up over there.”
We got in and she drove us to Javier’s. Alma, Ricardo, his girlfriend, Lucinda, and Javier were all there packing up the SUV. We pulled up and got out. Javier finished sliding the cooler into place in the back of the vehicle.
I spotted his dimple when he walked over and took my bag.
His free arm came around me, as he pulled me in for a very long passionate kiss. “I missed you.”
“Me too,” I whispered back. “You, I mean.”
“Come on, you two, break it up,” Ricardo said with fake irritation.
“I'm not sure why they're bringing their skis. I doubt they're going to use them,” Veronica said to Ricardo.
“We can hear you.” Javier shot out at Veronica as he continued to hug me, his chin resting on the top of my head.
We all went to work strapping sets of skis on the rack and arranging luggage and more coolers.
“Are you ready, my love?” Javier asked, as we got into our SUV.
“I’m more than ready.” I grinned at him. “Let’s go so I can kick your butt on the slopes.”
Javier’s eyes widened with surprise, not expecting my unprovoked jab. “Game on, my love, but just remember this, if I out-perform you on the slopes, I get to have my way with you any way I want.”
My heart sped up at the thought of even more ways he could take me. “If that’s the case, I may let you win.”
My face warmed with all kinds of possibilities that I couldn’t hide. Javier laughed. We pulled out onto the highway, Ricardo and the others following behind us in the second SUV.
Six hours later we arrived at the cabin. Javier called his dad to tell him that we made it safely. When he hung up, he gave me the grand tour of a wonderful log cabin with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a full kitchen.
He led me to our room for the weekend. We threw our bags down before starting to unpack. “Javier, this is a beautiful cabin. Do you come here often?”
He slipped his hands around my waist, pulling me close to him. “Not as much as we used to. My parents are getting older and don’t like to make the long drive.”
“It’s amazing.”
He said nothing as he stared into my eyes and leaned in for a tender kiss. “I’m glad you like it. Let’s eat, I’m starving.”
We fired up the grill for our steaks. Somehow, Ricardo and Javier scored, bringing beer and tequila. We started a fire in the fireplace when the grilling was complete. We ate and had a couple of drinks while we reminisced about our senior year thus far.
When it got late, we all retreated to our rooms knowing we had to get an early start in order to make it to the ski resort when it opened. Javier grabbed two more beers for us as we retreated to our room. He set them on the bedside table.
“So, what do you think so far?” He slid his hands around my waist, pulling me against him.
“It’s beautiful up here. I didn’t know Arizona had tall pines and snow. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thank you for coming.” Javier gave me a long lingering kiss. “I want to give you your Christmas gift.” He turned and went to his bag and pulled out a small box. “I hope you like it.”
I sat down on the bed and opened the box. Inside was a delicate heart-shaped ruby ring surrounded by tiny diamonds.
“Oh Javier, it’s beautiful.” I took it out of the box, not sure how to wear it.
He took it from me and put it on my left ring finger. “It’s a promise ring. Someday, I hope you’ll accept a diamond ring from me, but for now I promise I’m yours.”
My eyes filled with happy tears when I considered marrying him. “I love it and I love you.” I stood and gave him a tender kiss. The look in his eyes was so warm I wanted to drink it in forever. “I got you a gift too.”
Javier sat down and I returned with his gift. He opened the box, as I stood next to him, and took out the ring.
“It’s a pinky ring. The center of the ring is onyx.” I explained, even though he could see that.
He slipped it on and pulled me down onto his lap. “I love it. Thank you.”
At that moment, nothing else existed. I was so happy and I didn’t want this moment in time to end. Javier looked into my eyes for a long time. He leaned in and kissed me with such intensity, I could feel he wanted me as much as I wanted him. We didn’t rush the moment. We undressed each other slowly, deliberately and caressed every inch of each other. I felt his hands run over me lightly and his lips followed. I reciprocated letting my hands run across his broad chest and down his waist until I felt him in my hands.
I kissed his neck and ran my tongue down his body until I took him in my mouth. He threaded his hands in my hair and groaned as I tasted him fully.
He pulled me back up before he lost control and got on top of me. His hands went to work stroking and caressing me as his lips came down on mine in a sensual kiss. My need for him was intense as our tongues danced with pleasure. I could feel my inner muscles clench around his fingers as I bucked against him reaching my climax quickly.
He turned me over onto my stomach and pulled my hips so I was up on all fours. I heard him roll on a condom and then felt him enter into me. I gasped at how sexy this was. He held me close to him as he kept my arousal going with his fingers softly stroking over me.
We moved together and he whispered, “I love you, Kayla.”
“I love you too, Javier.”
He lifted higher and grabbed my hips, pulsing faster. My breathing was hard and I tried to not make any noise since we weren’t alone in the cabin. I clenched the sheets as he pushed into me faster and harder.
I couldn’t hold on any longer as a bead of sweat ran down my spine. I gasped as I came so hard, I shook. He was with me and groaned as he came, holding me to him. We collapsed down onto the bed with him on top of me and his arms wrapped around me. We gently rolled onto our sides and drifted off to sleep holding onto each other, like tomorrow would never come.