Elijah

The snow was piled high by the time Christmas morning arrived. I snuck downstairs early to set the rest of Dawn’s gifts under the brightly lit tree. We had decorated it the week after Thanksgiving. The white tree nearly touched the high vaulted ceilings. Lizzy loved looking at the multicolored lights; they kept her entertained for a few minutes at a time, sometimes up to an hour.

There was already a number of gifts under the tree for all three of us, and a few for the rest of the family and our close friends. Kelly, Kaleb and Lily would be over tomorrow to celebrate with us. Once Dawn was up, along with Lizzy, we would open our own gifts here at the house, spending our first holiday together as a family.

Deciding it was late enough, I began to make us breakfast: blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs. I had the radio on low, listening to the music while I cooked.

Flipping the last few pancakes over, I sang along to a song, moving my body with the rhythm.

I instantly knew when Dawn entered the kitchen. I could feel my skin tingle before she ever came up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and laying her face against my back. Her body was warm, and mine responded.

Looking into her eyes, I could see so much happiness there, finally. It had taken long enough.

“Thank you, again, for last night,” I said before I kissed her warm lips. She replied, pushing into me and grabbing my shirt tightly, trying to pull me closer to her.

We had just gone to bed, making sure Lizzy was sound asleep. We left the door ajar, since she was now across the hall in her own bed, even though we had a baby monitor. I normally slept naked, but sharing the bed with someone who had been abused, I decided it would be best to not go completely bare. It wasn’t until just a few weeks ago that I started to sleep in my boxers and not in pj bottoms.

I was lying on the bed under the covers, propped up against the pillows and waiting for Dawn. She was taking longer than normal in the bathroom. I was just about to get up and go check on her when she came out, looking like sin.

She wore her long dark hair down but pinned back off her face as she slowly made her way out of the bathroom. Her eyes were downcast, looking up at me through her eyelashes. She wore a skimpy black baby doll nighty that pushed her breasts up, making them seem bigger than they normally were. I briefly wondered where she got it. Then my brain froze when it dawned on me what she wanted.

With flushed cheeks, both from arousal and embarrassment, she moved her hands down her own body, starting at her sides, down her hips, and along her creamy thighs.

I was lost for words as I gawked at her. My mouth was wide open, along with my eyes. I couldn’t take them off her, not for a second. Nor could I form any coherent thoughts.

“Do I look okay?” Dawn asked all too sweetly as she tilted her head to the side. Oh, the little minx knew exactly what she was doing to me.

“Uh . . . yeah,” I managed to get out in a daze. Blinking, I swallowed. Loudly.

“Are you okay?” she asked with a smirk.

“More than.”

She slowly made her way to the bed, walking at a slow pace, allowing me to watch her. She deliberately crawled over me, one knee on each side of my legs, her arms supporting her as she leaned down and met my lips. She was gentle, pressing once, twice, a third time before lifting back a few inches. The look she gave me was filled with want.

"Are you sure?” I half moaned, letting my hands finally grip her around her waist. I only had to press my hard cock up a few short inches and I would have been meeting her warmth.

“Very,” she moaned, leaning down to give me another searing kiss, this time tempting me by licking my lips. Her hardened nipples brushed against my torso.

“Tell me to stop and I will,” I said, giving her another chance to back down.

“I need you,” she said breathlessly, pushing her warm center against me.

Not able to fight the urge any longer, I moved my hand down to her ass, finding her sans underwear. I was a hot mess, knowing she’d planned this without giving away her nerves the entire day.

“Dawn,” I said before I traced my lips down her neck, sucking and marking her as mine. I loved seeing my marks on her. “If you play with fire, you may get burned.”

“Maybe I want to be burned,” she moaned, pressing down on my throbbing erection.

Deciding to not test my limits—or hers—I helped her lift her nighty over her head. Her breasts bounced as her hair fell over them, teasing me with the view.

She lifted her body so I could strip my boxers off in one swift move. Dawn set back down, her pussy right over my stiffness, rubbing her clit against me. I moved my hand to her wet pussy, stroking her, feeling the wetness that seeped out, coating my fingers easily.

I took my fingers, one and then the other, and placed them in my mouth while she watched, sucking her sweetness off them. She moaned, grinding her pussy to my cock, and she was bringing me closer to the edge but I held fast, staving off my orgasm, knowing I could easily have one like this. I wanted to come inside her.

Dawn, who must have been reading my mind, lifted herself, took hold of my cock and slowly pushed down on me. I slid into her, inch by slow inch. I could feel her tight walls around me, squeezing me tightly. I nearly came on the spot.

“I’m not gonna last,” I managed to groan out breathily.

“Neither am I,” she panted out, pausing once I was sheathed inside her.

She was extremely tight and warm as her pussy sucked me in. She slowly began to move, making her breasts jiggle. I couldn’t help but raise up and take one of her breasts in my mouth. I sucked and nibbled, making her to moan, and she began to speed up her thrusts.

With one hand, I grabbed her waist, pulling her breast further into my mouth. I took my fingers and ran them down her body, rubbing where we were joined together, getting my fingers wet with her juices. I took one slick with her wetness and circled her hole. She clenched around me and cried out in pleasure, her walls sucking me so hard I came immediately, unable to hold out any longer. I don't think there was a drop of cum left in my balls at that point.

Dawn fell on top of my body, both of us panting; we just lay there, gently kissing and staying relaxed in each other’s arms, neither one of us wanting to move.

"Merry Christmas," I whispered.

“I’m glad you liked it,” she said, turning red as she tried to hide her face against my chest.

“I more than liked it,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “Now go sit. I’m sure that little girl won’t like to be waiting any more for her own food.”

I fed Lizzy in between bites while Dawn enjoyed her warm food. She took care of the dishes while I cleaned our daughter up before we made our way to the living room. We worked perfectly together.

Once Dawn sat on the couch holding Lizzy, I handed out the few presents I’d bought them both, putting my own presents on the table. I wanted to watch my girls open their gifts first.

Dawn helped Lizzy open her three gifts. One was a blanket she’d made from the material my mom had dropped off a few weeks ago. There was also a toy Lizzy had yet to get from the grandparents. She was little enough that she really didn’t care. The other was a stuffed animal from me.

“Open yours,” I said, nodding to her own pile.

She slowly picked up the first one. I knew she had never truly had many gifts for any holiday even before she was taken, so I could have bought her so many if I’d wanted to. She deserved everything she could ever want, but I also knew she didn’t want much, and I didn't even know what she wanted. I just hoped she’d like what I’d ordered for her.

* * *

Dawn

Slowly opening the first gift, I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. It was a simple necklace with a charm of a mother and daughter.

The next gift was a few books I’d mentioned wanting to read, as I’d read all the books Elijah had ordered for me before. These books were young adult ones but contained more of a mystery theme to them.

In one slim box was the adoption papers to make Elizabeth our baby—our very own.

The last gift was lightweight and in a square box. Glancing up at Elijah, I slowly opened it.

Inside was an iPad, already turned on and loaded full of apps. I had started to play around with Elijah's—with his help, of course—just two weeks before. This one already had a protective drop case around it.

“Thank you,” I said, happy and content with what he had gotten me. I was worried he would want to go overboard.

“Not a problem,” he smiled.

After I nodded my head, motioning towards his own gifts, he opened the top one. I had Emily pick up a few things for me, not knowing what to get him for sure. Emily had decided to get him an iTunes gift card, and a few new history books.

The last gift was stuffed into a box I was able to find in the attic just the day before while Emily kept Elijah busy over something in the kitchen so I could finish wrapping it.

He pulled out a fleece tie blanket, which would be more than big enough for both of us to cuddle up on the couch. It was blue camo on one side, while the other side was gray. I’d been working on it off and on all week while Emily had been over, declaring that we needed girl time.

She was the one who had helped me come up with the idea off Pinterest. I had been addicted to that site since she’d introduced me to it. I found a lot of crafts and recipes I couldn’t wait to try.

“You made this?” Elijah asked in awe. He knew I’d made Lizzy one, but not him.

“Yes,” I answered, not sure if he really liked it or not.

“It’s wonderful. Thank you!” he said, giving me a huge hug. “Emily helped?”

“Just to keep you preoccupied all week,” I said shyly.

“Thank you,” he repeated.

We shared a few more kisses and some innocent touching before getting ready to go to Joslyn and Vence’s house for lunch.

* * *

Arriving at the Hunter family home, the sun was finally beginning to shine through the clouds. The roads had been cleared of snow long before we ever left the warmth of the house. Lizzy was covered by her new blanket as I carried her to the warming car. I wore a new coat Kelly had ordered for me shortly after I got here, knowing I would need it sooner or later. Underneath, I had on a pair of skinny jeans—the most comfortable things next to yoga pants—and a long sweater that was not too tight but showed off my weight gain.

Kelly had been right, I did have to get more clothes as I gained weight, and it would be another year before I knew for sure if I was done gaining back the weight that I had lost. I didn’t need too many, but nicer ones as Elijah had been taking me out of the house at least a couple times a month now.

“Hello, dears,” Joslyn said with a hug before she stole my girl from my hands, and proceeded to get her out of the contraption called a car seat. I could hear Lizzy coo at her loving grandmother.

“Sure, just ignore us. I’ll make my way to the food myself,” Elijah said, pouting and making fun of his mother.

“Oh, hush you,” Joslyn said, waving Elijah off with a laugh.

“Elijah, Dawn,” Vence greeted us, smiling at his wife. “Hope the roads were clear for you.”

“Yeah, they were just fine,” Elijah said as they patted each other on the back.

“Good, good,” he replied. “Everyone is in the living room already.”

“The food is almost done,” Joslyn said as she led the way to the living room after setting the seat next to the door so it’d be out of the way.

Emily beamed when she saw us enter. Zack sat watching the TV and hooting about something. Elijah sat by him as Emily moved to me. I knew the two were looking into adoption and had a child they would be meeting in a few weeks to see if they were a good match.

“So, did he like it?” she asked, hinting towards the blanket.

“Yes, he loved it,” I answered brightly.

“I told you he would,” she laughed, giving me a small hug. We had gotten closer, almost as close as sisters, in the short time we’d been together.

Looking over towards the corner, I saw their own Christmas tree, but with more presents.

“They always go overboard,” Emily said with a laugh. “At least, that’s what Zack says. I wouldn’t know.”

I had almost forgotten that Emily and I both had been prisoners of hell at one time. It seemed so long ago with everything that had happened since then. I was different, finally starting to figure out who I was and what I wanted out of life.

“Well, they have one grandchild, plus another on the way, to spoil rotten,” I laughed.

“Yeah, true,” Emily said with a bright smile.

“Oh, Dawn, dear, can I have your help in the kitchen for a moment?” Joslyn asked.

Giving Emily a look asking her what was up, she merrily smiled and shook her head, not letting me in on the big secret. Sighing, I made my way to the kitchen, following Joslyn.

“How are you doing?” Joslyn asked as she busied herself stirring the mashed potatoes in a black pot on the stove.

“Good,” I answered, not sure what she was trying to do. I watched her, hoping she’d give something away.

“You and Elijah seem to be getting close,” she observed. Well, of course, we were. We did live together. And the man had saved me in a way I never thought would be possible. “Have you thought about the future at all?” she asked, turning to face me.

“Some,” I shrugged. “I thought about maybe getting my GED, at least.”

I had wanted to at least have my GED to feel more normal but now with the choice of what I wanted to do, I could do anything—almost. The best place to start was to finish my education. I couldn’t see myself doing college, but I wanted my daughter to grow up with parents who had, at least, both finished high school.

“Well, that’s good. The nearby college offers online classes. I’m sure Elijah would be willing to help you set it up,” Joslyn said, bringing the rolls out of the oven. “How do you feel about Elijah?”

“What?” I asked, shocked that she’d ask that.

“What do you feel for Elijah?” she repeated with a smile.

“Um, I don’t know…”

“Do you love him?” she asked, looking at me in a motherly way.

“Yes,” I whispered quietly, looking down. I was in love with him, and I couldn’t see how my life would be without him there.

“He loves you just as much, you know,” Joslyn said, bending so she could meet my eyes. “He has always loved you, and will love you till the end of his days.”

I couldn’t help but smile, looking up to the only real mother figure I’d ever had. I could see Elijah loved me, even after everything I had been through. He was there, helping to hold me while I fell apart at the seams and after he saved me, bringing life back into me. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today.

“Now, I wanted to give you this without everyone watching,” Joslyn said, handing me a scrapbook. The book was covered in blue and white flowers, with ‘Memories’ written in the middle in cursive writing.

I slowly opened it, seeing pictures of my parents and pictures of me with Elijah and Zack as we all grew up. There were some current pictures of all of us, showing me just how much I had changed in the last three months.

“Thank you,” I said with tears in my eyes. I understood why she did this without everyone else watching, and it made me feel loved—like I belonged here.

“You’re very welcome, dear child,” she said, giving me a hug. “You have always been like a daughter to me, no matter what has happened.”

Shortly after I got my tears under control, she called everyone in for lunch. We all sat at the big round table as we ate and joked around. I listened to the boys tease each other, laughing at the childhood stories they shared.

After we finished eating, we all went back to the living room to open presents. Lizzy got new clothes and even more toys, which she really didn’t need. I smiled, rolling my eyes at just how extravagant our family was. I guess when having as much money as this family did, it didn’t really matter.

It was dark out by the time we left, the trunk of the car packed full of everything we had been given that day. I was surprised the time went by so fast, and that I had enjoyed it. I was able to get to know my new family better, without any worry that any of them would ever turn their back and hurt me like my mother had.