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Your Love Ch. 01

By: cnhemingway



This story was greatly inspired by the song "Your Love" by The Outfield. Great 80's song that I listened to one night and said "Hey, why not." This is also my first shot at a story and I admitted I didn't get an editor to look at it. So feel free to hack it to bits in the comments. I'm sure it needs it.

**********

She was supposed to be somewhere else. Christina looked back down at her phone lying on the bar top. 68 missed calls and 80-something texts. She knew her friends had gone through so much trouble for her big night but she just couldn't bring herself to be in a party mood. They'd planned an entire night bar hopping in a luxury stretch limo. Who the hell doesn't go to their own bachelorette party, she scolded herself. 

Christina thought about the lasts few years. She'd graduated college, established a career, and managed to get engaged to a good guy. Jackson was a good guy. He had a good job, a good family, a good face. But that's all it was...good. Deep down Christina felt like she was settling. She knew she had done everything she was supposed to do to make her parents proud but she didn't feel proud of herself. Christina knew that somehow she had let herself down.

"Those look like some pretty deep thoughts." A deep voice boomed in interrupting her self-reflection. 

She looked up next to her. A man was shrugging off his wet raincoat while signaling to the bartender. She hadn't noticed the rain outside. 

The man wasn't looking at her but she was sure he had spoken to her. 

"I'm sorry?" Christina responded. 

The stranger turned his head towards her. Christina caught her breath. His eyes were a clear icy blue. He smirked at her. 

"You just looked like you were making some big life decisions." 

"Oh um sort of." Christina stammered quietly still trying to collect herself. 

He opened his mouth to say something when the bartender interrupted him.

"What can I get you Stephen?" He asked.

"Whatever special you have on tap is fine, you know I'm not picky." 

"Comin up." The bartender walked off.

"So," the blue eyes turned back to Christina,"I'm Stephen as I'm sure you heard." 

"Christina." She responded timidly. 

"Nice." Stephen started, "So Christina, tell me exactly why you are sitting in a bar on a Friday night all alone?" 

She thought for a minute. 

"Well I was supposed to go to a party, my party. I just didn't feel much like being around a bunch of drunk girls." 

"Your party?" Stephens interest piqued. "Birthday?"

"Oh no, my bachelorette party."

"Oh nice! Congratulations!" He exclaimed with a genuine smile. 

Christina returned the smile in thanks but he could tell her heart wasn't in it. 

The bartender was back with his beer. She watched as he took a long slow gulp. Stephen had shaggy dirty blonde hair that made it just over his ears. He wore a crisp white business shirt that he had rolled up at the sleeves showing various tattoos coming down his well toned arms. He wore well-tailored pants that clearly belonged to an expensive business suit. 

He must work in one of these buildings she thought to her self. 

They were in the business area of downtown Raleigh, NC and now was the time when all of the business men would start pouring in for happy hour. 

He placed the half emptied glass on the bar with a *CLUNK*. The sound shook her out of her thoughts.

"Alright let me see it." He demanded as he reached his hand out and wiggled his fingers in a "gimme" manner. 

Christina laughed at little. She had heard this request so often in the last year she no longer had to wander what "it" was. She extended her left hand to him.

Stephen had to let out a long whistle. He didn't have to say anything. The 4-carat flawless diamond in a solitaire platinum setting said enough. She was a lucky girl, or so she had been repeatedly told. 

Stephen watched her face as she gazed at the ring on her finger. She didn't hide sadness well. Or maybe he just recognized it because it mirrored his own. If he didn't know any better he'd think she was having the same premarital doubts he was. 

"Set a date yet?" He asked.

"Two weeks from tomorrow." 

"You got me beat by a month." 

She turned to him with a quizzical look on her face. 

"You're engaged?" 

"Yep." Stephen pursed his lips in a tight smile trying to wordlessly send his message of "feel my pain?" 

At that moment Christina's phone buzzed on the table. She didn't bother to look at it. She just reached for the button and muted it. 

"The groom?" Stephen asked.

"Oh no, probably not. My friends are probably wondering where I am." She held up her phone to show the missed calls. She was at 82 now.

"Geez!" Stephen laughed. "You must be an important gal!" 

Christina laughed too. "At least tonight I am." All of a sudden Christina took the time to appreciate her current situation. She was a 26 year old woman hiding from her problems like a spoiled child. If that didn't say she wasn't ready for marriage she didn't know what did! The thought made her laugh harder. 

Stephen watched Christina laugh. It was the first real reaction he'd seen from her. Sure she was probably drunk as hell but at least she seemed a little less stressed than when he first came in. Watching her laugh Stephen could see just how beautiful she was. She had dark hair that was short in the back and longer at the front, gorgeous grey eyes that were a little slanted at the edges, and her skin a was a warm milk chocolate brown. Even sitting the bar stool he could tell she was short. 5'2" tops.

Stephen paused for a moment. 

"Alright Christina." He started. "I've made a decision."

She raised her eyebrows in question, "Oh?" 

Stephen continued, "Neither one of us really want to be bothered by the people we know tonight. And I don't know about you but my only goal tonight is to get stinking drunk and cause problems. Wanna be partner in crime?"

Christina laughed at his offer and thought. Partner in crime? She didn't know why but being Stephen's partner in crime tonight was more appealing than being Jacksons fiancé. Maybe because she knew how predictable Jackson had become and Stephen was a perfect stranger who was, in a way, asking her to trust him. 

Stephen spoke up trying not to let her think to much about it, "Whatya say partner? You in?"

Christina looked into his eyes and saw some of the trouble she knew she might be in for and smiled. She pressed the power button on her phone and turned it off.

"I'm in." 

Stephen laughed. 

"All right then!" Stephen turned towards the other end of the bar. "Bartender! Patron!"

*****

Part 2

*Josie's on a vacation far away*

*Come around and talk it over*

*So many things that I wanna say*

*You know I like my girls a little bit older*

Christina almost fell off her barstool laughing.

Stephen paused from belting out the tune, "I fucking love this song, come on, you have to sing it with me!" 

Christina tried to make a move away from Stephens grasp but he was too quick. He slipped his arm around her waist and hauled her up on the bars karaoke stage. 

Stephens picked up where the song continued. 

*I just wanna use your love tonight*

Christina gave in and sang along. 

By the end of the song the two collapsed onto a booth cracking up. Her head was swimming from a bad blend of tequila and cosmos.

Christina sat her head up suddenly and announced, "I'm starving!"

He laughed in response. 

"Ok girly! You listened to my God awful singing the least I can do is feed you. I think Groucho's is still open."

Christina smiled like a kid on Christmas. "Let's do it!"

******

Stephen and Christina stepped out of the bar and into the cool November night air.

"Oh my god!" Christina started, "Jackson hates karaoke, I can never get him to do it!"

Stephen smiled at her as he watched her enjoy herself. He had a feeling she didn't do things like this often. 

"Catherine's the same way." Stephen told her.

That was the first time he'd said her name.

Hearing it made her curious. "Where is she tonight?"

Stephen looked at her and didn't see anything suggestive about the question. He was a little relieved and simultaneously disappointed.

"She's in South Carolina with her mother. Wedding plans." 

"Ah gotcha." Christina replied. 

Stephen could tell she was going to question him further; and whether it would have been about Catherine or their wedding plans he didn't want to talk about it. He had to divert the subject. 

"Ever see a meteor shower?" Stephen asked abruptly before Christina could get her next question out. 

Christina put a look on her face as if she was considering the question while trying not to appear too drunk. 

"I don't believe I have."

Stephen smiled and checked his watch. 

They had spent the last three hours with a combination of dancing, singing, and various shots.

"If you're interested in seeing one I have a celestron cpc 1100 that would blow your mind."

Christina got an extremely confused look on her face, "Is that a sex thing?"

He burst out laughing, "It's a telescope."

She considered what he was asking her. Go home with a strange man to he his "telescope". No matter how innocent the suggestion seemed she'd still be an idiot to do it.

But wasn't that what tonight was about? What was supposed to be her bachelorette party. She was supposed to make her last bad decisions before walking down the aisle.

She looked up into Stephen's waiting eyes and smiled.

"Ask me again once you've fed me." He smiled in response. 

*****

The two of them say on a bench eating their 1AM dinner. 

"Holy shit this is delicious." Christina said more to the sandwich in her hands than to Stephen. 

"Best sandwich in the south." He responded. 

They finished their meals in a comfortable silence. Once she had finished her late night meal Christina decided she should learn a little more about her "partner in crime".

"What's your favorite color?"

Stephen smiled at the random question. 

"Red. Yours?"

"Navy and gold, your turn."

Stephen thought for moment. 

"Favorite food? Mines steak."

"Sushi. Any seafood really."

Stephen wasn't sure of the point of this game but he liked learning things about her.

"Hmm..." Christina thought aloud, "dogs or cats?"

"Dogs! Always!" Stephen exclaimed.

Christina nodded excitedly in approval. 

"Agreed!" She stated as she smiled, "I have a huge Great Dane at home, he's my big baby."

"I would love to get a dog but she won't let me." He said sadly," She swears she's allergic but I think she just doesn't like animals of any sort." 

Christina noticed that he didn't really like saying her name. It was understandable she supposed and to be honest she didn't really want to hear it. 

Stephen crumpled up the trash from his meal, tossed it in the nearby can, and then checked his watch. It was just about time.

Stephen spoke up, "We can start walking to my place if you'd like. The shower will start soon." 

Christina thought to her self, "Holy crap! I knew we made plans but this is getting real. I'd love to go back to his place. But where exactly is this leading?"

Christina smiled, unable to speak her answer, and nodded. They stood up from the bench, and looked at each other, wordlessly discussing what would happen tonight. They seemed to understand and agree.

Stephen took her hand and led her back towards the sidewalk in direction of his apartment. If things went his way tonight he'd show her more than stars.

Your Love Ch. 02



Thanks for all of the positive feedback! Definitely didn't expect such a good response. I'm currently looking for an editor so if anyone knows a good one I'll gladly use it. Here's part 2. Again don't be stingy with the criticism. I'm sure I need it. 

***** 

"This is home." Stephen said softly as he opened the door to his apartment. 

Christina stepped in slowly, trying not to show her nervousness. She tried to give the room a good look but she was too focused on how close Stephen was standing behind her. Her eyes peered down to the hair that rested on her shoulders as she watched it move from his breathing. She had to speak up or God knew pass out from holding her breath. She looked around quickly trying to find something to talk about. 

"It's nice." Christina stammered. 

Stephen wondered if she had noticed its lack of feminine tough. He felt the need to explain. 

"She's very traditional in some ways, insisted that we don't live together until we're married. So that probably why it looks like a bit of a man cave." Stephen felt like an idiot as he could hear the unsteady nerves in how own voice. 

Christina showed clear surprise on her face, she didn't think she could handle that. She wasn't sex crazed but a girl had needs! 

He watched her face in response to his words and he wanted to laugh. He liked that she was so transparent. 

"I said traditional in some ways." He replied to her unspoken thoughts and Christina felt a little ashamed at being caught. 

"I'm going to get the telescope, feel free to look around." 

With that Stephen walked off and Christina was left standing alone in his living room. She looked around at the open the space and was actually pretty impressed. She slipped her heels off and placed them next to the door before touring the room. The wall on the opposite side of the room was an entire glass window peering over downtown Raleigh. It was beautiful. He had a huge flat screen TV mounted at the center of an otherwise undecorated white wall. There was a black coffee table in front of cracked brown leather couches. Definitely a man cave but still classy in a minimalist kind of way. She turned to see the wall behind her that was expertly covered in framed drawings. All of the frames were identical, a dark polished wood. She looked closer at the art that each frame held. Some were parks, some were buildings, and there were a few blue prints. She noticed that all of drawings were done on napkins from various hotels and restaurants. In the corner of each napkin were the initials ST and each one had a different year. I bet he's an architect. She liked that they had been framed and displayed like a huge work of art. 

As Stephen stepped in the next room he closed the door behind him. What the hell was he doing? He didn't know which was worse; that he had another woman in his apartment or that he didn't feel at all guilty about it. Should he? Sure he was engaged but none of this felt wrong. The day after he proposed to Catherine he had confessed to Ben, his best friend and best man-to-be, that he didn't feel engaged. Shouldn't he feel taken or something? Ben had laughed and told him it was just because it was new. It would sink in eventually. But it hadn't. It had almost been a year since he'd gotten one knee in front of Catherine and he still didn't feel like he belonged to her or that she belonged to him. It was like they were actors, just pretending, none of it was real. 

But Christina...she felt real. Tonight he had felt more of a connection to Christina than he had the entire time he knew Catherine. It may have just been because she was clearly going through the same pre-marital blues he was but they were definitely on the same wavelength. She needed something, something he was hoping he'd be able to give her. Even just for a night. 

Stephen walked over to the closet and moved some clothes out of the way. 

"There you are." Stephen said softly. His telescope. His baby. Most people thought he was kind of a nerd because of how protective he was of it, they just assumed it was because it had a price tag of a whopping $3,000 but it was so much more than that. It was the last gift he ever received from his Dad. When his Father presented it to him for his 20th birthday he couldn't have given a rats ass about the damn thing. He had only gotten into astronomy because of his Dad and if he wasn't going to be alive to share it with him he didn't care much for it anymore. After his stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis his Father tried harder than ever to distract Stephen with the stars but he couldn't put his heart into it. It took home months after he buried his father to look into it again, but once he did Stephen became obsessed all over again. He remembered why he loved it, and he always felt a little closer to his dad when he was peering into the heavens. To everyone else he was looking at planets, but to Stephen, he was visiting someone he loved and missed. 

Stephen knew it wouldn't be as special to Christina but he'd hoped she'd at least see the beauty in tonight's meteor shower. Catherine had only ever saw "falling rocks". 

He walked it carefully out into the living room and saw Christine admiring his wall of sketches. He set down the telescope facing the window and snuck up behind her. 

"What do you think?" He asked. 

"They're amazing. I'm assuming you're the artist." 

He blushed, "I wouldn't say artist. But yea I did them." 

Christine smiled at his sudden bashfulness. "Is this what you do?" 

"Yep. Surprisingly you caught my apartment on a clean day. Normally the place is covered with sketches and crumpled up trash." Stephen laughed as she smiled at his admission of messiness. 

"Oh God!" He jumped, "I'm awful, I didn't offer you anything to drink. I have beer, crappy wine, water." 

Christina laughed, "Umm, I'll take crappy wine." 

He disappeared into the kitchen but continued talking, "The guy at the store said this was their best selling bottle, but I feel like any wine under $20 is probably shitty." 

"Totally not true!" Christina laughed as she responded. "Quite the opposite actually the best wine is usually the cheap stuff." 

Stephen walked back into the living room and offered her the glass as he sipped from his own. 

"Wanna help me set it up?" Stephen asked as he gestured to the telescope. 

"Sure! As long as you know I have no idea what I'm doing." 

He placed his wine on the coffee table and she did the same with hers. They walked over and he carefully picked up the telescope as he asked her to open the glass door to the balcony. Once they were outside in the chilly air Stephen began twisting and turning various knobs, She smiled as she watched him work. It was clear he knew what he was doing and it was always a secret turn-on for her to watch a man submerse himself in his hobby. 

Stephen checked his watch and smiled. "Almost time, just another minute or so." 

"When did you get into this?" Christina asked. Stephen was taken aback by the question. It's not that it was an unusual question to ask someone with a hobby, it was just no one had ever asked him before. Nobody really wants to hear about astronomy. 

"My Dad." Stephen began, "He taught astronomy at NCSU. I grew up looking at stars and planets. It was our thing." Christina smiled and his stomach fell. God she was beautiful. 

Stephen noticed lights in the sky begin to move. He grabbed her shoulders and turned he around to see. Christina was stunned. All at once shots of light were moving quickly across the sky. She'd never seen anything like it. 

"Here," Stephen spoke up. "You can see them more close up through the telescope." 

Christina moved to look into the eyepiece trying carefully not to move it from the position Stephen had so carefully placed it in. 

"Oh my God Stephen." He loved hearing her say those words. "It's beautiful." 

"Yea it is." He replied partially under his breath and definitely not talking about the shower. 

"I can see why you're so into it." Christina continued. "You want to hear something kinda stupid?" 

Stephen nodded at her while she looked up at him sheepishly. 

"My Grandmother passed away when I was 19 years old." Her face began to grow sad as she remembered the day. "For a while after she died I always thought that the closer to the sky I got the closer I was to her." 

Stephen's heart began to thump harder in his chest. 

She continued, "I had a friend who worked at the airport and he would sneak me onto the roof to see the planes take off at night. There was this one building where if you stood on it no matter where you looked you were surrounded by the sky. It felt exactly like being in heaven. I'd go there when I missed her a lot." 

Who WAS this girl? 

"That's not stupid." Stephen said seriously. 

Christina didn't know what she was feeling but somehow sharing that intimate fact with him felt closer to cheating than if she had just tossed him on the couch and screwed his brains out. She was showing him a part of her Jackson didn't even know existed. 

He could tell their thoughts were in the same ballpark. Was this still cheating? Even if we haven't touched? 

Christina felt her heart almost stop as he looking straight into her. He could see everything she was thinking, feeling, and saying without opening her mouth. Could he tell that she wanted him to kiss her? 

Yea, I can tell. He thought. But he wouldn't do it until he knew she wouldn't regret it. He needed this just as much as she did but it wouldn't be worth it if she couldn't face him or herself in the morning. 

"Music." Christina said abruptly, interrupting their silent conversation. Stephen looked confused for a moment. 

"I'd like music." 

"Umm ok, I'll be right back." Stephen walked back into the apartment and Christina breathed again unaware the oxygen had left her body. 

Stephen returned as quickly as he had left and he had his iPhone in his hand with some music app open. What would you like to hear?" 

Christina shook her head, "Oh it doesn't matter, whatever's fine." 

"Well it depends on your mood." Stephen smiled. "Are you feeling aggressive? Angry? Calm? Cheesy? Celebratory?" 

Stephen continued to read the list of mood options of alphabetically. She heard quite a few that described her emotions right now. Happy. Mellow. Sad. Spacey. Where was "sexually frustrated borderline bridal cold feet"? 

"Spacey," Christina stated interrupting the rest of the list, "spacey's good." 

"Spacey it is." Stephen responded as he began the playlist. The music started in and she immediately regretted it. It sounded like something from Woodstock and she was in no mood for hippie music. 

"Here," Christina said reaching for his phone, "let me try." 

Stephen handed it over and waited while she looked through music selection. 

"Got it!" She exclaimed excitedly. 

Stephen waited patiently and then heard a soft snare drum come in with violins. 

"What is this?" He asked. 

"Bossa nova." She began, "Think Mad Men on holiday." 

It was soft but danceable and he needed a way to relieve the tension they were clearly both experiencing. He reached for her hand and she smiled and took it without hesitation. 

"Let me just tell you right now," Stephen started. "I have no idea how to dance." 

Christina grinned before she responded, "Well then this should be fun." 

Neither knew how to dance but they made up their own moves and within minutes were perfectly in sync. Their dancing led them inside and around the living room. He placed his hand in the small of her back and led her around the coffee table right before he dipped her and brought her back up. He did his best Latin lover impression causing Christina to burst out laughing. 

She needed this, this silliness, they both did. 

She laughed harder as he walked her backwards into the kitchen and then spun her around and led her into the small dining room. Secretly she was relieved the overwhelming sexual tension they had felt on the balcony had left and was replaced with the sweet humor that radiated from them both. He loved dancing with her and she loved spinning until he was a blur around her. Finally in the midst of one of her spins Christina collapsed backwards in his arms causing him to fall into a plant behind them. They burst into laughter before checking the damage. 

It was that God-ugly ficus plant Catherine's mother had bought him. 

"Oh my God!" Christina exclaimed amidst her breathless laughter, "I'm so sorry!" 

"Don't worry about it. I was planning on tossing it anyway, I just need a good reason and now I have one." Stephen looked down at the pile of soil and the shattered pot. Screw it. He thought. It's not going anywhere. He stood up and grabbed her hand and led her into the next room. 

"Come here," He said excitedly, "I wanna show you something." 

They were both still out of breath from their vigorous dance routine and the music was still playing in the background. 

Once he dragged her into the room that served as his "chill room" as he called it. He flipped on the switch but instead of light filling the room stars lit the ceiling. It was his very own starry sky. She was floored. It was almost as beautiful as the real thing. 

"The weather doesn't always permit for outside stargazing so sometimes I have to bring it in here." He smiled as he watched her walk through looking at the faux stars, there were hundreds of them, clearly he was going for an almost exact replica. "Go on, sit down." 

She looked at the center of the room to find that he had fashioned a huge pillow hammock that hung from the opposite walls. She fell in backwards and was immediately jealous. It was better than her sleep number bed at home. He fell in next to her in the opposite direction. His head lay next to her knees as they both looked up. 

"Hold on, it gets better." Stephen rummaged around in the mountain of pillows that lay under them eventually having to slip his hand beneath her butt. She jumped at the unexpected contact. As her face rose her nose touched his. And they both audible inhaled. She hadn't expected him to be so forward so suddenly. 

Stephen smiled. 

"Easy girl," He laughed, "Just looking for this." He slide his hand from under her and revealed his actual intentions. He waved a remote in the air. There wasn't a television in the room so she was confused until he pressed a button and noticed a changed in the stars. They began to glow a bit brighter and even started to change colors. Blue, green, red, yellow, purple. Christina laughed; it took away from the realistic element but it still looked pretty cool. 

"I have a two year old nephew so I had to hardwire it for his amusement as well." Stephen explained. 

"What's his name?" Christina asked. 

"Thomas, he's pretty much the coolest kid I know." Stephen laughed. "Do you have any nieces or nephews?" 

"One, her names Olivia. She'll be two in January and she is already a huge diva." 

Stephen smiled at the thought of Christina with her niece. 

Stephen touched the ball of his foot to the floor and began to rock the hammock and they continued to talk about everything under the sun. He told her about his Dad and the night he died. She shared the personal stories of her depression after her grandmother passed, or what she called her "self destructive years". Stephen told her about his tattoos and she told him how she wanted one but neither her parents nor her fiancé would approve. They told jokes, experiences with bad dates, and how they met their fiancés. They talked and talked until they drifted quietly off to sleep beneath their personal starry sky. 

Stephen saw the sun before he even opened his eyes. It burned through his lids. He wasn't ready to wake up because then it meant his perfect night was over. 

When he first met Christina in the bar he had been under the impression that what they both need was good sex, the kind that made all outside problems seem obsolete. But what they ended up experiencing was far more satisfying. 

He reached for where her hand should have been and felt nothing. Did she fall off the hammock? Stephen's eyes flew open and he jumped up instantly worried she had hurt herself, but she wasn't on the floor either. 

He crawled out of the hammock and walked into the living room. He looked into the room and saw no sign of her. Their wine glasses weren't on the table, and the broken pot and dirt were gone. She had cleaned up and left. He hadn't even kissed her. And he wanted to. Badly. 

He was heartbroken. Not that he had a right to be. She wasn't his and he wasn't hers. Hell, two weeks from today it would be assured that she would never be his. 

Stephen sighed and sat on the couch. What the hell was he supposed to do now? How do you move on from a night like that? He'd have to. Especially since he was supposed to be picking up Catherine and her mother in a couple of hours. He looked down at his watch. Nope, one hour. Fuck. 

Stephen stood up and headed to the shower. He knew he'd be distracted for the rest of the day but he'd have to find some way to listen to drawn out stories of cake, flowers, and tulle. He wondered what time Christina had left and what she was doing right now. Was she thinking about him? 

And about 20 miles away Christine was wide-awake in bed and she was indeed thinking about a certain man, and it wasn't the man whose arms she lay in.



Your Love Ch. 03



Ok people, this one gave me some trouble but I hope it's worth it. This one came with the help of an awesomely patient editor! FYI, just got a second job and class starts in a few days. So I ask for a little patience from you guys too! Thanks a million!

As always tell me what you think! I LOVE feedback!

*********************************

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Richard Earnest bellowed so loudly Christina was sure it could easily be heard over the football game in the next room. She was sure her brother and his friends could hear her getting yelled at. "The girls called you for hours! They were terrified! When they called us, we didn't know what to think either!" 

"I just needed a minute Daddy." Christina responded softly as she hung her head in shame.

That response. Oh that response. Christina knew if she played her cards right this whole fiasco would just be swept under the rug. All she had to do was play the magic words; "I just needed a minute". 

Her Father sighed audibly; it was working. 

"Christina, you just can't go disappearing like that. The girls worked so hard on your party and you never showed up. We were so close to alerting the authorities. It was Carmen who suggested that you were on one of your "minute" runways." Sighed her Father in defeat. 

She made a mental note to thank Carmen later, in a big way. 

"I know Daddy, I should have said something." Christina started, "It's just this whole wedding has been so stressful and it has been one party after another. I wasn't sure if I could handle another." 

Her Father's shoulders dropped and he saw the stress in his daughter's eyes. He had to agree. His wife had indeed gone above and beyond with these plans and parties from the moment Jackson had slipped that ring on Christina's finger. He himself would need quite a few "minutes" when the bills for these lavish celebrations came in. He never did understand why it took so many little parties to prepare for one big party but he never believed his little girl deserved anything less. He had caved in.

"Christina, I understand. Just the next time you decide you need a minute; just tell me. I'll send you somewhere myself. I just wanted to know you were safe." Richard gave his youngest daughter a small smile and she returned it.

She felt terrible for slightly bending the truth, especially to her daddy of all people.

But the truth would have broken his heart.

*********************************

**7 years earlier**

"I just need a minute!" Christina screamed down the hall. It was 3 AM in the morning and her mother was sure her daughter's shriek would wake the neighbors. 

It had all been too much. Too soon.

I can't breathe. Christina thought to herself. What the hell is happening?!

It hadn't been 24 hours since they had buried her grandmother and now they were throwing this in her face?! They were completely changing her plans! They had agreed to her taking a year off and now they change everything on her!

She recalled her parent's words. "Start college in August or pay for it yourself." 

She knew she was screwed. She had saved money but that was for her traveling expenses. They switched everything on her. She knew it was because they thought she'd spiral back down her hole of self-destruction if she didn't "properly focus herself". 

But God! Shouldn't I know what's best for me?!

Christina knew exactly what to say to make her parents stop in their tracks and give her space to breathe. I need a minute. She'd been saying it since she was in elementary school. It was how she told the world she needed a break. From whatever was going on at the moment, from life. 

She ran into her room and shoved some clothes in a bag and walked out the front door. Her mother wanted to chase after her but her father knew better.

"She'll be back Marion," He assured her, "and she will make the right decision."

Christina ran to the only place she knew she was welcome to this late at night. 

Carmen's house. Her best friend of 13 years. Carmen lived about a mile down the road and it was a run Christina made often. She jumped the fence and walked over to the biggest tree in the huge backyard. Making sure her backpack was on secure she climbed the worn but sturdy rope ladder into their old tree house. Pulling off her backpack she looked around and found what she needed: a flashlight. 

Christina peeked out the window of the tree house and pointed the light directly into a window at the back of the home, right where she knew the bed was. She flashed the light on and off for a minute until there was a light that shined back. 

Christina smiled and turned her light off and sat back and waited. It wasn't long until she heard the back door slam and her friend climb the rope. 

"Dude! What the fucking hell!" Carmen exclaimed in her thick southern accent, which always made her laugh considering she was Puerto Rican. "It's three fucking AM Chris!" 

"My parent's canceled my ticket." Christine said without an apology for her abrupt drop-in.

"What?!" Carmen's eyes widened suddenly. "Why'd they do that?!"

"They changed their mind about our plan." Christina started, "They want me to go straight to school. No traveling. At least not until I have my law degree."

Carmen let out a frustrated sigh. "That's bullshit; we've been planning this for the past two years!"

There was silence. Christina wanted to cry, this had been her dream, the trip she'd promised her grandmother she would take. To discover the world and more importantly herself. 

"Well I guess I'm not going then." Carmen said breaking the silence.

"What?" Carmen shrieked with annoyance, "Why?"

"Chris the only reason I even booked this flight was to do this with you! We were supposed to do this together!" She looked at her best friend expectantly, "What the hell do I look like traveling the world by myself?"

"No! You have to do it!" Christina fussed, "Especially now that I can't."

Carmen thought for a moment, "Well what are you going to do?"

"What can I do?" Christina said looking down at her lap. "I know I won't be able to afford school by myself. I don't have a choice."

Both girls got quiet. Their plans had changed but they had to remember what Christina's grandmother had always said to them. "Move forward. No matter what. Move forward." And that's what they would do. Carmen reached in the bin they kept in the tree house and pulled out blankets and pillows and they made a makeshift bed. They spoke no more and quietly drifted off to sleep. 

*********************************

Christina thought back on that night. She knew they believed they were doing what was best for her. But she also knew they were doing it out of fear. 

Christina was lying in her old bed in her parents' house. 

This was where it happened. Her mother had walked in after swallowing too many Tylenols. The doctor said it hadn't been enough to do the job but the intent was clear. She'd left the hospital with a diagnosis for clinical depression and was told she had to see a psychiatrist or extend her stay in a psych ward. 

Her grandmother's breast cancer diagnosis, her mother's infidelity, and the pressure of school had taken its toll and Christina had just stopped wanting to be alive. It was a very dark time for her. 

But she had made it. Something in the world had pulled her through and she was glad for it.

But now she faced a new problem, if she could even call it that. How could a life be worth living if a person didn't follow their heart? Christina never believed her heart led her to Jackson but just where the hell did it lead? So far her choices in life had been to keep her parents happy. Christina had to ask. What would make her happy?

*********************************

"The pink peonies are out of season. So it'll cost at least $200 more per bouquet to have them shipped in but I told them it was fine."

Dear God had she been talking this whole time?

"What?" Stephen murmured.

Catherine's eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"I was telling you what the resort planner had said to Mommy and I about the flowers." Catherine replied in a clipped tone. "Where is your head these days Stephen? You've been distracted ever since I got back from Hilton Head."

With that Catherine stood up and slammed down the bridal magazine she had been holding and walked off into the kitchen. The sound of her pink designer heels tapping hardly against the floor was giving him a headache. 

It had been six whole days since his night with Christina and it was all that possessed his mind. He hadn't thought of anything else. He knew it was wrong especially with Catherine being back but he couldn't help it. 

Ever since Catherine had returned all he had heard about was pink this and pink that. He had come to hate the color. He knew his wedding was going to look like a pink pepto bismol wonderland. 

Catherine spoke again, "I'm going to take a nap in your star room. Hopefully when I wake up you will be a little more alert for when we have dinner with Mommy and Daddy."

With that she walked into the room and slammed the door behind her. The thought of her lying in the hammock irked him considering no one had laid there since Christina. He had wanted to preserve the memory but that was ruined now. 

He looked down at the coffee table where she had laid out all of the information packets, brochures, and samples for him the look over. He picked up the brochure for the resort she had booked for their wedding. Their wedding would be in December, who the ever-living hell had a beach wedding in December? Honestly he hadn't cared enough at the time to argue the point when she stated what she wanted. Not that he really cared now. He had let Catherine take free reign of the plans since it really just wasn't his thing and he knew he'd just be in the way. 

Stephen sighed. This isn't what he wanted. This isn't anything close to what he wanted. He didn't know how he let it get this far. It seemed the minute he'd popped the question Catherine turned psycho bridezilla. He had already been having his doubts about them but he thought it had been a sign that they needed to move on to the next stage in their relationship. He'd been stupid. Now it was becoming clearer than ever that he and Catherine just did not belong together. The problem was he didn't know how to end it. He had been the one to propose and he knew he'd be a complete asshole to ditch her at the altar. He was completely put out with himself.

Stephen grabbed the remote from under the pile of wedding papers on the coffee table and turned the TV on. He flipped through the channels until he'd found a football game. He stared aimlessly at the screen till he could feel his eyes begin to droop. Once he dozed off he began to dream of the only thing that brought him peace these past few days; her.

They were back on his balcony. 

How did they get here? Whatever, it didn't matter. This is what he wanted. That night back. 

She looked up at him from the telescope and smiled; he couldn't forget how beautiful she was. 

She didn't say a word as she walked around the telescope and stood before him. He hadn't noticed but she was wearing a wedding dress. She looked incredible and all he could think was this is it. This is how it was supposed to be. He leaned in. He hadn't kissed her the other night but he would damned make sure would do it now. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers. 

It was...strange. Strangely familiar. He knew he'd never kissed her before but it felt like he knew these lips.

What the hell?!

Stephen shot his eyes open and was taken aback to find Catherine straddling his lap and pressing her face against his. She was suffocating him. 

Oh, well that explains that.

He figured he'd let her finish, her being his fiancée and all. 

Catherine finally came up for air and looked dizzy with happiness. He tried to mask his displeasure.

"Wake wakey lover." She said in a syrupy sweet voice that made his stomach turn. 

"I forgot to mention to you earlier" Catherina started, "I reserved us two tickets to the bridal show tomorrow so cancel any plans you've made."

She'd done it again. She was never considerate of his time.

"Cat I'm supposed to be meeting up with Ben tomorrow." Stephen spoke patiently.

"Honey bunny," He hated these stupid terms of endearment, "We get married next month. I'm sure your friends will understand you being busy these days. Besides tomorrow is so we can pick out the honeymoon spot!"

She'd ended that last word on a high-pitched squeak that made him jump. There really was no point. It's not that Catherine had never been told "no" in her life, she just didn't really comprehend what it meant. 

Stephen admitted defeat. Clearly there was no way for him to get out of this.

He checked his watch and saw that it was almost time to meet her parents for dinner. He should have showered but he just didn't have the energy. Conversations with Catherine had a way of leaving a man mentally and emotionally exhausted. He hopped up and tossed a navy blue sport coat over his white polo and called it a day. Catherine rushed out of the room still applying her lip gloss and slipping on her heels. 

Her blonde hair was down perfectly curled at the ends. Her pink floral dress was perfectly starched and her bleach white teeth would have blinded Helen Keller if the sun hit them just right.

She reminded him of Elle Woods from that Legally Blonde movie she loved. After all she had made him watch that movie 4 times with her.

"All set?" She asked.

He wanted to scream NO. "Let's do this." He responded in his fake happy voice. Stephen prepared himself for an overly expensive meal and subpar business conversation with her dad. 

Dear God he just wanted Groucho's and a beer.

*********************************

"How's you fish sweetie?" Jackson spoke up over their quiet dinner that had become a Thursday night tradition. One of them would always cook a rather lavish meal from a recipe they'd found during the week.

Christina looked up from her pecan crusted cod filet. "It's delicious." She smiled at him.

She'd like to think that it was her night with Stephen that had caused this silent rift between her and Jackson but the truth was this was perfectly normal. Hell as far as she knew Jackson thought this evening had been perfect but the actuality of it was Christina was bored out of her mind. 

Could she really do it? Could she spend every Thursday night for the rest of her life looking across the table at this man over his bland and crunchy fish? Dear Lord didn't people know she used to be considered a suicide risk? This shit would inevitably push her over the edge. Her obituary would read, "Died from Husband Inflicted Boredom". 

She smiled quietly at her joke. 

"What so funny?" Jackson said smiling at her, interrupting her private thoughts. 

"Oh," she stammered, trying not to give herself away. "Nothing, just thinking."

The silence continued.

"So what did you do that night?" Jackson spoke again, this time his question was a bit more forceful, like it had been on his mind for a while.

"Oh, umm." She thought quickly before deciding to go with the truth, sort of. "I just went to a bar, it was karaoke night so I sang a bit. Then I went and got sandwiches, a sandwich." She caught herself. "From Groucho's, and then I watched a meteor shower." She smiled to signify that was all to her story.

Jackson smiled back, clearly satisfied, "Sounds like you had a perfect night." 

"Yea I kind of did." She felt that glow return, the glow that only Stephen had brought to her.

"Oh and don't forget." Jackson's deep voice returned. "Your mother reserved those tickets for us for that bridal show tomorrow." 

*********************************

"To us son!" Baker Basin bellowed loudly raising a toast with his drink. "May we always be surrounded by the prettiest girls in the Carolinas!"

Baker laughed his famous deep and hearty laugh before thumping Stephen on the back. Had he not been holding onto the bar at the moment, Stephen probably would have flown forward into the other guests. 

Catherine's father was a fairly nice guy. Stephen knew he could be a snake in the business arena but considering he was his future son, Stephen got the good side of him. 

The two men raised their shot glasses and tossed them back. Ugh, bourbon. Stephen tried hard not to grimace. He'd always been more of beer guy. Hard liquor just wasn't his thing. Baker however treated liquor like water. 

Stephen raised his head to look into the tables to see if the girls had been seated yet. He caught sight of a waiving hand in the air, Catherine. She and her mother had been were sitting at a table over by the window.

"I think the ladies are ready to order." Stephen said before Baker could ask for another round.

The two men walked around the large area of tables and chairs and found their table. 

"Someone's started drinking early I see." Lillian said accusingly as she eyed her husband.

Baker spoke to his defense, "Can't a man bond with his future son?"

"Daddy I keep telling you Stephen doesn't drink liquor." Catherine scolded him and Baker huffed some stubborn response.

"So Stephen," Lillian began trying to change the subject, "How was work this week? Kitty Cat says you've been distracted since we got back." 

"Oh," Stephen quickly tried to come up with something, "I've signed two new contracts that should take me well into next year so I've just been doing a lot of drafting." 

"See Kitty!" Baker's voice boomed loudly, clearly already tipsy, "The man's working! He has to put in overtime if he's going to help me pay for this over the top wedding you two are planning!" Baker turned to wink at Stephen who gave an awkward smile in return. 

"Daddy." Catherine said in disapproval of her Father's current condition. 

Catherine was an only child and the apple of her parent's eye. They were involved in everything she did. Some days he felt as if he would be walking all three of them down the aisle instead of just their daughter. 

"Aw come on son!" Baker was in his face now and the smell Jack Daniels was strong. "Us men gotta stick together. We're working men!" 

Stephen would never say it out loud but he hated when Baker referred to him as son. Ever since her parents found out his Father had passed they'd taken it upon themselves to "adopt" him. An honor he didn't really ask for or even want. 

Lillian spoke up, "Have you two thought about where'd you like to go on your honeymoon?"

Stephen waited to hear Catherine's answer. He figured she's have already put some thought into it without actually consulting him. 

"Hawaii!" Catherine chimed in right on queue. "There's a gorgeous resort in Maui that Andrea and Jacob went for their honeymoon and she raved about it!" 

It's not that money was a real concern to Stephen. He didn't mind shelling out big bucks for his wedding, at least he was sure he wouldn't if he had been more excited about his wedding. It just seemed the closer they got to the date the more he dreaded it. 

The rest of the evening drug on mercilessly. The conversation volleyed between wedding details and business. When the conversation eventually landed on their side of the family's guest list he took the opportunity to motion to the waiter for the check. The three chatterboxes were so engrossed in conversation they hadn't noticed Stephen pay the check. Once he'd left the tip he politely stood up. 

"Well this has been great you guys but I am on verge of passing out, long day ya know?"

"Oh!" Lillian checked her diamond encrusted watch, "We are so sorry Stephen we hadn't noticed the time fly."




Your Love Ch. 03



Stephen raised his hand to assure an apology wasn't necessary. 

"Well sweetie I'll ride home with you." Catherine said with a sly smile. "Just to make sure you get to bed."

Oh Lord. He groaned inwardly. Tonight would be...stressful.

The two couples said their goodbyes in the parking lot and headed off in different directions. 

The car ride was a quiet one but Catherine was quite handsy. By the time he had pulled into the parking deck, the only thing that kept her on the other side of the car was her seatbelt. 

"Mmmm" Catherine moaned into the side of his neck, "Stephen I have missed you so much honey."

"Miss you too babe." He responded in a clipped tone. 

Catherine snaked her fingers down to his jeans and gave his cock a good feel. 

She let out a giggle, "Oh ho, looks like someone else missed me too."

She took it on herself to slowly unzip his jeans and slip her hand inside.

Great!! NOW I feel guilty! This is what I should have felt the other night and now all of a sudden I feel like a cheater?! How the hell does THAT work??

It was true, at this moment Stephen felt as if he was committing the crime of the century against Christina when in fact he was merely doing the right thing with Catherine, his ACTUAL fiancée. 

Clearly something in his brain was broken. 

No, he needed to buck the shit up and make proper love to the woman that was going to be his wife. Maybe that would help get his head on straight. Because while Stephen could easily admit that Catherine had been driving him to the edge of crazy lately, she was still quite capable of impressive things in bedroom. Maybe that was what he needed to put his head back in this relationship. He had to admit that it had been a while since the two of them had fooled around. He hoped he was on to something; But he had to test this theory, NOW.

Before Catherine got too deep into her activities in his lap Stephen pulled the key out of the ignition and told her to get out of the car. Catherine had a look of utter shock on her face not really knowing what had gotten into him but kind of liking it. She jumped out of the car and by the time she had closed the door Stephen grabbed her hand and rushed her upstairs. 

"Ooooo Honey bunny!" Catherine squealed as the elevator doors closed behind him. Stephen hushed her as he pushed her up against the wall of the elevator, more so to stop those God-awful pet names, Stephen pressed his mouth against hers and tried to focus.

*DING*

They were passing the first level.

*DING*

Level two.

*DING*

Jesus H. Christ this elevator has never taken this long before!

Stephen lived on the 10th level. At this rate he'd have to fuck her here against the wall.

Get it together. Get it together. He chanted over and over again in his head. This is your future wife. You don't fuck, you "make love".

Once the elevators doors finally opened he grabbed her hand and practically dragged her into the apartment. 

Once inside he went right back to kissing her.

This is good!

Catherina quickly turned around and motioned to her zipper. "Quick! I need you now Papa bear."

He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the name. 

He pulled down the zipper and helped her wriggle out of the tight dress. As soon as she was out she spun around and jumped and straddled him. 

Stephen caught her around his waist and practically ran to the bedroom.

"Wait!" Catherine pulled away from their make out session to interject, "I've always wanted to do it on the hammock." Catherine smiled a naughty smile but there was no way Stephen could handle that idea tonight. That room was still sacred for him. 

"Uh no." Stephen stammered to come up with something quickly. "It can't really handle it ya know?"

It was a total lie. Prior to dating Catherine, Stephen had tested that hammock's strength with quite a few girls. It was more than capable of handling it. He just couldn't bear the idea of officially erasing his memory of him and Christina sleeping there with the new memory of him and Catherine fucking. 

Catherine looked a little disappointed but she shrugged it off and continued their make out session. 

Once Stephen got to the bed he tossed Catherine on the king size mattress and began to undress. 

Catherine reached for him but he pushed her back down so her head rested against the pillow. He pressed his lips against hers and closed his eyes. He could control his body and make it do what he needed to get through. But he couldn't control his mind. Couldn't help where it drifted. Christina. She always had a way to invade whatever he was doing and this time she did so with intent. He felt everything in the room change. He couldn't stop himself from imagining it was her body. Her skin. Her lips. Stephen inhaled and his mind unraveled. Lavender. That was her scent. He could smell her.

Keeping his eyes closed Stephen kissed her again. This time it was different. This time it was the first time. Her lips were sweet and inviting. He slid his tongue into her mouth. He needed to solve that mystery, the one that had been plaguing him for days; what did Christina taste like? 

Mmm, strawberries, wine, and something else. Something he couldn't put his finger on. It didn't matter, how could it? He was kissing her. He deepened their kiss, giving her access to more of him as his hands roamed her body. His palms sliding up the sides of her body, lifting her arms to hold them above her head. 

Letting go of her lips, he kissed her cheeks and trailed his kisses down her neck. That sweet neck, it had looked divine as she had leaned over his telescope less that a week ago.

He brushed his lips against the small dip in her throat, leaving a trail of butterfly kisses up and down her neck. He felt his nose graze her skin as moved downwards. He knew the soft touches were torture for her. He could tell by the way her legs consistently moved beneath him as if urging his exploration faster. He wanted to know if she tasted different here. Stephen parted his lips and tasted sweet skin. It was so real for him. So beautiful and sensual.

Using his left hand, Stephen kept her hands fastened above her head as he continued his explorations further down her body.

He continued to slowly kiss down her neck moving towards the oh-so-welcoming valley of her breasts, pausing only to turn and firmly kiss the inside of each flawless globe. He took her right nipple in his mouth and began sucking on it while his right hand massaged her other breast. Nibbling on the nipple, he could hear her sweet moans. He moved his head to the other breast and started playing with her left nipple with his tongue, teasing it. He liked how it became hard. Using his teeth, he gently bit her nipple. He could feel her legs spreading under him as if inviting him to continue his journey. Using his right hand, he trailed his fingers down her body, along her belly button. Christina's body became softer as he slid his hand down to her belly and reveled in the feel of her skin. She felt exactly as he'd imagined, perfect. Dipping his hand in her panties, he could feel the wetness and heat emanating from her body. He trailed his middle finger down her clit and pushed it into her lips. She was wet, dripping wet.

He pushed her panties lower, below her knees. She used her legs to push her panties out completely. He started trailing kisses down her body. Down her belly button. He could feel the smoothness of her skin. Continuing down her body, he could feel her body heat. As he got nearer to her pussy, she spread her legs wider. Using his tongue, he gave her a slow lick from the top of her clit down to the folds of her pussy. He could taste her sweetness. 

Stephen lifted himself onto his knees while extending her legs into the air by her ankles. Stephen kissed her left ankle and then her right. Bending her legs down he kissed her left knee and again followed with the right. Stephen decided that neither one of them were leaving this bed until he had kissed every centimeter of her skin. 

He trailed his kisses up her inner thighs slowly making his way towards his final destination. He needed this desperately. Finally with her thighs resting gently on his shoulders Stephen treated himself. He gave her one long thorough lick beginning from the crack of her ass all the way to her clit. 

Delicious. Heavenly. God sent. 

Desperately needing more, he delved in to her. He pushed his tongue in her, as far as it would go. He felt her thighs tighten around his neck. He was giving her exactly what she needed. 

Slipping his tongue back out and straight up to her clit again he kissed her sweet, wet pussy. 

No, he made out with her pussy. He felt like a high schooler making out at the back of the bus, but this was way dirtier!

Stephen could feel her writhe beneath him. Oh yes Christina, take everything I'm giving you baby.

Stephen wouldn't stop, couldn't stop. Not until he knew his sweet Christina had experienced absolute pleasure at the mercy of his tongue. 

He slipped two fingers into her tight pussy to accompany his hardworking tongue. His tongue was playing with her clit, lapping on it, gently applying pressure while his fingers were fucking her, in and out, in and out.

She was practically bucking now, her legs pushing against the bed threatening to toss him to the floor. The devil himself couldn't have detached him from the sweetest pussy he'd ever tasted. 

A third finger slipped in and he knew she had lost it. Christina screamed his name.

"Oh Stephen!" He heard the breathless voice yell with exasperation. He was satisfied with himself and his clearly superior oral skills. 

"Oh hunny bunny!" 

What the fuck?!

Stephen's eyes flew open. 

He'd been pulled out of his fantasy.

It was real. It was all real. 

Except for that one thing.

Had his imagination really taken him that far? To the point that he'd actually convinced himself he had orally pleasured a completely different woman?!

Holy shit.

Stephen had just now realized how deep he was.

I am such an asshole.

He couldn't even get through sex with his fiancée without her invading his brain.

Stephen rolled over onto his back. He couldn't even make love to Catherine properly anymore.

Hell he didn't really want to make love to her. He wasn't in love with Catherine anymore. He hadn't been in love with Catherine for quite some time. Since before he proposed.

I am such an asshole. 

The truth was Catherine wasn't a bad person and neither were her parents. They didn't deserve this. They didn't deserve to be led on simply because he didn't know how to end it. He hated himself for making them out to be the bad guys these past few weeks when really they were just excited for their daughters wedding. 

"Honey?" Catherine spoke in an almost hoarse voice, she'd noticed the sudden change in Stephen's mood.

He couldn't speak. 

"Sweetie?" She tried again. "Do you want me to get a condom?"

Something told him break ups shouldn't follow oral sex.

"No," Stephen spoke up softly. "I just got this killer headache all of a sudden." He lied. Again. But just for a couple more days. He needed to find the right time. 

Catherine sighed her disappointment. "Want me to grab you some Tylenol?"

He finally turned around to face her. She was sweet. Too sweet for him. 

"No, I'm just going to sleep it off." He said in a softer voice. "Let's go to bed."

Catherine didn't argue, she simply pulled back the covers for him and tucked herself in behind him. 

Catherine lay in bed next Stephen quietly. Secretly she was relieved by tonight's outcome. She appreciated the mindblowing orgasm, she could never say the man didn't know what he was doing with his tongue. She just wasn't sure if she had it in her to commit to full blown sex. 

She knew what he was trying to do for her because it was exactly what she was trying to do for him. She was just a better actor than him. It probably came from the fact that she had had plenty of practice putting on a sweet face for her parents while growing up. 

She knew Stephen didn't love her anymore, which was fine.

She didn't love him either. 

*********************************

1 week ago in Hilton Head, South Carolina

"After everything your father and I have done for you, is this how you repay us?" Lillian paced the floor of their hotel room. 

Catherine sat on the bed with her head hung.

"You don't want to get married!" Lillian was furious.

"Mommy he doesn't want this either." Catherine tried to make her see reason. "If you saw the way he's looked at me the past few months you'd know it. Stephan does not want to marry me!"

"It doesn't matter!" Lillian had had almost enough. "He clearly knows what's best for him because he is sticking it out! I suggest you do the same."

Catherine wanted to cry.

Lillian took a deep breath and sat down next to her daughter..

"Sweatheart the truth is that you have to marry him." Lillian had to make her understand, "Your fathers company isn't doing well and unless he can tie in a benefactor like Stephen he's going to lose the company."

Catherine understood what her mother was saying but she didn't understand why it was her problem or Stephen's for that matter. Stephen had always been so sweet to her and when he first asked her out she knew it was at the strong suggestion of her father. Throughout their entire relationship her parents loomed over them, making sure their relationship progressed. Only now she knew why.

She liked Stephen and yes she even loved him, but only ever as a friend. And she even knew he felt the same. At some point she believed they both had even mistaken their friendship for love. 

Catherine had tried everything she could to get Stephen to dump her. Called him ridiculous pet names, played the controlling fiancée, she even ignore all of his hobbies and things that interested him. Anything that screamed, we don't belong together.

She was running out of options.

And time.

*********************************

"Stephen" Catherine whispered.

He didn't wake.

"Stephen." She tried a little louder.

Nothing.

"Stephen!"

This time he jumped. A slightly scared and confused look ran across her face. What the hell?

"Wake up silly!" Catherine said in her normal high-pitched cutesy voice. "Almost time for the bridal show!"

Stephen groaned inwardly.

Kill me. 

Stephen hopped out of his SUV, there were women EVERYWHERE. Or more specifically, brides. He had no idea this would be such a big deal. And now that he had seen what a big deal this all was made what he had to do even harder.

Just make it through the day. 

Catherine was also giving herself a pep talk.

This is your last chance. If he doesn't end it after all of this he's simply a glutton for punishment and they'd clearly be getting married. 

Catherine had been to these things before. They were filled with fashion shows, cake and hors d'oeuvre tastings, raffles, and tons of freebies that made for fun sorting once they got home. Oh yes, this had to work. 

She walked around the car and took his hand.

They both shared the same thought.

*On the other side of the parking lot*

"Oh my God," Carmen whined for the umpteenth time, "It's freezing, who the hell does this shit in friggin winter?!"

Christina wanted to laugh at her maid of honor. She had invited her because she figured she'd get better feedback from her rather than Jackson. He would agree to anything in order to make her happy and she needed someone to tell her when something was ugly or when she made a bad choice.

They were really only here for ideas for guest favors. Everything else had pretty much been taken care of.

"All set?" Christina asked as she looked at Jackson. He smiled but she knew how much he didn't want to be here. 

"Oh no oh no oh no!" The couple looked over at the Carmen who was frantically patting her pockets. 

Before Christina could make the accusation Jackson reached in his pockets and pulled out the tickets.

"Looking for these?" He smiled. "You left them on the couch." 

"Whoopsie daisy." Carmen said sheepishly.

Carmen was always forgetting the most important things but she always came through when it mattered and that's why she was her best friend. 

That still didn't stop Christina from swatting her on the back of her head.

"Ow dammit! It's not like they aren't here!" Carmen said trying not to laugh. 

"No thanks to you!" Christina fussed at her. 

Christina took hold of their hands and led them in the building.

*********************************

Once inside immediately the huge room overwhelmed them. Cakes, dresses, and tables were everywhere!

Carmen had grabbed a map that she and Christina peered over trying to navigate a good starting point.

Christina looked up and noticed something had caught Jackson's attention. She followed his line of vision and immediately smiled.

Over in the corner was an area made to look like a man cave. There was a huge big screen television playing some college football game, the men in the area were passing around drinks and snacks.

It was brilliant, a place for the grooms who had been dragged here against their will to hang out. 

"You can go if you want." Christina whispered to him. 

Jackson jumped as he realized he had been caught practically drooling.

"Oh no," he stammered, "I said I'd help you so I will."

"Seriously Jacks, Carmen and I got this. You'll just agree to anything I point out anyway." Christina raised her eyebrows daring him to deny it.

Jackson didn't need much persuasion after that. He darted over to the leather couches and found a spot.

Christina laughed. He may not have been the man of her dreams but he was still a man just the same.

Christina turned back to Carmen.

"Okay where are we starting?" Christina asked and Carmen pointed to the far right of the room.

The girls squeezed through the crowd and began their excursion. 

*********************************

It had been an hour and the girls were only halfway through the show. 

They had dodged dozens of raffle offers, eaten 47 different types of cake, and they were both a little tipsy from all the champagne they had sampled. 

Their gift bags were full of goodies to take home and Christina had plenty of choices for wedding guest favors. 

They were coming up on the man cave area and Christina wanted to see if she could get a peek at Jackson to see if he was at least still enjoying himself and maybe see if they could drop their bags off with him just in case they really wanted to finish the show. 

There were so many men walking the area and generally they were all looking at the tv or talking to each other. Her eyes scanned the area looking for Jackson. But what they landed on wasn't Jackson's eyes. Christina stumbled back. 

There was no way.

Those eyes. Those gorgeous clear blue eyes. The ones that haunted her dreams. The ones she could never forget. They were staring right back at her, right into her.

Stephen.

Her skin warmed under his gaze and just as she was about to smile she felt the blood rush from her face. He was sitting on the leather couch.

He was sitting on the couch next to Jackson.

*********************************

Dear God it was her.

She's just as beautiful as I remember. 

But why the hell was she looking at him like she'd seen a ghost. Her eyes were darting. 

What in the world? To the left?

Stephen looked to his left. There was a dark-skinned guy who had been sitting next to him for the past few minutes. They had actually spoken, nothing too in depth, just asking about the seasons scored for the Gamecocks. He seemed like a nice enough guy, a little bland in personality but he couldn't image why she woul......oh fuck.




Your Love Ch. 03



Stephen tried his best to be subtle as he leaned forward to get a good look at the man's nametag, 

Jackson.

Fucking.

Jackson. 

Why do you hate me God?

Jackson clearly hadn't noticed his fiancé standing in the crowd only 20 feet away. 

Stephen motioned his hand toward an exit sign that led outside. 

He wanted to talk to her. Crap.

She wasn't entirely sure that was a good idea. Especially considering the last time she'd seen him she had skipped out of his apartment in the early hours of the morning before giving him a chance to say goodbye.

She turned her attention back to him and saw the plea in his eyes.

He had missed her. Just as much as she had missed him.

Christina nodded her head to tell him ok.

Stephen got up and quickly sped over to the doorway and walked out.

Christina turned to Carmen and practically threw her bags at her.

"I'll be right back, I have to go to the bathroom!" She yelled over the crowd and then disappeared before Carmen could respond.

Christina pushed through people until she finally was at the door Stephen had gone through.

Was she really about to do this? See him again?

Yes. Yes I am.

Christina pushed the door open and no sooner could she look up before lips had planted themselves on hers. 

Stephen couldn't help himself. It was all he wanted. All he could think about since she had left him. He had placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her. He kissed her hard.

Christina's initial reaction was shock at the sudden intimate contact, but then she realized how much she wanted this too. His lips were so warm and enveloped hers so perfectly. Christina inhaled and took in the familiar smell of him. Fresh and spicy. He tickled her nostrils with the scent of him. She smiled against his kiss.

Stephen needed more. He placed his tongue at the edge of her lips and licked her there. She responded in his favor and opened her mouth for him. He deepened the kiss and she followed suit. They kissed that way until she had to beg for breath. 

Once they parted they only looked at each other.

Christina spoke first.

"Hi."

"Hi." He responded and then smiled. But just as soon as it greeted his face the smile disappeared. 

She was finally standing in front of him and he had to admit, he was kind of pissed at her. But he wouldn't show it. 

"You left." 

Immediately she felt guilty for not at least saying goodbye but the truth was she didn't really know how to. She'd never done anything like that before so she wasn't really familiar with the proper etiquette in that situation. 

"It was just easier." Was all she could get out. 

He couldn't say he didn't understand that logic. He'd been quite guilty of taking the easy way out for a while now.

"Christina I have thought about you every day since then." He started trying not to show too much hurt, "I've spent this whole week just hoping I'd bump into you somewhere. 

Christina nodded against the cold air, she completely understood. So many times she'd thought she'd seen him turning a corner at a grocery store or jogging on the side of the road but it was just a mind's trick. 

At that moment it dawned on them both why they were there, and who they were there with. 

"So that was your fiancé." Stephen stated. 

Christina nodded her answer. 

"Are you here with Caroline?" She asked.

"Yea but.." Stephen started to say but was abruptly interrupted when the exit door suddenly swung open.

"Christina!" Carmen stepped out of the building and looked over at the guilty faces peering back at her. 

The three of them just looked at each other wordlessly before Christina broke the silence.

"Carmen, this is Stephen." Christina tried to think up a lie quickly, "He's an old friend from college."

Stephen caught on quickly and extended his hand to Carmen and introduced himself.

"Hi how are you?"

She slowly looked down at his hand still trying to figure out what was happening before she had come outside.

"Hi." Carmen responded with skepticism. She eyed Stephen up and down and then looked over to her best friend. Stephen had no way of knowing what she was thinking but he had a feeling this girl was too smart for their little lie.

Christina could tell she wasn't buying it but would let it go for now.

Carmen directed herself to Christina, "Jackson is looking for us. Wanted to know if we got what we needed."

"Yes we did," Christina responded, "I'll be right in. Just gonna say good bye to Stephen."

Carmen fought back a smile and gave a quick nod to Stephen, "Mmhm." Carmen turned and stepped back inside. 

As soon as the door had shut Christina turned quickly back to Stephen, "I have to go back in before she gets to Jackson."

His heart plummeted. At hearing his name. At her having to leave just as soon as he had her alone again.

"Okay fine," He grabbed her hand and shoved something in her hand, "Just call me when you get a moment." It was his business card. 

She shoved it in her back pocket and nodded. Just as she had turned to step back inside he grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him again. 

She felt the palm of his hand on her cheek and he pulled her in for a quick but firm kiss. He'd have to settle for that.

She pulled away first, smiled apologetically, and finally went back inside.

Once she had stepped inside she looked frantically for her Carmen and Jackson. She felt a hand slip around her elbow and she almost jumped out of her skin. Christina turned to see who had hold of her and found herself eye to eye with Carmen.

"You missy," Carmen stated with accusation in her tone as she stuck her finger in her friends face, "Have some talking to do."

Christina knew she hadn't fooled her best friend but she also knew she couldn't just tell Carmen every details right in front of Stephen. 

"I will, I will explain everything," Christina needed a little more time to figure out just what she was going to say, "Just let's take Jackson home first and we will go to your place and talk!"

Carmen raised her perfectly arched eyebrow and let Christina's elbow loose. 

The two women went and found Jackson and agreed it was time to go.

Carmen had already sensed that mentioning Christina's mystery man in front of Jackson wouldn't be a wise move so she chose to stay quiet as she slipped in the back seat of the SUV.

Christina placed their large goodie bags filled with wedding paraphernalia in the trunk and got in the drivers seat.

Once all three were in and buckled Christina pulled out of the parking lot. An awkward silence had developed in the car and Christina immediately worried Carmen had said something to Jackson.

"Jackson!" Christina said a little too loudly to come off as casual. "I was thinking I would drop you off at home and I'll just stay the night at Carmen's. I kinda need a girls night."

"Sure, sounds good." Jackson said absentmindedly, clearly oblivious to the stress that had developed in the car. 

About 20 minutes later Christina pulled up to their apartment building. 

"Alright girls," Jackson started as he unbuckled his seatbelt, "You have fun tonight. Try not to cause too much trouble." He smiled and waved to them.

Jackson was barely out of the car by the time Carmen had jumped from the backseat in the passengers. 

"Oh we will!" Carmen said suggestively as she waved back cheerfully with a fake smile. Christina was going to kill her. Christina stepped on the gas and sped off so quickly Carmen's head slammed sideways into seat.

"Ouch!" Carmen yelled and Christina smiled to herself.

Carmen turned to Christina and could tell she was trying to ignore her presence. 

"Don't try to ice me trick!" Carmen yelled as she tried to hold back laughter. "Spill the beans!"

********************************* 



Your Love Ch. 04



Here ya go people. 4th installment. This was done without an editor so shred away. 

I know I said it last time but just a reminder; I'm working 2 jobs and I'm also in school. So these may not come as quickly as we'd all like but I'm doing the best I can. 

ENJOY! 

***** 

"Holy f-ing shit." Carmen said for twenty-eighth time. 

Christina sighed loudly while she waited for her best friend to process what she'd just told her. 

They were laying on the floor of Christina's two-bedroom apartment. It was small but quaint. Carmen had good taste so she made it work. 

"Christina, what the hell?" Carmen said accusingly. 

"Hey," Christina lifted herself up on her elbows to face her friend. "No judging! I know I'm in bad spot but I don't need that from you of all people!" 

"I know, I know I'm sorry." Carmen lifted herself to sit Indian-style, "This is just a whole lot to process girl. I mean you know I have never been crazy about Jackson but this is heavy." 

It was true, Carmen had always been polite to Jackson and had always thought he was a nice guy but standing next to Christina, he was just plain dull. Carmen knew Christina in and out, they had been best friends for most of their lives, it killed her to see her give up the life she wanted for a guys whos idea of excitement was to wear mismatching socks. 

Christina spoke up, "I don't know what to do." 

"Do you like him?" Carmen asked. 

Christina thought a moment, of course she liked him. She wouldn't be feeling this conflicted about someone she didn't like, but the truth was they had seen each other all of twice. 

"I barely know him." Christina responded, trying to dodge the question. 

"Oh stop it!" Carmen laughed at her. Carmen was insulted. That was two times today her best friend thought she could pull the wool over her eyes. "You do like him, and you will call him.' 

Christina let out a stubborn huff. She didn't like being told how she felt, but it was the truth. 

"In fact," Carmen said slyly, "You're going to call him right now!" 

With that Carmen snatched the Stephen's business card that had been laying on the floor, ran to the bedroom, and snatched Christina's phone off the charger. 

"No!" Christina yelled running up behind her. "I'm not ready. I don't even know what I'm supposed to say." 

"Tell him you've been thinking about him!" Carmen said laughing like a teenager. "Tell him you want to have his little mocha latte babies!" 

"God, you are so immature!" Christina said snatching the phone away from her, "You are supposed to be helping me see sense, not egging me on." 

"Oh please," Carmen said suddenly serious, "You and I both know that marrying Jackson would be a mistake. I'm not saying this Stephen guy is your prince charming either but he's gotta be closer to it than your dear boring fiancé. Jackson doesn't have a single solitary spark of thrill in his body. But this Stephen guy practically swept you out of the room tonight, in front of your fiancé I might add, and gave you, and I quote "the best kiss of my life"". 

Christina opened her mouth to argue but Carmen silenced her. 

"Christina you are the bravest most outspoken person I know, but this last year you have been nothing but a huge coward." Carmen knew she should have felt badly about what she was saying but she was nothing if not honest. "You have been agreeing to everything everyone throws at you, you've let Jackson's family walk all over you with these wedding plans, and worst of all, you've played devil's advocate with your Mom when you and I both know you still haven't forgiven her!" 

Christina sat on the bed and remained silent. She hated to hear it all but she knew it was true. 

"Christina, if this guy is your one ticket from under your parent's thumb then you've got to take it. You deserve it. Even if only to learn how to stand up for yourself." 

Carmen knew she was pushing her but she had one more point to make, "No matter what happens with all of this inevitably someone will get hurt, but better now then 20 years down the road when you realize this was the moment to walk away." 

Silence filled the room. 

Carmen watched Christina as she stared down at the floor. It wasn't until Christina sniffled that Carmen noticed she was crying. 

"Chris, I didn't mean to make you cry." Carmen sat on the bed next to Christina and wrapped her arm around her shoulder's. "I just don't want to see you turn into your Mom. You said yourself that was your biggest fear." 

It was. It was a fear that kept her up at night. Christina closed her eyes and remembered that awful day. 

***8 YEARS AGO*** 

Christina walked into her family's huge 9-bedroom house after getting home from school. 

"I'm home!" Christina yelled. 

No answer. That was odd, her mother was supposed to be home. Her car was in the driveway. 

Guess she went to the dinner with Daddy after all Christina thought to herself. 

Christina walked into the kitchen and tossed her book bag on the counter. 

Two half drunken glasses of wine sat on the counter but Christina didn't think anything of it. She figured her older sister had brought a friend over or something, Arlene was always sneaking into their parent's alcohol cabinet. If she kept being so nonchalant about it she was going to get caught one of these days. 

Christina grabbed the glasses and poured the leftover wine into the sink before carefully placing them in the dishwasher. 

"God I'm hungry." She said to herself. 

Opening the fridge Christina looked over her choices. 

Leftover takeout, sandwich, pizza. Yes, pizza. Christina had just reached into the fridge when her actions were abruptly interrupted. 

*CRASH* 

Christina jumped and looked towards the ceiling. What in the world? 

Someone's here. 

Christina imagined a window being broken so someone could make their way inside. Suddenly a wave of fear washed over her at the thought of having to fight off a burglar. She grabbed her cell phone out of her bag, quickly punched in 911 but didn't call, and then slowly walked to the hall closet to retrieve a weapon. Scanning the area quickly she saw her brother's baseball bat leaning against the back wall and snatched it up. 

She walked over to the bottom of stairs and stood for a moment, trying to listen for another noise. Nothing. 

Christina slowly stepped onto the first step trying not to let it creak. 

Second step. 

Third step. 

Fourth step. *creeeeeaaaaaaaak* 

She stilled. Dear God don't let me die today. 

At that moment Christina heard another sound. 

"Mmmmmm." 

Was that her mother? Oh God did this guy have her tied up? Who knows what he'd done to her! Without thinking Christina ran the rest of the way not caring if she made any noises, only wanting to get to her mom. 

Christina got to the top of the stairs and ran to her parent's bedroom door. Without thinking she grabbed the knob and swung the door open. 

Christina went in yelling and swinging her bat, "Mom are you...". Christina gasped. 

There was no burglar. 

There was no break in. 

A blue vase lay on the floor, smashed to pieces. It had been knocked off the bedside table it had once occupied. In its place was her mother's foot. 

Her naked 47-year-old mother lay on the bed beneath their neighbor's equally naked 22-year-old son who'd been home from college only three weeks. 

Both looked up at her in horror. 

"Christina," Marion whispered harshly, "Christina please." 

Christina stood frozen. She couldn't comprehend the scene in front of her. 

The neighbor's son stood slowly, clearly unsure of what to do next. He grabbed a pillow and did his best to cover his nudity. 

"Christina," he finally spoke, "I'm David, I came over to introduce myself to you and your mother was here..." He trailed off knowing how stupid he must have sounded. 

Marion looked at her daughter with pleading eyes, begging her to say something. 

Christina's mind began to catch up to the situation and finally she spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, "I hate you." 

That was all she said before dropping the bat at her feet and turning to sprint out the door. Running downstairs into the kitchen she grabbed her book bag and her car keys and ran to her car. 

The last thing she heard was Marion screaming her name from the top of the stairs. 

Christina brought her thoughts back to the present. 

It was true. 

She hadn't forgiven her mother. The anger she felt towards her radiated through her veins every time Marion opened her mouth to speak. 

How could she? 

How could she do what she did? 

Tear up their family. Break her Father's heart. 

Her father. That made her angrier than anything. He took her back. Sure he kicked her out at first and didn't speak to her for months but after all the groveling her mother did he finally agreed to work on their marriage and let her move back in. It took Christina years to acknowledge Marion's presence and even longer to look her in the eye. Ultimately she decided to make an effort for her father's sake, she saw how much her lack of a relationship with her mom hurt him. 

But as much as Christina tried she just couldn't bring herself to fully forgive her. 

Marion had even tried on many an occasion to explain her actions to her daughter. 

"I was young when I married your father." She would always say. "I didn't even know what love was, I never gave myself the chance to see what else was out there." 

It wasn't until this moment that she actually felt for her mom's situation. 

Hell, the way Christina saw it she may have been heading down the same road. She was marrying the first man she ever looked at in a loving manner and now it was all falling on her like a harsh responsibility. 

Carmen was right, she owed to herself. 

Stephen may very well not be the man she'll end up with but he damn well sure was going to be the man to help break her out of this shell. 

What am I thinking? Christina was coming to her own realization. 

"Carmen." Christina spoke timidly and Carmen looked over at her. "I don't think I'm marrying Jackson." 

"Oh?" Carmen raised her eyebrows in pleasant curiosity. She liked what she had just heard. 

"I care about him, but I don't love him." She said more to herself than to her friend. 

Christina stood up, suddenly anxious and all the things she'd have to do in order to make amends for what she was about to do. Cancel the honeymoon, the flowers, write apology notes, see if I can get the deposit back on the church, tell my parents. Yea, she'd definitely have to prioritize. 

It was all rushing into her so quickly. 

"I'm supposed to get married in a week." She began to pace the bedroom floor as Carmen watched her. Carmen smiled as she saw the gears turning in Christina's head. 

Carmen knew her best friend so well. 

She was about to do it. She watched Christina pace the floor while she muttered to herself. 

Any second now the words would leave her mouth and she'd try to run. 

"I need a minute" and off she'd go. 

But not this time. 

Carmen was prepared. 

She totally understood getting stressed out but this time Christina wouldn't be able to just say the magic words and then run away. She'd have to deal with the problem head on. 

Carmen stood up just in time to see Christina turn for the door and exclaim the words, "I need..!" 

Before she could finish her sentence Carmen threw herself in front of Christina's pathway. 

"You need to breathe!" Carmen said sharply as she blocked the exit. 

The two women stood at the bedroom door gazing at each other. Christina had almost worked herself into a full on panic attack. 

Christina knew she was right; she didn't have the luxury of running away this time. 

Carmen continued, "There's not a damn thing you need to do that is going to get done tonight Chris. You and I both might as well get some rest and I will personally help you start world war three after breakfast tomorrow. I'll even make shrimp and grits with bloody mary's, because it is going to be THAT kind of day." 

Chirstina considered her words and smiled. 

She nodded at Carmen before backing away from the door. 

"Now," Carmen said collecting herself, "I have an unopened bottle of Stella Rosa. We can call that dinner before heading to bed. Deal?" 

Christina smiled and breathed a sigh of relief at the knowledge she wouldn't be going to battle alone. 

She nodded at Carmen's suggestion of wine for dinner. 

THIS is why she was her best friend. 

He checked his phone again. 

Nothing. 

Was he crushing on a girl that wanted nothing to do with him? 

No! She felt the same thing I did last night. 

Stephen sighed audibly and threw himself on his leather couch and berated himself for behaving so clingy but he couldn't help himself, he missed her. 

He was sitting alone at his apartment waiting for Catherine to come over. He looked down at his watch. 

6:30. She was late but that wasn't at all unusual, she was only on time for anything when it benefitted her. 

Tonight was the night. He'd end this ridiculous charade once are for all, for both their sakes. 

"Ugh, I need a beer." Stephen muttered as he lifted himself off the couch. 

Stephen wandered into the kitchen and thought to himself. 

In just a couple of hours I'll be a free man. 

Stephen almost smiled at the thought but he still felt bad about the inevitable hurt Catherine and her parents would feel. 

He reached for the refrigerator door and swung it open. 

Dammit, outta beer. Guess I'll have to do this completely sober. 

Right at that thought Stephen heard his front door lock clicking. 

Here we go. 

The door opened and Catherine stepped in wearing a cotton pink maxi dress, pink and gold flip-flops, and smiling her pearly white smile. 

This girl dressed for summer year round. 

"Hey pumpkin!" She shrieked. 

Stephen responded timidly, "Hey." 

"So what was so important that I had to postpone my mani-pedi?" Catherine asked accusingly. 

"We need to talk." 

Catherine perked up a bit with a curious look on her face. 

"What about?" 

"Let's sit first. Do you want anything to drink?" 

"No, I'm fine." 

Stephen nodded before walking over to the couch and sitting down. 

Catherine followed slowly and sat on his loveseat facing Stephen. 

"Listen Cat," Stephen started, "Thing have been really crazy lately with all the wedding planning and I think you and both know we haven't really had an opportunity to talk." 

Stephen paused a moment seeing if he could catch her reaction but she had on her poker face. 

He continued, "Well lately I've been feeling like we may not be making the right decision. I care about you Catherine and I do love you, but I don't think we should get married. I honestly believe it would be a mistake." 

Stephen looked at her more intently waiting for her to say something. 

What she did next he wasn't expecting at all. 

Fucking finally! Catherine thought to herself excitedly. 

She closed her eyes and let out a breath of relief she felt she had been holding for over a year. 

When she opened her eyes Stephen was looking at her with confusion. It wasn't until then that she realized she was smiling. 

"Umm." She heard him say. 

"Stephen," She finally spoke up. "It's 100% ok." 

"It is?" 

"I wanted to tell you for a while now but I couldn't. My parents wouldn't let me." 

"Your parents? Wait what?" 

"I love you Stephen but more like a really good friend which is what you have always been to me, but definitely not like a husband." 

Catherine looked at Stephen and could tell he was relieved at her response. 

"Well that's great Catherine, I feel the exact same way. But what do your parents have to do with this?" 

Catherine sighed. She'd have to tell him now. 

"Daddy's company isn't doing well at all; he had hoped that once we'd gotten married that Taylor Architectures would go from just making small donations to Basin & Co. Buildings and do a full merger." 

Stephen's look of confusion intensified. 

Donations? 

"Catherine, my company has never made a donation to your dad's business." 

There was silence. 

Catherine face took on the same look of perplexity that plagued Stephens. 

The two looked at each other as their conflicting information hung in the air. 

"You did. I've seen the statements myself. I never brought it up because Daddy said yall's business affairs didn't concern me." 

"How long?" Stephen asked in a clipped tone clearly already piecing the puzzle together himself. 

Catherine was nervous now, she hoped the situation wasn't what it was beginning to look like. 

"The statement I saw was dated about a month before we got engaged." 

Stephen swiftly stood up. 

"We are going to the office, let's go." 

She had seen Stephen mad before and Catherine knew it was best to keep quiet and do what he said. 

Catherine said a quiet prayer to herself and followed him out the door. 

Stephen swung the office building doors open and was immediately greeted by Deacon, his company assistant. 

"Stephen!" Deacon said in surprise then turned to notice Catherine trailing behind his boss. "Catherine! I didn't know you'd be coming in. Shall I get you something to drink? An evian perhaps?" 

Stephen had already walked ahead into his private office clearly on a mission. 

Catherine smiled an apology at their rush through the foyer. 

"Sorry Deacon, he just came in to grab a file." Catherine said hurriedly as her heels tapped against the black granite floor. "We won't be staying long!" 

With that Catherine rushed to catch up to her ex-fiancé. When she opened the doors she saw Stephen peering at his computer screen. 

He looked up for only a second and then returned his eyes to whatever he had been studying. 

Catherine came around and placed on hand on the back of his leather chair and the other on the desk trying not to distract him but wanting to see what he was looking at. 

Financial statements. 

Catherine's eyes skimmed the pages as saw lists of incoming and outgoing funds. 

She had no idea how'd they find what they were looking for. 

"There it is." Stephen stated. 

"What?" 

"Look." Stephen pointed at the screen 

She followed his finger to one of the outgoing payments. 

Debit: BC supplies... $100,000 

BC? Catherine thought. Basin & Co. no doubt. 

Catherine was floored. How could he do this? Her own father? 

"A hundred thousand dollars." Catherine muttered. "That's not a ton of money. Maybe he just needed to borrow it and he'd put it back." 

Stephen looked over his shoulder at Catherine. She looked like she was grasping for one last straw of hope that would make her father innocent. 

Stephen sighed. 

He moved the mouse over to the search box and clicked. He typed in "BC supplies" and hit enter. 

A long list appeared on the screen that disproved her theory. 

When all was said and done Baker Basin had stolen over three and a half million dollars from Stephen's company over the last three years. He had set up a monthly withdrawal from one of Stephen's accounts. At this point there was only one question. He wouldn't be able to set it up by himself though. Baker would need someone who had access to the company's bank information. 

So who the fuck was helping him?  

Stephen and Catherine drove in silence through downtown. 

Stephen had been so angry he forgot to consider that Catherine had just found out her father was a criminal. 




Your Love Ch. 04



"You ok?" Stephen asked without looking at her. 

"I don't know. I knew it was bad, but I didn't think it was this bad." 

He sighed. He'd always looked at his own father as a hero, he knew that's how Catherine looked at her dad. He couldn't imagine how it felt to have such a perfect image crumble before someone's eyes. 

"Want me to take you home?" He was asking to be polite, but he honestly didn't think he could go to her house without trying to kill Baker. 

"No." Catherine said while trying to hold back tears. "I'll stay in hotel or something, I don't think I can look at him." 

"No, you're going to stay at my place, I'll sleep on the couch, you can have the bed." 

"Thanks." Catherine said attempting a smile. 

They returned to an awkward silence as Stephen pulled up to the parking garage of his apartment. 

Stephen pulled into an empty spot and took the key out of the ignition. 

They sat for what seemed like hours in dead quiet. 

"I'm sorry." Catherine said, breaking the silence first. 

Stephen looked up. 

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn't know." 

"I know; I just feel like my family has caused you so much grief Stephan. Between all of the drama with the wedding and now this. I wish you would have just taken the hint sooner." 

"The hint?" Stephen asked. 

Catherine smiled. 

"Stephen, I've been doing anything and everything I can to get you to break up with me. I have tried my best to be nothing but absolutely annoying to you ever since you put that ring on my finger. I guess I always knew you never really loved me and honestly I'm ok with that. My parents are the ones that pushed so hard for us to happed. I never felt like I had a choice in this whole thing." 

Stephen paused to consider what she had just said. 

"So the pet names?" He asked raising an eyebrow. 

Catherine laughed and nodded. 

"Changing my plans?" 

"Yep." 

"How about that pink-ass wedding you were going to make us have?" 

At that Catherine burst out laughing. "Even I don't like pink that much!" 

Stephen had to laugh, he felt like he was finally getting to know Catherine, and she wasn't half bad. But now he was feeling guilty. 

"Cat I do have to tell you something." 

"The other night, when you and your mom were in South Carolina, I had a girl at the apartment." 

He looked at her before continuing. 

"Nothing happened, but I think I care about her. A lot actually." 

Catherine looked over at Stephen. 

Catherine let out a long exasperated sigh. 

"Well since we are confessing," Catherine continued, "Remember that time I was sick and I didn't want you to come over because I said I looked gross?" 

Stephen nodded. 

"Well I was sick, but I didn't want you to come over because Ben was there. He was taking care of me." 

"Umm." Stephen said in puzzlement clearly not following. 

"We've never actually done anything Stephen I swear. We respect you way too much to hurt you that way," Catherine paused before finishing, "but we do love each other." 

"Oh." Stephen said. He thought about it and honestly he wasn't even angry, but her did plan on giving his best friend a little bit of a hard time. "If you guy make each other happy then go for it." 

Catherine smiled. 

"You should go for it too, whoever this mystery girl is." 

If only it were that easy. Stephen thought. 

Before he could respond Stephen felt a vibrating in his pocket. 

His phone. 

Quickly he pulled it out and looked at the screen, he didn't recognize the number but he had a pretty good guess. 

Smiling he looked up at Catherine who was smiling back, 

"That must be her." Catherine said. 

"I think so." 

Stephen looked back down at his phone. 

Why don't you head up stairs and go to bed. You've had a pretty rough day." With that he took his house key off the chain and handed it to her. Catherine slipped out the car and told him goodnight before heading upstairs. 

Stephen hit answer on his cell. 

"Hello?" Stephen said hoarsely. 

"Hey." It was indeed the best voice he could have heard at that moment. 

"Hey." He responded. 

"How are you?" Christina asked sweetly. 

"Better now that you've called." He heard her smiling on the other end. 

He then asked, "How are you doing?" 

"Well I've been better. I've had a pretty crazy day to say the least." 

Stephen doubted her day could have been anymore crazy than his had been. He'd just found out his ex-fiancé's father had stolen millions of dollars from him for fucks sake. 

"Want to meet up and you could tell me all about it?" 

There was a pause. 

Finally, he heard her speak, "I'd love that." 

Stephen sat in the back booth at the Tupelo Honey Café. 

He was nervous. 

It felt like a date. Was it a date? 

While looking over the menu he felt someone come up to stand next to him. 

Stephen looked up right into Christina's eyes. 

"Hey." He spoken first. 

"Hey." 

Stephen looked at her and admitted to himself this was the only thing he wanted to see each day. 

"Notice anything different?" Christina said interrupting his thoughts. 

Stephen studied her head to toe and couldn't find what she was talking about. 

She motioned her head towards the hand that was holding the strap of her purse and wiggled her fingers. 

No ring. 

"Your ring." He said with a hopeful tone. 

"Yep." She beamed at him as she slid into the booth across from him. 

He smiled. 

Maybe this would be easier than he thought.



Your Love Ch. 05



Hey yall, glad you guys enjoyed that last chapter. Here is a longer one, this one was pretty easy to write and I like where it's going. 

Don't forget to leave feedback! Positive criticism welcome! 

*************************************** 

"Deacon calm the fuck down!" 

The deep baritone voice blared into Deacon's ear. 

Deacon spoke in a hushed tone in response, "I know baby; I'm probably just overreacting but I swear he's onto us." 

"No, he's not. You always think he's onto us every time he comes into the office. Now just relax and tell me exactly what he said." 

"Well he didn't say anything, he just busted into the office like he was pissed off." 

"Was he alone?" 

"No Catherine was following him, she said they had just come to grab a file or something. Their both in there right now." 

"Baby, the man runs a business, there is nothing unusual about him coming in to work." 

"I know, I know." Deacon tried to calm himself before trying to change the subject. "How's it going on your end?" 

"Fine. We are supposed to be meeting this evening to talk about something, probably some more bullshit that I don't want to hear about. Once I get these papers signed we should be good to go. Just one more year baby and we will be loaded." 

Deacon almost shrieked in excitement, they were going to be rich! 

"Do you have to see her tonight?" Deacon but on his pouty voice. "It's been so long since you've been inside my tight ass daddy. I wanna feel you pound me tonight." 

There was a groan on the other end of the line and Deacon knew he was rubbing his dick. 

"I'm sure I can make time to come by, I'll just tell her I'm working late or some bullshit." 

Deacon beamed. 

The voice boomed again, "Now hurry up and get off the phone before he catches you. Love you." 

"Love you too Jackson, bye sweetie." 

"Jackson!" Christina yelled out as she walked into their apartment. 

No answer. 

Dammit. 

Her Great Dane, Mingo pounced over to her happily and she greeted him with a hug. 

"Hi sweet boy!" She patted him until he left to go curl up under the window. 

She walked into the bedroom to see if maybe he was asleep. 

Nope. 

She wanted to get this done quickly. As soon as she had woken up this morning she knew she was doing the right thing. 

Carmen had helped her call most of the vendors to cancel their orders and were successful in getting either full or partial refunds. 

She had left a voicemail on Jackson's cell telling him she needed to speak to him as soon as possible but she hadn't actually spoken to him all day. She had no idea how this was going to happen but it had to happen. 

Carmen felt a strong buzz on her hip. 

Jackson. 

Quickly she hit answer. 

"Hello?" 

"Hey sweetheart." 

"Hey, where are you? Remember we are supposed to be having dinner tonight we need to talk." 

"I wish I could baby but they've just tied me up at work, some breach in security at this architecture company. It's gonna take all night." 

Christina sighed. 

"Oh ok." 

She didn't want to tell him over the phone, she always believed break ups should happen face-to-face. 

"Why don't you have another girl's night with Carmen? That way you won't be alone." 

"Yea, ok I think I'll do that." 

"Ok sweetie, I'll talk to you later." 

CLICK 

Well I guess I'll have to be engaged one more day, Christina thought to herself. 

Christina walked around her apartment looking at all of the memories she and Jackson had made there. She pondered what would stay with her and what would go with him when it came time to divvy up their belongings. 

The Starry Night painting? Definitely mine. 

His painting of Michelangelo's Last Judgement? He'd had it hung over the fireplace as the focal point of the living room. All his. 

There were the items they'd made from their DIY weekend. 

The upholstered barstools in the kitchen he'd made with the Nate Berkus fabric he'd found? He can have those. 

The beach wood coffee table? She had gotten the idea off of Pinterest. It wasn't gorgeous but she'd put a lot of hard work into it. That's mine. 

The cornflower blue curtains with the hand embroidered floral pattern he'd bought at a flea market? His. 

Never did understand his taste. If she didn't know better she'd say he was...no way! 

Christina almost laughed out loud at the thought. 

She looked over at Mingo sleeping and smiled. Jackson had given him to her for her birthday. You definitely go with me. 

What else is his? 

Christina looked down at the sparkly diamond ring on her hand. 

Now's as good a time as any. 

She slipped off the ring and placed it in the kitchen drawer. Just because he didn't know what was about to happen didn't mean she had to keep up the façade. 

She was surprised at how pleasantly light her hand felt now that it was free. 

Leaning back on the kitchen counter Christina knew there was only one more thing for her to do today. 

Pulling out her phone Christina looked up the number she had recently saved in her contacts. 

She pressed the call button. 

Ring... 

Ring... 

Ring... 

Ring... 

What if he didn't answer? Should she leave a voicemail? 

Ring... 

Ring... 

Click 

"Hello?" 

Christina smiled. 

"Hey." 

They had been talking for hours. They had to move out to a park bench since the restaurant had closed. 

They were sitting under the light of a street lamp. Stephen was leaning back against the bench with his arms spread and Christina had draped her legs over Stephen's. They had shared all the details of their days and could only laugh and empathize with the trials and tribulations. 

Stephen was a little frustrated that Christina's engagement wasn't officially over but he new she was headed in the right direction. Right towards him. 

"What are you going to do about Baker?" Christina asked. 

"I don't know yet." Stephen was asking himself the same question. "First I think I need to figure out is how he was even able to set up these withdrawals in the first place, he had to have had help." 

Christina felt his irritation, to have someone so close to you and not be able to trust them. She knew the feeling. Better than she realized. 

Stephen changed the subject. 

"Have you told your parents?" 

"Not yet, I left a voicemail on my Father's phone telling him I needed a minute, so I'm sure he knows something's up." 

"A minute?" 

Christina smiled. 

"Yes, just a minute. Ever since I was a little girl I would have these times when I just needed to get away from everything. Just run away. I always said "I need a minute" and everyone knew to just back off and let me breathe." 

Stephen smiled, he understood. His "minute" had always been the stars, but he found he felt the exact same way when he was with Christina. Closer to home. 

His thoughts were interrupted by her laughter. 

"What's so funny?" 

"You know; we've known each other now for 10 days?" 

10 days. 

Even he had to admit it was...fast. 

The truth was for him; she had inspired so much in the past 10 days. She made him braver, not afraid to say no to a life he didn't want. He liked to think he had done the same for her. 

Christina spoke, "If I hadn't met you, I'd be getting married to a man I can honestly say out loud now that I don't love. How sad would that have been?" 

"Pretty sad." 

"We are in a weird spot because we both have a lot of cleaning up to do." 

He couldn't disagree with that. 

She continued, "I don't want you to think that just because we are both available now that we can just jump into some committed relationship." 

Stephen wasn't crazy about what he was hearing but he knew it was right. 

"I agree. We need to deal with everything else first." Stephen looked her deep in her eyes before saying, "But that doesn't mean that I don't want to see you. We can at least hang out, do this again. Right? You have to admit we have pretty good nights together." 

Stephen smiled and she returned it. 

"Of course, I didn't mean we couldn't see each other, only that we should move slow." 

"Deal." He whispered in a deep voice. "But just know that I reserve the right to still do this anytime I want." 

With that Stephen placed his fingers beneath her chin and brought her lips to his. 

It was one of those kisses again. 

Christina melted and he deepened this kiss sliding his tongue into her mouth and tasting her thoroughly. 

The last time they'd kissed had been under a shield of secrecy and the slight panic at the risk of being caught, but now they kissed in the open. And much, much more slowly. 

He understood their agreement to move slowly but he needed her to know that this is what they were waiting for, what they were working towards. 

Yes, Christina thought, I can do this every day. 

She was taking back her earlier thoughts that Stephen may not have been "the one", they way he held her face and massaged her lips with his was definitely giving her "the one" vibes. 

Stephen pulled away first not wanting to give her too much, needing her to have a reason to come back. 

When he opened his eyes he saw her eyes were still closed and she slightly leaned forward clearly already missing his magic. 

She opened her eyes to him smiling and looking quite satisfied with himself. 

Christina cleared her throat before speaking, "Well sir it is your right as an American to fully exercise your freedom, and who am I to stop you from doing that again?" 

Stephen laughed. 

They talked for another hour before Stephen walked Christina to her car and gave her a quick peck before she drove off. 

Getting into his car Stephen knew it was only a matter of time before everything was in it's perfect place. 

"Ugh! Oh! Yes!", Deacon screamed as he leaned uncomfortable over his ratty couch. 

Jackson was thrusting himself into Deacon harshly and without mercy. 

"Give it to me daddy!" Deacon panted. 

"Tell me how much you love that dick!" Jackson roared while taking his right hand and smacking Deacon's ass cheeks til they were red. 

"I love it daddy! I love that fucking huge cock!" 

"UGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jackson groaned load enough that the neighbors had to have heard it though the thin walls. "I'm cumming!" 

Right at that moment Jackson shot a huge thick load of cum into Deacon before collapsing on the couch. 

Deacon leaned back against his naked chest and tried to return his breathing to normal. 

"Where does she think you are?? Deacon inquired. 

"At work." 

"Do you know when you'll be able to get the papers signed?" 

"Soon hopefully. She trusts me enough not to ask for the details, and she's so positive divorce won't happen she's not even interested in reading the damn thing." Jackson finished with a laugh. 

Deacon laughed as well. 

"Think about it baby," Jackson sat up before continuing, "Once we split the final amount with Baker and then I get at least $5 million in the divorce we will have almost 7 and a half million dollars!" 

A giggle of excitement escaped Deacon. 

Jackson continued, "If we invest half of that, we are set for life! You and me on a beach in Spain!" 

Deacon clapped and squealed at their plan. It was all coming together. 

Deacon turned around to get on all fours, the thought of their future excited him all over again. 

He leaned down to take Jackson's cock in his mouth a begin to loudly slurp at his dick. 

"Mmmmmmmmm." He moaned with a mouth full of cock as his lover leaned back to enjoy his blowjob. 

Inwardly smiling and satisfied, all Deacon could think was, soon... 

Awkward. 

That was all Christina could think as her family stared at her from across the dinner table. 

Her dad's eyes were closed and he appeared to be praying but she knew was just collecting his thoughts. 

Her mother's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. 

Her older sister Arlene gave her the coldest stare she could muster. 

And her younger brother Andrew looked as if he wanted to burst out laughing. 

"Christina," her father said in a surprisingly calm voice. "Why?" 

"I don't love him daddy." 

"What the hell does that have to do with it?" Arlene said abruptly. Arlene had always been superficial and vain. The girl had always been about partying in college and the second she found a man to slip a ring on her finger she dropped her studies and became a full time trophy wife. Arlene's daughter, Olivia, was well on her way to being just like her mother, a spoiled brat. 

"Whatever!" Andrew butted in, "I always new the dude was a dunce! I'm glad you're kicking him to the curb!" 

Christina gave her little brother a small smile and a wink at his standing up for her. She'd never say it out loud but he was the favorite sibling. Christina and Andrew had always just gotten along better and Arlene was entirely too into herself to pay either of them any attention. 

Richard Earnest looked across the table at his family. He loved them all, more than life itself. But there were certain truths he had to accept. For instance, when he looked at Christina and Andrew he saw bits of himself. He saw Christina's loving and kind nature and her need to make sure that everyone in the room was happy. In Andrew he saw spunk, the kid didn't let anything get him down and he refused to settle for anything less than what he deserved but he also lived his life in a way that was considerate to those around him. And then there was Arlene, his oldest girl. When he looked at her he saw a younger version of his wife. Gorgeous to a fault, clever, and devious. He remembered her as a child and working so much that he barely got to see her grow up. He figured it was during that time that Marion made her vain mark on their daughter. He'd swore he wouldn't make that mistake again and clearly it had paid off. Hey 2 out of 3 ain't bad, he thought glumly. 

Richard knew how important love was. At one time he had felt its pure bliss. When he'd first set eyes on Marion he was floored, he dark brown skin was flawless, he almond eyes were breathtaking, and she could hold herself up against any woman or man that tried any bullshit with her. He also noticed that she held a lot of the attention of the boys on their high school's sports teams and Richard had never even held a basketball. He was a mathlete for Christ's sake. How could he compare? 

But Marion wasn't stupid by a long shot. The athlete's were fun to toy with and string along for a while but these were small town dream boys who'd all probably end up coaching their kid's little league teams. Marion knew where the money was and she had already been eyeing Richard Earnest whom everyone knew was crushing on her. The rest of the school was floored when the two had begun dating, including Richard. But nonetheless, she'd married him and her work had paid off. She was living in the lap of luxury, that was until her incredible mistake that caused her to get kicked out of their $5-million-dollar home. 

That hadn't been the first time Marion cheated on Richard but it was the last. Marion had never seen Richard so assertive and cold as he was during the months she tried to get him to take her back and forgive her. She hadn't expected it to be so difficult. For the first time Marion wasn't scared about losing her money, house, or clothes. She was scared about losing Richard and the life they had made together. She had no idea when it happened but somewhere in the last 29 years of marriage Marion had fallen in love without even noticing or even knowing how to care for that love. She had continued to take advantage of her naïve husband and when she had finally been forced to face who she was; she didn't like what she saw. She had lost the trust of the people she cared for the most and broken their family. She'd spend the rest of her life paying for her selfishness. 

This was why Marion couldn't be angry. In fact, she found herself feeling pride. Somehow she had raised a daughter that was managing to avoid the very mistake that she had made so long ago; marrying for the wrong reasons. 

Marion finally spoke, "Well then the wedding is off." 

The room grew dead quiet. 

Christina looked at her mother in shock. This was the woman that had thrown so many lavish parties for this event and now she was willing to let her daughter walk away from it without so much as a tantrum. 

"You're okay with this?" Christina asked while peering at her mother with a stunned expression. 

"Christina," Marion began, "The worst thing you can do in this world is not be who you are meant to be. You only hurt yourself and drag down others into your mess. Love is a complicated and messy thing and if you do it with the wrong person many people will end up sorry. If you know this marriage isn't for you then it simply isn't for you." 

At this moment Christina saw for the first time in her mother's eyes the true guilt and hurt for what she had done. 

At this moment Christina looked at her father and saw in his eyes the love for her mother that meant he had truly married the love of his life and he knew she'd married hers. Even if it took her a while to see it. 

At this moment Christina realized, she had forgiven her Mom. 

"I don't understand at all Stephen, I thought you were angry about this?" Catherine shrieked across Stephen's apartment.. 

"I am Cat, I'm furious. But I also know that your father isn't the only one involved in this. He can't be!" 

Catherine sighed with frustration. Her father had ruled her life for so wrong with a ruthless hand, she finally had the chance to put him in his place, and Stephen didn't want to take action! 

"Cat, I want him to pay as much as anyone but we just have to wait." 

"Until what?" 

"Until I can figure out how the hell he got the information to set up these withdrawals, until I can find out just who's helping him." 

"Ok fine," Catherine knew she'd have to be patient, "Who has access to the company's bank information?" 

"Well only a handful of people; myself, Mrs. Macon but she's all of 87 years old, I truly doubt she'd know how to set up a monthly financial transaction between firms, she'd still uses a fucking typewriter to take notes at our meetings for Christ sake." 

"Ok, well who else?" 

Stephen thought. 

Timidly he responded, "Well there's obviously my accountant." 

Christina scrunched her face up. 

"Ben wouldn't do that." 

"Cat, he's my best friend. Do you think I want to accuse him of stealing from me? I have to cover all my bases." 

Catherine hated to even think it but she knew he was right. She nodded. 

"I'll call him, but I'm only doing this to rule him out." 

Stephen nodded. And hoped. 

"Hey baby!" 

"Hey sweetie." Catherine hated making this call. But she knew they needed to know. 

"What's up?" 

"Can you come to Stephen's?" 

"Ummm," Ben "Ok?" 

"We just need to talk to you." 

"We? What's this about?" 

"We'll talk about it when you get here." 

"Ok." Ben said nervously. "I'll be there in 10." 

With that they hung up. 

Ben hadn't seen Stephen since before Catherine had spilled the beans about their feelings for each other and even though Catherine said Stephen was cool about it, he was still worried he'd hold some grudge against him. The two men had been best friends since elementary school and he didn't want anything ruining that, but he also couldn't help the way he felt about Catherine. 

He'd started falling for her shortly after they got engaged. Initially he thought they were just nervous but eventually he could tell the two were pulling away from each other. And as Catherine pulled from Stephen she began to confide in Ben about her parents and her true feelings on the wedding. He felt for her because he knew she was between a rock a hard place. Sympathy turned to empathy and empathy turned to love. Eventually they both admitted to feeling for one another but agreed to never act on them, they both cared for Stephen. He would just have to learn to live with out the love of his life. 




Your Love Ch. 05



Ben sighed before pulling himself off of his couch, grabbing his keys, and walking out the door. 

True to his word, the doorbell rang exactly 10 minutes later. Catherine stood to answer it while Stephen sat on the couch rustling through bank papers hoping to find some more evidence. 

Catherine returned to the living room with the same worried face she'd worn since Ben's name had been brought up and Ben followed behind her clearly sensing trouble. 

"Hey man." Stephen spoke up first. 

"Hey." Ben replied timorously. 

Catherine remained quiet. 

"What's this about?" Ben asked, getting straight to the point. 

Stephen took a breath before speaking. 

"Ben, what do you know about BC Supplies?" 

Both Stephen and Catherine watched Ben's face for a look of surprise or guilt, something that would have said, "I've been caught". 

There was nothing. 

Ben put a thoughtful look on his face before replying, "I don't know, sounds like one of your supply companies. Why?" 

Catherine looked hopeful when she looked at Stephen but Stephen remained on guard. 

"It's not a supply, in fact its not a company I knew I did business with until very recently." 

Ben still looked confused. 

"Ok, then who are they?" 

"Basin and Co." Catherine said finally speaking up. 

Ben looked at Catherine, "Your Dad's company? Ok will someone explain to this?" 

Catherine looked at Stephen with a smug look, clearly asking "satisfied?". 

Stephen actually did believe him, Ben had never been a good liar and it would have been written all over his face had he done it. 

"BC Supplies, or Basin and Company, has been taking donations of $100,000 a month for the past three years." 

"What?", now Ben looked really perplexed, "We don't donate money." 

"Exactly." 

"I don't understand." But he was beginning to, he never did like Baker. 

"Baker set up a monthly draft into his company from mine. He's gotten $3.6 million." 

"Jesus!" Ben looked over at Catherine who was looking quite tired of the details and wanted to get to punishment. 

Catherine interrupted Stephen, "He couldn't have gotten it by himself Ben, that's why we asked you. He had to have help from someone with access to the account information." 

Ben finally understood, he was the accountant, he would have thought the same thing. 

The room grew quiet while Ben thought for a moment. 

"Have you tried Deacon?" 

"Deacon?" Stephen said incredulously. "How would Deacon have access to that?" 

Ben laughed at Stephen's naïve trusting nature. 

"Dude, Deacon sits in on every financial meeting and when you and I need to exchange paperwork, who do you thing actually does the exchanging? You trust him so much; you didn't even consider the information you were giving him access to." 

Shit. Stephen thought. He knew Ben was right. 

Deacon had always been a dutiful assistant. Always on time, always professional, and always ready to please. He'd been with Stephen for 5 years now, he thought of him as a friend. Hell he was going to invite him to the wedding! 

"They're probably splitting the money." Catherine said, interrupting his thoughts. 

"Don't say anything just yet." Ben said suddenly. 

"What?" Catherine interjected. "We know now! We can have them arrested!" 

"No we can't," Stephen spoke with frustration, "At this point its just speculation, we don't have any actual proof that Deacon was involved. We'd need correspondence, proof that they were talking." 

Catherine gave a frustrated sigh before stomping to kitchen. 

Ben and Stephen looked at each other. 

"Are we good?" Ben asked. 

Stephen smiled. 

"Yeah we're good, sorry about all of this. I just had to cover all the bases." 

"No I get that; I was the obvious person. But I meant about Catherine, are we good?" 

Stephen thought for a moment, making nervous. 

"You mean are we good that you fell in love with your best friend's fiancé behind his back?" 

Stephen face went stone cold. Where the hell did Catherine get "he's ok with it" from? 

Ben looked at Stephen, pleading with him. 

Stephen couldn't hold it much longer, he burst out laughing. 

"Dude, I don't care. We were in engaged but we were never in love. If you want her, go crazy." 

Ben let out a huge exhale of relief that he'd leave Stephen's apartment with his jaw intact. 

"Thanks, I guess." Ben replied, clearly annoyed with his joke. Ben had been losing sleep over this. 

Catherine came back from the kitchen with two beers and a glass of wine for herself. 

"Ok boys," She stated matter-of-factly, "We need a plan." 

Stephen walked into his office the following morning with a fake smile plastered on his face. 

"Good morning Stephen!" Declan exclaimed beaming over his desk. 

"Morning to you too Declan," Stephen wanted to bash his head in but maintained composure, "Do me a favor Declan?" 

"Sure, what do you need." 

"I have a new design software that everyone will have to download on their computers, but I'm going to put it on your company laptop first." 

"Ok sounds good." Declan replied without a hint of nervousness. 

"Great, place it on my desk for me, I'm gonna get some coffee." 

"Yes, sir!" 

With that Stephen walked off to the kitchen. 

When he walked into his office Declan's MacBook was sitting on his desk. 

He walked around to sit and saw there was a sticky note on the screen. 

Password: dh_luvs_jb_4ever11 

Stephen almost groaned out loud. 

He knew his assistant was gay and that never bothered him, he just didn't need to witness his teenager-like love for whoever the hell "jb" was. 

Stephen typed in the password which worked without issue. He hit the google chrome icon and was happy to see he didn't bother signing out of his email. 

Scrolling through emails he wasn't finding anything. 

Were we wrong? 

Stephen dragged the mouse to the search bar and typed "BC Supplies". 

Over 1,000 emails popped up. 

Little asshole. 

He clicked on the first one that showed. 

"Baker Basin, 

Did you get the last deposit? I didn't receive your confirmation and I wanted to make sure everything was good on your end. 

Let me know, 

Declan Harvey" 

Well there it is. 

Plain as day. 

There was only one thing that bothered him. 

While the sender was clearly Declan and the email was sent to Baker, there was another email address in the cc area. 

Who was j.billards? 

So there was a third. 

J. Billards? 

JB! 

Whoever the guy was, he was clearly Declan's boyfriend. 

He had initially planned on calling the authorities and firing Declan on the spot but he wanted to know everything himself before bringing it all out in the open. 

Stephen pulled out his cell and called Ben. 

"Hello?" 

"Ben, we got him!" 

"Yes, so Declan and Baker are working together! That's a little bit crazy." 

"It's not just the two of them though, I think Declan's boyfriend is in on it too." 

"Jesus! Alright I'll call Catherine and let her know." 

Stephen hung up his phone and returned to the computer screen. 

He hooked up Declan's laptop to his printer and proceeded to print out any emails he thought would help. 

While reading over the pages Stephen's phone rang. 

He looked down and smiled. There would never be a time he saw he name and wouldn't smile. 

He hit answer. 

"Hey beautiful." 

"How's your day?" 

"Going quite well actually." 

"Getting your problem fixed." 

"Oh yes, very much so. I think I almost have enough to take to the authorities." 

"That's great to hear. We should have dinner tonight. I kind of have something to celebrate too." 

"Oh yea, what's that?" 

"I'm officially a free woman." 

Stephen beamed. 

"You did it? How'd it go?" 

"Honestly I was surprised. I knew he wouldn't be happy Stephen, but he was beyond furious. Like throwing things furious." 

"Are you ok? He didn't hit you or anything did he?" He'd be a sorry man if he laid a finger on Christina. 

"No, no I grabbed Mingo and my bags. We are in my car right now. Not quite sure where we are headed." 

"Well why don't you come by the office and pick up my key, you can go to my place." 

"Umm," Christina wasn't sure that was the best idea, "Isn't Catherine there." 

"I'll call her and give her a heads up, it'll be fine. Her new boyfriend is coming by tonight we can have an incredibly awkward dinner, just the 4 of us." 

Stephen laughed at his dumb joke. 

"Right, so your ex fiancé, your ex fiancé's new boyfriend who's also you best friend, and your new..." 

Stephen waited to hear what she called herself. He knew they were waiting, but he really wanted to hear the word girlfriend. 

"Well whatever I am, having dinner together. Sounds incredibly complicated." 

He was disappointed at her word choice but kind of happy she knew she was something special to him. 

"Yes, it does but it will be fine. If anything it's a chance for us to make it less complicated." 

"I guess, tell me the address and I'll be on my way." 

Stephen rattled off the info before hanging up. 

He'd hope tonight would be a turning point for them. Then maybe they wouldn't have to wait so long to be together.



Your Love Ch. 06



Al right, here you guys go. Thanks again for the words of patience and support. It's been a lot to handle but I got it done for you. I'm pretty excited about this chapter and I really enjoyed writing it. This is my first time ever writing a full sex scene so please give feedback on it!

Enjoy!

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Christina approached Stephen's apartment door with Mingo at her side. She hadn't been here since the night they met. 

She felt a little déjà vu. 

Pulling out the house key he'd given her at the office she remembered that his fiancé, erm EX-fiancé was not only inside but actually expecting her. This was beyond weird. Should she knock instead. Stephen had said he confessed to Catherine that she'd been there before but she still didn't want to just make herself at home in front of her. She should definitely knock.

Christina took a deep breath and raised her fist to knock. But before she could swing the door flew open.

"Dang girl!" Catherine exclaimed, "I was wondering how long you were gonna stand out there! Oh my goodness, look at that puppy! So cute!"

Mingo jumped back at the high pitch sound of the stranger's voice. Mingo was by no means a puppy considering she was a full size Great Dane, and she was definitely a Great Dane that appreciated calm, so Catherine's greeting had most definitely taken her off guard.

She knew Christina had been standing here? AWKWARD.

"Come on in! I was about to pour us some wine, you and me got some chit chattin to do!" With that Catherine spun around and headed off into the kitchen.

Chit chatting? Christina couldn't imagine what they would need to talk about. Besides shouldn't this girl be wanting to wring her neck or something? Why was she being so nice?

Christina stepped into the loft and looked around. Nothing had changed. Except for maybe the southern version of Elle Woods that had greeted her.

"Red or white?" Catherine called from the kitchen. Her thick southern accent reminded her of Carmen's. 

"Uh red please." Christina called back 

Only two minutes had passed before Catherine came sweeping into the living room with two huge glasses of wine in one hand a a big bowl of water in the other.

Catherine set the bowl on the floor nest to Mingo and and then passed a glass of wine to Christina. 

The two ladies sat on the leather couch and an awkward silence fell immediately as they took each other in. Well for Christine it was awkward.

Catherine sat opposite her looking her up and down in a non threatening manner, more like in how a Chihuahua wood greet another dog.

"God you are gorgeous!" Catherine finally said with sincerity.

"Oh thank you." Christina responded timidly.

"Ok so I know you probably think we are supposed to be enemy's or something right?"

"Well not enemies so to speak."

Catherine laughed.

"Listen girl, there is no problem here." Catherine motioned to the empty space between them. "Stephen is one of the sweetest people on this planet and I love him like a brother. All I ask is that you don't break his heart. I can tell he's got a lot ridin on you."

Christina smiled. She was feeling a little less intimidated by Catherine.

"I do care about him; he's done a lot for me in the short time I've known him."

Christina then remembered something.

"Stephen had said you didn't like dogs, or that you were allergic or something." She was clearly confused.

Catherine's face immediately took on one of guilt before she smiled awkwardly.

"That was one of my "try to get dumped" tactics. I actually love dogs, but I also knew how much Stephen liked them."

"Christina shook her head in understanding and laughed a little.

"That's crazy that you had to go through all of that."

"Trust me, I know! But it's working out now, for everyone."

Catherine smiled. She could tell Christina was authentic and that she did care about Stephen.

Catherine downed the rest of her wine and placed the empty glass on a coaster before slapping her manicured hands together.

"Alright girl, wanna help me with dinner?"

"Oh sure. What are we making?"

The girls stood up to head for the kitchen, leaving Mingo who had curled up next to the couch and fallen asleep.

"Steaks, mashed potatoes, with a side salad. I've already got the steaks done and the potatoes are just about ready. Just gotta get the salad prepared."

"Ok I will work on that then."

"Perfect, everything's on the counter already washed and the knives are in the stand next to the microwave. I'm gonna hop in the shower real quick and then I'll be out to set the table. The boys should be here in an hour."

With that Catherine turned around and went into the bedroom.

Catherine pulled a knife out of the stand and then walked over to the vegetables. Grabbing a tomato, she began to slice it into cubed chunks before tossing them in a bowl.

Christina began to develop an eerie feeing that she was being watched.

"Now that's not a bad view to come home to." Christina spun around to see where the voice had come from. 

Stephen was leaning against the kitchen door frame smiling like a Cheshire cat. 

"What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn't be in til later."

Stephen straightened himself up before walking towards her. His navy blue work shirt was rolled up at the elbows showing off his perfect tattooed forearms and his gold striped tie was loosened around his neck. His crystal blue eyes peered at her like she was the last meal on the planet and he was a starving man. 

He is so fucking sexy.

"I was but I thought about you here with Catherine and I figured I shouldn't throw you to the sharks so soon by yourself."

Stephen had back Christina up against a counter and was pressing his body firmly against hers.

"Besides I kinda liked the thought of you being back in my apartment and I want to make sure you were...comfortable."

Christina felt herself running out of air as the heat of him enveloped her body. She was beginning to regret the whole "waiting" thing.

Finally, she got the strength to respond to him.

"Catherine has been great actually, very welcoming."

"Mhmm." Was all he said before leaning down to press his lips against hers. 

Christina let out a groan before snaking her arms around his neck and leaning into him. She parted her lips allowing him to slip his tongue into her mouth and tasting hers. Stephen slipped his hands down to her plump ass before giving it a good squeeze. 

Christina moaned.

Yes, I could get used to this just fine. Stephen thought.

"Well at this rate there won't be any salad for dinner."

The two pulled back from their kiss and turned to the doorway. 

Catherine almost laughed at the looks on their faces, clearly those of two lovers caught being naughty.

"Oh sorry." Christina stammered before going back to cutting vegetables. Stephen just shot an annoyed look at Catherine and she stuck her tongue out like a bratty little sister. He was glad they could be friends but their friendship wouldn't last if she was going to interrupt the little bit of intimacy Christina was allowing him.

"I'm gonna take a shower," Stephen called into the kitchen at he walked towards the bedroom. "Ben said he's on his way. How long til dinners ready?"

"Give us 10!" Catherine called back before turning to Christina who was chopping lettuce. "So you two are pretty hot!"

Christina would've blushed if she could have. 

"Thanks I think."

She had a hard time seeing Stephen and Catherine together as a couple, they seemed to act more like brother and sister.

"I'm gonna set the table." Catherine said while grabbing plates and glasses from cabinets and then disappearing into the dining room.

Christina liked Catherine so far, granted she was pretty intense and very peppy, but she was sweet and Christina could tell she was an authentic person. Mingo however, was clearly still in deciding mode. She had always been a relaxed dog and liked her surroundings to be quiet and chill, which Catherine clearly wasn't.

The salad was finally chopped and ready to be served.

"Hey, Catherine!" She called out. Catherine came rushing into the kitchen waving her hands and shaking her head.

"Nu uh! None of that!" She exclaimed, "You can call me Cat. Now what do you need dear?"

"Oh ok, well Cat," she stammered awkwardly, "the salad is done. Just wanted to know where to put it."

"Go ahead and place it on the dining table."

Christina nodded as she grabbed the huge glass bowl and took it in the next room. 

Once she got into the dining room Christina gasped.

She was under the impression tonight would just be a simple dinner but clearly she was wrong.

Catherine, or Cat, had set the table so fabulously it looked liked it belonged in a five-star restaurant in Paris. There were dark red folded linen napkins, white bone dining ware with gold trim, and there were lit candles at the center of the table. It was gorgeous.

"Like it?" Cat asked, walking up behind her with a bowl full of mashed potatoes. 

"It's beautiful! You have a talent."

"Thank you! It's actually my job." Cat laughed before explaining. "People hire me to stage houses, stores, different events. I love it, it lets me be creative!"

"That's amazing!" Christina said smiling, she didn't even know that was a thing but she was definitely impressed.

"What do you do? If you don't mind me asking."

"Oh not at all, I'm actually a lawyer at Earnest and Pratt."

"Oh I've heard of them! I've heard Richard Earnest is a beast in the courtroom but outside supposedly he's a huge teddy bear!"

Christina smiled, "Well I can confirm that, he's my father."

"Richard Earnest is your father?!" Catherine looked pleasantly shocked, "Get out of town! I bet you take some of that no bull attitude in the courtroom yourself then!"

She laughed, "I try, I don't think I'm as cutthroat as my daddy but I get the job done."

Cat laughed and nodded, she understood having a determined father, but she'd like to think Christina's father was much more noble about how he did business.

Right then the doorbell rang causing Mingo to to jump and rush to the front entrance.

"That must be Ben." Catherine walked to answer the door and Christina went to calm Mingo. 

"Hush silly! You need to calm down."

As Christina soothed the Great Dane Cat walked back into the room with Ben in tow.

"Christina, I'd like you to meet Ben, Stephen's best friend and my wonderful boyfriend!" Catherine looked at him with admiration at being able to call him boyfriend. 

"Hi Ben, nice to meet you." Christine extended her hand which Ben took and gave a good firm shake.

"Likewise." Ben returned.

Stephen had walked in the room in time to witness introductions.

"Great, we all know each other! Can we eat?"

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

"That was delicious." Ben said leaning back in his chair and slapping his belly.

Christina had to agree but she couldn't take credit, "All thanks go to Cat, she was the chef tonight."

Catherine smiled and waved her hand at Christina in a dismissive manner, "Honey please, I've never seen vegetable chopped so fine!"

Everyone laughed as they wiped their mouth and sipped their wine.

"So Chris," Ben started, "Mind if I call you Chris?"

"Not at all."

"Great. Chris, Cat tells me you were engaged too."

Catherine gasped before smacking Ben on his shoulder and exclaimed, "Loudmouth!"

"I'm making conversation."

Stephen interjected as he threw a bread roll at his friend, "Yea, awkward conversation."

Christina was laughing at the playful scene in front of her. She could see why the three of them, were friends. "No, it's totally fine. Umm, yea actually we officially ended it this morning."

"How did that go?" Catherine asked.

"Surprisingly not well. Jackson has always been a very calm and collected person. To see him fly off the handle like that was intense. I didn't even get to grab all of my stuff. All I really took was some clothes, Mingo, and some legal file he'd tossed at me."

Catherine looked ready to defend her, "Well don't you worry about it. We can go and get everything tomorrow."

Christina smiled in thanks.

"Legal file?" Stephen asked with a confused look.

"Yea, he kind of chucked it at me in his fit of rage. I placed it in my bag on the way out."

"Mind if I take a look?" Ben was curious.

"Ben actually went to school for law as well Christina. He just doesn't practice since he's actually doing my company's accounting." Stephen said.

"Oh sure then. Go for it. I'll go grab it."

Christina stood up and went to find her bag.

Catherine took the opportunity to kick Stephen under the table.

"Ouch! What the hell!"

"I like her!" Catherine said with a huge smile.

"Me too!" Stephen said with an annoyed voice, "Did you have to kick me to tell me that?"

"Well we can tell you like her." Ben said in a softer voice. "You haven't done too much talking but you're about to stare a whole through her."

Ben and Catherine laughed and Stephen fumed. He hadn't realized he was being so obvious but he found it incredibly difficult not to look at her, she was beautiful. He loved that he seemed to fit so naturally into their little group. 

Christina walked back into the room as the giggling dies down and she could only assume she had been the topic of conversation. She could only hope it was good. 

"Here you go Ben. I haven't really looked it over but from what I saw it looked to be the prenup. I'm environmental law but I assume contracts flow the same way in a marriage prenup."

"A prenup?" Catherine exclaimed, "I don't believe in those things."

"Tell me about it." Stephen muttered under his breath and Catherine kicked him again.

"I think they are just a set up for failure!" She said coming to her own defense. "Why prepare for the end when you are working on forever!"

Christina smiled and nodded but she sort of disagreed. Sometimes you just need that security in case anything didn't go according to plan, but she could empathize wit Cat's idealist point of view. 

"Umm," Ben spoke up, "Christina, did he talk to you before he had this thing drawn up?"

"No, he just said he was going to jot down the basics and have a lawyer look them over. I think it was more for his peace of mind. I always earned more than him and he may have been worried about paying alimony of something were to have happened."

"Oh trust me," Ben said with a cynical tone, "he would have been just fine."

"Ben what are you talking about?" Stephen said growing irritated.

"One of his stipulations was that in the case of a divorce within the first year of marriage he gets a flat payout of $5 million."

Christina almost choked on the wine she had been sipping.

"Excuse me?" Christina almost yelled before snatching the papers out of Ben's hands. She skimmed over the words. She couldn't believe it. Why would he ask for such a large amount of money within such a....specific amount of time?

"This makes no sense." She muttered while looking over the rest of the papers.

Ben had considered the motivation, "Chris, my guess is that he wasn't planning on being married very long in the first place."

Christina looked up and considered what Ben just said.

Stephen asked, "So you think he was planning a divorce this entire time?"

Ben nodded.

"Damn," Catherine said more to herself. "I guess it's a good thing you didn't become Mrs..." She trailed off realizing she didn't know her ex-fiancé's last name.

"Billards." Christina said absentmindedly, her mind was on a million other things.

Billards? Stephen thought.

No. It can't be. JB? J. Billards. J for Jackson!

"Jackson Billards?" Stephen asked with a little more anger than he meant to show. "Jackson Billards is your fiancé?!"

Christina looked up at him, "Was."

"I was sitting right next to him." Stephen was muttering to himself at this point. "I was fucking sitting right next to the bastard!"

The rest of the table looked at him in shock and confusion clearly not following.

Stephen looked Ben dead in his eyes as her placed his fists on the table and leaned across it.

"Christina is engaged to J. BILLARDS!"

Ben's face turned white with realization. There's no way he thought. But how many J. Billards were in the area.

"Was!" Christina said again with a little more annoyance in her tone.

Stephen wasn't paying attention to Christina at this point, he'd just figured out who all was behind his breech in security and he wasn't going to let it go unpunished. 

** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

"I can't believe this shit!" Jackson screamed and stomped across the living room floor the umpteenth time.

Deacon sat on the couch and let his lover work out his anger. He had no idea what happened, everything was going according to plan and then Jackson had to go and get dumped by his bitch of a fiance. 

"Baby relax and tell me exactly what happened."

"I told you! I don't know! We were fine, everything was going perfectly, the wedding was in a few days. Then she wants to talk about some, "I just don't feel like this is right for us" shit!"

Deacon sighed audibly. The alimony he would have gotten from divorcing Christina was a majority of the money they planned to have a year from now. They wouldn't be broke but they'd have to put off their plans of moving to the beach for a while.

"Jesus Christ, well where is she now?"

"I don't fucking know!" Jackson had stomped back into the living room and thrown himself onto the couch. "She probably went on one of her stupid "minute" runaways. Fucking brat! I called her parents and they insist that she's doing what's best for her. Drive me fucking crazy!"

"Ok well just relax, we still have the money we are getting from Taylor Architectures and we may just have to milk it for another year or two."

Jackson huffed and nodded angrily, "Ok, I'll call Baker and let him know we will need to extend the contract. It'll be fine. We're still on track."

Jackson stood and walked off to grab his phone.

Deacon sighed. His dream of running off into the sunset with his man and his money were going to be pushed back but he'd be damned if anyone got in the way of it.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Catherine sat on Stephen's balcony and watched the night life go by. 

Stephen had finally calmed down after his rage attack an hour ago. She didn't blame him though. To be within a breaths distance of the man screwing you over and not even know it and then to find out it's your girlfriends ex-fiancé? That was pretty heavy.

So much had happened in so little time, and there was so much left to do. She hadn't even told her parents that she and Stephen had called off the wedding and she was in love with someone else. They'd be furious.

But she didn't care, or at least she didn't care about how her father felt about it.

Catherine was entirely too disgusted with Baker Basin to worry about what he thought of her. He had caused entirely too much damage. After everything Stephen had been through, the fact that he'd actually go so far as stealing from his future son sickened her. 

At this point Catherine only worried if her mother knew about what her husband had done. Was she in on it? 

God I hope not, She thought to herself.

The patio door slid open and Ben stepped out into the cool air holding a blanket.

"Hey, you." He said looking at her with concern in his eyes.

"Hey."

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Catherine responded but Ben knew better.

"Cat, you've been to hell and back this week. How are you? Seriously."

She looked up at Ben and saw his worry. "I don't know. So much has happened Ben."

"I know babe." Ben walked over and sat down on the edge of the lounge chair Catherine occupied. He leaned back so he was laying next to her then draped the blanket over their bodies. "I'm here for you, you know that right?"




Your Love Ch. 06



Catherine gave a small but proud smile and nodded.

"I love you Cat, and I want you to understand that I'm in this for the long haul."

Catherine looked into Ben's eyes and knew he meant what he'd said. 

"I love you too Ben." With that she leaned in and kissed him softly. 

Catherine had spent so long with the wrong person that she knew exactly what it felt like to be with the right person. It was Ben. It was always Ben.

He pulled back from their kiss. 

"Why don't you stay at my place tonight? I think Stephen is hoping for some time alone."

The couple peered over their shoulders through the glass window and into the living room where Stephen and Christine sat and talked. 

Christina was talking about something and Stephen was looking at her as if whatever she was saying was the epic secret to life. He hung on every word and watched every move she made. He was clearly enamored with her.

Catherine smiled, she knew Stephen finally knew what it felt like to be with the right person too. He deserved it.

Especially after what he'd been through. Hell, especially after what he was about to go through. 

They were all about to go through their own personal hells, Christina only hoped they'd make it back in one piece.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Baker Basin sat back in his buffalo skin chair in his polished office. He sucked on his gurkha black dragon as he looked around at his room decked out with business awards, hunting trophies, certificates and such. 

He was a lucky man.

"Would that be ok?" The voice came through the receiver interrupting his inner gloating.

"Of course dear boy," Baker replied, "it won't be an issue at all. Stephen and Catherine's wedding is next month. Between this wedding planning and their first year of marriage he has been and will continue to be entirely too busy to notice a measly $100,000 a month coming out of the account. We can continue the withdrawals as long as we deem necessary."

"Perfect," Jackson exclaimed on the other end, "I just wanted to make sure everything was good. I will talk to you later."

Baker hung up the phone without saying goodbye. 

He actually hated that he was doing the work with...dare he say it? 

Faggots. They made his skin crawl.

Two men doing unspeakable and perverse things to each other. It was just downright ungodly.

But he had to suck it up, the couple were his only way into his future son's bank information. 

Their plan had been fool proof. They'd make monthly cash transfers in small amounts then when they felt financially stable in their own rights they'd cut the transfers off and got their separate ways. 

Baker figured that once Stephen and his daughter were married at some point he'd bring up the idea of a merger for their companies and Stephen would never be the wiser.

It was no issue to him to extend the bank transfers another year or two, hell they'd been pulling it for three years as it was. 

Baker supposed he should have felt bad; not only had he stolen a substantial amount of money from his future son but he was basically forcing his only child into a marriage that would ensure the continuation of his comfortable lifestyle.

Yes, he should have felt bad. But he didn't. The way he saw it was he was owed this money, hell it practically already had his name on it!

After paying for this over the top wedding and financially backing Catherine well beyond her deserving years he deserved a little compensation. Once the two were wed what belonged to Stephen belonged to Cat and Baker simply was choosing to collect a little early.

Baker smiled and leaned back in his chair; yes, he deserved everything he was getting.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

"Alright you guys, Ben and I will be heading out." Catherine said as she let out a huge yawn.

The four of them had been sitting on the couch talking about the current situation and how exactly they'd bring everything to light.

"Well thank you so much for dinner Catherine," Christina said, as she and Stephen stood up to follow the couple to the door, "it was delicious and I'll definitely have to try to make something to match it one night." 

"Pssh! Girl please, those steaks were a breeze, I'll give you the recipe for the rub tomorrow. Don't forget! 10 AM bright and early we go get the rest of your stuff!"

"I'll be ready." Christina beamed.

Stephen and Ben shook their goodbyes and Stephen gave Catherine a hug and a kiss to the cheek before assuring her this would all be over soon.

Ben turned to Christina and reached his hand to shake hers, "It was great meeting you Christina."

She extended her hand and gave him a firm shake, "You as well."

Once they had left Stephen couldn't help but smile as he finally closed the door. Despite the bad news that had been revealed at dinner, tonight had felt very...comfortable.

Mingo walked over to Stephen and he extended his hand for the dog to sniff. He felt bad that he hadn't given Christina's dog the proper greeting, but Mingo had seemed to forgive his transgression, especially after he slipped the dog a bite of steak beneath the table at dinner, Their little secret.

Christina had plopped down on the couch and was resting her head against a pillow with her eyes closed. 

Even though she could see him she knew Stephen was watching her. She felt him move from the door over to where she was sitting and seated himself next to her.

"I want to apologize for earlier." Stephen spoke up.

Christina opened her eyes and looked at him with slight confusion. 

"When I found out about Jackson. I was pissed because I was thinking about the situation I was in, I hadn't considered that you just found out your fiancé, sorry, EX-fiancé had done what he did. So, for that I'm sorry. I know I kind of blew my lid."

Christina looked at Stephen thoughtfully before speaking, "I get it, and thank you for that. I think the past few days have been a lot of pressure on all of us, we've all been lied to by people we thought we could trust. Honestly I think out of all of us poor Catherine has it the worst. Her own father."

Stephen sighed and nodded.

The two sat in silence thinking about the night and what all would happen in the next few days before Stephen made an observation.

"You know it kind of funny, even if we hadn't met at the bar that night, we'd still be connected. We probably wouldn't have met but still, it's kinda weird ya know?"

Christina thought about it. 

"Yeah, that's really weird actually. My ex is dating your assistant and the two of them are in cahoots with your ex's father. Honestly I thought Raleigh was bigger than that." Christina began laughing at the idea and Stephen couldn't help it, he saw the humor in it as well and had to laugh too.

Mingo looked up from the corner she had claimed to see what the sudden noise was. The couple were sitting on the couch practically in tears.

Stephen tried to speak in between catching his breath, "Oh my god, this is so stupid! The entire thing is just so ridiculous!"

Catherine sat up from the couch, "True, but let's be honest this thing couldn't have been as easy as us just ending our engagements and finally taking up with each other. God had to make it complicated somehow."

"Well I hope he's happy because I am thoroughly exhausted with it."

Christina smiled as she looked at the side of Stephen's face and he turned to meet her eyes. 

They were so close to getting it right, he was sure of it.

Remembering her decision to wait he began to stand up but Christina reached her hand out to his and pulled him back down.

After what seemed like forever for her to make a move she leaned in to kiss him. It was the first time she'd really taken charge of a kiss and he wasn't about to interrupt her. 

She pressed her lips firmly against his and inhaled his scent. It was a scent she'd never forget; it had imprinted itself on her brain. 

Stephen couldn't get over it, each time they kissed he felt his body grow more familiar to her but it still always felt like a new explosive feeling to him. Like the fireworks he'd see every fourth of July, he knew he'd seen them thousands of times before but they always still seemed more beautiful than the last time. That what her kisses were to him, gorgeous, loud, luminous fireworks. And he was in awe of them.

She moaned as she slid from the couch while keeping their kiss intact and slipped her body onto his lap and he felt her slip her arms around his neck. As she sat down Christina parted his lips with her tongue and deepened their kiss causing Stephen to moan.

Stephen could practically hear the snap, crackles, and booms as their make out session became hotter and faster.

Yes. Stephen thought. Absolute perfection.

He had made sure to keep his hands to himself, even if she was breaking her own rules, he still wanted this to be on her terms. At least that what he planned to do before she grabbed him by the wrists and placed his palms on her ass.

From their all bets were off. He couldn't help himself, he squeezed her perfect round ass as he thrust his tongue deep in to her mouth.

This girl was amazing! They had just had a steak dinner and somehow she still tasted like strawberries. Sweet.

Christina hadn't wanted to admit it out loud but she was regretting the decision she had made only a few days ago. Waiting didn't seem like too much of an option anymore. She wanted Stephen like she wanted her next breath and to be honest she had since the night they'd met, and now that the moment had finally arose there was no way she was going to say no.

Stephen stood from the couch and Christina wrapped her legs around his waste, never breaking their connection. The feel of their lips tangling back and forth had completely wiped coherent thought form his mind and Stephen had actually forgotten what he meant to do once he stood up. He stood in the middle of his living room with Christina in his arms hoisted against his chest and all the two of them could do was attack each other with all the passion in their bodies. Stephen kept one hand cradled beneath her and one hand twisted itself in her soft brown hair. 

He never wanted to stop, but the growing in his pants was telling him they'd have to up the ante if he wanted them both satisfied tonight. 

Christina felt Stephen move them from the living room into another room. At first she'd thought it was the star room but then she felt him lay her against a bed. Once he'd placed her back gently down on to his bed he lifted himself up on over her with his hands on either side of her head and looked into her eyes.

"Tell me you want this." He whispered more harshly than he had meant to.

Christina nodded desperately and tried to reach for him but he pulled away.

"No Christina, you have to say it, tell me so I know we're both in this."

Christina was still trying to catch her breath but she managed to respond to his liking, "Yes, I want this, I want you."

With that Stephen gave a dark smirk that made her heart jump with excitement and a little bit of nervousness. She figured he'd had his share of...experiences, but how experienced was he? 

Would she be able to satisfy him? Hell, would she be able to handle him?!

Stephen sat up and pulled off his shirt in one swift movement, never breaking eye contact. He leaned down to grab the edge of her top and slid it up over her head. 

She lay before him only a lacy red bra and jeans and he stood between her legs in only jeans himself. He leaned back down and she closed her eyes thinking he was going to continue kissing her but she felt him nestle his lips against her neck. He brushed his lips lightly against her throat and traced the patterns he made with the tip of his nose. The heat from his breathing was combined with the feather light touches was on the verge of making her melt. He played this game on the left side of her neck for a few seconds more before repeating it on the right. By the time he was done Christina was a puddle. She'd thought she'd have to scream uncle when he finally let his tongue taste the dip in her throat and he dragged it all the way down to the valley between her satin covered breasts. The contrast of her warm brown skin against the fire engine red made cock jump. Damn it this woman was sexy!

Christina looked down and saw his shaggy blonde hair brushing against her breasts as his head dipped into her chest, she moved her eyes down and became more turned on than she already was. All the could see were the pure muscle of his back moving beneath his skin and he put his entire body into what he was doing to her. She'd never thought a man's back could be sexy but Stephen's was shattering that thought. This was also the first time she was getting a full view of his tattoos.

The cobra on the back of his arms danced as massaged the sides of her stomach. The stars on the back of his neck played as he moved his head against her. He had a detailed map of the world drawn on the upper part of his back and various countries were filled with color. She had assumed they were places he visited.

Never did she'd think a such a thought would cross her mind but there it was; I want to trace a map of the world with my tongue. She felt so kinky and smiled at he oncoming boldness. She lifted her arms and reached to massage China and Canada but Stephen was clearly paying more attention that she thought, he caught her arms and firmly pinned them to the bed. Christina gasped at the feeling of his hands around her wrists coupled with the attention he was giving her breasts. Stephen had pulled the fabric of her bra down with his teeth and was now milking each chocolate nipple like it was his life source. Christina moaned as she felt his tongue play against her and she arched her back to give him more access to her. Stephen smiled knowing he was owning her body, making it move as he pleased. He moved to the other breast and lavished it with the same attention. This man is trying to kill me with his tongue. Christina thought.

"Stephen." Christina moaned. "Please."

"Please what?"

Christina caught her breath when he placed another hot kiss on her breast that was cool from the wetness he'd left there.

"Please what Christina? Tell me what you need baby."

Christina couldn't quite voice what she needed but she reached down and flicked her finger tips against the the button of his blue jeans. She looked up at him with pleading eyes and he smiled his naughty smiled.

"Something you want honey?"

Christina bit her bottom lip hoping she wouldn't have to beg. But Stephen liked the game they were playing, he liked that he was in charge. He could tell that making them wait was an idea she could no longer support and frankly he wanted her to know why she'd never go back to that plan.

"Ask for it." He said softly. 

"May I have it?" Christina said timidly, clearly unsure how to word what she wanted.

Stephen smiled, he could tell she was good girl. He knew she had been outside of the bedroom and that was perfectly fine, but behind closed doors he wanted her to experiment out of her comfort zone. But he would focus on that later. Tonight was their first time and he didn't want to scare her.

Stephen grabbed her hand and brought it further to his jeans while lifting her off the bed. She wasted no time undoing the button and zipper. Once they were undone, she slipped the jeans over his toned hips and brought down his navy briefs with them. Christina gasped. She hadn't seen a lot of men's nude bodies in her life but she knew well enough to know Stephen was impressive in the endowment department.

Stephen slid his jeans the rest of the way down and kicked them off before leaning down to return the favor. He undid her bottoms, slid them off, and tossed them aside. He did the same to her red lacy boy shorts before turning back to her.

Shaved. He liked that.

He kneeled down on the bed as she she lay back down beneath him. They were eye to eye and Stephen dragged his finger tips down her stomach, past her belly button, and to the top of her pussy. His finger tips drew special shapes right above her clit and Christina could feel herself begin to unravel. This man clearly wanted to see her die from the teasing he was putting on her. His fingers played around her lips and even made their way to her ass but he wouldn't give her what she wanted just yet. He needed her completely ready.

Christina laced an arm around his neck and brought him down to kiss her as her other arm slid beneath his to push his back down, making him collapse fully onto he body.

Stephen hissed and moaned when he felt his cock bump and slide against her warm wetness. 

Christina moaned as well at the small relief form the minor contact. 

"No more teasing," Christina said in an almost threatening tone, "Give us what we both want."

Stephen knew she was at her breaking point. He only had to ask first.

"Are you on the pill?"

"Yes!" Christina squealed clearly annoyed with his timing.

With that he slid into her causing them both to groan and stiffen. They still and held their positions. Christina thought he looked big, but even now she could tell she had underestimated what he would feel like. She felt thoroughly...filled to the brim. There wasn't a centimeter of her he didn't reach.

Finally. Was all either of them could think. 

"More." She moaned, sounding as if she were completely under the influence of him. Stephen withdrew himself almost fully before returning himself back home. He began to pump slowly before find their perfect rhythm and Christina met him stroke for stroke. Their breathing became harsh and labored.

The room filled with the sounds of their lovemaking. The outside world didn't exist. There was only them. Their eyes met as Stephen continued to mercilessly complete their union. 

Stephen rolled onto his back lifting Christina with him and placing her on top. He pulled her hips into him. Christina knew exactly what he wanted. Lifting herself, she used her legs to pump her body up and down his length. His eyes closed and his head rolled back at the feel of her grinding against him. She spread her legs wider giving him deeper access to her.

"Mmmmm!" Christina let out as she bounced on his cock. Stephen had opened his eyes and was fully enjoying the show as he watched Christina lose complete control on his body.

"That's it baby!" Stephen encouraged, "Take what you need. It's all yours sweetheart!"

Christina needed no more permission, she rode Stephen to oblivion and back. His thick cock was rubbing right against he g-spot and it was taking her right to a glorious orgasm. Stephen saw he body beginning to lose control and he knew she was close. He grabbed her waste and took her in as deep as possible. Christina legs lifted and he sat up to kiss her neck all the way down to her breasts and she felt her orgasm rip through her body.

Never. Ever. Had it been like that. Not with Jackson, not with any man.

Stephen looked up her and was in awe of the beauty of watching her come down from her high. But he wasn't done. He had to see it again.

Pulling her body down on his he rolled them back over so he was on top. He used his leg to spread her open again and positioned himself back over her. Slowly he entered back into her body and reveled at the absolute perfect feel of her. He moved slowly this time and looked into her grey eyes. 

There it is. He knew it was happening right at that moment. There was she looked up at him and all he could do was smile as heart grew at the knowledge of what was taking place. He was falling in love with her. Years from now when he knew she'd ask when it had happened, he would remember this moment. This is when I fell in love with you Christina.




Your Love Ch. 06



Stephen felt himself begin to lose it, but he wouldn't go without her. He reached down and massaged her clit as he began to move faster, he heard her breath draw in and out and he leaned down to kiss the soft, full lips he had come to need so badly. Christina's back arched as she stilled and she released her lips from his as she yelled his name. Stephen followed right behind her, with a groan that would make a bear shake in fear, Stephen poured himself into her.

Stephen lay his slick body on top of her and the two lovers heaved as they tried to relax their beating hearts. Stephen lifted his head only to rest his lips on hers. He had no intention of moving them, and was perfectly content fall asleep this way but Christina smiled against his lips before sliding his sweat covered body off of hers. 

Stephen looked at her and wanted to tell her of his moment of clarity during their lovemaking but he knew it wasn't a good time. Girls tended to not believe declarations of love after incredible sex, hormones were still to high for it to be convincing. He'd wait.

He slipped a sheet over their tired bodies and pulled her close to him. Stephen and Christina fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms fully exhausted and fully satisfied.



Your Love Ch. 07



Ok you guys, sorry for going MIA. Just wrapped up midterms and now I'm getting ready for finals. Good news though! Your girls getting good grades! YAY!! Just know that my absence is for a good cause. 

It's a busy time. 

I thought about finishing the series in this chapter but I didn't want to screw you guys out of a good story. Yall deserve it! 

As usual, no editor so as usual, shred away. 

*** **** ** *** **** **** *** *** 

Catherine stood in front of the door of her parent's mansion with a manila folder in her hand. 

She took a deep breath and felt a hand softly touch her lower back. 

Ben. 

"You can do this babe. I'm here for you. This. All of this has to end. Today." 

She knew he was right. Her father had to pay for his actions. She lifted her fisted and knocked on the door. It wasn't long before their butler Bernard answered with a confused look on his face. 

"Miss Catherine? Have you lost your key?" The older man asked. 

"I have it Bernard," Catherine actually had the key in her hand and was handing it to Bernard, "I want you to take it and put it with the other house keys. I don't live here anymore." 

Bernard nodded and took the key from her and turned to leave, but not before Catherine could stop him. 

"Bernard where is my father?" 

"In his study Miss." With that Bernard turned on his heel and walked briskly towards the kitchen leaving Catherine and Ben standing in the marble foyer. 

"Alright," Catherine said, "Lets do this." 

With that Catherine walked down the hall towards her father's study." 

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

There was a small knock on Baker's door. 

"Come in!" Baker boomed in his deep voice. 

The door opened slowly and from the other side Catherine peaked her head in. 

"Kitty cat! Come to see your Daddy!" 

Catherine gave a small smile as she made her way into the office. Ben also peaked in and saw Baker give a confused look at his presence. 

"Come on in Ben." Catherine said looking behind her and Ben walked the rest the way in. 

The couple stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, clearly having something to say. 

"Catherine is something going on?" Baker asked while giving Ben a suspicious look. 

"Yes Daddy. There is something going on." Catherine lifted the folder up and held it into the air in front of Baker before letting it drop on his desk. "We know everything." 

Baker's face had twisted into one of annoyance. He was quite certain Catherine didn't actually know what he initially thought she was talking about but he was still nervous. He reached for the folder. 

"Catherine what on earth are you on about?" 

"Open it Daddy." 

Baker flipped open the sleeve and peered at it's contents. 

His heart almost stopped. Emails, bank statements, routing and account numbers. His name was on almost everything. She did know. 

Baker looked up to find both Catherine and Ben watching him, clearly waiting for a reaction. 

Catherine watched her father. A look of fear passed his face for only a second before being replaced with one of utter defiance. 

"Why daddy? How could you do this to Stephen? To me?" 

"I didn't do this to you! I did it for you" Baker snapped back. "I've broken my back over the years trying to make sure you and your mother were taken care of, the very least you can do is shut your damned mouth and let me do what I need to do!" 

"Stephen worked hard for what he has! That company is his dream and you were supposed to be his family! But you're stealing for him! And then you lied to me about everything. All while smiling in our faces." 

"You ungrateful child." Baker started as he began to stand from behind the desk and walk around it but Ben stepped in front of him. 

"She's not ungrateful, she just knows how to recognize a liar." 

Baker's eyes widened as he finally gave Ben a good once over. 

"And just who the hell are you to talk to me that way?" 

"Daddy!" Both me turned to look at Catherine. 

"A lot has happened in the last few days. First and foremost I want you to know that Stephen and I will not be getting married." 

"The hell you wont!" 

"We won't! And honestly Daddy even if we did it wouldn't benefit you at all. Stephen is speaking to Richard Earnest today. A very good and may I add, ruthless, lawyer who had dealt with many cases of financial illegalities. You're done Daddy." 

Baker's face turned white. 

"You'd do this? To your own father?" 

"I love you Daddy, and I always will. But that means nothing compared to what you've done to Stephen and all the hard work he's put into his company." 

Ben spoke up, "Not to mention you were going to make your daughter marry for your own financial convenience." 

Baker turned to shoot Ben another dirty look. 

"I'm still not quite sure who the hell you are to.." Baker started before Christina interrupted. 

"He's my boyfriend!" 

Baker face twisted. 

"Boyfriend? So now your sleeping with your fiancé's best friend?" Baker knew he was being nasty at this point. "I never took my own daughter for a whore!" 

Catherine tried to stop it but she just wasn't quick enough. Before she could even raise her hands to reach Ben, his fist had connected with her father's jaw. 

All she heard was a loud crack whip through the air. 

"She's not a whore! She's your daughter and she deserves a hell of a lot more than what you've given her!" 

Baker hadn't really heard too much of what Ben had said. The ringing in his ears was too loud and his face was still on fire. 

Catherine wanted to get out of there before her father had really understood what had just happened, she'd never seen anyone strike her father before. But she wasn't the least bit upset by it. 

She grabbed Ben's sleeve and pulled him towards the door leaving her father groaning against his desk. 

As they walked out the front door Catherine couldn't help but smile. Sure it had been brutal and messy, but it was worth it. 

Finally. She had her freedom, and she had Ben. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Stephen hoped everything was going well on everyone else's end. He knew Catherine and Ben had been nervous about confronting Baker this morning and Christina was extremely quiet before she left for her meeting with Jackson. 

He was about to take care of things on his end. 

Fucking Deacon. His personal one third of the crime spree. 

How could Deacon do this to him? He'd trusted him over the years. Confided in him about problems with Catherine, bounced ideas off of him, hell he'd even let him vent the gory details of his relationships with him. Stephen was hurt...and furious. 

Stephen stepped out of his SUV with determination for the day ahead. 

This shit ends today. 

Stephen walked through the front doors of his office building and straight into the lobby. 

He didn't bother making eye contact with Deacon but he saw him out of his peripheral. 

"Good morning Stephen!" Deacon said in his usual upbeat tone. 

"Be in my office in five." Was all Stephen said as he strode into his suite. 

He shut the door behind him and made his way over to his desk and immediately begin filing paperwork. 

A few minute passed before he heard a light knock. 

"Come in!" Stephen called out impatiently. 

The door opened slowly and Deacon peeked into the office timdly. 

"You wanted to see he said in a small voice." 

Stephen didn't bother looking up when he responded. "Take a seat." 

Deacon walked into the large office and pulled one of the leather seats from the huge oak desk and sat across from his employer. 

Stephen still hadn't looked at him, he just kept on typing. 

Deacon was getting more nervous by the second. 

He was about to open his mouth to question while he was there when Stephen reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder and dropping it on the desk in front of Deacon. 

Deacon scrunched his face in mock confusion. 

"What's this?" 

"Open it. Maybe you will be able to tell me." 

Deacon's heart was beating a mile a minute. He knew it was over. He flipped open the file and saw everything staring up at him. All the plans. The correspondence over the last few years. Everything was in this folder. 

Deacon looked up and locked eyes with Stephen. Those icy blue eyes were staring a whole through him. 

He once thought those eyes were the sexiest thing on the planet, back when he'd first been hired and he'd had a bit of a crush on his new boss. But now they just seemed terrifying. 

"Um...I...uh." Deacon stammered trying to think of something to say. 

Stephen just rolled his eyes and then looked back to the computer. 

He had finished what been working on and clicked print. 

The machine behind Deacon started to make noises and Stephen went to retrieve the papers it had pushed out and then walked over to where Deacon was sitting. 

He grabbed a pen and signed at the bottom and then extended them towards Deacon 

"Here." Was all he said. 

He reached up and took what Stephen offered him. He looked at the papers. 

A formal resignation. 

Stephen had already returned to his chair behind the desk and was looking at him with a less than amused expression. 

"Consider it a favor," Stephen began, "I considered the fact that while you are a very dutiful and resourceful employee you aren't very creative. There's no way you were the mastermind of this whole fiasco, I'm sure you were a middleman at best."  

Deacon remained silent and stunned. He wasn't sure what to say. He opened his mouth to attempt to respond but Stephen cut him off. 

"However, rest assured that you, Baker Basin, and Jackson Billiards will pay dearly for the grief you've caused a lot of people." 

How did he know about Jackson? 

Stephen watched the many series of emotions run over Deacon's face. He almost felt bad for him. 

"Leave Deacon, it's over. I have a meeting soon anyway and I'd rather not go in angry." 

Deacon stood up and turned timidly like a dog with it's tail between its legs and walked towards the door. 

He reached for the door when he heard Stephen call on him. 

"One more thing Deacon, don't bother giving your boyfriend a heads up, Christina is taking care of it." 

Everything. He knew everything. 

It really was over for them. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

My turn. 

Christina sat in her car outside of the apartment building that She and Jackson once shared. 

She took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. 

She turned to grab the tote bag that sat in the passenger's seat and opened the car door. 

Stepping onto the sidewalk she felt the cool November air hit her face. 

Christina took an even deeper breath outside of her car which had a stronger affect on her. 

She could handle this. Why should she be nervous? 

I haven't done anything wrong. 

If anything she should be angry for being lied to for so long by someone she believed she could trust. 

Christina walked ahead and swung open the glass building doors. 

"Good morning Miss. Earnest." The man behind the front desk said smiling at her. 

"Good morning Mr. Potts." 

Christina made her way to the elevators and pressed the up button. 

It seemed like an hour before the doors finally opened. 

Pressing the button for her floor she heard a chime coming from her purse. 

A text. 

Pulling her cell out of her bag Christina looked at the screen 

Stephen 

Good luck miss. Wish I could have come. <3 

Christina smiled and felt her heart warm. 

She slid her phone back into the bag just as the doors opened and she stepped onto the walkway. 

Taking out her key she approached her door and placed it in the lock. 

Before she had a chance to turn it the door flung open abruptly and Jackson stood there looking like the devil himself. 

"About time. Five more minutes and I would have left." 

"Jackson I'm early." She said closing the door behind her. 

"Whatever, what do you need? Not like you haven't taken everything else from me." 

Christina stood there shocked. 

He's insane. 

"Jackson let's not play innocent shall we?" 

"Excuse me?" Jackson was now standing only inches from her clearly getting furious," I am innocent in all of this! I've done nothing but love you and you just decide out of no where to up and leave me! Is it another man?" 

That made her feel guilty, but only for a moment. 

"Jackson who is Declan?" 

He froze. 

Jackson looked her up and down trying to asses what was actually happening here. 

He didn't want to say too much in case she didn't really know what she was talking about. 

"I don't know anyone named Declan." He turned and walked towards the living room and sat himself on the couch. 

"Really?" Christina followed behind him and plopped herself matter-of-factly on the coffee table across from him. 

He would make eye contact. 

"How about Baker Basin? That ring a bell?" 

Jackson grew quiet. 

Christina reached into her bag, pulled out the pre-nup, and tossed it on his lap. 

"You always knew I had a bad habit of not reading contracts before signing them. My dad still fusses at me for that. I guess I'm a little too trusting." 

He still wouldn't look at her. 

"You don't have anything to say?" 

"What do you want me to say Christina?" He sneered, "Sorry? I'm not. Yes, I was marrying you for money, and no I'm not sorry. But don't worry about me sweetheart. I may not be getting as much as I planned but I still got money coming in." 

"Oh you mean the money you've been siphoning from Stephen business accounts?" 

Jackson eye widened. 

Christina smiled at his reaction. 

"How do you..." He trailed off. 

"Let's just say it's a small world Jackson. I'll be meeting with my Father later to discuss how this will pan out for you and your business partners. 

Jacksons face showed the realization of how screwed he really was. 

"Christina wait." He said in a pleading voice. 

"Jackson I was totally prepared to let you stay out the lease on the apartment but now I'm going to need you gone by the Friday." She stood from the table and walked out the front door. 

Christina hadn't realized how hard her heart was beating but she could feel the thumping as she finally stepped back onto the elevator. 

She smiled and took out her phone. 

She sent a text to Stephen. 

Christina: Done :) 

Send. 

Quickly her phone chimed a response. 

Stephen: Great :) On your way to your Dads? 

She typed back. 

Christina: Yep, see u there? 

Stephen: Omw. Ben and Cat are already there. See u soon. Xo 

Christina walked off the elevator and headed to her car. 

She couldn't stop smiling. 

She'd never been so bold with anyone, especially with Jackson and she was proud that she hadn't faltered in her accusations. 

She was growing. Thanks to Stephen. 

And to herself. 

Christina slid into the front seat and started the car. 

Life is definitely getting better. She thought to herself as she drove off. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Christina, Stephen, Ben and Catherine sat around the large wooden table in her fathers office. 

They'd just spent the last 4 and a half hours going back and forth on how the situation should be handled. 

Whether or not they should press charges or if the fact that the men all knew they were busted was enough. 

How would they go about it? 

Do they sue for damages? Emotional trauma? 

They were mentally and emotionally exhausted. 

Luckily her father had made the whole process go much more smoothly with his expertise. 

They say quietly around the desk trying to taking in the whole ordeal. 

"I almost feel bad for them." Catherine spoke up first, "When Richard is done with them they won't have anything left." 

Ben reached for her hand gave it a small squeeze. 

Stephen sighed loudly and responded, "It's not like they didn't know what they were doing Cat. Plus they'd been doing it for so long, they need to pay, not only for what they've done but for the countless lies they've told." 

"He's right Cat," Christina followed quietly, "I know he's your father and you love him, but we can't always protect the people we love, especially from themselves. I know that more than anyone." 

Catherine nodded sadly. She understood and she'd let her father pay for his choices. 

Richard walked back into the room and the four of them looked up to listen for an update. 

"Well Sonya will be drawing up papers and we've already contacted the authorities with a copy of all the documents, at this this point all you guys can do is wait until they are picked up." 

"How long should that take?" Catherine asked with a concerned look on her face. 

"Well, according to a contact of mine Deacon turned himself in before charges were even filed. They've already tried contacting your father several ways but he's nowhere to be found right now." 

Hearing this made Catherine grimace. 

Christina looked up her father with a worried look, "What about Jackson?" 

Richard's facial expression dropped immediately and he looked at his daughter intently before gesturing towards the door. 

Christina stood and followed her father to the next room. 

"Christina, the police used the key you gave them to get into the apartment..." His voice trailed off. 

"And?" 

"I think things were a lot more troublesome for Jackson than we may have realized. I had someone run his info into the database down at the station and Sonya did some work here too. Honey he had records, a lot of them. Theft, robbery, embezzlement. Jackson Billards wasn't even his real name. He had about 47 different aliases. He has been on the run for years. I think it all finally caught up with him." 

Christina stood in shock. 

They had been engaged. She had been ready to marry a man she knew nothing about. 

"But where is he?" 

Richard sighed, "He's dead sweetheart, he shot himself. They've taken him to a morgue downtown." 

Christina wasn't sure what to feel at this point. 

She wanted to hate him for hurt he'd caused, for lying. But now she didn't know how to handle it. 

Was she allowed to hate a dead person? No matter what he had done? 

Christina nodded to her father with small tears brimming her eyes. 

She wasn't sure why she was crying. She didn't feel sad. Or angry. Or even relieved. 

Just confused. 

She turned to walk into the next room and saw that Stephen was waiting for her at the doorway. He looked worried. 

He had originally hoped they could use this time to introduce him to Mr. Earnest but now it no longer seemed like a good time. 

She walked past him in a daze and grabbed her purse from under the table. 

Ben and Catherine had already left. 

He followed Christina out the front door and as she walked to her car. 

"Christina?" He finally spoke. 

She didn't respond, only looked at him expectantly. 

"Are you ok?" 

Christina seemed confused by the question as if she wasn't sure what it meant. 

"Jackson is dead." She said with no expression. 

Stephen's eye widened, clearly unsure how to process what she'd just told him. 

"He shot himself like the coward he is." 

"Chris.." He started but she cut him off. 

"I'm going to check into a hotel; I need to be by myself right now." 

With that she got in her car and drove off before he could respond. 

Stephen stood in the parking lot feeling empty. The day didn't end at all as he had hoped. 

He'd thought they might go to a romantic dinner after the meeting with her father. Celebrate their victory together. For once they'd be free to have an alone dinner with each other without the outside world plaguing them. 




Your Love Ch. 07



But now even with their engagements ended and all dirty secrets out in the open, they still couldn't catch a break. 

Stephen climbed in the car and stuck the key in the ignition but didn't' start the car. 

He knew they belonged together. He would just have to be patient. Even he had to admit they hadn't had quite the traditional courtship. 

Maybe that's what they needed? 

Stephen smiled at his new plan. 

Sure, he'd give her the time she needed to collect herself, but once she made it to the other side of this he was going to woo her, properly this time. 

He was finally going to make the woman of his dreams belong to him.



Your Love Ch. 08



And Boom! Final chapter! 

Well sort of! I've already got a spin off in mind. Points to you if you can guess who it involves! 

Thanks for all the feedback you guys and thanks for not being too emotionally abusive. 

I'm glad I wrote this story, It's the very first story that I've ever actually finished and even though it has its many flaws I'm still proud of it. 

Enjoy and shred away! 

** ** ** ** ** 

Stephen sat lazily on his couch with a beer in his hand. 

He looked down at his phone again. 

Nothing. 

It had been three weeks since he'd heard from Christina. 

The night she had sped off in her car was the last time he'd seen her. He called her that night to make sure she at least had a place to stay for the night. He would have gone as far as letting her stay at his apartment while he found a hotel, he just wanted to make sure she was safe. 

He called a few time with no answer until finally she texted him. 

Christina: I'm fine, I just need a minute 

That was the only thing she said. 

He wasn't sure how to feel about it, he'd never been on the receiving end of one of her "minute" messages. 

His plan to woo her couldn't be set in motion until they were seeing each other again and he had no idea when that would be. 

Stephen was beyond frustrated. He didn't understand why she had to push him away, he wanted to be there for her. 

The high pitched whine coming from his feet brought his thoughts back. 

Mingo was looking up at him with big brown eyes. 

"I miss her too." 

Stephen picked a broken potato chip form his shirt and fed it to the Great Dane. 

He needed a damn shower. He'd been working from home all week, he wanted to be there in case Christina decided to back, but the only thing he'd actually succeeded at was creating a cloud of stink in the living room. The area was covered in snack bags, dirty dishes, and empty beer bottles. 

If she did decide to come back to him he didn't want her to see what a groveling mess she'd turned him into. 

Stephen finally admitted defeat, he got off the couch and headed to his bathroom. 

** ** ** ** ** 

"We just have to trust the she's ok Marion." Richard Earnest spoke, trying to sooth his wife's frazzled nerves. 

"I know, I know. She's done this so many times before and she always comes back when she's better. I know all this Richard," She was tired of trying to be coaxed out of her concern, "But things have never been this extreme and she's never been gone this long! Only ever a night or two." 

"Just give her a few more days, then we will try and track her down." He gently grabbed Marion's shoulders and turned her to look directly at him, "Just keep in mind that Christina has proven more than once that if she doesn't want to be found, she won't be. It's very likely she'll come back when she's ready." 

Marion nodded and sat on the love seat in her husband's study. 

"I just want to ring their neck Richard," Marion's voice shook with an impending rage. "what they said was so out of line." 

He sighed audibly and nodded while remembering the tense conversation his wife was referring to. 

**EIGHT DAYS AGO** 

Marion was drinking tea in the kitchen when the doorbell began ringing profusely and loud banging disrupted the quiet in her home. 

She rushed into the foyer but Richard had made it to the door first. 

He opened and saw his shoulder's immediately tense before speaking to whoever it was. 

"Miss. Billards, what can I do for you?" He asked in a clipped manner. 

Jackson's mother. 

"You know good and damned well what you can do for me Richard Earnest! Where is that two timing daughter of yours?" 

Richard was poised to defend his daughter but Marion opened the door wider to reveal her presence. 

"Edith!" She said with a fake smile plastered on her perfectly made up face. "Why don't you coming in to discuss this, I'd hate to disturb our neighbors with such a private matter." 

Edith looked Marion up and down lazily before stepping up to enter. 

Richard and Marion back out of the way to let her in and then Richard closed the door behind her. 

"Now Edith, I know this past week has been extremely difficult for you, I can't image what I'd do if I had to bury one of my children." 

"No, you can't!" Edith retorted. "And I just want you both to know that I don't give a damn what that police report said, your daughter murdered my son!" 

"Now wait just a damn minute!" Richard stepped forward but Marion stopped him, she wasn't taking the bait. 

Edith continued her rant, "She may not have pulled the trigger but she damned may as well have! All my sweet son ever did was love your daughter and she left him high and dry for some rich ass cracker. I always told Jackson you uppity blacks thought ya'll was better than us! My poor baby died of a broken heart, given to him by you whore daughter!" 

Marion had heard enough. 

She remained calm but looked Edith dead in her eye before speaking in a relaxed tone. 

"Now listen to me Edith. I know you want to pretend your child was this all heavenly saint but let's be honest with ourselves shall we? Jackson didn't kill himself for anything Christina did. He put a bullet in his brain because he was finally facing himself. For 10 years he'd been running from the law for his crimes and he had no where else to go. And you know what Edith? I'd venture to say someone was in on helping him escape for as long as he did." 

Edith's eyes widened at hearing Marion's speculation but Marion wasn't finished. 

Marion had been stepping slowly in on Edith as she spoke and Edith had been backing up to the point that she was up against the foyer wall, "We know that Jackson Billards wasn't his real name which would lead me to believe that Edith Billards in not yours. Now the fact that we haven't brought this up to any of the law enforcement has been a personal favor to you. I've taken into consideration that your child shot himself and you are clearly in mourning, but so help me God Edith, if you come around my home again, banging on my damned door and insulting my child again I will have the Raleigh Law enforcement investigate your ass so thoroughly you'll wish Jackson had taken you with him!" 

Richard's eyes were almost as big as Edith's. He'd seen his wife emotionally take down other people but this was the first time she'd more out of necessity rather than sheer entertainment. 

He never doubted Marion loved their children but her way of showing love was to shower them with gifts and money. But here she was using nothing more than love and pride to defend Christina. 

Edith bottom lip shook as if she wanted to burst into tears, Richard had a feeling that he tears were more about no longer having a steady source of income rather than the loss of her child. She'd been trying to get some sort of financial payout from his family ever since she learned of her son's death. She'd been asking for millions of dollars. 

Marion spoke up, "If we are finished here you are welcome to leave. I have a dinner party tonight that my husband and I need to get ready for." 

With that Edith backed away form the wall and shuffled over to front door and swung it open. She practically ran to her car and sped away. 

** ** ** ** ** 

Richard couldn't help but smile to himself. 

His wife had changed so much and yet he could still see the teenage attitude she had had so many years ago, and if he was completely honest sometimes he enjoyed seeing that side of her. 

"What the hell are you smiling about?" Marion asked with an eyebrow raised at him. 

Richard laughed, "Just reminding myself why I love you." 

Marion looked amused as she leaned back onto the loveseat, "Oh, so you still love me then? Even after all the headaches I give you?" 

"I do Mrs. Earnest; despite all your insanity I still find you to be quite lovable." 

"Glad you feel that way Mr. Earnest, I worry sometimes that you'll come to your senses one of these days and leave me." 

Richard laughed harder before walking over and sitting himself next her. 

"Well then lucky for you I am insane too, because I'm not going anywhere." 

** ** ** ** ** 

*SLAM* 

Carmen jumped at the sound of her apartment door closing behind her. 

She had just returned the last of Christina's wedding gifts and she was exhausted. She had taken on that particular task to help alleviate some of Christina's stress after canceling the wedding. 

It was also the last task to cross off of operation: end engagement. 

Christina was officially free from any ties to Jackson and his trail of lies. 

Now if only she'd come out of hiding to revel in it. 

Carmen had a pretty good idea where she was but decided against looking for her, she knew she needed space. 

But then again, three weeks is long enough to lick your wounds. 

Carmen took a quick shower and walked into the kitchen to scrape something together for dinner. She wasn't much of a cook and really didn't bother attempting anymore. If it didn't come pre-made or microwaveable she didn't make an effort with it. This was sad considering she loved food. She developed a taste for fine foods during her year of travel. She'd tasted cheese and wine in France, olives in Italy, sushi in Japan, schnitzel in Germany, and countless other delicacies around the world. She was insatiable. When she returned to America she was delighted to find that Raleigh had developed it's artisanal food truck scene, and while the food was great she couldn't replace the flavors she discovered during her travels. 

She studied the inside of her refrigerator and settled on some questionable grocery store sushi and a cheap bottle of wine. 

She plopped herself on her couch and flipped on the television. The Cooking Channel, her television never switched stations. She was obsessed with cooking shows and traveling shows. It was even better when she found a show that blended them both.  

She placed a california roll in her mouth and savored it. One thing she did pride herself on was she was very easy to please food wise. Even questionable grocery sushi had its charms. The vinegary rice, the crisp crunchy cucumber, and creamy avocado melted on her tongue. Carmen knew that however she was destined to leave this world it would be with food in her mouth. 

She was in the midst of making love to her second roll when her phone chimed. 

She looking down at the screen. 

Christina: Darlings 

I figured. Christina thought to herself. 

She texted back. 

Carmen: 2 hrs 

She waited. 

Christina: Thnx 

Carmen rolled her eyes. This girl will be the death of me. 

She tossed what was left of the sushi back in fridge and packed a bag before heading out the door. 

** ** ** ** ** 

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* 

Christina stood up and walked across the hotel room. 

She put her hand on the knob but didn't open it just yet, she had to mentally prepare herself for the wrath that was her best friend. There was no way she could go MIA for two weeks and not get fussed out. 

She opened the door cautiously and found Carmen looking less than impressed. 

Christina smiled timidly but Carmen's expression didn't change, she only pushed past her to walk into the room. 

"Car-", Christina began but she was abruptly cut off. 

"Shut up Christina." Carmen looked dead angry now and Christina knew better than to disrupt. Very few things in this world pissed Carmen off, but when she did get mad; people ran. "It's one thing to go under the radar for a day or two, but when a "minute" becomes three weeks, people start to worry! You haven't been answering anyone's calls or texts, you didn't let us know you were ok!" 

Christina knew she was right; she had behaved like a brat; again. 

"I feel totally ridiculous saying this to you, but you are getting too damned old for this! You can't run away every time something gets too hard Chris! I admit what you went through was insane, but you weren't alone in that. Three other people stuck it out and dealt with it, you disappeared." 

Christina hated hearing the truth right now, but it was what she needed. 

"How mad is everyone?" 

"Shockingly no one is really mad; they are trying to give you your space. Everyone just wants to know your all right." 

With that Carmen took her phone out and text Christina's father. 

Carmen: She's alive but I'm gonna kill her 

Richard: Thnk you Carmen! Tell her we love her! 

"Your parents say they love you idiot." 

Carmen gave her one more once over before taking pity on her. "Well? Are you ok?" 

Christina walked over and sat on the bed, "I don't know. I think so. I'm definitely better than I was before." 

Carmen nodded. 

She gave the room they were in a once over. 

"I figured you were here but I thought I'd wait before coming to bang down your door." 

Christina gave a small laugh, "Where else would I be?" 

"My treehouse." Carmen said smiling. 

Christina laughed harder, it was true. Her runaways led her to their treehouse many times but whenever she needed a real getaway she and Carmen packed some bags and headed to Kurr Beach and stayed at their favorite seaside hotel; Darlings by the Sea. They had many memories here. 

Carmen looked over in the corner and saw piles of plastic shopping bags. 

"Done a little shopping I see." 

"Christmas shopping." 

"Oh so you planned to be back in time for Christmas? Well that's a good thing." 

"I'm not that heartless." 

"Well Christmas eve is in a week, when do you plan on leaving? I packed for roughly a week." 

"A few more days and then we can head home?" 

"I'll give you three days." 

"Deal." 

"Have you spoken to him?" Carmen asked. 

Christina didn't have to ask who him was. 

"Not since I left. I wouldn't even know what to say, he's probably furious. Especially since I left Mingo at his place. He probably thinks I just dumped my dog on him and then ditched him." 

"Well that's essentially what you did Hun." 

"I plan on going back! Even if only to apologize and pick up Mingo." 

"I don't think you're giving him enough credit, I bet he'll just be happy to see you." 

Christina gave a humorless laugh, "I seriously doubt that." 

"Whatever, you'll never know until you try. I'm going to hop in the shower and then we are going to go out for dinner. You owe me a sushi dinner." 

** ** ** ** ** 

Marion was sitting on the back porch reading when she heard her phone go off. 

Left it in kitchen, damn. 

She stood and walked inside. 

She scrunched her face when she saw the number. It wasn't one she recognized. 

She answered. 

"Hello?" 

"Hello...um hi. This is Stephen Serna, a friend of Christina's. Is this her mother?" 

Oooooh. So this is Stephen. 

"Yes Stephen this is her Mother." 

"Oh great! Sorry for bothering you. I pulled your number from one of Christina's planners. I was just trying to find a way to contact someone that knows her. Sorry if that's strange." 

Marion laughed. 

"Not at all dear, how can I help you?" 

"Well it's just I haven't heard from Christina in a while now. Almost a month. I was just a little worried. I figured maybe you'd heard from her? Being her mother and all." 

Stephen felt like and idiot as he rambled, but he didn't know how else to find out. 

Marion tried to stifle her giggle. 

"Of course Stephen, I understand." 

"Great!" He said much more excitedly than he meant to. 

"Honestly I haven't actually spoken to Christina for about the same amount of time as you. This is the longest "minute" she's ever had. I was a bit worried myself." 

"Oh." Stephen tried not to sound too disappointed but he couldn't help it. 

"However, I do have it on good authority that she's perfectly fine and should be home soon." 

Stephen perked up a bit. "That's great Mrs. Earnest! Thank you for that!" 

"No problem at all, and do call me Marion. From what I'm told you are a little more than just a friend of my daughters." 

Stephen was happy this wasn't a face-to-face conversation otherwise she'd have seen him go red. 

"Oh well I.." 

Marion laughed. "Don't worry about it sweetheart, if you are the one responsible for the smile she's been wearing then you are good in my book." 

Stephen beamed. He missed that smile. 

"Thank you very much Mrs...I mean Marion; I do admit I care about your daughter very much. She's done a lot for me." 

"I'm glad to hear that. Oh, I did hear that she left Mingo at your place. Did you want me to swing by to pick her up? I don't want her to be a bother to you." 

Stephen didn't want that at all. He needed Christina to have a reason to see him when she got back. 

"Oh no ma'am. I'm happy to keep her, she's actually been a great roommate!" 

Marion smiled, "Sounds good, well you let me know if she gets to be too much for you. I'll get her anytime." 

"Will do Marion, and thanks again!" 

"Anytime Stephen, bye!" 

"Bye!" 

She hung up. 

Marion smiled. Her husband was the one to tell her about Stephen. He'd mentioned how close the two had acted at his office and how Stephen simply couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and he sensed Christina returned the affection even if she didn't act on it in front of her father. 

She hoped Stephen was sincere. Between the pain Marion had caused and then the drama with Jackson, her daughter simply couldn't afford another heartbreak. 

** ** ** ** ** 

When Christina returned to her parent's home it was the night before Christmas eve. She took her key out and placed it in the door. 

Marion heard the key in front door and her heart jumped. 

She jumped off the couch and ran to greet Christina as she walked in. 

"Hey Momma." Christina said timidly, clearly unsure if she should prepare for another lecture, but instead Marion grabbed her daughter's shoulders and brought her in for a hug. 

Marion held on for longer than she had meant to but she finally let go and gave her daughter a look over. 

"How are you?" 

"I'm good mom, I'm sorry for scaring you and Daddy." 

"Oh pssh, I wasn't worried. I knew you just needed some alone time." 

"Ha!" Richard bellowed, he heard his wife's statement and wanted to out her but he knew she wanted to play it cool, especially since she was cutting her eyes at him, daring him to mention her freak out. 

"Daddy! I missed you." Christina ran over and hugged her father. 

"Missed you too princess. Are you feeling better?" 

Christina nodded her head but didn't say anything. He could tell she was still a little shaken, but she was getting there. 

"Good Lord, you look like shit warmed over." Arlene stated as she walked down the staircase. 

"Arlene!" Marion fussed and gave her oldest daughter a stern look. 

This made Arlene straighten up. Arlene really didn't take shit from anyone but her Mother was the one person that could properly put her in place. 

"I mean, how are you?" 

Christina could tell her sister didn't really care she was home; she was probably just happy she could get the normal amount attention back on her now. 

"I'm better, thanks." 

Andrew walked in the front door behind her. 

"Look who's finally back from the grave! Can't believe you'd get into a funk over such a prick!" 

"Andrew, don't speak ill of the dead." Richard stated as he gave his son a whack on the back of his head. 

Christina laughed. 

"Ok everyone, dinner is ready! Let's go to the dining room." 

With that everyone moved into the dining room. 

Christina looked around happy to see everything decorated for Christmas. She was surprised, as stylish as her mother was her tastes were limited to the closet. 




Your Love Ch. 08



There was mistletoe under each doorway, the table cloth was checkered in red and gold and striped gold and green candles were scattered around the room. 

"This looks amazing Mom; you did awesome in here!" 

"I wish I could take credit, but I actually was referred to your friend Catherine Basin. That girl is a magician." 

Christina smiled and made a note to thank Cat. 

Marion brought out boxes of pizza to the dining room and Christina had to laugh. They opened the boxes and passed around slices and placed them on the expensive china. 

She'd missed this. Her family just hanging out and talking without feeling like someone could say the wrong thing any minute. They hadn't had this since before Marion's infidelity but Christina welcomed the feeling back. 

There was only would thing that could have made this perfect. 

If Stephen were here. 

** ** ** ** ** 

Arlene was shocked when her mother put her on kitchen duty but she dared not argue, however she did grumble under her breathe as she removed her hand jewelry and moped towards the sink. 

Marion and Christina sat on the back porch and sipped on the hot mulled wine Richard had made. 

"So I received a phone call a few days ago." 

Christina scrunched her face in confusion, unsure why this was news. 

"From who?" 

"Stephen Serna." 

Christina froze. 

"How did that go?" 

"I think it went rather well actually. Nice boy. Very polite." 

Christina smiled to herself. He was polite. And everything else a man should be. Simply put...he was wonderful. 

"That smile on your face tell me you agree." 

Christina rolled her eyes. 

"Yes I do. He's great actually." 

"How great? Do you...like him?" 

Christina looked over at her mother and waited before answering. 

"Actually...I think I love him Mom." 

Marion's perfectly arched eyebrows shot up. She wasn't expecting that answer. 

"I know I just got out of a really screwed up relationship, but honestly Mom being with Stephen only let's me see how much being with Jackson was wrong. I never felt anything like this for Jackson, I was just settling when I agreed to marry him. But Stephen?" She paused as she looked out towards the horizon. "He's been everything for me. I've never felt anything less than my best when I'm with him." 

Marion listened to her daughter's confession. 

"Have you told him how you felt?" 

Christina sighed and shook her head, "He know I like him and care about him. But I haven't actually said the words." 

"Then I suggest you put that on your to do list missy. Judging by the way he spoke about you the other day I'd bet anything he feel's the same. But you've put him on hold for almost a month Christina, no one waits forever." 

Christina knew her mother was right. She had to tell him. 

Silence fell and the two women sipped their warm drink. 

"Mommy?" 

"Hmm?" 

"Do you mind if I skipped Christmas eve here? I promise I'd be back Christmas morning." 

Marion smiled. 

"Do what you need to do sweetheart." 

Christina smiled and stood up. She turned to walk back in but stopped. 

She spun around and went to her mother and gave a hearty squeeze around her neck. 

"Thank you Mom." She murmured into Marion's curly hair. 

"Your welcome baby." Marion was on the verge of some serious happy tears and didn't want Christina to see. 

"Now go and get your man!" 

The women laughed and Christina went upstairs to prepare herself for tomorrow. She'd need a foolproof plan to earn Stephen's forgiveness and to tell him how she felt. 

** ** ** ** ** 

She'd arrived at Stephen's apartment and to be completely honest? She was having second thoughts. 

What if he was over her? 

What is he didn't feel the same? 

Maybe he was just expecting her to come by to pick up Mingo and the rest of her things? 

No. Don't do that Chris. Don't psych yourself out. 

She knocked. 

She didn't hear anything inside. 

Was he home? 

She began feeling like an idiot standing there. 

She was just about to convince herself to ditch her plan when she heard the elevator *ding*. 

She turned in time to see Stephen stepping off with Mingo on a leash. 

Her heart jumped. She had missed him. 

Stephen was looking down trying to wipe something off his brown suede sport coat when Mingo barked loudly and ran, slipping the leash out of his hand. 

"Mingo!" he yelled and when he finally saw what had caught Mingo's attention he froze. 

Christina. 

He walked slowly towards her, unsure of what exactly was supposed to happen now. 

The closer he got the more beautiful she looked. She was wearing a black pea coat, black heeled boots, and very little make up. 

"Hey." Was all he managed to get out as he stopped in front of his door. 

"Hey." She replied. 

"When did you get back?" 

"Yesterday." 

"Great, did you...um...have a good time away?" 

She knew what he was really asking. It's what everyone asked. 

"I'm ok." 

"Good." He said with a hopeful look in his eyes. 

"Do you have a minute to talk?" 

"Yea of course. Come in." Stephen said as he opened the door and let them in. 

He unleashed Mingo who was nipping right on Christina's heels begging for attention. 

Christina kneeled down to the dogs height. 

"Oh I missed you sweet girl! I'm sorry I was gone so long!" Christina cooed to the dog while scratching behind her ears. 

Christina noticed Stephen watching her expectantly so the patted the dog once more before standing. 

"Listen Stephen first I want to apologize. For leaving the way I did and for not letting you know I was ok. I know I made a lot of people worry." 

"It's ok, I knew you needed space." 

"Well that's the thing, I went through the exact same thing as you, Cat, and Ben and I seemed to be the only one who handled it poorly. So for that I'm sorry." 

"It's ok." 

Stephen wasn't saying much and she was taking it as a sign that he wasn't interested in continuing contact with her. 

"Ok," she stammered, "Well I'm gonna grab my things and get Mingo and we'll head out." 

"Christina." Stephen said, stopping her before she could turn away. 

"I missed you like hell and I was worried. I had no idea where we stood when you left and I wasn't sure when I would hear from you. I was angry for a bit but I'm not now. I'm just happy your back...and your here." 

Christina took a deep breath trying to muster the bravery to say what she wanted to but he cut her off. 

"Christina I want you to know that I love you. I know that you may not feel the same right now and hell you may still need your space but I just wanted you to know how I felt." 

Christina's heart was racing; he couldn't have said anything better at that moment. 

"Stephen, I love you too. I honestly just wasn't sure you felt the same especially after I left the way I did." 

Stephen beamed, she loved him. 

He stepped closer to her and took her in his arms. 

This. He thought. This is exactly what I want. Forever. 

"Christina," He spoke with his face pressed against her curly hair, "Don't ever leave me like that again, I don't think I could handle a second round of that. Or at the very least the next time you need a "minute", take me with you." 

Christina laughed, "I'll be sure to do that." 

He leaned down and kissed her. 

Christina felt her body warm beneath her coat and suddenly remembered the other part of her her plan for forgiveness. 

She pulled away from his kiss and looked up at him. 

"So here's the thing," She said with a nervous smile, "I had a back up plan in case you needed any convincing in the forgiveness department." 

Stephen got a confused look on his face, "What kind of plan?" 

Christina stepped back and unbuttoned her pea coat and let it fall to the floor. 

She was now wearing nothing more than a red corset with soft white trimming. Her breasts were pushed up by the corset making them look even fuller. The bottoms were tight black boy shorts with a mistletoe printed on the right hip. 

She looked at Stephen and waited for his reaction. 

He didn't disappoint. 

He was attempting to stammer a response but proved to be speechless. 

Finally, after collecting himself he was able to speak. 

"Not that I didn't appreciate the apology but you definitely should have opened with this part of your plan. Would have made things go much more quickly." 

Christina laughed while Stephen continued to eye her up and down. 

"Seriously, Merry Christmas to me." 

With that Stephen scooped her up and walked her into the bedroom and kicked the door shut behind them. 

He was going to give them the best Christmas Eve ever. 

** ** ** ** ** 

Stephen rolled off Christina for the umpteenth time. They had been making love for 3 hours and neither had the strength to get out of bed. 

"Holy shit." Stephen laughed. "That was..." 

"Amazing?" Christina suggested. 

"That's an understatement." 

The two turned on their sides to face each other. 

"Say it again." Stephen whispered and Christina smiled. 

"I love you." She said, giving him what he was asking for. 

"I love you too Christina." 

"So, are we? What? What are we?" Christina asked nervously but Stephen had never felt so assured about what they were. 

"As far as I'm concerned you are mine and I am yours. The whole 9 yards." 

She smiled at him. 

"Good, I was hoping so." 

Christina sat up to look at the clock on her phone. 

5:02. 

Her family would be having dinner soon. 

"Well since you are officially my boyfriend now, would you like to officially meet my family?" 

"I would enjoy that actually, but are you sure?" 

"I am." 

She was sure. She was ready to show everyone how she felt about Stephen. 

** ** ** ** ** 

Christina turned the key of her parent's front door and pushed it open. 

She could hear voices coming from the kitchen and dining room area and butterflies came to her stomach. 

It had been a while since she introduced a guy to her family and all of a sudden she felt like she was in high school again. 

Christina grabbed Stephens hand and pulled him in behind her. They quietly stepped into the foyer and Christina turned around to prep him. 

"Are you sure? We don't have to do this if you aren't ready?" 

"Babe, I want to, I would have done it sooner if a certain someone hadn't ditched me in a parking lot about a month ago." 

Christina cut her eyes playfully at him before turning around and pulling him towards the kitchen. 

She peeked around the door and saw her mother and Arlene chatting and finishing up last minute prep. 

"Hey Mom!" Christina said interrupting the gossip. 

"Hey sweetheart! Glad you came!" Marion exclaimed. She started walking towards Christina when she noticed her daughter seemed to be hiding something. 

"You ok sweetie?" 

"She just being a freak as usual mother." Arlene chimed in. 

"Actually I brought a guest for dinner tonight." 

"Oh did you?" Marion said with a knowing smile. 

Stepping out she pulled Stephen into the kitchen. 

"Hello again Marion. Nice to finally meet you." Stephen said holding out his hand. 

"Pssh! None of that!" Marion pulled him in for a hug and Christina caught Arlene roll her eyes before taking a dish into the dinging room. 

"My daughter tells me you are rather an important person, so I'm very glad she invited you to dinner. I'll make sure to set out another setting." 

"Thank you for having me, I'm very glad to be here." 

Behind them Christina could feel someone walk up behind them, she turned around to see her father. 

"Daddy, you've met Stephen." 

Stephen gave Richard a firm shake. 

"Nice to see you again Mr. Earnest." 

"You as well Stephen, glad it's under better circumstances." 

"Agreed." 

Christina beamed at the scene before her. 

Her parents liked him. 

"Alright you guys," Marion interjected, "dinner is ready. Everyone head to the dining room." 

Stephen and Christina smiled at each other before following the rest of the family into the dining room. 

The couple sat next to each other and Stephen couldn't help but marvel at his surroundings. 

He was being happily welcomed in by a family that while they had their share of issues, was everything he wanted to be a part of. 

He had missed this feeling. The feeling of belonging somewhere. 

He found himself laughing at the snide remarks that shot between Christina and her sister. He talked football with Andrew and found himself taking a real liking to the kid. Richard Earnest, while intimidating in size reminded him of Santa Clause when he smiled and he could see the love he held for his family. Marion was truly a character and most definitely a flirt. 

By the time dessert was served Christina's family had all but invited him to move in. 

Christina saw just how well Stephen blended into her family and it made her love him even more. 

She grabbed his hand beneath the table and gave it a light squeeze and he returned the sentiment with a smile. 

Both Stephen and Christina knew, in spite of the rocky path they took, they were where they were meant to be; together. Always. 

**2 YEARS & A DAY LATER** 

"Alright you guys! Start cleaning up this mess! Ya'll have wrapping paper all over my living room!" Marion fussed with a glass of wine in her hand. 

The living room was drowning in noisy havoc. 

Olivia, Christina's niece was kicking and screaming in a corner of the living room because she hadn't received the specific toy she asked Santa for. Andrew and Zack, Arlene's husband, were sitting on the couch testing a new gaming system, and Richard was laid back on the loveseat snoring. 

No one was paying attention to Marion. 

She rolled her eyes and groaned. 

She looked over at Stephen who had been trying to get her attention. He was pointing to the Christmas tree. 

Oh shit! How could I forget?! 

"Hey!" Marion yelled louder. 

Everyone looked up at her, Richard clearly startled out of his sleep. 

Christina was the only one who hadn't looked up as she was playing with her new iPad. 

"I think Stephen wants our attention." 

Hearing her boyfriends name caused Christina to look up. 

Stephen turned to her motioned to the tree. 

"I think there's one more gift up there for you." 

Christina looked confused and peered under the tree but saw nothing more than shredded wrapping paper and empty boxes. 

"I don't think so." She responded. 

"Trying looking up silly." 

She lifted her head and her nose touched an ornament. It was a white cube shaped ornament that stood out against her mothers red and gold coordinated tree. 

She looked over at Stephen who was smiling nervously. 

He nodded. 

She pulled the box off the branch and opened the top flap. 

Christina gasped. 

It was a ring. An engagement ring. 

Stephen moved so her was kneeling on one knee in front of her and pulled the ring out. 

"Christina Noel Earnest, I love you more than anything in this world. The happiness you have given me I know I could never fully repay, but I want to spend the rest of our lives trying. Will you be my wife?" 

Christina sat on the floor with her mouth open. 

She looked at her parents who were smiling at her, her father winked and gave her a nod of approval. 

She turned back to Stephen. 

"Of course. I love you so much!" 

With that Stephen slipped the diamond on her finger and stood with his new fiancé. 

Marion was already hugging her daughter and Andrew came up to hug Stephen. 

"No take backs!" Andrew joked. 

Richard pulled Stephen in for a hug and congratulated him. 

Stephen wanted to believe this was probably the best Christmas of his life but knowing he would be married to Christina and a permanent part of her family there was no doubt better ones were sure to come. 

**THE END**