Twelve Days The Beginning - By Jade Reyner Page 0,132

them to her. Maybe like he said, it would help to open those.

She went to pick up the smaller of the two packages but was stopped by Cole’s hand on her arm.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Elise? You’re messed up enough as it is – these may make things a whole lot worse.”

“They might do but they might make it better. Either way, I don’t want to die wondering and as things can’t get any more messed up. I may as well just open them and see which way the dice roll.” She reached forward and picked up the first package.

“Do you want me to stay, babe?” Cole asked and she nodded at him. Whatever these packages contained, she and Cole had no secrets. Also she couldn’t guarantee that she wouldn’t end up having another blubber fest.

The first parcel was really small and soft and Elise couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be. Slowly she opened one end and then the other before finally slipping her finger under the tape in the middle. As she pulled the wrapping apart, a folded piece of paper fell out and she opened it to reveal the note that Vaughn had referred to in his e-mail. It was hand written, the letters bold and strong.

These are for Christmas Day.

Remember what I said at the hotel.

Pretend you are with me.

I will be with you.

I need to know that you are with me too.

Elise swallowed and slowly opened the package to reveal the most exquisite pair of black, sheer silk stockings; intricately embroidered lace curved around the elasticated tops, and they were gossamer-soft. So delicate, so beautiful and so totally perfect.

To anyone else these were just stockings but to her they were everything. Vaughn had told her only to ever wear them for him and now he had bought these for her to wear on Christmas Day. They wouldn’t be together but by asking her to wear these, he was ensuring that they would be in each other’s thoughts. He was trusting her to carry out his wishes and wear these; he would be imagining her wearing them, what she looked like, how they made her feel, perhaps imagining himself removing them - and that was unbelievably erotic. She felt the beginnings of arousal as she ran her fingers over the delicate lace and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would be wearing these for him. She wanted to put them on right now and never take them off.

A slight cough made her look up and for the first time she remembered that Cole was still in the room, his gaze caught by the object that she had just opened.

“Erm, Elise – can I just say that I have no idea what the significance of that present is but watching you caress them and imagining them on your beautiful legs is kind of having an effect. Perhaps we could move onto the second present now?”

Laughing, she shot a look down at his crotch, grinning mischievously when she noted the beginning of his arousal.

Hastily, Cole crossed his legs. “Blatantly looking at it, young lady, is only going to make it worse.” He admonished, “I strongly suggest we move onto the second present before I completely embarrass myself!”

Still giggling, she reached for the second package; secretly loving that she had this effect on Cole and knowing that it would never go anywhere. There had been times when he had seriously affected her too and she guessed there would always been this undertone of attraction between them. She wondered if he had come to any further conclusions following his revelation but decided that now wasn’t the time to ask him. Perhaps after Christmas they could have a good heart to heart and maybe she would be the one doling out the advice for a change.

The second present was larger, also beautifully wrapped and solid. Intrigued, Elise slowly opened it and peeled away the packaging, only to be confronted by a plain white box. Turning it around she found a small sticky tab which was holding the box together, and slipped her fingernail underneath it to open it. Gently, she eased the tab out and opened the flap of the box, lifting it clear so that she could examine the contents. Instantly, she sucked in a breath as she recognised the object in the box – it was the latest smart phone that they had all been chatting about over dinner