Ali smelled coffee the minute she opened her eyes. It was still dark out when she woke up, which tempted her to lay in bed longer than she actually did. When she noticed James was missing beside her, and didn’t seem to be coming back any time soon, she threw on some clothes and went downstairs.

“Merry Christmas” he said, handing her a mug full of coffee. His dark hair was all over the place, a hint of dark circles under his eyes, but they were happy nonetheless. “I know it’s early, but maybe this will help.”

"Merry Christmas to you!" The aroma hit Ali’s nose and warmed her from the inside out. “Thank you.” James gave her a quick kiss, which was followed by a slightly longer one.

“Ready to open presents?”

“Oh, so the coffee was merely a distraction?” Ali teased.

“It got you out of bed, didn’t it?” He grabbed his own mug and headed into the living room.

It was funny to watch him like this. Ali honestly thought a guy like James wouldn’t care too much about Christmas, or ‘presents’, or any of the usual connotations that came with the holiday. After all, this was a guy who could buy anything he wanted. Not only that, deep down, she was a little nervous to let him open his gifts…especially after the amazing ones he’d given her two nights before.

In the living room, James was already seated crossed-legged on the floor by the tree. He had Ali’s smallest box on his lap.

“My god, James” she said laughing. “Excited much?”

“Sorry, I can’t wait.” He smiled up at her. “I was good all night! Wasn’t I?”

Ali giggled, settling onto the floor next to him. “You were, you were….So I guess you can open them now. But NOT that one first.” She leaned over to reach the largest of the three boxes. “This one first.”

“Oooo, there’s an order to them! I like it already.”

He took the present and began to unwrap the paper, tearing into it like a six year old. Ali watched him over the rim of her mug as she took a long drink of coffee.

“Damn.” James unfolded the sweater that was neatly placed beneath a few sheets of tissue paper. “Is this cashmere?”

Ali nodded. “I remembered you mentioning you wanted one.” She watched with a smile as he immediately stood to put it on. It looked as good on him as she hoped it would.

“Shit, this is fucking nice, Ali.”

She bit her lip. He was such a pretty boy at times, and she loved it. “Looks like it fits, too.” Even over the white t-shirt he had on underneath, the lines of his muscles were evident through the fabric. “Fits REALLY well, actually.”

He met her eyes and smiled. “Thank you so much….Next game we travel to – it’s on.”

“I knew you’d say that.” She felt good. One present down, and that was the easy one. The next few were ones she came up with on her own; no hints given from him.

James resumed his sitting position next to Ail, leaving the sweater on. “Which one next? Fuck, this is a nice sweater.” He was petting the sleeves, happy as can be.

“This one.” Ali handed him a medium sized box, already doing her best to control her smile. James opened it with just as much fervor as he had the first box, tearing at the tape that held the box flaps together.

He threw his head back and laughed. “What the hell….”

Ali let loose her laughter. “Sorry, I had to.”

James held up a deluxe sized bottle of hair gel. “Really?” He was still chuckling when he leaned over and pressed a kiss to Ali’s temple.

“It’s not like you don’t need it or won’t use it” she said with a giggle. “Next one, next one!”

James took the smallest of the boxes, eyeing the envelope that was still under the tree. “Wait, should I have opened that one?”

“No!” Ali winced, because her answer came out rather loudly. “I mean….that’s last. Just nevermind that; open this one.”

“Fiiiiine.” James rolled his eyes and smiled. With a little more care, he unwrapped the box, looking up at Ali as he did so. He opened the box and gasped. “Ho-ly shit.”

Ali saw his eyes go wide when he looked up at her again. It made her smile. “Yes?”

“Babe!” He lifted the gold cuff links out of the box and twirled one between his fingers. “Please don’t tell me this is—“

“—24 carat.” Ali answered. “You needed a pair, and who else has links with their initials and number on them?”

James stared at her. “This is entirely too much. You really shouldn’t—“

“—Hush, dammit!” she said with a laugh. “It’s Christmas, James! Besides…I wanted to. You already look damn sharp in your suits, you just needed the finishing touch.”

He was looking down at the cuff links and laughing. “I really don’t deserve you. Thank you for these.”

Just wait until the next present she thought. She inhaled nervously, then handed him the envelope. “Last one” she said, meeting his eyes.

James took the envelope, but he held his gaze on her as if trying to read her face for a hint on what could be in the envelope. The envelope looked rather unassuming, but this was the kicker that was now causing Ali’s heart to beat in double-time.

Slowly, James ran a finger along the flap to tear it open. He lifted out a piece of paper that was tri-folded, taking a second to read what it said. Ali waited next to him, chewing her lip.

“Allison.” James was reading the paper, his face transforming into a look of pure shock. When he lifted his eyes to her, his mouth hung open a little. He didn’t say anything.

She shrugged and smiled. “It’s only for three days, but I figure one game is better than none.”

James heard her, but he couldn’t believe he was hearing it. He looked down at the paper again:

Thank you! Your reservation has been confirmed.
Passenger: Allison Diserelli.
One round trip ticket: Sochi, Russia.
Arrive: February 8, 2014, 4:06 pm.
Depart February 13, 2014, 5:20 am.
Total: $2056.45

Disbelief was the only word. His brain couldn’t even comprehend what he was seeing. He never would have expected this, not from anyone, not even his own family. It was too much.

“I can work around whatever schedule you guys have” Ali said, sounding a little on edge. “I know it’s Team Canada’s first game and all, but I swear – I’ll just do my own thing if you have to do certain stuff beforehand—“

James kissed her. His hand wrapped around the back of her neck before she could protest, holding her still so he could kiss her for as long as he wanted. He put all the love and gratefulness into that kiss, and it still wasn’t enough. Nothing he could do would ever be enough to thank her.

When they parted, James kept his hand on the back of her neck, holding her close. Their noses were almost touching; their gaze focused on one another. To Ali’s surprise, she saw water clouding the blue of James’ eyes.

“You don’t know how much this means to me” he said, voice cracking slightly.

Ali smiled. “I do, though. That’s why I booked them.”

James kissed her again, still unable to process the incredible woman whose lips were currently on his. How did I get so lucky? His soft laughter broke their kiss this time. He leaned his forehead against Ali’s and closed his eyes. “I truly am the luckiest person in the world.”

“That makes two of us, then.”

This made James smile, and though he smiled, he still felt a tremendous, deep feeling inside that was causing him to loose it. His eyes continued to fill with water, and in a moment of weakness, he let one tear fall.

“Babe…..” Ali put her hands on James’ face, just as he would have done to her. It was only one tear, but she was surprised beyond words she was seeing it.

“I told you” James said quietly, “you don’t know how much this means to me...how much you mean to me.”

Ali believed him. As he looked at her with those large expressive eyes, his limp smile heavy with awe, she felt every emotion that was occurring inside him in that moment.

“I guess I just didn’t expect something like this” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“No ‘sorrys’, remember?” Ali smiled at him, and saw the corner of his mouth lift into a smile. “I love you, James. I just wanted to be there for you, Olympics or not. I had to be there.”

“That’s just it, though.” James scratched at his hair, suddenly unable to get his thoughts together. “You’re always there for me. I’m not…..I’m not used to this. I mean, girls in the past….They didn’t….”

Ali ran a hand along his face tenderly, causing him to look up at her again. “Fuck them. This is us, remember?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, his smile growing. “Us.”

“Merry Christmas, James.” Ali reached over and took his hand in hers.

James felt the warmth of her touch and never wanted it to disappear. “Merry Christmas, babe.”


* * *


While Ali was showering upstairs, James dialed his parents. His dad picked up first, and they wished each other a merry Christmas. They caught up on everything happening back home since the last time they talked. They also discussed the past couple of games, as Peter was unable to not talk hockey with his son, even just for a few minutes. Finally, his mom got on the phone, her voice cheerful and bright against James’ ear.

“Merry Christmas, Mom. How is everything?”

“Everything’s good here, but you know how it goes. Becca and Mike have already gotten on each other’s nerves so bad, I thought we’d have a small wrestling match here. Luckily though, the crisis has been averted.”

James laughed. “Sorry I missed it. Sounds mildly entertaining.”

“You know your brother best, so I’m sure you can picture it! How did your surprise go over with Ali?”

“She was as surprised as I thought, and was as happy as I hoped” James replied. He took a seat on the couch and looked down at his cashmere sweater, which he still had on. “I think she’ll go out with me now.”

Deb laughed. “Oh James.”

“Oh Mom.” He smiled. “Actually, I was calling to tell you something big.” Big is an understatement. James was still in disbelief, but there on the coffee table sat the papers that proved it was all too real.

“What’s that?”

He cleared his throat. “I don’t know if even I can still believe it, but you’ll never believe what Ali got me.”

“What did she get?"

“She bought a plane ticket to the Olympics.” When it came out of his mouth, it still didn’t sound comprehendible. “Sochi, Mom.”

Deb went silent. “James….”

“I know.”

The pair of them were quiet again. He waited for his mom to speak first.

“For how long?”

“Three days. She's coming for our first game, then leaving the day after.”

“Incredible” Debra said. “She’s just incredible.”

“I know that.” James took the papers from the table to look at them again. “Incredible is too weak of a word, actually.”

“She loves you....so I guess neither of us should be that surprised.”

James considered that, but it was Ali they were talking about. She never ceased to surprise him. “I love her, Mom.”

“I know you do. Both your father and I have seen it.”

“No, but I love her. I’ve never felt this way before.”

On the other line, if James had known it, Debra felt her heart go out to her oldest child. She watched him grow up, get injured, work hard, fail hard, get back up again and achieve great things for himself. But this was the first time she heard her baby say he loved someone, and could actually hear it in his voice.

“They always say you just ‘know’ when it’s the right person” she said to him. “Sounds like you know.”

“Never been more sure in my life” James replied. Upstairs, he heard movement in bedroom, which meant Ali was finished showering. “Guess I should get going for now, Ali's done getting ready upstairs. I’ll call you guys later if I get the chance.”

“Okay hun. Thanks for calling. Tell Ali we miss her.”

“I will. Love you, Mom.”

He heard footsteps bouncing down the stairway, and then Ali appeared in the living room. She had on a black tank top and jeans, her hair still wet.

“Dammit! Did I miss your parents?”

Again, perfect. “Yeah, but I said we’d call them again later. They’ve got their hands full with my siblings.”

“I bet.”

She came and sat next to him on the couch, one leg folded under her. James could smell the fresh scent of shampoo and whatever perfume she had on. It made him smile.

“What now?” she asked, smirking.

“Nothing.” James rubbed her knee. “So what would you like to do the rest of the day?”

“Make food, eat food, then just be with you.”

“That’s it?” He laughed. “You’re too easy.”

Her face rose in excitement. “How about firing up the hot tub?”

James snapped his fingers. “A Christmas dip, you say?” He stood abruptly. “Done!”


* * *


It may have been the best Christmas ever since James was a little kid and he got his first set of skates. He barely remembered that, but he would always remember this Christmas. They’d waited until the sun set so they could be under the dark winter sky, with only the dim lights of the hot tub glowing around them.

James and Ali sat across from one another, their bare legs entwining under the jet bubbles. It was a hot tub that could fit three or four, but with James’ size, it was a rather perfect fit for just the two of them. James wore red swimming trunks, and thankfully so, because even the hot water couldn’t dull his hardening dick. Ali’s wet skin was glistening, the lights below the water reflecting and dancing across her face. Especially noticeable were the rise of her perky breasts peeking out of the water. Her black swimsuit only made her soft skin stand out more, begging James to touch. Later, he told himself.

Ali watched James spread his arms out along the ledge of the tub, his chest on full display. The dark sky combined with the shimmering light below in the water made his sleeve tattoo appear almost black. The letters along his bicep of his other arm stood out starkly against his pale skin.

They were literally sitting there ogling one another. It caused Ali to giggle. James smiled at her, shaking his head because he knew why she was laughing.

“Sorry.” Ali bit her lip. “You’re just hot.”

“Don’t worry – your tits are distracting me as much as I’m distracting you.”

“Does it ever worry you how horny we are with one another?”

James laughed loudly. “WORRY?”

“Well!” Ali flicked water at him. “You know what I mean.”

“No, I actually don’t.”

Ali pushed off so she floated over top of James lap, hands on either side of his hips, supporting her. James watched as her perfect ass lifted out of the water behind her.

“Ahem.”

James brought his gaze back to her. “Sorry. You’re just hot.” He felt Ali’s lips move to his neck, so he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “So what now about being horny?”

“Just wondering…” She kissed beneath his jaw, tasting the water on his skin. “…If you think….” She moved her mouth to his cheek. “…other couples find one another….” She kissed his lips once, then moved to the other side of his neck. “…as hot as we find one another…”

“Impossible.” James let the sensation of Ali’s mouth take over. He was actually wondering if it was possible to feel as relaxed as he was and be as hard as he was at the same time.

“Yeah?” Ali pulled herself upright, and James hands found her thighs, pulling her so she was straddling him.

“You heard me.” James squeezed both hands on the soft flesh of her ass. “It’s us, remember?”

Ali smiled when he repeated the line from that morning. “True, true.”

James rocked her hips so she moved even closer to him. “This was a pretty damn good Christmas.”

“Probably the best ever.” She tapped the tip of his nose, making it a little wet. “It killed me to take my necklace off before getting in here.”

“I’m glad you like it as much as you do…I was unsure of what I was doing when I walked into the jewelry store.”

Ali cocked her head to the side. “Did you happen to ask my mom about it, by chance?”

“Yeah, why? Did she tell you?”

“She only said you ‘consulted’ her on one of my gifts” Ali replied. She watched the water bubble around the curve of James’ defined pecs. “I figured you didn’t ask her about how to get me to skate with you.” She shifted her eyes up and smiled at him.

“I only got an idea from her – not what I ended up picking out. So don’t go thinking I’m not clever.”

“Not CLEVER?” Now Ali threw her head back and laughed. “You dork – I know better than that. You might be the most clever person I know, actually.”

James smiled, somewhat surprised. “Really?”

“Yep.”

“Nice. I’ll take it.” He slid his hands up her torso to just below the string of her swimsuit top. “I’d like to take this off” he said.

Ali reached a hand around the back and with one pull, loosened the knot that kept her suit together. She pulled it over her head and tossed it onto their porch. “Better?”

“Fuck yes.” James was now staring at two very erect nipples, shining and wet and perfect. “Although….”

“Let me guess.” She backed up from his lap and stood before him. With another single pull, she loosened the tie that kept her bikini bottoms on. She undid the other side, then tossed the tiny bit of cloth on the porch as well.

“You’re a mind reader” James said with a grin.

“Yours.” Ali lowered herself into the water to keep the chill off. She watched James slide his red shorts off. They quickly joined her suit on the porch.

James’ hands resumed their spot on Ali’s ass, which was now bare and for the taking. A beautiful girl, a thoughtful girl, a surprising girl, and a loving girl. All his.

“Someone apparently likes what he sees.” Ali bounced a little on his lap, letting him know she felt his erection.

“Newsflash, babe – it’s been hard for an hour now.”

“Uh oh.” Her face looked troubled. “We can’t let you get blue balls, can we?”

James knew exactly where this was going. “No, we certainly can’t.”

“So what do we do about that?” Ali lifted her hips so she was kneeling on either side of him. Her hand moved below to grab his dick.

“I think we….” James felt Ali slide over him, his dick slowly burying itself inside her. He closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and let Ali’s hips do what they did best.

Best Christmas ever.

* * *