Justin let out a deep breath when she dropped his hand from hers. They were now standing in their bedroom. He hadn't seen it in a while, and being there, with her, knowing what was about to happen was an overload on the senses for him. He had to remind himself to breathe.

"Um, here why don't you go light some candles or something and I'll go put on something sexier."

He shook his head lightly and whispered, "No."

He must have startled her because for a while she didn't move a muscle or say a word. Finally she coughed a little and asked, "Why not?"

With a deep breath he moved his eyes to hers and stepped a little closer to her. "I don't want anything fancy Meredith. I just want you."

She half smiled at him. "You sure?"

He returned her smile and brought his hands up to rest on her shoulders. "We don't even have to pull back the covers and I'm happy. Just promise me you wont pull away."

"I promise." She looked him in the eyes when she said it, and he believed her. His body relaxed and he fully realized for the first time that night, that this was really gonna happen.

"Then come here." She wrapped her arms around him and he got that tingly feeling all over again, for about the 4th time that night. She had a way with him, even in the midst of their fighting and separation. And even if she was clueless to what she was doing, she did a lot to him. In that one movement he felt safe again, and he felt that maybe his world wasn't so bad after all.

His lips found hers quickly and he pulled her more firmly against him. He heard her gasp, and then felt her fingers grip the back of his shirt. He lightened his kiss a little, afraid maybe he had done too much too fast, but then her hands moved down, and down to the waist of his jeans.

Her hands snuck under the fabric of his shirt and undershirt, and when they touched his skin he took in a sharp breath and pulled his lips from hers. "You don know how much I've dreamed about this."

"You don't know how bad I wanna see you, a- all of you."

the way she groaned out "all of you" almost made him come right there, but he controlled himself, cleared his throat and pulled his shirt over his head. "You're turn."

He said it seriously, but when she started to giggle, he did too and before he knew it, he had grabbed her by her waist and tackled her on to the bed in a tickle war.

He of course was winning.

His fingers moved over her sides and up under her arms and some how on their trek back down they went further than he intended, and they ended up on her thighs.

"Are you hot?"

She turned to him and looked at him with a shocked expression. "What?"

He smiled knowing what she must have thought he was referring too. "You look flushed."

Her cheeks turned redder and she turned her head away from him on the pillows that they were laying back on. "I..I'm kinda cool."

He couldn't resist moving his hand a little to cup her through the boxers. He pressed his hand firmly there and watched her mouth drop a little and her breathing increase in volume. "Noooo, you're so warm."

Her hand seemed to slither its was to his jeans, and he watched it as she moved to where she could get her fingers around the buckle and undo it The button's popped open easily on the button fly, and he sucked in a deep breath when she traced her finger up over the small patch of gray that was being show by his open fly. Her hand then went over his stomach to his waist, where she used him as a weight to pull herself closer.

"It's been almost a month since I've felt you in me."

He closed his eyes and smiled when he felt her hands and lips move over his torso. He pulled his hand from in between her legs and moved so he was leaning over her a little more, pressing himself into her thigh. "Can I do something for you tonight?"

"What?"

He dipped down and kissed her once. "Just can I do something for you, that I haven't done in a long, long time. I was thinking about it the other night, and I really would like to."

"OF course Justin. This is YOUR present remember."

He cupped her cheek and forced her to look him in the eyes. "It's our present. Now, I just want you to relax and lie back, and don't question anything ok?"

She smiled and nodded. "I wont."

He took a deep breath before getting enough strength to push himself off the bed. He hoped he could do this to her and not let his senses go into over drive too much.

He pulled off his jeans and left them puddled on the floor while he moved a little around the bed.

He crawled up back on it and pulled her to where she was sitting in front of him. He smiled at the shocked look in her eyes when he swiftly pulled her shirt over her head, exposing her upper half to him.

She started to cover herself but before she had a chance he leaned over her, swallowed her mouth with his lips and tongue and slid his hands over her breasts, squeezing them and making her moan into his mouth.

Soon his body began its trek south, lips moved to her neck, hands to her stomach, then lips to her breasts, and hands to her hips.

She was panting while he suckled against her. His hands dipped under the elastic of the boxers to find her panties. He slid his hands underneath the ban of those as well and tugged down.

"Justinnn, what are you doin?"

"No questions remember?" Her brown eyes bore into his, and he knew her brain was probably recognizing what he was gonna do, but at the same time not going to believe it.

No matter what people said, they weren't as kinky as some thought. They had their share of things they did during love making, but most of the time they were so in the mood they didn't think about what they did and just went at it, "like two horny bunny rabbits" as Chris would say.

She figured out his plan when he dropped the rest of her clothing on the floor and pressed a kiss on top of her thigh. "Oh god, Justin..."

He grinned up at her, laying back on the headboard and in a cocky manner whispered, "I'd save my breath if I were you."

He winked at her then moved his hands to her inner thighs, pushing them apart. She went willingly with his agenda, and maneuvered herself so that he would have easy access to what he wanted.

He remembered the first time he had done this to her, and how much kissing her in her most intimate parts had reminded him of the first time they had ever made love.

He kissed her inner thigh, gently and then blew steadily on her, causing her to whimper and squirm on the bed. He closed his eyes and breathed in all that was her, before dipping in for a taste, and letting his mind wander to a time, when he could remember being more nervous than he had ever been, and yet never more sure of himself.

That first time...

~~~~~~

She had been in the bathroom for quite some time. He had already set the mood...vanilla candles, pulled back the bed with the white silk sheets. He had struggled with the music selection and had finally resorted to opening the balcony doors, shutting the sheer curtains and letting the sound of the ocean be the only music for that evening.

After a strenuous flight, they had finally arrived to the Thai islands 2 hours before. A resort/spa is where he had booked them for 2 weeks. Nothing but the ocean surrounded them and he figured when she said "I wanna go somewhere where its just you and me and nothing else" that this was as good of place as any.

She had marveled at every detail the hotel had to offer for the first hour, and then they went out just to walk on the beach and watch the sunset for the next hour. And now they were back here, and they both new what was going to happen. She had excused herself to the bathroom and he had made the already romantic and exquisite room, more romantic.

But that was at least 20 minutes ago. And laying there in a wifebeater and khaki shorts, watching the ceiling fan go round and round was fun for a while, but now he was a little dizzy. "Hey Mere?"

"Huh?" It was rushed and loud, but he could tell by her voice she was startled.

He sat up a little, and tilted his head towards the bathroom door. "You lost in there?"

"No."

He pushed himself off the bed and shuffled over to the door and knocked gently. "What's taken so long, Mrs. Timberlake?" He smiled. She had become Mrs. Timberlake the day before, well technically 2 days ago with the time difference and everything.

"Nothing."

"Can I come in?"

"No."

He was taken back by the question. He hoped she wasn't sick or something. The flight had been long, but she had never been one to get that sick over things like that before. "Why not?"

"Just don't."

He couldn't stop himself. He turned the doorknob and cracked the door, peeking inside. "Meredith..."

She was balled up on the floor, staring up at him with big eyes, terrified. "Angel, what is it?" He immediately crouched down on the floor with her and pulled her into his arms.

She tried to push him away, but he saw that there were tears building in her eyes so he pulled her closer. "It's stupid. I'm just really scared."

He smiled at her. "It's just me."

"It's not just you, do you realize what's about to happen. Oh god I bet its gonna hurt really bad."

He realized what she was so scared about and tried to make her laugh. "Shhh, the beast doesn't bite." A bright smile came onto her face and he squeezed her tight. "Is that a smile?"

"No."

He sighed and kissed the top of her head. "I promise you, I'll make this enjoyable for you. If its not, I give you permission to beat me up."

She gave into his embrace finally and scooted a little closer, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I don't wanna do that."

"Stop thinking so much baby. We're married. Don't you wanna make love?"

Her voice became whiny. "But what if I'm not good."

He didn't mean to laugh at her but that was the last thing he expected to her come from her mouth and he couldn't help but let a chuckle or two escape. "You're having performance anxiety."

"I've never done this before!" She said defensively.

"I bet you are phenomenal in bed."

"Whatever."

"Look at me." She lifted her head a little and he dipped his to make sure she kept his gaze. "You turn me on more than anyone, or anything I've could even dream of. I want you so bad, you don't know how many times I've just wanted to rip your clothes off and love you until you couldn't breathe." Her face turned red and she tried to tuck her chin in her chest and ball up even more. "Stop blushing, it's just me. Think about all those times when, you've touched me or I've touched you and how hot and sexy those times have been, multiply that by 10 and that's what this is gonna be."

"I'm so nervous though." her voice was quiet.

"I am too. Listen, if we start this, and during any time you wanna stop, you feel uncomfortable or you feel like you don't want to, then we don't have to."

She gave him an annoyed look and rolled her eyes. "Yes we do."

But he shook his head, serious about his statement. "I'm serious angel. We've got 2 weeks to learn how to make love to each other, and a lifetime to perfect it."

She smiled and clobbered him in a hug. He figured his little speech had work and was thrilled because he really didn't know if he could wait any longer to get her into bed. "You've gotta have a book of these lines."

"It's the musician in me." His hand ran over her back, and his body seemed to recognize that she was in a white silk nightie that he had definitely never seen before. IT was short on her thighs and cut low, with lace trim on it.

It was sexy, and obviously something she had bought or got as a gift just for this occasion.

"Shut up." she giggled against his neck.

"Make me."

She pulled back and rolled her eyes, but he just stared at her, unable to move his gaze. Her face looked more beautiful than ever and he wanted to kiss her...and then...

"Make me..." He breathed.

She stared back at him, and before he knew it they were kissing...and then he was standing up and picking her up and taking her into the bedroom.

Kisses turned to touches and touches lead to the removal of clothing, and before he knew it...he was making love...to his wife.

~~~~~

Her body was still shaking, when she felt him relax on the bed beside her. He brushed some hair out of her face, cupped her cheek and dipped in to kiss her. "You all right?"

She gulped and caught her breath, "yeah."

He started to giggle and whispered in her ear, "that was one mighty loud scream ma'am."

She giggled herself and turned to face him, she caught a glimpse and realized somewhere in the midst of her earth-shattering climax he had removed himself of all clothing. She took a deep breath and started to scoot down on the bed. "Let's see if I can make you scream that loud."

"Huh?"

She giggled and moved her finger down his stomach. "Time for me to return the favor."

His hand caught hers before she reached its destination and he brought her hand up to his lips, kissed her fingers and then intertwined them with hers. "Meredith, no."

She pulled her hand back a little and bit her lip, a little hurt he wouldn't let her kiss him in the way he kissed her. "Y- you don't want me to?"

His hand planted itself firmly on her hip and he pulled himself towards her, making it so he could lean over her. "What I want, is you. I cant wait any longer."

"But you just..."

His kissed her to interrupt her. His hand moved lower, rounding the curve of her ass and ten touching the back of her thigh and moving her leg so that it rested on top of his. "I just did that because I wanted to, not because I felt obligated. And if you want to do that to me later you can, but...I...I need..." His body was now in full contact with hers. She had moved her legs and body a little so that his lower half was positioned in-between her legs. Her arms had pulled him so he was hovering above her, resting on his elbows.

Her hands pulled his neck down and she kissed him fully on his lips, sliding her tongue against his, and at the same time sliding one of her legs against his. He shuddered. "Shhh, I need you too."

The next few minutes were spent kissing, just kissing, but then she felt him poking her a little more, pushing into her and not being able to control his breathing as well.

She pulled her lips form his and linked her fingers in-between his. "Look at me." He whispered.

She obliged and stared deep into his dark blue eyes. She felt him..there, and she wanted to feel him more so she pushed her hips against his and they groaned in unison has he seemingly slipped into her, so easily, almost too easy.

He rested his head on her shoulder and remained there, still, like that had taken enough out of him for the night, but she knew...he had barely shown what was left in him.

A sharp breath was heard, and he propped himself up on his hands, classic push up position above her. She had seen him this way in so many times, yet it had been so long.

The past 30 minutes or so she hadn't thought about anything but them and that made her smile, made her body relax, and she felt the worry of the past few months seem to lift off her shoulders.

"I love you, angel."

"I love you, Justin."

He moved, and moved...and she held on for the ride, not ever wanting to let go.

--------

Next morning, Christmas Day

Her eyes gently opened, eyelashes fluttered, and she brought up a hand to rub the sleep out of her eyes and get use to the sun that was filtering through the blinds.

She glanced at the clock. It was a little after 10 o'clock. The night before she had sleep better than she ever had. After they had made love he had pulled her to him and cuddled with her a little. They even talked, about everything there was.

Except that one thing.

She was glad that didn't get brought up. IT would have caused a depression on their night. Their night. That was exactly what it was, and it was an amazing night at that.

She turned a little, to see if he was awake. She just saw the covers so she turned even more, and sighed at the sight before her.

He wasn't there.

She should have known better, but now it seemed like he had betrayed her. He had come over for sex and that's it.

She knew he would never do that to her, but why wasn't he there now?

The bed smelled like him again. His scent had died down in the past month but now it was back, filling her nostrils and making her body shiver.

The night before had been perfect, but it obviously had not helped as much as she wished. IT was a Band-Aid over a wound that needed stitches.

And she was afraid even if they did heal, the scar would be horrendous.

A groan escaped her lips and she flopped over on her stomach, tangling herself in the sheets, mentally cursing herself out for letting this happen.

If only he had stayed...

"What's all this groaning? You better not be getting it on with another man or something."

Her eyes popped open and she turned to see him walk in the room. He was carrying things but she didn't care. He was there. He hadn't left her.

He was still there.

He sat something down on his side of the bed on the floor and pulled himself into the bed, setting down two glasses on the nightstand. He was wearing his underwear and nothing else and she definitely didn't mind.

"You're here."

He smiled as he got situated in bed. "Of course."

"I woke up and thought you had left."

"Nah I went to get breakfast. I thought about making you eggs and bacon and pancakes all that good stuff but then I was like, why go through all that work. Why not just get some cereal and milk and spend time in bed?" The smile on his face was priceless and she just wanted to eat him up.

He produced two boxes and laid one on his stomach and handed her the other. "So...Cap'n Crunch for me of course, and Frosted Cheerios for you. Oh and here's your glass of milk. Bowls and spoons were too much trouble." He handed her a big glass of milk and she grinned at him, biting her lip.

"This is perfect."

"Thank you, I thought so too."

They sat there and ate their breakfast in silence for a while. She turned to him and watched him eat his cereal, looking childlike in the process. "Merry Christmas Justin."

He took a sip of his milk and smiled at her with a milk mustache. "Merry Christmas Angel."

She laughed and snuggled herself beside him. "Santa bring my present yet?"

"You want it now?" He raised his eyebrows to her in question.

"I'll take it whenever you wanna give it."

She blushed when he turned to wink at her. "That sounds really kinky."

"Oh, come on."

"Ok ok, put down your glass." She put her glass of milk on her nightstand and he pushed their boxes of cereal out of the way. He leaned over the side of the bed and pulled up a large round box and placed it in her lap.

"I've never gotten anything in a round box before." Meredith resituated the sheet around her and looked at the box closely. It was red with a green top and there was a bow stuck on it and two punctured holes in the top. "Why are there holes?"

Justin fumbled with his hands a little and bit his nails while he talked. "Well, see I've been thinking about you so much recently. And...I know I haven't been around, and I don't like thinking about you here all alone. So, I got you...somebody."

"W..what?" She turned and looked at him sharply.

"Open it."

She opened the box and a little puppy popped out of it. It scrambled over the box's rim and crawled up Meredith's body, wagging his tail, his tongue hanging out a little. "Ohhhh it is the cutest thing I've ever seen."

She petted and held the dog as Justin talked. "His name is Shorty and I got him down at the animal shelter before I came last night. You didn't know it but before I rang the doorbell I broke into the garage and set up a place for him so I could hide him or whatever."

"He's so precious Justin." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He had bought her probably one of the best gifts she had ever received, and she didn't know how to thank him.

"Yeah, he's a baby beagle." He smiled as Shorty climbed over to him and started licking his hand a little.

"I love him." She reached over and hugged Justin to her body. He couldn't believe he had done all that he had for her in less than 24 hours. He had done more for her, for them, in those few hours than he had in all his time away from her.

"If you wanna change the name-"

She shook her head against his shoulder and let her hand run over Shorty who had plopped down on Justin's lap and started to chew on the edge of the sheet. "I love it. I love him. I love you."

She felt him sigh underneath her and felt him pull her tighter against him. She wanted to ask him how long he planned on staying. She wanted to ask him to make love to her again. She wanted to thank him for being so wonderful and she wanted to tell him that they were gonna be ok.

But she didn't want to say anything that would lead to talk about other things. So instead she kept the conversation light. "What are you gonna do today?"

He chuckled and she sighed, feeling his chest rumble under her cheek. "Depends on what you are gonna do."

She lifted her head to look at his face. HE was smiling, he was happy, and his eyes were sparkling. "Really?"

He held her gaze and said in a very tender voice, "Meredith I'm spending Christmas day with you whether you like it or not."

She giggled and leaned in to kiss him. "well then I vote that we just stay in bed all day."

He moaned into their kiss and pulled away nipping at her lip a little and smiling the smile he saved only for her, that she hadn't seen in about 2 months. "That sounds like a perfect idea." Back Forward