Chapter forty-six | The very French macarons

Chapter forty-six | The very French macarons

I snuggled closer into the warm blankets. Arms wrapped around my waist pulled me closer, surrounding me with body heat.

Warm breaths tickled my neck as slowly senses returned to consciousness. That familiar clean scent that surrounded Eli filtered through my nose, calming my mind. A small smile slid on my face as he pulled me closer to his body.

Our bodies were sticky with sweat as his skin rubbed against mine.

Unlike last night, our breathing was calm. Turning around in his vice grip, I turned to face my boyfriend.

Oh my, God! It has already been almost three months! My mind screamed in delight.

My eyes flickered towards the wild wind blowing outside. My window was frosted as snow swirled in a crazy pattern.

My eyes returned towards his peaceful face as his mouth was open to snore lightly.

Placing my finger over his parted lips, I relished the feel of his swollen skin under mine.

Our bodies molded together as our body heat mixed with each others'.

I didn't dare to notice the state of my room as I was sure it was a wreck.

Three months of pent up sexual tension can be volcanic.

My eyes moved to Eli as he grumbled something in his sleep, making me giggle.

Trying to be teasing, I tickled his face with a strand of my hair. His nose scrunched up in irritation as he swatted my hand away. Grumbling in his sleep, he turned away from me. "Let me sleep, Cynthia," he spoke loudly in a groggy voice.

I chuckled at his words and leaned on his back. Pestering him was a very interesting task for me. I leaned forward and placed a kiss on his jaw.

With feather-light kisses all over his face, I finally placed my lips on his.

A low groan rumbled from Eli's lips as his hands grasped my waist. Turning around, he mashed our bodies together, making passion peek through every touch.

Pulling back breathless, I stared at him with lust swirling eyes. Slowly, he looked up at me with hooded eyes.

His icy blue eyes matched the snow outside as they displayed intensity and emotions similar to mine.

"Good morning," he whispered as the morning husk made his voice deeper.

I smiled and ran my fingers through his hair. "Good morning."

No more words were exchanged as we embraced the silence of our presence.

I pulled away from him and got off the bed. Eli produced a slight sound of discontent as fingers pulled away from his hair. With a small giggle leaving my lips, I pulled a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt over me.

My body itched in revulsion as I padded my way towards the bathroom. Getting my business done, I walked out to find Eli knocked out on my bed. His slight snores filled the room walls, making me smile.

With stealth, only a ninja could possess, I open the room door and close it behind me, making sure to keep it low.

My gaze went to the room opposite to mine as low voices could be heard from Lea's room.

Before I could let the thoughts of the messed up relationship with my sister stumble in my mind, I averted my eyes.

Running my hair through my hair, I walked down the steps. The light thump of my feet echoed in the calm house.

My eyes flickered towards the artificial Christmas tree that stood in its stand, devoid of any decorations.

Eli and I had put it there yesterday but got a bit distracted during the decoration part.

The accessories we had bought from Target, along with some old string lights, were still lying next to the tree. Turning a blind eye towards the task for now (maybe), I walked into the kitchen.

My heart nearly jumped out of my skin as I witnessed the sight in front of me.

I swallowed the scream building up in my throat as the man turned around to reveal Dad.

"Dad!" I squealed a second later, registering the fact he was here. "Oh, my God! You are home!" I screeched in a loud voice as he laughed and pulled me in a hug.

His familiar warmth surrounded me as tears pricked my eyes. I pulled back with misted eyes and smiled brightly towards him.

"You are home early!" I gasped in excitement. "You were supposed to come home next week," I stated, making him laugh.

"Surprise, Princess," he replied with a chuckle. "I used my long pending leaves for the occasion and pulled some favors in. That is why I didn't return home last month."

I nodded and noticed him in warm home clothes. I looked up at him in question. "When did you return? Today early morning?" I asked, making him smile impishly.

"Well, I returned home last night at 11, but no one was there to greet me," he said with a smirk, making me blush as realization drew in. "Seems like my younger daughter was busy last night with her sister out late. Everyone forgot about the old man."

I coughed awkwardly and averted my eyes. "Dad!" I shrieked in embarrassment, making him laugh heartily.

Trying to avoid any questions, I turned towards the cupboard, grabbing a mug.

Warming the milk, I filled the cup with hot chocolate powder and mini marshmallows. No better way to start a day!

I tried to keep myself busy as his eyes followed me around. "How long are you going to avoid my questions, princess?" he asked, making me halt.

I turned the stove off and gave him a sheepish smile. "I am not avoiding you." My words came out as a weak whisper.

Dad rolled his eyes and tilted his head. Gesturing towards the stairs, he asked his next question. "It is Elias, right? Your boyfriend from next door?"

I bit my lips hard and nodded. I don't know why, but I felt nervous about his reaction.

"Are you happy?" he asked, making me look up in surprise.

It didn't even take me a moment to think about the answer as I nodded. His smile grew warmer as Dad's stiff shoulders relaxed.

"You love him, don't you?" he asked, making a shock ripple through me once again.

"Yes, but how do you know this?" I asked in a meek whisper.

He smiled at my words and walked closer to me. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he placed a kiss on my forehead. "I might be there to notice you every day, but being your father, I know you enough to guess that."

It was fatefully silent in the kitchen. Both us were trying to absorb the new information.

"He treats you, right? I mean, it's not just physical between you, is it?" Dad sounded curious, making me wish I could just bury myself at that moment.

Sex and parents should never be part of one discussion.

"He is great, Dad," I hesitated for a moment. "We were taking it slow, so yeah."

He got my silent message, stopping his questions.

"How is Lea doing?" Dad asked out of blue. "She doesn't want to talk to me, and she was hardly home the last time I came back." His voice held many emotions, with pain being the prominent one.

"She is the usual college student. Going to college, partying the life out of herself and keeping herself locked in her room. She is hardly home these days," I answered, making sure to tame the truth for his sake.

To be truthful, I had no idea what was going on in my sister's life. Ever since my first date with Eli, she had refused to acknowledge the fact that I was her sister.

Some part of me concluded that it had something to do with my fall in the hierarchy. She didn't want anything to do with having fallen from the grace queen bee.

He sighed and pulled back from me. I poured the milk in the mug as he grabbed his coffee. We made our way towards the living room.

Both of us settled on the carpet as we looked upon the sad Christmas tree. Dad pointed towards the tree and raised his eyebrows.

"You still have some decoration to do," he teased.

I grinned and nodded. "And you can help me this time," I exclaimed, earning laughter from him.

"Yeah, I will help you with it. Oh..." He trailed off and got up from his seat. I gave him a questioning look as he walked away to his room.

I expected him to walk back towards me, but he made his way into the kitchen.

A minute later, he returned with a bag in his hands. Placing it in my arms, he took his seat next to me. "I got you an early Christmas present from my last trip to Paris."

With an excited squeal, I dug through the bag. My hands met two smaller boxes. With animation thrumming through me, I ripped the first pack.

A small white Eiffel tower souvenir fell out of it.

I examined it for a few minutes and then put it aside. Next ripping the cold box open, I screeched in delight.

"You got me the french macarons!" I screamed, hugging him tightly, making him laugh.

"I got both of you some more stuff too, but that will have to wait till Christmas," he replied, making my eyes light up.

I was going to protest but stopped as I heard steps approaching. My eyes trailed up the stairs as I heard my name being called out.

"Cynthia?" Eli asked as he walked down the stairs.

His dark brown hair was all over the place, sticking up in weird angles. His tired eyes first landed on me, and then my dad.

He stopped mid-step and stiffened. I had to bite my lips to stop the approaching giggle as Eli gulped hard. With amusement lingering on my face, I beckoned him to come closer.

"Good morning, Mr. Crimson," Eli spoke nervously. He looked adorable, standing there awkwardly.

Mentally he was debating his next move and sighed as I grabbed his hand.

Pulling him next to me, I made him sit on the carpeted floor. Dad looked amused too, as he noticed Eli's mechanical movements.

"Good morning, Elias," Dad nodded at the end.

I leaned closer to Eli and offered him an impish grin. "Good morning to you too, Eli."

He blushed red at my words and cleared his throat. His eyes went towards my dad, who I was pretty sure watching us with interest. "Good morning, Cynthia."

Sleep was still laced in his words, making them seem huskier.

Silence followed his sentence as everyone contemplated ways to fill it.

Eli cleared his throat and placed a kiss on my cheek. "I think I should leave. See you in a few hours," he muttered and got up in his place.

Taking a sip from my mug, I extended my hand. "I will see you till the door."

Eli smiled and pulled me up. While behind me, dad sighed and spoke his next words. "Yeah, because he lives so far away, right?"

Turning around, I gave dad a smile. "I will give you my attention soon, old man."

I laughed as I heard him call out after me. "I am not an old man, you young lady."

Eli just shook his head in amusement and wrapped his arms around my waist. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss near the shell of my ear, making me shiver.

He pulled away and pulled his jacket on his clothes from last night.

Grabbing my waist, he pulled the mug away from my hands. Placing the cup on the keys table, he closed the distance between our bodies. Before I could protest, he connected his lips with mine.

My fingers wrapped around his hair as my eyes closed shut. A small embarrassing moan escaped my lips as his tongue teased mine.

I pulled away gasping as his chest heaved the same way. Desires and emotions swirled through me, making me tighten my hold on his arms.

"I love you, Cynthia," he whispered as our noses rubbed against each others'.

My heart raced faster than before as sparks shot through my skin. My face lit up with a never-ending smile as my eyes stared into his. "I love you too, Eli."

My words seemed to motivate him enough to connect our lips once again. With a heart searing kiss, I waved him bye, even if he just lived next door.

My father gave me a knowing look as I returned to the living room. By now, he had stolen a few of my macarons.

I blushed under his scrutiny as I took a seat next to him. "What?" I muttered, feeling embarrassed.

He turned his wrist and checked the imaginary watch on his arm. "It took longer than it should have!"

I huffed and snatched the box of macarons from him. "You are a mean dad," I muttered as he laughed at my expense.