Miss Me; When I'm Gone (editing)

CHAPTER 39 (Travis)

Travis

Blair had given up on the piece of cake, and I'd finally put it down. I had to admit, just seeing her eat it satisfied me, knowing it was a birthday cake that I'd picked out and given to her. I shifted so she could settle between my legs. I pulled her back against me before giving her the first present.

"Happy birthday," I said, picking up the largest box sitting beside me.

She gasped as she shook the box. She glanced back at me before looking at the box again.

"You got me a present?" She asked, amazed.
"I mean, I thought you were my present, but this..."

Smiling I kissed her temple.
"No this is your party, and I'm your only guest, because in selfish and wanted you all to myself. And this is your first present."

"My first?" She asked, and I nodded.

Then she surprised me. She tore into the gift like she was five years old. Watching her open it was more exciting than feeding her cake, and that had been pretty damn exciting. When she had the kid off the box, she pulled out the baby blue purse I'd had Jessica help me pick out.

"There's a matching wallet in there, too."

She touched it reverently as if it were made out of fine gold instead of leather.

"This is expensive,mist it?"

Not really. It could have been worse. But I'd told Jessica to practical. Blair needed an everyday purse,not something she would be too nervous to carry.

"It's a nice purse for you to use instead of the backpack," I explained.

She grinned and put it back into the box, then turned to me and kissed me softly on the lisp.

"Thank you. That's the nicest gift I've ever gotten."

This wasn't over. I reached down and picked up the next present.

"There's more? I thought you were kidding."

"You better believe it."

Again, she tore into it like a little kid, and I found myself wishing I had videotaped this to watch over and over.she opened the box to find three sets of French silk pajamas. She picked up one of the shorts and held it up and then touched it to her face. Laying it down, she reached for a camisole. The pale pink one with white lace trim.

"These feel so soft," she said in awe.

They should. They were the best.

"I like the idea of you in my t-shirt. But I also know you like your shorts and tank top because they're soft. So I got you some other soft things to sleep in. Because when you're with me, you won't need my t-shirt to wrap around you."

She laid it down in the expensive wrapping and let out a happy sigh.

"Those are going to spoil me on pajamas for life."

That was okay. I'd keep her in expensive French silk if she wanted it, for as long as she wanted it. Again, she kissed me and whispered a thankyou against my lips.

I reached down for the third box. This one was the smallest. And was more for me than her.

"The last one," I told her, as I handed her the rectangular box.

She opened it more carefully, as if she was afraid she would lose whatever was inside. Inside was a single key nestled in velvet.

"It's the key to my house. When you're ready, you can move in anytime you want."

She picked it up and held it in her hand for several moments and didn't say anything. Finally, she lifted her eyes to meet mine.

"One day, when you know all of me, you can give this back to me. But right now, you don't know it all. I can't take this."

She thought her dark past would change how I felt. Nothing she could tell me would change that. I loved her. But I wouldn't use those words to convince her. She would have to decide this in her own time. I wasn't forcing her. I wanted her in my bed, in my house. I wanted it to be our house. But not until she was ready for that. Not until she wanted me.

Wanted a forever.