He didn't leave.
That's right. James ended up not leaving for Australia that night.
After their first real, non-screen kiss, he grabbed his phone and called Lauren, telling her that he will just follow and not to worry because he'll be there soon.
"I'll take the flight on Christmas okay? Same as Dad's." James paused. "I just wanna spend more time with Nadine." Nadine heard squealing from the other end of the line. "Stop it Lauren. I know I know. You told me so." He smirked and looked at Nadine, rolling his eyes. "Okay okay okay. Goodbye Lauren." He put the phone down and turned back to her. "Now where were we?"
Nadine giggled. She still can't believe it. When she was with Bret yesterday, she couldn't stop herself from talking about James and he had ended up telling her outright that she was in love with him. She had blushed, but didn't deny it. How could she?
"Why don't you do something about it?" Bret had asked.
"Ayokong mauna."
Bret had put his arm around her and said, "I've seen the way he looks at you and if you only knew how he talks about you."
Nadine heart had skipped a beat. "But why hasn't he said anything?"
"Because he respects and cares for you, Nadine. You're not just one of those girls he can flirt with and drop the next day. He doesn't think of you like that, and I doubt he's admitted anything to himself yet. The first move has to come from you. Then he'll know."
Bret's words had echoed over and over in her head, even up until she had left the studio. And after careful contemplation, with her heart racing and her hands trembling, she had decided to call James.
And now here they were.
"Right here." Nadine whispered, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him again.
Why did I wait so long for this?
James started planting little kisses on her neck and Nadine sighed. James paused to look at her, his brown eyes gazing into hers. "What's wrong, love?"
"I'm just happy," she said simply. James groaned and rewarded her with another round of fiery kisses that took her breath away.
***
They were kissing as soon as James opened the front door of his house. He lifted her up and carried her to his room, laying her gently down on the bed as he proceeded to take off her Chucks, looking at her with smoldering eyes. Her heart was beating fast as she let James take off her leggings while she took off her jacket.
There she was, wearing only a white crop top and white panties and she blushed when James pulled back and looked at her from head to toe, taking her in.
"How can a simple white shirt and white undies look so fuckin' hot?" James hissed, and he pushed her on the bed, kissing her roughly, his hands grazing her side, then going up under her shirt and cupping her breasts. With one swift motion, he removed the hook on her bra and took it off. She giggled.
"How did you do that?"
"Oh, I've had training." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"James!" She punched him playfully on the arm.
"Hey hey! Come on!" He went on to kiss her breasts, sucking on one nipple, then the other. Nadine bit her lip to keep from moaning but failed. "You know I'm no virgin, Nadz," he told her matter-of-factly.
"But I am," Nadine whispered between moans.
James lips stopped midway while traveling down her abdomen. "What?"
"Don't stop, please. I'll be fine."
But it was too late. He had already sat up in the bed and was gazing at her with a look of utter surprise in his eyes. "Are you shitting me?"
Nadine sighed and sat up, too, beside James. "No, I'm not shitting you."
"Not even JC?"
"Almost. But no."
Nadine heard James sharp intake of breath and he looked away for a second.
"Hey, I didn't want you to stop. I just said that para... ingatan mo ko ng konti."
"Shit, Nadine. I don't even know what to say."
She hugged him from behind, nibbling on his neck. "I'll be fine," she said again.
"Damn right you will be." He turned around and kissed her long and leisurely, his hands cupping the back of her head so he could go kiss her more deeply. "Sorry, Nadz, but this doesn't change that I want you. I want you now."
"I want you, too, James." Nadine swallowed, lifting James' shirt up his head. James took her hand and held it against his chest, and she could feel the quick rhythm of his heartbeat...
He was gentle and loving and oh so sweet... He lingered, keeping his restraint, giving her so much pleasure while holding back his. No doubt he wanted her first time to be perfect. He didn't fail.
She cried out his name as he drove into her, clutching him close to her heart when she reached her climax. He kissed her, riding her still as he strove for his own release, burying his face in her neck, inhaling her scent and she felt another wave of pleasure and cried out his name again before he poured himself into her and crashed on top of her, satisfied and spent.
She had no regrets.
***
The doorbell rang and Nadine ran to the door to greet James. He turned around when she opened the door, in a black shirt and a cap, that lopsided smile she was so familiar with plastered on his face.
Holy mother of God, he's so handsome.
He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a long deep kiss, before putting his arm around her and leading her to his car. "Let's go, sweetie baby wifey." Nadine giggled.
Nadine had asked James to accompany her with another round of last minute Christmas shopping, and he had agreed.
They went to Rockwell, and he was all attentive, carrying the stuff she bought and just being the perfect boyfriend letting her shop while he roamed around on his hoverboard.
Grabe kung alam ko lang na real life Clark pala tong si James, sana matagal na kong nauna.
But with his reputation, who would've thought?
They went to Shangri-la too and finally Nadine was done with her Christmas shopping. They were now walking in the parking lot back to her car.
"James..." she began, pretending to fiddle with her shopping bags. "Since you stayed because of me and your flight isn't til Christmas, do you want to spend Noche Buena with my family?" She looked up at him shyly. "Sa province kami magspend ng Christmas day e, di na kita mahahatid sa airport."
"What are you talking about? I didn't stay because of you." She laughed and slapped him on the arm. "Wag ka ngang feeling." James went on, laughing with her.
"Galing mo na mag-Tagalog talaga dahil sa OTWOL noh!"
He then cupped her face and gave her a quick, resounding smack.
Kilig! Kainis ka James!
He looked at her, and put his arm around her. "Of course I'll spend Christmas Eve with you with you. I wouldn't have it any other way."
