He removes her right shoe slowly and delicately as if he's savouring the feeling of her foot in his hands. His fingers trail the bare skin at her ankle causing a shiver only heightened when his lips follow them.

It is a tender kiss, more a simple touch of lips on skin, and goosebumps prickle along her legs as he begins to move the kisses up her calf. His hands softly slide up her legs, paving the path for his mouth, and she moans quietly as they hook onto the hem of her dress and begin to slide it higher. She assists by raising her hips slightly from the bed and as he pushes the dress to her waist, his teeth nip at the inside of her thigh and she tries to smother another moan.

She feels him smile against her, and another shiver sweeps her body as he sucks gently on the delicate skin before caressing it with feather light kisses. He moves higher and the top of his head brushes against her center, adding to the pressure building in that area. He applies one long last kiss and lifts his lips from her, turning his attention to the other leg. As his lips make contact, his head presses against her again, and she lets out a cry of frustration at what he skipped.

She hears him laugh and then squirms with surprise as he kisses her through the silky fabric of her panties. Her hands grip the blanket at her sides, scrunching it into her fists, but as soon as the feeling started, it is gone again, as he returns to her leg.

He treats it with the same gentle reverence he did the other, taking his time to place kisses where they will cause her to tremble. She briefly wonders how the hell he knew that, but briefly is all she can manage when his left hand skims her stomach before resting between her legs. Her eyes roll, and she sighs contentedly, moving against his palm. But, again, he cuts her pleasure short, trailing the hand along the path left by his kisses as he reaches her other foot.

His hands meet at her ankle and he removes her left shoe with the same care, stroking the underside of her foot as he slides it out of the sandal. Dropping the footwear to the floor, his hands massage her tenderly and his lips caress each toe.

Her eyes are closed and she is humming with enjoyment when he stops.

"I should let you sleep," he says, and her eyes shoot open as she props herself up on her elbows.

"Excuse me?" she growls.

He smirks smugly as he stands up, smoothing out his clothes. "I'll go settle on the sofa for the night."

She allows him a half-step towards the door, before hooking her feet around his knees and pulling him on top of her. His elbow narrowly misses landing on her shoulder and he adjusts to a more comfortable position as she grabs his head and pulls him down for a kiss.

She pushes her tongue against his lips and is immediately granted access, tasting and exploring him. He returns her enthusiasm, and then pulls back slightly, breathlessly mumbling, "That was a little dangerous."

He kisses along her jaw and she swallows hard before responding with equal breathlessness, "Oh and what you were doing wasn't?"

He kisses along her collarbone as his right hand strokes up her leg. She lifts, wrapping both legs around him and rubbing herself against the hardness in his trousers as she pulls his lips back to hers, their moans lost into each other's mouths.

Her hands fumble round to the front of his shirt and begin work on the buttons as she gasps and whimpers as their hips grind together. Growing impatient with the task of fiddling buttons blindly and under such exquisite duress, she rips the two sides of the fabric apart, feeling the remain buttons land on her stomach.

He yanks his lips away, but his face remains close enough for her to feel his breath mingle with hers. "Cath ­ "

"Yes I'm sure," she assures him, leaning up to kiss him again.

"We've both - " he tries to speak, but fails to escape her grasp.

She moves her hands to cup his face, and gently breaks their frantic exchange. "Gil. Yes, we've both had a lot of wine. But it's pretty clear we both know what we're doing." She moves against him, strategically, grinning when he growls through clenched teeth. "When you're not under the influence… do you think about this?" she asks him kissing the light stubble at his chin as she rotates her hips again.

"Constantly," he whispers roughly, capturing her lips with a degree of desperation.

She smiles against his mouth, and turns her head to the side to speak again. "Then we should be grateful that the wine has overpowered our inhibitions and go with our instincts… oh!"

He is biting and sucking at the base of her neck, sending shockwaves through every nerve. "We should also," he says between nips, "Be grateful that Greg put up that mistletoe."

She grins widely at the memory. "Oh yeah," she agrees as his mouth returns to her reach. She slides her tongue along his, and slips her hands beneath his shirt, pushing it from his shoulders. He helps out and sheds it from his arms, and she diverts her attention to his trousers, fighting with his belt until it's open and she can access the button and zip beneath it.

When everything is finally undone, she lifts her feet and nudges the clothing past his hips and ass, catching his underwear as well in the process. Now bared to her, she pushes her center against him, trembling again now the only thing between them is the thin material of her panties.

He reaches between them, brushing her underwear aside and slipping his fingers into the moist, hot folds that await him. She gasps and shifts against him, moving in rhythm with her pulsating muscles; squirming faster and moaning louder as he pushes harder and deeper.

"Gil!" It's a request; it's a warning; it's a demand.

He understands her meaning, retracting his fingers and tearing their barrier away before thrusting himself deep into her, stilling as she gasps and breathes deeply against the waves of comfort.

"You're replacing those," she tells him, huskily, when she has adjusted herself to take him in.

He laughs and kisses her ­ softly and lovingly this time. She returns the caress and he starts to move slowly within her. His hands push her dress higher, giving him access to her breasts; giving her shivers as he massages and teases her nipples.

They fall into a steady rhythm; rising and falling as sweat forms on their skin. Their kisses are broken only for fast replenishment of oxygen, or to release pressure on a moan or sigh. Her muscles flex around him and he increases their tempo to keep up with their climb towards the peak.

As their speed increases, kissing becomes impossible, and his lips drop to her neck as her head falls back. She swallows and gasps, writhing beneath him as he brings her closer and closer to the brink.

She feels him tensing, fighting his approaching orgasm, and she clenches around him, breathing, "Let go, let go." He thrusts into her hard and fast, and seconds later colour explodes behind her closed eyelids and her pleasure erupts throughout her body, leaving her trembling, and desperate for air.

He comes with her, holding her body tight against his, as he drifts down from the monumental high.

Their deep breathing slips into unison, and their bodies begin to relax. He offers a tender kiss to her chest, where he fell, and she smiles when he doesn't stop at just that one ­ burning a path of his touch up her neck, concluding at her lips.

"Mmm," she sighs as his lips break from hers.

"Merry Christmas," he whispers.

She smiles and her eyes meet his. "It certainly is."

THE END