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Yesteryear
*A Mama Claus story*

Ten years. Ten very long years. Eric looked at the invitation in his hand and shook his head. So much had changed since graduation, he wasn't sure anyone would recognize him anymore, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Geek. Nerd. Dweeb. The words echoed in his mind as he thought back on his high school years. So what if they'd been right, people changed. He was living proof of that ,sort of.

He glanced out the window to the bank across the street. Would Alicia go out for lunch today? Or had she brought something with her? Day after day he sat there hoping for a glimpse of her, an angel with long auburn hair and green eyes. Of course, from this distance, he couldn't see her eyes, but he knew they were green.

All those years ago, he'd missed his chance with her. The invitation in his hand told him it was time to let go of the past, reach out and grab what he wanted out of life. But first, he needed the perfect Christmas gift.

"Harry, I'm going out for a bit, back in about an hour," he called out to his co-worker before pulling on his coat and heading for the door.

"Okay," came drifting to his ears as the door closed behind him.

He headed for the mall a short distance up the street. What he had in mind to do was silly, very silly. However, he saw no other way to do it.

"Great," he muttered, staring at the place where Santa was supposed to be sitting. The plump old man in red was absent and in his place, sat a little lady. He turned to walk away when she called out to him.

"Eric, can I help you?" she asked.

How'd she know his name? Slowly, he turned to face her and shook his head. "No, I don't think so. It was silly anyhow."

"Asking for help is never silly, Eric." She reached down into Santa's bag and pulled out a package. "Here, this is for you. Enjoy."

He hesitantly took the package and nodded to her. "Thank you. I think."

She smiled and patted his hand. "It will bring you much happiness. I promise you this."

Eric looked at the package in his hands. When he looked up again, the mysterious lady had vanished from sight. Who was she? And why had she given him a gift?

Shaking off the disturbing thoughts, he headed back to work. No sense in worrying over something he'd likely never find the answers to anyhow.

* * * * *

Alicia stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Why cant I be beautiful? She sighed. Oh well, back to work, back to her boring life, back to being ignored. She wished shed been born a blonde, instead of with long, stringy, dull red-brown locks that she hated. If only she were thin. If only she wasn't so alone.

She left the bathroom and headed back to her desk, stuffing her purse into the bottom drawer. On her desk, she noticed a small envelope. Picking it up, she ran her fingertip over the embossed lettering on the front. Alicia Stone. Well, it was made out to her, but what could it be?

She slipped a letter opener under the lip and carefully opened it. An invitation to her high school class reunion. They'd remembered to invite her? Imagine that. She never would have guessed they'd think to send her one. She shouldn't go, shouldn't even consider it. It wasn't  a time she wanted to remember, yet, she was oddly curious. Maybe he'd be there.

Her heart fluttered. Eric Long, oh how shed like to see him again, up close. She knew he worked across the street as a CPA, though shed never been brave enough to go over there and talk to him. He wouldn't notice her anyhow, not plain ol' Alicia.

She sighed again and stuffed the invitation into her purse. No need to decide now. The reunion wasn't until after the first of the year, and it wasn't quite Christmas yet.

A shadow moved across her desk. She lifted her gaze to see what had caused it. Her heart jumped into her throat at the sight of him standing there. She swallowed hard, unable to speak at the unexpected appearance of the man shed spent years dreaming about. Eric Long stood before her, in the flesh, not a figment of her imagination.

"Can I help you?" she asked. Was that really her voice? She didn't squeak when speaking, did she? She swallowed again to try and hide her nervousness.

"Hello, Alicia. Its good to see you again," he replied in a deep, thickly accented voice. "I have something for you."

"For me?" This couldn't be happening. She hadn't spoken to him since, well, never. Why would he suddenly decide to bring her something?

She took the package from him and carefully unfolded the paper surrounding it. Inside, she found their high school yearbook. A yearbook? She looked up at him, puzzled by the gift. First the invitation, now a yearbook. Nothing was making sense.

He smiled and her heart melted. How could he still have that effect on her after all these years?

"I think you'll find it enlightening. I know I did." He turned to walk away.

"Wait," she called out, causing him to pause. "Thank you."

He smiled again, nodded, and walked away.

Alicia hugged the book to her, while watching him leave. It may not have been anything special to most people, but it was to her. The name etched into the bottom of the book was hers. The book had belonged to her. She'd thought it lost years ago and Eric returned it.

She sniffed and wiped at her teary eyes. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was almost time to go home. She pulled her purse out and collected her things. Home sounded like a good idea right about now, especially after Eric's visit.

Not fifteen minutes later, Alicia walked through her door and tossed her purse and keys onto the table. She moved to the couch and plopped down, the yearbook still clutched in her hand. Drumming her fingers on the hard cover for a moment, she finally cracked it open and flipped through the pages, pausing on their senior pictures.

"Oh my God!" she gasped.

Chapter Two

 The pictures on the page seemed to come to life, but it was Eric's form that caught her attention. He watched her every chance he got, each time she looked away, he followed her with his gaze. She watched in wonder as the years went by and he wrote poetry and love letters to her that she never saw.

Dare she hope it was true? Had he loved her all those years ago, as she had loved him? There was only one way to find out. Closing the book, she set it aside and reached for the phone. Flipping through the phone book, she found his number and punched it in.

"Hello," his deep voice answer.

She sat in silence a moment, unsure of what to say. "Eric?"

"Yes, this is me. Alicia? Is something wrong?"

"The yearbook you gave me. Did you notice anything..."

"Odd about it? he asked. It did the same thing to you, didn't it? All these wasted years, Alicia. You could have said something."

"So could you."

He sighed. "I know, and I should have."

"How soon can you get here?" she asked before her moment of bravery gave out.

"Give me ten, but Ill be there in five."

She stared at the phone. He'd hung up before she could reply.

* * * * *

He couldn't believe it. When he'd first seen his name etched on the yearbooks cover and the pictures inside moving, he'd thought himself crazy. Then, he'd closed the cover to find Alicia's name etched in place of his. He knew then, at that moment, that he was destined to be with her.

He rushed up the stairs, forgoing the elevator which would take too long. He raised his hand to pound on the door when suddenly it opened. Alicia stood there smiling at him. Without thought or hesitation, he cupped her face in his palms and kissed her with all the years of pent up passion he felt for her.

He moved forward, pushing her back into the apartment, and kicked the door closed behind them. It was time for action, not words. Too much time had been wasted on words she never heard. This time, he'd show her how he felt, until there was no doubt left in her mind that she belonged to him. The geek had finally grown up, found his courage, and decided to listen to his heart.

Eric pulled her closer, felt the tremble that washed over her body. He kissed her with everything he had, tangling his hands in the long, dark strands of her hair. She was so soft in his arms, and she seemed to fall head first into his embrace. Yes, he did love her, and he had since high school.

"Oh, Alicia," he said against her lips. "Do you have any idea how long I've dreamed of this moment, longed for it?"

She reached up with her small hands and touched his cheeks. "You have this moment now, Eric. So, what are you going to do about it?" The look in her green eyes spoke volumes.

Without another word, he swept her up into his arms and carried her through the open bedroom door.  He kissed her as he lowered her onto the bed.

He slid his hand up her side and cupped the soft weight of her breast. With slow deliberate movements, he slid the buttons of her blouse from their holes, peeling back the fabric to reveal the lace covered mounds. He traced her breast with a fingertip, teasing her nipples through the thin material.

Lowering himself over her, he took her nipple into his mouth, teasing it through her bra with his teeth. She gasped and arched her back, pressing herself further up against his mouth. He slid his hands under her, wrapping his arms around her to support her soft weight. Her thick, auburn hair fanned out around her, as her head fell back and he feasted on her breast.

He removed her bra and suckled her bare breasts, enjoying the little gasps he heard coming from her. Eric explored her body with his hands, savoring the feel of soft curves beneath his palms.

Slipping his fingers beneath the waist line of her skirt, he pulled it down the long length of her shapely legs, feathering kisses over each inch of skin he uncovered.

"So beautiful, Alicia. So, very beautiful."

He saw the blush creep up her body, felt the heat radiating out from her skin. She moved to hide her face from him, but he caught her hands and held them at her sides.

He shook his head. "No. Don't hide from me, honey. Never hide from me." He kissed her stomach. "There's never a reason, a need, for you to hide from me."

She felt awkward lying there nude while he was still fully dressed. She knew her body burned with embarrassment, but it also felt quite wonderful to be in his embrace. "It's not fair," she whispered, not even aware shed spoken aloud.

"What's not fair?"

"That I'm laying here naked and you're still dressed."

His dark brown eyes sparkled a moment in the dim light spilling in the open door from the living room. He moved his gaze over her then glanced down at himself. "I am over-dressed, aren't I?" He laughed, then moved his hands to the buttons of his own shirt.

Alicia took a deep breath to calm herself, then sat up on her knees to push his hands out of the way. She undid the top button, moving to the next and the next until the shirt hung open.

She slid her hands up his chest. Leaning forward, she kissed his smooth muscles, pulling off his shirt at the same time. He made her want to be sultry and seductive, made her feel alive.

She flicked at one flat male nipple with her tongue, kissed a trail over his chest, repeating the process with the other nipple. A smile curved her lips upward when his breath sucked in and he stiffened beneath her touch.

Alicia undid his pants, tugging them down by the waistband. "Take 'em off," she moaned against his skin.

He kicked off his shoes and pushed the jeans down his legs, standing naked before her. Alicia looked her fill. He was perfect in her eyes, wide shoulders, broad chest, long, powerful legs. His arms were big, and she wanted nothing more than to feel them wrapped around her, holding her tight.

She licked her lips.

"Like what you see?"

She nodded. "Oh, yeah. Definitely."

"Good, because so do I."

Alicia looked at him hungrily. "So, now what?"

He grinned wickedly, moving closer to the bed. He tangled his hands in her hair, causing her to gasp from the sudden pull.

His hard cock stood tall, resting against his stomach. She licked her lips, anticipating the taste of him on them. All she had to do was pull him a little closer, and her thoughts of taking him into her mouth would be fulfilled.

She slid her hands over his thighs, then curved them around his muscular ass. Licking her lips, she opened wide, taking his hard length into her mouth. She sucked hard then soft, teasing the tip of his erection with her tongue. A moan escaped his lips as she moved over him with increasing rhythm.

"Oh, God, baby. You have to stop," he groaned, pulling her back away from him. "Must stop."

"Enjoying yourself that much, are you?" she purred.

He pulled her against his chest, his heart thundering in her ear. His breathing was labored, his broken laugh rumbled beneath her cheek. "Damn straight I am."

She leaned back and smiled up at him. "Then does that mean its my turn?" she laughed wickedly.

Alicia moved back on the bed, opening her arms to him once more. His hair roughened skin felt wonderful sliding against her as he moved to loom over her body. She gazed up into his eyes, amazed she was with him after what seemed a lifetime of dreams.

"Love me, Eric."

He lowered his head, capturing her lips with his own. "Always, Alicia, and for the rest of my life." He nudged her legs apart with his knee, positioning himself over her.

She felt the tip of his hard cock press against her opening, stretching her to gain entrance. Alicia dug her nails into his shoulders, forcing herself to relax. It'd been a while, and she suddenly felt very inexperienced.

"So tight, baby," he murmured at her ear, his warm breath washing over her skin.

He ran his hand over her body, snaking it down between them until he found her sensitive nub. Rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger, he built the fires within her once more, bringing her passion to the surface again. He kissed her, sliding his tongue between her lips.

She wrapped her legs around his, pulling him forward until he slid into her pussy. Her muscles stretched and strained against his invasion, her breath coming in gasps and her heart pounding. Then he began to move and she found herself moving in time with his body.

She lifted her hips to meet each downward thrust of his. Biting his shoulder, she sucked on his skin, savoring his salty taste on the tip of her tongue. The musky smell of their combined arousal surrounded her, heightening the experience. She could hear every beat of his heart, every breath that was taken, and her body tingled everywhere that it touched his.

Every muscle in her body tightened, straining until she thought she could stand no more.  He pulled back, then slammed into her hips, causing the tension to break. The orgasm gripped her tightly, shaking her body with each convulsion, as Eric groaned and stiffened over her.

He collapsed on top of her. She savored the feel of his weight pressing her down into the mattress. She reached up, brushing the damp hair from his forehead, and she kissed him gently on the cheek.

A smile curved her lips up, and she sighed happily. "You are so wonderful."

Eric raised himself up and looked down at her, shaking his head. "No, baby, you're the wonderful one."

* * * * *

Alicia sat next to the Christmas tree holding her hand out in front of her. The emerald on the ring Eric had slid on her finger winked at her in the candlelight.

"It's beautiful, Eric. Just beautiful."

"Not nearly as beautiful as you." He leaned forward and kissed her softly. "So, do I take the look on your face to mean yes?"

She reached up to feel her face, tracing the curve of her smile, and nodded her head. "Yes. You certainly can take it as a yes." She laughed.

Alicia leapt into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I just cant believe you're finally mine."

He tapped the end of her nose. "If not for that book, I wouldn't be now." He sighed. "Sorry for being such a coward all these years."

"I was just as bad." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Where did you get that yearbook, anyhow?"

"I went to the mall to talk to Santa. He wasn't in, but a little ol' lady sat in his place. She gave it to me. When I opened it, my name was on it, but after looking at it, yours was on the front. That's when I decided to take it to you."

"Well, I'm glad you did, and I'm thankful to the mystery lady for bringing us together."

"You saying its a Christmas miracle?"

She nodded. "Absolutely."

The End.

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