Driving home for Christmas was always exciting. I had left home eight years ago, first to attend College and then to work. I majored in Finance and had a job that I loved for a large international investment company.
This Christmas was especially exciting because my girlfriend of almost two years, whom I loved dearly, would be there and I planned to propose to her at Christmas dinner.
My mind drifted as I drove. I remembered the first time I saw Catherine as a woman. We had gone to school together but it wasn't until our graduation night that I realised how beautiful she was. She was a statuesque 6' tall, with a muscular body thanks to all the volleyball she played. Her C cup breasts looked small on her but were perfect.
This night she was dressed in a floor length, red gown that was fitted across the top. Strapless, it suited her and she looked stunning. Her long, dark hair cascaded over one shoulder. She almost looked like Jessica Rabbit apart from the hair colour. Dressed up she oozed sensuality.
It seemed to me that she was just realising her own sexuality too and she was easing into the role.
I didn't think I had a chance but at the after-party I asked her to dance. She accepted and we were virtually inseparable from that moment on. She had a wicked sense of humour and I was able to make her laugh. She seemed to know instinctively that the cool people were just obnoxious, as I did. We steered clear from them all night and had a ball together.
Our first night of making love was especially good. It was the first anniversary of our first date. We went out for dinner at the best restaurant in town. Catherine had a few drinks and was really amorous. She couldn't leave me alone in the car on the way home. When we arrived at her place she mentioned that her parents were away. I went in with her and we kissed passionately just inside the front door.
She led me to her bedroom where she quickly took the lead. She unbuttoned my shirt and undid my pants. She pushed me onto my back on her bed and climbed on top of me. She freed my cock from my underwear and lifted her dress to her waist. She then pushed her panties aside and mounted me. She was really wet and moaned loudly as my length penetrated her hot pussy.
She controlled the pace. I came quickly, before she did. She reached down to her clit and rubbed. Soon she was cumming, with my cock still hard inside her. After she came she rolled off me and lay on her back next to me. I nuzzled her neck and played with her tits.
She sat up and undid her dress. She wasn't wearing a bra. She lifted her bum and took the dress and knickers off. I mounted her and we made slow, passionate love. Before too long I was ready to cum again. Again, I came before she did.
I kissed her and she rolled me off her. She closed her eyes and was asleep almost immediately. I went home, euphoric. We'd finally slept together.
When I realised that I was daydreaming I paid attention to my driving. I couldn't remember the last half an hour so I was feeling quite lucky that I didn't crash.
I turned the radio on. Wham came on singing, "Last Christmas." I sang along, 'Last Christmas I gave you my heart ...' I didn't even think anything and the lyrics meant nothing to me at the time.
Finally I arrived home. It was late Christmas Eve. The next day Catherine was coming over for lunch and I was going to her parent's place for dinner. Preparations were well under way for lunch. I noticed that my mother only set three places. When I asked she looked at me as if I had two heads. She told me that Catherine had called her a week ago and said she wouldn't be able to come.
I was surprised. She hadn't said anything to me at all.
We had a nice lunch and then I prepared to go to her place for dinner. She had previously asked me not to come until after 6. I arrived at about 6.15. Catherine looked ravishing. She looked as if she was just out of the shower and was dressed in a tight pencil skirt and pretty red shirt. I went to kiss her and she turned her head at the last minute. We kissed each other's cheeks.
We sat down to eat and the meal was really nice. Conversation was muted which was strange as I knew her family was naturally gregarious.
When the main course had been cleared and everyone was sitting at the table, I asked for everyone's attention. I turned to look at Catherine. I got down on one knee and said, "Catherine I love you with all my heart. My heart belongs to you and I give it to you freely. Will you marry me?"
Dead silence.
I thought it was because everyone was surprised that I had proposed. Catherine looked open mouthed with what I thought was a look of absolute surprise on her face. She got up and ran from the room without saying anything.
I looked around, a little embarrassed. I followed her to her bedroom. She was crying. I thought it was with sheer happiness, but when I looked at her face I realised it wasn't.
"What's going on, Catherine?"
"Oh, Mark, I'm so sorry. I need time to think. Can you go home now? I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Talk about confused. I thought she would say yes straight away. In fact I was so sure that I'd already booked the church and the reception for six months time.
I got home and went straight to bed. I was really confused. Eventually I fell asleep but I slept poorly and woke up feeling awful.
I went for a long walk and arrived back at about lunchtime. I wasn't hungry so I sat around and moped. I couldn't believe that the love of my life had sent me away last night without an answer.
Eventually at about five o'clock she came around to visit. She looked beautiful but nervous. She led me to the back porch and we sat at the table there.
"Daniel, I can't marry you. I've met someone else and I'm going to marry him."
My jaw just about hit the floor. "What...since when?"
"New Year's Eve last year," she said.
"So you met someone a year ago and didn't tell me until now? What the hell...?"
"I'm sorry, Daniel, I didn't mean to fall in love with him. It just sort of happened."
"Bullshit, Catherine. Nobody falls in love by mistake."
"But I never meant to fall for him."
"Yeah, sure. These things don't just happen. You encourage all the little things like the looks and the secret smiles, the little phrases that mean the most to just the two of you. At anytime you could have said 'no' but you chose not to. When he asked you out you could have said no. When he kissed you, you could have said no, when he fucked you, you could have said no. Don't give me this bullshit about not meaning for it to happen. It doesn't happen unless you let it. And you actively let it happen. Am I that poor a boyfriend that you needed to find someone else?"
"No Daniel no. It's not that at all. I loved our time together. That's why I didn't tell you. I thought it wouldn't last, that it was just a fling then I would move on. But I got more and more into him. We seemed to share a lot in common. Then we sort of fell in love. He asked me to marry him last week."
"And when were you going to tell me?"
"Last night after dinner. I was going to talk to you after we had a nice meal together."
"Did your family know?"
"Yes, I told them straight away. They asked about Christmas and I told them not to change anything and that I'd talk to you after dinner."
"So they knew? I suppose that's why there was absolute silence when I popped the question last night."
"That was really awkward for them Daniel. You have no idea."