My brother had brought me into his world, which had made me a lot of money with my speaking engagements, but it wasn’t a world I was sure I really liked. People were so artificial, and everything was for show. I played their game for now, but it really wasn’t where I wanted to be permanently.
Watching Mark drop to the floor to rub his pregnant wife’s feet while the other women in the room coached him over endless laughter was the sort of family life I envisioned someday.
Cuddling Sharolyn in my arms, I already knew that she was the one. Beautiful, funny, smart and incredibly kind. I just wished she had worn a dress with a slightly higher neckline tonight. Her gentle, soft curves had driven me wild the second we met, but she’d been wearing a button-down shirt and jeans. In this saucy dress, her perfect breasts were absolutely taunting me.
“Whenever you want to leave, we can either get a cab, or I’ll walk you home,” I said, brushing my rough beard against her neck.
“Cabs are too expensive, and it’s Christmas Eve. It might take hours. We can walk.” She grinned up at me, then the smile faded. “Did you want to leave? Are you not having a good time?”
I bounced her in my lap, letting my hand wander up and down her spine. “I’m having a great time, sweetheart. I’d like to stay as long as you want.”
She gave me a kiss on the cheek, then jumped up. “It’s cookie time. I’ll be back.”
Sharolyn went to the kitchen and came back with a bag full of gingerbread men sealed in cellophane wrappers with red and green ribbons.
“Oh right,” Jenny said, jumping up. “Before Sharolyn gives us all cookies, everyone clear your mind. Did anyone forget to get somebody a gift? Speak now, or tomorrow’s going to be awkward.” She looked around the room, but nobody answered. Sharolyn grinned, and handed everyone a gingerbread man, bringing two back as she curled up in my lap again.
“I can keep yours in my purse if you want,” she said.
“Thanks. What if someone had forgotten a gift?” I asked.
“Then a few of us go without cookies, and we make a little gift basket for them. It happens around every other year.”
I couldn’t help that my right hand was sliding up her knee, under her dress a few inches. “You are so kind and sweet,” I murmured into her ear. “I’ve wanted a girl like you for a long time.” She looked up at me with a shy grin, but didn’t speak.
“I know you can feel it. We are meant to be together,” I said gently, swirling my fingertips along her inner thigh as my other hand cupped her hip, holding her close.
She nodded, leaning in to tickle her lips against mine in a kiss that was definitely intended to tease me. “Behave,” she whispered, flashing me her smiling attempt at a stern glare.
“I love it when you tell me what to do,” I said, pulling her against me tighter. I could see her eyes grow wide as she realized what she was doing to me. My reaction was obviously pressing against her hip.
“Seriously, behave,” she hissed, but her eyes were laughing.
“Do you order all of your boyfriends around?” I chuckled. She instantly blushed furiously, tucking her head into my shoulder as if to hide. “Sweetheart, am I your first boyfriend?”
She nodded against my chest. I was flooded with satisfaction, knowing that I could be the one to teach her. To show her how a man should love a woman properly.
I was relieved when people began leaving, and there was space to move around again. Sharolyn and Jenny both seemed shocked when they found me in the kitchen quickly washing a round of glasses and mugs. “Thanks so much, Nolan, I’ll be there in a second,” Jenny said, then she pulled Sharolyn out into the hall.
It was obviously a girl talk situation, and I almost felt guilty that I had excellent hearing, and could pick up a few words of Jenny’s sharp voice saying things like, “perfect for you”, and, “so cute together”.
After thanking Jenny and bundling Sharolyn into her puffy coat, we were soon walking to her apartment. But at least once a block I pulled her against me for another deep, scorching kiss. By the time we got to her building, she was the one who grabbed me first, her lips moving against mine as if she were starving for me.
Pressing her against the wall, my lips wandered down her neck, tasting her perfect skin. My hand moved from her back to her stomach, slipping up gently to cup her round breast. Her soft moan into my lips drove me insane, as my hand slipped under her dress, into her bra, to swirl my thumb around her nipple until she was quivering.
Then she shook her head. “It’s too soon,” she whispered, and I backed off immediately.
“I’ll wait as long as you need, baby,” I murmured while kissing her forehead. “But I want you. I need you. And I know you know it’s right.”
Sharolyn looked up at
me with one of those fiery saucy glances. “You’re always so sure of yourself.”
“About you, yes. May I come visit you tomorrow?”
She looked shocked. “Aren’t you busy on Christmas Day?”
“I have a family thing in the morning but I could come in the afternoon.”