A Snowflake Wish

“It’s nothing, but what if there are bugs?”

It wasn’t what she had expected to hear, but now that the notion was out there, January was doing her best to keep from freaking out.

“Um. . .”

Breaking his façade Deckard laughed heartily, bending over with his chuckles. Once he seemed to calm down, he said, “I shook it outside and dusted it with powder we keep at the shop for plants brought indoors. I’m sorry, you should have seen your face.”

Cocky bastard.

“Yes, well, you should see your face.”

January pretended to have her feelings hurt, crossing her arms against her chest and pouting her lips.

“Aw, don’t be upset with me,” Deckard pleaded as he reached out and pulled her closer, even her stubbornness was no match for him.

“I’m not,” she admitted with her body pressed against him, she could feel the steady beat of his heart against the palms of her hands as they rested on his chest.

Something in the air shifted and neither January or Deckard seemed to be able to pull away from each other. There was an invisible force drawing them closer. Deckard’s strong hand moved up her arm until it rested on her cheek. She resisted from closing her eyes and relaxing into his touch even though every fiber of her body told her to do just that.

“You do something to me. I’ve never met anyone like you before. You’re a complete surprise,” he whispered, his gaze never faltering.

She wanted to tell him that she felt the same, that he completely flipped her world on its axis, but the words didn’t come. January was too lost in the blue of his eyes as they stared back at her.

But it seemed that Deckard didn’t need to hear a reply, he simply bent his body forward until he could capture her lips with his. This kiss wasn’t soft and sweet. Instead, it was a continuation of their kiss in the forest. It was fueled with passion and need, and January knew that if she let it continue as fervently as it was, that they’d soon progress to another level that she wasn’t sure either of them was ready for. At least not mentally. Physically her body was cheering on the sidelines with pom-poms waving joyously in the air.

Deckard’s hands trailed beneath her coat and silently urged her to discard it. She quickly shrugged it from her shoulders and it pooled on the floor at her boot-clad feet along with Deckard’s scarf that January slipped from around his neck.

They couldn’t seem to keep their hands off of each other. Shivers quaked across January’s body when she felt his fingertips linger just under the hem of her sweater above the waistband of her jeans.

“Deckard.” The name escaped her before she could rein it in. It was said in need, desire, and every ounce of lust in her body. He answered her call without words, but by sliding his hand across her skin to her stomach where his fingertips lingered on the button of her jeans silently asking for permission.

January nibbled on his lip, giving him the answer they both were seeking, but just as the button flicked free from the loop, January’s cell phone rang in her purse. And she recognized the ringtone she wouldn’t be able to ignore. Both she and Deckard moaned in unison at the intrusion.

“Sorry, it’s my mom,” January quickly apologized as she took a step back and began rifling through her bag on the small table, searching for her phone.

“Where are you?” her mother shouted on the other end of the call just as January answered.

“What?” glancing around the room, she tried to ignore the tent in Deckard’s pants. A few seconds passed before she remembered what she had been looking for. The calendar in the corner had a bright red circle over today’s date. Even with Christmas not in the picture her mother expected her to be at their house for Augustus’ arrival.

“Shit,” she murmured in panic.

“Language,” her mother scolded. “Can I expect you soon, January?”

“Yes, I’m on my way. Time got away from me, that’s all. See you soon, Mom.”

Ending the call, January ran her hand through her hair in exasperation. She was enjoying her time with Deckard and really hated to lose a moment with him, but she knew that neither of them was ready for him to meet her parents. And as she looked at him, she could see the disappointment oozing from him, but also understanding. He was close to his family and knew that there would be no backing out.

“I’m sorry. Can we postpone for tomorrow? We can decorate and make some ornaments at the same time.”

“Yeah, sure.” The letdown was evident in the tone of his voice. It was low and sullen, not his normal deep voice laced with sex. “I should probably go help my grandparents anyway.”

“I’ll even make dinner tomorrow.”

“It’s a date,” he said as he leaned down to pick up his scarf and her coat.

As he handed her jacket over, January felt a distance between them that was new. And she really disliked it. “Deckard, I wanted to thank you for today. For, well, everything really and for believing me.” She could see that she was breaking through that steely wall he was erecting.

Leaning down to press a kiss on her forehead, the same spot he had left a peck earlier, Deckard said, “You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me when you want me to come over.”