Page 56 of Scrooge-ish
“I’m going to treat you like Tam. You need to eat four bites.”
I softly laugh. “Why four?”
“One for each decade.”
“Gosh,Dad. That’s harsh.” I scoff and pick up the sandwich. Taking a bite, the food melts in my mouth. I’d ordered roast beef with cheese on toasted rye. Something I didn’t typically order but it tasted incredible. My mouth actually waters.
Or maybe it’s just the man sitting across from me, offering a warm smile and steadfast comfort.
+ + +
After we eat, we drive back into the city. Zebb parks at my building but walks us to a bar a few blocks away. In the low light of a cloudy afternoon, we sit next to each other in a dark, wooden booth.
Zebb orders us each a shot of Fireball. “To the future.” He raises the shot glass.
“The future,” I repeat, feeling so uncertain about what lies ahead.
The cinnamon liquor coats my throat and burns my insides, but the after effect is a warm, sappy glow. A buzz happens quickly from a lack of food the past few days and the company of a too-sexy-for-his-own-good man, especially in a suit. He’s removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. He still wears the tie and smooths his hand down the silky strip.
“Jesus that burns.” Zebb laughs after he swallows.
“No snowball’s chance,” I tease.
Zebb nuzzles my neck and hums. “Speaking of chances, I didn’t get mine that night.”
“What about the fitting room?” Our eyes meet and his darken at the mention of that wild evening. His nose rubs against mine.
“I want a repeat.” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “I want more than a repeat. I just want more.”
The innuendo is clear, and I reciprocate his desire.
“Should we get out of here?” I ask.
“Only if you keep looking at me like that.”
My gaze drops to his lips and then rise slowly to catch his eyes. “And how do I look at you?”
“Like I could be your world, if you let me.”
He kisses me before I can comment. The kind of kiss that says snowy days, and lingering in bed, and snuggling under blankets.
Eventually, I pull back but cup his jaw, scratching my nails over his scruff. “What about Tam?”
“She’s at my mother’s for the night. Something about girls’ night in, eating leftovers and watching princess movies.”
“Sounds wonderful.” I tug him back to me and kiss him quick.
“You’ll get your chance but not tonight. Tonight’s theme is this man in, as in, this man”—he points to himself—“inside you.”
Holy snowballs.
13
When we enter my apartment, the moment is like I’ve seen in holiday movies, where kids rush downstairs to see what Santa brought. Zebb and I are on one another like each other is a gift and we can’t unwrap ourselves fast enough. Coats are pushed off and tumble to the floor. I reach for Zebb’s tie. He lifts my shift dress over my head. I undo the top buttons of his dress shirt. He reaches behind his head and tugs his shirt forward by the collar. Our bodies press together, mouths meeting as I’m sandwiched between his chest and my front door.
We kiss and we kiss until Zebb pulls back. He toes off his dress shoes and I work at his belt and unzip his pants. He lowers to his knees and removes my knee-high boots. He leans forward and inhales at the apex of my legs where thick tights cover me. I stand in my front hall in only a bra and the stockings.
Zebb slowly stands, shirtless and his unzipped pants hung up on his hips.
