Chapter Nine
Alden
My chest felt lighter than it had in a long time. Not to say orgasms can magically heal that trauma. With the right person there for support, though, whether to lend an ear, offer an alternate way of thinking, or just as a distraction, I knew my life would be better with her in it.
With that in mind, I grabbed a few clean towels before joining Joy in the bathroom. She already had the water heating, and the room slowly filled with steam.
“Ready?” I asked, my hands going to her hips like they had a magnetic pull.
She leaned up to kiss me before nodding and stepping under the spray.
I’d never showered with another person before. The space was big enough for two—barely—but perfectly intimate. The steam and sound of the water washed away the rest of the world, and it was just us.
I wrapped my arms around her middle from behind and rested my chin on her shoulder, content to just be. Something I’d had a harder time doing as I’d gotten older.
“You’re hard again, Alden,” Joy pointed out with a laugh. She wiggled her hips a little, creating slippery, soft friction against my stiffening cock.
“Can you blame me? I got to feel you earlier, but now I can see and touch you at the same time.” I let my hand wander up and over her ample breasts, sliding my thumbs over her peaked nipples.
She shuddered, then turned in my arms. She slid her hand down my chest until she wrapped her delicate fingers around my aching cock.
I dropped my head back. “God, that feels good.” I snaked my hand down her side until it was between her thighs, and started teasing her clit.
We stood like that for a few moments, the sound of our breathing filling the space as both our hands worked to get each other off.
Her movements stuttered, and I opened my eyes long enough to watch her mouth drop open and her legs shake.
She planted her free hand against my shoulder for support while she groaned her release.
Seeing her let go was all it took for me to find my own.
Cum exploded from the end of my dick, coating her hand and spattering to the floor of the shower at our feet.
By the time the aftershocks were over, I was dead on my feet. “About that plan to go all night,” I said.
She chuckled. “Yeah, I think two orgasms are enough. Should I head home?”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Even if the weather wasn’t shit, which it is, you’re staying with me tonight.”
“Ooh, bossy Alden. I like it.” She swatted me on the ass. “Let’s get some sleep then.”
We dried off quickly, and I loaned her a T-shirt and a pair of boxers to wear.
We settled into bed. Having her in my house, in my bed, in my clothes all felt scary and right.
I rolled on my side, wrapping a hand around her waist and pulling her against me.
My eyes landed on the glowing red numbers on my bedside alarm clock. “Hey, Joy. Merry Christmas.”
She opened her eyes and looked at me in the dark.
“It’s after midnight.”
She smiled and gave me a lazy kiss. “Merry Christmas, Alden.”
******
I woke up before the sun, suddenly motivated to work on my neglected novel. I hated to leave the bed, as it was warm and smelled like vanilla, with Joy resting on the pillow next to me. I carefully extracted myself without waking her, clicked on the coffee maker, and fired up my laptop.
I now had a better understanding of romance, both in the literary sense and in real life.
Readers wanted a short break from the breakneck pace of a thriller novel.
A moment to tap into different emotions.
To laugh and play and have fun alongside the character they were rooting for.
Romance in real life might just be the same.
There was partnership and mutual support, but there was also exactly what last night was.
Escape from the push of life. A break, an emotional deep breath with another person.
An hour or so later, two warm arms wrapped around me from behind. I stretched my arms over my head and turned to kiss her. “Good morning. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” she said against my lips. “Am I interrupting?”
“I was just about to take a break.”
We curled up on the couch together, each with a cup of coffee. “What are your plans for the day?” I asked.
She cocked her head at me. “Correction, our plans.”
“You want to spend the day with me?”
“Duh.”
“I don’t have decorations or gifts. Hell, I don’t even have hot chocolate or—”
“Have you ever watched The Grinch? Christmas came without packages and boxes and all that. I love all the shiny parts of Christmas, but that isn’t what it’s about.
Life is unpredictable. This holiday is an opportunity to slow down and spend time with the people who matter most. To me, that includes you. ”
Was that the feeling of my heart growing three sizes?
She was too much, which was exactly the right amount for me.
I put my coffee cup on the table and rested my forehead against hers. “I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to get close to someone without worrying about them. I’ve seen so much shit.”
She scooted closer, still wearing my clothes. “All the more reason to celebrate.”
We stayed like that for a moment. Just us two. “Can I ask, have you done anything to help cope with all the things you saw?” she asked tentatively.
I blew out a breath. “I quit my job and moved out here for some peace.”
She smiled. “That’s a great first step. Do you think you should talk to someone? I mean, I will always listen if you want me to, but maybe a professional would be helpful too.”
“I’ll think about it. First, I want to enjoy Christmas with you.”
We spent the first half of the day in various states of undress. Fooling around, having a leisurely breakfast, and working on my novel. “Do you think the roads are drivable?” Joy asked after lunch.
I looked out the window before answering. “In your car? No. In my truck? I think so, why?”
“Would you want to go to my family’s house for Christmas dinner? I want to spend the day with you, but we could spend the day together there.”
I froze in the process of washing a plate. “Do you really want to? Introduce me to your family and all that.”
She wrapped my arms around me, and her body felt so good against mine. “Of course I do. I don’t expect this to be the last Christmas I spend with you.”
I turned in her arms to face her. “Really?”
She nodded.
I kissed her long and slow, then pressed my forehead to hers. “Alright then, let’s go. I want to be wherever you are.”