Chapter 33Annie
Chapter 33
Annie
DECEMBER | Balance: $48,268
Nick Oberbeck
Just got back. Be at your place soon.
Bringing Greg
Can’t wait. Ready to ho ho ho
It was December 22, and the team had just gotten back from the last game before Christmas. Nick’s parents were coming to visit him, showing up the next day, so we’d planned to do our down-low Christmas celebration that night. I wasn’t sure if they’d be sleeping over, but since he was bringing Greg, I assumed he would.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely stoked about it. It was a Sunday, so I’d spent the day preparing my place, and part of me thought he’d be interested in having full-on, p-in-v sex. I had on a little red lingerie set that was part of the present, the other part being some magic books I’d wrapped carefully in brown paper. I wore a leather mini-skirt and over-the-knee boots with a red sweater, which I figured he’d like. I’d made eggnog from scratch, and put together a nice little dinner, roasting a chicken and lighting decorative candles like a real grown-ass woman.
Basically, I didn’t have a boyfriend. Not a real one. But I had Nick, and Nick was special enough that I wanted to wow him with a party for two.
Nick and Greg arrived at my door with Greg enthusiastically sniffing the air. Nick wore a Santa hat and Greg had on some reindeer antlers. Or rather, Nick was trying to hold them to his head. We both laughed as Greg wiggled the antlers off on the spot.
“I tried. Merry Christmas, angel,” Nick said with a chuckle. I grabbed him by both cheeks and kissed him.
“Merry Christmas, Saint Nick. Come in. I almost started hitting the eggnog without you.”
“Oooh, fancy!” Nick said. “It smells amazing. Look at you. In an apron, all dolled up, candles. You really are an angel.”
My cheeks heated. “I try. Wine or eggnog?”
“I’ve gotta have this famous eggnog,” he said with a grin.
I poured us each a glass and held it out to toast. “To a wonderful Christmastime.”
We tapped our cups to the counter and drank. “Damn, Markham, that’s some good nog. Seems like you’re trying to get me to stay over.”
He crept around to my side of the kitchen counter, pulling me close. “I might be,” I said. “Only if you want to. Did you pack a bag?”
“Oh, I want to, and my bag’s in the truck. Wasn’t sure I was invited.” Nick crooked a finger to tip my chin up and melted into a long, slow kiss that left my stomach tangled in knots. The only reason we stopped was because the timer on the oven dinged and I didn’t want to ruin that chicken I’d labored so long over.
We sat for dinner and everything was just easy. The conversation was easy. The air between us was so relaxed. Nick had really become my friend. We talked about our favorite Christmas traditions, about how we’d spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I had an open invitation to Kitty’s house since her family was coming in town. They’d conceded to the whole “hockey doesn’t have much time off” thing and chosen to come spend the holidays in Los Angeles.
Since Nick’s mom knew I existed, part of me thought he might invite me to have dinner with them, but that was also a ridiculous thought. Nick was not my boyfriend, and even if he was, we’d only been in our arrangement for a couple of months. Christmas with the fam was something that came later.
Don’t get your hopes up, Annie. Foolish, foolish girl.
I served the chocolate cake I’d made, Nick pulling me into his lap as I set his slice in front of him.
“Annie, this is incredible. How’d you pull all this off?”
“Relax, it’s a boxed mix and frosting from a jar,” I said.
“I know, baby, but you did a lot of work for this.” Nick’s arms circled my waist, bringing my forehead to his.
“I know someone who likes it when things are special.”
“Annie,” he whispered, his brow furrowing. “You’re the fucking best.”
When he kissed me in that moment, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. Here was a man who truly appreciated and respected me. And when I love someone, I give my all, desperately hoping they'll see me and love me back.
Not that I loved Nick. I couldn’t love Nick. But he saw me and I saw him, and he deserved to feel as special as he was.
He had me sit with my feet up while he did the dishes. Greg was all too happy to sit in my lap and stare at my tiny fake Christmas tree. I had Nick’s gifts wrapped under the tree, and Nick had set a rather large package next to it. We’d agreed to just get each other something small, but I feared he’d gone above and beyond.
When Nick entered the living room, he stopped and put a hand on his heart. “My two favorite people,” he said, referring to me and Greg. “Ready to open presents?”
“Yeah. Who first?”
“I want to go first,” he said, reaching for the brown package with red ribbon. He shook it like he was going to guess what was inside, joining me on the couch. Greg stood to help him tear the paper, thoroughly enjoying the process.
“I didn’t know Greg was a Christmas dog,” I said.
“Honestly, me either. I got him just after Christmas last year. It’s our first together.”
“Aw, we should make him an ornament,” I cooed.
Nick had enough of the paper peeled away to see what it was. “Annie, oh my gosh. This is so cool. I’ve heard about these.”
“You don’t already have it?” I asked.
“No. These are supposed to be really good magic books. Thank you so much.” He hugged me, holding my chin for a kiss. “Did you have to go somewhere crazy for it?”
“There was a nice magic shop near Bakersfield. The guy was happy to help me.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “I bet he was.”
I cocked my head at him, entertained. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His hands captured my waist. “It means you’re a pretty woman and pretty women aren’t exactly a common occurrence in magic shops. You were probably the highlight of his week.”
“Ah, yes. There was some of that. Lucky for you, we committed to being exclusive. Otherwise, I might be in a box on stage somewhere waiting to be sawed in half.”
Nick chuckled. “Well, thanks for enduring that for me. Okay, open yours.”
He plucked the large box from next to the tree, depositing it in my lap.
“Will you help me, Greg?” I asked as I peeled away a corner of the paper. He snagged some of the paper in his teeth, tugging with me. I lifted the lid of the box to find a monogrammed duffel bag. It was a really nice designer canvas duffel with red letters for my initials.
“Oh, Nick,” I gasped. “That’s so sweet.”
He grinned. “I had them do red monogram so it’d match our red baggage tags.”
“Oh my God,” I chuckled, leaning into him for a hug. “This is seriously so thoughtful. You knew my other one busted.”
“It’s partially selfish. I wanted to make it easier for you to spend the night. Not that I don’t love your reusable grocery bags. They’re great, too. But I thought you should have something that matches our luggage. A little tribute to how we met, bumping heads at baggage claim.”
I blushed. “Stop. You’re too cute.”
“Open it. There’s more inside.”
“Nick, we said small gifts,” I scolded him.
“Hmm, I must have not heard that,” he teased.
Inside was a printout of an airline reservation confirmation, for the next day to Charleston. Plus a separate page with a code for Uber credits.
Tears flooded my eyes. “Nick, you can’t.”
“I can. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but I thought I’d give you the option to see your family.”
“It’s too much,” I objected as my tears streamed.
He cast his eyes down. “I don’t know 100% of what’s going on with you, but if it’s a big burden for you financially, I wanted to lighten the load. I saw how sad you were on Thanksgiving not being with them and I wanted to do something to get you where you want to be for Christmas.”
“Is it . . . one way?” I asked, my hands trembling as I looked over the details.
“I thought I’d see when you have to be back for work and get your return ticket then. Just tell me when you want to come back and I’ll book it.”
My arms flew around his neck. “Nick, this is so generous. So thoughtful. Thank you.”
“Yeah?” he asked. “I’m happy to take you to the airport tomorrow.”
“God, you really are a saint,” I laughed into his shoulder. “I can take a car.”
“Save the ride credits for when you get there. I figured you wouldn’t want to rent a car but you’d still want to surprise your family.”
“I can’t believe you thought of all this, bub. I can’t thank you enough. You’re truly a magic man.”
“I can’t believe you made me a multi-course Christmas dinner,” he said.
“I may have one more little present,” I said, straddling his lap.
“Oh yeah?” His voice was husky as his hands skated down my sides.
I bit my lower lip. “Take off my shirt and find out.”
“Arms up, baby,” he cooed.
I raised my arms as he peeled my sweater away, revealing my sheer red lace bra. “Christ, Annie,” he breathed.
He palmed my breasts, pressing kisses into the skin over my cleavage as he massaged my nipples. “Can’t believe you’re mine, Annabelle.”
For now, until you find someone else , my mind added as his lips traveled up my neck. But my dark thoughts were interrupted by his whispered words. “Will you sit on my face?”
I sat back, holding his cheeks. “Is that what you want?”
Nick nodded, his eyes bright as his fingers deftly unzipped the back of my skirt. My eyes were drowsy, drinking him in as we stripped each other: him fully naked, and me still in my festive bra and underwear. “Have a seat,” he said, lying down on the couch.
I settled my knees on either side of his head, gently lowering myself over his face with one hand on the back of the couch for balance. He tugged my thong to the side and cupped my ass to draw me closer. “Sit, Annabelle. Don’t hover. I can take it.”
“You don’t know that,” I said.
His little hyena laugh escaped for a second, and then he said, “I’m okay to die trying.”
Then, he feasted. Dined. Devoured. Brought me to the brink and backed me down. Drove me to the precipice again and left me dangling.
“Turn around,” he commanded, voice dark.
“Nick,” I whined.
“Do it, Annabelle. Are you close?”
“Yes.”
“Then turn around and suck me. Because I’m right fucking there listening to you and tasting you like this. I think it’s time we had a summer redo, don’t you?”
I flipped as he asked and watched him, both of us upside down to the other. He tugged down my bra cups and pinched my nipples between his fingers, sending a throb through me. “Yes.”
With a firm but gentle hand, he pressed me forward and we got to work. He tasted so deeply aroused, and evidence of my pleasure was all over his face, his neck, even his shoulders. It was sexual. Primal. And also, it was so fundamentally us: working together, giving and taking, celebrating the things that made us feel whole. Being open and willing to see the gaps in us and fill them, because that was what we’d become.
Complete in the ways we could give.
And simultaneously being left empty by what we couldn’t give.