Baby It's Cold (2 page)

Part of me liked his hand there; he was
so
handsome after all, and charming and I’d secretly crushed on him for probably years as a little girl. But there was another part of me, the part that found it odd or possibly off-putting that I was here alone, probably for the first time ever. That part of me felt it necessary, appropriate maybe, to shyly move my knee back.
 

His hand lingered thought, grip tightening as I made to move my leg. “You’ve really become a stunning woman.”
 

The room suddenly felt hotter and more confining than it had when I’d first entered, arms full of cookies from my mother for him. I was embarrassed to think that I’d preened for over an hour, probably more, before coming over after she’d asked if I’d deliver them. Jon had always been
 
the cool older guy to me growing up. I won’t say “like an Uncle” since that makes the feelings I always harbored for him as soon as I was old enough to see boys like that seem creepy or something. He was just Jon; Jon who I dressed up for, even if only to bring cookies to.

His grip tightened on my knee, his fingers stroking more purposefully now. My stomach flipped and I could feel a slow burning heat in my cheeks.
 

Again, I was split. There was one part of me that thrilled that this man was showing an interest in me. But there was another part that felt panicked; cornered and trapped by being alone with him.
 

"I...I really should go" I looked at him shyly, my heart hammering as he flashed that gorgeous, totally disarming smile at me.
 

"It's cold out there."

I laughed nervously. "No, I know, but it's getting late."

I was forcing myself to say no here, I knew that. But staying would be a mistake; I wasn't ready for staying and all the implications that brought. Besides, it felt like things had begun to move quite,
quite
fast all of a sudden.

I drained the last of my cocoa and made to stand up.
 

"Why don't you stay and have just one more drink?"

I could feel the effects of the first drink well enough. Heat coursed through my veins, warming my core and bringing an almost giggly flirtation to my words.
 

I looked at him, biting my lip as his sparkling eyes bore into mine.
 

"I really can't." Something dark lingered in those eyes, a flash of need, a small sliver of something much more adult than a mug of cocoa. In a way, it scared me.
 

"Thanks for having me over, and for the drink."

"Well I was hoping I'd get to see you while you were back."

That smile again, and suddenly my moment of fear was disappearing, melting with the heat of the fireplace.
 

I stood, and began to move towards the door. "Well, it really was nice." The moment of uncertainty was passing, and I was already wondering why I’d been so eager to leave.

“Thanks for stopping by, Rachel,” He said, his voice like honey and temptation. I blushed again, for no real reason, as I pulled my boots by the door and stood to look at him again.

“You sure I can’t get you to stay for another drink?”

I smiled shyly. “Next time.”

“What if I said I had a present for you?”

My grin widened at his sparkling eyes and that smooth voice of his. “Do you?”

Jon shrugged. “
Maybe?
” He winked at me. “Guess you’ll have to stay and find out.

God
he was hard to say no to.

“And Merry Christmas, kid.”

“Merry Christmas, Jon.”

Chapter 3:

I hit play on the movie I’d paused earlier - earlier now that seemed
forever
ago - and sat back on the couch to watch. I wasn’t paying attention at all though, and I know it wasn’t just because I’d seen the damn thing a hundred times.

It was because I was wondering what might have been. My whole body was was wondering what might have happened if I’d stayed; stayed for
one
more drink.

I think I knew what might have happened, and that thought alone had me biting my lip and squirming in my seat as the forbidden heat of it crept through my body. The forbidden head that made me wet, just imaging what I might have let him do with me back there.

And I was still thinking about it as the movie ended, none of which I’d actually watched. I was thinking about that
smoldering
look of his, those dark eyes, and that wicked, wolfish grin. And I
wanted
him to be wicked with me. I wanted him to show me the darkness behind those eyes.

“What if I said I had a present for you?”

“Do you?”

“Maybe? Guess you’ll have to stay and find out.”

It was like this hanging, pulling sensation. This little thing pestering me and eating at me; a door that begged to be opened. It was like the Christmas present you find wrapped and hidden away in a closet the week before the actual holiday; the one that you just
have
to shake to see what might be inside.
 

And I had to see.

“Hey, uh, mom?” I jumped up from the couch, turning off the television. “I- uh,
 
I have to go out for a little bit.”

What are you doing?
I screamed at myself as I walked towards the coat rack by the font door. Was I
crazy?
Was I
really
going to go back over there? Into the wolf’s den?

“Oh, but honey!
It’s Christmas
Eve!” My frowned as she looked up from her baking.

“Oh, let her go be with her friends, dear,” My dad said from the kitchen sink behind her. “She’s a big girl now, let her go have some fun.”

I felt guilt as I pulled on my coat and boots and flashed them a quick smile, but I pushed it aside as I turned and opened the door again. The snow swirled around me as I stepped outside, and of the hundredth time, I wondered again what the
hell
I was doing. I knew what might happen if I went back over to Jon’s house, and the though both terrified and thrilled me. I was a virgin, after all, but I had a pretty good idea that I I kept walking, that wouldn’t be the case much longer.

What was I possibly thinking going back over to his house now, on Christmas Eve?

And why couldn’t I wait to find out?

Chapter 4:

“You are
way
too cute to be Santa, you know.”

I giggled as Jon opened the door, his eyes twinkling as he looked at me and ushered me inside.

What did I say then? What could I say to explain why I was
back?

“I, uh, I think I left my scarf here.”

Jon grinned. “You’re wearing it.”

“Oh.” I felt my cheeks burn as he raised an eyebrow at me. “You want that second drink now?”

“
Yes
, please,” I said quickly, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. I shrugged my coat off as I kicked off my boots.
 

“No mittens?” Jon was looking at my hand as I rubbed them together in the heat of his living room. ”Here, let me hold your hands, they're freezing"

He was holding me tight then, close to him. My pulse raced in my throat, suddenly realizing the strength in those hands, how much bigger and older than I he was. He brought my hands to his chest, his eyes meeting my wide ones unflinchingly as he stared down at me.
 

“Here, sit. I’ll grab that cocoa.” I swallowed, not trusting myself to say a word as he led me to the couch before moving off towards the kitchen.

Jon passed me a mug when he came back, and I sipped it gingerly as he sat next to me on the sofa.
Wow
, he sure hadn’t skimped on the booze!

He laughed, as if reading the look on my face. “Best cure for cold weather; sorry if its too strong, kid.”

“No, no it’s fine.” I bit my lip as I looked at him, leaning back into the couch looking so cool and so easy. “It’s perfect.”

“Good, cheers.”

We clinked glasses before we moved to silence, sitting there in his house drinking the spiked cocoa. The heat of the room, silent but for the fireplace and our breathing, weighed down on me like a blanket, and suddenly, everything hit me all over again. What
was
I doing here? I shook my head, feeling the heat of the alcohol coursing through me; I
really
needed to get back home.

“You know, since we found the scarf and all, maybe I should go.”

Jon raise a brow at me; “Stay.”
 

"My mother will worry."

I don't know why I said it. I suppose it was half-true, though maybe I'd meant it as s threat, or leverage. Whatever the intention though, it came out pathetic more than anything else.
 

"What's the hurry, beautiful?" He winked at me, the gesture charming in a way that had me feeling warm all over.
 

"My...my fath-"

"Listen to that fire crackle, Chelsea"

He dropped his hand over my shoulders then, and I felt my pulse skip a beat as he pulled me close to him. I could smell the lingering alcohol on his breath, mixing intoxicatingly with the aftershave and woodsmoke and pine captivating and vying for my senses.
 

"I..."

"Shhh, there's no hurry." That damned smile was back, shattering my defenses and making me weak. I could feel my will crumbling, his smile breaking down my defenses and wrapping me in that warmth again.
 

“How’s that drink, kid?”

I glanced down and blushed, realizing my mug was totally empty. “Evaporated, I swear.”

Jon laughed loudly, his muscled body rumbling against mine and making me dizzy. “Freshen that up for you?”

“Oh,
I-
I don’t know.” I took a deep breath. “Maybe, maybe just
one
more."
 

He grinned wolfishly at me.
 

"A
half
one,”
 
I added quickly, shyly looking at him.

"You bet.”

“Oh, before I do, I really did get you a present you know.”
 

I felt myself grinning giddily, like a child. “Oh?” I fought to keep the eagerness out of my words.

He stood and walked over to his Christmas tree and brought a box up from beneath it. It was large, gorgeously wrapped in gold and red, and topped with a bright red bow. He winked as he passed it to me

“Just a little something. I figured a good looking girl like you could use something like this at school;” he gave me a wink as he sipped his drink. “Might bring a few more boys knocking this next semester.”

I blushed and shook the box gently, cocking my head.

“Oh just open it!”

I grinned at him “Thanks, Jon; really.” I sat back on the couch to open the box. I pulled at the bow, and then mischievously tore at the wrapping, making him chuckle.

The gift box was matte black and unadorned beneath the wrapping. I cocked my head at him.

“Just open it.” His voice was more honeyed now, watching me intently. With a nervous giggle, I pulled off the top of the box.

The room went quite silent, quite still, and I felt my heart skip a beat in my breast. Sitting delicately in the box, surrounded by crepe paper, were a matching pair of tiny, lacy, black panties and bra. My throat went dry and I felt my breath catch. I didn’t know what to say, or how to even look at him, and I could feel the crimson flooding my face.

“I know, I know, its kind of more of an adult present I guess. But, I just know you’ll be a knockout in it.”
 

I slowly raised my beet-red face to look at him from beneath my lashes.

“Can’t study all the time, kid. Have some fun with those; break some hearts.” He winked at me, sipping his drink and eyeing my red face.

“I-” I really was at a loss for words. “Thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

To be fair, lingerie or not, it was probably the nicest piece of clothing I’d ever held. I tried to swallow my embarrassment. It’s not like he was a parent or something, he was just being the cool older guy, as always. Thinking of it that way, I actually felt a little less awkward about it. I even felt a little rush of flirtation, thinking about actually wearing what lay in the box on my lap.

I raised my head, much more confidently now, and looked at him, grinning.

“Thank you.”

He passed me a fresh mug of cocoa with a wink. “Anytime, kid.”

I blushed again.

“Hey, why don’t you try them on?”

But then again as before, something darker, something steely and firm lingered and glinted just beneath the surface of him. And again, as before, I saw it flash momentarily as his eyes captured my own. The shiver returned, slithering up my spine, making my heart flip.
 

“Oh, I- I probably shouldn’t.”

“Oh I don’t mean
right here
! C'mon, give a guy a little credit in the class department.” He rolled his eyes at me. “I meant see how the fit.”

My cheeks burned, and I quickly took a large gulp of what was really more brandy than cocoa in my mug.

He nodded towards the bathroom and I bit my lip. Taking a deep breath, I took another big swig from my mug and stood, holding the box.

“Give me five minutes.”

*****

In the bathroom, I gasped at my reflection in the mirror.

Holy shit I look hot.

The lingerie fit me like a glove, hugging every curve and line of my skin as if they were tailored to me. I blushed at how utterly sheer and transparent the whole set was. My nipples were hard in the cool of the bathroom, and clearly visible through the bra. Dropping my gaze, I bit at my lip, seeing the dark trimmed triangle of hair above my pussy darkening the front of thong panties.

This outfit was straight up scandalous; the naughtiest thing I’d ever had on my body.

I let my fingers trail my body, feeling the brandy course through me. No one had ever bought me lingerie before. The fact that it was
Jon
made it seem even naughtier a purchase; somehow more taboo. I imaged him seeing me wearing this and felt a warm ache in my core at the thought. A naughty thought crossed my mind.