And a Side of Onion Rings
I forgot how wonderful it was to feel this way. Chris and his peanut butter hair made me so happy. Not peanut butter, it’s too dark and too sticky. But it’s a step in the right direction. It’s definitely better than beer. But beer is a cleaner description. Oh, it doesn’t matter. He’s lovely, and each day he’s more mine, and that’s what matters.
My stupid-happies did not defeat the morning commute traffic beast today. But it didn’t matter. Chris sat spinning in my chair when I got to work. And that made up for all of it. What is it with men and spinning in my chair? I may have squealed.
“Good morning.” He stood and put his arms around me.
I dropped my bags and threw my arms around him. “Hiya. What are you doing in my cube? Not that I’m complaining, or anything.”
I really didn’t care if anyone in the office was going to be offended by our PDA: public display of affection. Besides, my cubicle was fairly private. Unless someone walked past it, like Blake just happened to do.
“Well, are you going to kiss her or not? I can’t stand around all day waiting for you.” Blake snarked.
Chris dropped his arms.
I glared at Blake for killing our moment of joy. “What do you need Blake?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I just wanted to see how straight people do it, ya know.” I really don’t know how to describe his expression, but his face contorted from super pretty boy to comically-derpy with screwed up eyebrows and lips. “For science.”
Chris’s arms were around me a second later. “Watch and learn science boy, watch and learn.” Chris leaned in and the world disappeared. His lips were soft and he tasted of coffee. He gently prodded my mouth open and his tongue found mine. I swear his kisses were getting hotter every day. Soon flames would burst from me, and we would be consumed in passion’s flames. I shoved my fingers into his hair, and he grabbed onto mine. We kissed deeper until I was floating in space.
When he pulled back, his hands cupped my face. We were both breathing heavily. I had actually forgotten that we had an audience.
Blake began a slow clap. “Well done, nice technique. I give you a 9.8 for style, and a 10 for partner satisfaction.”
I dropped my forehead against Chris’s chest. “Go away, Blake.” I groaned.
“Kay-kay girlfriend.” He said in a highly sassy tone then he left.
“What was that?” Chris asked.
“I have no idea.” I didn’t, but I was laughing. “Hi.” I mooned up at Chris. That was an amazing kiss. I wanted more. But we were at work. So that wasn’t going to happen.
“I wanted to kiss you again, and I didn’t want to wait. So I figured you would come here first.” He explained.
“I like the way you think. Can you do lunch today or is it another day of all day meetings?” I asked.
“Yesterday happened because half the department isn’t even here today, they came in specifically for the meetings. Leaving the rest of us to do the actual work.”
“Bummer.”
“Yeah, but that does mean I am available for lunch.” He slowly twisted with me side-to-side.
“Ya know, if we grab something to go from the roach coach in the back parking lot, we can go find a bench and make out.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him.
“I knew you were a smart girl.” He kissed me again. This one didn’t quite take me out of my body, but it still curled my toes.
I waited for Chris in the north stairwell. My pulse would surge every time I heard feet pounding down the stairs. I watched with anticipation for his figure to turn at the landing and make his way down to me. With each new not-Chris person, my excitement diminished. By the time Chris did arrive I wasn’t expecting it to be him. So I was completely surprised.
“Oh,” I gasped as he grabbed me and kissed me without saying anything.
His kisses were hot and urgent. And they didn’t stop even after a few people cleared their throats nervously as they passed us.
“You hungry?” He asked.
I nodded, but I wasn’t.
“I’m hungrier than the food truck can handle, mind if we hit the cafe across the street? We can eat on the patio, its nice out.” Chris pointed with his thumb over his shoulder indicating the matching building to ours.
“Sure.” I nodded.
He held my hand as we cut across the parking lot to the other building. My stomach did somersaults.
“How’s your day been?” I asked. All those practiced topics of conversation from the other day deserted me. Work seemed safe enough.
Chris grunted. I stopped walking, forcing him to stop and look at me.
He gave me a weak grin. “It’s better now that I’m with you. I feel like I’ve been dumped on with everyone deciding they can cut out early. Which means I’m working late every night just so I can leave on time on Friday.”
“Can’t you just cut out early without the late nights?” We resumed walking.
“No,” he shook his head. “Too much to get before year end. I’ll be here late tonight and late tomorrow, and I’ll have to come in early Friday if I can’t get everything done.”
We stepped up to the counter to order. I ordered a hamburger.
“You want fries with that?” The lady behind the counter asked.
I felt like throwing caution to the wind. After all the very first thing we ever did was go out to eat, so I didn’t need to shy away from food now. “I’ll have a side of onion rings, oh and one of those big pickles.” Chris looked at me with one eyebrow raised. Oh, that was a hot look, but right now I think that was him giving me a funny face. “What? It’s a vegetable.”
We found a seat on the patio.
“So, you have big plans for Friday?” I asked.
“Actually I do and I’m hoping you don’t.” Chris shifted in his chair. “My parents got back last night and they want me to come up for New Year’s.” He looked nervous. “And I was wondering if you would come up with me? Take the long weekend in Santa Barbara and hang out with the moms.”
Uhm. Wow. Meeting parents already? Plus spending a weekend away together. Breathe Natalie. This meant the sex thing might happen. Not necessarily, not if we’re at his parents. But still, the chances of the sex happening just skyrocketed.
“I can change my plans,” I said trying to be cool. I did not feel cool. I was flummoxed.
“Your friends won’t get mad?” Chris asked.
“My TV won’t care either way, the DVD player might feel left out, but I think they’ll be fine without me.”
Chris’s grin made my heart skip a beat or two, before running in circles at top speed with glee.
“Great. Bring your stuff and we can leave from work. You said you skate right?”
I nodded.
“Bring your skates, there’s a great beach walk.” He began.
“Oh, the place you took me after the Prince thing?” I interrupted.
“Yeah, it’s great for skating or biking.”
“Or running.” I finished for him.
“Or running.” He agreed.
“So just how serious is this running thing with you? Weekend warrior or what? You’re a little beefier than what I think of as a runner.” I asked.
“Track in high school. Mostly weekend warrior type thing. It’s easy cardio. I’ve done a few marathons. But not so many since I’ve added more weight lifting. I’ll hit the gym three or four times a week, run a few times, or do something else, like roller blades or biking. Depends on the weather, and if I have company.” He shrugged.
“So fit and active lifestyle is your thing?” I asked as I sank into the greasy pit of onion rings, hamburgers, meaty thighs and big boobs. One look at me and most guys who are into fit and healthy turn tail. Not that I’m not fit or healthy, I just don’t fit the physical stereotype. And to be honest, my lunch of choice did not support the argument that I was either.
“It’s an activity, not a lifestyle. I like to go to back-to-back movies with beautiful women. I like to hang out at friends’ houses and play video games. I go to the gym, so I can eat hamburgers and french fries, and convince myself that a pickle is really a vegetable.” He said nodding at my lunch. His wasn’t much healthier, the only vegetable he had was the lettuce on his cheeseburger.
“Fair enough. I used to work out more, but not so much since I moved here.” I thought about telling him how much I used to hit the gym, and how much I skated, but I decided to save that for the weekend. Give him a little surprise.
“I watch entirely too many movies. Theater, DVD, and streaming. I’m on social media too much. I like long walks on the beach, piña coladas, getting caught in the rain, I’m not into yoga.”
“So, you like making love at midnight do you?” Chris caught me. We both laughed at my attempt to use the piña colada song as my personal dossier.
I leaned in and looked up at him through my eyelashes. “I like making love at midnight. But not on sand dunes. That shit gets everywhere and gets in cracks you didn’t realize you have. Or so I’ve been told.”
Chris started choking he laughed so hard.
Chris held my hand on the walk back to the office. I loved the feel of his large warm hand wrapped around mine. His fingers were long and tapered. And he held on like he wanted to keep my hand.
“Want to find a secluded place to neck for five minutes before we get back in there?” He asked, nodding towards our building.
“I had onions and a huge pickle for lunch,” I complained.
“And I had garlic fries. We should taste amazing.” He said as he pulled be around the corner, and pressed me against a metal fire escape door.
The pressure of him leaning into me took all my resolve. His lips descended on mine. He was right. We tasted delicious.
I brushed his hair back into some semblance of order. Mine was too far gone to be saved so I pulled it into a ponytale. Chris kissed me again once we reached my cube.
“I have to stay late so I can’t take you out tonight. Come up and kiss me before you go home?” He asked. He was so cute and timid, like a little boy.
“Of course,” I was so smitten with this guy, like I would turn down a chance to make out for a bit. “Do you want me to hang out with you, keep you company?”
He made a soft growl low in his throat. “I won’t get any work done. But thanks for the offer.”
He kissed me again, then left to return to work.
I flopped down in my chair. I did not feel like working. I felt like making out with Chris, garlic and onion breath and all.
“Did I see you trying to suck out boyfriend’s tonsils outside?” Blake stuck his head in my cube.
“Probably.” I sighed, yeah that was some heavy necking.
“When did this all start. I don’t remember the two of you even talking before. And now its all suck face all day.”
“Blake. Stop it. Why do you even care?” I asked.
“Cause it’s cute and nauseating all at once. So for how long?”
“He was my Christmas present. Question.”
Blake raised his perfect eyebrows at me.
“You barely said word one to me since I’ve started here, and now you’re all up in my business. What gives?” I would have killed to have him talk to me a week ago, and now, I just didn’t get it.
“You’re snogging one of the finer specimens of manhood in this building, that’s what gives. And what do you mean don’t talk to you? I email you all the time. We’re always talking.”
“Email isn’t talking, but okay.” I nodded. He was right, we did email, but it was always work related. “And you’re right, Chris is fine.” I sighed. Fine and a really good kisser.
“Girlfriend I’m always right. Now get back to work, those sheets aren’t going to spread themselves.”
I snorted softly as he disappeared around the bank of cubicles.
I ordered a pizza before the end of the day and personally delivered it to Chris before I left. I gave him a quick kiss goodnight that lasted about thirty minutes. He was getting bolder with his hands. He really had been my Christmas present. Best one I had received in a really long time.
need to catch up on the fourth date
The story continues on the sixth day of Christmas
©2016 Lulu M Sylvian. The Twelve Dates of Christmas