A Novel Christmas, page 11
There are over ten holiday games for tonight, and there is also a raffle. Tickets will be pulled, and prizes distributed all night. The prizes range from gift certificates, bottles of wine and liquor, household prizes, all the way up to $100 Visa gift cards. Ten total Visa gift cards are available. The grand prize is a $250 Visa card for the ugliest sweater.
When we walk over to Crystal, she hugs Saira, then me. “Didn’t you wear that sweater last year?” she asks me with a slight frown.
“And the year before too.”
“You are no fun,” she snaps.
“He didn’t tell me it’s a recycled one,” Saira says. “I like it, though,” she admits. “But yours is too cute in an ugly kind of way,” she jives.
As usual, Crystal has gone all out. She lives for this type of shit. Her sweater is a tree. It’s green with a thick gold garland draped all around it. Real bulbs are glued to it, and some hang from the garland. Bulbs are hanging from her ears and a big-ass gold star is on top of her head.
“Thanks, girl. I was robbed last year. I better win this year. Voting is over there. Are you entering the contest?” she asks.
“Mine is basic, plus you got my vote,” Saira replies.
“Don’t let my auntie hear that. She thinks she’s winning. Wait until you see her and Keith. He is not happy,” she titters. “But here are your raffle tickets. Let him show you off . . . I mean, around,” she smirks.
She reaches onto the small table beside her and grabs the red roll of raffle tickets. After she tears off two, she hands one to me and then to Saira. I give mine to Saira too.
“This is really nice,” she gushes. “I wasn’t expecting all of this. And y’all do this every year?”
“Yes. It’s our biggest event and fundraiser besides the calendar.”
“I’m sure the calendar made millions this year,” she says with a grin.
“It did okay. Are you hungry?”
She responds with a question of her own. “It depends. Did you barbeque?”
“We smoked four turkeys on the grill. The other items are catered from Lincoln Diner.”
“Then I’m a little hungry.”
We walk through the crowded station toward the kitchen area, where the food is set up. As we maneuver through the people, I introduce her to almost everyone along the way, at least the people that I know. The kitchen is crowded too, and there’s a line for the food. While we wait, I see the chief and his wife, Beverly. When he sees me, they walk over.
“Merry Christmas,” Beverly greets me. Then she turns to Saira with a huge-ass smile plastered across her face. Although she always smiles, I’ve never seen all thirty-two of her teeth. “Oh my goodness!” she squeals. “Devyn said you were here, but I can’t believe it! I have all your books. Do you hug?”
“I do,” Saira replies before embracing Beverly. “And thank you.”
“Girl, thank you! When this one here,” she playfully slaps the chief’s chest. “when he’s not home, I get lost in your books. When is the next one releasing?”
“I’m currently working on one now,” she says.
The chief steps closer to me and says, “Let’s leave them to talk. I want to ask you something.”
Seeing Beverly and Saira all caught up in their conversation, I kiss her cheek, then walk off with the chief. We head to the bar. The line there is smaller than the food line. I glance back at Saira, and five different women, including Devyn, now surround her.
“What’s up, Chief?” I ask, looking up at him.
I’m not of average height. I consider myself tall at six foot three, but he has me by a few inches and pounds. He’s in his early fifties, and he’s in impeccable shape. Whenever we do truck or hose drills, he joins in and gives some of us younger guys a run for our money.
“I know this is a party, but I wanted to talk shop with you,” he says in a serious tone.
It’s our turn at the self-serve bar counter, so we both step up. He pours himself a glass of bourbon neat. I grab one of the snowball-shaped ice cubes from the container, drop it into a glass, and then pour a shot of Don Julio over it. We step aside to drink and talk.
After drinking some of my 1942, I ask, “So, what is it?”
“Lieutenant Daniels at the SCFD Training Unit is retiring after the New Year. I threw your name in the running.”
“Daniels?” I question. “The training director?”
“Yes. I know it’s full-time and a commitment, but honestly, you are the best candidate.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I say, truly honored that he would consider me.
“It’s not official yet, but you are the front-runner. And before you say it, I know this was just supposed to be temporary, but I think firefighting is your calling.”
He’s right. I originally joined simply to occupy my grieving mind. But if I’m being completely honest, I joined because it was dangerous, and deep down in my broken mind and heart, I was looking for a way to be with Mya. I was a wreck, all over the place.
However, that was awhile ago. I’m a different person, better now, and I love firefighting. It gives me more satisfaction than I ever felt when I was on the football field. The fact that I get to help people daily gives me a newfound purpose, and I love it.
“You might be right,” I admit.
“I know I am. I’m not the chief for nothing,” he smirks, then turns to face the women. “She’s beautiful,” he says.
“Saira?”
“We already know my Bev is, so who else am I talking about? Where did you meet her?”
“She’s renting the duplex.”
“Lucky you,” he says with a chuckle. “A beautiful woman just ends up at your doorstep. And she’s famous too. I had to stop Bev from bringing books here. She wanted to ask the poor girl to sign all of them.”
“From the looks of it, I don’t think she minds.”
Saira looks at ease, surrounded by the group. She’s smiling and talking with all of them, looking absolutely gorgeous. Her side profile is just as stunning as the front. One woman should not be this pretty and magnetic. It’s like the entire room is drawn to her, and I’m feeling possessive as shit. Just so there’s no mistaking who she’s with, I break away from the chief and make it back to her.
“Merry Christmas, ladies,” I greet them collectively. “Can I steal my lady?”
With a huge grin, Devyn says, “You sure can. She’s already agreed to an impromptu book club meeting tomorrow with us.”
“Of course, I’m excited,” Saira says, and then she gasps, causing me to follow her eyes. Keith is walking up behind Devyn, looking like a damn fool. “Now, that is too cute,” Saira gushes.
“Raise your arms, baby, so that she can get the full effect,” Devyn says.
She positions herself directly in front of him and presses her back into his chest. He raises his arms with a scowl, and I just shake my head. He’s wearing a red sweater. It’s too big, and it’s decorated like a brick fireplace. There’s a gold garland across his shoulders and neck from arm to arm. Green Christmas stockings are attached to it. Devyn is wearing a black sweater with a flame on it. She’s the fire in his fireplace.
“Man, don’t start no shit,” he scoffs.
“It’s cute and creative. I like it,” Saira says.
“Then vote for us,” Devyn says.
Out of nowhere, Crystal yells, “Hello, no!” She walks right in front of Devyn. “It’s an ugly sweater contest, not a couple’s ugly sweater. They are disqualified. I’m winning this year,” she snaps. Then all of the ladies, including Saira, laugh.
Saira and I turn around, then officially get back into the food line. Devyn, Keith, and Crystal did too, along with one of the women. Since Lincoln’s Diner catered, I pile my plate with a little of everything: slices of smoked turkey, a piece of catfish, red beans and rice, mac ’n’ cheese, green beans, and a few deviled eggs. Saira’s plate is similar to mine but with much smaller portions.
As we walk through the station to find a table, she looks at me, then asks, “Can we find a table for two?”
I think she wants a break from her fan club, so I suggest, “We can eat in the lieutenant’s office.”
“Perfect. Since I will discuss my books tomorrow, I’d rather not tonight. I’m honestly flattered that I have readers here, but tonight is about the holiday and raising money for the kids. If I disappear during dinner, they may forget about me for the rest of the night.”
“I understand. When I played in the league, I would decompress alone after a game, avoiding all talk about the game.”
We walk through the small hall, then enter the living quarters. The lieutenant’s offices are right in front of the area. There’s one office for truck lieutenants and one for engine lieutenants. Some others had the same idea because four people are sitting in the engine office. So, I open the door for the truck, and let Saira walk in first. I follow, then partially close it.
“This food looks amazing,” she comments before forking a piece of sliced turkey. “I usually don’t like turkey because it’s dry, but not this. It’s divine.”
She really enjoys food, and I like that. Many women eat shyly in front of men, but not her. I find that so attractive, especially when it’s something that I prepared. I smoked the majority of the turkeys.
The sound of a bell ringing broadcasts over the station house’s intercom. Then we hear Crystal’s voice. “It’s time for the first raffle of the night. Put those forks and drinks down and pull out your tickets,” she announces.
When I notice that Saira doesn’t pull out her tickets, I ask. “Do you have your tickets?”
“Yes, but it’s no use. I never ever win raffles. I’m the unluckiest person, I swear. I’ll buy the tickets to support different events, but I never win.”
“You might tonight,” I suggest.
“Highly unlikely,” she shrugs.
The bell rings again. Crystal is back on the intercom. “All right. The chief said I can now raffle off one of the Visa gift cards. The first $100 goes to 941239. 941239. Check your tickets.”
Saira continues eating, ignoring Crystal, so I ask, “Where are the tickets?”
She reaches into her sweater and pulls them out of her breast area. “Wow!” I gasp. “You put them in there?”
“Yes,” she smirks. “They aren’t winners.”
“Let me check,” I say. She hands me the warm, scented tickets, and I’m tempted to inhale them. They have been tucked away in one of the places I’m craving to venture into.
“Come on,” Crystal returns. “Someone has to have 941239. Look at your last three digits. 2 . . . 3 . . . 9,” she emphasizes.
I quickly scan the tickets, then look over at her. “You should really look,” I strongly suggest as I slide one back to her.
“Huh?” she asks.
“Check it. 239.”
She glances down at the ticket, and then her pretty eyes venture back up at me. With a sparkle in her orbs, she cheeses extra big, then squeals, “I won!” She hops up, then snatches the ticket off of the table. “I freaking won!”
Her excitement makes me smile. She’s genuinely surprised and happy as hell. “Go get your prize,” I encourage her, chuckling at her exuberance.
“Where do I go?”
“To Crystal, up front.”
“Okay,” Crystal sighs over the intercom. “Last call for 239,” she continues as Saira rushes out of the office.
I stand to follow after her but change my mind. It’s her first time winning. She needs her moment. So I continue to eat my food until she returns to the office. She’s still smiling, but she’s empty-handed.
“Where’s your gift card?” I ask.
“I donated it back to the firehouse. Crystal says they will use it to buy more items for the kids. I was excited to win, but I don’t need it,” she admits humbly.
Her spirit is beautiful, just like the rest of her, making her even more appealing to me. Every single thing about her calls out to me. She’s like no other woman that I’ve encountered. My attraction to her is strong.
I stand, then step to her. After pulling her body into mine, I ask, “Are you always like this?”
With a smile, she curiously responds with a question of her own. “Like what?”
“This.” I begin to rub my hand up her back. “So, damn irresistible.”
“That’s you, all you, not me, Mr. Fireman,” she smirks.
“Aww,” a voice interrupts. I look up to see Crystal standing in the doorway. “You two are so cute together,” she gushes. She has been trying to set me up with different women for the longest time. It has practically been her singular mission in life.
“I think I’m too old for cute,” I quip, and she waves me off.
“I need to steal Saira for a few minutes. We are about to play the Name That Movie Game, and Mike sucks. I need a partner so that I can win.”
“You don’t know if she knows movies,” I scoff. Right here, in my arms, is where I want Saira, not in some other room.
“I’m pretty good at movies,” she interjects.
“See?” Crystal snaps, then reaches for Saira. “I’ll bring her back.”
Saira looks up at me. “Come watch us win,” she says. “It should be fun.”
After pecking her soft lips, I reluctantly agree to watch. So, we grab our plates and cups off the desk, then walk out. The two of them talk and quickly quiz each other as we trek back to the main party area.
They play three undefeated rounds and win the game. They are both beasts at movies, all genres, and across all decades. They practically blow the other teams out. For Crystal, this is straight bragging rights in the house, and for Saira, it’s all about the competition. She’s thriving from winning.
“What’s next?” Crystal asks excitedly. She wants to participate in another one of the million games planned for the night.
“I think that’s it for me,” Saira answers, and I smother my smile.
That’s music to my ears. I’m ready to dip and take her sexy ass back to the duplex.
“You’re leaving?” Crystal sounds disappointed.
“Yes. I need to prepare for this book club brunch in the morning. But I had fun,” Saira says before embracing her. “I hope you win the sweater contest.”
“I better win,” Crystal snaps. “See you tomorrow.” She turns to face me. With a weird-ass look, she smiles, then pats my chest. She leans in closer and whispers, “I like her for you. Good night.”
“Good night.”
We slip out of the firehouse. Had we said goodbye to everyone, we would have never made it out of there. When we pull back into the duplex driveway, a wave of nervousness hits me, but I quickly shake it off. I’ve been with a few women since Mya, but this is different. She is different.
After getting out, I open her door, and we head into the duplex. As soon as we are in the common foyer, she stops walking and looks at me. Because I do not want to make any erroneous assumptions about us and my expectations, I stare back into her eyes, then ask, “Do you want me to come in?”
“I do,” she responds with a sexy smile. She opens the door and walks in. I enter behind her. “Have a seat. I’ll fix us something to drink.”
As she meanders into the kitchen, my eyes stalk her every move. She is so damn beautiful, I can’t help it. Her eyes catch mine, and we have a brief exchange. I hope that mine conveys how much I want her. At this point, it’s a need. I can’t leave here tonight without feeling her.
Holding two glasses in her hand, she treks into the living room. She hands me my glass, and then she sits down with hers. After taking a sip, I twist my body toward her.
“What did you think about tonight?” I ask.
“It was great. This town really knows how to do Christmas. The spirit of the holiday is beautiful here. Like, it’s Christmas on steroids, but in a good way. I said all of that to say that I loved it. Sorry, I’m long-winded as hell.”
“Don’t apologize. I enjoy it when you speak. Your lips do this thing that I love,” I admit. Then I lean in closer and peck the spot. “It curls right here when you talk,” I add before licking the same place.
A soft moan falls off her lips. Then she places her empty glass on the table and eases herself on my lap, straddling me. Running her fingers across the top of my head, she asks, “Why are you so damn sexy?” I quickly realize that she’s not looking for an answer because she covers my mouth with hers. Tasting the sweet wine on her lips, I know that I can easily get drunk off of her. Although I appreciate her bold move, I want to control this, her. To take over, I trail my lips to her neck and her collarbone while my hands rub up and down her back. “Your hands are so strong,” she whispers in my ear before kissing it.
When she sucks my earlobe, I damn near growl. That shit is a weakness for me. My attempts to maintain control are thwarted. My shit is hard as hell. She must feel it because she starts to grind on me. She’s trying to make me really fall for her sexy ass.
“Wrap your arms around my neck,” I demand, and she complies without hesitation.
My hands grip her ample ass. Then I stand up. My lips crash into hers, and we kiss as I carry her upstairs into the bedroom. When we enter, I step up to the bed, then gingerly lay her on it. When I step back, she eases up, then comes to the edge of it, sitting in front of me. She pulls at my belt, then stands up. She takes her hands and runs them down my chest, then starts to remove my shirt. I assist her and pull it off. She studies my chest lustfully before planting kisses on it as she unfastens her jeans.
My hands cover hers. “Let me,” I say. I want to reveal everything I have imagined while in my bed alone. So, I gently push her back on the bed. When she is seated, I bend down and remove her boots.
When they are off, she stands again. I remove her sweater to reveal full breasts filling a brown lace bra. It blends perfectly with her beautiful skin. I can barely distinguish the material from her flesh.
I cup her breasts, then place kisses across her collarbone, my lips trailing down to her cleavage. Her breasts heave as I do. My hands move from her breasts to her back, and I unhook her bra. I ease it off, exposing her breasts.
