Page 41 of Can I Tell You Something?
“I went last year with some folks from work,” Ryan says, swallowing his food. “It was insane.”
“Yeah, it’s a huge deal. Santa is there with a band and dancers, and they have all these floats they walk down, like cartoon characters in elf hats and stuff. It’s really commercial though, not much Christmas spirit.”
“What about Christmas day? Does your family have any traditions?” Cheryl asks as I smear cream cheese on my bread.
“My parents are both dentists, so one is always on call and has to leave and deal with some emergency. Usually someone who’d had their teeth knocked out in a family argument. We’d mostly spend Christmas at my mom’s sister’s place. They had four girls, and they were spoiled little shits,” I cough into my hand, “Pardon my French. They’d always wanted more toys, would fight over who had the best stuff. So much screaming. And they loved playing pranks on me, so Christmas wasn’t much of a time to relax.”
“That sounds horrible,” Hannah says sincerely, her hand coming to a rest on my upper arm. I feel the warmth of her fingers through my hoodie, and there’s that spark again. Always these goddamn sparks with her.
She gives it a squeeze then pulls away slowly, like she hasn’t just touched me in front of her whole family.
Chapter 25
Cameron
Afterbreakfast,CherylandMark busy themselves with preparation for the next meal while Hannah, Ryan and I head for the hot tub with more champagne in plastic tumblers.
It’s less sunny today, the sky moody with snow clouds keeping the top of the mountain from view. The air is chilly, a light sprinkling of snow falling around us, though we’re well protected underneath the canopy that covers the hot tub and the balcony.
“I need to pace myself or I’ll pass out before noon,” Hannah says when Mark appears to offer us a top up. All I can think about is how good it would feel to get naked with her and take an afternoon nap. To wake up sleepy and handsy. To inhale the scent of her skin from her neck while she backs her ass up against me.
Someday.
Sitting here opposite her is torture. With only the thin straps of her bikini visible above the water, it’s easy to imagine her naked, and I don’t want to get a boner while her brother sits between us telling some story about a job he’s starting in the new year. I tip my head back against the headrest and close my eyes, trying to think about anything other than how good it would feel to have her riding me here.
“Anyone for sauna?” Hannah suggests after a while.
“Sure, let’s go,” Ryan says.
No, not you, man. Fuck off for five minutes.
Hannah wraps herself in a towel, a crime, as she climbs out, and we follow her through the boot room door to the sauna on the other side. Two benches line either side of the narrow room, with a third elevated at the back. Ryan and I sit opposite each other while Hannah pours more water on the coals and hops up top. I force myself not to look at her ass as she passes by. She rests her back against the wall opposite me, long legs stretched out in front of her. I can feel her eyes on me as we sit in silence, and it takes all my willpower not to stare back.
“What’s Kayla doing today?” I ask, hoping Ryan has plans that get him out of our hair at some point.
“She’s with her family this morning. We’ll probably catch up with her at the parade later.”
“Parade?”
“You didn’t tell him about the parade?” Hannah gasps.
“I thought it would be a delightful surprise,” he laughs. I look back and forth between them, confused at what events are about to unfold. “Trust me, bro, it’s better than Hollywood.”
The air in here is stifling, hot from the sauna, but also thick with tension and need. I feel sweat dripping down my back and my chest and I take slow, deep breaths to push through the resistance to duck out.
“OK, I’m done.” Ryan says, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “You coming out?”
“I could do a little longer,” I rush out.
“I’m good for now,” Hannah agrees.
Fuck, yes.
And also, fuck no. As if the only time I’m going to get her to myself is in a boiling hot cupboard under the stairs.
Beads of sweat trickle down her chest. I follow their path with my eyes and wait a minute for Ryan to leave before breaking the silence. “Your bikini is driving me fucking nuts.”
“I thought you might like it.” Her eyes lock with mine as she pushes her breasts out and leans back, palms flat against the wood.
