XOXO, Winter

by Bloom, Nikki

  “Promise,” I said just as the taxi rolled up.

  Reed got to his feet and I was right there to steady him. “You know, I got shot in my arm, not my legs, right?”

  “Sorry, I guess I’m just worried about you.”

  “There’s nothing to worry about, love. I’m fine. A month or so of wearing this sling and I’ll be as good as new.”

  “I hope so.”

  Despite the fact that he was the one being discharged from the hospital, he still opened the door for me. “After you, my lady.”

  I blushed slightly, but nonetheless ducked my head inside.

  “Where to?” asked the cab driver.

  “Number 2, Rafters.”

  “Rafters, huh?” He looked back at us. “Rich folk, eh? Must be nice living on that hill, no?”

  “It’s a pretty nice view, I’m not going to lie.” The two men went off on some conversation that ended off on sports somehow. I tuned them out and stared out the window. It was difficult to accept that my nightmare with Victor was finally over. I had spent countless weeks –no months– in fear of that asshole. And he had really started to make me believe that all other men were lowlifes trying to hurt me. But Reed changed all that. He came into my life by pure chance and I will never stop thanking my lucky stars for that.

  I slid my hand over to his and rested it there. He turned his head to look at me.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked in a whisper.

  “Everything is perfect,” I answered.

  * * *

  When we arrived home, Reed tried to argue with me about helping with the dinner preparations, but I banished him into the living room under threat of him never getting some again. He quickly agreed to my terms. Men. They are so easy to negotiate with.

  “Hey, Winter?” Reed called from the other room as I added some mushrooms to the crème sauce I was whipping up on the sauce.

  “What?” I yelled over the buzz of the fan.

  “Iris is at the gate. Should I let her in?”

  “What kind of question is that?” I lowered the heat and wiped my hands on my apron. “And besides, even if you kept that gate locked, Iris would still find a way to get in here.”

  “You’re right. With her driving, she’d probably just ram her way through.”

  “That or she’d climb the gate. She’s exceptionally good at that.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I used to climb gates with her back in the day,” I said with a naughty little grin.

  “Wait, does that mean what it thinks means?”

  I didn’t bother to answer him. Instead, I moved with an extra swing to my hips as I went to open the door. I could feel the weight of Reed’s hungry eyes against my backside. Good. By the end of the night, he would be in the palm of my hand – literally.

  As soon as the door swung open, Timber lunged forward and nearly knocked me over. While on his hind legs, he was tall enough to reach my face with that slobber-covered tongue of his. “Here.” Iris shoved the leash into my hand. “You can have him back. He was a nightmare. He practically tore the whole dinner apart and then he found a stash of chicken legs – kept growling at anyone who came within ten feet of him.”

  He spotted Reed on the couch. I tried to stop him for fear he would hurt my boyfriend, unaware of his injuries, but the leash slipped right between my fingers.

  “Hey there, buddy.” Reed scratched the dog right behind the ear, and he laid down like he was the most well-trained animal on the planet.

  “Oh, now he acts like an angel.” Iris threw up her hands.

  “Maybe he could smell the fact that you’re a cat person.”

  “And for good reason, too.”

  “Oh, come on,” I said. “How can you look at that face and not fall in love?”

  She screwed up her face, trying to stay firm in her resolve. Suddenly, she sniffed the air. “Do you have something cooking on the stove?”

  With panic, I ran into the kitchen. The milk was starting to catch, but luckily it wasn’t so far gone where I would need to toss the entire thing. To help recover it, I added some cheese.

  Iris chuckled. “My dad taught you that trick–”

  “Cheese fixes everything,” we said in perfect unison.

  “Well, almost everything.” She grabbed a nearby knife and helped with the shallots. “Cheese and bacon.”

  “What happens if you’re vegetarian?” I countered.

  “They have fake bacon now. Not nearly as good, but I suppose it’s good enough if all you eat is vegetables.”

  “They eat more than that.”

  “Hardly.” She tossed the shallots into place. “Ready for the chicken yet?”

  “Just about.”

  “Three breasts? Were you expecting me or something?”

  “Let’s call it fate.” I stirred the sauce before drizzling it overtop the chicken. “In any case, I really owe you one for taking care of Timber while Reed was in the hospital. If you need me to pay for any of the damages–”

  “Don’t. You’re my friend and what are friends for if not to watch unruly dogs?” She spotted a bottle of wine and grabbed it. “Damn.” She drew out the word with a tone of amazement. “Cab Sauv? This is the good stuff and I mean really good. Did you pick this out?”

  “No, Reed did.”

  “Then forget about taking a bullet for you, this guy is a keeper on his taste for wine alone.”

  “I’ve never had it.”

  “That’s about to change, my friend.” She grabbed a couple of glasses and poured out three drinks. One, I noticed, was significantly fuller than the others. “And you might have to call me a cab when the night is over.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, you’re crazy behind the wheel as it is. I don’t you need you intoxicated to boot.”

  “What did you just say?” She shot me the deadliest glare.

  “Nothing,” I said quickly. “Absolutely nothing.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She sipped her drink and smiled to herself. “Yep, Reed is definitely a keeper.”

  33

  Reed

  “Your friend is growing on me,” Reed said when we had finally managed to get Iris out the door. “I thought we were bound to butt heads when I first met her at the diner, but I think she’s coming around to me.”

  “You definitely impressed her with your choice of wine.” I twirled the half-empty glass in my hand. “And I must admit that it’s very good.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” he whispered. “I was planning to open it once you passed another exam, but surviving a bullet seems like a good enough reason to celebrate.”

  She clinked her glass with mine, lips stretching into a smile. “We should probably call it a night. My bosses expect me to get back to work and I’ve got bills to pay and study guides to commit to memory.”

  “Life must go on, I suppose.”

  “It does,” she agreed.

  “And what am I supposed to do while you’re gone all day and I’m here with this stupid arm of mine?”

  “Your right hand is still functional, isn’t it?”

  “You know that.”

  She gave me a look.

  “Oh.” I felt like an idiot. “That’s what you mean.”

  She laughed. “Someone’s a little slow this evening, huh?”

  “What can I say? Your delicious food put me in a food coma.”

  “Put on a movie.”

  “Huh? But I thought you wanted to call it a night.” She was acting exceptionally weird. I narrowed my eyes in her direction, trying to discern exactly what she was up to. Nonetheless, I did as she asked and started flicking through our movie options. “What are you in the mood for?”

  “Anything. You decide.”

  “You’re being weird,” I said.

  “Am I?” She batted her eyelashes.

  “Don’t think you can fool me.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you don’t.” I st
ared her down, hoping to penetrate through this act of hers, but it didn’t work. In all honesty, the pain meds I had taken with dinner were taking effect. Already, my eyelids were growing heavy. I knew I wouldn’t make it very far through the movie, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her that. Besides, if it meant holding her in my arm then I was willing to go along with whatever she was planning.

  I settled on an old favorite of mine. As the movie started to play, the lights faded as I had programmed to.

  Winter grabbed the blanket folded over the back of the couch and draped it over the two of us.

  “Oh, I’m fine,” I said.

  “I insist.” She tucked it against my body before cuddling up nice and close. Strange, I thought, but I didn’t voice my suspicions. I simply wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward my chest.

  For a few minutes, we indeed watched the movie, but it didn’t last long. Winter was trying to be subtle about it, but I could feel her hand slowly creeping along my thigh. I focused on the TV screen, letting her think that she was sneaking up on me.

  There was this naughty little look on her face that was both adorable and sexy at the same time. I bit my bottom lip as her hand slipped into my pajama bottoms. I was glad for the loosened drawstring because it gave her the easy access that she needed.

  Then came the moment I had been waiting for.

  I gasped.

  Her fingers curled around my girth. They were a little colder than I thought they would be and it sent a shock through my system.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Your hands are cold.”

  “Don’t worry, they’ll warm up really quick.” Just the smooth seduction of her voice was enough to make me start growing. Then add in her slow strokes up and down my length and it was only a matter of time before I was rock hard.

  “What are you doing?” I breathed.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” She answered me with another question, something she did when she was trying to be playful. “I’m having some fun.”

  “Well, then, let’s have some fun together.” Before I could reach my target, she slapped my hand away.

  “That’s not going to happen, Reed.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I want tonight to be about you.” She knew exactly how to handle me. Her timing was impeccable with just the right speed and the occasional pauses meant to tease and torment. And don’t even get me started on the thumb around the tip routine. It was just about perfect. “You deserve it.”

  “You shouldn’t have to reward me for what I did. Any good boyfriend would do as I did.”

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t have to. The difference here is that I want to.” She started to suck on my neck. Soon, I felt her teeth nip against my skin. She was aiming for a hickey – to mark my skin with her love bite. When she finally pulled away, there was this glow to her skin that made her look like a Grecian goddess. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. “Since you’re not going back to work any time soon, I thought I would give you a little something to remember me by.”

  I had almost forgotten about her hand around my dick, but she reminded me of her hold by giving me a slight squeeze. I pushed my hips into the air. Suddenly, her pace became erratic. She jerked me off with a quickness that had me reeling for breath.

  “Cum for me,” she whispered.

  I was on the very edge when she leaned down, pushed aside my pants and wrapped her lips around my hips. It was the breaking point. I exploded all over her mouth, coating every inch with my hot stickiness.

  She swallowed every last drop and pulled away with a dirty grin on her face. “I think that should be more than enough for you to think about while I’m gone tomorrow.”

  “I don’t know about that,” I started to say, but she was already up and on her feet. “I might need a bit more to work with.”

  “Too bad, I’m headed for bed.”

  “What? You’re just going to leave me here? What about the movie?”

  “I never cared about the movie.” She tossed me a wink from over her shoulder. “Now, are you going to join me or not?”

  “I’d be a fool not to.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  And so, we slipped under the sheets and the rest, well, that’ll stay behind closed doors.

  Epilogue: Winter

  A few years later.

  “I love going on vacation, but I hate unpacking,” I groaned as I saw all the laundry that needed to be done.

  “You know, we can always hire someone to help out around the house. You’ve got more than a full plate working at the animal hospital now. I would never expect you to do all these chores with all the hours you’re putting in.”

  “I just feel strange hiring someone to do my dirty laundry.”

  “You work hard, Winter. And every animal lover in this town owes you something. Do you remember telling me about that little boy – Harvey, was it? Yes, Harvey, that’s it. You told me that he came in with his pet dog and he was just bawling his eyes out because he thought he was going to lose his best friend, but you saved that dog. Do you know why? Because you’re good at what you do and you love doing it. So, set your pride aside and let me hire someone.”

  “Jeez, I didn’t expect a lecture and pep talk all rolled into one.”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. “All I want is to see you happy, and if the thought of doing laundry stresses you out then I want to take away that stress.”

  “You pamper me way too much, you know that?”

  “You do the same to me,” he said as he plopped down on the bed. “I’ve lost count of how many times you swung by the hospital to drop me off some home-cooked food.”

  “That’s hardly pampering.” I grabbed my phone from the dresser. “Do you know what you want for take-out tonight? Iris is coming over. I have some news to share with the two of you.”

  “Oh?” Reed lifted an eyebrow. “How come I didn’t know about this?”

  “Because I only found out a couple of days ago.”

  “Now you have me intrigued.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to wait.”

  He groaned. “Why do you insist on torturing me like this?”

  “Because I’m good at what I do and I love doing it.” With a swing of my hips, I was out the door.

  “Oh no you don’t.” Reed caught up with me a second later and pushed me up against the wall. His lips collided with mine and it was like an explosion of fireworks. Even after three years, this man could send butterflies swirling through my stomach and straight into my heart. Would I ever tire of him? Then again, I didn’t think people tired of their soul mates.

  His hands dropped down to my ass. He gave it a squeeze that had me grinding up against his body.

  Things were starting to get hot and heavy, but before we could really get the ball rolling, a buzz echoed through the entire house.

  “That must be Iris.” I looked down at Reed’s growing erection. “I had better get that while you…situate yourself.”

  Reed nodded, walking a bit awkwardly to the bedroom.

  I chuckled to myself.

  Buzz!

  “Patience is a virtue, Iris,” I said to myself as I pressed the button by the front door that opened the gate.

  I waited for Iris to come barreling up the driveway with her tiny car. In the passenger seat sat her boyfriend, a giant of a man who worked as a pediatrician at the hospital. He was great with kids and even greater with Iris. He really knew how to make her smile, and it was amazing to know that someone was finally making her happy.

  “Come in, come in,” I ushered. “We’ll have to wait on food; we haven’t ordered anything yet so I’m open to suggestions.”

  “So long as we don’t order delivery from the diner, I’m okay with just about anything.” Iris made herself at home in the living room. “And so long as there’s wine while we wait.”

  “Of course,” I sai
d as I poured her and her boyfriend a glass.

  “Aren’t you going to have yourself a glass?” she asked.

  “Actually, I’m going to pass.”

  “What?” She nearly choked on what she was drinking. “What have you done with my best friend?”

  “Is everything alright in here?” Reed joined us and wrapped his arm around me in an affectionate manner.

  “Yes. Did you leave Winter behind in Hawaii? Because this isn’t her.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “She’s rejecting a glass of wine. That’s not like her at all. And Cab Sauv, too.”

  “I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you guys my big news.”

  “Right, I was wondering about that.” Iris crossed one leg over the other and balanced her glass on her knee. “Well, go on, don’t just look at us like that, spit it out, will you?”

  I took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

  “What?” came the response of everyone in the room, loudest of all was Reed.

  He grabbed me by the shoulder and turned me around so I was forced to look at him. “Are you being serious right now?”

  I nodded. “I checked on our last day at the hotel room and it came back positive. I mean if we want to be 100% sure then we should go to the doctor but…”

  Suddenly, he took me up in his arms and spun me around until the room became a dizzying swirl of colors.

  “Reed!”

  He stopped and pulled me so close that we were practically fused at the hip. “This is fantastic news. I can’t believe you’ve kept this from me.”

  “I wanted everyone to be here when I announced it,” I said, motioning to Iris and Liam. “You guys are family to me, and I know that once this baby is born, you’ll shower it with the love that it deserves.”

  “Of course we will.” Iris raised her wine. “And you best believe I’m throwing you one hell of a baby shower once you’re ready to pop.”

  I feigned a face of worry. “Reed, you’d better save me from that.”

  “Save you? I think you’re on your own. I know better than to get between girls and their rituals.”