Twas The Night After Christmas

by Susan Diplacido

  "Look at that. That's why no one's coming in. Shit, I gotta drive home in that."

  "Wow, that sucks," she said, surveying the street outside. Drizzling sleet was coming down, hitting the pavement and slicking it as the cold temperature worked to turn it into sheets of ice. Car windows were beveled with a thin layer of ice, and nary a vehicle was moving through the streets. Tree branches lining the sidewalk were bending under the weight, as icicles kept dripping and growing longer as more rain hit them. The small piles of snow on the side of the road glistened as if covered by glass. "Man," he said. "I better get going. It's only gonna get worse out

  there." "Oh," Marie said. "Well, look, it's starting to snow, that should help. Give you some traction over the ice. Maybe you should wait until some more has fallen."

  Turning to look at her, he understood. She didn't want him to leave. Her eyes were cast down at the ground, and he waited for her to raise them and look up at him. When she did, he held her gaze for a long moment. Licking his lips, he answered her, "Yeah, maybe I oughta wait. Traction."

  When they stepped out into the cold air later that night, they began laughing at each other. Even with the snowfall, the ground was treacherously slick, and they couldn't get solid footing. Tracey kept clutching Eddie's arm for balance, trying to steady herself. Suddenly, Joe broke into a run, then pulled up and slid a good ten feet down the sidewalk. Not to be outdone, Marie sprinted a few steps, then pulled up, feeling her stomach lurch as she glided swiftly toward him. Holding out a strong arm, he caught her as she slid next to him, giggling like kids. "Oh, man, we need a car to come by," she said. "What?" "One of my favorite things to do, go schitzing. It's the perfect night

  for it." "Again, what?" Joe asked. Almost as if on cue, a car slowly rounded the corner, the driver aiming it with care over the dangerous streets. "Oh," she laughed, "here, watch." She made her way to the curb, and as the car passed by, she ran behind it and grabbed hold of its rear bumper. Holding tightly, she skated across the ice behind it until it began to round the corner. She let go and slid into the side of a parked car to stop herself.

  Alternately running and sliding back to the group, her breath came out in white puffs in the cold air. "Isn't that cool?" "Man, I gotta try that," Eddie spoke. "Next car's mine." They stood on the corner, blowing into their hands to warm them and shuffling their feet as the icy snow crunched beneath them. When the next car came by, Eddie hitched onto the back of it, skating behind it for nearly a block as the other three spotted another car coming down the street. "This one's mine," Joe said, then his face dropped. "Oh, shit, man, it's the heat."

  Up ahead, Eddie had slid another block, then let go and crashed to the ground. Picking himself up, he laughed as he trudged back to the group. When he looked up, he saw the black and white stopped in front of his friends and muttered curses under his breath as he walked over.

  The officer stepped out of the car, approached the group. Asked, "What's going on here?"

  "We're just out going caroling, officer, spreading some Christmas cheer," Joe replied smartly. "I saw what you were doing. That's very dangerous you know." "Uh, yeah," Marie interjected. "We're sorry. We won't do it

  anymore." "Well," the cop said and eyeballed them, "Get home. It's nasty out here tonight. And don't be taking any more rides on the back of cars. It's illegal you know." "Yes, officer. Sorry," she said. The cop crawled back in his car. Apparently concerned with his footing, he didn't look back at the group, as three of them stood watching him while a fourth carefully snuck behind the car. When he pushed the car into drive and began to pull away, the three of them struggled to keep straight faces as Joe clung to the back bumper of the car. Looking over at them and grinning, he slid behind as the cop slowly pulled away. He held fast to the cruiser's bumper for a few blocks before letting go and gliding to a stop as the officer drove away oblivious.

  When he made his way back to the group, they were all laughing at him, and Eddie slapped him on the back in salute. "You're an asshole, man. That was funny as shit."

  Joe's cheeks and nose were pink from the cold, and he blew on his hands in discomfort before shoving them in his pocket and moving next to Marie again. "Want us to walk you girls home?" he offered. Marie nodded with a shy smile. With Tracey and Eddie up ahead, he nudged her shoulder as they walked. "I think they kinda like each other," he pointed at the couple in front of them.

  "Yeah, things work out like that sometimes," she said, and then ran a few steps and fell into a fast slide. Unable to balance, she tumbled to the ground, falling into a small pile of snow. He stood over her, laughing.

  "Shut up. Help me up," she said, raising a hand for him to pull her up. As he clutched her hand, she yanked him down, and with the ice beneath him, he couldn't stop his fall. He tumbled down on top of her, and she laughed at him. "You think that's funny, huh?" he asked her. "Yeah, I do." She looked up at him, and his grin faded along with hers. Snow crunched softly beneath them, and she was intensely aware of the weight of his body upon hers. A few flurries fell from the clouded sky, one dropping onto his eyelashes and settling for a moment before melting. The pink of his cheeks deepened, turning to a ruddy flush of anticipation. Still not moving, they gazed at each other, a momentary truce in the competitiveness. No cars hummed by, no other people were out making noise. In the giant, populated city, at that moment, it felt as though not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

  He saw the mist of her breath as she exhaled and felt her chest beneath his rise as she drew it back in. She could faintly smell the leather of his jacket, mixing with the still present hint of beer upon his mouth. Closing his eyes, Joe kissed her. Soft and yielding, Marie parted her lips. The warmth of his tongue played upon her lower lip, then prodded her open even more. She could taste beer, but under that, a slight saltiness. His teeth razed her upper lip as he let out a shuddering breath when her hands wound up to his face and she drew her fingers down behind the back of his ears. He forgot the chill outside as he sucked her lower lip, her cheeks warm against his own. She grasped at the short hair on the back of his head, and he responded by pressing more deeply, moving his tongue against hers.

  Under him, Marie squirmed, so he lifted up, trying to make her more comfortable. Just as he was going back in for another kiss, unexpectedly, she grabbed hold of his crotch, returning the favor from last night. Shocked, eyes widening, Joe lurched and stared at her. "You don't like that?" Marie asked, leaning up and kissing his neck. He turned his head, exposing more skin for her to work on. She nibbled, her hand went to work, stroking against his leg, then higher, against his fly, as he rapidly hardened. "Yeah," Joe sighed. Nodding, "I like that." Marie kissed him on the mouth as she worked her hand under his

  pants, taking hold of him through his underwear. Hot and cold tumbled and mixed through them, shivering them inside and out. Marie was pressed into the snowbank, but the heat of Joe on top of her kept her tingling. And the cold draft on Joe's back wasn't able to break the spell of Marie under him, her warm palm circling the heat of his erection. The winter prickle of icy air, being breathed into their hot lungs, mixed with the sultry exhales from each other's mouths.

  Marie moved again, this time not squirming, but lifting her knees, cradling him against the softness of her body as she tongued his mouth and gently stroked his penis. Joe started moving, undulating his hips, pumping himself into her hand.

  He was jolted out of the delight by shockingly cold wetness upon his neck, and he jerked away from her and grabbed at his own neck.

  She was laughing at him again, having shoved a handful of snow down his collar. She wondered if she would see the mercurial flash in his eyes. But she didn't. She released his dick, pulled her hand out of his pants, and struggled out from under him as he pulled a handful of snow out of his collar and tossed it at her. She pushed him aside and struggled to her feet, brushing snow off herself. He stood up and blew on his hands. They were really pink, having been buried in the snow as he was lying on top of her. Feeling sympat
hetic now, she gently wrapped her hands around his and drew them to her mouth, breathing heavily on them and rubbing them softly. "You okay?" she asked. "Yeah, I'm just cold," he said with a shiver. "And hot," he added

  with a wry grin. "Come on. It's not much further." When they got to the front door of her apartment building, Eddie and Tracey were standing in the lobby, waiting for them. She turned to face him and sunk her hands into the pockets of his leather coat. He responded by lowering his head to kiss her again. It was brief and simple this time, and then he drew back and looked at her. "Gonna invite me in? Show me your Christmas tree?" he asked. Again, he allowed her entrance into his thoughts by permitting her to search his eyes.

  He didn't blink or shift his gaze. Good Lord, she thought, he is beautiful. She shivered as she inspected his face. She took a deep breath, drinking in the warm scent of his leather jacket. She intended to send him home right then, but he leaned closer and kissed her again. He pressed against her, let her feel his erection against her abdomen, showing how the cold jolt to his neck did nothing to stop the heat of his passion.

  When he pulled back, she glanced behind her, she saw Eddie inside with his arm against a wall, leaning into Tracey as she smiled coyly and looked down. She had a better idea than just sending him home. "Well," she told him, "I would invite you in, but our tree isn't

  decorated yet." He just shrugged, said, "Maybe I could help you, uh, get your lights

  on. Or something." Marie looked him directly in the eye. She said, "Well...I'd also hate

  to see Eddie lose a hundred bucks." "What?" Joe asked, completely stunned. "Tracey," Marie explained. "She's a teacher. She teaches Spanish to

  high school kids, Joe. She heard you, last night." He fumbled, speechless for a moment before babbling out excuses. "Oh, baby," he said. "I'm sorry, Marie. That was just stupidness. It's...that's not what this is about. Yo, fuck that bet, man," he said, circling his arms around her waist. She backed away. "How do I really know that?" "C'mere," he said, pulling her tight again. "Can't you feel that? Does

  that feel like I care about the money?" "Mmm," she nodded, eyeing him warily. Looking inside, she saw

  Eddie and Tracey climb into the elevator to go upstairs. Figures, she thought. If only she didn't want him so bad. She invited him up. In the apartment, Tracey was pulling a beer from the 'fridge for Eddie. Joe noticed their stark tree in the corner of the living room, boxes of lights and ornaments stacked neatly beside it. Bypassing them, Marie led Joe into her bedroom. The smartass in him couldn't resist looking back and smirking to Eddie on his way in. Inside, he closed the door and shrugged out of his coat, letting it fall to the floor, taking a seat on her bed. When he started to pull his shirt over his head, Marie stopped him.

  "No, Joe," she said. "Slow down." Taking a seat on his lap, she gave him a deep kiss. Pulling back, she asked, "Do you want me?" "Are you kidding?" "I mean it," she said. "Are you just horny? Or do you want me?" "Marie," he sighed, running his hands along her back, trying to

  soothe her. "I want you." "I'm not a wager, Joe." "I know," he said, cockiness draining. Marie stared at him, and he didn't flinch. In the dim lights, his eyes

  seemed bottomless. She believed him. Almost. "You aren't a bet," Joe said again. Earnest, throbbing for her. "I don't care about that bet. I'll call it off and pay him right now."

  "No, no," Marie shook her head. "A bet's a bet. If you fuck me before Christmas, you win. Well, you aren't going to win," she informed him, and stood up. Quickly, before he could answer, she pulled her sweater over her head and stood in front of him, letting him look at her. She kicked off her shoes and peeled off her socks, then unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. Turning her back to him, she slipped them down over her hips, bending and giving him a full view of her bottom.

  She almost couldn't believe she was doing it. Well, not undressing in front of him. But what she was going to do. She wasn't shy, but she wasn't a tease either. Usually. But she still didn't know if he was playing her. If he was, he'd learn a lesson. And if he wasn't, this would definitely get him coming back for more.

  Her hair fell down her back in thick red curls, but when she leaned over, Joe was enraptured by her ass. It was every bit as luscious as he'd imagined, it looked even plumper and smoother than he thought from feeling it through her jeans the other night. When she kicked her jeans aside, she came back over and straddled his lap, settling herself on his knees. Brushing her cheek against his, she whispered to him. "Take off my bra, Joe," she instructed.

  Joe gulped. She said he wasn't going to win the bet, but if this was what she called losing, he'd be happy to be the world's biggest loser. He reached behind her but didn't find a clasp. She was watching him, and he brought his hands up to her front, dragging them across her stomach before unhooking it at the base of her cleavage. "Take it off," she told him. Breath coming shallow, he slid his hands under the cups, cradling her tits in the palms of his hands. Pulse racing, her nipples hardening under his touch, he leaned in to kiss her neck.

  Marie evaded his kiss and rose up off his lap. Standing in front of him, she removed the bra the rest of the way and let it fall to the floor, allowing him to take a long look at her body. She could tell he liked what he saw, and that gave her the courage to go on. His face was flushed, his hands on her had been strong but gentle. She bit her lip to keep her resolve. She crawled onto the bed next to him, then further up, settling her back against a stack of pillows, laying out beside him. "Joe," she said. "Get up. Take your clothes off." She watched as he hurriedly stripped. His skin was smooth and golden, his upper arms and chest just as defined and cut as his sinewy forearms led her to believe. His stomach was tight and flat, his erection standing at attention. When he was finished, he moved to climb on the bed on top of her. "No," she said. "Stay there." Looking at him, she wanted him to touch her. She wanted his hands all over her, and his body pressed close to hers. She wanted to kiss him, she wanted to lick him, she wanted to run her hands along his muscles and feel them, all of them.

  Looking at him, letting her eyes roam where her hands wanted to go, she reached up and touched herself, imagining it was his hands running all over her body. First her neck, then her stomach, then she smoothed her hands across her breasts, stopping to massage her nipples, pretending it was his mouth on them. Looking to his face, she saw his eyes glued on her every movement, the rhythm of his breathing increasing, the hot flush coming back to his face.

  Taking a deep breath, scared and shy, but knowing it would really set him off, she closed her eyes and dipped a hand under her panties. She parted herself with a few fingers and found the hot nub where her tension was centered. Already slick, she expertly worked her clit, opening her eyes to check his reaction.

  When she looked up at him, he took hold of himself and made a move toward her again. Breathy, low, she just said, "No. Stay there." He obeyed. Stunned, riveted by her gorgeous body, he stared at the

  deliberate movements of her hand beneath her underwear. She turned and buried her face in the pillow, hiding her shame. She meant to turn him on, figured she'd put on a show. But in the process, watching him undress, seeing his body and how it responded, she got genuinely excited. Now, her clit pulsing, she didn't know if she could follow through if it was real, but she was throbbing beneath her hand and didn't know if she could stop either.

  Joe was throbbing, aching to climb between her legs. But he didn't dare cross her for fear she'd stop. So he touched himself. Rubbing, it was dry. So he licked his palm and took hold of himself again, slowly pulling down while he imagined entering her.

  Marie watched out of the corner of her eye, saw the speed of his hand increase upon himself. "If you don't stop," she warned him, "I will." She pulled her hand away from her slit and hooked her thumbs around the edges of her panties, pulled them down over her hips, rising to slide them over her butt, then sat up to kick them down her legs.

  She tossed them aside and leaned back, one hand went to her breast, massaging, the other back be
tween her legs. Joe kept stoking himself. "I mean it," she warned. "Stop it." Raspy voiced, "Marie," he pleaded. "You can hold yourself," she cut him off. "But nothing else. If you try to touch me, this is over. If you try to get yourself off, this is over. Just watch."

  As she started working her hand again, he moved, closer to the bed. She glared at him and reluctantly stopped. He halted, gripping himself tightly, his cock pulsing in agony.

  Marie held his gaze and went to work again. She meant to prolong it, to tease him with slow touches, to put on a show. But she couldn't fake it, because it was real. Her crotch was aching for release, and watching his frustration only made hers increase. She went to work, gliding her fingers over her hot spot, each stroke demanding another. Pressing harder, rubbing more quickly, she began to undulate her hips, grinding against her own movements.

  Joe was ready burst, strung tight as a piano wire. Clutching himself, the veins in his neck standing out, muscles in his arm and neck cording with tension. Marie looked at his erection, his fist curled around the shaft. She gave up massaging her breasts and used that hand on herself too. Reaching down, sliding a few fingers inside herself, she bucked as she closed her eyes and imagined it was Joe entering her.

  She was going at herself with both hands, working furiously. Her hips grinding, a few fingers inside, her other hand slick and sliding, pleasing herself. Joe knew she was close to getting herself off. It was the hottest thing he'd ever seen. He couldn't take it, he needed relief. He couldn't keep watching, he'd explode, but he couldn't tear himself away. Her eyes closed, her body flushed, he dared to pump himself. Lightly at first, but the more Marie bucked and bit her lip, the faster her hands worked, the more he picked up the pace.

  Edgy, Marie opened her eyes. Joe was watching, jerking himself with growing fervor. She locked eyes with him, drove her fingers deeper, pressed and rubbed, and let out a long, low moan as she started to come. It was a hard one, rushing through her veins, shaking her body, her one hand still working away, dragging it out. Even with him watching, she didn't stop. She coaxed the aftershocks, shivering, writhing with them.