“There is no other competition. So I think you’re a shoe in.” She planted one last peck to my lips.
Cupping the side of her face, I caressed her soft cheek with my thumb. I pretended to give an acceptance speech. “First, I’dlike to thank Belen Goodwin for believing in me and letting me love her …”
Belen turned her head, her eyes dropping to the floor of the carriage.
Undeterred, I continued. “I’ve never met a woman quite like you. You have an undeniable energy that surrounds you. You are a source of light that makes every moment brighter and far more intense. And you are the embodiment of goodness. Which probably explains your last name. These past few weeks have been the most joy filled and exciting weeks of my life because during that time I was falling in love with you.”
“Kris—”
“I know what you’re going to say. It’s too soon. How could I possibly know I’m in love with you? But I can assure you I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Most people want to act nonchalant when it comes to their feelings, but I am the total opposite. Consider me King Chalant because I feel everything. And I’m obsessed with you.” Clearing my throat I clarified, “When I say obsessed, I mean in the I would drink your bath water type of way, not a boiling bunny’s type of way.”
“I wasn’t going to say any of that.”
“You weren’t?”
“No. I was going to say I know it’s real because I feel it too. And yes, normally I don’t toss around the word love this early on, but with you I’m willing to let go of the negative speak and just accept that love doesn’t have an appropriate waiting period. I love you Kristoff Kringle.” Belen released a stuttered breath. “And every day with you makes the multitude of reasons why clearer.”
Pulling her closer, I latched on to her lips. My heart rate spiked and the goose pimples pebbling the back of my neck were not from the cold gust of wind or steadily increasing snowfall. This was the Belen effect. She wreaked havoc on mynervous system with just one touch. Part of me wanted to tell the coachman to turn the buggy around. Pulling back, all we could do was smile. Belen leaned her head on my shoulder, and we enjoyed the suburban neighborhood all decked out for the holidays.
Back at Belen’s apartment, I made myself as comfortable as possible in her queen-sized bed, which was at least a foot too short for my frame. While Belen performed her ten-step nighttime skin routine, I practiced my “I’m going back to Cali” speech. It was less of a speech and more bullet points of the topics I wanted to cover. Only a few months. We could video chat every day. I’d be home each Friday. We could make this work. Please don’t leave me. I love you.
“Hey baby,” I called.
“Yeah,” Belen’s voice rang out from behind the bathroom door.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Hmm.”
The sound of water kicked on so I had to shout. “I planned to tell you sooner, but I wasn’t certain where we were headed. At the start of the year, I have to go to California on a business trip.”
Aside from the running water, there was silence on the other side of the door.
“Los Angeles to be more precise.”
The bathroom door opened, and Belen appeared in the doorway in just her lace bra and panties. “I thought I’d return the surprise.”
“Whoa.” Belen was like a perpetual Christmas gift I couldn’t wait to unwrap.
Climbing onto the bed, she straddled me and planted kisses along my chest.
“Belen, did you hear what I said?”
“All I want to hear is you telling me to fuck you or suck you.”
This woman was filthy, and I was so lucky to call her all mine.
I reached for her shoulders. “Baby, can we just talk for a minute?”
She lifted her head, which was now just inches away from my hard dick. “Sure, yeah.” Belen smoothed back the hair that had fallen into her face. “Actually there is something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about as well.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but you go first,” she said while teasing my nipples.
“No, ladies first, I insist.” Anything to delay my news. I hope what she had to share was long and complex and required visual aids.
Belen moved to her designated side of the bed. “These last few weeks have been some of the best weeks of my life. Usually, this time of year is difficult for me, and you’ve helped to make it less so. I’ve been thinking about Christmas in Canada. I’ve played it safe my entire life. But I’m ready to take a chance … with you. So if the invitation is still good for me and Celeste, I wanted to formally accept.”
