Romeo’s footfalls were clear when he rushed after Brando to settle the score.
Rocco and I looked at each other, and we exploded again. I helped him load up more snowballs for our next round of attack. We snuck out of the woods, and he unloaded.
It was mayhem in the small Swiss town.
Balls of ice were whizzing through the air, like comets across the dark sky, and people were laughing so loud, there was no doubt it was making it to heaven.
After all the women were cold enough to stop, our breaths kept coming out in pants as our grins lingered, and every so often, someone would make the noise,Ahhch!, and we’d start laughing again.
As a group, we all turned around and headed back toward the town of Zermatt—we were going to a warm bar where there was karaoke and more fun to be had.
On the walk there, we all sang, “You Make Me Feel So Young,” and somewhere in the distance, I heard Maggie Beautiful’s voice singing along.
I lost track of time.
All I knew was, it was late when we left Zermatt, the warmth of the bar and all the memories we created almost as strong as the heat my husband radiated. He’d picked me up less than halfway home and carried me.
My face was turned up to the sky, gazing at the cold stars that seemed to burn not so far away. It was amazing how three-dimensional they looked, as if I could reach out and touch them. I lifted my left hand. and my engagement ring and band shimmered like stars. The band on my right hand—rows of emeralds, diamonds, and rubies—glistened against the cold and my skin.
Snow was thicker in the air, maybe because the temperature had dropped even lower. The deeper we got into night, the colder it got. In my husband’s arms, though, I felt warm and safe. I was at home. I lifted my eyes to the sky again, and with a grin on my face, opened my mouth, letting some of the flakes touch my tongue.
My husband stopped walking, and when I found his eyes, they had turned so passionate, they were already almost closed, his heart pounding, his breath coming faster—the proof was in how much smoke left his mouth.
In a one-arm maneuver, he had me facing him, my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist, and his tongue invaded my mouth.
“Not even the snow,” he growled, “will touch what is mine.”
I moaned deep and low at the taste of him—spicy bourbon from the bar. He drank it straight out of the bottle, and if we got up to move, he either took it with him or handed it to one of his brothers to watch. He said he’d never leave his drink unattended again.
We started moving again, and the only reason the motion even registered was because anticipation was counting our steps to home.
I needed him—needed him in between my legs all night long. Before the fire…on the fur rug, against the wooden walls, in the shower… Until the sun came up, and I was so spent, I couldn’t even recite my own name.
Only a few more steps, but it felt like I was being strangled by the layers between us. I was pulling against his coat as our tongues continued to meet, to swirl, to go as deep as possible. His hands were curled into my clothes, and I knew one step inside, and he was going to rip them off.
“Yessss,” I breathed.
He drank in my breath like he drank the spiced bourbon.
He stopped walking, and I made a frustrated noise in my throat.
“Still yourself,” he whispered, but it was no doubt a command—someone was coming.
I blinked into the darkness, trying to see what, or who, my husband had sensed. He wasn’t on guard, though, so I knew whatever or whoever it was wasn’t a threat, but I was becoming wanton, and my husband would’ve killed whoever it was if the man would’ve seen or heard me in a way he felt was improper.
I fixed my hat, sticking it on straight, and he allowed me to slide down his body. So close to finally climbing him… the pulse between my legs throbbed so hard, I felt hot. I whined a little.
A familiar voice that seemed to come out of nowhere had me blinking, thinking I was hearing things.
“I see you’re still a stage-five clinger on that man.”
“Thandie,” I breathed out.
“I know you’re not drunk, I heard the news, so…”
I hit her so hard when I wrapped my arms around her, she made an “ung!” noise, and then we both stepped back, holding onto each other.
“It’s so good to see you!” I smiled.
