Snow Way To Escape

Everybody Loves a Parade - Part 4

Warnings: Mostly Fluff.

Thursday

Reaching to his side of the bed, it’s empty.  I blink awake.  It’s barely sunrise.  I can smell onions cooking.  Kicking my way out of the covers, I pull on my robe.  Our clothes from the Gala are draped over the chair in my room.  Padding out to the kitchen, there stands James.  He’s engrossed watching the onions brown in the pan.  I lean on the counter and watch him.  Those tattoo laced hands that had me screaming in pleasure last night, that make amazing music, are now expertly chopping up celery.  He scoops the celery into the pan.  “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“The smell woke me.”

“Sorry.”

“I love the smell of onions being browned.  That’s a comfort smell for me.”

Stirring the pan, “Me too” he grins.  He moves the pan off the heat, “Do you have spices?”  Pointing to a drawer, “Ah.”  His eyes light up.  Kid in the candy store.  “I figured that I could get the bird in the oven before we leave on a slightly lower temp and it should be ok until we get back.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

He smiles at me, “Coffee?”

Moving into the kitchen, I set about making a pot.  I end up shoving the stuffing into the bird since I have the smaller hands.  Being small does pay off every now and again.  Putting the bird into the oven, we clean up the kitchen.  Fixing our coffee mugs we move to the sofa.  I power up the TV.  All the local channels are showing the parade prep.  The weather forecast is snow flurries and light winds.  I curl up into his side.  James wraps an arm around my shoulders and gently strokes my hair.  When the news cycle repeats, I turn off the TV.  Stretching some, “We should get ready.”

Standing up, he pulls me to my feet, “I want to check on dinner.”  He takes our coffee cups to the sink.  I go to the front door.  There’s a stack of papers there.  I pick them up and close the door.

Dropping the stack on the dining table, I open the top one to page six.  There in glorious color photos is a full spread of the Gala last night.  Of us.  James wraps his arms around me from behind.  He points to one of the photos of me, “Nice ass.” 

I laugh and spin in his arms grabbing his ass, “Yours is pretty good too!”  He snorts a laugh.

“We need to get ready” he says holding me tight.  I hug him back.  He walks me backward into the bedroom as I giggle in his arms.  When we get to the bed, we tumble into it as his misguessed the distance.  We both laugh loudly.

Sitting up, I look at his reclining form.  “What?”

“You amaze me” I almost whisper.

Rising up on his elbows, “How.”

“Watching you this morning.  Your hands.  The tattoos.  Your music.  Cooking.”  I bit my lower lip, “What they do to me.”

He smiled at me.  “I love watching you.  I love watching you while I make love to you.”  He pulled me closer.  “I am so glad that we are sharing this weekend.”  He kisses me deeply.  “Together.”  His blue eyes filled with compassion.  And something more.  I wasn’t sure what I saw there.  He pats my hip, “We need to get dressed.”  He gets up off the bed and pulls me with him. 

I pull out a pair of wool pants, a tank top, a silk liner shirt, a sweater, scarf, gloves and a hat.  Finding a thong, I start getting dressed.  James pulls on a pair of heavy jeans, a tank top, a thin hunting shirt liner, a sweater, scarf, gloves and hat.  We both pull on our fur lined boots.  Grabbing the extra warm things, we make our way to the dining room table.  “Oh wait!” James says.  He goes back into the bedroom and quickly returns, “Here.”  He hands me a couple of hand warmers.  “Hope they are still good.  They were buried in the bottom of the hunting backpack.” 

Smiling, I tuck mine into my pocket.  “Thank you.”

James texts Rudy, and then checks on the turkey in the oven again.  “You sure you’re comfortable leaving your oven – your gas oven - on while we’re gone?”

“Very.”  Taking the newspaper stack to my office, I collect my phone and tuck it into my coat pocket.  “I did it last year.  And the year before that, and the year before that.”  Collecting my scarf, “Besides, too late now.”

“ok.”  He smiles at me.  His phone buzzes.  “That’s us.”  He pats his pockets.  “Let’s go!”  He holds out his hand to me and we walk out into the hallway.  James locks the front door.  A quick elevator ride and we are in the lobby.

“Happy Thanksgiving Carl!”

“And to you two!” Carl says happily as he opens the front door.

We climb into Rudy’s taxi.  “Where to?” he grins.

“As close to Hearld Square as possible, please” I ask.

Putting the car in drive, “It’s early, but I can probably only get four blocks away.”

“That’s fine” James says.

“How was the Gala last night?”

James smiles.  “It was wonderful” I say.  “They always put on a glorious show.”

“It is pretty spectacular!”  Rudy chuckles at his own pun.

James joins in the chuckle, “Good one!”

I kiss his cheek, “My king of dad jokes” I giggle.  James pulls me in closer a huge cheesy grin plastered on his face.

Pulling over, “This is as close as I can get you to the Square today.”  There are roadblocks on almost every street.

“No worries.  Thanks!” James says happily.

Leaning over the back of his seat, “Give me a call when you’re ready to head back.  I’ll collect you at this corner.”  James pays the fare, then climbs out.

“Thank you, Rudy.  And Happy Thanksgiving!”  I say as I climb out after James.

“Enjoy the parade!” Rudy says.  He waits a moment as someone is ready to jump in almost before I’m completely out of the car.

“That happen often?” James gives the other rider a dirty look.

“Almost every time.”  I do up my coat and tug on my cap.  James follows suit and we head toward the Square. 

There’s a check in point for Grandmother’s seats.  A young assistant looks up from her tablet and looks at me.  She looks at James.  Her complexion fades a little.  “I hate to ask, but I am supposed to check IDs.”

“Of course.”  I turn to James.  He looks at me.  “Mine is in your wallet.”

“Oh yeah.”  He pulls it out, shows the young woman my ID then slips it back into his wallet then back into his pocket.  He pulls his coat down over his pockets.

“Thank you.”  She picks up a walk-talkie.  “Someone will be here shortly to show you to your seats.”  She fidgets with her gloves.

“Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving” I say.

She blushes, “And to you too!” 

Hands grab my shoulders, “There you are!”

Turning, “Mrs. Corbett!  Happy Thanksgiving!”

“Thank you!  And to you!”  She pulls me from the check in point.  I grab James’ hand.  “This way!”

She leads us past all the TV cameras and across the street to the stands setup in front of the stores’ grand entrance.  We weren’t quite as far to the end of the bench as I would have liked, but, we weren’t front and center either. 

“So, what did you think of the show last night?” Mrs. Corbett asks James.

“I can see why it’s called Spectacular!” he smiles broadly.  I stifle a snort.  “I really enjoyed it!”

“I am so glad!”  Her radio buzzes.  “I must away!  I will come collect you after to visit the Big Guy.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Corbett!”

“Again, with the Big Guy.”  James cocks his eyes at me.  I just grin at him.

The bench begins to fill up.  As families arrive on our bench, I shift us to our left to allow them to sit in the middle.  James looks at me, questions in his eyes.  I point to all the cameras across the street.  “Technically, this is the worst seat in the house as all the performances will be staged to face the cameras.”  James nods.  “Moving us to the side means minimal camera time for us.”  I reach up and tug his stocking cap down a little more on his head.  He slouches a little giving me a side long glance with a gleam in his eyes.  I snorfel a giggle. 

He snakes an arm around my waist and lifts my chin with his other hand and kisses me.  “Hey you.”

“Hey you.”

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

I reach up and tenderly kiss him.  “Happy Thanksgiving.”

He just holds me close to him, tucking my head under his chin.

The Broadway theatre presentations start.  I lean into him, “Here we go!”

He’s trying to watch everything at once, “This is kinda exciting!”  After the first performance, James pulls out his phone and discreetly snaps a selfie of us.  After some texting, he pockets his phone.  I look at him.  “The kids.”  I smile and nod.  “And Lars.”  I start giggling.  “Rob.  Kirk.”

“What?  Not your manager?”

His eyes light up, “Oh yeah!”  He pulls his phone out again and another text is sent.  He shows me the response from Kirk.  A middle finger.  “Oops.  He’s in Hawaii.”  I grimace.  He checks once more.  His kids each sent him selfies back.  I watch him as he reads their messages.  He tucks his phone into his inside jacket pocket and takes my hand.

I squeeze it.  “I made a promise to you.”  He kisses the back of my gloved hand.  I lean into his ear, “I will never get between you and your kids.”  His eyes glow as he kisses my hand again.

The sirens of the NYC motorcycle cops echo in the concrete canyon.  “This is the start!”  I spend the next few hours watching him watch the parade.  He tries to watch everything at the same time.  Somewhere in the middle I open the hand warmers slipping one into each glove.  The flurries start just as the end approaches, I get a little excited.  My favorite float.  Santa.  I get giggly and little teary eyed. 

James pulled me into a full on hug.  “You ok?”

Wiping away the tears, “This was our favorite.”

“You and your Grandmother?”  I could only nod.  He just holds me.

As the people began to leave the stands, I tug James hand to keep our seats.  A short time later, Mrs. Corbett shows up.  “Well?  What did you think?” she asked James.

“Wow.”  His face full of joy, “This is an experience.  I am so glad that we came.”  His arm still around my waist.

“Well, someone is waiting to meet you two!”  She smiles at me conspiratorially.  “Let’s go!”  She leads us from the stands to a side door, down a hallway and into what looks like a conference room.  “Wait here just a moment.”  She leaves us there. 

I sit on the table and pull off my cap and gloves tucking them into my coat pockets.  “Did you really enjoy it?”

He grabs my face, “Yes!”  He kisses me.

“I’m glad.”

James pulls off his gloves and loosens his coat and scarf.  Standing between my knees, he pulls me into his chest.  I wrap my arms around him.  No words are needed.  Just being together is enough.

I hear the door open and there’s a soft tap.  James turns and Mrs. Corbett is standing there.  “Are you ready?”

“Yes” I respond sliding off the table and taking James’ hand.  We leave the conference room and are led into a winter wonderland.  There are Christmas trees everywhere covered in all kinds of ornaments – each with a price tag.  We walk slowly through them, me leading James.  His blue eyes seem to sparkle with wonder.  There is no one else in the space.  We move past the last trees and there, on a huge chair that’s almost throne like, sits Santa. 

I keep walking forward.  James looks at me, “The Big Guy, huh?”

“uh huh!” I almost skip the last bit.

“There you are!  I haven’t seen you in a very long time Kira!”

“Hi Santa!”

“And you must be James.”

Almost blushing, James nods.  He gives me a look.  I crinkle my nose at him.

“I understand that this is your first time seeing the Parade in person, James.  Tell me.  What did you think?”  Santa leans forward, hands on his knees.

“Honestly, it was amazing.”  James grins.  “The balloons don’t look that big on the TV.”

“Yes, they would look smaller on TV” Santa chuckles.  “Even on a big screen” he chuckles again.  “I know what this one wants for Christmas” Santa nods towards me, “But what would you like?”

James cocks a look at me, “What do you want?”

I raise my eyebrows at Santa.  “It’s the same request every year.  Snow.  From about 9pm Christmas Eve to about 10am on Christmas Day” Santa chuckles out.  Looking at me, “You know that all I can do is forward your request on to Mother Nature.”

“I do Santa.  And I appreciate that.”

Giving a big belly laugh, “Well, you are a very good girl!”

James kisses my temple, “Yes she is.”

“So, what can I bring you, James.”

He thinks a moment nodding.  “Happiness.  For my kids.”

“I will see what I can do for your three children.” 

I watch as James’ eyebrows almost meet his hairline.  Santa just belly laughs. 

“Thank you, Santa.”

“You are most welcome Kira” Santa says happily.

I look up at James, “You want a photo with the Big Guy?”

James laughs, “Sure!”

Santa laughs again.  Mrs. Corbett appears and takes our phones.  James sits beside Santa and I perch on their knees.  Several snaps are taken on each phone.  I almost trip getting up, but James grabs me.

“Good catch there James!” Santa laughs softly.

“Yes, she is.”  James smiles broadly at Santa.  “Merry Christmas, Big Guy.”

Santa lets out a deep genuine belly laugh, “Ho ho ho!  Big Guy!  Ho ho ho!!!”

Heading back into the trees, I stop to look at the ornaments.  A crystal snowflake catches my eye.  I feel James take my left hand into his.  I collect the ornament.  He kisses my hand.  I look at him.  Then my hand.  There on my ring finger is an eternity band with the sparkliest diamonds I have ever seen.  James slips his hand around my neck and kisses me deeply.  I am in total shock.

“This is not an engagement ring.”  James’ eyes are serious.  “I told you that I’d never marry again.  But,” he looks at my hand, “this is a promise ring.”  I’m confused.  “A promise that I will spend every day earning your forgiveness.”  He kisses me again.  My heart soaring higher.  My insides fluttering hard.  My brain saying ‘Ok, we good’.  He rests his forehead on mine, “Don’t say it.  I can see it in your eyes.  Let me have this.” 

“Ok” squeaks out of me.  “This is just a start then….” 

Smiling, “That’s what I want to hear,” and he kisses me again.  Deeply.  Someone clears their throat.  We both snicker.  Pulling me into his side, we find our way out of the trees.  He pays for my snowflake.  It gets wrapped up and we head to the exit.  The flurries have become an outright snow fall.  He texts Rudy as we make our way to the pick-up corner, both of us pulling on our gloves and doing up our coats.  We did have to stand a few minutes waiting for Rudy.  He was most apologetic.  We assure him that as long as he was safe, that was all that mattered.  Getting to the building, James pays Rudy and probably tips him well.  Morty opens the door for us and we quickly escape the wind and cold.  Getting to the apartment front door, James opens it and we get hit with the smell of roasting turkey.

“Oh man!  That smells wonderful!”  I groan.

James dumps his outer layers on the table and checks the oven.  He uses the meat thermometer.  He smiles broadly.  “Almost done!”

I pull off my outer layers and set about making the rest of dinner.  The yams get popped into the microwave.  The rolls get set in front of the oven vent.  The green beans are set on the stove.  I pull out the pie and set it on the counter.

We both clear off the dining room table of our outer layers.  I show James the rack for drying gloves and scarves in the hallway.  The coats get hung in the hall closet, I make sure that the heater vent is wide open before closing the door.  We set the table together.  My new ring still catches me off guard. 

James checks the bird again, “It’s done!”  He sets it on the butcher block.

“How long does it need to rest?”

“About 20 minutes.”

“Perfect!”  I pull the yams from the microwave and shift them to the oven.  Reaching into the cabinet, I pull out the mini-marshmallows.  James opens the bag and grabs some.  He tosses a couple at me, but I miss catching both.  So he pops several directly into my mouth.

I had to dig for Grandmother’s carving set.  “I haven’t used it in years.”

James takes it, “Wow.  This is an excellent set.”  He sits down with it and sharpens the blade with the whetstone in the box.  I watch him.  He was very intent on making sure that it was done correctly.  I pull out a platter and he sets about carving up the turkey.  I put the marshmallows on the yams.  I put the rest of dinner on the table, the yams last.  James sets the main course in the middle.  I turned the oven off and put the pie in to warm with the door open.  I finally sit down at the table.

He turns to me, holding his hands out to me.  I put my hands in his.  He wraps his fingers around my hands, his right fingers toying with the ring on my left hand.  “It’s tradition to say what you are thankful for before digging in.”  I just nod.  “I am thankful that you wrote that note and that it snowed that night.”  He kisses both my hands.

“I am thankful that you didn’t just slam the door on me.  That you are truly trying to earn my forgiveness.”  I kiss his hands.  Then I wipe away the tear that falls from his eye.

He leans into me and kisses me.  My stomach rumbles.  I snort into our kiss.  He just out right laughs.  “Light or dark?” he asks merrily.

“Both.”

It wasn’t a huge bird, but it wasn’t tiny either.  We managed to do it justice.  Along with the other dishes on the table.  There are leftovers that still got put away.  The dishwasher gets loaded.  We plop onto the sofa.

“Pie?”

James belches, “Not yet.”

I turn on the TV.  We settle on watching the classic black and white Miracle movie.  We both chuckle at the old balloons after seeing the new ones earlier in the day.  Once it was over, James stands and goes into the kitchen, “Pie?”

“Yes please.”

He brings back two plates with pie slices on them totally covered in whipped cream.

“Did the patisserie chef have the night off?”  I deadpan and blink quickly at him.

James actually snorts.  Hard.  I take the plates from him – setting them on the coffee table - as he was laughing so hard.  When he calms, “I knew I wanted a dessert that night, and that’s all I had!”

“It was perfect under the circumstances!”

He bowls into me laying me out flat on the sofa.  His eyes shining.  “This has been the best Thanksgiving I have ever had.”  Our lips meet.  “Ever.”

My hands caress his face, “Me too.”

He grabs my left hand and kisses both my ring and my finger.  Then my mouth.  He shifts his leg over me and I push back.  “What?”

“I gotta pee!”

We detangle ourselves and I run to the closest bathroom.  After washing up, I return to the sofa.  It’s empty.  The flush of another toilet tells me where he is.  I collect a plate from the coffee table and dig into it as James returns to the sofa.  “It’s nice to have several bathrooms so close together” he says, picking up his plate and joining me on the sofa.  I change the channel to the local news.  The parade – was of course – the lead story.  The follow up:  US at the Gala and parade.  We just look at each other.  It wasn’t a long blip, but enough to totally unnerve me.  I was the unknown woman at his side.  He kinda giggles. 

“What?” I squeak.

“I wonder what they would think if they knew that everything was under your name!”

I had to giggle too.

The news carries on into the weather.  Full on snow fall overnight with clearing late Saturday afternoon for the balance of the week.  We both look out the front windows.  It is snowing pretty good.  But small little flakes.  James leans into my ear, “Looks like you got your wish.”

I turn my head to him, “It’s not Christmas Eve.”

I turn off the TV.  We eat our pie watching the snow fall.  I put our plates on the coffeetable.  James stretches out and puts his head in my lap.  I play with his silvered locks.  I look down as he snores softly.  I drag a blanket over his damned long legs and watch the snow.  The day replays for me.  His cooking in the morning.  His hands.  The parade.  Santa.  Dinner.  My ring.  I take the time to really look at it.  The diamonds are set in the middle of a wide silver band.  Between every pair of diamonds is a gold cross or x.  I tug it off.  Inscribed on the inside of the band: Tiffany’s.  I almost drop it on his face.  Slipping it back on my finger, I look at him.  He’d not begged off dinner to come home to me.  He’d begged off dinner to go shopping.  At Tiffany’s.  For me.  I was in shock.  The private flight from Denver.  Dinner from the Tavern.  A ring from Tiffany’s.  He’s spent a fortune on me.  James grunts some and shifts in his sleep, his face turning into my stomach.  I tenderly caress his cheek.  It’s a little scruffy as he didn’t shave this morning.  I smooth his eyebrows.  He sighs in his sleep, his body relaxing a little more.  I sit there in my tiny NY apartment with the megarocksuperstargod snoring in my lap.  My upper arms still bearing the bruises from our escapades yesterday morning.  The ring from Tiffany’s wrapped around my finger.  The memories of Colorado.  The laughter that has built up after.  “Yes, James” I whisper.  “You are doing a great job working on my forgiveness.”  Again, I smooth his eyebrows with my fingertips.  “And I will continue to work on not taking you for granted.”  I don’t remember my eyes closing.

“Hey sleepy head, c’mon.”  James’s voice a sweet rumble in my ear.  I sniff awake.  It’s late.  It’s still snowing.  James is standing in front of me.  “C’mon, lets get comfy in bed.”

I make it off the sofa.  James’ arm guides me to the bedroom.  I tug off my shirt just inside the door.  James pulls his off.  I sit on the bed and pull off my pants.  James is stretching right in front of me.  I undo his pants and they fall off his hips.  James reaches behind me to flip the covers down, “In we go.”  He guides me back into his body.  I tuck my feet under the covers.  He pulls the covers up over us.  I curl up around his arm which doubles as my pillow.  He wraps his other arm around my ribs.  His nose buries into the back of my neck. 

Moments later, we are both snoring softly.

Hiya! As a big fan of your works, I was wondering, would you ever consider writing something like a prologue to “Snow Way to Escape”? Like how James compared Kira to his exes, the money counting thing, how he failed to notice she moved out of bedroom? I thinks it’d be an interesting story to read, but of course, your blog, your rules. Thanks 😊

Hmmmm!!! I will have to think that one out! Thanks for idea!! This series is going to be a monthly installment. Had to do something while job hunting! I think I can work that into the "year anniversary" chapter.

Hope all is well in your world and that you have a wonderful Holiday Season!

H4H

Da bulge......

Oh honey!! Let me help you with that zipper!!!

Need this! But hold on to your wallets ....

LOAD FANS ALERT 🗣🗣🗣

Rockies Christmas - Day 2

And here's today's!

Warnings: Fluff mostly. Christmas tree cutting, chainsaw and ATV use.

I roll over into his body.  He’s still gently snoring, one arm wrapped around my shoulders.  Laying on my side, I rest my left hand on his chest.  My ring glints in the rising sun.  The memories flood my brain.  Me almost walking out on him a few months ago.  The talks – some heated – during that snowstorm that trapped us in this house.  The trip to California for him to work on some songs.  Me getting super sick while there.  The trip to NYC.  His face seeing the Parade in person.  The trees in Santa’s wonderland.  The look in James’ eyes.  My insides still flutter seeing the ring.  My heart is still rapting around the clouds.  My brain no longer screaming ‘Hold on a second here’. 

We have both made changes.  Both worked on becoming better people.  Better partners.  Better lovers.  Well, the last one has never really been an issue.  I can still feel how he’d stretched me out in the shower yesterday when we got back to the house.  Home Colorado home.  I snicker softly to myself.  He shifts slightly in his sleep, his arm tightening slightly around me, then relaxing again.  His tattoo laced body is still in excellent shape.  His arms tight from years of playing guitar.  His legs strong from his stage stance – legs wide and leaning back.  His chest firm.  His belly might be a little poochy since we have eaten a lot over the past couple of weeks.  I smile gently as I run my hand over it.  A couple more weeks won’t hurt.  His hand gently cups mine.  “mmm” he sighs.

“Morning handsome” I whisper.

He lifts my hand to his lips, “Morning gorgeous” he whispers back.

I lower my head back to his chest.  His hand starts playing with my hair.  He heaves a sigh.  Looking up at him, “You ok?”

He pulls me closer, “Yeah.”  He kisses my hair, “I’m good.”  His blue eyes catch mine.  “I’m better than good.”  He kisses my forehead, “I’m great.”  He pulls me closer.  “How you doing?”

I lean in to his body, “Wonderful.”  He cocks a smile and wiggles his eyebrows.

Both our stomachs rumble.  And we both burst out laughing.  He flips the covers off us, “C’mon.  Let’s get breakfast” as he pushes me from bed.

I flip the covers back over the bed, “You making or me?”

“Will you make your breakfast sandwiches, please?”  His big blue puppy eyes blink at me.

Giggling, “Yes!”  I grab my robe, “You get to make the coffee.”

“Yes!” he grunts as he pulls on a robe.

Twenty minutes later we are sitting on the back patio, the firepit lit, munching happily on our breakfast.  My toes are shoved under his thighs in his chair.  Between bites, his hand wraps around my ankle gently.  We watch the wildlife – namely birds and squirrels – play in the trees.

Sighing, I look over at him, “What’s the plan today?”

James rubs from my ankle up my calf, “Well, I should probably find the decorations in the garage.  There might be some in the big storage area off the media room.”

“Where do you store your tree?”

He just points to the woods.  I give him a look.  “I go cut one” he says plainly.

“Like, with an axe, cut one?” my eyebrows are nearly at my hairline.

He sits up in his chair, “You’ve never cut a Christmas tree?”  I slump and give him a look.  “Oh.  Right.  Big city girl.”  He stands up and pulls me to my feet, “Then to the forest we go!”  He turns off the firepit, grabs our plates and almost shoves me inside.  Our breakfast dishes get dropped into the sink, and he’s pulling me to our bedroom.  “You’ll need something that you won’t care if it gets sticky.”

“Sticky?”

A kiss to my forehead, “Sap.”  He stops a second and really looks at me.  “You’ve never had a real tree.  Have you?” 

I just shake my head.  “They are super expensive in New York City.”

“What kind of tree did you have?”

“I still use my Grandmother’s aluminum one.”

“WHAT??”  Shaking his head, “Nope not here.”  He gets a really big grin, “Oh!  This is going to be fun!”  He smacks my ass, “C’mon!”

Ten minutes later, I’m dressed in a pair of his old sweatpants over my stretchy pants with one of his old t-shirts under a super baggy sweatshirt that both look like he’d worn them to paint something.  My big winter boots complete my outfit.  We put together a cooler - filled with some quickie sandwiches, a few Squeezed to Death cans, some granola bars and a couple of chocolate bars - that he’s strapped onto the back of the huge ATV.  James pulls out a chainsaw in its case, some rope and small toolbox from the back of the garage and adds them beside the cooler.  He was super careful moving the big machine past my Shelby.  “We should drive that once more before winter really sets in” he mentions in passing.  He closes the garage door and plops me onto the rig.  Grabbing a helmet, he straps it on me.  He puts on his own helmet and climbs up onto the ATV.  Sitting between my knees he turns, “Try not to pull me too hard with your arms.”  He pulls my knees into his hips, “Squeeze here.”  I nod.  “If you need my attention, tap my back.”  Again I nod.  “You ok?”

“I’ve never been on one of these.”  I look at him, I can’t hide the concern on my face.

He smiles at me – our helmets won’t let him kiss me – “I got you.”  He cocks a lopsided smile, “You trust me?”

I smile at him, “Completely.”

His smile broadens, he pats my knees, then turns and fires up the machine.  Its huge engine screams to life vibrating me.  He scooches back a little, pulls my one knee a little tighter into his hip and slowly pulls the rig down the driveway.  I gently wrap my arms around his mid-section, trying to keep my knees locked tightly to his hips.  I can tell he’s having a blast.  I’m still terrified that I’m going to fall off the back.  But I begin to realize that he’s not going to let that happen.  He takes us up into the hills.  I think we’re on a trail.  I could be wrong.  My helmet takes a branch or two, so I lean in a little closer to his back.  Eventually, he pulls the rig to a stop and kills the engine.  The quiet is deafening.  He spins to look at me.  His eyes sparkling with joy.  “Well?”  He tugs off his helmet.

I nod, “Ok.  It was fun.”

He helps me pull my helmet off, “Sorry about those branches.  That’s why the helmet tho.”  Then he plants a toe curling, earth stopping, crotch instantly sopping wet kiss, on me.  Pulling away from me, he’s just smiling.

“I have never seen you so happy.”

“I love being out here.”  He helps me off the ATV, “I love getting up here.”

“You love the engine.”

Nodding, “Nnyeah, that too!”  Another big smooch.  He walks me a few feet, “And this.”  He turns me.

I gasp.  I didn’t realize how high we’d gone.  There is the valley floor laid out below us.  The houses tiny.  The highway looking like a thin grey ribbon.  Suddenly, the cry of an eagle.  James spots it and points it out to me.  I can only stand there staring.  I lose the big bird in the sun. 

James’ hand slides down my arm to my hand, “This is as far as I take the 4-wheeler.  Where I want to cut the tree is up this way.”  He undoes the straps and grabs the chainsaw.  “Can you carry these please?”  He hands me the rope and the toolbox.  I collect them from him.  As we walk away from the ATV, James pulls the key.  “Don’t want those pesky peeping tom squirrels stealing it!”

I laugh at him and follow his lead.  I have no idea how far we walk.  He leads the way into a grove of evergreens.  He sets the chainsaw down.  We were both panting.  He looks at me, “You ok?”

“A little light headed, but ok.”

“Yeah, I forgot about the altitude.”  He sits on a fallen tree and pats it.  “Come sit for a minute.”  I sink onto the trunk.  James is looking at the trees.  “Now.  To find one that’s fairly straight.  Branches evenly spaced.”

“How do you know how tall?”

“Height isn’t the issue.  I can always cut some from the bottom at home.”  He looks at me, “Those lower branches can be used to decorate the house.”  He holds up a finger, “But it can’t be too tall, then it will be a pain to get down the hill.”

I cock a look at him, “Down the hill?”

He just laughs, pats my thigh, and standing, “C’mon.  I want to get home before dark.”

I stand, collecting the rope and toolbox then follow him into the trees.  After a few hundred feet, we come into a bigger clearing.  Well, a clearer space.  With the stumps in the area, it is obviously where he’s cut trees in previous years.  He smiles at the look on my face, “Yeah, me and the kids have thinned trees here for a long time.”  He sets the chainsaw down on a large stump.  “Some of these were cleared before I found this spot.”  I perch on the stump.  James looks around at the trees.  “Here.”  He holds his hand out to me and leads me to a good-sized tree.  “What do you think of this one?”  We both walk around it. 

“Where will this go?”

“I usually put it in the corner windows by the kitchen.”

Shaking a couple of boughs, “It looks good to me.”

“I think we have a tree!”  He goes to the uphill side of it, “Watch it and see if anything flies or scampers out of it.”  He shifts a couple of boughs and literally gives the trunk a couple of solid kicks.  “Anything?”

“I didn’t see anything.”

“Good.  We’re not taking somebodies home.”  He almost skips to get the chainsaw.  Carrying it back with the rope and toolbox, he sets up a work area a distance from the tree. “Don’t want it coming down on the case.”  He pulls out a pair of blue plastic gloves for me and puts on his big leather work gloves.  Pulling out the chainsaw, I take a step back.  The chain looks absolutely wicked.  Before he starts it, “I want you to stay where I can see you.  Once this starts, I won’t be able to hear you.  And this can take off a limb in a heartbeat.”  I can tell he’s serious.  I nod.  “I’m going to try to lay it down that way” he motions with his arm “so stay over this way.  But be ready to jump if the tree decides to fall the wrong way.”  Again, I nod.  He leans into me with a quick kiss.  Then setting the chainsaw on the ground, he yanks on the starter rope, and it buzzes to life.  It’s ear splitting in what had been a quiet forest.  James shoves his way into the boughs on the downhill side.  The pitch in the chainsaw noise drops as it starts to cut.  I can see the sawdust flying out of the branches.  The tree is vibrating violently.  He shifts to the uphill side of the trunk.  Then it starts to lay down, almost gently.  James steps out of the boughs and guides the tree all the way to the ground.  He lets the chainsaw sputter off.  “Ta dah!” he grins.  “One Christmas tree!”  He moves to the work area and puts the chainsaw down.  “Now,” he pulls me to him, “to get it home.”  He gives me a quick kiss.

It took us some time to lash the tree up so that the branches were all pointed to the top of the tree.  The smell of fresh pine fills my nose.  James makes a couple of loops around the lower branches to make pulling the tree a little easier.  I carry the chainsaw case and toolbox.  Watching him makes me smile. “What?” he chuffs.

“You look like a woodsman.”

“Why thank you!”

I just smile at him. 

We pass the big stump where we’d taken a break.  There were a couple of times when the rope around our tree gets snarled up in bushes that I work free.  Finally, the ATV comes into view.  James drops the tree next to the rig, panting.  I’m not far behind, breathing just as hard.  “That’s a work out.”

His hands on his knees, “No shit.” 

My little plastic gloves are all sticky with pine sap, so I tug them off and stuff them into the sweatshirt pocket.  I pull open the cooler and hand him a Squeezed to Death can.  He chugs a good portion of it.  He hands me the can and I finish it.  Putting the empty can back into the cooler, “How does the tree go on the ATV?” as I look between the two.

James smiles, “It kinda gets drug behind it.”  He goes to a nearby fallen log and reaches under it.  He pulls out two long poles.  “I keep these here” he grins.  They have been drilled with a huge bolt through one end.  This bolt James attaches to the cargo basket.  About halfway down the poles is another shorter one that James positions across them.  They now look like a huge capital A bolted to the cargo rack.  Grabbing the tree, James positions it on that cross bar between the two long ones, top of the tree between his feet.  Seeing what he’s going to do, I go hold the tree while he finishes tying it in place.  He drops an arm around my shoulders, “You might have to snug up close to me.”

Wrapping an arm around his waist, “That’s not a problem!”  I brush the pine needles and sawdust from his hair.

He kisses my hair, “Sandwich time.  I’m starving.”

Sitting on the ground, we eat the sandwiches, granola bars with the chocolate bars after.  The last cans of Squeezed to Death are finished and tossed back into the cooler with the other wrappings.  James straps the chainsaw and the cooler back in place.  “Ready?”

Standing up and brushing off my butt, “Yup.”  He helps me onto the ATV seat and makes sure that my helmet is secure. 

“I might have to stand up on the trip back.  Put your hands here” he takes my hand and puts them on the cargo post, “and lean back.”

“ok.”

He gives me a kiss, puts his own helmet on, straddling the machine he powers it on.  He nods at me, I grab the cargo post.  He slowly starts moving the machine and watching the towing poles.  Since he’s not sitting, I have to hold on tightly to the cargo rack posts.  The trip back was much slower than the trip up.  We pull into the driveway just as the sun is setting.  Powering off the big machine, James sits between my knees and pulls off his helmet.  I pull mine off.  I can tell he’s exhausted.  He gets off the ATV, helps me off and opens the garage door.  I pull off the cooler, toolbox and chainsaw case.  As I walk toward the garage, he stops me and kisses me.  Although he’s exhausted, I can tell he’s happy.  I set the items on his workbench in the garage.  He digs out a huge tree stand from the garage shelves.  I help him get the stand onto the trunk.  He stands the tree up in the middle of the driveway and pulls the ropes off.  The branches spring open.  James grabs the garden hose and sprays down the tree thoroughly.  Tons of dust and dirt fly out of the branches.  He puts the hose back and stands behind me, his hands on my waist.  “It’s gonna be a pretty tree.”  He pulls me towards the garage door.

“You’re just going to leave it there?”

He huffs a gentle laugh, “Well, yeah, city girl.  Right now, it’s dripping wet.  It’ll get sprayed down again tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll bring it in.”

“Why spray it down?”

He runs his fingers over my neck lightly “To get the creepy crawlers out of it!”

I squeak at his fingers.  “Spray it all you want!”  I bat his fingers from my neck, “You know I hate spiders!”

“And that’s such a disappointment for Kirk” he sighs dramatically.

“I’m not interested in Kirk” as I grab his ass.

He grabs my waist, “Good!” pulling me into a deep kiss.

I look into his eyes as we part the kiss.  They are almost glowing. 

He looks at the ATV, “I should put that in the garage.”

“C’mon.  I’ll help.”

He undoes the towing poles and I lay them down between his truck and my Shelby.  He pushes the ATV in the garage far enough so that the door will close. 

Once inside, I take his hand and lead him upstairs to our bathroom.  I start the hot water filling the tub while he uses the toilet.  He comes out carrying his pants.  “That’s a look” I sigh.  He just smiles.  I help pull off the rest of his clothes.  “In” I point at the tub.  He slowly sinks into the hot water.  Taking off my clothes, I lob all our sticky dirties towards the laundry basket in the corner.  I grab a couple of towels and drop them on the floor at the end of the free-standing tub.  Kneeling on them, I dig my fingers into his shoulders and neck.  He groans sharply.  I take the warm water and let it flow from my hands over his shoulders.  I continue to give him a rub down until he’s not groaning as badly.  He grabs my left hand and pulls me to the side of the tub and pulling a little harder on my wrist, I step into the tub sinking down between his legs.  He pulls my back into his chest wrapping both arms around me, his hands cupping my breasts.

“That was fun today” he breaths into my hair.

“I did enjoy that.”  I lift his right hand and kiss his thumb joint where it joins his hand, sucking softly on the tender skin tattooed with his barbed M there.  He just moans softly.  I pull his right hand to my chest.  My left hand gently caresses his neck and shoulder.  His breathing evens out.  I just smile and let him snooze a bit.  The water gets a bit chilly, “Hey, c’mon” I say gently.  He sniffs deeply, stirring awake.  Exiting the tub, I grab a towel and quickly dry off.  He stands up and steps out of the tub.  I take the other towel and dry his back, then he takes the towel and dries the rest of himself off while I drain the tub.  I take his hand and lead him out of the bathroom, tossing both towels on the counter and flipping off the light.  I flip back the covers on the bed and gently push him in, climbing in next to him.  He pulls me to his side.  I flip the covers up over us.  He’s asleep before I can get the lights turned off.  I curl up next to him, my head on his chest. 

I fall asleep listing to his steady heartbeat.

That tongue.......

James and his spirit animal??

Weird Observation

I'm supposed to be working (Yay for the hybrid work!) and listening to this podcast again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6QPTawR14&t=145s

But I am now distracted because I have noticed that I can watch his hands in the reflection of his sunglasses hanging from his t-shirt.....

He's a "hand talker".

I had to chuckle!! This came up in my FB feed!!