by DOMINO
I was lying on the bed, watching the food network when he came out. He rubbed his wet head with the towel and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"What did you tell Santa you wanted for Christmas?" He asked as he ran the towel over his damp chest.
"I asked for a home and family—" I replied, remembering the spectacle I made of myself. "I asked him to get me out of the system"
He looked back at me before he walked back into the bathroom. "What did he say?"
"He would love to but—but he couldn't" I answered.
He walked back in with his basketball shorts on and lay down on the bed. "I'm sure, if he could, he would" He said and closed his eyes.
"Right" I muttered. I turned the channel to the local news, and before I knew it, I was snoring right beside him.
NINETEEN
"Maxx, wake up, its seven thirty— " Rio nudged me awake.
I looked up to see him in a black sweater and jeans. "How many outfits do you have in that backpack?" I asked after I looked him over. He was excruciatingly handsome.
"I have three pairs of jeans and this is my good pair, don't wanna go to that dinner looking all shabby, right?"
I nodded and slid out of bed. "Give me a minute to shower—"
"A minute Maxx, not an hour" He retorted when I grabbed my backpack and walked into the bathroom.
I dug into my bag and pulled out a soft pink sweater, the only one I had that was decent, and a clean pair of dark jeans. I hung them up on the towel rack so the steam would take out some of the wrinkles while I was in the shower. I shoved my long locks in a shower cap. I didn't own a curling iron and relied on braiding my log hair to give it some gusto. I got dressed in the bathroom and checked myself in the mirror before I walked out, hoping he looked at me the way he did Katrina.
"Ready" I said casually and threw my backpack into the closet.
"Wow, didn't know there was a woman under all those clothes" He teased. "I really like—" He paused and shook his head before he stood up to put on his coat.
Say it! "Really like what?" I asked, hoping it was a compliment.
"Nothing, let's go"
"Say it, I look a mess, don’t I?" I asked, knowing I was fishing for a compliment.
"No, not at all" He smiled. "You look good, really pretty. Pink looks good on you"
I blushed and bit my lip. I put on my coat I tried not to smile. "Thanks, you're not so bad yourself" I teased and walked out the door.
Once we got to the church there were other families down on their luck in the dining hall. Rio and I filled our plates high, had a seat in the corner, and ate until we were full.
"Something to be grateful for, right?" He rubbed his stomach before he looked at his watch. "It's 9:15 p.m., let's go"
I put my cup of apple juice down and looked around. "Go where?" I asked innocently.
"You know where, don't play stupid" He said before he took my plate and his to throw in the garbage can.
I could hear him thanking the church member for the meal before he walked back over.
"Come on, let’s go”
"I'm not going" I replied, sipping on my juice.
He let out a gust of air, frustrated. "Come on Maxx, let's go enjoy ourselves"
"I'm enjoying myself right here, aren't you?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, but I wanna go, have a good time and have a drink and stuff" He whispered after he looked around to make sure nobody heard him.
"Then go, merry Christmas" I replied nonchalantly.
"Don't be like this Maxx and don't forget you're on the clock still"
"Screw you and your clock" I mumbled, so only he heard.
"Oh really now?" He sat down next to me. "Get up and let's go Maxx. What will it hurt to go"
"What will it hurt not to go?" I countered.
He exhaled and looked around with irritation. "Why not, why don't you wanna go?" I could tell he was fed up with me.
"I don't like her and I don't think I'll like her group of friends" I narrowed my eyes at him. "That's why"
"You don't even know that, you have to go first and see. Hey, if you don't like it, or if you're uncomfortable, then we'll leave" He tried to negotiate.
"You don't have to leave, because I'm not going" I looked him in the eye. "Go on, go be merry. I'll be alright. I've always been alright"
"Don't do this Maxx" He said through clenched teeth.
"Don't make me Rio. I'll go off in this church, worse than I did in that cracker jack box they call a mall, so if you don't want me to embarrass you again, you'll just go without me" I gave him a look to let him know I was serious. "Give me the key" I held out my hand and dared him not to give it to me.
"And if I don't?" His green eyes challenged.
"Then I'll curse you and god out in here, including the pastor" I snarled as my anger mounted.
His nostrils flared as he stood up and slammed the key on the table before he marched out.
Guess you prefer to be with her then me, bastard.
I frowned and stood up to fix two plates of food to go, even though I was mad and jealous, I didn't want to be a total bitch.
I got back to the motel, put our plates into the small refrigerator, and then examined myself in the mirror. I was tall with a nice figure and didn’t consider myself ugly.
"What makes him leave you to go and be with her?" I whispered to my reflection. I stared deep into my hazel eyes and frowned.
I knew I could have gone with him, but I realized I was jealous and didn't want to see her pawing him in my presence. I picked up my coat and locked up after I walked out into the snow; I had a few errands to run.
I was sitting up in my teddy bear thermals when I heard him at the door. I glanced at my watch, 11:55 p.m.
Humph, must've been a sucky party. I should make him stand out there for an hour.
"Maxx!" He banged on the door. "Open up. It’s cold!"
I smiled deviously as I walked to the window and looked out as his red nose. "Wow, you look like Rudolph. Maybe you should stay out there until it glows"
"Just open the door" He pleaded and jiggled the doorknob.
I opened the door to let him in along with the falling snow. "Miss me?" He grinned after he was in.
"Don't toot your own horn" I scoffed.
I plopped down on the bed and tried not to smile when I noticed he had three wrapped presents in his hands.
"What time is it?" He asked and then looked at his watch.
"Midnight—" I answered softly.
"Cool" He smiled brightly and took off his jacket. "Merry Christmas!" He held his arms out in the air. "Oh wait—" He turned around and I laughed lightly when he spun back around and began to ho, ho, ho like Santa. “Who’s been a good girl?"
"Me?" I answered, playing along with his game. “Me Santa, I've been a good girl" I giggled, forgetting I was mad at him as I held my hand up in the air.
"Nope, not you Maxx. Are you sure?" He chuckled and tossed his hat onto the table.
"I promise" I replied, looking at the gifts he put on the edge of the bed.
"Okay, if you say so" He took off his boots and sighed. "Merry Christmas, Maxx" He picked up the three small boxes and handed them to me.
I looked down at them and then to him. "Why did you do this?"
"It's Christmas" He answered softly. "I wanted to get you something. Go on, open them" He looked excited and blew into his hands to warm them up.
I opened the smallest one first and threw my hands over my mouth. "Pearls?" I beamed.
"You tried them on, right? I thought you wanted them" He looked afraid he got me something wrong.
"Yes, yeah—" I stammered. "I've always wanted pearls" I smiled brightly and put them in my ears. "How do I look?" I pushed my hair behind my ears so he could see them clearly.
"Magnificent" He smiled. "Oh wait, I got this too" He pulled out a small clock radio. "We can listen to Christmas songs, just families do on Christmas"
I waited fo
r him to find a station before he urged me to open the other gifts. I was rubbing my ears happily before I opened the next one.
"You got me the perfume!" I squealed and threw my arms around him before I could stop myself; I had to stop my lips from kissing his with happiness.
"Yeah, it smells good on you" He blushed. "Alright, now the last one, that one took me more time"
I held my breath, ripped off the wrapping paper, and stuck the bow on his chest. I was giggling when I opened the small black velvet box and stopped after I opened it. It was a necklace with a gold heart hanging from it.
"A heart locket, its beautiful Rio" I whispered. "I've never—nobody ever gave me—" I stopped and put my hand over my mouth in disbelief.
"Open it, look inside" He urged.
I opened it and read the inscription, Hope. "Why did you do this?" I barely whispered and traced over the word with my finger.
"Don't ask why Maxx, just accept it, alright?" He responded softly and took it out the box.
I turned around and lifted my hair so he could put it on my neck. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my neck and didn't want to move.
"There—" He said once it was on.
I looked down at it and smiled, he inscribed the back as well, Love Rio. "Thank you" I turned around and hugged him tightly, burying my face in his neck. "Thank you so much—"
"Merry Christmas, Maxx" he whispered.
I released his neck and ran to the closet. Digging anxiously in my backpack; I pulled out two small boxes.
"I went back to the strip mall after you left, I got these for you" I held them out proudly, knowing I never bought anyone a gift before, and I prayed he would like them.
His green eyes lit up when I handed them to him. I giggled when he shook them in his hand before he opened the first one.
"Get the hell outta here!" He held up the watch he tried on earlier. "You walked all the way back by yourself?"
"I'm not a baby Rio, yeah I did, but I didn't give Katrina the commission, sorry" I beamed. "Try it on"
"Wait, you paid for this?" He held the watch up.
"Yeah, you're worth it" I whispered timidly. "Try it on"
He smiled and put it on. "Damn, I've wanted this for a while—" He said closing the clasp. “A long time—”
It was black with a large face, perfect for his wrist, and I was happy I went back and got it.
"Now, open the other" I grinned, holding my heart pendant in my fingers, twirling it nervously.
He pulled off the wrapping and stuck the bow in my hair before he jumped up happily.
"Oh yeah!" He held it up in the air. "How did you know I wanted one of these?"
I grinned, knowing that I paid for the watch, but stole the IPod.
"Well, you're always trying to sing, so I just assumed—" I shrugged before he picked me up and swung me around the small motel room. "Thanks so much, wow, you got me a card to buy songs too, sweet." He smiled brightly. "Thanks—" He ripped off the plastic to get to it. “IPod Touch, I love this thing" He said after he got it out of the box and then looked up at me. "Maxx, this is the best, best, Christmas I've ever had, seriously"
My heart was exploding as I looked in his excited eyes. I twirled my gold heart pendant between my fingers and smiled back at him. "Me too" I whispered.
TWENTY
I lay on the bed while he played with his IPod. He walked me through everything it could do until I put on my thermals and crawled in the bed, I was exhausted.
"Listen to this one, I love this one" He handed it to me. "It's Home, by Daughtry" He began pulling off his sweater. “We’ll both have a home to go to one day Maxx, a real home”
I put it in my ears, listened to the words, and knew why he liked it. "I like them, who else you putting on here?"
"Uhhh Linkin Park definitely" He replied and stepped into the bathroom to put on his shorts for bed.
"Yes, I love their whole CD. I can relate to a lot of it" I whispered. "I love Waiting for the End, that's kind of my favorite right now, aside from Burning in the Skies"
"Woman after my own heart" He flopped on his stomach to download more songs. "What else should I put on here?"
"Ummm, One Republic, The Script, 30STM—" I twisted my lips in thought.
"Oh yeah, forgot about them—" He was bobbing his head to whatever he was listening to. “I’m gonna put Cat and Mouse on here by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Guardian Angel, that has a lot to do with us I think” He blushed.
I smiled, knowing the songs but then snapped my fingers loudly. "No, that's enough. We listen to Christmas music tonight, remember?" I turned up the small clock radio.
"That's fair" He pulled the ear buds out of his ears. "This is so freaking sweet" He continued smiling and put the ear buds back in the box.
"Look, we can enjoy that Christmas tree" I pointed out the window. There was a small tree someone decorated in the backyard of one of the apartments that faced our motel room. "We have a perfect view"
He stood up, opened the curtains wider, and cut off the lights. "Pretty nice, huh?" he whispered when Silent Night began to play on the radio.
I stood beside him and was surprised when he pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me.
"Yes, it's nice—" I whispered and hugged him back. "Thanks for giving me what Santa couldn't" I chuckled, happy I wasn't alone again on Christmas.
"Likewise" He grinned before we crawled in the bed and listened to the radio. "That perfume smells good" He said rubbing his nose.
I looked down at him and wanted him to kiss me, badly. It's all I needed to make the rest of the night perfect.
"Thank you" I replied, staring out the window at the neighbors Christmas lights.
I turned over and pulled his arm around my waist, I knew he wouldn't kiss, me so I at least wanted him to hold me, and I knew he wouldn't object. I could feel his warm breath against my neck as he inhaled the perfume I put on. I could feel him getting aroused before he moved slightly away, but I pulled him back, I wanted to feel it, and his warmth.
"This, this isn't gonna work Maxx" He whispered and pulled his arm from my waist.
I turned to look at him innocently. "What?"
"I'm gonna just—just stay on this side of the bed alright" He turned on his back and put his hand to his forehead.
"Why? We're just lying down, listening to Christmas carols"
"I'm your friend, but I'm still a man, and, and—"
"And what?" I interrupted; happy I managed to get him aroused.
"It’s just you— and that perfume and all, just stay over there, alright" He blew out a gust of air as if it was killing him.
"I just wanted you to hold me—" I tried to sound hurt.
I flopped onto my back, before we heard the bed start knocking next to the wall behind us. I sat up when I heard a woman begin to moan loudly.
"Wow, these walls are thin" I tried not to giggle.
"Dammit" He turned up the volume on the radio to drown out their moans of pleasure.
I looked down at his bare chest and lay my head down on it without asking.
"Damn Maxx, no" He tried to sit up.
"Why are you acting so stupid?" I asked once the knocking on the walls ceased and I pushed him back down. "Wow, guess he was a minute man" I scoffed and then looked down at him. "Are you?"
"Don't" He sighed. He closed his eyes tightly, as if he wanted to block me out.
"Don't what?" I asked putting my head back on his chest.
I traced the scar on his chest with my finger, barely touching it, knowing it would drive him over the edge.
"Maxx—" He whispered and took my hand in his to stop me.
I lifted my head to his. "Yes?" I whispered before he took my face in his hand and kissed me.
My body was racing with excitement when our kiss deepened and I felt his hand run down my backside. We kissed with reckless abandon. I felt his hands touch my breast and I tried not to gasp from excitement. I wasn't a virgin, but I had only
been with one other man aside from the one that raped me and I didn't know how to keep my feelings under control. He pulled off my top and rolled me onto my back to kiss my breasts. I released a small gasp of longing. I felt my hands running through his hair, wanting him to hurry and satisfy me. I was biting on my lip to stop myself from screaming once he pulled off my pajama pants and buried his head between my legs. I couldn't stop myself from arching my back and pulling his hair. I tried to tell him to stop, but knew my body didn't mean it. I was losing control and found my body shuddering. He continued kissing me deeply before I felt his finger enter me slowly. I held my mouth open to scream from pleasure, but nothing would come out, I was caught up in a whirlwind of emotions. I tried to catch my breath before he climbed on top of me and gently entered me.