“I like your...bells.” It comes out corny and silly, but Sebastian smirks anyway.
“And I like all your trimmings.”
He fingers the fluffy white fur along my collar. His fingers graze my collarbone, burning an indelible memory of his touch on my body. He leans closer, and heat ripples off his chiseled chest, thawing more of the ice I hold in my heart’s reserve.
My blood runs hot through my veins, with my heart thudding against my chest. If we don't get moving soon, I'm likely to crawl up his body and beg for more.
“The thrift shop’s closing soon.”
“Then we better get going.” His eyes flicker to my lips, and I’m dying to taste him again. “Before it’s too late.”
Too late, indeed. I need a blast of cold air in my face before I spontaneously combust and cause the freezers to overheat.
Sebastian crooks his elbow, and I slide my arm through. We step into the chilly evening air, and it only takes seconds for a blast of winter air to calm my palpitating heart. I lean into Sebastian as a gust of snowy wind hits us head-on. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me into his side. His embrace is as protective as it is possessive. I hesitate momentarily as I gauge my body’s reaction, then anchor myself to him with my hand over his on my arm.
I’ve missed the closeness of companionship. Perhaps I was too hasty and misjudged Sebastian before giving him a chance to show me the man he is. Business is my livelihood, but there’s so much more to enjoy than work. I settle into him, more determined to share our holiday project as partners.
We quickly walk a few blocks, then duck into the Santa’s Surplus. A spritz of air freshener sprays from a dispenser above the door, faintly disguising the smell of old paperback books and musty closets. The store is neat and tidy with racks of clothing, aisles of home goods, and a small area with furniture near the back.
“Red tags are fifty-percent off today only. We close in forty minutes.”
The teen clerk barely glances up from her spot behind the counter. She’s perched on a stool, flipping through an old Rolling Stones magazine with dog-eared pages. Snoop Dogg graces the cover, decked out with a Santa hat and a candy cane tucked between his fingers.
“Where shall we start?” Sebastian eagerly rubs his palms together. The corners of his mouth widen into an infectious grin.
I can’t help but return his smile. It feels good to shed the seasonal stress for a bit of revelry. “Lead the way. I’ll follow.”
“C’mon.”
He catches me off guard by grabbing my hand and dragging me along behind him. I trip and laugh as I keep up with his long legs.
We snag an empty shopping cart from a cart corral and take a sharp left into a cramped housewares aisle. The shelves overflow with glassware, pots and pans, and worn-out appliances. I shrug out of my coat and toss it into the child's seat.
"I don't think this is the retro we're going for." My enthusiasm wanes at the array of used junk. I pick up a stray fork with bent tines. An alarm clock with broken hands sits next to it. "There's a reason no one wanted this stuff."
“Ye of little faith.”
Sebastian squeezes my shoulder as he brushes past me. His chest swipes my arm, then sweeps past my breast, stealing oxygen from my lungs. My body tingles at the friction. I'm jolted to attention, heightening my awareness of our proximity to one another.
He reaches for something on a bottom shelf, giving me an eagle-eye view of his glorious backside.
Very nice.
“Score.” He rises, turning toward me so quickly that I’m caught staring. Only now, my gaze rests on his...ahem...package. I jerk my eyes to his, and heat blisters my cheeks as I quickly look away.
Holy shi...There goes another dollar to the swear jar.
“See something you like?” he teases, sending another round of heat flaring up my neck.
“I do.” I quickly recover and grab an old-fashioned straw holder from the shelf behind him. “A buck fifty. Red and white paper straws will make this nice and festive.”
He grins and lets out a chuckle. He holds up a box of assorted neon Christmas tree baubles.
“Nice balls.” I try not to smirk but can’t help myself.
Sebastian arches an eyebrow, and we both burst out laughing. He plops the box of ornaments into the cart and bumps my shoulder with his.
“Thanks. I aim to please.”