Page 82 of Notes About Vodka

I twist, one layer opens to reveal another.

“Twist again,” Val says.

I do as he instructs. There’s another layer. Curiosity guides my next moves as I keep opening. Val said it was nine layers deep.

Once the dolls are lying on the on the windowsill overlooking New York, I gasp in amazement. “Val, they are so beautiful.” Each doll is the same shape but each has its own kaleidoscope of color.

“You are more beautiful.”

I turn to look up at him as he continues to explain, “I wanted to give you a present from home. I know it’s not from Russia, but I got it from Brighton Beach, so close enough?”

“It’s perfect,” I tell him and I lean in to kiss his lips.

“I have one more, but it will have to wait until next month.”

Excitedly I say, “Oooo, give me, give me, give me.”

Val pulls out two tickets from his back pocket.

Hockey.

My beloved Florida Panthers will be in town facing the New York Rangers and we are sitting front and center.

“Oh, Val!” I cry out, hugging him close as his spins me around.

“Come,” Val says. “One more present, let’s take pictures of you against the New York City line so I can show my parents I found something more beautiful than the Big Apple at night.”

My fear of heights is eliminated as we pack up my nesting dolls and Val pulls me into the night air, snapping selfies with the New York skyline lighting up our background. He even captures me holding a tiny Lady Liberty between my thumb and forefinger.

I stretch, my body sore from partying the night away.

But I smile as sunlight filters through Val’s curtains and I watch him sleep while help loosen up my joints and muscles.

Last night, I knew I was going home with Val. I wantedhim. More than I should, and I was tired of waiting and worrying. Especially when it came to Sam and this divorce. I could navigate that later. Besides, Sam was back in Florida with his mother helping run the pine tree farm. There was no way he would find out.

The best social media only allowed up to post 10 photos at the moment and all the ones I had on The Facebook were of me partying with Skip and Rhea back in Alabama or my pictures of the flowers in Central Park.

After the Empire State building adventure, Val and I took the subway back to his condo. It was already past 3 a.m. and we were both so tired that by the time we made it to his bed that we fell asleep, ghosting barely there kisses on each others lips.

Now, I’m awake, and I’m so aroused, it’s ridiculous.

I’ve already brushed my teeth and used the bathroom.

Crawling back into the bed with Val, he wraps his sleepy, warm body around my naked one.

His morning wood digs into my thigh.

I really want it digging in somewhere else.

I press my ass back into him.

“Laura,” he moans gruffly.

I wiggle a bit more, feeling brave and more than ready to move on to the next stage in our relationship.

“Laura,” Val whines now, his voice a pitch higher.

I reach behind me, this isn’t one of my really weird vivid dreams, this is real life and I’m stroking a very hard, very thick cock through his boxers.

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