Page 113 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"This old thing?" She ran her hands down the sweater and shook her head. "Terrance loves it too, but it's getting old."
"Well, if me and your husband like it on you, then it's a keeper." I picked up the gifts and reached for my purse. "Parker and Jason already at the restaurant?"
"Yeah. They left an hour ago." She moved back and closed my door behind me. "Jason okay? He didn't look like he was feeling too good."
I shrugged. "I think so. He got a stomachache last night from something he ate on the trip, but other than that, I think he's fine. Why? You don't?"
She turned off the lights and moved out into the hall with me before locking everything up. "I'm not sure. He was really quiet this afternoon."
"Hm, I don't know. I'll check on him tonight. Probably just still feeling the effects of being sick."
"Maybe." She moved up beside me. "Are you guys still dating?"
I wouldn't have a personal conversation with most people in the office, but Mary was a good ten years older than me. It almost felt like having a sister, which was nice. Being an only child and only have my best friend, Trisha, to lean on meant having far too many conversations in my own head and nowhere else.
"Yeah." I smiled. "He's a great guy. I think I'm going to actually open myself up to talking about us moving in together, but I don't know. It seems a little too fast, right?"
"Mind if I ask how old you are?" She pushed the door open on the bottom floor of the building and reached for one of the gift bags in my hand as it flapped in the wintry wind.
"I'm thirty-four." My stomach tightened at the idea of her judging me. "He's only twenty-two. It's a horrible age difference, but-"
"Terrance is ten years older than me." She shrugged and helped me redistribute the presents in my hands. We only had to get across the street to the Italian restaurant most of the staff had voted for to have the annual Christmas party.
"Don't you think that's more acceptable? The man being older? I'm a cougar by most people's standards."
"Right, and how many of those people do you care about?" She gripped my arm as we jogged across the busy downtown street.
"None, I guess." I moved back and she opened the door. The delicious smell of roasted tomatoes raced out and smacked me in the face. It almost reminded me of my dinner with Jason the night before.
"Exactly. I think you guys make a great couple. Talk to him about the next steps on your trip in a week and see what happens. No need to rush things." She patted my back softly.
"Other than the fact that I wanted kids, and I'm in my mid-thirties."
"And? Stranger things have happened." She pointed to the group. "There we are. In the back room."
I walked toward the growing voices, the laughter, the warmth of my staff having a good time. One thing was for sure, Parker and I had done a great job of finally hiring the right people. It was more like a family than an office. I couldn't have been more proud.
* * *
"You really don't have to stay tonight. I know you're still not feeling good, Jason." I tossed my keys onto the table as I walked into the house. Sadness swelled in the center of my stomach. I wanted passion like I'd experienced our first time in bed together, but wasn't willing to say anything to him about it.
I knew what he was doing. He was trying to love me with everything he did. No one could fault him for it. It was just disappointing, but mentioning it would likely bruise his ego. It always did with younger guys.
"I'm not going anywhere, baby." He moved up behind me and wrapped me in a tight hug. His strong arms felt so good around me.
I sunk against him and closed my eyes, wanting to ask for a million things, and yet too embarrassed to know where to start.
He brushed his lips by my neck. "You smell so good."
"I taste better," I whispered and let out a small yelp as he spun me around.
"Don't I know it." He smiled and ran his hands down the sides of my throat. "I want to consume you, but I don't want my touch to ever remind you of anything but how much I love you."
"What if I need more than love?" I whispered against his lips as he growled softly. There was something there, bubbling just beneath the surface of his gentlemanly persona.
"Then I'll supply it." He nipped at my lips. "I'd give you anything you asked for."
"Fuck me?" I tightened my grip on him and let my guard down for the first time in nine months. "Like you did the first time we were together. Consume me. Frighten me."
