Page 69

Story: Snow Stuck

I let out a soft laugh and sat up. I winced when I realized how sticky I was. “God, I miss hot water heaters.”
“Do you?” he asked with a smile. “Have I ever told you how lucky you are that Amma has old shit?”
“No, why?”
“I lit the pilot last night on the water heater.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
“It means you have hot water. No electricity needed. Most models can’t be lit, but hers was visible, and it primarily runs off of gas, so it worked.”
For a second, I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. I was laying here afraid that he’d take it all back. Instead, he was solving problems I didn’t know had solutions.
“You lit a gas machine on fire so I could have hot water? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Not that dangerous, but it is if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Still. I didn’t expect him to think twice about it. My cheeks erupted in heat, adding to the feelings that swirled within me for him.
Goddammit. I needed him to stop being soperfect.If he didn’t, then I’d want this forever.
“Best Christmas present ever,” I managed to say. “Thank you.”
“I’m not letting you get that cold again,” he said. His lips pressed against my cheek.
With him kissing me, I had all the warmth I needed.
“Yeah, I’ll definitely need a shower if we’re repeating last night. Wearerepeating it, right?”
“Of course. Not exactly like that, but we’ll do the act again.”
“What, you don’t like doing the same thing over and over?”
“With a woman like you? Absolutely not.”
My mind flashed to all the things we could do, including in the very place I was going.
“Want to join me?” I asked.
“In the shower?”
“No,” I said, rolling my eyes, “in the snow.”
“You’re hilarious.” He kissed my neck. “But can you continue to be while I distract you?”
“First, I need a shower,” I said. “That’s not negotiable.”
“Then I’ll join you.”
I got up, but then his hand smacked my ass and I yelped. “What the?—”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. It’s too perfect.”
“I’m pretty sure my ass is not perfect.”
He raised an eyebrow, daring me to continue.
Now my face was on fire. “Okay, I’ll shut up.”