Page 45 of Notes About Vodka (Happily Ever After Hangover #1)

Chapter Twenty-Four

LAURA

"A night of vodka may blur the stars, but waking to love is the only clarity that matters."

After too many long, goodbyes, Rhea and Skipper finally take a taxi back to our apartment.

I’m going to stay with Val tonight. Who knows, maybe we will finally…

The chill of the November wind whips around my bare shoulders. I love the hot pink dress Skipper surprised me with for tonight, but he didn’t provide a jacket so I’m freezing as Val and I watch the taxi drive away.

“You are shivering,” Val says as he notices the goosebumps covering my skin.

Before I can reply, he has removed his dark blue sweater. I hold my hands up as he helps put it over my head. He is left in just a long-sleeved black t-shirt. “That can’t be warm enough Val.”

“When I’m with you, I’m on fire, so this is just fine,” he replies.

I look up into his eyes and lose my soul to their depths as he finally, fucking finally kisses me like his life depends on it and if he doesn’t have me soon, we will both combust.

I blame you, vodka, on the next moments.

Somehow we end up in Times Square. I’ve forgotten about the cold and Val’s eyes are almost gold in the neon lights as he spins me around.

We are definitely feeling the lingering effects of his martinis and all of those shots.

But, as Val pulls me through the early Christmas lights adorning Rockefeller Center, I know I’m glad that I made up my mind earlier in the week. Tonight, even though a bit tipsy, I’m giving myself to Val.

Okay, a lot tipsy .

Or maybe it’s the swirling lights and snowflakes on the front of Saks 5 th Avenue.

Val and I tilt over one of the concrete garden barriers overlooking the ice-skating rink as he tries to kiss my neck. I’m giggling so hard and use the angle to sneak a kiss to his lips. Even the Rockefeller Christmas tree that is being erected fades from our minds as his tongue dances along mine.

To my credit, I catch Val off guard, or maybe we are just that drunk, and I dip out of him embrace. Carefully running towards the Empire State building. I can feel him behind me.

He catches me at the entrance, spinning me into his arms. The world is topsy turvy but I don’t care.

I’m with Val and he is… everything.

“Let’s go up,” Val says.

“Huh? ”

“Come on, let’s go to the top. I’ll buy the tickets.”

“Val,” I pull his hand that’s holding on to mine. “Wait, I’m…a bit…drunk I think. And it’s so cold already.”

“Laura, come, it’s okay. I’ll get us a cappuccino in the lobby. And maybe a warm hat for your head from the gift store.”

I want to say no, the world is already spinning, but adrenaline pushes me forward. “Okay, but you better not ask for my calculator this time.”

“Okay, moya lubimaya. Let’s go create a moment together, a memory.”

Val pays for our tickets, grabs us a cappuccino, and even matches ear muffs since they were fluffy and I thought they were cute. He holds me close as we ascend more than eighty stories to the top.

“Is this a good time to tell you I’m terrified of heights?”

“Really? I better keep you close then,” Val hugs me tighter. I bury my face into his chest and close my eyes the entire way, just listening to the pre-recorded announcement explain the history of the building.

At the top, Val asks while we are still in the enclosed section, “Do you have the nesting doll I gave you?”

I’m slightly shaking, but I dig in my purse and pull out the wooden creation that Val gave me earlier.

I was too focused on my friends to notice the intricate swirls and colors.

An hourglass shape, the doll is painted a dark blue with bright red, white, and yellow patterns.

Hot pink tulips are held in the doll’s hands.

“Open it,” he says softly.

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 wanted him. 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.

“Laura,” Val bites into my bare shoulder. “You better stop, or…”

I release my grip and twist in his hold so I’m facing him. “Or you’ll what?”

Val grabs my thigh, pulling it over his with one arm while his other hand grabs me under the ass, dragging me closer. We are aligned, except for that pesky piece of underwear. I can already imagine how he will feel.

“Laura, if you make me say it, I’m going to do it,” he replies.

“What Valerie?” I teasingly ask, using the girlie nickname I love calling him. “Say it, tell me what you want to do, then do it.”

“Woman, hypnotist, I’m going to bury myself so far inside you that you will be speaking fluent Russian by the time I’m done fucking that delicious pussy.”

The insides of my pussy constrict, clenching, wanting to feel the devastation I know Val will bring. “Then what are you waiting for, nauchi menya russkomu, moya lubov.”

Val’s lips meet mine, we are desperate for each other. Last night left us hanging, and finally, maybe if I get under him, I can truly move on from the failure of my marriage to Sam.

My hands find the muscles of his arms. I run my palms up and down them.

Val’s fingers spread my very wet folds before two enter inside me.

I moan into his lips as he brings me into a quick and intense orgasm.

His thumb finds my clit and I’m immediately forced into a second orgasm.

I cry out and find myself on my back. Val’s head is between my thighs as he licks me clean.

“Honey, strawberries, vanilla, pineapple, I could stay here forever just figuring out how many tastes you have Laura.”

Before he can go back down, I pull away. “Wait.”

“Huh, wait,” Val looks confused and hurt. “But I thought you… I’m so sorry, if I misunderstood.”

I quiet Val with a kiss as we both sit up in the bed.

Pushing him on his back, I say, “No, I want you, but I want to be in control. Let me be on top?”

Val’s eyes widen as if understanding my inner most thoughts and demons.

“Karnesha moy lubimaya, as you wish. ”

I slowly peel back Val’s briefs, a large bulbous head pops out. And he’s… uncircumcised. Interesting.

“Holy crap,” I exclaim.

Val shifts, trying to cover up.

“What are you doing?” I ask, stopping him as I take in how girthy he is.

“Maybe you are not the only one who is shy…” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’m not circumcised, so I thought that’s why you just squealed. I know it makes it ugly by some standards.”

“Oh, Val,” I smile, leaning into press a kiss at the tip of his penis. “Your penis is exquisite, really, it’s beautiful. It’s just so…thick,” I say, a little endeared that my Russian is self-conscious about his cock.

I don’t give Val a chance to reply as I lick from his base to the tip. His thighs shudder. I take a moment and pull the mushroom top into my mouth, kissing it like he kisses me. When I lift up, I let him leave my mouth with a pop.

Val’s dark brown eyes are blown out, black from his pupils.

“Laura…”

“Yes, Val,” I say as I crawl up his legs and settle on top of his lap. “You keep saying my name, what’s up?”

“You are…”

He doesn’t finish because I lift my body, line him up, and slowly start to sink down.

And down.