Just a few more presents to wrap, then she'd be done. Susanna looked at the clock. Stifling a yawn, she realized it was past 11:00. Well, she thought, it wouldn't hurt to take a little break.
Of all the rotten luck, her husband was working night shift, so she was stuck by herself on Christmas Eve. She had ordered pizza, taken a hot bath, and slipped on her comfy bathrobe. Now she was wishing she'd wrapped all these presents earlier. Yawning again, she curled up on the couch with her favorite quilt and flipped on the TV.
She must have been sleepier than she thought because the sound of the clock chiming 12 woke her up. Rubbing her eyes, she began to sit up when she heard a low chuckle.
Her eyes flew open and she saw a figure sitting in the chair near the Christmas tree. Susanna opened her mouth to scream but the shadowed figure said, "Ssshhhhh." He stood up and walked slowly toward the couch.
Susanna still couldn't see his face very clearly. The only lights in the room were from the TV and the Christmas tree. As he got closer, she scrambled to the other side of the couch.
"Take whatever you want," she said, "The TV, the stereo, my money, I don't care. Just leave me alone."
He edged closer and chuckled again. "I don't want any of those things," he murmured.
"Then what did you come here for?" Susanna asked, terrified of what he'd say.
Raising his voice to a normal level, he answered, "Don't you know, Honey? I came for you."
Her heart nearly stopped as soon as she recognized Anthony's voice. She slowly stood up and faced him. He stood still, gazing at her intently. She moved slowly toward him, trying to see his face. "Is that really you?" she whispered, clutching her robe around her. She was suddenly feeling very vulnerable.
"You tell me," he said. He held out his hand to her and she looked at it a moment, hesitating. Again she looked to his face and felt a chill at the intensity of his gaze.
She had met Anthony online a few months earlier in an adult chat room, and they'd had the most amazing cyber sex. They'd chatted using a mic several times, so his voice was familiar to her. In fact, they'd shared some very intimate encounters, and now here he was, standing in her living room!
At last she reached out and let him grasp her fingers. He immediately pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. She melted into him and breathed in his scent. "Oh my God," she whispered against his chest, "Oh my God."
He tipped her chin up so she was facing him. "Do you have a kiss for Santa?" he asked.
"I don't have any mistletoe," she answered with a nervous giggle.
He reached in his pocket and said, "Well you're lucky Santa comes prepared," as he pulled out a sprig of mistletoe. He held it over their heads and lowered his face to hers. Kissing her softly, she leaned into him.
She slid her hands inside his shirt and felt his warm skin. With a soft groan, he slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss.
"If I'd known you were coming, Santa," Susanna whispered against his mouth, "I would have worn something more appropriate."
He chuckled and said, "I think you're dressed just fine, little girl." She blushed and he smiled. "So tell me, Susanna, have you been naughty or nice?"
