As soon as she opened her eyes, Tess knew. The way the room was lit by bright, glowing light could only mean one thing...SNOW! She crawled out from under her thick quilt and opened the shade and saw the beauty of the entire neighborhood blanketed in uninterrupted sparkling whiteness.
Quickly she dove back under the covers, pulling the quilt right up to her neck, shivering. The first snow of the winter. Finally! She slithered her arm to the nightstand and pulled the phone under the covers, the plastic cold against her naked skin. Dialing, silently praying, she waited. Then she heard his voice, his beloved voice, still sleepy.
"Darling, it snowed! And it is a freezing cold day, not fit for man nor beast. I have a proposition....let's take a Snow Day. Just us, together, here at my house, all cozy and snuggly. Please?" she coaxed.
Daren took a moment to register her request. A day of snuggling and being cozy with Tess? A man would have to be crazy to pass on that! But he let her continue longer, sketching out their day, making promises of pleasures to come.
Finally, he couldn't wait any longer. "I suppose I could take a Snow Day. I do have lots of work to finish, but one day would be all right, I guess....."
Tess burst into giggles. "I could find someone else, Sir, if you are too busy for me. I am sure that Anthony or Ben would take a day off. Maybe even Scott. Yes, I could call Scotty, he would suffer through a Snow Day with me..." she purred.
"I'll be there in less than an hour, Tess!" Daren exclaimed as he replaced the phone. He jumped from his bed and showered, singing Christmas songs loudly, happily, and slightly off-key. Before dressing, he carefully applied Obsession for Men to his warm, naked body, knowing it drove Tess mad with desire. He was in his Jeep and heading toward her house in less than thirty minutes of her call. Stopping at the store, he loaded his basket with treats and goodies, anything he thought Tess might like.
After showering and dressing in her softest sweats, furry slippers on her feet, Tess had begun making preparations of her own. She browned meat and onions, adding spices and tomatoes, until the scent of homemade chili filled the air. She quite expertly laid a fire and started it, the flames leaping and crackling. For Christmas, she had received a 25-disc CD player and now she loaded it with her favorite music, and started the first disc. She began to light candles, but felt the aroma of a simmering lunch was more delectable.
She settled on the couch, enjoying the coziness of the day. Earlier, the weather channel had predicted more snow in early afternoon, but right now the sky was a dazzling blue, the colors of the outdoors unbelievably bright and beautiful.
In the corner, near the fireplace, the Christmas tree still stood. She and Daren had both felt that the holiday had gone too fast this year, over too soon, and voted to leave the tree up a little longer. Now, she was glad they had. It gave their Snow Day added appeal, prettily decorated and filled with glowing white fairy lights.
Soon, she heard the garage door open and close, then the kitchen door, and then Daren's voice. He could make her wet with just his hello, make her come with his words. She loved him. They had been together for nearly a year, having met right after Christmas last year. Everything was still new, every holiday, every celebration, carefully marked and remembered as a "first".
Now, they would celebrate their first Snow Day. She heard him placing various bags on the counter and went to join him. She stood on tiptoe, taking his cold face in her hands, rubbing her soft warm lips against his cold ones, easily making him melt to his core. Her tongue slid out shyly, washing his lips, entering his mouth, playing games with his. She leaned into him, a bundle of warmth and softness, molding against him. Sighing, he slipped his cold hands under her sweatshirt, finding the soft warmth he craved. He could feel the heat from her flesh moving up his arms, sending a flush along his skin. He held her close, inhaling her special scent, basking in her loving embrace. She took his coat to the closet as he put away his groceries. He had dressed in nicely worn jeans and a ribbed sweater, and looked casual and comfortable. He walked into the living room, appreciating the glowing fire and the still-decorated tree. Tess took a minute to admire the fit of his jeans against his ass, feeling a tingle between her legs. She returned to the kitchen to make a pot of real cocoa, putting milk in a pan and adding cocoa powder, sugar and a hint of vanilla. As she stood stirring it, the delicious aroma of chocolate competed with the chili, making them both hungry. Daren came up behind Tess, leaning down and nibbling her nape, that tender spot just made for kissing. She lightly moaned and leaned back against him, making her neck as accessible as possible. His hands encircled her, holding her tightly, and he whispered words of love and happiness. When he finally returned to the living room, Tess felt bereft. She filled mugs with cocoa, added piles of marshmallows and made a tray of the fresh croissants that Daren had brought, adding soft butter and Irish raspberry jam in a white ceramic bowl.
