Champagne, Strawberries, and Whip Cream: The Way New Year's Eve Should Have Been
It was 11 pm. I took a look around the room. The champagne bottle sat chilling in the bucket with ice. The whipped cream and strawberries were still in the refrigerator, but they were ready just the same. It was a small living room, but cozy at the same time. Two recliners sat against the wall near the door, with a lamp in between. Across from them was the couch, with the coffee table sitting close to it. The TV sat in a wood entertainment center across from the fake stone fireplace with the mantle over it. I was in my black jeans and blue fleece pullover, a casual ensemble meant to impress but relax at the same time. She was due any minute.
There was a knock at the door, I walked past the chair, unlocked the door, and opened it. She stood there, looking every bit as angelic as the first time I saw her. She had her hair down, curled slightly inward towards her face. She had on her red lip gloss, and a matching, elegant red dress under a black coat. I instantly felt underdressed.
I let her in, taking her coat and hanging it on a chair in the dining room, which was just a short distance away. The TV had already been turned on to a New Year's Eve special, and there was a blanket on the couch so that we could stay warm in the chilly house.
She glanced over at the bucket, smiling slightly
"Champagne? You really went all out didn't you?"
"Not yet, but I'm getting there." I said with a wink.
I went into the dining room and dug into a drawer which was in a china cabinet. I pulled out a match book, and then took down two candlesticks and their holders. I brought them into the living room, placing them on the coffee table before lighting them. Then I turned the lamp off to let them shine. She smiled, appreciating the romantic effect.
I sat down, pulling her against me while pulling the blanket on top of us. We began to cuddle and watch the special on tv, waiting for the countdown to begin. I became distracted by the smell of the perfume in her hair; I turned and gently kissed her neck, inhaling the scent as I moved up to her cheek, finally sneaking a kiss upon her soft lips.
We sighed together, going back to the show. She snuggled a little closer to me, rubbing her head against my shoulder. An entertainer came on; we watched the screen with eyes half open, feeling our warm bodies against each other and our hearts beating. The announcer showed several of the celebrations and fireworks shows from other time zones that had already passed the midnight mark.
I stared at the various colors and booming sounds on the tv, and then looked from the screen to her sparkling blue-green eyes. I ran my fingers through her soft brown hair, and then pulled her face towards mine. Our lips met, flashes and fireworks sprung from the screen to my mind. Passion overwhelmed us, setting us on fire as we kissed urgently. My hands roamed over her, down to her neck, over her breasts, to her stomach, then back up to rub her breasts. I ran my thumb over her nipple, making it hard under my touch. She moaned low, deepening our kiss.
We pulled a way breathless; looking back at the screen, seeing that time had seemingly run away at the sight of our indiscretions. The countdown had begun at twenty, then nineteen, eighteen, seventeen...we looked at the ball, sparkling with the light that was shining on it, 2004 flashing behind it as it started to descend from it's heights. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...I looked at her, pulling her tight to me, staring back from the screen to her face, seeing the effect of the light on her now dazzling face. Three, two, one...
"Happy New Year's, luv." I said kissing her again, and then getting up out of my seat, I walked into the kitchen, getting the whipped cream and strawberries out of the refrigerator. I brought it back into the living room, a catty smile on my face.
