Chances (Mystic Nights #1)(25)

Chapter 11




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When Jonathan called Aliya from the elevator, he knew it had been her evening off. Her understudy performed the Friday evening performances. She also had Monday’s off. She readily agreed to him coming over and was excited, but she’d nearly given up hope when the snow started to fall. They had been announcing it all day.

On the phone he sounded tired, and she suggested they just stay in. Order a pizza. For that he’d been grateful. Although tired, he stated that he wanted to spend more quality time together. Even if it was just watching a movie, and eating pizza off of paper plates. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done it.

*

He drove his car quickly through the back roads of Lantern Hill. It was frigid outside and the wind chill made it feel like it was below thirty degrees. Wind whipped around his vehicle in huge gusts and he felt the pull of it against on his car. He felt the resistance of the north easterly winds blowing in and focused on his driving and the curvy roads. He wondered if a storm was brewing and he’d missed hearing about it on the news. No one had mentioned it at the office. There was no snow. Yet. This winter they hadn’t seen much. Just the cold, and just the bit left from the last snowstorm right before New Years.

Jonathan was nearly there when the snow started to fall in swirling droves.

*

As Jonathan pulled into her drive way, he saw the delivery guy pulling out. She must have ordered it when he called, and he was glad for that. In another twenty minutes, no one would be traveling much. Just the thought of the pizza had his stomach growling. He was suddenly famished, too. And not for Aliya.

When he rang her bell, she was there to greet him. He stepped in out of the cold, and saw her shiver, but she went behind him and helped him off with his jacket. Once she hung it up on a hook by the door, she couldn’t resist. She wrapped her arms around him, and he took her mouth in the gentlest of kisses. She felt the undeniable passion, but the urgency was not there. When she pulled back, she saw his eyes.

“You’re tired,” she stated for him. “Come sit. Eat.” It was an order, and she ushered him to a chair.

“I could get used to this,” he teased as he peered at the steaming pizza pie. She had quickly opened the box, and the aroma of one of Mystic’s renowned pizza joints engulfed him.

She placed a plate in front of him. “Help yourself,” she encouraged, and then went to the refrigerator. “Beer?” she asked.

He nodded enthusiastically putting two large pepperoni slices on his plate. It was a lot of carbs, but would be worth it. Mystic Pizza was infamous.

Aliya brought a beer for each of them and placed an open bottle before him. “I hope you don’t mind, but when I drink beer, I like it cold and straight from the bottle.”

“You really are my kind of woman, Aliya.” He spoke around a mouthful of the slice of cheesy heaven. She laughed and handed him a napkin as she plucked one slice out of the box for herself.

“I aim to please,” she teased, dropping her tone a tad playing up the moment. It worked. He was looking at her with that wicked gleam in his eye once more.

“You do.” His statement was matter of fact, and it pleased her. She watched as he took another large bite, chewed and then swallowed his food. He winked mischievously and then added, “Please me. Very much.” She laughed while he took another bite of the slice tearing it off viciously.

Continuing to laugh, she took a bite of her own.

Yesterday and today, she liked very much seeng this playful side of Jonathan. They ate in companionable silence for a bit. This pizza was the best. She released a groan of pleasure at the greasy concoction, and even to her ears it sounded intense, more intense than she’d intended. Jonathan’s eyes were glowing.

“You’re going to kill me, woman. I’m so tired, but all I can think about is you naked, and me eating pepperoni off your body.”

She nearly choked on that image. Once she’d cleared her throat she was able to reply. “It’s a little too early for the kinky stuff,” she teased.

“Is it?” He dared her, taking up his second slice. He was wolfing it down like a starving man.

Aliya was speechless and hid her sudden nervousness behind another bite of food. She just didn’t know what to say. Was he suggesting trying something kinky or was he just teasing? His face was dead pan. So, she wasn’t sure. She really didn’t have that much experience in that realm. Although she’d be willing to try with him.

Jonathan laughed heartily at her silence. He could tell she was thinking hard about that one. “Relax darling. I’m not up for that tonight. But maybe another time?” he suggested coyly.

Aliya blushed, but nodded to his amusement. It also evoked another hearty laugh from him. “Don’t get shy on me, girl. This is the fun part. Getting to know each other.”

Aliya dabbed at her lips with a napkin. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous. I don’t know why.” She laughed suddenly as the butterflies in her stomach ceased. The look on his face had grown softer, and she saw true caring there. She liked that.

He reached over to her to trap her hand. “Let’s watch a movie tonight. Relax, I think we are both tired, still reeling from last night,” he suggested.

She liked the idea and they quickly wrapped up dinner. Jonathan was only too happy to follow her into her cozy little living room. The flower patterned sofa looked very girly but very soft. He plopped down on it, stretching out, after taking his shirt off. He lie before her wearing only his pants and looking very tempting. For a moment it was disconcerting; she forgot what she was going to do, but he reminded her.