Sam is stifling his laughter at my tipsy granny digging herself a hole.
“Oh, and Hannah, you’re glowing, my dear.”
“Thanks, Cerci.” She smiles, staring at me, trying to work out if I have told her the news.
“Anyway, you kids have fun! I am going to get one of you nana’s delicious cinnamon buns.” She saunters off into the crowd.
“Your granny is hilarious.” Lois chuckles.
“I love it when old people have a drink.” Hannah smiles taking a sweet from Toby’s pumpkin bag. “She is right though. You do make a beautiful couple.”
My eyes meet with Sam. He smiles which is infectious. But we both know we’re not a couple though. Sam breaks the silence.
“Nah, I’m too good-looking for her,” he jokes, and we all roll our eyes.
The night is filled with laughter, Halloween games andquizzes which we fail at miserably. Tired children start to get carried home by parents. A local bus driver kindly puts on a small bus to take visiting villagers back to their homes. As the cafe empties out, we start to help Gloria clean and tidy. Pete and Aradia tidy the front and the green. Sam walked Granny home earlier in the evening. She had definitely overindulged in the adult hot cider. Hannah and Lois take the boys home and offer Lola to go and sleep over which of course she happily agrees to. The cafe starts looking like the cafe again and not covered in Halloween. I spot Gloria whip out a tiny Christmas tree from under the counter and place it on top.
“It’s not even midnight, Gloria!” I giggle.
“Got to be prepared for the next season, dear! There will be a peppermint hot chocolate demand when we open on Monday!” She smiles and fluffs out the artificial branches. “Thank you all for helping clear up,” she announces as Pete and Aradia enter with the last bag of decorations to put in the back.
“Thank you for another great Halloween, Gloria.” Aradia beams with a shy-looking Pete behind her.
“Totally agree! It was a great night!” I chime in.
Gloria blushes with pride. “Well then, let’s lock up and head home.”
“Don’t fancy a game of bridge and a sherry, Gloria?” Angela peers from around the back still washing pots. Gloria looks at Sam the way a teenager looks for confirmation they can go out and play.
“Just watch yourself getting home!” He laughs.
Gloria claps her hands together in excitement. “Pete? Aradia?”
“Not tonight, Gloria. I’ve got a hot yoga class tomorrow morning in Ravenswick,” Aradia says, sulking. “Next time though!” Aradia walks up to me and Sam. “Pete’s going to walk me back. I’ll see you at home.” She winks, smiles and strollsthrough the door with a puppy dog Pete following at her heels.
“OK then.” Sam smiles. “Drink at mine? We can’t let these old birds stay out later than us!” He laughs as Gloria hits him with a tea towel.
It is a bad idea to go back to his. But I am all out of clever ideas. “Sure.” I smile.
We leave Gloria’s for the short walk to their house, the full moon high in the night sky, clouds just edging around it. The perfect night for Halloween.
We get to their house and head into the living room, and I take a seat on the sofa. Sam heads into the kitchen to make us a drink. I pop some kindling into the log burner, and light it. I slip off my boots and wiggle my toes in front of the flame; the heat feels nice on my delicate skin. I add a few more logs to get the heat going and sit back on the sofa with my feet tucked under me. Sam appears in the doorway leaning against the frame with two small glasses in his hands.
He smiles at me. Not his usual cute smile. This is flirty. His eyes travel up my body to my lips as he bites his.
He walks over and hands me my drink and plonks himself next to me sitting back with an arm behind his head. He sips his drink, and I sip mine. Whiskey and coke. The warmth of the whiskey hits the back of my throat and warms deep within my belly. I place my drink down on the coffee table. Sam does the same.
I go to open my mouth, but Sam is already there. He kisses me with urgency and want, his tongue, tinged with the heat of the whiskey and sweetness of the coke, explores my mouth. He pulls my body on top of his, pulling my legs to straddle him, his hands holding my back. He pulls his mouth from mine and his eyes, which are glistening with desire, look up at me.
“Fuck, Harri, you’re so beautiful,” he says in a breathy voice.
“You’re not too bad yourself.” I smirk, placing my hands onhis chest and biting my lip.
He smooths his hands up to the straps on my dress and pulls them down. I remove my arms allowing it to fall to my waist exposing my black lace bra. He looks up at me awe, the light from the fire igniting his eyes. He kisses my neck, moving down to my breastbone, planting sensual kisses onto my skin.
I can feel his jeans hardening underneath me as I allow him to explore my body. It takes my breath away as I can feel myself wanting to grind into him. His large hands hold my hips firmly in place as he continues to kiss back up my neck meeting me at my lips.
The kiss is hard and passionate. Different from the kisses he’s just delicately planted all over my chest. This is the kiss of a man who wants to take me. I reach my hands down between us to his belt, pulling the leather from the buckle. He slowly leans back, taking in all of me. His eyes darken with desire. I gently pull down his zip while keeping his gaze, my body now aching with what’s underneath these jeans. His hand reaches around to the clasp of my bra.
