AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“They have the tree I want. Just give them a few minutes to bring it from the back, then we’ll go.” Standing in Target, I have already picked out the ornaments. All we need is the tree.
“We can celebrate Christmas morning at your apartment, since you have already decorated it. You have a nice tree, so it’s not necessary to buy all of these decorations,” Omega fusses.
Sensing his frustration, I walk over to stand in front of him. I look up into his eyes, trying to read him. Is he really bummed out about me decorating his apartment, or is he just sick of shopping? “Are you okay?” I inquire quietly.
He looks down into my eyes. “Yeah, if this is what you want…”
“I do want it.”
He looks at the sparkling watch on his arm. “It’s just that we’ve been shopping since 10 a.m., and it’s now 4:08.”
“This is the last store, I promise. But please remember we stopped and ate lunch, then spent three hours inside of Dillards, looking at different suits for you.” I laugh. “Also remember I complimented you on what looked good and told you what I didn’t like. The entire time I was patient and waited on you as you picked out your sexy suits.”
“You’re right. I am sexy.” He broadens his shoulders and flexes his muscles. “I’m only tripping because it’s been too long since we’ve been alone. I’m ready to get back home where there’s only me and you. I don’t want to spend the time I have with you out here with all of these people.” He gives me this desirous look that lets me know Omega is horny.
With the way we’ve been getting it on, how is that even possible? The truth is I need this shopping trip so my VJ can heal from the beating it has taken over the past eight days. We have taken turns exploring each other’s bodies until we are completely sated. Between sex, sleep, board games, and long talks with Omega, this Christmas break doesn’t owe me anything.
“We have to get out of bed sometimes, Omega,” I tease.
“But do we really have to? We’re both out of work until the first of the year. We need to take full advantage of the time we have.” He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close to him until there is no space between us. “Am I wrong for wanting you all to myself?”
I shake my head as the employee comes from the back with the tree I want.
“Ma’am, here is your tree,” he says and puts it in the buggy.
Glad to have the tree I want, I give him a huge smile. “Thank you.”
Omega loosens his grip on me and grabs the handle of the buggy. We make our way to check out and then out of the store.
Once home, he brings the tree inside his apartment. I attempt to help with the bags, but he shuts that down quickly. “I’ve got this, baby. You can go and have a seat until I finish unloading.”
“But I can grab the little bags, at least.”
“Astalia, I have it. Go rest for a few minutes from shopping because you’re going to be the one hanging most of these decorations. I got this.”
I go inside the apartment and sit down, pouting. It’s going to take some getting used to, but I like that Omega is chivalrous. I smile thinking about how different he is from Lewis, my rude and abusive ex-boyfriend. That guy would die and come back to life screaming and punching before he would watch me sitting down while he worked. That part of my life I keep bottled up. I don’t want those feelings of inadequacy and hurt to cloud my mind, coloring moments with Omega.
I smile when Omega comes into the house, drops off a load of bags, then heads back to the car. “Alexa, play the Soulful Christmas Carols record,” I command, and the sweet sounds of Silent Night by the Temptations wafts into the room, broadening my smile. I’m a long way from where I was with Lewis, and that makes me happy.
“Okay, this is everything,” Omega says when he brings in the last bag. The foyer and part of the living room are filled with bags from at least five different department stores. Omega scratches his head as he looks at all of our new items. “We went out looking for a Christmas tree and ornaments, and it looks like we shopped for ten people.”
“Yeah, but we need everything we got,” I rationalize as I begin unpacking.
When I bend over to pick up the Christmas tree, Omega is right there to take the box out of my hands. He walks it over to the spot he made for it before we left.
“Stop trying to pick up these heavy boxes, Astalia. Let me do that for you.”
“Yes, sir,” I step back, feeling useless. I’m not used to this. “You know, as a girl raised in a house with three boys, it’s going to be hard for me to relinquish my independence and let you do things for me. I have always jumped in there and pulled my own weight. When I was younger, I raced my brothers, camped out with them, heck, even fought them.” She chuckles. “My dad treated me like one of the boys. He never made me feel like I could do less than them.”
“That explains why you attempt to pick up heavy things even though I’m standing right there. I understand what you’re saying, Astalia. But I don’t want you doing what I can and will do for you, at least not while I’m standing right there. I was raised thinking a man is supposed to take care of his lady, and that includes not allowing her to touch door handles, heavy boxes, and not to lift a finger at a job unless that’s what she wants to do. My parents have been married for thirty five years, and this has worked for them really well.”
“So your mother is a housewife?”
“Yes, and a very happy one.”
“Good that it works for your mother. Not all women want that, though. My mother worked a full-time job, and she pulled her weight by paying half the bills, not only because my father was a blue-collar worker but she wanted to help out,” I tell him.
“I understand, and I don’t have any objections to my woman going to work. That’ll give me more money to buy clothes.” He laughs. “I kid about the clothes. But everything else I said, I mean it. I won’t have my woman lugging around heavy bags and boxes on my watch. I’m glad you brought up your mother though. Tell me about your relationship with her,” Omega says as he begins assembling the tree, spreading the bottom branch out and attaching the second layer on top of it.
