Previously

When his mother opened the door Brent handed her a vase of roses and a box of chocolate covered strawberries. Rita fussed unnecessarily with her necklace as she shut the door behind him. "Merry Christmas honey, do you need help carrying anything?"

"Nah, I decided it was better to receive than to give. The flowers are from Brad and the strawberries are from Natalie." Brent watched his mother's fingers playing with the chain around her neck. "I see someone forgot to tell Santa that you were naughty this year. Who's the necklace from and how come you're getting presents early?"

"I've had this for years. Your father gave it to me when we were dating." Rita gave her youngest son a sharp look. "I don't believe that you didn't buy anyone presents. Did you forget them?"

"Relax, they're up in Brad's room. I'm surprised you didn't find them" he said smugly. His mother shook her head as she looked at the hem of his jeans dragging on her spotless foyer floor. "I hope your dress clothes are up there too. I'd like to get some family pictures this year. Where in Brad's room did you hide presents?"

"Ha, I knew you'd be in his room trying to find things. Wouldn't you rather have pictures of us being cool and relaxed instead of wearing stuffy dress clothes?" Brent's smile grew as he thought about his mother walking into the living room and seeing the picture of her three children up on the wall. Looking over her head he peered through the doorway. A red ribbon hung from the picture. His brother-in-law winked at him while his sister waved. The tension in his stomach dissolved. Christmas was going to great this year. His attention turned back to his mother who was still talking.

"Your sister went to a lot of trouble to get matching shirts for you and Brad to wear for pictures so I hope you appreciate them." Waves of anxiety cascaded through Brent as he stood in the hallway with his mother. Why did she always have to worry about everything? She still hadn't said anything about the flowers or the strawberries either. Two minutes ago he had been whistling as he walked up to the door. Brent accepted a hanger for his jacket and ran up the stairs taking them two at a time.

Three steps from the top of the stairs his eyes encountered a fluffy pink sweater stretched across breasts he remembered holding. A diamond pendant swung hypnotically before him. Before Brent could ask what Gretchen was doing walking down stairs she didn't own her hand flicked something off his shoulder. If there had been mistletoe hanging over her head he would have kissed her. Unconsciously her hips swayed in front of him. Teasing was a part of her nature. He had to remember that. There was nothing special about the way she was coming on to him.

Gretchen's feet slid backwards as Brent moved closer. Their first kiss transferred gloss from her lips to his. His fingers rubbed the links of her necklace together as they moved down the hall. Long fingers reached around her waist to lock the door of his former bedroom. Brent smiled against her hair when he felt her hands climb up his back. Beneath her skirt her legs were soft, silky and bare. His hands moved up wondering how far she was going to let him go. It was a mistake to check if she was watching him. Unfocused eyes and parted lips were almost his undoing.

Now was the time to stop. Before one of them did something they were both going to regret later. The thought followed his hand as he covered the fullest part of her breast. Bare toes curled into the carpeting while her hands traveled down. Her bra fell to the floor. Brent buried his face between her breasts reveling in the Peach Hyacinth perfume she was wearing. Desperately Gretchen moved his hand to the front of her panties. Greedy fingers investigated the dampness before yanking them down. Tan lines striped the body he loved. Gretchen was no longer smiling when she helped him out of his striped shirt.

Clouds of golden curls rained down on his hands as he started unpinning her hair. Lowering her to the floor allowed him to taste more of her. On the floor Gretchen's back arched while her foot stroked the back of his leg. Brent allowed himself a good long look at her before closing his eyes. After he had finished she wouldn't let him go. Feverishly she tried to memorize the way he looked lying on the floor. Rhythmic hands encircled her hips. The chain around her neck fell between them. Gretchen threw it across the room still moving against him. Drunk on love Gretchen laughed, cried out and forgot to breathe.

Blissfully they laid on the floor until a voice in the hall startled them. Frantically they gathered their scattered clothing thinking madly about how to get out of his bedroom without someone in his family discovering them. Time was of the essence but Brent took a few precious seconds to watch clothes slide over her body. Now that he knew she was leaving he kissed her differently. Her lips lingered on his until the noise of the shower pulled them apart. 

That evening they avoided each other. Jealousy tore through him when Brent saw her smiling up at his brother. Back in the safety of his own apartment Brent took another shower. It was 3:33 on his alarm clock when a sound woke him. Peach Hyacinth perfume was the only thing lingering in the hall. Back in his room he pulled out the necklace she had worn earlier. When he dreamt it was of her. Gretchen was smiling up at him, unbuttoning his shirt and promising to love him forever. The next morning he remembered everything. His conclusion: dreams that make you cry are memorable ones.

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