Make Me Smile

Happy Birthday

Winter came with force, the first day of the season being a snowstorm. Without crops to tend to, my days were pretty free, so I mostly bundled up and fished. But still, I was bored. Wednesday couldn’t come soon enough!

It finally arrived, and I woke up that morning thrilled for two reasons. One, Vaughn would be here today. And two, it was my 20th birthday. I didn’t have any family, but Natalie’s family had pretty much “adopted” me into it, so I knew I could count on them to remember my birthday.

Sure enough, I hadn’t been awake very long when there was a pounding at my door. It was Taro, coming to bring me a basket full of bread. It was an odd birthday gift, but I was happy nonetheless. I thanked him and put it away.

“Come on over to our house for lunch. All my young’uns will be there, and we can have a little party,” he told me, and I clapped my hands in delight. He left, and I took care of my animals. I now had a cow, a doggie, and a horse in addition to my chickens. I had hatched some eggs that Chichi laid, and that brought the total to three. I did a little fishing to pass the time, then I headed to Natalie’s house for lunch.

As Taro had said, the whole family was there, and we ate my favorite meal, curry, together. Natalie presented me with a new frying pan. I could guess where she got it from, since she was dating a Gourmet and all. I raised my eyebrows at her. “Does Pierre know you took this from his house?”

She scowled. “He said I could take it. He has 15 different frying pans anyway.” She rolled her eyes. He says they all have different purposes, but that one was a duplicate.” I just smiled and thanked her.

I tried to help them clean up, but they insisted that since it was my birthday, I shouldn’t have to. I thanked them all for the birthday meal, then I headed home to put up my new frying pan, then I was going to look for Vaughn.

As I approached my house, I saw him leaning against the side. When he saw me, he stooped and picked up the wooden box by his feet. I looked at him questioningly, and he gave me that little half smile. “Happy birthday,” he said, handing me the box.

I removed the lid in wonder. It was full of oranges. I looked up at him and smiled widely. “Thank you.”

He cleared his throat and fidgeted with his hat. “I know it’s hard to get fruit during the winter. When I saw those were in season in one of the towns I travel to, I just thought…” he trailed off. I just smiled at him again, and we went inside so that I could put the fruit away.

While we were inside, I glanced at the couch, and blushed furiously. He must have been able to read my mind, and knew that I was nervous about that. “Let’s go for a walk,” he said, taking my hand and leading me outside.

We strolled through the forest, admiring the way the snow blanketed everything. We made our way to the mountain area, and found a scenic spot to sit and talk.

“When is your birthday?” I asked him.

“On the 3rd of Spring.”

“Oh, so, next season. Hmmmm….you’ll be 28 then.”

“Uh huh.” He adjusted his hat.

I changed the subject. “I love winter. It makes everything look so pretty. But…I don’t like the cold that much.”

He nodded. “Business slacks off for me during winter. I’m not sure why. You’d think that people would focus more on animals during the winter, since they can’t plant crops, but the opposite is true. You wouldn’t believe the amount of people that sell all off their animals at the beginning of winter, just so they’ll have absolutely no farm chores to do.” He snorted. “All that work to get the animals to like you, and then you just have to start all over again with new animals. Waste of time.”

I just nodded, listening. Wow, this was the most I’d ever heard him talk at one time. He eyed me. “You’re not planning to do that, are you?”

I shook my head furiously. “No way! I’m bored enough as it is. In the other seasons, it was hard enough waiting for Wednesday to come, but waiting in winter is excruciating!” I blushed, realizing that I had just admitted that I wish the rest of the week away just to see him again.

He chuckled. “You like Wednesdays, huh?” I nodded, a little embarrassed. “So do I,” he said as he wrapped his arm around me. “Thursdays are pretty nice, too.” I rested my head on his shoulder, and we sat in silence for a long time.

After a while, I started shivering , and he rubbed his hand up and down my arm. “Are you cold? Let’s go somewhere warm.” We walked back down the mountain.

I squeezed his hand. “Let’s go to the café.” He nodded, and we headed that way.

Inside, we ordered tea and cake. We had just started to eat when Natalie trounced in, plopping herself down at our table. “Oh my god, Chelsea, I have been looking everywhere for you! You will not BELIEVE what Pierre just did.”

I stared at her, then gestured with my eyes at Vaughn. “Um, Natalie…” I trailed off, hoping that she would get the hint.

She glanced at Vaughn. “Oh, hey, cowboy.” She looked back at me. “So anyway, I asked Pierre if he thought it was sexy for a woman to put whipped cream all over her body. And he gives me this long lecture about how whipped cream will lose its blahblahblah something at body temperature and how it was a bad idea.” She widened her eyes at me. “I mean, hello! I was basically offering myself to him there and he totally ignored it! What the hell?”

I shook my head, stifling a laugh. “Nat, maybe you can try again after he hits puberty,” I heard Vaughn choke on his tea, and Natalie fumed at me.

“You are not helping!” She stood up suddenly. “Fine, I’ll go back and give my boyfriend a bottle, and you go home with Rodeo Boy here! Let me know if he neighs like a horse when you ride him!” She stuck her tongue out at me, and stormed out. I buried my red face in my hands, utterly embarrassed.

Vaughn cleared his throat. “Rodeo Boy?”

I lifted my face out of my hands and rolled my eyes. “She…says things when she’s mad. That was pretty tame. You should hear some of the stuff she says to her brother. No wonder the kid has no self esteem.”

Vaughn cocked an eyebrow. “And this girl is your best friend?”

I sighed. “I know, I know. But most of the time she’s funny and cool.”

He just shrugged, and we finished our tea. He walked me back to my house. He started to let go of my hand at the door, but I held on tight as I opened the door. I pulled him inside, and shut the door behind us. He raised his eyebrows, but didn’t say anything. I knew what I was doing, and what I wanted.

I urged him down onto the couch, and removed his hat, laying it on the table. I smoothed his hair down, and then leaned in and kissed him. He made a small noise of surprise, but quickly regained control and began kissing me back. I stroked his face and neck with my hands. He responded by deftly removing his gloves and sliding his hands over my waist. I sighed a little into his mouth.

He pushed me back on the couch slightly, bringing himself above me. My heart beat furiously and I could feel my whole body blushing, but I was determined not to chicken out. His hand slid up over my shirt, finding my breast again and squeezing it lightly. He kissed me deeply, insistently, and then broke away to kiss at my throat and collarbone. I sighed and shuddered with delight, and I heard a low growl of pleasure emanate from him.

His hand quickly slipped underneath my shirt, and he traced his fingers over my bra. I gasped as he pushed my shirt high on my chest, and brought his mouth there, kissing the skin that was exposed. He expertly flicked the clasp open, and nudged the lacy material aside. He murmured approvingly at the sight. I was breathing heavily to the point of panting as he brought his mouth to one and rolled his tongue over it. I gasped with pleasure, and he continued to kiss and lick at me.

One hand found my waist again, and this time slid downwards. He stroked at my hip, then quickly brought his fingers in between my thighs and pressed at me through the fabric. I cried out in delight, surprised and overwhelmed at the sensation. He rubbed his fingers there lightly, and I thought I would go mad with desire as my eyes rolled back in my head. I moaned deeply, and didn’t protest as he brought his fingers to the zipper of my jeans and worked it down. He used both hands to tug at the waistband, urging them down over my thighs.

I was now just in my panties, and I trembled a little as I saw the look of desire in his eyes. His fingers found me again, and it felt even more pleasurable than it had through the jeans. I squirmed against him, relishing the feeling. He caught my mouth in a kiss once more, and it was deep and passionate. I felt something hard grinding against the top of my thigh, and I squeaked as I realized it was him. The idea of that made me feel scared, but thrilled at the same time.

My thoughts were broken off as he slid his whole hand down the front of my panties. His fingers slid easily through the wetness that had pooled there, and I blushed with embarrassment that my desire for him was so apparent. He just groaned with delight, and urged one finger inside of me. I gripped onto his shoulder, crying out. “Does that hurt?” he whispered. I shook my head at him, then closed my eyes again and moaned with pleasure as he touched me. His touch was firm and insistent, and I felt a wonderful tingling sensation throughout my body. It suddenly became very concentrated in one spot, and I shuddered and cried out in ecstasy as I climaxed. He slowed down his fingers, and carefully withdrew them, kissing gently at my neck. I just gasped for breath, trying to recover from the powerful overload of sensation.

His eyes met mine, and he whispered, “Happy birthday.”