Kisses in the Snow
I came down to breakfast wearing my favorite purple dress. It had snowed during the night, the first snow of the year. My fondest memories of growing up happened in the snow.
I poured myself a glass of orange juice and smothered my bagel with cream. Everyone was already at the table. Grandfather and Aaron were arguing, again, over the presence of the Heiken clan. Everyone else ate in silence, not wanting to add more tension. I took my seat and ate quietly, like the others, trying my best to drown out their annoying little squabble.
"They're up to something, I can feel it!" yelled Aaron, "I say we strike now when they least expect it." Grandfather's golden eyes blazed with youthful fire at his son, "That ruthlessness is exactly why I named Benjamin as my heir after Anthony died." That shut him up. Aaron stopped talking and leaned back in his seat in defeat. There was no one I admired more than Solomon Valintegra.
"So Anna, what do you have planned for today?" asked Olivia, attempting to break the awkward silence. I wiped my mouth with my napkin; "I need to get some Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving." She smiled cheerfully and took another bite of her eggs. "Yes that would be wise. Christmas shopping during the holiday rush is a complete nightmare." I stood up from my seat and grabbed my purse from the kitchen counter. "I better get going. I'll be back in a little bit." I said heading for the door. "Don't you need to borrow a car?" Asked Olivia. "No I'll walk." I replied. "In that cold?" she raised a surprised eyebrow. "It's better than riding in one of those death machines." I groaned, shivering at the thought of a car. "Please let someone take you. I don't like you being out alone, especially with the Heiken around." I shook my head, "No really, I'll be fine. I can take care of myself." Olivia stuck out her bottom lip in a pout.
"I'll take you." Said the voice I love to hear. I turned around and my eyes met the gorgeous sight of Hannibal standing in the doorway. He was wearing a long brown coat, charcoal colored slacks, black leather gloves, and a red and brown scarf was wrapped around his neck. "I thought you had a class today?" He smiled and ran his hand through his hair, "I'm playing hooky." He said with a chuckle. Olivia grinned up at me, "Yes, go with Hannibal. You two are getting married in a couple of weeks so you should spend as much time together as you can." I gave up. There was no use arguing with her. I knew she wouldn't let me leave until I agreed.
"Fine." I sighed. Hannibal slipped my black trench coat over my shoulders and helped my arms into the sleeves. "Is this coat warm enough? It's like ten below out there." "Yea it's fine. Let's get going." He offered me his arm and I took it as we walked out the door. He was right. It was absolutely freezing out! My legs were already shaking. "Wait here. I'll go get my car. He released my arm and walked over to the garage where at least a dozen expensive cars were parked. His old dark green Explorer looked like a hunk of junk next to Aaron and Simon's Mustangs and Covets but he was proud of it. He had spent an entire summer fixing it up, it still needed some bodywork but its engine roared just as powerfully as any sports car. He pulled it around front then hopped out to open my door for me. Once I was seated safely inside he got back in and cranked up the heat. He wrapped his arms around me and I nuzzled my head in his rock hard chest. "My god it's freezing!" I groaned. "I'll warm you up." Whispered Hannibal sexily in my ear. He kissed me and a fiery heat began at my mouth and surged through my entire body. He pulled away and I sighed with satisfaction. My insides were on fire now. "Thank you. I needed that. I swear you're better than scotch." He chuckled and we began our five-mile drive to the mall.
I stared out at the snow drifting gently to the ground and a fond memory from years past drifted into my mind like the snow to the earth. "Do you remember our first kiss?" I asked. Hannibal looked over at me and smiled, "Of course. Do you?" "A girl never forgets her first kiss."
"It was my sixteenth birthday. It had snowed heavily the night before and you were home for a visit. You brought me many gifts: hundreds of books because you knew I detest television. A beautiful new dress in my favorite shad of violet." "Which you are wearing today." He interrupted. I smiled, "Yes, I am. I am also wearing the necklace you carved for me from the bones of a deer." I touched the round pendent on the black ribbon around my neck. He had carved a wolf howling into the bone. I looked over at his hands on the steering wheel and saw the tiny scars that riddled his hands from his long nights of carving.
"After my party, I took you out for a walk around the compound. It began to snow again and the forest became even more beautiful, like a winter wonderland. I told you that there was another present I wished to receive before you returned to America." "Your first kiss." The image of that first was etched deep into my mind. His arms were wrapped around me, our lips were locked tightly together and I had wished with all my heart that he wouldn't end it. The snow danced around us, adding even more beauty to the moment. "Our first kiss." Hannibal reached over and squeezed my hand.
We walked around the mall together; my hand locked in his. "Let's see, what should I get Olivia?" Hannibal thought for a moment, "She likes perfume, doesn't she?" We then walked into Bath and Bodywork's, but quickly came out again coughing and gagging on the pungent perfume aroma that saturated the air inside the store. "Perhaps not." I coughed.
After two hours of shopping, Hannibal and I collapsed on a bench. "I think that's everyone, except you. What do you want for Christmas?" He smirked at me, "Nothing you don't already give me every night." I shoved him with a laugh.
After we returned home, I persuaded Hannibal to come on a walk with me through the snow. I sighed deeply and twirled around with my head angled towards the sky, "What a glorious day!" I felt a frigid ball of snow hit me in the back. "Why you!" I yelled, scooping up some snow and throwing it at Hannibal, who was laughing like a hyena a few feet away. He dodged it and tackled me to the ground.
His mouth and hands were all over me. My hands tangled in his hair and I could hear myself moaning at his scorching touch. My breasts heaved against his chest as I breathed. "Hannibal" I sighed his name. "I love you, Annie" he gasped, "I love you so much."
In my mind's eye, I envisioned my two little sons and daughter. They all had their father's dark brown hair and kind eyes. They were the children I knew I would have with Hannibal someday and I longed for them with each breath. They were running from me through the forest, calling for me to try to catch them. I laughed as I chased them through the trees. We came to the cliffs by the shore and I stopped to watch my three pups transform into brown wolves and run to a larger wolf with a scar around his neck. Wolf Hannibal looked up at me then threw his head back in a howl. This was a dream I had often but this time it was different. Another wolf's howl joined his and an enormous white wolf leapt into the scene. It snarled snapped at the pups, until they vanished. Hannibal and the white wolf growled viciously at each other then the white wolf jumped at Hannibal and forced him over the cliff.
I hesitantly pushed him off of me. "What's wrong Annie?" he asked with disappointment shining in his eyes. "I-it's too cold out here for this you idiot. Let's go home."