A Year to the Day

The alarm buzzed and Michelle stirred from her sleep.

"Danny", she said sleepily as she buried her head into her pillow.

The loud noise continued. She turned to look at him. He wasn't moving.

"Danny hit snooze." The buzzing continued. "Danny!" Nothing. "UGH!" She lifted herself on her elbows. He was oblivious to the horrible noise. Realizing it was up to her to stop it she tried reaching over him to hit the snooze button. Her arms were too short.

At times like these she wondered why the alarm was on his night table when she was the one who always had to turn it off.

Climbing over him she finally was able to tap the button. The alarm stopped. Holding herself up by her elbows she looked down at him. Danny still wasn't moving.

"Nice! Now I'm awake." She went to move off of him and felt his arms wrap around her.

"Where are you going?", he asked drowsily.

"You're awake!", She exclaimed slapping him on the chest. "Why didn't you stop the alarm?"

"This is much more interesting.", he mumbled as he pulled her closer and began kissing her neck.

"Oh no you don't. We might as well get ready. Mass is at 9:00."

"Can't you tell I'm ready?", he teased.

"Danny, you promised Ray. We can't skip today. Get up!", she tried extricating herself from his arms.

He held on tighter. He began to pull down the strap on her nightgown trailing kisses from her neck to her chest. He managed to pull the strap down far enough freeing her breast.

"Ahh! Just what I was looking for.", he sighed.

"Danny, we're going to miss Ray's sermon. She tried moving away. Noooo", she moaned as his lips went around her nipple and she felt his teeth begin to pull on it.

"You're supposed to go to confession before Mass." Michelle tried to regain her composure and reason with him.

His tongue licked her breast. His hand traced a path up her leg, bunching up her nightgown as he went along. She felt him reach between her thighs. "Forgive me Father for I have sinned..." he breathed.
"Danny!", she sucked in her breath as he touched her.

She arched her back in response. He laughed. "It seems you're just as ready as I am...Ummm."

"Hmmm..." she replied as she shifted positions so she wasn't laying completely on top of him. "Danny...Mass...". He began to massage her with his hand.

She sat up and decided to stop fighting him. Pulling her nightgown over her head she threw it down on the floor. It landed on a pile of discarded wrapping paper from the Christmas gifts she had been wrapping the night before.

Reaching down she held him and began to move her hand up and down. "Hail Mary...", his breathing was heavier.

"Merry Christmas Babe", she said as her lips claimed his.

When it was over Michelle looked at the clock. It was 8:25. She was laying on his chest, much in the same position she had been in while trying to hit the snooze button. Neither of them moved. He was still inside her.
"You're going to have to explain to Ray why we were late for his first Christmas Mass." , she said quietly. She felt sleepy again.

Laughing he said, "Okay, I'll see him afterwards and tell him everything during confession." He kissed her forehead.

"You wouldn't dare!", She lifted herself off of him suddenly.

"OHH! Hey! Don't move that quickly...", he groaned.

"Serves you right!", she laughed.

Eventually, Carmen's knock on their door had gotten them out of bed. They had rushed to get ready for Church. Ray had winked when he'd seen them enter the side door of the church 15 minutes late.

Afterwards there was a lunch at the house. They had sat around the table eating and remembering Christmases past. It was fun for Michelle to hear about Danny as a little boy on Christmas morning. Even Carmen seemed to be in the spirit.

Towards the late afternoon they all sat around the family room. There was a glow from the fireplace and the room was cozy. The christmas lights danced on the tree.

Michelle was curled up on one of the sofas with a blanket. Danny was playing at the Pinball machine with Bill.

Ding...Ding...Ding! TILT!

"Santos, you win again.", Bill said.

"Don't I always win?"

"Ha Ha Ha!"

Danny walked towards Michelle. Her eyes were closed and she looked very comfortable. He smiled looking down at her.

Kneeling down beside her he said in a whisper. "Hey."

She opened one eye and smiled at him, "Hey yourself!" She lifted the blanket and invited him to join her.

"You feel so good.", he said as he snuggled close to her.

"Oh no, don't start that again!"

"Now there's an idea..." He ran his hand up underneath her shirt to hold her breast.

"Danny..." She said in a sing song voice. "Shhh!" he said into her mouth as he kissed her. He began rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. "Honey Stop!" He kissed her neck and began to suck. The heat of his breath made her squirm with pleasure. "Dannnny..." Her eyes closed as she gave in to the feeling.

"Ohhh!" she sighed. Remembering where they were she opened her eyes. Giggling nervously she peeked over his shoulder to see if anyone was paying attention to them.

Carmen and Ben were sitting by the fire drinking brandy, Pilar and Bill were over by the card table playing War, but Abuela was looking straight at them, as Ray, gesticulating with his hands, talked to her!

"Oh my God!", she whispered desperately.

"I know!", he groaned into her neck and rubbed himself against her.

"Danny, your Grandmother is watching us!", She muttered through her teeth as she smiled at Abuela.

He stopped what he was doing and lifted his head slowly. He turned to look at his Grandmother and smiled.

She smiled back.

"Ah Jose! I feel so young on nights like this. I see us dancing. I'm wearing red and you are in your tuxedo. We glide over the floor. The orchestra is wonderful, the music is so happy. Christmas!"

Danny turned back to Michelle, who looked extremely embarrassed.

"Don't worry, she doesn't know what's going on.", he said trying to convince himself as well as her.

"Really? It looks to me like she knows EXACTLY what is going on. Look at her. She's smiling at us! I'm going to die. I have to get out of here. Let me up." she whispered. Desperate to get out from under Abuela's watchful eyes she started to sit up.

"Wait! You can't get up." He stopped her and pushed her back down.

"Why? Let me up!", she whispered.

He looked into her eyes and as serious as he could be said, "They'll see your hickie."

"Hick-...You gave me a hickie?", her hand flew to her neck and a look of panic came over her face.

He couldn't help himself, he started laughing so hard that tears began to fall from his eyes.

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to look at them.

Michelle wanted to die.

Ben lifted his glass to Carmen and said, "Ahh! Young love." To which Carmen replied, "Hmmph!"

Pilar asked Bill, "What's so funny?" Bill looking at the scene mumbled, "At least someone's having fun." , as he threw his next three cards on the table. Pilar was perplexed by the whole thing. "What's so funny?", she asked again.

Carmen, from the other side of the room, said in a serious voice, "Pilar! Go turn on the Christmas lights outside.

Ray watched Danny and Michelle and felt a twinge of jealousy. "Confession first thing in the morning...", he thought. He decided to ignore the laughter and continue the discussion with his Grandmother, "Abuela, the Church has not changed so much..."

The laughter woke Abuela from her daydream. "Oh dear, what is Ray talking about? These daydreams always get me into trouble. Carmen already thinks I have Alzheimer's..." Recovering she said, "I'm sorry Ray, what were you saying?" Danny continued to laugh. "What are they doing? Why is Danny laughing?"

"They're doing what I've been dreaming about for some time...That'll go over well with Abuela! Stop it Santos!"

"It's nothing Abuela. As I was saying, the Church..."

Michelle tried hiding her embarrassment by looking amused as she sat up. She pulled her hair over her shoulders to cover the love bite. She began climbing over Danny to get off the sofa. Danny pulled her back down despite her protests and kissed her.

"Danny!" "Oh God, will this nightmare ever end?", she thought.

"Look up", he said.

What?", she asked as her gaze traveled to the ceiling.

Hanging right over them was the mistletoe. "See? It's okay we were only doing what your supposed to...", he hugged her to him.

Michelle slapped away his arms, "You enjoy torturing me. Don't you?"

"Come on." He got up and pulled on her arms. As she stood up against him, he whispered, "Let me torture you some more..."

She laughed and followed him out of the room. Danny stopped at the door and leaning on the door frame said through his laughter, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Carmen almost choked on her drink. "My God what has happened to my son?", she asked Ben.

Ben laughed and took another sip from his drink.

Bill shook his head and said, "Deal the cards Pilar!"

Pilar laughed at her brother's silliness. Realizing Bill wasn't laughing she asked, "Why are you mad? Is it because I'm winning?"

Ray hoped his Grandmother wouldn't ask him where Danny and Michelle were going.

Abuela Santos watched them and smiled. Ray's voice faded into the background as she began to daydream again, "It's such a merry Christmas! Ay Jose! If you were here..."

The End