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Christmas hadn’t always been Rey’s favorite holiday…that is, until recently.
It’s the same sob story you hear every now and then一the little girl’s parents were drug addicts and left her by herself in London until eventually she entered a foster home that was run by a kind woman named Maz一for which Rey is forever grateful. She considers Maz her mother figure.
And, who knows where she could have ended up.
When she finally turned 18 years old, she made the grown-up decision to get out of the country and start a new life for herself. So she decided to move to New York City.
Rey thought it would be the same as London, with the rainy, cold weather and all. But she was wrong.
Several years later, here she is, living in a small apartment she shares with her best friend Finn, who she met in college, suffering through a freezing snowstorm during the winter time.
At least she isn’t spending the holidays alone. Not anymore.
One morning, Finn brings home a Christmas tree, which is a big event for the both of them, considering Rey works at a local bookstore, and Finn works an unpaid internship.
Rey spends the entire afternoon scolding him: “We have to pay rent soon!” “Now we have to save even more water!”
Ultimately, Finn convinces her that it’s a once-a-year-thing, he won’t do it again, and he just wanted to make her happy.
They reuse the gold and red ornaments they have stored in their storage closet, and spend the rest of the evening decorating their tree; its fresh, woody aroma fills their small, cozy apartment.
Rey wakes up the next morning and decides that she’s going to go Christmas shopping with the money that she’s been able to save within the past few months. And, with Finn at work for the whole day, it’s perfect timing.
She enters the shower and bathes in her usual vanilla body wash, but moisturizes in her new seasonal peppermint scented body lotion, which is fitting, she thinks.
She blow dries her hair and dresses in a knitted turtleneck, with a skirt and tights, layered with a coat and a scarf. She puts her hair up in her usual bun, with two strands that fall to the front of her face, framing it perfectly.
Rey doesn’t own a car, nor does Finn, so she makes her way to the subway station, setting her destination to a local shopping plaza that includes an Ikea.
Once she arrives, she stops at a Starbucks. Usually, she orders a Royal English Breakfast tea; black, no sugar, no honey, no anything. However, she’s feeling festive today, and she orders a peppermint mocha with half the pumps of sugar. (Because who needs that much sugar in their coffee, anyway!?)
While she’s walking to Ikea with the warm coffee in her hand, it’s already snowing, but the winds start to pick up, nearly pulling Rey with them.
Minutes later, she rushes inside the store and loosens her scarf, with her cheeks and nose reddened like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin can be heard through the speakers. Families and couples are seen walking closely together through the aisles.
It makes Rey wish she had someone special to spend the holidays with. Sure, Finn can be her special someone. But, she wants something more than that—someone to cuddle, drink festive hot chocolate and watch Christmas films with. And she hasn’t really dated since her freshman year of college.
She snaps out of her reverie and reminds herself why she’s even in the store in the first place: to buy Finn a new mattress.
He had been complaining about his lower back for months, so she thinks he’ll love this gift. How is she going to surprise him with it on Christmas? She doesn’t know, but she’ll figure it out. She always does.
Rey spends the entire afternoon getting sidetracked by all the lovely sofas and decor, things she knows she can’t afford right now. Soon enough, the afternoon turns into evening, and who knew it would be so hard to find the perfect mattress?!
Hours and hours later, she finally settles on a mattress that sinks in like a cloud once you lie in it in a modern, minimalistic bedroom showroom.
“This is the one,” she says to the employee with a big smile while she lays on the mattress.
“Oh, perfect!” the man exclaims, walking over to Rey. “Let me just get this…” He pauses, looking over the SKU number with an iPhone in hand, which Rey assumes belongs to the store. “I… Um…”
“What? Why are you stuttering?” Rey asks, sitting up from the mattress. She looks at him with tightened eyebrows.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but一”
“I just ordered that one.” A deep, calm voice says from behind the employee.
Rey looks behind the employee, and sees a tall, broad, muscular and wide man with dark, black, wavy shoulder-length hair crossing his arms, his biceps nearly ripping through his black crewneck sweater. And, wow, he might be the most handsome man she’s ever seen. But, she can’t back down from this. She’s never backed down from a fight.
She clears her throat and stands up, wanting to match his height, opening her mouth to say something to this random man, but is then interrupted by the employee.
“Perhaps you can order it online when it’s back in stock一”
“No.” Rey interrupts flatly, not even looking at the employee. “I need this now. You don't understand, it’s supposed to be a gift.”
The man chuckles, and it’s not like he’s laughing with her, but he’s laughing at her. “Now, why would you decide to make a big purchase on something like this during the busiest times of the year?”
Rey scoffs, crossing her arms. “I could ask you the same question.”
The employee sighs. “Guys, really, it’s just a mattress,” he says. “Can’t you both settle on a different one so that everyone can be happy?”
“No,” Rey and the man say simultaneously.
“Why don’t you go somewhere else?” the man asks.
“Funny! Why don’t you?” Rey asks.
The man clenches his jaw. “I was here first.”
Rey crosses her arms. “Rock, paper, scissors for it.”
The man laughs, shaking his head and trying to hide his smile by looking toward the ground. But, Rey can’t stop replaying his laugh in her head, over and over and over again. She thinks it may be the most beautiful sound she’s ever heard in her life.
After a few seconds of silence, he finally looks at her again with his gingerbread brown eyes. He scoffs. “What is this? Middle school?”
The employee groans. “I’m calling security.” He mumbles while walking away.
Rey and the man ignore the employee, spending the next hour and a half bickering back and forth over the mattress.
To Rey’s surprise, security never shows up, which makes her think she and this man were never actually really that threatening.
Rey ends up sitting on the bed, silently protesting that it belongs to her and her only.
“Attention, IKEA customers,” the speaker echoes throughout the store. “Twelve inches of heavy, wet snow are currently piled high, and it’s coating roadways, halting train and subway lines, and we have to temporarily close the store. We will not let customers leave under these dangerous conditions, and we are proud to offer a stay while the weather calms down. Please see the customer service desk for further information. Thank you, and happy shopping!”
Rey scoffs, palming her forehead. “Bloody hell, this cannot be real.”
The man finally sits down next to her and rests his head against the headboard on the mattress, staring straight ahead at the different set ups of bedrooms. “At least now this gives you the opportunity to try out the mattress and decide that, after all, you don’t want it.” He gives her a smug and cocky smile. “And then it will go to me.”
Rey looks straight at him. It’s easier to make eye contact when they’re seated, due to their height difference. “In your dreams…” she pauses. “Wait, what’s your name?”
The man laughs again, and Rey blushes this time. She looks down at her interlocked fingers laid in her lap to avoid being seen by him.
“We’ve been arguing for nearly two hours, and you just now thought to ask my name?” he asks.
“Mhm,” Rey hums.
“Hmm,” the man hesitates. “If I tell you, will you give me the mattress?”
His question makes Rey raise her head instantly, staring at him. “No!”
He clicks his tongue. “Fair enough.” He extends his hand for Rey to shake it. “My name is Ben.”
Rey looks down at his hand and shakes it, her grasp gentle. She doesn’t meet his eyes though. She focuses entirely on how giant his hand is compared to hers, like a bear’s paw. She pictures his hand on her waist, brushing it along her sides, making their way to her—
“Are you going to tell me your name?” Ben asks, staring straight into her eyes and not letting go of her hand.
Rey shakes herself out of her daydream and looks up at him with a pink blush on her cheeks.
“I’m Rey… Just Rey.”
“Rey.” He repeats slowly after her, smiling.
She looks down at their hands and finally lets go, looking away from him at the minimal amount of employees and customers in the furniture store.
After hours of sitting next to each other, shoulders almost touching in awkward silence, Rey finally decides to break the silence. “So, aren’t you going to ask me questions to get to know me better now that we’re stuck in here overnight?” she asks.
Ben shrugs. “What is there to ask you?” he asks.
She scoffs. “You don’t do this often, do you?”
He shakes his head. “No,” he says. “I’m not a Christmas person. I mean, a Holiday person. I hate Christmas.”
Rey rolls her eyes. “I mean talking to wo一people. Talking to people.” She clears her throat softly.
Ben raises his eyebrow. “I beg to differ,” he says. “I’m the CEO of a company. I’m most definitely a people person.”
Rey raises her eyebrows in disagreement. “Mhm. Yeah, sure,” she sighs. “Anyway… Why do you hate Christmas? I think it’s a joyful time to spend time with your loved ones.” She smiles at him.
Ben scoffs. “I disagree.”
She tightens her eyebrows. “What are you? The Grinch?” she asks.
That makes him laugh loudly, and it makes some people in the other showrooms look at them.
His laugh makes her smile a little bit, making it impossible to be angry at him.
“I haven’t heard that one before. That’s a good one, Rey,” he says.
And, there it is again, the way her name falls on his plush lips makes her swoon internally. She finds herself staring at his lips for too long, and she blushes, looking away at nothing again.
She hears Ben clear his throat behind her, and she looks at him.
“I assume you’re from London, right?” he asks.
She nods. “Was it so obvious?” She teases.
He laughs softly again. “I think the British accent basically gave it away.”
Rey smiles at him. “Where are you from, Ben?”
Seconds later, an employee walks up to them, interrupting Rey.
She hates him for having the nerve to interrupt their conversation. How dare he.
“Is this the bed the happy couple is going to stay in overnight?” the employee asks.
Rey shakes her head. “Oh一”
“Yes.” Ben says lightly. “My wife and I have always wanted to test out this mattress. Right, honey?”
She looks at him in shock with her mouth slightly open.
Ben raises his eyebrows, waiting for her response and wanting her to play along.
“Oh, um…” she stutters. “Yes! Yes. I’ve always wanted to try this lovely mattress.” She brushes the palm of her hand on the mattress, almost petting it as if it were a dog or cat.
The employee raises his eyebrow in suspicion. “O…kay, then.”
He walks away, and Rey looks back at Ben. “You’re aware we’re going to actually have to sleep in this bed together now, right?” she asks.
He pouts, mocking her. “Do you need me to build a pillow fort in the middle for you?”
Rey scoffs and grabs a pillow from the bed, hitting him in the head with it. “I’m not twelve!”
Ben laughs loudly again, and he grabs the pillow from her, grabbing her wrist gently. He pulls her closer, and he stares down at her lips.
Rey blushes and looks down at his lips. She clears her throat gently and looks away first, and he releases his grip from her wrist, already missing their skin-to-skin contact.
“ Attention customers, it is 9 p.m., and the IKEA store is now closed ,” the speaker announces. “ The cafeteria will be open until 10 p.m. for those who are staying in due to the dangerous weather conditions. ”
Ben stands up, not saying anything and grabbing his coat from where he hung it on the headboard.
“Where are you going?” Rey asks, looking up at him.
“Food.” He says while walking away from her.
“I’ll go with you.” Rey says, standing and smoothing out her skirt. She puts on her coat and scarf, and follows after Ben.
She catches up and walks with him, catching her breath. “You’re stuck with me.”
Ben rolls his eyes. “Great.”
Rey just doesn’t want to be left alone, or is it that she fears she’ll lose him in the snowstorm and never see him again?
Rey orders the chocolate caramel cake, while Ben orders a salmon from the nearly empty cafeteria. They sit down at a table together with soft and slow Christmas music playing in the background. Ben eyes her food weirdly when Rey sets down her plate.
She takes a bite of her cake and looks up at him. “What?” she asks through a full mouth.
He chuckles. “That isn’t dinner.”
She swallows and shrugs. “I had a sweet tooth…” she says. “And you never answered my question.”
Ben looks at her and swallows down his food. “What question?”
“Where you’re from.” Rey takes another bite of her cake.
“I was born and raised in New York.”
“What do you do?”
He smiles at her. “I didn’t know I was at a job interview,” he says. “Are you interested in me, Rey?”
Rey blushes, and she takes another bite of her food, trying to avoid his question.
She swallows. “I just want to know who I’ll be sleeping with,” she jokes.
“There’s usually no questions during a one night stand,” Ben says calmly, taking another bite of his salmon.
Rey coughs, nearly choking on her cake. She grabs her cup of water and gulps it down.
Ben swallows down his food and looks at her seriously, not finding his statement amusing whatsoever.
“I一um…” Rey stutters. “It’s nothing like that.” She laughs nervously.
“I know, Rey. I was joking,” Ben grins at her. “I work in financing.”
She stares at his face for too long, again; this time, focusing on the smile lines that form whenever he laughs or smiles that she hadn’t noticed before. And, of course he was joking.
There’s no way this man could possibly get more perfect.
She takes another bite of her cake and swallows it down. “So, you’re like a millionaire?”
Ben’s grin doesn’t go away. “Something like that.”
And one thing she’s noted in her mind that irritates her about him is that she can never tell when this man is joking.
After they finish eating, Ben and Rey return to the bedroom showroom where their favorite mattress is located. Ben hangs up his coat on the headboard again, and makes himself comfortable under the comforter that is already set up.
Rey awkwardly stands on the side and looks at Ben. How is it that he can make himself comfortable with a woman he only met earlier today?
She slowly takes off her coat and her scarf, along with her shoes. She clears her throat softly and climbs into bed with him, her back turned toward him.
The Christmas music that was playing all day suddenly shuts off, and the chatter from families has gone mute, assuming some remaining customers have finally fallen asleep.
Which includes Ben, because within five minutes, Rey hears him exhale a little loudly from behind her, making her turn around completely to look at him.
She observes his long face; all the moles that cover it, like constellations in the night sky, his big, imperfect nose that seems to fit him so well that Rey has grown to like, his eyelashes that brush his cheeks when he’s sleeping, and his dark, long, wavy hair that smells so good, making Rey want to run her fingers through it and purposely ruin his hair she knows he takes such good care of.
Suddenly, Ben opens his eyes, and she jumps, too in shock to move a muscle.
“I…” Rey stutters. “I thought you were asleep.”
Ben hums. “Just resting my eyes,” he sighs. “Can’t sleep?”
Rey shakes her head. “No.”
He grins at her. “Let’s play twenty questions.”
She laughs softly. “Who’s twelve years old now?”
He grabs her waist and squeezes it under the comforter. “Shut up.”
Rey gasps softly and looks at his lips, not saying anything.
He takes his hand off of her, and he clears his throat. “Sorry.”
Rey changes the subject quickly, being unfazed by his sudden action. “Fine. Twenty questions. I’ll start,” she says softly, trying to be quiet and not wake the people around them. “Do you have any pets?”
“No,” he says flatly. “Although, I grew up with a dog named Chewie.”
Rey giggles. “Chewie? That’s so cute.”
Ben returns her smile. “My turn.” He hums in thought. “Why did you come here to New York?”
“Yes or no questions only, Ben.”
Ben clicks his tongue. “Fine. Did you come to New York for a boyfriend?”
Rey scoffs. “No.” She hesitates for a moment. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He looks into her eyes. “No. Do you work in business like me?”
She makes a disgusted noise and laughs. “No.”
“Shame,” he says. “You could’ve worked for me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Who’s to say I would have accepted the offer?”
“Ouch,” Ben says plainly.
She giggles again softly. “Okay, my turn,” Rey says. “Are you in your 30’s?”
“Yes,” he says. “Are you?”
“No. Younger.”
He raises his eyebrows in surprise. “You’re young.”
Rey stares into his eyes, her smile slowly fading. “Are you spending Christmas alone?”
Ben’s smile fades as well. “Yes.”
Rey frowns. “You don’t have to, you know?” she says. “I mean, you wouldn’t be alone if you spend it with me.”
Ben looks down at her lips, staying quiet for a long couple of seconds. “I have another question for you.”
She blushes. “Hm?”
“Can I kiss you?” He reaches up to palm her cheek, his thumb brushing her bottom lip.
She exhales shakily. “Please,” she begs.
The next moment feels like a dream, and Rey finds her lips against his, the gentle kiss slowly turning more heated.
His hand is still palming her cheek, and it’s slowly going down to her neck; his whole hand spanning the entirety of her throat.
She moans softly into his mouth and inserts her tongue, feeling her cunt and lower abdomen growing hot. Then, he pulls away from her abruptly.
They’re both out of breath, and she tightens her eyebrows, giving him a confused look.
“We can’t do this here,” Ben says quietly.
Rey sits up and looks around, then lies back down. “Everyone’s asleep, and there aren’t very many people here.”
“I一uh,” Ben stutters. “I didn’t bring any condoms. I mean, who brings condoms to an IKEA anyway?”
Rey smiles at him. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I think you might be the woman of my dreams.” He chuckles, not moving his hand away from her neck. “Turn around.”
She hesitates but does as she’s told, looking the other direction toward other different showrooms.
She feels his hands grab her waist, pulling down her tights, along with her underwear, and lifts up her skirt. He reaches in between her and begins rubbing her folds, moving between her clit.
He groans silently. “You’re so wet for me already.”
With his free hand, he grabs her jaw, making her look at him, and he leans in to kiss her roughly.
Rey moans into his mouth, grabbing the sheets and comforter to pull it over them.
He pulls away, out of breath. “We need to be quiet,” he scolds her quietly.
She nods. “S-sorr一”
Ben leans in to kiss her again, not letting her finish what she was going to say.
He pushes two fingers inside her, and he groans in her ear. He pulls away again. “You’re so tight.”
She blushes at his words of praise about her. “I need you inside me,” she says breathily. “Now.”
He clicks his tongue. “So impatient,” he says. “If we were in my bedroom, I would’ve had you wait. You’re lucky we’re here.”
He stops rubbing her, and from behind her, she hears him pull down his zipper and the fumbling sound of him pulling down his jeans.
Once Ben’s member is free, Rey feels it against her leg, making her gasp.
“I wish I could see it,” she whispers, her cunt getting wet.
“Soon.”
His words make her heart jump, making her hopeful that she’ll see him again after this.
But, her daydreaming is interrupted when she suddenly feels his cock going inside of her, and he gasps in her ear, his hands tightly grabbing her waist.
Rey closes her eyes and bites her lip to restrain herself from moaning loudly.
He makes her leg bend, accidentally ripping her tights for him to go deeper inside of her. They pay it no mind.
His thrusting is slow, but passionate and intimate, making sure the bed doesn’t begin to creak.
“You feel so good, Rey,” he groans.
His pace and thrusting are consistent, and he reaches between them to rub her clit in fast circles.
“Come for me, sweetheart,” he whispers into her ear.
With Ben’s words, she feels the heat in her stomach growing, and within seconds, she unravels, clenching around him. The hand that was rubbing her clit is now covering her mouth, making sure people around them can’t hear her.
Rey tightens her eyebrows and yelps into Ben’s mouth, climaxing harder than she ever has in her life.
At the same time, Ben releases inside of her, still having his hand on her mouth and groaning in her ear.
“Fuck,” he whispers, taking his hand off of her mouth.
They’re both breathing heavily as they come down from their highs. He pulls out of her, and Rey moans from the sudden loss.
“That was amazing,” Rey says breathily, pulling up her underwear and tights. “I’ve never done anything like that before.”
Ben chuckles. “Have sex?”
Rey scoffs. “No, silly,” she says. “I mean, have sex in public.”
He wraps his arm around her and pulls her closer, spooning her. “It was the first time for me too. And I’m glad it was with you.” He nuzzles his nose into her hair.
She relaxes under his arm and closes her eyes, falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Rey wakes up by herself and checks the time. 6 a.m. She finds herself still wrapped around Ben’s arms and sits up, groaning. She feels an achy discomfort in between her legs.
Oh, yeah, they had sex last night, and it was the first time she’s had sex in a while. And, she’s especially happy that it was with him. She’s never liked a guy so much the first time she met him. But with Ben, it’s different.
She stands up, feeling his spend go down her leg. “Bloody hell,” she curses. She looks around and conveniently finds a tissue box, quickly grabbing some and wiping her leg, making sure people around aren’t looking at her.
She makes her way to customer service and finds the employee from the day before sitting at the desk.
“Good morning,” he says, yawning. “What can I do for you?”
“Has the snowstorm passed?” Rey asks.
The employee nods. “Luckily, it has,” he says. “Guests are able to go home anytime they need to.”
Rey smiles at him, nodding. “Thank you.”
She makes her way toward the bed she and Ben had slept in, and finds him still asleep. She sighs and shakes him, grabbing him by the bicep. “Ben, wake up,” she says.
He groans, slowly opening his eyes. “Good morning, beautiful.”
Rey blushes. “Good morning. We can finally go home,” she says, hoping he gets the hint and takes her home with him, completely forgetting why she came here in the first place.
He sits up with his eyebrows tightened. “The snowstorm has passed?”
She nods. “Yes,” she says. “And, you can keep the mattress.”
He hums, lying down on the pillow again. “No.”
Rey raises her eyebrows. “No?”
“I was going to give it to you, anyway,” he says. “I just wanted to have you. And I’m lucky enough to have gotten you for Christmas.”
She scoffs in disbelief and tackles him. “Are you bloody serious, Ben?!” She finds herself straddling him on the bed.
He chuckles, grabbing her wrists in a playful manner and away from her face. He leans in and gives her a chaste kiss. “Now I can take you on a proper date,” he says. “Merry Christmas.”
She giggles. “Merry Christmas to me.”