The Variations by Jones M (christmas read aloud txt) 📖

we'll have to save on power. We will have to switch off some devices in the house."

"Like?"

"I don't know yet, but we'll figure them out by the end of the day."

************* ***************** ********************* ******************************

Chris followed through with what he had told Kate. He turned off the heaters in the rooms that were not being used, explaining that it would possibly have the generator running for a couple more days.

Kate felt okay with that, but then he had suggested something that had surprised her.

"We should share a room together."

She had been tongue-tied for a while, not knowing how to reply.

'Sharing a room with Chris...'

Even though it would not be the first time, Kate felt nervous about the idea. Especially when they were in a relationship.

"Or we could keep staying in separate rooms," Chris offered, but he had not looked happy with that suggestion.

Kate had her eyes on him, and she wondered if she was making a big deal out of it. Chris wanted to save on power, and if sharing a room with her could help, who was she to deny the proposal? Besides, it didn't feel like something he had formed just so that he could touch her at night.

"Okay," she had replied to him, and he had grinned like a boy receiving a gift on Christmas.

Marie had hoped the day would slow down, but her prayers were ignored. In one moment she was eating lunch, and in the next, she was in Chris' room and in his bed. They had switched off the lights, intending to fall asleep as soon as possible.

"This feels comfortable," she commented, snuggling herself in the comforters.

Somehow, her worries had been erased. It was not weird at all. In fact, she enjoyed Chris' presence because he comforted her in the dark.

No, seriously. It was so dark that she couldn't see but feel the things around her. Also, the wind harshly blowing outside and the cold air in the room made her feel like she was in a scary movie. 

"Where are you?" Chris asked, and Kate felt the comforters being moved.

She had earlier suggested that they switch off the space heater in his room. Kate started doubting if it was a good idea at all.

"Here," she replied, stretching her hand out towards the direction of his voice. In an instant, she felt Chris' fingers graze hers. He pulled her form to his, wrapping an arm around her and snuggling her to him. The heat of his form seeped into hers through their clothes, and it made her sigh in content.

"Better?" he whispered in her ear.

"Hmm," she told him. Kate was not much of a cuddler, but being in his embrace had her changing her mind. She even moved her legs to entwine with his, enjoying the warmth provided from their body heat and the comforters above them.

"You're so soft," Chris told her as he felt her hand. His fingers rubbed against her palm, and she laughed. She shifted, moving her form so that she could bury her head on his chest. She smelled him, sighing in delight at the mixture of cologne and him.

"Did you just sniff me?" he asked out loud. Marie was glad that it was dark because she was blushing at that moment. She chose to ignore him, pretending to be asleep.

"Kate?" he called out to her, but she remained silent.

"Wow. You went out like a light," he chuckled before kissing her on her forehead. Kate's heart fluttered at the action. His hand kept caressing hers, and the action felt like a massage.

Seconds later, pretense became reality. The coldness of the room mixed with Chris cuddling with Kate was a recipe for her to fall asleep instantly.

"Goodnight," Chris said, just as she zoned into the dream world.

 

Chapter 32

 

The air in the room was colder than it had been on the previous night. Kate breathed and shivered in the bed, trying to bury herself further into the comforters.

Chris groaned, shifting so that his form was pressing against hers.

'We should have left the heater on,' she thought as she opened her eyes. She noticed she was in Chris' bedroom, remembering how she had decided to share the bed with him. Even though it was morning, the room looked partially dark.

Marie slightly shifted away from Chris, deciding to stretch her hand out of the comforters to feel the outside temperatures. The freezing air hit her fingers, and she quickly pulled them back in the comforters. The swift motion had disturbed Chris from his slumber.

"Why are you up?" he grumbled beside her, startling her for a second. "Go back to sleep."

He moved to wrap his arm around her stomach.

"Chris, it's morning," she whispered to him.

"So?" he whispered. "It's still cold. Go back to bed."

'It will still be cold in the evening,' she thought, but she didn't voice it out.

Marie sighed, finding herself agreeing with him as she shifted to press her back against Chris' torso. He tightened his hold on her, moving his hand so that it lay on the bed.

She soon found herself falling back to sleep.

 

 

A while later, she opened her eyes. The darkness in the room had dissipated.

Kate shifted on the bed as she yawned. Then she proceeded to sit on the bed.

It was at that moment that she noticed Chris was not in the room. Also, the room felt warm. The comforters she had been using were folded and placed on top of the dresser in the room. Confused, she slowly got up from the bed to head to the door.

"Chris?" Kate called out as she descended the stairs. She looked around when she had reached the dining room, not spotting him anywhere.

"Yes?" he answered behind her, and she shrieked as she turned to face him.

He looked fresh from a shower, and he had donned on a long-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts. He was also giving her a questioning look.

"Oh, there you are," she said. "What are you doing?"

"Just making breakfast."

"Oh," Kate commented.

"Have you seen the snow outside?" he asked her.

Marie remembered the storm that had hit the area on the previous night. With quick steps, she made her way to the nearest window. She pulled back the curtain, and she gasped at all the whiteness she saw.

Evidently, it had, and it looked close to reaching the window.

"What the hell?" she commented in disbelief. "How are we going to get rid of this?"

"It's worse in other places. Trust me," Chris stated, making her turn to face him. "So, breakfast?"

Kate found it ironic that Chris was thinking about breakfast when there was snow outside that was threatening to cover the whole house. She thought about how they could clear it off, but then she realized it would be futile. Maybe the sun would make an appearance during the day.

"Sure. But let me get changed first," she replied to Chris' offer.

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Kate took a short time in the bathroom. She later descended into the kitchen, having donned on a large shirt and a long pair of cotton shorts. She was so glad about the heater that she decided not to ask Chris to switch it off ever again.

"So what are we having for breakfast this time?" she asked as she faced Chris.

"Eggs and bacon," he replied, pointing at the food he had served on four plates. "I could even fry up some sausages. It's good we eat a lot in this weather."

Kate nodded as she approached her meal on the island. Before she could even grab her plates, Chris had wrapped his arms around her.

"Chris, what—?" she was cut off by his lips. Kate immediately forgot what she was about to say as she lost herself into the kiss. She welcomed it, pressing her form back into Chris.

"Good morning," he told her with a smirk a couple of seconds later.

"What was that for?" she asked him, feeling a little heated after what they had just done.

"That was our morning kiss. We'll be having that and more now that you're my girlfriend," he grinned before pecking her lips again. "Now let's go eat."

Chris grabbed a couple of plates, and Kate took the remaining two. They went into the entertainment room, planning to catch up on any news that could be airing on the TV. However, the screen displayed an error that explained there was no connection. They couldn't even access the rest of the channels.

"I blame the snow," Chris commented, bored.

"Maybe it will be better later," Marie tried to give him hope. "We can do something until then."

It did not take long for the two to find a topic they could talk about while they ate their meals. They found themselves taking a walk on memory lane, humoring themselves about the things they had done when they were in high school.

"Do you remember that time you drank that solution in the chemistry lab?" Chris asked her, laughing.

"I'd rather not relive the memory," Kate winced.

"Everyone found it funny. What the hell were you thinking when you took it?"

"It looked yellow. I thought it was orange juice or something," Marie replied, slightly smiling. "Most of the time, I used to zone out and wonder about stuff that should make sense within seconds. I even remember that when it was 2011, I thought the earth was two thousand and eleven years old."

Chris laughed, clutching his stomach.

"And I continued adding one after each year passed," Kate added, chuckling at the memories.

"Stop! I'm going to pee!" Chris said in between laughs. That had Marie laughing.

"Oh! Speaking of you peeing..." Kate trailed off with an evil smirk, and that ceased Chris' laughter. He looked at her in disbelief.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about," she grinned. "You did that at a party."

"What?" Chris was confused.

Marie explained, "It was during one of the high school parties. I was in the hallway of someone's house, waiting for some cheerleader I forgot about, and then I saw you rushing into the toilet."

Chris looked more confused, but then realization dawned on his features.

"You have got to be shitting me," he commented without an expression, and Kate guffawed.

"I have no idea what you had been drinking that night..."

"Kate--"

"... but rushing into the toilet didn't stop you from peeing in your pants!"

Kate continued laughing, remembering the incident like it was yesterday. 

"I was drunk!" Chris stated, a blush appearing on his cheeks.

They continued like that, laughing at any memories that were funny. It lasted for a while before the two of them realized they had finished their meals.

"Oh, crap! I forgot about the dishes. Let me wash them," Kate stated, moving to grab the plates on the table in front of them.

"No, let me," Chris stated.

"But, Chris, I've barely done anything since I came into your house," she pointed out.

"You could help with the food like you always do," he offered, earning an unamused look from her.

"Okay," he chuckled. "You can help with the plates."

"Gladly," Kate said before grabbing the dishes from his hands. She went into the kitchen to deal with them.

The hours of the day quickly passed. Before they even knew it, night had reached, and they were snuggling in Chris' bed. It was not that much of an eventful day, but Kate had fun and was happy being with her boyfriend.