Out Of This World Read Online Free Page A

cheese. I’d already placed the bottle of wine on the table. I pointed to the food. “Dig in. I’m not very formal, so you don’t need to follow any strict ceremony here.”
    “Do I need to dig under there to harvest the food?” she asked as she pointed to the bowl of squash.
    She was such a jokester. I laughed again. “Here, I’ll dish it up for you.”
    We finished the bottle of wine and, because I wasn’t used to entertaining anyone, my eyelids began to droop. I figured it was time to head off to bed. Besides, tomorrow would probably be a long day of shopping and touring Celeste around, and I wanted to be a good host.
    I motioned for Celeste to follow me, pulled out a fresh towel, and dug in my guest bathroom drawer to find a new toothbrush for her to use. Fortunately, I had several in various drawers left over from my bi-annual visits to the dentist, along with multiple small tubes of toothpaste. I don’t know why I kept them. I suppose I thought it would be wasteful to toss them out. I’d already located a t-shirt, some shorts, and a pair of extra sweats, which I laid out on the bed for her. I didn’t know exactly what she had in her backpack, so I figured I’d better equip her with everything she might need.
    Celeste seemed to be dragging as well. I don’t think she was used to drinking alcohol and was probably a bigger lightweight than I was. It’s not like she was drunk or anything, but I could tell that it affected her. She got a dopey look on her face and giggled a lot during and after dinner. We talked mostly about nerdy things like the Earth’s geology and ancient myths, but she added her unique sense of humor to the discussion and that caused me to giggle along with her.
    I led her to the guest bedroom after showing her the bathroom. “If you need anything at all, my bedroom is just one door down. Sweet dreams, Celeste.”
    She smiled and bid me goodnight.
    When I settled into my bed, I let my mind wander—fantasize actually—that Celeste would knock on my door in the middle of the night. Then one thing would lead to another, and we’d end up making mad, passionate love. Of course I knew that would never happen, but a girl can dream. I closed my eyes and I’m sure I sported a smile on my face all night long.

Chapter Three
     

     

    The morning came too rapidly and I awoke to a rough tongue swiping my face. Two paws were furiously making bread on my bare chest. I’d discarded my t-shirt in the middle of the night because it got too warm. I suspect my erotic dreams were the culprit to my increased body temperature. This time, Celeste versus Sydney was the major star of my nighttime adventures.
    I giggled. “Gizmo, stop. I told you not to try to French kiss me until I’ve brushed my teeth.”
    Gizmo had a bad habit of trying to stick her tongue inside my mouth, and I would have to tighten my lips in an attempt at avoiding her loving attack. She was by far the sweetest cat I’d ever owned, but that didn’t mean I would let her stick her tongue in my mouth. I hadn’t even had the pleasure of a woman doing that to me yet, so I certainly wasn’t about to let my first experience be with my cat.
    I heard stirring in the other room and wondered if Celeste was already up. I wanted to make coffee or tea—I didn’t know which she preferred—and then whip up my famous stuffed French toast. I didn’t have a whole lot going for me to impress a woman, but I could cook a gourmet breakfast. Maybe the fastest way to a woman’s heart was through her stomach.
    I gently plucked Gizmo from my chest and set her to the side. She gave my hand one last lick for good measure and settled in for a long nap curled up on my bed. I grabbed my t-shirt from the floor where I’d tossed it and pulled it quickly over my head.
    I didn’t think my wooing chance would increase by sauntering out into the living room with a bare chest. My body wasn’t anything to write home about. I wasn’t overweight or anything, and