Return To Wonderland
Bent silverware littered the table in such a way, it looked like a cannon full of tinsel had exploded. Broken teacups were set around the table waiting for the guests that would never come. Stains marred the tablecloth in an odd pattern that was almost charming. And the tea had the oddest scent of molasses and burnt toast.
Complete disarray, hardly sanitary, definitely not a place for a proper young lady.
And it was Alice’s favourite place to be.
“You’re late.” The Mad Hatter plopped his feet on the table and slouched on his red velvet throne chair at the end of the table. “It’s very rude to be late for tea.”
Laughter burst out before Alice could stop it. “Oh no, Mr. Hatter. I wanted to surprise you. A surprise can never be late.”
“Indeed.” Tipping his top hat off his brow, he leaned forward and his bright green eyes widened. “And what’s this? You had the gall to grow? Nibbling cake before tea, where are your manners, Alice?”
A sharp stab of sadness stole the smile from her lips. “Not cake, Mr. Hatter, it’s been five years since I saw you last. I am a young woman now.’
Sweeping his arm across the table, the Mad Hatter snarled. He hopped off his chair and stalked towards her.
“Five years? You naughty girl.” His chin hiked up and he pointed at the table. “Britches down, fanny up. You’ve earned a spanking.”
Her eyebrows shot up and disappeared behind her blond bangs. “Spank me? But Mr. Hatter…”
“Just Hatter, Alice.” His lips curled as he set one hand on his hip. “Five swats and we shall have our tea.” His tone turned husky. “Unless I am tempted to give you a reason not to leave again.”
Alice rolled her eyes. Of all the ridiculous things to say.
“I hardly think a spanking will make me want to stay for tea, Hatter.” She wet her lips with her tongue when he smirked. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dabbing his finger in a spoonful of sticky, fluffy cream, Hatter tasted it with the tip of his tongue and slipped up to her side. He held his finger to her lips. Her mouth opened to accept the dollop of meringue. She couldn’t seem to stop herself. Hatter was acting stranger than ever before.
But that confused her much less than her reactions to him. She quite liked having him so close.
The rapid pitter patter of her heart sped up when he dragged his finger out of her mouth and leaned forward to lick a drop of cream off her chin.
Then he chuckled and kissed her nose. “You don’t know? Well, perhaps you are too innocent for me to show you.” He spun away and danced back to his chair. “Would you like one lump or two?”
Complete disarray, hardly sanitary, definitely not a place for a proper young lady.
And it was Alice’s favourite place to be.
“You’re late.” The Mad Hatter plopped his feet on the table and slouched on his red velvet throne chair at the end of the table. “It’s very rude to be late for tea.”
Laughter burst out before Alice could stop it. “Oh no, Mr. Hatter. I wanted to surprise you. A surprise can never be late.”
“Indeed.” Tipping his top hat off his brow, he leaned forward and his bright green eyes widened. “And what’s this? You had the gall to grow? Nibbling cake before tea, where are your manners, Alice?”
A sharp stab of sadness stole the smile from her lips. “Not cake, Mr. Hatter, it’s been five years since I saw you last. I am a young woman now.’
Sweeping his arm across the table, the Mad Hatter snarled. He hopped off his chair and stalked towards her.
“Five years? You naughty girl.” His chin hiked up and he pointed at the table. “Britches down, fanny up. You’ve earned a spanking.”
Her eyebrows shot up and disappeared behind her blond bangs. “Spank me? But Mr. Hatter…”
“Just Hatter, Alice.” His lips curled as he set one hand on his hip. “Five swats and we shall have our tea.” His tone turned husky. “Unless I am tempted to give you a reason not to leave again.”
Alice rolled her eyes. Of all the ridiculous things to say.
“I hardly think a spanking will make me want to stay for tea, Hatter.” She wet her lips with her tongue when he smirked. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dabbing his finger in a spoonful of sticky, fluffy cream, Hatter tasted it with the tip of his tongue and slipped up to her side. He held his finger to her lips. Her mouth opened to accept the dollop of meringue. She couldn’t seem to stop herself. Hatter was acting stranger than ever before.
But that confused her much less than her reactions to him. She quite liked having him so close.
The rapid pitter patter of her heart sped up when he dragged his finger out of her mouth and leaned forward to lick a drop of cream off her chin.
Then he chuckled and kissed her nose. “You don’t know? Well, perhaps you are too innocent for me to show you.” He spun away and danced back to his chair. “Would you like one lump or two?”