Chapter 42
HANNAH
Overcast skies greet me, the smell of possible snow giving a boost of serotonin. Guests have yet to awaken; the silence leaves me with the sound of my boots crunching in the snow. Crows squawk somewhere in the distance, echoing off the Burlington mountain range.
I catch Noah coasting down the halfpipe, and a smile touches my lips. He’s following my advice, and it’s progressing. Now, to get him to master his tricks and stick the landing.
Another battle for another day.
I hear another set of footsteps behind me, and I jump, almost whacking the shit out of his PA with my snowboard.
He looks down at me, blue eyes cold and distant.
His blond hair is hidden under a winter hat, his outfit free of wrinkles.
I wonder if he wakes before five in the morning and follows a rigorous routine.
I wonder what goes on inside his head. He’s stiff and emotionless.
Henry seems to be waiting for me to say something.
I clear my throat when he speaks. “How long are you practicing with Noah today?”
I shrug. “Depends on how long I can stand him.” Or focus, or end up in a private setting, begging him to touch me again.
Henry doesn’t find my joke funny. “I need him in the lounge right after. He’s been ignoring my texts, but I can see from here he’s actually making use of his time.”
A question comes to mind. “Were you with him when he got his first hit with the twisties?”
Henry blinks, caught off guard by my question. “Yeah, yeah, I was.”
“Do…” Am I crossing a boundary by prying it from his PA? Not like Noah will tell me himself. I don’t expect deep conversations from the man or anything, really, besides consensual sex and an unrelenting attitude. But any insight can potentially help. “Do you know how he overcame it?”
He crosses his arms, becoming fidgety with his legs. “He would kill me if I ever talked about it again. Even his own teammates are sworn to secrecy.”
“Oh.” Fantastic.
“Noah…can be difficult, but it’s not intentional. It’s who he is, how his brain works. A stubborn mule, but damn can he snowboard.”
I know very little about Henry, but even he seems in awe of Noah’s talent and hard work. I just wish I knew what saved him last time.
“Thanks, and hey, I’ll make sure he sees you after.”
“Thanks, Hannah.” We part ways, and I follow the trail up the half pipe, inhaling the winter air in my lungs.
Noah and I meet, our moves slow, until only inches separate us. I hug my board, watching him, not caring how obvious I make it. I thought things were going to come off awkwardly, but instead, my heart pounds hard against my chest, anticipating when we'll be alone again.
He smiles, removing his goggles to hang around his neck. He’s breathing heavy, and I notice more stubble grows along his chin and upper lip. His tall stature is one of the qualities I enjoy about him. He overtakes a room just by standing idle, attention instantly drawn to him.
Noah cocks his head to the side. “Red.”
A nickname I once despised has begun to grow on me, though it might have something to do with our agreement. “Noah.”
“I thought maybe we could fix your Alley-Oop today,” he suggests.
“And how does that help you?” I question.
He closes the gap and tugs on my braid. “Maybe helping someone else other than myself might retrain my brain.”
Henry’s words come to mind. Noah can be difficult, but it’s not intentional. It’s who he is, how his brain works. “Sure, why not?”
He cups my face. “Really?”
I playfully push him back, making sure nobody catches us getting too cozy.
Regardless of the fact that it’s early in the morning, someone might spot us.
“Yes, but then it’s your turn. We can’t waste too much time.
Coach Jones needs an update by the end of the week, remember?
” And I need a freaking miracle, he’s able to perform at least one move.
Noah grins. “Was that before or after I felt how wet you were?”
“Noah!” I choke, checking around if anyone heard. “Before!” My face heats, knowing damn well the color of my cheeks matches my hair.
His laugh is deep and rich, the sound heavenly to hear. “Let’s go, Red, we’re burning daylight.”
I prefer this version of Noah, carefree, less rigid, and I wonder if it’s what he needs to ease his worries and overcome his inner insecurities.
He waves me over to the edge of the starting point, watching me strap my boots into the mounted bindings, pushing my goggles down over my eyes.
“You need a little more speed and to start your turn earlier. Try to keep the nose of your board steady, cause once it goes over the lip of the halfpipe, you gotta lead with your shoulders. It should all be in one swift movement to grab your board and land.”
I watch him explain, in awe, finding he’s more patient and passionate when it comes to teaching someone else the sport he loves, wanting to help someone perfect the move and get a high from achieving it.
“All right, more speed, turn earlier,” I repeat.
“Nose steady and grab your board,” he adds and pokes my actual nose with his gloved finger. His smile is contagious, making it easy to return one of my own.
He steps back, giving me space to start my run.
Taking a deep breath, I let my board guide me down, making sure my speed is increased by the time I get myself angled for the Alley-Oop.
The base of my board is now flat against the pipe.
The nose makes it slightly over the lip when my turn begins, gaining more air than before, gripping my board as I complete the one-eighty turn, landing with ease.
Noah cheers from the top, and I raise my hands in celebration. Making my way back to the top, he gives me a double high five. “You're an incredibly quick learner. What else can you do?”
For the next thirty minutes, I perform a front-side 180, then I transition into a front-side 360. A little wobbly at the end, but it’s been more than four years since I did the trick.
Noah already knows what I need to fix, giving pointers in an encouraging tone, but he’s excited to meet someone who shares his love and energy for his favorite sport and is not afraid to improve their craft.
I try to push Noah before we end, but he insists a break is needed, and we’ll go back to his work tomorrow.
I’m not going to ruin the mood by nagging, so I let it go, walking side by side down the hill. Guests are now awake, flooding the resort with their kids or significant others to start their day on the slopes.
Noah stops short, forcing me to follow. “What’s up?”
“I have to get something back at my cabin. Do you want to come with me?”
“Uh…sure?”
We make our way over to cabin twenty-four, and he unlocks the door, telling me to lean my snowboard against the wall by the fireplace.
A suitcase is wide open on the floor, pants overflowing in every direction.
Door shut, he rummages around, looking for something.
A bottle of pills from a pharmacy sits on the bedside table in the other room, and pairs of shoes are lined up by what looks to be color.
His disorganization skills remind me of my place back home, and I smile, finding our similarities quite funny.
I make my way further in, entering the bedroom, catching something shiny on a bureau.
Gold and silver watches line the top of a wooden bureau, expensive and flashy.
“Can I help you find whatever it is you’re looking for?
” I offer, observing his belongings, lightly touching a silver watch.
Small diamonds are encrusted around the clock face.
When I don’t get an answer, I stop hearing him move, but I know, judging by his silence and the weight of the floor, he’s right behind me.
Hands snake around my waist, covered by my winter jacket. His nose grazes along my neck, right into my hair. He sniffs, sighing in content. “I already found what I was looking for.”
I shudder with pure pleasure. “You could’ve just asked.” My heart has already picked up speed while I naturally lean into his touch.
“And risk you hiding again? Absolutely not.”
“I already said yes.”
He chuckles. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
“I thought yesterday proved my willingness.”
“True, but a man can never be too sure.”
I back up a bit, moving my ass along the front of his pants. “Is this good enough to convince you?”
Noah squeezes my hips, groaning in my ear. “It’s all I’ve been thinking about during our training. It’s so hard to focus on what that sharp tongue says when I can put it to better use.”
Things are different now that we’re in the daylight.
He can see everything more clearly, and panic rises in the back of my throat, teetering on keeping just my shirt on in case it’s too much for him.
Because judging by the feel of his dick against my backside, he’s ready to move on to the next step.
It’s what we agreed on anyway.
Noah probably senses my hesitation and turns me to face him. “Second thoughts?” Brown eyes search my face, pupils blown out from desire. I won’t lie, my needs have arrived, already soaking my underwear.
“I’m afraid of what you’ll see underneath.” My cheeks heat. Because for all I know, Noah will take one look at my body, one look at the stretch marks and rolls, and go running for the hills.
Noah cups my chin, making sure my attention stays put. “I don’t care about whatever imperfections you think you may have. All I care about is making you come.”
My breath hitches, and his words are final as he grabs a hold of my face. His thumb moves across my bottom lip, a groan rumbling in his chest. “I’m gonna bite this lip while I’m buried deep inside you, Red.”
He doesn’t give me time to respond, takes my mouth, claiming my space and the very air I breathe. Noah’s tongue collides with mine, the kiss deepening, my body burning up.
The straps on our snow pants fall, taking turns between kisses to remove layers of clothing except for our underwear. I hug my midsection, shame rushing through my body.
Noah gently removes my arms, exposing every inch in broad daylight. All my stretch marks, blemishes, and the weight that sits too comfortably above my private area are on full display for him to pick apart and ridicule.
Instead, he takes my chin, making sure our eyes collide. “Your body is a fucking temple, Red. I’m ready to worship it.”