Chapter 31 #2
It was nearly nine thirty when we finally got back to my place after dinner with my parents. Nellie seemed quiet on the drive, and I could tell she was stuck in her head about things. I parked the truck beside her car and turned it off, letting the silence sit between us for a moment.
“That went well,” I said as I glanced at her, needing to see where her thoughts were.
“It did,” she agreed, looking at me. She gave a hesitant smile when she caught my eye.
“Do you feel better about things?”
“Sort of?” Nellie shrugged. “I mean, I still can’t believe this is all happening. The pregnancy. Us. It’s just—it’s a lot.”
“A lot in a bad way?” I asked, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.
“No! Not at all!” Nellie exclaimed. “I never let myself imagine life like this. That I’d be in a relationship and expecting a baby,” she added.
“Yeah. I mean, I get that. I do. If someone had told me this time last year that I’d meet someone I wanted those things with, I would have laughed in their face,” I said, sending her a rueful grin. “I didn’t think I was even capable of monogamy.”
“How do you know you are now?” Nellie asked.
“I’ve been monogamous since the night I spent with you.
Drunk as we both were, something told me this is what I’ve been waiting for,” I told her, reaching across the cab of the truck to take her hand in mine.
“Of course, I didn’t know that’s what was going on at first. I attributed my dry spell to being busy with the resort, not a lack of interest because no one was you. ”
“Something changed that night,” Nellie admitted. “I tried to fight it. Which, you know, led to a bad decision. But that bad decision only made the fact that I felt something different with you even more pronounced.”
I nodded, understanding what she was saying. “I get it.”
“Do you think—” Nellie shook her head as if she was talking herself out of voicing whatever thought she had. “Never mind, it’s stupid.”
“No, say it. I bet it’s not.”
Nellie hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Do you think Easton was right about the night of the Witches’ Ball?”
“I wouldn’t put it past the Hartley triplets to tinker like that.” I shrugged, rubbing circles on the back of Nellie’s hand with my thumb.
“So, we could have potentially had the love elixir?”
“Maybe,” I replied. “But being sneaky like that is not really their style. They prefer a more in-your-face approach. And like Charlotte said, there’s no science behind it even working. I think it’s a cute and fun notion, but relationships still take effort, regardless of a love elixir.”
“That’s true, I guess.” Nellie sighed, worrying her bottom lip.
“I think we had a lot to drink that night, and let our walls come down enough for something to take root and bloom,” I said, reaching to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“So, what now?” she asked, her lips pulling up in a small smile.
“We keep doing what we’re doing. Getting to know each other better, taking it one day at a time and preparing for the arrival of this baby,” I answered.
Nellie nodded slowly in agreement and leaned toward me, her eyes locking with mine. “I can do that.”
“Good,” I murmured, my hand framing the side of her face as I moved closer. I kissed her, slow and deep, telling her without words how much I needed her.
Nellie kissed me back, moving closer to me. I could feel her hands on my jacket, pulling me against her. I went willingly, without hesitating. This woman could lead me into a fire, and I’d eagerly follow.
The kiss turned frantic, and when the windows started to fog up, I pulled back enough to look at her. “Shall we go inside, get warmed up by the fire, maybe get naked?” I said, wriggling my eyebrows at her suggestively.
That earned a laugh. “Okay, let’s go. I’m getting cold anyway.”
We walked into my house, and I tossed a few logs on the woodstove while Nellie disappeared in the bathroom. When she reappeared, she’d changed into her pajamas and was looking much more comfortable.
“I hope it’s okay that I changed, my pants were feeling way too tight,” Nellie explained, looking shy.
She tried to walk past me to the couch, but I caught her by the hand and gently tugged her toward me. I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing my hands along her hips, massaging them with my fingertips.
“You’re gorgeous,” I murmured in her ear. I’d been rocking a chub since our heavy makeout session in my truck, but now that I had her beneath my fingertips, that chub thickened into a full-on erection that I knew she could feel against her.
Pushing my hips forward, I heard the sharp intake of her breath, a sign that my words and my touch were getting her going, and I fed off that passion.
I trailed kisses along her neck and jaw, tasting my way to her pillowy lips.
She kissed me back, her hands sliding down my torso and cupping me over my jeans. Feeling how hard I was, she broke the kiss and let out a guilt-ridden sigh. “I’m sorry, I want to, but I’m also super bloated.” Her voice was full of apology.
I shook my head. “Don’t feel bad. I’m not expecting anything right now.
” Nellie sent a pointed look to my throbbing erection, and I chuckled.
“Yeah, you make me incredibly hard. But that doesn’t mean I expect us to do something about it.
If you’re not feeling up to it, that’s perfectly alright with me. Having you here is enough.”
My words made Nellie take pause, her brow furrowing as she processed them. “You really mean that?” she asked, studying me as if looking for any sign of dishonesty.
“Of course, I do,” I assured her, pressing another kiss to her lips. “Want a hot chocolate? Or a tea?”
“You have tea?”
“I stocked up on some of the ones you have at the resort,” I admitted sheepishly. Nellie’s beaming smile made me feel like that had been the best decision I could have made.
“A tea would be great,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around my lower back and hugging me.
A little while later, we curled up in a thick blanket on the couch in the great room, the woodstove throwing off the perfect amount of heat. My arm was wrapped around her, and she rested with her head against my shoulder. She yawned, nestling in closer to me.
“Are you tired? We could go to bed; it’s been a long day.”
“I probably should,” Nellie admitted, sounding exhausted. “I’m usually asleep by nine o’clock every night. This is late for me.”
“Well, let’s get you to bed then.” I stood, offering Nellie my hand to help her up. “Did you want one of the guestrooms, or did you want to sleep in my bed with me? I promise, I won’t try any funny business.”
Nellie tilted her head, considering my offer while she studied me. “Do you snore? Because if you keep me up snoring all night, I won’t be responsible for shoving a sock in your mouth.”
“I don’t actually know if I snore,” I answered. “Nobody’s ever complained, but it’s not like I’ve had regular sleepovers while sober.”
Nellie paused, as if thinking. “I don’t think I’m there yet, Noah. I want to be….”
“I understand,” I told her, and I meant it. While I was a little disappointed, I knew Nellie had her reasons for keeping her distance. I could tell she was falling for me; I could tell that some of her walls were weakening, but I knew it wouldn’t be an overnight thing.
Nellie squeezed my hand and stood on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to my lips. “Thank you, Noah. I know I’m not easy to deal with, but I appreciate you trying.”
“Who said you weren’t easy to deal with?” I countered. “I find you very easy to deal with. It’s okay if you’re not there yet, I told you we’ll go as slow as you need.”
Nellie smiled, then went to get ready for bed.