Chapter 10
HOPPER
By the time I made it inside for the night, it was well past dark, and I was half-frozen from tromping through the snow.
Maggie had brought me a thermos of chicken noodle soup around six, which did a decent job of thawing my insides, and now I was ready for a hot shower to do the rest.
I made sure Noel had closed up and locked the shop, then went straight up to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
He’d been a big help today, even though I’d had my doubts about him. Maggie couldn’t have worked such long hours—and without Noel there, I’d have needed to help her retrieve anything sold off the top shelves because we didn’t want her on the ladder.
Maybe I’d misjudged the guy when he first came home. He could have visited more, but he clearly cared about his parents and the farm a lot more than I expected.
I stripped down while the water heated up—it always took a few minutes in this old house—and stepped under the spray with a happy sigh. Heat sank into me, spreading slowly through my body, and sore muscles loosened up.
It had been a long, cold day outdoors. I’d cut and hauled trees, made painful small talk, and thought about Noel Grisold way too much.
Especially when Lyle and Truman insisted on teasing me for our entire trek through the trees.
“Did I see sparks?” Truman had said. “I think I saw some sparks.”
“There were no sparks,” I’d said flatly.
“Definitely sparks,” Lyle agreed.
Truman was always pushing buttons, but Lyle? He only said things when he believed they were true. I had done a shit job of hiding my attraction to Noel, but that didn’t mean I wanted to discuss it with anyone.
I’d turned a glare on them. “How about we talk about Christmas trees? Do you want one that says shut up or one that says fuck off?”
Truman laughed. “Guess we touched a nerve.”
I flipped him off. “Trying to do a job here.”
They’d finally relented, but it was too late. I couldn’t get Noel Grisold out of my head.
I grabbed the shower gel and soaped up, hands sliding over slippery, hot flesh…and oh damn, now I was getting hard. I half-heartedly tugged at my dick, thinking about jerking one out, when a knock startled me.
“Don’t use all the hot water!” Noel called. “I need a shower, too.”
Shit. I forced my hand away from my aching erection. Even if I could do it quickly enough, I couldn’t risk Noel standing right outside the door, listening as I moaned over thoughts of him.
I rinsed away the soap and got out, drying off as quickly as I could and wrapping the towel around my waist. My cock had only half deflated, leaving a sizeable tent under the terry cloth. I almost hoped Noel would notice so he could feel the same frustrated arousal coursing through me.
He’d laughed when I told Lyle and Truman we weren’t involved. Because of course, it was a laughable idea to him. He was a talented chef in a big city. He probably hooked up with slick, sophisticated men.
I certainly wasn’t his type. If he liked big farm boys with more muscle than sense, he would have stayed around here. Would have figured out that this particular farm boy couldn’t stop staring at his lips, wondering, would it be so bad to kiss a guy?
I opened the bathroom door, but Noel was nowhere to be seen. Damn. Part of me had been hoping he’d be there, that he’d see my need, that he’d order me to take off my towel and show him everything.
Yeah, right.
I went down the hall to my room, stepped inside, and closed the door.
As soon as I was alone, all my lust came rushing to the surface. I went to the bed and flopped down. Opened my towel and palmed my dick.
How would Noel be in bed, anyway? Would he narrow his eyes at me? Glare, maybe? Order me to my knees?
A fantasy began to unfurl, and I spread my legs, reaching down to rub a finger through the cleft of my ass. My core ached, a craving to be filled hitting me.
A quick jerk-off session wasn’t going to do the trick tonight.
Not with Noel fucking Grisold under my skin.
I reached under the bed for my box of toys. My hand hit empty carpet. I slid it around, feeling for the box I always kept there.
Shit? Where was it?
I climbed out of bed with an annoyed growl. Nothing killed a fantasy like searching for your damn dildos. I peered under the bed, seeing nothing but darkness, dust bunnies, and a plastic tote filled with yarn.
What the—
Oh, fuck.
Wrong bedroom. I wasn’t in my bedroom, because I’d given it up when Noel came to visit. I’d moved most of my personal effects out, but I’d forgotten my box of toys.
They were under his bed. Not mine.
I scrambled to my feet, horror hitting me. I should have gotten those out of there before now. It had totally slipped my mind. God, what if he found them? I’d never live it down.
My heart thumped hard and fast, and I had to take a big breath to calm down.
Don’t panic, I lectured myself. Just fix it.
I grabbed my towel from the bed and refastened it around my waist. I’d just go get the box while Noel was in the shower.
I opened my door and peeked out.
Noel stepped into the hall, and I ducked back so he wouldn’t see me. He walked past my room and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
I slipped into the hall and hurried down to his bedroom. I’d just grab the box and be gone with no one the wiser. I flipped on the light switch, then crossed the room to the bed.
I dropped to my knees and reached under the bed frame. The box had been shoved far under the bed. I had to lean against the mattress and stretch my arm out as far as it would go.
I managed to get my fingertips over the edge of the box. I drew it out, relief coursing through me, then froze at the sound of footsteps behind me.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
I whirled, clutching the box, still on my knees. In my towel and nothing else.
Noel stared at me, eyes wide.
“You’re supposed to be in the shower,” I blurted.
Noel crossed his arms over his chest. He was still fully dressed in jeans and a sweater. “And you’re not supposed to be kneeling in my room in a towel.”
Our eyes met, a sudden tension falling between us when his words hit. The arousal that had driven me here returned, sudden and forceful.
I licked my dry lips. “I just came for my box. I forgot it when I moved rooms.”
“Moved rooms?” he said blankly.
“I used to stay in here.”
“You used to stay in my room,” he said slowly.
“Maggie likes to keep the rest of the rooms closed off, and it’s closest to the stairs, so—”
“I get it,” he said sharply. “I’m not even surprised.”
I grimaced. I’d been so offended when Maggie asked me to move, but I could see why. It bothered Noel that his mom let some guy move into his room. But she’d kept it empty for years. Noel was the one who’d stopped visiting.
“So what’s in the box?” he asked brusquely. “Must be important.”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Just personal mementos.”
“Uh-huh.” His eyes tracked over my bare chest, the towel barely covering me, my exposed thighs.
I became hyperaware of the fact that I was on my knees in front of Noel just minutes after I’d fantasized about the same thing.
“Give me the box,” Noel said softly.
My heart lurched. “Wh-what?”
“Let me see it.”
“No.” I held it tighter, shaking my head. “It’s private.”
“It’s in my room. I have to make sure it’s actually yours. Hand it over.”
Slowly, as if in a dream, I extended the box. Noel took it and flipped open the lid. His lips curled in amusement. “Sex toys, Hopper? You naughty boy.”
I flushed with embarrassment, even as my cock hardened.
“Okay, you’ve had your fun.” I rose to my feet. I might want to be on my knees for Noel in my fantasies, but this wasn’t the scenario I had in mind. “Give them back so I can go.”
“That’s what you want?”
“Yeah,” I said gruffly. “What else?”
“Hmm. I don’t know.” He held out the box, eyes catching mine. “That’s for you to say.”
My heart missed a beat. Was he suggesting…
Noel pushed the box into my hands and stepped aside, clearing the path to his open door.
The moment was gone. Or maybe I’d misread it entirely.
Either way, it was time to leave before I made a pass and found out Noel wasn’t interested in a holiday fling. Things between us were awkward enough without me making a fool of myself.
I headed for the door. “Sorry for barging in.”
“Oh, don’t apologize,” he said. “Just have fun with those toys you needed so badly.”
“I didn’t need them,” I protested.
He stood in his doorway, smirking, as I stepped into the hall. “Oh, it’s okay, Hop.” He leaned in close and said in a low voice, “Use the toys. That’s why you got them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even think of me when you do.”
He closed the door, leaving me standing alone in the hall with a box of sex toys, a boner that wouldn’t quit, and the realization that I’d missed my chance.
I stormed toward my room, burning up with frustration, arousal, and anticipation. Oh, I’d use one of these toys, all right, and I’d sure as fuck think of Noel when I did.
I wouldn’t be able to think of anything else—or what might have happened if I’d been brave enough to say that I wanted him a hell of a lot more than any toy in this box.