Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
“ O h, my god!”
Theo agreed. But he still reached for her. He caught her arm and tugged her close. “Guess we’re gonna have to go by feel.”
He heard her huff out a short laugh. “Darn.”
“You have to admit this is definitely more fun with me than by yourself.”
“I don’t need light to use my vibrators,” she said.
He cupped her face. “Your vibrator—or vibrators—are out in the car. You’ve only got me. Or your fingers. And I need to preserve my phone battery.”
There was a pause. “What’s that got to do with your phone battery?” she finally asked.
In the dark, he grinned. “Well, I’ll definitely be turning my flashlight on to watch you get yourself off.”
She laughed and the sound, especially in the dark, was husky and sexy as fuck. God he loved making her laugh.
“So how about you just let me do it?” he asked, stroking his thumb over her cheek.
“Well… I guess in the spirit of resource conservation…”
Just then there was a knock at their door. Theo frowned and reached for his phone. He did turn on the flashlight. He didn’t know the room well enough to walk to the door in the dark.
He opened the door to find a man in his mid to late fifties, dressed in gray cold weather overalls under a thick coat, stocking cap on his head, and tall rubber boots on his feet. “I’m Henry. Got your car pulled up by the house.” He handed over the key fob to the car. “Here are your bags. Generators will be on in a bit. Let us know if you need anything else.” Then with a nod, he turned and left.
Theo blinked. Then looked down. His bag, Savannah’s suitcase, and purse were all at his feet. He brought them inside and shut the door. He turned toward her. “I guess your vibrators are here after all. And if we wait a bit, the generators will kick in and I can have all the light I need."
She smiled into the dim light his phone offered. “I didn’t actually bring any vibrators.”
“No?” He started toward her.
“Didn’t need them. Knew you’d be here, after all.”
He liked that. Oh, he liked her vibrator too, but this was exactly how he’d hoped this trip would go.
“Well, then let’s?—”
There was another knock at the door.
Theo sighed. He looked at their bags again. They had everything. Who was it now? He pulled the door open. It was Lucy.
“How’s the room?” she asked.
“Wonderful,” Savannah answered from behind him.
“Glad to hear it,” Lucy said with a smile. “Just wanted to let you know that dinner is in about forty-five minutes. Generators will be on in a bit and our cook will finish up. We should get the place warmed back up for the most part, but your fireplace in here is gas, so you can get that turned on for some heat in here. Then we’ll have everyone gather after dinner in the main room around that fireplace for cocoa to keep warm while we give more information about the storm, the roads, and what we have to offer you while you’re here.”
“We’ll be there,” Theo told Lucy. “Thank you so much.”
“Of course. See you soon.” Lucy moved off to the next room and knocked as Theo shut their door.
“I didn’t plan on socializing with a bunch of people,” Savannah said. “I was kind of looking forward to alone time.”
Theo chuckled. “I thought I was the anti-social one.”
Savannah nodded. “I thought so too. Where was that guy when she was telling us we had to be downstairs?”
“We’re crashing here at the last minute. We have to be nice right?”
“But…we could be naked up here .”
God, this woman…
He moved close and his voice dropped low as his hand cupped the back of her head. “I love your sassy side, your funny side, your vulnerable side, your jealous side, but fucking hell, City Girl, your horny side is really one of my favorites.”
She puffed out a laugh, but he saw something flicker in her eyes. It was surprise but also…gratitude? Did this woman not know how amazing she was? All sides of her. Or did not enough people tell her that?
She wet her lips. “My horny side is all your fault.”
He leaned in to put his forehead against hers. “I’ll gladly accept that responsibility.”
The lights flickered back on, and the tree started to glow again at that moment.
Theo kissed her forehead and straightened. “Let’s make our calls, change our clothes, and get downstairs for dinner.”
Her eyes widened. “ That’s taking responsibility for my horniness?”
His gut tightened and his cock twitched. “You need to trust me.” He was going to take very, very good care of her. Full responsibility for everything he made her feel.
In due time.
She blew out what seemed like an exasperated breath, and he grinned.
It was probably good to make her wait a bit.
He wasn’t sure it was a great idea to let on just how tightly he was wrapped around her little finger just yet.
T hirty minutes later, they’d touched base with everyone they needed to.
Their people in Autre hadn’t even known there was a storm in North Carolina, of course, but were happy to know they were safe and sound.
His parents were too and knew better than to think he and Savannah would be dug out in time to get to their house for Christmas. He promised to call Christmas Day.
The Monroe family at the Christmas farm Savannah had been planning to visit likewise completely understood. They’d shut down early in the day when the snow had started and didn’t expect to be open on Christmas Eve day because of the roads.
Savannah flopped back on the bed. “Dammit.”
“Your boss can’t be mad,” Theo said from where he was propped up against the headboard. “This storm isn’t your fault.”
Savannah rolled to her side and looked up the bed at him.
They’d both changed into warmer, more casual clothes.
He’d pulled a flannel shirt over his Henley and had put on black joggers.
She was now wearing black leggings that hugged her hips and ass and a dark purple pull-over hoodie that covered her ass when she stood up. However, when she was lying on the bed, it pulled up, showing him all the curves he loved so much. She’d put her hair up in a messy bun and she was wearing thick fuzzy slipper socks.
She looked so…normal. So approachable. Soft. Cuddly.
“He wasn’t going to go for the farm anyway,” she said. “I know that. I think it would have led to the conversation I’ve known for a while he and I need to have and…I probably would have ended up quitting.”
Theo set his phone aside. He’d been playing one of the games he enjoyed when he was killing time while she made her calls. He figured they could always go out and charge their phones in the car if need be. “Really? Quitting? You wanted to visit this farm anyway?”
She nodded and rolled the rest of the way onto her stomach. “I’ve been thinking. I initially liked the job because it allowed me to help create spaces where people would go and enjoy down time, vacations and trips away from their usual world. I liked the idea because I like the idea of people seeing a new place, learning something about the world that’s outside their bubble.”
Theo shifted. He knew Savannah thought he was stuck inside a comfortable bubble he didn’t want to leave. Which wasn’t entirely true. But it wasn’t…untrue. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere but Autre, Louisiana. But he could admit, he didn’t know what else was out there. Not really. A stubborn, loyal, home-based part of him believed nowhere was better for him. But even in the few short hours of being in North Carolina, he was seeing the appeal of visiting other places. The snow was amazing. Sure, they were stuck here at this lodge completely undoing every plan they’d made, but…he was happy about that.
“And the more of these places I go,” Savannah went on. “The more times I look at a building and think about how we could make it more lavish and upscale, I think…how boring. You know? The inns and hotels and lodges Steve’s taking over are all starting to look alike. He wants them to be luxurious and polished and I understand that. That’s his brand. But I’m looking at this lodge, for instance, and thinking that I wouldn’t want to change a thing. Part of the experience of a new place is getting a feel for how people live, the traditions, the history. And I know I wouldn’t have wanted to change anything about the Monroe farm. It’s so great as it is. Reindeer and Christmas trees and the whole Santa’s village and…everything.” She let out a happy sigh. “You can paint over things, buy expensive towels, pump in purified cherry blossom scented air. You can make…and even fake…luxury. You can’t make or fake charm and tradition.”
“So you are more about the experiences and the place and people than you are about the buildings,” Theo said.
She nodded with a smile. “Yes. I’ve realized that the reason I want to help people travel is because I want them to experience places as they are and learn to appreciate them that way, rather than just creating fancy get-aways that require the area to conform.”
Theo leaned over, propping his elbow on the pillow beside him. “Are you saying I was right? About the bayou cabins? That bringing cabins in there, changing the environment to accommodate the cabins, was the wrong move?”
She narrowed her eyes but nodded. “Yes. I’d had a niggling in the back of my mind telling me I wasn’t happy doing what I’ve been doing for Steve—going in to places that have established inns and bed and breakfasts and changing them. But we’ve just been taking over already existing buildings. Now that he wants to build new things or wants to completely renovate what the place does for the community, I’ve definitely been having second thoughts. The bayou cabins drove that home.”
Theo gave her a smug smile because he knew she expected that, but he really was pleased. Not because he’d “won”, but because he’d been a part of helping Savannah figure something out about herself. Something he knew would lead to more happiness and satisfaction for her .
“If you quit, what would you do?” he asked. Then his heart started pounding. Fuck. She might move away. She wasn’t tied to Louisiana. She could find a job anywhere. She loved to travel. She would be open to living somewhere else.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” she said, thoughtfully. “You know I’ve thought about being a flight attendant.”
He nodded. “But…” This wasn’t really his business. She hadn’t asked for his opinion.
But he wanted it to be his business.
That realization wasn’t nearly as shocking as it probably should have been.
He wanted Savannah’s plans, ideas, and her future, to be his business.
“But what?” She pushed up and swung her legs around to sit crisscross on the comforter.
“I just…think that you wouldn’t actually be happy doing that either.”
“No?” She didn’t look offended. Just curious.
Well, might as well go for it. He took a breath. “No. Because what you like about the idea of travel and all of this is, of course, seeing new places yourself, but I think it’s also about introducing other people to new places. You like the idea of everyone seeing the country and the world. Of everyone getting out of their backyards and out into the world and learning about themselves and other people that way. And enjoying new sites, new foods, new traditions, and having new experiences.”
She was staring at him, her brow wrinkled.
“Or I could be wrong,” he added.
But she was shaking her head. “No. You’re not wrong. You’re…completely right.”
“Yeah?”
She started nodding. “Yeah. That’s it. Definitely. Even just this little bit of time we’ve been traveling together, I’ve loved seeing you find things fun and interesting and exciting. And I regret not seeing all of that.”
Theo felt a warmth spread through his chest. He loved understanding this woman. He loved that she was letting him understand her. “So what job would let you do all of that?’
“Travel agent,” she said without even thinking about it. “I could help plan and package trips for people. Specific for what they want and are interested in. That would be really fun.”
“And you can…” He stopped and cleared his throat. “Can you do that from New Orleans?”
She smiled. “Definitely.”
“Would you want to? Do it from there, I mean?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah. Maybe. I’d still want to travel a lot. And it would help me be better at designing travel packages for other people if I travel widely myself.”
“That makes sense.”
“But I can fly anywhere from New Orleans.”
Theo breathed deeply. He hadn’t even been aware how important her answer was to him. But yes. That sounded very promising.
Her phone started chiming and their eye contact was broken.
She glanced down. “It’s time for dinner. I set a timer.”
He coughed slightly. “Okay. Yeah. Great.”
It was great. He was getting very involved here. He really wanted her to be happy, to love her job, to feel fulfilled. But he also really wanted her in Louisiana. So much it was concerning. He wanted her to want to be in Louisiana. With him.
As they headed downstairs for dinner and whatever else, Theo made himself breathe deeply and do some internal self-talk.
He was moving fast here. At least his heart was. Just like it had with Kelsey. He’d tried to tie her down. He’d said all the words— forever, stay, home, roots…love. He’d gone full steam ahead. He’d known what he’d wanted and he hadn’t paused, taken a breath, or blinked.
He was smarter now.
He had to tread carefully. He had to let Savannah be whoever she wanted to be, wherever she wanted to be.
But…if she wouldn’t stay with him, then he could go to her.
That was something he’d never considered with Kelsey.
Huh.
He watched Savannah greet Lucy with a smile and the introductions around the dining room, crowded with people, begin.
He’d never thought about following Kelsey. Or finding a meet-you-in-the-middle spot. With Savannah he wasn’t only considering it, he could picture it easily.
If she wanted to see the Grand Canyon, or the Eiffel Tower, he wanted to see her see those things.
“And this is Theo, my…”
His attention immediately snapped back to the moment and Savannah stumbling over his introduction.
“Boyfriend,” he said, extending a hand toward the man she was introducing him to. Theo had no idea what the man’s name was, but he knew who he was. “I’m Savannah’s boyfriend.”
“Nice to meet you Theo,” the man said, taking his hand. “Sorry your trip got interrupted.”
It seemed that while he’d been thinking about traveling the world with Savannah, she’d explained their situation. Theo grinned and slipped his hand around Savannah’s waist, hugging her against his side. “It’s not a big deal. As long as I’m with my girl, I don’t really care where we end up.”
He felt Savannah’s surprise, but he liked the way the other man looked them over and clearly bought the story easily.
“Okay, everyone! We’ll do this buffet style,” Lucy called. “You can start here,” she said pointing. “Then go along, fill your plates, and find a seat at the table.”
Dinner was delicious. It wasn’t the same as sitting around at Ellie’s with the Landrys and filling up on gumbo. There was no shrimp or sausage or oysters. But the food was delicious and there was a lot of it. There were also a lot of people and friendly conversation. There were only a few people present who had actually intended to be here tonight. There were four other couples who’d been stranded by the storm. All of the rooms were now full and from what Lucy was telling them, it sounded like they were all stuck together for the next couple of days at least.
Theo looked down at Savannah. She was right next to him. He had his arm draped over the back of her chair and she was leaning into his side slightly. He loved the feel of her against him and he didn’t want to make any large movements in case she hadn’t noticed how close they were.
She had a glass of wine in hand, and she was smiling at something a woman named Piper was saying. He didn’t know Piper’s story or what the deal was with her and Dylan, the guy with her. Theo hadn’t been really paying attention to anyone but Savannah. But this felt…good. Comfortable. Savannah was a natural when talking with people she’d just met, getting to know others easily. She was warm and sweet.
He almost laughed at that thought. Six months ago, warm and sweet were two of the last adjectives he would have used to describe this woman. He’d gotten to know her as they’d hung out with the Landry family and their friends and sassy and sarcastic seemed more the ‘real’ Savannah. But now he knew these were both genuine sides of her. And he loved that he knew both.
He could imagine doing this over and over again as they traveled and met new people. It was actually even more fun sitting here next to her, watching her be polite and friendly, but knowing just how naughty and even bitchy she could be.
He loved all of her sides. He loved that she’d let him see all her sides. He wanted to cuddle with her, try new things, have sweet memories full of multi-colored lights and delicious desserts. But he also wanted to see her after a bad day, hold her through the bullshit with her mom, fight with her, and fuck her.
Do not tell her all of that , he reminded himself. He was moving way too fast. He needed to just let this trip prove to her that he was willing to get out of his bubble and show her that they could have a good time together. The rest would come. He just needed to be patient.
Eventually, the whole group moved into the great room of the lodge where the gigantic woodburning fireplace was blazing.
The storm was still raging, the roads wouldn’t be cleared for at least another twenty-four hours, and everyone had resigned themselves to Christmas together at Merry Falls Lodge.
“I miss everyone in Autre,” Savannah admitted as Theo claimed a spot in a huge armchair.
There was room for them both—kind of—but no one else would join them. He pulled her into his lap.
She settled across his thighs without protest, and he felt his heart squeeze hard. She smiled up at him as he wrapped one arm around her back and settled the other on her thigh. Then she reached behind him and pulled a fleece blanket over them.
He lifted a brow. “I’m not really missing anyone at the moment,” he told her with a grin.
She laughed and wiggled her butt against his thighs. “I just mean that being here with a big group like this reminds me of them. We’d be having a lot of fun if we were snowed in with everyone there.”
She was sitting sideways on his lap, and he ran his hand up her thigh under the blanket. “I think we’d be having a different kind of fun,” he said. “You know we wouldn’t get away with sitting together in a big chair and making out without them all making a big deal out of it.”
Savannah put an arm around his neck and snuggled closer. “We’re just cuddling. But you’re right that we couldn’t do that in Autre without some big proclamation. Here everyone just thinks we’re already a couple.”
He wanted to make a big proclamation. Dammit. He gave her thigh a squeeze. “I think we’re already a couple too.”
She looked up at him. “You do? I thought the ‘I’m her boyfriend’ thing was just our cover story.”
Go easy. Don’t push. Don’t freak her out.
“I’m not interested in anyone else. I’m very interested in you. I think we should spend more time together,” he said. There, that sounded pretty…casual.
“Naked time?” she asked.
The rest of the group was settled around the fireplace as well, but the couches and chairs were spread out enough and everyone was into their own little conversations, so no one was listening in on them.
Theo focused fully on Savannah. She looked…worried.
Well, fuck.
“Yes,” he said honestly. “For sure. And I want to…hang out at Ellie’s with you.” There, that was treading carefully, right? He wanted to see more of her, but he wasn’t going zero to sixty. They could start with that and work up to more. It was too soon to tell her that he was ready to travel the world with her.
“Oh.” She nodded. “Yeah. So, instead of sitting at two different tables at Ellie’s like we do now, we’d…sit at the same table.”
Fuck, that sounded so stupid when he wanted to whisk her off to Paris. Or have her whisk him off to Paris. Whichever. It didn’t matter. But he nodded. “Yeah.” He put his forehead against hers. “And we’d talk to each other. ”
She laughed at that and the tightness in his chest loosened slightly.
“Oh. I see. And we’d talk , huh? Not argue and insult?” she asked, looking up at him with a grin.
“Well, let’s not get crazy. Our arguing and insulting is hot.”
She nodded. “It is. But we could also talk. I guess.”
“Maybe even flirt.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Oooh, flirt. I think I like the sound of that.”
“I might even feel you up under the table.” He ran his hand up her thigh again, moving higher this time.
She shifted on his lap, and he realized she was giving him more room. He grinned at her.
“Actually,” he said. “I will feel you up under the table.”
“That’s better,” she said, her voice a little softer.
He slid his hand up and traced the middle seam of her leggings with his index finger.
“Theo,” she breathed. “I want?—”
“Cocoa?”
They both jerked and looked up.
Henry was standing there with a tray full of mugs.
“Oh, um…” Savannah stammered.
“Yes. Thank you, Henry.” Theo reached out with the hand not settled between Savannah’s legs. He kept that hand right where it was.
Savannah also reached for a mug.
“Do you have peppermint schnapps by chance?” Theo asked.
Henry motioned to the other man circling the room with a tray. “Scott has the add-ons.”
“Add-ons?” Savannah asked, but Henry had already moved on to the next group.
“He’s a man of few words,” Theo said with a chuckle.
“I guess.”
“What would you like?” Scott asked, showing them his tray. There was a can of whipped cream, a bowl of sprinkles, a bowl of mini marshmallows, a bowl of mini chocolate chips, several candy canes, and a bottle of peppermint schnapps, a bottle of caramel vodka, and a bottle of Bailey’s.
“Wow,” Theo said. “This is impressive.”
Scott just smiled.
Savannah reached for two candy canes and the bottle of schnapps. Theo made no move to remove his hand.
Until she was pouring the schnapps. Then he ran his finger up and down that middle seam.
She gave a little gasp and her hand jerked, pouring far more schnapps into her cup that she’d probably intended. She glared at him. He just grinned at her.
He’d told her how much fun he’d find trying to rattle her usual buttoned up, put-together facade.
Savannah pressed her lips together and concentrated on pouring liqueur into his cup. He stroked her through her leggings as she did it. But she executed it perfectly. Though her cheeks were pink the entire time.
When Scott finally moved on, she gave Theo a look. “Things really do always work out for you, don’t they?”
“What do you mean?” he stroked her again and watched her swallow hard.
“You made all those big promises back in Autre but we’re accidentally at this lodge. And it’s just luck that Lucy is serving cocoa and has peppermint schnapps.”
He gave her a big grin. “And look.” He tipped his head toward Lucy herself. She was moving around the room with a huge platter.
Savannah shook her head. “Frosted sugar cookies.”
“You remember what I said about those , right?”
Savannah was still looking at the cookies. “I definitely do.”
He moved his finger and she gave a little moan. “Me too, City Girl. Me fucking too.”
She finally looked back at him. “How long do we have to stay down here and be sociable?”
He circled his finger over her clit through the soft cotton. “You’re asking the guy who lives alone in a cabin on the bayou far away from people?”
“Right. Okay. Two minutes.”
“Aw, thank you.” He pressed a little harder and circled and she made a strangled sound, her eyes sliding shut for a moment.
“Thank you for what?” she managed.
“You’re so confident I can make you come right here like this in two minutes.”
Her eyes opened, but it was clear she understood what he meant. “You’re going to do…that…before we can go upstairs?”
“Sounds like fun to me.” He moved his finger again.
“Theo…”
She sounded so needy that his already hard cock twitched.
“Be sure you grab plenty of cookies,” he told her as Lucy approached. He kept his finger moving this time.
“Cookies, kids?” Lucy asked with a smile.
“ Yes ,” Savannah replied but Theo knew her answer wasn’t about the cookies.
“How about a couple each?” he said easily, smiling up at Lucy.
She set four cookies on a little plate that had holly branches painted around the edge on the wide arm of the chair.
As soon as her back was to them, Theo slid his hand up to Savannah’s stomach and then down inside her leggings. He met her eyes, took a sip of cocoa, and slid his finger over her clit with nothing between them.
She gasped.
“Don’t spill your cocoa,” he told her.
She started to move to set it on the table next to them, but Theo shook his head. “Nope. Hold it. Don’t spill. And don’t scream out my name, no matter how much you want to.”