Chapter 4
Chapter four
Cole
I am never doing that again.
My heart is beating out of my ass and I feel like I’m going to be sick.
Driving through what is easily one or even two feet of snow was a lot less terrifying in theory, though it was worth it now that I know Noelle is safe.
Still, every second our wheels could slip, sending us down into the unknown, and I think I forgot to breathe until we reached my driveway and I deflated.
“How do you still have power?” Noelle asks as she stares up at the house, a sense of wonder coating her voice.
I smirk. “Money. I got myself some back-up generators.”
“Must be nice to be really, really rich,” she snorts. “Think of me while you build your empire, will you?”
You’re all I think about. “Ha-ha. Listen, I’m going to walk around the car and open your door, and you are going to hold my hand until we’re safely inside the house. Deal?”
“You know, if you want to hold my hand that badly you can just ask.” Noelle twists in her seat to face me, the teasing look on her face intoxicating.
Oh? “Can I hold your hand?”
“No.” Fuck.
I shoot her a pouty glare and she bursts out laughing. She’s clearly nervous, though, so I let it slide.
“Are you getting over here or what?” Noelle raises a brow. The cold air makes her skin even paler, her lips swollen from her anxious chewing. God, I would give anything to kiss her right now. To revel in the taste of her and let it calm my racing mind. Would she swat me away if I tried?
She’s got a point, though. A gust of wind sweeps over the car, blasting inches of snow onto the ground.
If we wait any longer we might not be able to get out of the car unscathed, and I’m not just talking about the snow.
Her kissing my cheek planted the need for something deeper, something more for the two of us.
And I’m too weak for her to hold out for long.
I jump out of the car before I can do something stupid that ruins our friendship.
Visibility is worse than before, so I keep one hand pressed against the car as I struggle my way over to Noelle. She’s got the door open already, and a bright smile crosses her face when she takes me in.
“You look like a yeti.”
“Yeah? This yeti is going to throw you over his shoulder if you don’t hurry up.” SHIT. I should not have said that. Now it’s all I can picture, and in that fantasy, she is not nearly wearing enough clothes for us to be platonic. “I’m freezing my cock off here, you know.”
Shut. Up.
Even in the dark the blush creeping onto her cheekbones is undeniable, and I love it. “Wouldn’t want that.”
Her hand is warm in mine when she interlocks our fingers, hopping from my truck and sinking into the snow before slamming the door shut behind her. I remember her bag at the last second, perched on the back seat.
Though I parked close to the house, the onslaught of snow and wind makes it a surprisingly long and difficult trek.
I keep Noelle’s hand pressed to my chest, keeping her flush against me as the porch light draws closer.
Fuck, I’m so glad she called me. There is no way she would have made it through the night if she’d stayed at her place.
And without her…without Noelle, I am nothing.
I didn’t lock the front door, figuring no one but me would be stupid enough to be out in this storm, so my frozen fingers don’t have to struggle with the lock. I pull Noelle into the house and close the door behind her, locking in the heavy heat of the fireplace.
Despite Noelle’s jokes, my house is far from an ivory tower.
It’s larger than the average home, sure, but it’s more like a big chalet.
The layout of the downstairs is completely open save for some wooden structural beams and the bathroom to our right, with a tall wooden staircase leading up to the loft holding the bedrooms. Well, bedroom; I converted the second one into an office and gym to use in the off-season.
Guess it will be a weekend of sleeping on the couch for me.
The wall in front of us is made of mostly glass right up to the roof, offering a glorious view of the town, mountains and lake.
Aside from the privacy and complete lack of neighbors, this view was the biggest selling point.
Something about nature just puts me at ease.
The gentle sway of the trees, the predatory birds circling above.
It’s a reminder that life goes on, no matter what.
And there is no other choice but to keep going.
“There’s clothes waiting for you on the bed. Go put them on,” I say as I shrug off my coat, snow falling to the floor in clumps.
Noelle raises a brow. “What about you?”
“I’ll be fine. Go get changed—I don’t want you getting sick.” I tug the hat from her head and put it onto the coat rack before helping her out of her coat, and nudge her towards the stairs with my elbow.
She’s kicked off her shoes, so her footfalls are soft and rhythmic as they disappear above my head. I allow myself to smile for only a moment, imagining what it would be like to have this for the rest of my days.
The bathroom door shuts with a soft click and I lean against it, blowing out a breath.
This is going to be a long weekend. Pushing down my feelings is easy when I see her only a few hours a day.
Being alone with her, locked inside my house for days?
There is no way I won’t slip up. I can only hope that when I do, it won’t be enough to break what we have.
I shake my head, trying to clear the thought. Focus, Cole.
I’m soaked to the flesh, so it takes some careful peeling to get my clothes off. Is it the same for Noelle? Does she struggle, too?
My mind strays to imagine it, my best friend in nothing but her underwear and a soaked tee that clings to her skin.
It’s not hard to picture that adorable frustrated look of hers, as I know her expressions like the back of my hand.
I’m no stranger to fantasizing about her, but something about picturing her like this, half naked in my bedroom, sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine.
Fucking hell, Martin. Get a grip. She’s your best friend.
I tug the white shirt over my head and stalk out of the bathroom before my thoughts can escalate further.
It might take days for the snow to stop, and more for her to be able to go home.
Being stuck in a snowstorm together might be straight out of a romantic comedy, but nothing can happen between us.
It’s best if I don’t entertain the thoughts; it can only crush my heart.
Noelle hasn’t come down yet—probably still trying to peel off her clothes—so I make a beeline for the kitchen.
I’m a sucker for clichés, so I pour chocolate milk into cups and set them on a rack in my fireplace to be heated by the flames.
I’ve just taken them back out when I hear her soft footsteps on the stairs.
“Why do you still have your Christmas tree up? It’s February,” Noelle laughs as she walks towards the couch. My tree is a tall, bushy thing made of recycled plastic, draped in shimmering garlands and multicolored lights and shiny colorful baubles.
Because you decorated it for me, I think, though I know better than to say it aloud. “Just haven’t gotten around to putting it away. It’s not a big deal.”
I set the mugs on the coffee table and let myself fall backwards onto the over-sized couch, watching as she does the same. She looks adorable in my sweats and a Vultures hoodie that’s much too big for her, a pair of thick wool socks pulled up her calves. Even with all those layers, she’s shivering.
My breath catches when she curls up on my side, her head nestled against my shoulder. The scent of her pear shampoo mixes with the one of my laundry detergent—she smells like mine. And I don’t want her to be anything else.
I hand her the remote, knowing exactly what she’s about to put on but wanting to give her the option to choose. She picks the safe choice, anyway.
“It’s really coming down out there,” Noelle says absentmindedly. Pressed up against me, she’s shivering less now. Even so, I pull the blanket off the back of the couch and throw it over her. “I hope mom’s okay.”
I can’t believe she allows that woman to take up precious space in her mind. After all her mother has put her through, I would not have hesitated to ban any trace of her from my life. But Noelle has always been a better person than I am.
“She’ll be fine. She always is. Probably got herself a new man to wait out the storm with on his dime.” My muscles go rigid the way they always do when Noelle talks about her mother, my lips pursed into a thin line. She deserved so much better than that witch.
Noelle lets out an affirming huff before taking a sip of her hot chocolate. “His name is Harry. They came by the café to try and convince me to stay with them.”
This gives me a pause. Her mother has only been at the café once before, despite living in town. I suppose I shouldn’t be as surprised about this as I am, but the implication she might actually have nurturing feelings towards Noelle? I can’t even imagine it. “What did you say?”
“I told her I was staying with you, and hid in the kitchen until she left.” A mischievous smile creeps onto her lips. “I figured risking death by icicle was still better than spending a minute alone with her.”
“That’s my girl.” A strange sort of pride takes hold inside of me. In her own way, this is Noelle standing up for herself against her mother. And that is huge for her.
Noelle laughs. “I knew you’d like that.”
“Yeah, except the death by icicle part. Don’t like that,” I say. “You’re not allowed to die on me.”
Noelle moves to look at me. “I’m not allowed?”
“Definitely not allowed, so don’t get any ideas,” I say flatly. “We’re a package deal, Noelle. If you go, I’ll have no choice but to follow. And I still have some things to check off my bucket list.”
Noelle raises a brow. “Like what?”
Dating you. Tasting you. Feeling you around me. Loving you forever. Having your babies. Marrying you.
“Getting my name on the Stanley Cup again,” I smirk. Liar.
I hold her gaze for a moment too long, her laughter stirring something deep within my chest. When she yawns I get lost in the sight, cuteness aggression clawing at my throat like I’m watching otters hold hands.
“I should probably go to bed,” Noelle says softly.
I nod. “Alright. You go up then, I’ll sleep right here on the couch.”
A strangled sound leaves her throat as she turns to look at me, appearing almost offended at my plan.
“I’m not kicking you out of your own bed,” Noelle protests. “We can share. I promise I don’t have cooties.”
Alarm bells ring in my ears while my body wages war with my mind.
I would love nothing more than to share a bed with her, to watch over her dreaming and protect her from the night.
But I also know that I’m a simple, stupid man.
And when a gorgeous woman like her is in my bed? My brain only knows one thing to do.
It’s the shot of a lifetime, but it’s too big a risk.
It’s a struggle to keep my voice even when I say, “I know you don’t. But I don’t mind, really. You know me. I can sleep anywhere.”
Noelle rolls her eyes. “Come on, sweet pea. I promise you’ll be fine.”
I groan, but there is no use in arguing with Noelle Adams. Not when she grabs me by the hand and leads me up the stairs, her grip like iron until we reach the foot of the bed.
Despite the heating, the cold has seeped into the room, and neither of us dares to shed our clothes.
It’s for the best; the more barriers between us, the better.
Maybe I can find some extra pillows, build a wall to separate us.
By the time I snap out of my thoughts Noelle has already slipped between the covers, giving me a pointed look. “Never shared a bed with a woman before, Martin?”
“No one like you, that’s for sure,” I grin. “I’m just calculating my chances of getting bit.”
In all the good places, of course. Shut up, Cole.
“That all depends on you,” Noelle says with a wink.
What the actual fuck does that mean?
Two can play that game, though. “Oh, I do love a challenge.”
Noelle’s eyebrow cocks up, those warm brown eyes dragging up and down my body before a smirk pulls at her lips. “Just get in here before your ego catches frostbite. Or, what was it you said? You freeze your cock off?”
Torture, that’s what this is. Having her in my bed is bad enough, but hearing her say cock? Fuck.
This is a bad idea. A terrible, wonderful, monumentally catastrophic idea. But it’s too late to back out now.
The silk sheets are cold against my skin when I slide in next to Noelle, every inch of my body hyper-aware of her closeness. I reach out my hand to turn off the light before remembering her fear of the dark, and drop it at once.
“Goodnight.” Noelle yawns. She bunches up the sheets and pulls them into her chest for safekeeping. She’s so cute.
I release a breath. I guess this isn’t so bad. “Goodnight, Honey.”
Sliding down further on the mattress, I turn onto my side until her hair tickles my nose and the scent of her pear shampoo consumes my being, driving out any thought that isn’t about her.
She shivers, and on instinct I pull her into the crook of my body, cradling her against me to share my heat. I say instinct, but really, there is no one I’d do this with but her.
It’s my kryptonite, though. The moment her spine presses into my chest my desire takes me hostage, and no amount of visualizing roadkill can stop it.
Noelle’s voice is soft as a dove when she says, “Did you just get a—”
“I’m sorry, it’s just…it’s been a long time since I’ve had someone in my bed,” I say, and for a moment I swear she squirms in my arms just to turn me on more. “And when the most beautiful woman in the world is in my arms, you can’t blame a man for getting a little excited.”
“Oh.” Silence fills the room, heavy and unknown, and I silently curse my mouth for speaking the words. Then Noelle presses her ass against me, carefully sliding it up and down my length, and I can barely stifle my moan. “All of this, for me?”
I drop my forehead into the crook of her neck. She doesn’t seem scared off or offended, but if she keeps this up…things are bound to get awkward quick.
“Yeah, Honey. Just for you. And only you.”