Chapter 23
Ellyn
“Now, turn to the right a few inches,” Joel directs as I sit on the red and black snowmobile he’s pulled out from the residence’s garage.
I might’ve complained and griped a little about not climbing on a snowmobile, but I was done for when Joel took my hands into his, looked into my eyes, and promised he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
Not while he was driving.
It felt exactly like that moment when he picked me off of my bathroom floor. Except even more intense, like I was safe because he was here.
That’s how what’s now turned into a ten-minute photoshoot began. Yet, we haven’t even made it off of the property just yet. I knew pictures of me posing on the snowmobile in front of the house with the mountains as the backdrop would look fabulous on my social media feeds.
“Last one. Make a snowball and throw it in my direction,” Joel instructs, sounding oddly like a professional director.
I raise a suspicious eyebrow.
He lowers the phone to his side. “Last year Gabriel took a few candid shots of Lena throwing snowballs, and when she posted them on her Instagram feeds they went super virulent.”
“Viral?”
He grunts. “Yeah, that. With that smile of yours, you’ll garner as many viewers and new subscribers from a short reel.”
I didn’t know whether to be impressed or to jump this man’s bones. Was he offering to help grow my business? I had shared with him that posting on certain social media platforms often helped grow my YouTube channel.
I had to concede that his logic made sense.
With that thought in mind, I hopped off of the snowmobile and formed a few snowballs with my hands still insulated in my black wool mittens.
“That’s it,” Joel croons as I toss the first snowball.
I look him in the eye and aim directly at him, making a fire light in his eyes. He silently goads me, and I take the challenge, tossing the ball made of firm, white snow in his direction.
At the last second Joel jumps out of the way. But not before getting the shot.
As soon as he lowers the phone, though, he begins charging at me, like a man determined.
I squeal and try to run, but he’s too fast. I blame my new snow boots and the too-soft snow beneath my feet for my lack of escape the moment Joel wraps a strong arm around my waist, pulling me to his body.
Even through the thickness of our outer layers, I feel the heat of his body against mine. We’re both breathing heavily, though we haven’t exerted ourselves that much.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he growls in my ear.
A full body shiver rockets through me.
“How?” My voice is breathless, almost choked with want.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he says before biting my right earlobe.
A sigh escapes my lips, and my legs begin to quiver in a way that makes me believe I might not be able to stand for much longer.
This man has me weak to the bones for him, and we’ve only been here for a couple of hours.
“Let me take you on that ride.”
I don’t have time to fully process his words before he lifts me off of my feet and sits me on the snowmobile once again.
I would be a liar if I said the way he was able to pick me up so effortlessly wasn’t a turn on.
“Wait.” I stop him with a hand to his chest when he goes to mount the snowmobile himself.
He pauses, allowing me to stare into his hazel eyes. The look in them would overwhelm me if I didn’t find it so protective, comforting. I lean in and press my lips to his.
Joel immediately receives and then takes over, parting my lips with his tongue and tasting me as if I was the finest drink he’s ever thirsted for.
What was meant to be a quick peck turned into something longer, deeper, lingering. Joel pulls a groan of want from me when he ends the kiss.
“Let me show you the rest of this place.” His voice is a mixture of wanton hunger and care.
It makes my nipples bead and press against my bra. Even as I wrap my arms around his middle and lean into him as he takes control of the snowmobile, the ache between my legs refuses to disappear.
‘I love you.’ I mouth the words while laying my head against his back as we take off for this afternoon’s adventure.