Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Stepping into the lodge’s kitchen, Nat was met with a surprise: Sofia was already there.
She was pouring a small dish of food, her figure wrapped in the soft glow of early morning light.
Sofia was wearing a silk, black dressing gown that clung to her curves and framed her like a vision.
Moxie, the tiny kitten, pawed at her ankles with enthusiasm, and for a second, Nat could only watch them.
Nat’s chest warmed as she leaned against the doorframe.
What would she say? And what about yesterday and the night before?
She wanted to kiss Sofia, to take her in her arms and let their bodies say what words couldn’t—but she didn’t want to risk her feeling awkward.
What if Sofia had woken up with regrets and wanted to put it all behind them?
But then, just as her thoughts started to spiral, Sofia looked up.
“Hey, good morning…”
Their eyes met across the kitchen, and in the quiet, tentative moment that followed, neither of them moved.
Then, to Nat’s astonishment, Sofia walked over, her gaze intent, her mouth curving into a warm, easy smile.
She lifted her hand, fingers grazing Nat’s cheek, and she pulled her in and kissed her as if she’d been waiting for this since sunrise.
“It’s so good to see you again,” Sofia whispered, her breath warm against Nat’s lips. Her hand lingered on Nat’s cheek, her thumb brushing against her skin. “It felt so quiet last night after you left.”
Nat’s eyes fluttered closed for a beat. “Yeah… it’s good to see you too.” Arousal spread like sunlight through her veins. Just that one little touch was enough to make her mind go to places it shouldn’t.
Moxie darted between their legs, pulling them out of their reverie. She was batting at a tube of lipstick. Sofia took a step back and looked down at the kitten with amusement. “She found my lipstick this morning and has been obsessed with it, so it’s hers now.”
They both laughed, watching Moxie swipe the lipstick across the floor with all her tiny might. Nat’s gaze drifted back to Sofia, the laughter fading as they locked eyes again. She felt the familiar pull—the magnetic tension that was simmering beneath the surface.
She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind Sofia’s ear, her touch lingering, and Nat was drawn closer, as if a thread connected them, an unbreakable, invisible pull. It was electric, raw, and as Sofia’s lips found hers again, she moaned softly into the kiss.
She was keenly aware that they lingered in a strange, delicate space between guest and hostess, between practical and impossible.
But here, in this quiet kitchen, with Sofia's breath mingling with hers, Nat cared less and less about the boundaries that once seemed so solid. It felt so right, so simple, and it was clear the attraction was shared, so she let her hands slip around Sofia’s waist, pulling her closer.
“This is a nice start to the day,” she whispered against Sofia’s mouth.
“I’ve been up for a while, waiting for you…” Sofia inched back to look at her, her dark eyes smoldering.
“Have you now?” Nat grinned and only then realized the kitchen was dressed with evidence of Sofia’s earlier activity: an empty plate with breadcrumbs, some leftover sliced fruit, and a pot of coffee steaming on the counter.
“I came here ready to make breakfast,” Nat said. “But it looks like you beat me to it.”
Sofia shrugged, a sheepish smile on her face. “I didn’t want you to feel responsible for making breakfast.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I am responsible for making breakfast,” Nat shot back at her in a flirtatious tone. “I’ll just have to come earlier tomorrow then…”
Sofia chuckled. “Or,” she murmured, her voice dropping as she squeezed Nat’s behind, “you could stay over, and then you’d be here bright and early.”
Nat’s fingers lingered at her waist, fingering the silky fabric of her gown. “Oh, so that’s your plan?” she murmured, barely able to keep her voice steady. The intimacy between them felt as natural as breathing, yet it was wrapped in a thrill entirely new to her.
“Well, it’s an option,” Sofia teased, brushing her lips against Nat’s. “If you’re up for it, of course…”
“You know, it’s pretty dangerous tempting me like this,” Nat retorted. “If you’re not careful, we might still be here when the snow starts to melt…”
“I can live with that,” Sofia said and kissed her again.
Nat felt dizzy with desire as Sofia’s hands slid into her hair, pulling her close, grounding her in the delicious weight of the moment. There was a shared urgency now, a need that pulsed between them like a heartbeat.
Before Nat knew it, the warmth of Sofia’s body melted into her own against the kitchen counter. She caressed Sofia’s back, feeling her shiver under the light touch, and when Sofia deepened the kiss, pressing her body closer, Nat’s resolve splintered.
Her hands skimmed over Sofia’s waist before she lifted her onto the countertop, spread her legs, and settled in between her thighs.
With a gentle tug, she parted the fabric, of Sofia’s robe, her breath hitching as she took in the sight of her. Nat pressed a soft kiss to her collarbone, tracing a slow, deliberate path down to Sofia’s chest. She paused, feeling Sofia’s heartbeat quicken.
Sofia gasped, her fingers tangling in Nat’s hair as her head tipped back, exposing the delicate curve of her neck.
Her eyes fluttered closed, her lips parted in a soft exhale, and Nat could feel the shiver that ran through her, like an electric current passing between them.
A sense of hunger filled her, and she nipped and tugged at Sofia’s hard nipples, twirling her tongue around them until Sofia was squirming against her.
Her hands skimmed over Sofia’s thighs, the silk of the robe bunching under her fingertips, revealing more and more of her skin.
Her touch trailed higher, tracing delicate patterns, savoring the way Sofia trembled under her touch.
Sofia’s breaths grew shallower, her body arching instinctively, pulling Nat closer.
Nat looked up and gave Sofia a small, mischievous smile, her fingers brushing along the edge of the gown as she murmured, “You know this will have to come off, right?”
Sofia’s laugh was low and breathy, her hand sliding to Nat’s cheek, pulling her in close until their foreheads touched. “Take it off. You can do anything you want with me,” she whispered.
Nat slid the robe off Sofia’s shoulders, and she gasped when it fell behind her on the kitchen counter. Sofia was breathtakingly beautiful, sitting on the counter, naked and there was a rawness, an openness to her that slayed Nat.
As Nat’s tongue trailed over Sofia’s breasts and over her belly, her mind slipped into a haze of pure sensation. Her hands roamed further up Sofia’s thighs and she spread them further as her mouth dipped lower, inhaling the heady scent of Sofia’s arousal.
Sofia’s hands tightened in Nat’s hair, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as blew hot breath over her sex before she started exploring her with her tongue. She moaned, shifted on the counter like she didn’t know what to do with herself.
Nat felt her own pulse racing, the thrill of Sofia’s uninhibited responses driving her wild with want. Her nails dug into Sofia’s thighs, and she glanced up for a beat to see her lips parted with an expression of pure delight painting her face.
“Yes…” she whispered, then louder, “Don’t stop! Fuck…”
Her hands slipped to the back of Nat’s head, urging her closer, her breaths heavy with anticipation. Nat took her time, loving the way Sofia responded, shivering, arching, completely open, and moaning at her touch.
She tensed, shook in her grip, and then, with a loud cry, she wrapped her legs around Nat’s neck and climaxed against her mouth.
Nat smiled, a little smug that she’d brought Sofia to the point of screaming, and she released her grip and straightened herself to kiss her.
Sofia’s breathing slowed, and as she wrapped her arms around Nat, they settled into a tender embrace, neither willing to break the silence, the moment, or the calm bliss that surrounded them like a secret.