Chapter 22 Avalanche In The Calm
Myles pushed open the door and motioned for me to step in. With a smile, I entered the condo, and sucked in a breath as I looked around the beautifully rustic interior of his home.
Everything felt so natural and pleasing to the eye – from the wooden walls and beamed ceiling to the massive window in the center of the living room. From the classic leather couches to the plush ivory carpet on the floor.
As the two of us took off our boots next to the threshold, Myles shut the condo’s door and placed the books and grocery bags he was holding, under the coatrack next to the entrance.
A faint smell of his cologne, along with the scent of burnt wood, hit my nose, and I sighed. I could almost imagine a silent lake beyond the house instead of the busy, traffic-laden street of Chicago as I watched the snow fall on the closed glass window.
Once we’d left the bookstore, Myles had suggested we go somewhere for lunch, but I didn’t want that.
I wanted to cook something for him, because other than desserts and cakes, I hadn’t exactly made anything savory for him, especially a meal.
And also because I wanted to reward him for his heroism at B&N earlier.
It was only necessary, of course.
Because going to my house and making him lunch was out of the question – due to Av?, obviously – I’d asked Myles if we could go over to his place. He’d said yes immediately. Although, he’d suggested we order takeout instead of me cooking, but I’d refused.
So, here we were, in his condo, after a quick visit to the grocery store.
I took off my beanie, gloves, and coat, and Myles did the same. He then hung everything on the rack before twining his fingers with mine.
“Come on,” he said with a grin, and led me further inside the condo.
I hadn’t seen his place before, so there was so much for me to take in as I continued to look around like a damn weirdo.
“That’s my office,” Myles pointed at the room to the left. “I usually do blueprints, designing, and financial stuff there. And here,” he then pointed at the room next to his office, “Is where all the dazzling happens.”
I lifted my brows at him.
“It’s my bedroom,” he clarified, and then clicked his tongue. “I don’t know why I used the word ‘dazzling’. Can you…just, can you pretend I didn’t say that? Can you, I don’t know, erase that bit from your memory?”
I laughed. You’re crazy, I signed, to which he gave me a subtle wink.
“Oh, I know, babe.”
I shook my head at him, and let him pull me towards the fireplace on the right.
There was a lovely wooden table in front of it, with some interior design magazines on it, followed by a few pencils, a couple sketchbooks, and an iPad. There was a sofa just opposite the table, and a small stand to its left, with a lovely lamp on it.
The kitchen was next to the fireplace, and despite the fact that there weren’t a lot of appliances in there, the area still looked pretty well-used.
I walked over to the fireplace, just as Myles rekindled its fire and stood to look at me.
I love your house, I signed.
He smiled. “Thanks, Rina.” He came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “It’s a contemporary rustic style. Roughhewn wood everywhere – my favorite.”
I leaned against him. Your house should be next to a lake, I signed.
He pressed a long kiss below my ear. “Yeah?” he whispered.
I nodded, and gasped when his lips began traveling lower.
Myles softly dug his teeth into the side of my neck, making me moan. Goosebumps pricked every inch of my skin, and my heart began beating faster.
“Rina…” He kissed his way up to my ear again. “You’re my bliss, my avalanche in the calm.” He held me a bit tighter. “God, I’m so lucky to have you here with me.” He pressed another kiss, but this time, to the back of my head, which made me smile.
I placed my hands over his, and when he bit my earlobe before nuzzling his nose against it, I chuckled.
That’s when my eyes landed on something above the fireplace. And…and that’s also when my body stiffened against Myles’s.