That’s what Noelle brought out in me.
When she reached out to me, I released her ankles and lowered my body to hers. Carefully, I lifted her against me only to lay her on the Navajo Tree of Life sandpainting rug in front of the fireplace.
Noelle’s arms pulled me against the soft curves of her breasts, holding my head between them as her hips rose to meet my thrusts. I buried my face in her breasts, laving the crevice while I devoured that cinnamon and honey taste.
Taking one taut nipple between my teeth, I pulled and then bit, provoking a cry from her, forcing her to pull her lip between her teeth. I sucked and loved on her nipple, soothing the spot that now turned from a dark brown to brown with a hint of red.
My mouth moved to pull her bottom lip from between her teeth and suck on it.
“Marc,” she called out as we rocked back and forth, losing ourselves in the groove.
“Yes, baby.”
“This...this feels so good. With you, like this...it feels so...”
“Right?”
“Mmm, yes,” she moaned. “Ooohh, shit!” she cried.
Damn, I’d known this woman all of five days, and I was quickly losing myself in her. That had never happened before. I’d never allowed my guard down long enough to let it happen.
From the moment I carried her, passed out, to this cottage on the night of the party, I knew I wanted her. Knew that I had to have her. And I tried for the first day or two to resist those thoughts, to put up a wall to keep her out. But she was always there, waiting, watching, and ready to prance. I was the willing prey, and she was the predator, and I’d succumbed to her trap.
I hooked her shoulder over my arm, digging deeper inside of her. The plushness of her insides, the moist heat, and the way her body fit under, over, and all around mine was sheer perfection.
Looking into Noelle’s eyes, I could see she was just as confused as I was. Neither of us had meant for this to occur. And while I didn’t believe in love at first sight, something mighty damned powerful had transpired between us. Something I was at a loss to name.
So instead, we sealed it with a kiss. A passionate, soft kiss as we yielded to what was happening between us. The way she gave back every thrust I gave, the way her pussy claimed my dick, and how her ass, so soft and plump, molded into my hands let me know that she wanted to be mine as much as I wanted her.
I wasn’t willing to let go, and I’d kick anybody’s ass who got in the way of what I wanted. What was happening between Noelle and me at the moment wasn’t sheer fucking. Not like I’d done in the past. It was an intimate dance of ownership, claiming the rights to one another’s bodies and hearts.
And when the realization hit me, I was powerless to stop its force. I rocked up on my knees and pulled her up with me. In a mad frenzy, we raced one another to the finish line, panting, tears streaming from her face, my mouth and eyes wide with the awareness of how I felt for this woman.
“Baby,” I groaned.
“Yes?”
“Oh, baby,” I groaned again, clamping my mouth over hers, showing her with a kiss the words that I couldn’t speak.
I felt Noelle as she released on me, and moments later, I lost control as I let go, too.
When we finished, she stared at me.
Shaking her head, she said, “What was that?”
“I...baby,” I said, lowering my forehead against her forehead.
“That was...wow!” she breathed.
“Yeah, intense. That shit was heavy.”
When she pulled back and looked into my eyes, Noelle asked, “I’m not that girl, Marc. And I know that we’ve only known each other five days, but...”
“This was different. Shhh,” I said, pressing my lips against hers.
I didn’t want her to sully what we had with what she thought I might feel. We kissed some more before I broke it off.
“Marc, I’m not sure where your head is at in all of this or what you’re expecting of me.”
“I want you, Noelle.”
She lowered her eyes, causing my heart to skip a beat.
“I want you, too, but I need some time.”
Nodding, I asked, “How much time?” I was serious about giving her whatever she needed.
“Just enough to reconcile what’s happened in my life. A lot has happened over the last five days, and I’ve not had enough time to process it. I’m just moving forward through this train wreck, and I need a moment to sort it out. Figure out the salvageable parts as opposed to those that are destroyed and need to be discarded. I don’t want to damage anything that can be saved while I sort through the wreckage. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Jealousy and anger intermingled within and rose within me, escalating up the spire.
“That you need to see if you can still work it out with Timbers and save your job?”
“Hell no!” she said, fire blazing in her eyes.
“No, what I’m feeling for you is...confusing, Marc. But I need to make sure what I’m feeling is real and not just a result of all that’s happened. I need to go home for a bit and see if these feelings remain. I don’t want to hurt you, and I need to make sure I don’t set myself up to be hurt further, either. I’m sorry that I allowed things to go this far.”
“If you’re feeling me the way that I’m feeling you, then there’s nothing to be sorry about,” I said.
She smiled at me. “How do you feel?”
Lifting her off my lap, I sat her on the ottoman.
“Stay right there; I’ll be back,” I said.
I jogged down to the third floor of my home in all my naked glory and grabbed something off my workbench.
When I returned, she was sitting on the ottoman with her knees pulled up to her chest. I could see her fat peach poked out, the lips so soft and wet. Her breasts pushed against her knees, bulged at the top, making me want to take one in my mouth again.
Kneeling in front of her, I said, “I know it’s not Christmas yet, but you’ve had a pretty rough time of it. And I just wanted to do something special for you, and if I don’t see you at Christmas, I want you to have this now. The night of the party, I saw the incident between you and Tucker, and I was pissed that he was so dismissive of you. And although you railed out against him, I recognized it as a woman scorned. All I wanted to do that night was protect you, even if you didn’t see it that way. I wanted you to be kept from further harm or damage to your reputation. I wanted you to be strong despite what he’d done to you because I know he’s an asshole. Separating you was the only way to protect you, but I’d forgotten about the liquor in the cottage and damn sure didn’t realize my men would fail you the way that they did. But the night I carried you to the cottage in my arms, you looked like an angel. A part of me now wonders if you were sent to me for a reason; what that reason is, I’m not sure. But...I think you need an angel to guard over you when you return home. And you...well, you’ve been my angel for a little while,” I said as I handed it to her.
13 – WOODEN ANGEL
My fingers lovingly caressed the wooden angel. “You made this?”
Easton nodded, and I could see the look of doubt in his eyes. “It’s gorgeous!” I said, reaching a hand up and caressing his face. Leaning up towards him, I brushed my lips against his before he opened his mouth and claimed mine. His tongue swept through my mouth, caressing mine and suckling at it. Just as quickly as it started, he ended it, resting his forehead against mine.
Easton was a good man, but I needed to make sure that I could be a good woman to him; otherwise, I might destroy him. And I couldn’t live with myself if I did that.
“But I didn’t get you anything, Easton.”
“You got me the greatest gift anyone has ever given to me, Noelle. The gift of your companionship. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know you and learn what an amazing lady you are. These past few days have placed things in perspective for me. Being with you has been a wonderful Christmas gift. Perhaps the greatest gift I’ve ever been giv
en. And I don’t want that to end.”
Why hadn’t I met him first? I had the brief thought that his contract with Timbers Pharma might be jeopardized if Tucker ever found out about our connection. And at that moment, I knew that I could never be his. Not as long as he worked for Tucker. The man was just cruel enough to use that against Marc. And I wouldn’t allow Marc to be Tucker’s pawn by being the weapon he held over his head.
My eyes filled with unshed tears.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, kissing my eyes and letting his lips absorb my tears.
“Nothing,” I lied.
I couldn’t tell him the truth. If I did, I had a feeling that Marc wouldn’t let me go, and he’d risk the contract for my sake. I didn’t want him to have to choose. So, I’d do it for him.
“Then why the tears, huh?”
“Because no one has ever given me a gift so thoughtful. Or took the time and consideration to make one for me.”
He smiled sweetly at me but didn’t say a word.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Um, I’m going to go fix us a quick lunch and then check on the roads, okay?” he said, getting up from his knees.
I wanted to reach out and stroke his dick again as it swung from side to side. That man’s body was gorgeous, every muscle well defined and tightly toned, including his ass. Broad, strong shoulders and a muscular back tapered off into a slim waist.
The way he’d held me and bounced me around when we had sex was beyond belief. I’m not a small girl; with this big ass, thick thighs, and curvy hips, I’m no featherweight.
Whereas Tucker complained a lot of times when I wanted to ride him or told me to push back from the table a bit, Marc seemed to love every curve about me.
I recalled the time Tucker laughingly referred to me as a plate cleaner. And where he and his friends found it funny, I’d smiled but tucked the comment away to deal with my hurt privately.
Everything about Marc was considerate and appreciative. I loved that about him.
Wait. Love?
I grabbed my clothes and tossed them on, running from the house, heading to the cottage.
It would be difficult to walk away from Marc, but I had no other choice. It was in his best interest, even if it wasn’t in mine.
After I’d showered and dressed in my dress and heels again, I picked up the phone to call Holly.
“Hey, girl. You’re coming home today?” she greeted upon answering the phone.
“I’m hoping so. Marc’s going to check the roads shortly and let me know.”
“I heard on the news the crews headed up into the mountain area this morning. You know the streets and sidewalks down here are clear again. But it seems you guys have been stranded in the mountains for a while. How’s that working out for you?”
As much as I wanted to tell her about Marc, I wasn’t ready to share him just yet. Things needed to be clearer before I said anything. And I just wasn’t sure where we stood right now. I was serious about not wanting to hurt him.
Guess I should have thought about that before we had sex.
“Things are going well. I’ve had a lot of time alone to think about the decisions I’ve made in the past. Where I want my future to go, and I’ve sent in my application to a few companies. It’s the holidays, so I know I won’t hear anything back any time soon, but at least it’s out there.”
“I’m sending well wishes to you, my love. I’ll check around and see if I hear about any openings here in town. But it may be a minute before I hear anything with the holidays upon us,” Holly warned.
“I appreciate any help at this time.”
“Do you need anything?”
Laughing, I said, “Thanks, but no. I’ve got almost fourteen months’ worth of living expenses in savings. I would love not to touch it and make it grow, but it’s for times like this.”
“Well, you know I’m here if you need me,” Holly said. “Um, but you’re not thinking about going back to Tucker, are you? I mean, if he decides that he wants to be with you again?”
“Hell no! I’m over his ass, and I’m over my stupidity. Right now, it’s time for Noelle to focus on Noelle.”
“All right. Well, I just wanted to check on you. I have to go right now. But when you get back call me. I’m still ready to take you out for drinks,” Holly said.
“I’ll be calling you tonight, girl.”
“All right. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I said, ending the call.
I spent the next couple of hours working on the computer researching job opportunities. A new listing for a VP of Finance with MERC Enterprises was posted. It was a new role created within the company, and it paid forty-eight thousand more than my current position. Or former job, I should say.
I reviewed the qualifications and requirements, a smile tilting my lips. This was the next logical step in my career. While the role called for prior experience, I wasn’t worried about it. I’d held almost every responsibility listed, and the ones I hadn’t performed, I knew that I could.
Biting down on my bottom lip, I chewed it and contemplated it. The only downfall to this role was that it was a new one that I would have to define. The company was relatively new, as well, which didn’t always bid well.
Oh, well, I had nothing to lose. After all, I was unemployed now.
I submitted my resume and cover letter online, pulling them down from Google docs and pressed send. Breathing out a sigh, I stood and stretched. My stomach growled, and I realized that I never returned to Marc’s for the lunch he’d prepared.
Grabbing my coat, I decided to go over and see what was going on. We met one another on the path, as he was coming towards me in the cottage.
“Hi, I was just coming to check on things,” I said, smiling, shivering in the cold.
Marc’s eyes roamed over me, and then he looked away, smoke rings blowing from his breath when he did speak.
“Everything’s ready,” he said and gestured to me to follow him, and we walked to the front yard.
My car was sitting front and center in the entrance behind his Range Rover.
“Ah, I drove down for a while and checked things out. The roads are clear, and I hear they’ve all been cleared out in town. So, I took your car key from the hook and warmed up your car to make sure everything is still in working order.”
I’d forgotten that he’d requested everyone to submit their car keys when we arrived for the party. Anyone not impaired received their keys upon departure. I never got a chance to leave and had completely forgotten that they weren’t in my purse.
“You’re free to go now,” he said, throwing his arms out at his sides and letting them fall again before he opened my car door.
My heart slumped in my chest. Those weren’t the words that I was looking forward to hearing, but ones I needed to hear. Not to mention, he seemed so callous about it all. Or maybe he was just protecting his heart in this thing, too.
“Oh, well, thanks!” I said, smiling up at him and rubbing my hands together to keep warm.
“You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do, seeing as how I’ve kidnapped you and held you on this mountain for the last few days,” he teased.
Marc grabbed my hands and rubbed them together with his own.
“Marc, I...I want to thank you for your hospitality. The last few days have meant a lot to me, and I can’t express in words how grateful I am that you were here with me through it all.”
“It’s no problem, really.”
“No, I put you out because of my foolish, drunken decisions. And you’ve been good to me. So, thank you.”
He gave a brief nod, and I know he wanted to hear so much more. I felt as if there was so much more I wanted to say, but the timing wasn’t right.
“Marc,” “Noelle,”
We laughed.
“You first,” he said.
Inhaling deeply, I said, “You’re a good man. And I’ve enjoyed your company over the last few days and ge
tting to know you...and Sabre. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m thankful that, for a time, you were part of my journey. I just need a little time, Marc,” I said.
His sparkling blue eyes held my gaze before he dropped it and took in all of me. I got the impression that he was trying to etch every detail of me into his memory to pull out later. That’s what I was doing. I didn’t want to forget a single thing about Marc Easton.
Marc held my face in the palm of his right hand. Lowering his head, his eyes held mine captive, burning the image of the passion in his eyes in my memory, as he took his time tasting my lips. Sucking them and licking them, his eyes remained on mine and mine on his.
I opened my mouth to him, yielding to his desire. Slowly my eyes drifted closed as I fell victim to the sweet sensation that was Marc Easton. A man of few words but extremely passionate and observant.
When he broke off the kiss, I felt empty.
“Take your time, Noelle,” he said, backing away from my car.
I watched as he turned around and headed back into the house. Strapping my seatbelt and turning the ignition on, I began to drive away. Tears pricked at my eyes once more.
I realized that I hadn’t said goodbye to Sabre. Maybe because I didn’t want this to be goodbye?
“Oh, no! I forgot my angel!” I declared, recalling that I’d left it in his living room after we made love.
Made love.
I looked in the rearview mirror, slowing my descent down the driveway. Marc was long gone into the house, but my angel sat in the back window. Smiling at me.
14 – MICK’S
Sitting on the patio of Mick’s, our favorite local watering hole, which was down the block from my place, Holly and I caught up on each other’s lives the past few days.
We took a table on the screened-in patio area. Three fireplaces on the patio and overhead heaters kept the space nice and cozy despite the snow on the ground outside.
“Sooo, tell me all about your host. I know that you weren’t stranded on a mountain with a fine ass man, and you didn’t get none!” Holly teased me, twirling the straw in her drink.
Noelle's Holiday Rebound: A BWWM Christmas Romance (A Glacier Hollow Christmas Romance Book 1) Page 9