Running From Noel

by Janae Keyes

  “Fair enough. But that doesn’t mean I’ll give away her secrets. I’ll bring her here,” and she walked away to use the phone. She walked back into the room a few minutes later and looked at me. “She’s on her way. You better not screw this up.”

  “I don’t plan on it.”

  “Yeah, that’s what all y’all fools say right before you screw it up.” She laughed at me as she walked away.

  Great, she was leaving me alone to deal with everything by myself. Until Everly said she would come with me though I couldn’t get her aunt and uncle to come out to Aspen tomorrow. Some surprises were worth the wait, some weren’t. I had things I wanted to do, and I wanted to do them right for a change.

  I waited for a few more minutes before I heard a car pull up in the drive and my palms started to sweat. I was a nervous wreck right now, even though I knew I didn’t need to be. This was my show, I was leading the charge.

  I heard the door open and Madison flew across the house to the kitchen where her aunt was, leaving me and her mother alone in the living room.

  “I want to take you two somewhere this evening, somewhere to look at decorations. An old family tradition. Please come with me.” I smiled at her as I waited for her to answer me.

  “It’s up to Madison if she wants to spend the time with you. Ask her.” Everly looked at the floor, defeated.

  “Fine. I’ll ask her.” I stood and walked into the kitchen to find her talking to her aunt. They both stopped and looked at me when I walked into the room. “Madison, I would like to take you and your mom to look at the Christmas lights tonight. Would you be okay with that?”

  “Yeah. That’s okay.” She turned back to her aunt, effectively dismissing me.

  I walked back into the living room and looked at Everly. “She said we can go. I want you guys ready by three and would like you to dress warmly please. We’ll get something to eat while we are out. I’ll pick you up.” Perfect! My plan could be put into action.

  I left the house and went out to my car. I had calls to make before three.

  I pulled up outside of Everly’s house right at three and walked up to her door. I knocked on the door to find Madison and Everly there, ready to go.

  “Thank you.” I whispered.

  She just nodded at me and walked toward my car. Madison followed, her step unsure as she glanced over her shoulder at me, giving me a weak smile.

  I slid into my seat and started the car, waiting to make sure they were ready before I drove away, out to LAX. We were flying, but they didn’t know that. Yet.

  “Where are we going?” Everly asked when I turned off the highway toward the airport.

  “To look at Christmas lights, like I promised. Just somewhere that has snow.” I smiled at her and winked.

  “Snow? I don’t do snow.” Her voice carried a note of panic.

  “Don’t worry, we aren’t going too far away. Just relax and trust me.”

  “Yeah Mom. It’s an adventure. Right?” Madison’s voice piped up from the backseat as we pulled up to the hangar.

  “Okay.”

  We got out of the car and walked up to the plane, where my pilot was waiting for us.

  “Afternoon Brian. How’s the weather?”

  “All the way looks clear as glass. Should be a smooth flight boss man.”

  “Sounds good. Let’s get out of here as fast as we can. I want to have plenty of time to look at the lights.” I smiled at him and started climbing the stairs.

  “Is anyone going to tell me where we are going?” Everly was starting to sound annoyed.

  “No. It’s a surprise for our daughter. I just don’t want you to run before we takeoff.” I grinned as I settled into a plush seat and prepared for takeoff.

  “Fine.”

  The plane began to taxi, and I relaxed.

  She couldn’t run now.

  Just over two hours later we were landing in Aspen, the sun already set behind the mountains.

  Madison was staring out her window in excitement, Everly worried.

  “Remembering college?” I looked over at her as she shivered.

  “You could say that.”

  “Don’t worry, the car will be warm. So is the house. I have a bunch of stuff arranged, so don’t worry. Just enjoy yourselves.” I stood as we stopped, walking toward the door of the plane.

  “We can’t stay the night! Tomorrow is Christmas. What about my family?”

  “Already taken care of. Just trust me Everly.” I stepped aside so Maria could open the door and let us off the plane.

  “Please Mom. Can we just not worry about anything right now? I just want to explore.” Madison’s youthful voice came from behind us. She was trying to be the voice of reason and it was nice. At least someone was on my side.

  “Fine. Just… whatever. Let’s go look at lights.” She gave me an annoyed look as she shoved past me to get out of the plane and went and stood by the car, her arms wrapped around herself.

  I waved Madison by me so she could go down to the car but whispered “The doors are unlocked,” as she went by me. I watched a small grin flit across her face as she ran down the stairs and into the car, her mother glaring up at me as she opened the door and flopped into her seat.

  I walked down and got into the car, driving off into downtown Aspen, pointing out different aspects of the city and places I used to go when I was Madison’s age. Places I hoped I could take her.

  Before long we were in the neighborhoods and driving around checking out the lights and how they glimmered off the freshly fallen snow. I looked back to see Madison staring with wonder out her window.

  “Has she never seen snow outside of books and television?”

  “Once, when she was too young to remember. We went to Mt. Shasta for Christmas.”

  “That isn’t snow. That’s dust.” I laughed at what I was used to compared to her.

  “I’m hungry.” Madison popped up from the backseat.

  “What do you want to eat? There’s a lot of really cool places around here to eat at.”

  “Pasta.”

  I laughed. Of course, she would. She was definitely my daughter. “Italian it is.” I drove out of the neighborhood and back to the main road.

  The drive to my house didn’t take as long as I thought it would with everyone out looking at the lights. As we approached my house, I saw that the staff had decorated it for the tourists.

  I turned into the drive to the gasps of awe from my daughter and Everly, a smile sneaking across my face. If they thought this was nice, they should wait until they were in the house. It was even more impressive than the outside.

  I pulled to a stop and we exited the car, Madison running up the steps to the front door. She turned to watch us as we walked up to the porch.

  “Hurry up! I want to eat!” She bounced on her heels as she motioned us forward.

  I laughed at her impatience.

  “We’re coming. You can go in.”

  I watched her pause as she opened the door, wishing I could see her initial reaction to seeing the interior of the house.

  “Pretty awesome, isn’t it? I usually come here to get away from the harsher winters in Boston. I found this place on accident.”

  “It’s amazing,” Everly whispered from beside me.

  I knew she would love the house. I had decorated it with her in mind. I had made calls earlier in the month and given them specific details I wanted achieved. They had pulled it off with great detail.

  “Glad you like it. Hope you don’t mind but I called ahead and had them make dinner. It’s set up in the dining room already. I figured she would want pasta from what you told me already.” I took the lead and walked toward the dining room I had set up for us, a small one I normally had marked off as a reading area.

  The smell of warm bread, fragrant sauce, and buttery noodles filled the small room as we entered and sat around the table. I smiled at the sight of my small family, knowing that tomorrow would be a shock for them.

 
; “Dig in. There’s plenty for you to eat as much as you want.”

  “If you are trying to impress us this isn’t going to do it. I don’t want you flashing your money in our faces and then pulling it away when you get bored. We do fine on our own.” Everly looked at me over her plate of food.

  “I’m not doing that. I don’t care if you are rich or poor. I care about you and her. I want you to have the best I can provide, that you will let me provide. I want her to have a good meal since you are with me. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?” I eyed her, waiting to see if she would flinch.

  Nodding she dug in. Tonight, was going to be a long night. Thank god Santa was on my side.

  After we ate, I took them upstairs and showed Madison where she would be sleeping. I even had clothes for her already. I spread no expense. My daughter would only have the best from me. Her mother too. I left Madison to play with all of the science things I had gotten for her and took Everly with me.

  “Where’s my room?”

  “With me. I feel like we haven’t had the time to really be together, every chance has been fleeting and I want to devour you properly.” I stopped and gazed into her eyes, trying to read any emotion that may be there. “I want you to know that this isn’t a joke. That I am really trying here.”

  “I still don’t know Noel. We’ve been through a lot these last few weeks, but I’m still afraid. I just don’t know.” She hugged herself close, attempting to close me out. I could sense it.

  “Just try and trust me. Stay the night. If you don’t like it here in the morning, then you can go home. I’m trying here. I really want to.”

  “Fine.”

  I wrapped my arms around her, picking her up, and carried her down the hall to my room, before I slammed the door and locked it. No one would interrupt us tonight.

  I threw her down on the bed and stood there, seeing her breath catch, watching her eyes darken with desire. I knew the effect I had on her, but it was still amazing to watch it each time.

  “Take off your clothes. I want to see you undress for me.” I sat on the chest at the foot of my bed and waited for her to step in front of me.

  I didn’t have long to wait as her pants flew over my head. I caught them and folded them beside me. She sauntered around me in her panties her shirt flying at my face, her bra dropping to the floor. She had skipped most of her tease as she waltz over from the bed, but I was okay with that as she danced in front of me, lacing her fingers into the waistband of her lace thong.

  Everly swayed her hips as she slid her panties down and off her legs before throwing those at me as well. I caught those and buried my face in her essence. They were damp as they touched my nose. I stood and grabbed her, planting a chaste kiss on her lips as I lifted her onto the chest, I had been sitting on to admire her better.

  My prize was great, delicate curves, soft and hard in all the right places. I brushed my hand down her front, sliding a finger through her glistening curls. “Thank you.” I smiled up at her.

  “What? For what?” The look of confusion that covered her face was even sexier with her arousal flushing her skin.

  “For letting me open my Christmas present early this year,” I pushed my finger into her as she leaned against me, her tits level with my mouth, so I nibbled on one of her nipples.

  She gasped, grabbing at my head as she rocked against my hand, grinding harder and faster, I pulled my hand back and swatted her on her ass. “Not so fast. I want to make this last.” I stepped back slowly undoing the buttons from my shirt before she jumped from the chest and tore my shirt open.

  “You can buy another one,” she reached for my belt, fighting with it as she tore at my clothes, obviously desperate to undress me.

  “Bed.” I pointed refusing to move a muscle until she was laying down. Once she was on the bed, I finished removing my clothes and slowly crawled up the bed, kissing and licking along her delectable thighs, until I reached the spot I wanted, craved.

  Everly arched her back, pushing her pussy into my face. I took a deep breath, enjoying the smell I was being surrounded by. I slowly licked her into a frenzy, driving her insane as I ran my hands over her body.

  Finally, she cried out, pushing my face into her. I lapped up every drop of her honey as it fell from her until she was begging me to stop. But I hadn’t had my fill of her yet. Sitting, I wiped her juices from my face and grinned, grabbing her legs and pulling her around my waist, the head of my cock waiting at her seeping opening.

  “Are you ready for your present?” I rubbed my cock along her folds, waiting for her to respond.

  “Yes. Please.” She gasped as I pressed the head of my dick to her sensitive clit.

  Accepting her invitation I slowly slid into her, taking the time I had yet to, enjoying the feel of her silky walls wrapping around my cock like a present. “This, my cock, is your present. It’s yours as long as you want it Everly. Forever if you say so.” I pulled out slowly before sliding back in, making her gasp. “How long do you want me?”

  Her eyes latched onto mine as we rocked together, her trying to form words, me holding back my speed until she responded. I slowed more, barely moving. “Answer the question. How long do you want me?”

  “Forever. I want you forever.”

  I broke, pushing into her, my thrusts erratic as I sped up, fucking her hard enough to break us both, she cried out my name as she came again, pushing me over my own edge.

  I collapsed on top of her, our breathing ragged, as I grinned from ear to ear. She had said the words I wanted to hear. She had claimed me.

  Chapter 16

  Everly

  Christmas Day

  I woke up to snow falling softly outside the window, but Noel nowhere to be found. I stretched, sore after last night, but refreshed as well. I stretched and dressed, clean clothes laid out at the foot of the bed for me and headed downstairs.

  I was sad I was missing Christmas with my aunt and uncle, but happy Madison could spend it with her father. Following the sounds of laughter, I found my way to the living room with relative ease. What I wasn’t expecting was to see my aunt and uncle, all the presents from both our homes, and what I presumed was all of Noel’s family.

  I stopped in my tracks, unsure of what to do. Did I run or did I go and sit with my daughter? I wasn’t ready for all of these people to know our secret, but I supposed I had no choice at this point. They were here, we were here. There was no hiding anymore.

  “Good morning.” I greeted everyone as I entered the room. “I’m surprised to see you Aunt Gracie, Uncle Ben. I wouldn’t have taken you for frozen ground people.”

  “Girl, free vacation. You know we couldn’t say no.”

  I shook my head. That sounded just like her.

  Noel stood and walked toward me, an unreadable expression on his face. I wasn’t sure what to expect when he stopped by me but knowing him it could have been anything. “Ma, Pa, this is Everly. She’s the one I was telling you about so many years ago. I know you have been wondering who the others here were, so let me tell you a little story. It might explain a few things.”

  I ducked under his arm and went and sat down on the couch, listening to him tell his family how we had met, how I had tutored him. Even how he had started to fall in love with me all those years ago. Then how I had disappeared without a word and he was heartbroken.

  He went through the last decade hoping to run into me, and never thought it would be when he moved out to California. When he did again, he was convinced I was married.

  He goes on to tell them about how he found out I had a daughter and that he was okay with this. How we had gone out to dinner but there was an emergency and he got to meet the most amazing girl in the world, but he noticed something about her right away.

  Her eyes were his. My daughter was his. His family gasped at this, but mine just nodded. We already knew the tale.

  At this point he walked over to me and pulled me to my feet. “This woman here, gave me the greatest gi
ft I never knew I had. She gave me a daughter. A child. A family of my own. But not quite. There’s still something missing. Her. I need her in my life, by my side. Forever.”

  I looked at him, not quite understanding what he was trying to say. I watched him drop to one knee and fish a box out of his pocket, opening it. Inside sat the most perfect ring. Simple, emeralds, silver. Nothing crazy. I was shocked.

  “Please, I need you with me forever. I want to help you raise Madison; I want both of you to have my name. How it should have been from the beginning. I’m ready to stay if you’re ready to stop running. Will you be my wife, my partner, the mother of all my children?” Noel looked up at me waiting, hoping.

  I couldn’t speak. This was not what I expected for Christmas. This was better. I had caught Noel Canali. I nodded, tears running down my cheeks as the room burst into tears and he slid the ring on my hand. I looked at it in the light against my chocolate skin and smiled. It was still perfect.

  Noel grabbed me around my waist and kissed me hard, eliciting more whoops from the room before he set me on my feet and picked up his daughter, spinning her in a circle.

  I was sure I had given her the best present possible by choosing to stop running from Noel. I had given her, her father for Christmas.

  The End.

  Acknowledgments

  I wanted to take this moment to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.

  Thank you to Siren Allen and the ladies of the Very Alpha Christmas series. It was a joy to work on.

  As always, thank you to Deliaria Nicole Davis for the work you do.

  Once Again,

  Happy Holidays!

  About the Author

  Janae Keyes is an American mom, wife, and hopeless romantic living in Europe. She loves to explore various cultures coming together through the magic of love. Residing in a suburb of Brussels, Belgium, with her husband and daughter, Janae loves to share her passion for romance with others.