A Winter's Date

by Sasha Brümmer

  I turn my body into his and lay my cheek against his chest. His cologne envelops me and makes me swoon. “Mmm, you smell good.” My voice is dreamy and slow.

  “Oh yeah?” He starts rubbing over my eyes again. “I think that’s two new things I’ve learned about you in the last twenty-four hours,” he says quietly.

  Before I can ask what he means, he offers up the information. “Your little feet are ticklish, and I can put you to sleep by touching you here,” he all but whispers while he touches me.

  I try and fight him off with my hand, but I’m so relaxed. “Nooo,” I groan into his chest.

  His hand moves lower to run over my back and down my thigh. “Mmm, but your noes usually mean yes.”

  I can hear that he’s amused with himself but I’m too close to passing out to check and see.

  “Mmm, go to sleep, my beautiful girl,” I hear him say before a blanket of warmth covers me, and I fall into a relaxed and peaceful sleep.

  I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand. I lift my head and try to remember how in the hell I got here. Last I remember I was tucked into Noah’s warmth, moments from passing out. The buzzing is persistent and annoying, and I’m about to reach over Noah’s body for it when he groans and extends his arm. He grabs my phone, and I think he’s going to hand it to me when he tosses it across the room. I gasp and try not to laugh.

  He drags his heavy arm around my waist and pulls me down again.

  “It’s okay, baby, I got it,” he says before falling back asleep.

  I smile and lie quietly in his arms, listening to him breathe. I hear the early morning traffic down below us and cringe when a fire truck blares its horn. For the first time ever, I wonder what it’s like to live away from all of this ambient noise and constant chaos.

  Would I like it?

  Is it something I could get used to?

  I’ve never lived outside of the city.

  Where would we live? Would we have a lawn? A lawn mower? I don’t even know how to mow grass.

  Would we have neighbors? Barbecues with them? Is that a real thing that happens or is it just in the movies? Would this mean more than just moving in together? A house . . . with Noah?

  I start to panic but then his arms move, and he holds me tighter to him. Can he feel my heart rapidly beating while he sleeps? Is his body so attuned to mine that he knows when I’m stressed, even while he’s out cold?

  I start to think about that first night at his parents’. Their home was so cozy and inviting and I loved it. I loved how peaceful it was out there, away from the loud and rude city occupants. They were free to enjoy their fire pit in silence, cuddled up on the outdoor chaise if they wanted.

  As soon as I saw it, I pictured myself and Noah curled up by the fire. It was such a romantic fantasy, but I dismissed it immediately. Now . . . maybe . . . could we have that?

  That one single thought of me and my Greek god curled up by the fire is all it takes. All it takes to make one of the most important decisions in my life without any more hesitation.

  “Noah?”

  He forces his eyes open and runs his large hand down his groggy face. “What is it? Are you okay?”

  I lift my head and shake his shoulder lightly.

  I smile because, God, he’s always thinking of me. I lay my head back down, resting my chin on his chest. “I’m okay. I just wanted to tell you . . .” I pause and watch as he nods and almost drifts off to sleep, “ . . . I want to leave the city.” I hold my breath while I watch him nod with his eyes closed.

  “Okay, baby, we’ll go out today,” he speaks as he almost passes out again.

  I have to hold in my laugh because he seems to have forgotten about last night. I shake his shoulder again, and his eyes fly open.

  “I’m up, I’m up,” he says sleepily and then closes his eyes again.

  “Noah?” I try and persuade him to wake up by running my hand down his bare chest and under the hem of his sweatpants.

  He groans, and I can feel him grow hard beneath me. He’s never been this hard to wake up before; I briefly wonder what time he brought me to bed and how long he lay awake for. My phone buzzes on the hardwood floor again, and I move to get off of him.

  “Sweetheart, come back here, please?” he says once I’m off of the bed and leaning down to pick up my phone.

  I melt when I hear that word leave his lips again. Yesterday when he said it, it took me by surprise.

  I grab my phone and see a handful of missed texts and phone calls from Dillen.

  Dang, Dillen, it’s too early.

  I walk back over and set my phone on my nightstand as I climb back in bed with my man. His arms mold around my body the moment I’m back in bed. He nuzzles me and takes in a deep breath to help wake himself up. “Who the hell keeps calling, and where did you want to go today?”

  “It’s Dillen. And I don’t think you’re understanding me.” I lightly drag my nails down his chest again and watch as small goose bumps break out over his skin. “I want to leave the city. Like, move away.”

  I think it finally registered in his sleepy brain because he tilts his head up and looks down at me with wide eyes. “Are you serious? You would do that?”

  I nod slowly and watch as his eyes flicker with excitement.

  I feel his chest thunder with eagerness before the smoky growl comes through his lips. He flips me onto my back onto the pillow-top bed and moves his lean, tanned body over mine, “Where are you willing to go with me?”

  I look up at him, and my hands run over his chest. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

  “I wouldn’t take you far, beautiful. I was thinking that it’d be a good place to be between my parents and here. I think I want them more involved in my life.”

  “I’d really like that too. They were so excited to be a part of your life; I think it’s a great idea.”

  His lips find mine instead of answering me. “You wouldn’t mind living in Long Island?”

  “No . . .” I answer when he lets me up for air. Before I can say any more, he’s back on my mouth again.

  I can feel his girth digging into me, but my phone starts vibrating again, and I break our kiss to see that it’s Dillen calling once again.

  “I need to get this, baby.”

  He grasps my chin and holds me in place as his teeth find my lower lip at the same time that he grinds his length against me. I whimper in response.

  I want him, but I’ve already swiped my finger across the screen along the green button, “Noah . . .”

  He continues his assault against my neck and under my collarbone, as his hands travel south, spreading my legs.

  “Dillen?” I try to squeak out, but his movements are so deliberate that I think he’s enjoying my current torture. Noah is undressing and I’m unable to focus.

  “Little shit, damn, how many times do I have to call? Oh and hi,” Dill says excitedly as Noah cups my sex.

  “I’m sorry, I was asleep.” I look at Noah as he rises up and sits between my legs. I’m mesmerized when he grabs his thick length and strokes it, while his other hand is exploring between my thighs.

  “Well, good morning, and I need you to do me a favor, okay?” She continues before I can answer her, “I need you to get dressed and come pick me up from JFK, like, now.”

  I gasp when his fingers penetrate me and then her words register in my brain. “Wait, what?”

  She giggles and squeals, “I know right? Surprise!”

  “You’re here? Like, you’re at JFK right now?”

  “Yes,” she shouts. “Come and get your best friend, you bitch!”

  “Holy crap . . .” I sit up quickly and beam up at Noah.

  He looks down at me with confusion marring his handsome face as I finish the conversation with Dill. “Okay, I’m getting dressed, and we’ll be there as soon as we can.”

  “Okay, hurry, you need to hug your new roomie. Call me when you’re here.”

  Roomie?

  “
Okay, love you, bye!” I hang up and toss my phone, looking up at Noah. He looks so utterly perplexed and adorable. “Dill is here,” I say excitedly.

  “Here? As in New York City?”

  “Yes!” I sit up farther and kiss him softly, and he groans against my lips.

  “What do I do with this?” he asks and looks down at his heavy shaft in his hand.

  I giggle and kiss his cheek. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”

  He drops his head dejectedly and growls, letting go of himself. “You’re going to kill me. It’s been days.”

  “Maybe I’ll get some more suckers then.”

  He looks up and locks eyes with me. Before I know it, he’s got me pinned to the bed. My wrists are locked in his grip above my head and his chest is pressed tightly to mine. My nipples are peaked and sensitive, and he knows it.

  “Don’t tease me, Heather.”

  Holy crap. He’s serious.

  “You like that sucker that much, huh?”

  His fingers tighten around my wrists and he grinds his erection against my body. The sexual tension between us is thick and heavy, just like what he’s got nestled between my legs. “Heather . . . say one more thing about them and I’ll fuck you until you can’t walk.”

  I want that.

  I stay quiet because I simply don’t know what to say. I want him more than anything, but I need to go get my best friend from the airport.

  He seems to come to some sort of conclusion because his grip on my wrists is suddenly gone, and he lifts himself off my body, leaving me there breathless and weak.

  “Should I let Coen know that Dillen is visiting?” He strides meaningfully into the bathroom and I hear the shower turn on.

  My body is buzzing with need, but I’m going to have to put it on the back burner. I get up and follow him into the shower, doing my best not to brush up against him while I wash my body.

  “Yes, I think you should tell him, so he doesn’t come here with Lana, causing all hell to break loose.”

  He makes a painful sound as if he’s envisioning it. “Yeah. I’ll call him.”

  I try to channel my thoughts on something other than our naked bodies being mere inches from each other, but I’m having a hard time. I’m lost in thought, drifting back to the night in the SUV. I let the spray rinse my hair as my hands travel down my body and between my legs. I can still picture him above me, taking me hard. The way his biceps bulged as he braced his body over mine. The ache between my legs is unbearable. I whimper, and my eyes open in a daze. I glance down, and I’m touching myself. I’m surprised because I don’t even remember doing it. I look over and Noah is standing perfectly still with his eyes locked on my body, and his jaw is tense. Before I even have a chance to be embarrassed, he speaks.

  “Okay, you’re done here.” He opens the shower door and ushers me out, handing me my towel.

  “But . . . I’m still wet.”

  “Oh baby, I know you are, which is why you better stay out. I don’t have the willpower not to fuck you on the bathroom floor. Go get some damn clothes on before I bruise your pretty little body up.”

  I pout at the shower door and wrap the towel around myself. He’s groaning in the shower now, and I think he’s got the cold water on full blast. I hear my phone buzz in the other room, and it reminds me about the task at hand.

  “Oh crap. She’s still waiting.” I rush into the closet and get dressed as quickly as I can, while towel-drying my hair. I dab on some lip gloss and throw my hair up into a messy, half-dried bun.

  Noah comes out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, looking like the grumpiest man in New York City. He walks past me to get dressed and mumbles something to himself about blue balls.

  I make a mental note not to tease him too much today and keep my hands to myself. My lips thin as I try not to laugh. He’s fumbling around in the closet and talking to himself. I almost can’t take it, so I leave the room and go downstairs to wait before I start laughing hysterically.

  He descends the stairs when I’ve just managed to collect myself. “All set, sweetheart?” he asks, and crap . . . I want to throw myself on him.

  I clear my throat and shoot Dillen a quick text, letting her know that we’re leaving. “I’m all ready. You okay?” I ask, and he gives me a glare. I know he’s not mad at me, just sexually frustrated beyond belief.

  “Yeah, and you’re driving. I’ll need both of my hands.” He stops to think briefly and runs upstairs. He’s back a minute later with a check in his hand. “I need to stop by the bank afterward.”

  “Okay, we’ll go after we pick up Dill.” I walk to the door, and he follows behind me. I’m actually excited to be driving, even in horrible New York City traffic. Today is my first day without my boot, since Henry told me it looked well enough to walk around without it.

  We get into my car, and he puts the top down. “I think I’m going to invest in an SUV. Possibly like the one we rented,” he says, opening the folded check once I pull out of the building and into the sunlight, “and . . . holy fuck.”

  I slam on my brakes when he yells.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  I look around, afraid that I’ve hit something or someone. My heart is beating rapidly as I scan my surroundings.

  I stop looking around when I can’t see anything wrong and look at him. He’s staring at the check he went to pick up. “I . . . fuck.”

  I start to drive again before I get run over by a cab. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “Uh . . . do you remember Henry asked to talk to me in private?”

  I nod and try to maneuver my way through traffic. “Yes, is everything okay?”

  He runs his hand up the back of his neck and smirks. “More than okay. Fuck, much more than okay. He told me that there was a lawsuit after I was kidnapped, and they invested the amount they received from it. This,” he says and holds up the check, “is the full amount after almost thirty years of investment.”

  My eyes go wide and I’m sure he can see how shocked I am behind my sunglasses. “What! Holy crap, Noah.”

  “I believe SUV- and house-hunting are in my future.”

  I look over at him as he reaches for my thigh. “Where do you want to live, ballerina?”

  I laugh, and he seems so happy.

  Gone is my cranky Greek god and in his place is my smiling, affectionate lover. “I don’t know.”

  I pull up to the pick-up area at JFK, and I sit up in my seat as I search for my Dill.

  I keep glancing over at Noah, and he’s in another place. He’s staring off into the distance and rubbing his jaw. It’s his habitual gesture for agitation and deep thought. I know it’s not the right time to smile or swoon over him when he’s got so much on his mind, but I love how much I’ve come to know about this man. And I can’t wait to tell Dill that we’ve decided to move in together.

  When I see Dill, she’s tapping the ball of her foot on the ground impatiently and staring at the face of her watch, no doubt pleading with it. I giggle as I pull up beside her. “Why the long face?”

  She looks up and screams excitedly when she sees me. “Ahhh! What took you so long?” I park and get out of the car to throw my arms around her and squeeze the crap out of her.

  Not only have I decided to take a step into my future today, I also have my best friend here to talk to about it, and I’m ecstatic. “Hi, I’m sorry we took so long, but I didn’t even dry my hair. Traffic was horrible as usual.”

  “Uh-huh! You guys were boning, weren’t you?” she accuses us and smacks my butt.

  I laugh and shake my head as Noah comes around to grab her bags and put them in the trunk. “Dillen, I wish I could say that it was true, but my girl shut me down as soon as she heard your voice.” I watch as he grabs her for a hug.

  “Noah,” she squeals excitedly, “I’m sorry. Are your balls going to be okay? Shit, I’ll drive, so little shit can get a fucking in the backseat.”

  “Oh my God, Dillen!” I shout and sm
ack her arm. Noah chuckles and kisses her cheek before opening the door for her.

  She climbs into the back and huffs disapprovingly. “Heather, how the hell am I supposed to sit back here? There isn’t even room for my legs.” She props her legs up on the seat and folds her arms, “you need a new ride.”

  “Oh, be quiet, this car is twice the size of your little box in London.”

  “My car was perfect for London. So I guess I should tell you why I’m here, huh?”

  Noah gets in the driver’s seat so Dill and I can talk. He pulls out and heads back into Manhattan.

  I turn in my seat and look back at her. “Yes! What’s going on? Why didn’t you call me sooner?” I ask, and Noah slips his free hand onto my thigh.

  “Well, things got hectic, and I just needed to leave. After your accident the company hasn’t been the same. More than four girls dropped out, and they have been worshiping bitch troll ever since you left. I mean, fuck, she’s not even that good. They aren’t holding her at fault for your fall, and I just couldn’t be around those pieces of shit, so I bought a ticket, packed my shit, broke my lease, and left. I’m glad the apartment came furnished because I didn’t have to deal with any of the heavy stuff.”

  My mouth drops open and I look from Dillen to Noah and back again in shock. “What? Dillen! You just up and left?”

  “Uh-huh. Say hi to your new roomie, little shit.” She slaps a cheesy smile onto her face and points at herself.

  I smile wide, and Noah looks at me. Suddenly, I remember what I just decided this morning. “Oh ummm . . .” I grin sheepishly, and Noah squeezes my thigh.

  “Oh God, what? Are you guys having a baby? Heather!” She shrieks at me, and Noah and I laugh.

  “No, Dill. I’m not . . . we’re not pregnant. Noah and I have decided to move in together, though, but we’re leaving the city.”

  “You are? Oh, I just got so jealous of your relationship. Dammit, Noah. Where are you moving to? And I so call dibs on your apartment, little shit.”