Snowy Encounters

by Clarissa Yip

  His cock sprang free. He was thick and hard. Cole groaned, his head falling back against the couch the moment she closed her lips over him. She swirled her tongue around the tip. As she lapped up and down his length, her fingers cupped his balls. He pressed deep, reaching the back of her throat. The taste of his salty skin and scent overwhelmed her senses. Teeth scraping against his shaft, she wrapped her hand around the base of his cock, stroking upwards with quickening pulls.

  Cole growled and tugged at her hair. “Enough. I need you. Now.”

  Before she knew it, she found herself on her back, panties torn and flung to the side. Cole shifted over her, gripping her legs to wrap around his flanks as his hardness pressed against her wet folds. He covered her lips and surged. Maddy gasped. He filled her completely, perfectly, her inner muscles clenching around him. Sliding an arm under her nape, he started to move.

  Maddy whimpered at the feel. The pull. The slide. Each thrust touched her deeper and deeper. She tightened her hold on him, needing him. “Harder,” she ordered.

  He groaned. His hips jerked, pounding into her, each time hitting the hilt. The controlled rhythm turned fierce. Each stroke brought her closer and closer to the end. His hand slid across her stomach, over her pelvic bone, and pinched her clit, his fingers drawing circles around the taut bud. Maddy cried out, climbing higher and higher. She rose, meeting each of his movements. Tension rocked through her body.

  Cole hammered harder, each stroke faster, quicker. She turned her head, teeth sinking into his arm, fingernails digging into his back. Her release struck. Her entire being tightened as fierce pleasure gripped her. She fell apart in a million pieces. He continued to thrust into her until he stiffened above her and came. Needing him more than she’d ever needed another man, she wrapped her arms around him, milking him, taking everything he gave.

  With the last shudder, he dropped. Chest heaving, Maddy hugged him to her, their sweat-slickened skin sliding against each other. Her eyes closed as exhaustion stole over her, until she heard him.

  “I love you.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “It’s Christmas.”

  Maddy looked up from her perch on the floor and smiled. “I know.”

  Cole placed a tray of fruit and cheese on the carpet and sat down next to her. Pressing a quick kiss to her lips, he handed her a strawberry. “Merry belated Christmas. The day is almost over.”

  She bit into the fruit and then held it to his mouth. “Guess we’ll just celebrate here with no distractions.”

  He chuckled. “At least it’s warm in here.”

  She nodded and reached for a cracker. After they had made love last night, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. She’d woken up only to have Cole feasting on her skin, and he’d taken her for another exhilarating ride. They’d spent most of the day in various states of undress, frolicking around the lodge, even testing the couches in his office. Now dressed in his white-button down shirt, she’d made him fetch food from the kitchen. She was surprised he’d gone through so much to prepare for last night. The candles around them had all burned out and the fireplace provided enough light to bask the room with a warm glow. “What would you have done if I had you take me home after the reception?”

  He chewed on a piece of cheese before he answered. “Probably dragged you into your parent’s house and had my way with you.”

  She laughed. “No you wouldn’t. You were too much of a gentleman back then to even kiss me on my parent’s front porch in case my dad showed up with a rifle.”

  Cole grinned. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her over him, until she straddled his hip. She moved against him, his cock jumping at the contact. Picking up another berry off the platter, she held it to his mouth then rubbed her lips over his. The sweet taste was tantalizing. Her mind started on a creative run. They’d used to love sitting in front of the fireplace, just talking and feeding each other and she’d miss those days. His words replayed in her head, but she ignored them. Not long after he’d fallen asleep, she’d laid there for hours listening to his heavy breathing. She wanted to believe him, wanted to tell him how she felt, but what good would it do?

  She couldn’t stay here. She’d only hurt him. Her ex-father-in-law told her so.

  “Hey, where’d you go?” Cole pinched her chin, turning her to look at him.

  She shook her head, pushing her thoughts aside. Focus, Maddy. Enjoy your time with him. “Right here.”

  He frowned. “You looked like you were far away.”

  Maddy gave him a smile. She laid her head on his shoulder. “No. Just thinking about random things.”

  “Like what?”

  Like how I love you and I never want to leave you. But the town hates me and I’ll want more than you can give. “Nothing much. Just random things.”

  Cole rubbed her back. “About?”

  Ignoring him, she picked up another berry and snuggled against him. Her teeth bit into the plump sweetness, accidentally dripping a droplet on his chest. Her tongue stuck out and licked the juice off.

  He groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  “Better than me pushing you down the mountain side.”

  With a chuckle, Cole laid his head against the couch cushion. A thoughtful look passed over his features. “Are you still mad at my dad?”

  She stiffened. Even though Brad Sr. was a good man, his words had struck something in her last night. She couldn’t fight his family if that was the way they saw her. “He hates me.”

  “No, they don’t.”

  “You heard what your father said.”

  Cole sighed. “He just…don’t agree with some of the choices I make.”

  She scoffed. “You mean like marrying me in the first place.”

  “Dad loves you as a daughter and he was excited about our baby. He’s just thinks that…”

  “All women are like your mother?” Maddy sat up.

  “It wasn’t easy for him.”

  “I know. But I’m not here because you’re successful or that you’re richer than when I married you. I don’t care.” She rolled off him to the side, tugging the hem of the shirt over her knees. “I’m not like your mother.”

  Cole didn’t say anything right away and she gave him a glare.

  She stood up. “I need to call my parents.”

  He latched onto her hand and tugged her back down. She landed across his lap. “Hold on. Let’s talk about this.”

  “About what?” She couldn’t keep the irritation out of her voice. His mother was a gold digger, each time coming back to the family, until the last Christmas when she’d left Brad Sr. for a richer man. Maddy wasn’t like that and if Cole believed that then she shouldn’t be here at all.

  “I don’t think you’re like my mother. But what are your intentions?”

  She jerked in his arms, startled. “What do you mean?”

  Cole frowned, picked her up and dumped her on the couch. With rigid movements, he tugged on his pants then faced her with his hands on his hips. “About us.”

  Us? She really wanted to believe they could start new, but it was impossible. Maybe if she’d stayed and fought for their marriage and tried to work out her unhappiness before she’d jumped the gun and called for a divorce, she wouldn’t have put herself on the town’s bad list and lost her husband. It was her own fault. As much as she dreaded the town’s opinion of her, they were right. She wasn’t good for him. A pang pounded in her chest as she slowly swung her legs over the side and sat up. “I’m going back to the city tomorrow.”

  His eyes narrowed and fists formed at his sides. Her heart jumped nervously, a lump forming in the back of her throat. She wanted nothing more than for him to ask her not to leave, but she wouldn’t want any discord between Cole and his father. “What was all this then?”

  She shrugged and swallowed hard.

  Cole shoved a hand through his hair before dropping to his knees beside her. “I love you.”

  She bit the insi
de of her cheek from returning the words. “My life is in the city. That’s my home now. I have a great job, a great apartment—”

  He gripped her chin and kissed her—hard, punishing. Arousal whipped through her alongside the hurt whirling in her chest. “You won’t have me there.”

  Maddy batted at his wrist and moved to stand up. She’d always want him, love him no matter what, but she couldn’t stay here. The turmoil she’d gone through after their miscarriage and the pain of their divorce rushed at her. “I don’t have anything here besides my parents.”

  Shock and hurt blazed from his deep blue eyes. “This is home.”

  Like a knife wound to her heart, she staggered backwards. “It’s not my home. The town folk don’t like me as you can see last night. My home is in the city.”

  His jaw clenched in anger. “With your glamorous job and big city clients, you mean.”

  She nodded. “It’s what I want. I can’t stay here.”

  “Maddy….” He reached out towards her, just as his phone rang. With a frustrated grunt, Cole dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “What?” he barked. His eyes closed for a second as if in irritation. She watched as he pressed the end button and shoved the device back in his pockets. “We need to talk about this. There’s an issue at Tall Oaks and I need to meet my dad and brother for Christmas. Let’s just go down to the lodge.”

  “I’m not going with you.” She wanted more time with him, but if he had to choose between her and the town and his father, then she didn’t want to do that to him. Everyone loved Cole. And she’d only stand in his way. Glancing around, she knew if she’d stayed, she probably would not have allowed him to open another business and the town needed what he could do to help.

  Cole frowned and finally slipped on his coat. “I’ll be back.”

  “I won’t be here.”

  His gaze jerked up. “We need to talk.”

  She shook her head.

  He dug his fingers through his hair again. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back in half and hour.” He pivoted to leave.

  “I’m serious. I won’t be here, Cole.”

  A fierce growl passed his lips. “You can’t tell me that last night meant nothing.”

  Maddy shrugged. She could only think to use his lodge as an excuse. “You can call it a moment of insanity between us. I never meant to stay here. And your lodge needs you. I can’t fight that.”

  “This isn’t about the lodge.”

  Drawing in a painful deep breath, she slowly let it out. “If I told you to choose, me or Five Oaks, what do you say?”

  His eyes widened before they narrowed to slits. He stalked off.

  Sobs racked her chest, but she picked up her dress.

  She prayed she’d made the right choice.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Cole leaned over his desk and shoved his hand through his hair. His brother was rambling on and on about the mishaps around town lately and for once in his life, he didn’t give a rat’s ass what was going on. He had bigger problems. Maddy leaving.

  After he’d returned to Limestone, she’d disappeared. He’d found a note on the table by the couch. Only two words. I’m sorry. And that was it. He pounded the mahogany surface in frustration. He’d told her he’d loved her and she was just like his mother. Just slipping into town, messing with his father’s mind then running off again. His heart tightened. But Maddy is different. She’s not like that. She doesn’t care that you’re wealthy. Maybe that was the problem. His conscious continued to war with each other.

  He didn’t know what to believe anymore. His father’s appearance Christmas Eve had probably thrown them for a surprise. Brad Sr. was cynical, and Maddy was sensitive to his father’s accusations, but maybe it’d been his fault for believing his father in the first place. The town had blamed Maddy for their divorce, but she had to see that she belonged here with him no matter what. He’d played every card he had. He wanted to share with her his pride and joy, but she didn’t understand. What did a guy have to do? After she’d asked her last question, anger stabbed him in the gut. He couldn’t believe her. The lodge or her?

  Was she expecting him to let go of his life, his business, his family and move to the city with her?

  Cole dropped his face into his hands.

  “What’s your deal?”

  He glared at his brother. “What do you want? Why are you here?”

  Brad Jr. grinned. “Is it Maddy? Did she leave you already?”

  Cole ignored his brother and turned on the computer instead. He needed to work, get set up for the grand opening, keep his mind off Maddy. She’d chosen. Five Oaks still wasn’t good enough. He was back to where he’d started before she’d returned home.

  Maybe he’d meet someone else, get married, have a few kids, someone who’d appreciate all he’d done for the town to secure the future. His thoughts stopped.

  They hadn’t used protection when they’d made love.

  He surged out of his seat and headed to the door. They may have made a baby yesterday. Maybe that will make her stay.

  “Where are you going?” Brad asked. Cole continued down the hall to the lobby.

  Brad trailed behind. “Don’t you want to hear what else happened at the reception?”

  Hope flared in his chest. A child. Maddy wouldn’t leave him if she were pregnant. He was grasping at straws, but he didn’t care. He didn’t know how else to deter her from leaving.

  “Cole, man. I know Maddy is probably driving you crazy, but you need to calm down. I don’t think you’ve heard one word I said since I got here. If Maddy is leaving, then just let her go. If they won’t stick around then they won’t stick around.”

  Cole stopped and turned around. He jabbed a finger against his brother’s chest. “Maddy’s not leaving.”

  Brad frowned and rubbed the spot he’d poked. “Rumor is she’s already packed her car. Probably on her way out of town now.”

  Cole cursed. He whipped around and paused as his gaze locked with Ash Delaney, the town’s animal vet. What the hell was he doing here? The man never came to the lodge unless there was a sick animal on the property that needed care. He watched as Ash waved Karen off, dismissing her with a flick of his hand and stalked across the lobby, determination and tension filling the taut lines of his face.

  Brad moved up next to Cole, frowned, and nudged him in the side. “What is he doing here?” he muttered.

  Ash stopped short in front of them. His gaze bounced between the two of them. “Jo Button is missing.”

  Brad shrugged. “Check someone’s bed.”

  Ash’s features contorted with rage. “Are you done?”

  Annoyed at his brother for his rudeness, Cole frowned.

  Brad took a step back. “Whoa, Delaney. We all know—”

  Ash glared and cut Brad off. “Do your job, Harmon. She’s not in anyone’s bed but mine, that’s how I know she’s missing. And while you’re at it, look out of the window occasionally. An avalanche just rolled down Death’s Peak. There may be someone caught in it. If you’re lucky, the little red car I saw made it through before the road got buried, but I’m not sure. So send someone over there to start digging!”

  Cole froze. Maddy had a red rental and she was leaving today. He grabbed Ash’s shoulder, but the man shook him off. Panic lit through him. “What red car?”

  “Didn’t recognize it. Probably a tourist.” Ash turned his attention back to Brad, with a fierce glare ready to battle. Cole yanked him back. He needed to know if it was Maddy. The other man threw his arm off. “What the hell, Cole?”

  “How long ago?” Cole swallowed hard. His heart pulsed, palms started to sweat.

  “About five minutes ago. I came straight up when I saw it.”

  The blood drained from his face. Brad had told him he’d heard Maddy packing the car and was probably on her way out of town. What if it was she under the avalanche? How could he live without her?

  Ash said something to him, but he didn’t hear. With a
n inward curse, Cole tore through the lodge, colors around him turned into a blur.

  He couldn’t lose her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Maddy threw her suitcase in the back with an irritated sigh. She was ready to leave. No point for her to stay since her parents weren’t home yet. She looked down the street, taking in the various houses and white covered trees and driveways, and stopped at Cole’s house, longing and sadness quickly enveloping her, but she slid into the driver’s seat before she allowed herself to dwell on anything in regards to Cole Harmon. It was over. And for the best. As she started the car, the phone rang. The screen blinked her mother’s cell number. She pressed talk. “Hey, mom. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas. What are you doing?”

  Maddy blew out a short puff of air. The tightness in her chest made it hard to breathe. “I’m about to drive to the airport.”

  “You’re leaving? But…I thought…”

  She frowned. Guilt punched her in the stomach. She should stay to spend time with her family, but not this holiday—maybe never. “I had a lovely run-in with Brad Sr., and since you’re not home, there’s no point in me staying.”

  “Yeah.”

  She heard the remorse in her mother’s tone. “What’s going on? Is Aunt Kate, okay?”

  “She’s fine. Home now. Just a little…um…car accident and a sprained ankle.”

  Her mother’s voice didn’t sound convincing. She was hiding something. “Mom,” she warned.

  Her mother gave a nervous chuckle. “She’s fine, really. I heard how that old fart lit in on you at the party. The town has been buzzing about how he shouldn’t have made that scene.”

  Maddy closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headrest. “It doesn’t matter. I was the one who left first and wanted the divorce. I’m the one the town hates, and Cole’s dad is probably right. We’re not good for each other.” That’s not true!