Christmas Cancellation

11. KOL

Chapter eleven

N oelle took a sip of wine and then stretched across me to place her glass on the side table, bracing herself by pressing her hand on my belly. It was warm, even through the fabric of my shirt. She couldn’t quite reach the table, so I sat up slightly, taking the glass from her and setting it down myself. Her freed hand settled onto my thigh, a connection that was far from accidental.

She must have had enough of the back-and-forth that had been driving us both crazy. We’d been at each other’s throats when we first met, the intense undercurrent of attraction between us undeniable but complicated. Her smart-ass comments and quick wit clashed sharply with my more reserved, no-nonsense nature. I’d not exactly been thrilled with being stuck in a car for hours with a woman who was loud, bold, and always pushing my buttons. But somewhere along that icy road, things had changed. Beneath all the teasing and sarcasm, we’d started to find common ground. Jokes had turned playful, and conversations about life had gotten a little deeper. The attraction between us had been simmering all day, and as much as I tried to keep it in check, she had a way of slipping under my skin.

I had kept her at arm’s length, trying to convince myself it was for the best. Maybe I didn’t want to deal with her complicated past, or maybe it was my own damn baggage that made me hesitate. Either way, I’d been hot and cold with her, and she wasn’t blind to it. But now, with the fire, the wine, and the close quarters, I could see it in her eyes—she was done with the games. The teasing, the flirting, the tension building between us—it had all led to this. She wanted more, and hell, I did too.

When she’d put her hands on me just now, that hadn’t been accidental. There was intent in the way her fingers molded to the hard lines of my abs and grasped my thigh with purposeful pressure. The heat between us was rising with every slow movement. And the way she moved closer to me made it clear she wasn’t going to let me push her away this time. Noelle was tired of waiting, and I was done holding back.

“Thanks,” she murmured, her eyes locking onto mine with an impish glint.

Damn, this girl was feisty. If she only knew the fire she was playing with, maybe she’d think twice about stoking my need like this. But then again, maybe she knew exactly what she was doing.

Just as I turned back to face her, she swung a leg over and straddled my hips. Her hands slapped my chest, shoving me back onto the pillows. She took my face in her fingers and kissed me hard. Her lips were warm and impossibly soft against mine, moving with a fervor that caught me off guard. Her tongue brushed along my lips, teasing them apart before slipping inside. The subtle taste of wine mingled between us, adding a sweet tang. The sensation was electric—her tongue exploring mine, tentative yet bold, igniting the fire that had been smoldering all day.

An electric charge ran through my veins, settling low and stirring a desire that was quickly becoming impossible to ignore. Her hips sank down, firmly settling onto me, and her body aligned with the growing hardness beneath my sweatpants. I wrapped my hands around her waist, sinking my fingers into her gentle contours as I struggled to maintain control. Her petite frame made her seem delicate and fragile somehow, which surprised me, especially since her big personality made her seem larger than life.

Her lips were demanding, and when she twisted her fingers in my hair, I couldn’t help letting out a grunt. She moved with a confidence that was both surprising and intoxicating. For a moment, I let her set the pace, and her lips claimed mine with a need that rivaled my own.

She pulled back a little, giggling softly, before leaning forward again. This time, she captured my lower lip between her teeth and slowly dragged back, sending a jolt of current straight to my dick. My restraint was hanging by a thread.

I slid my hands down her sides, wrapping my fingers around her curvy ass and digging into her flesh. I ground her up and down the length of my shaft, eliciting a breathy groan from deep within her chest. This girl was definitely a firecracker, and the wine had only made her bolder. I couldn’t let her play this game without consequences. She’d better not be teasing me without expecting to get wholly and completely fucked. A man like me could only hold back so much.

I wondered then if I should shut this down before things went too far. She didn’t need some guy taking advantage of her while she was feeling defeated and unloved, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to be a regret for her in the morning. I pulled away from those addictive lips, grabbed her wrists, and yanked her hands down, pinning them between her thighs.

She let out a gasp, her eyes widening at the force of my action. For a moment, she seemed taken aback. Then, a sly smile played on her lips, which were swollen from our demanding kiss. As she caught her breath, her chest rose and fell, drawing my gaze to the enticing curves hidden beneath her sweater.

The challenge in her eyes was clear. I had to set some things straight if we were going to keep playing this game.

“Listen, I’m no college boy or uptight ad executive,” I said, locking eyes with her. “When I want something, I take it—no questions, no games.” A dark hunger stirred to life as my grip on her wrists tightened. A shudder ran through her body, and her playful smile faltered. Her lip quivered ever so slightly before she steadied herself, defiance flashing in her eyes.

“Noelle,” I growled, “I want you to understand something. I don’t do playful. When I fuck a woman, it’s not something she’ll forget anytime soon.” My eyes bored into hers, my words hanging in the air between us.

Her eyes grew big at my declaration. A spark of something wild lit up in them, and her lips stretched into a devilish smirk.

“Yes, sir,” she purred, drawing out the r at the end and daring me to do my worst. That sir stirred something inside me.

I hadn’t expected this side of her. The playful, wild child—yes, but not the woman looking to sate her untamed desires. The need to possess her surged through my veins. I hoisted her to her feet with little effort. Her lips formed into a surprised little o as she found herself staring down at me, her feet now planted on either side of my hips .

“Strip,” I ordered, my tone brooking no argument. It was time for her to see who she was truly dealing with.

Instead of obeying, she stood motionless before me, her back straight, her chin up. There was a playful defiance in her eyes, as though she relished the forcefulness in my voice. Was this girl for real? I’d never met anyone quite like her. And that was saying something, after all the places I’d been and the women I’d known. Noelle was a challenge I couldn’t refuse, an adventure that would either be the best damn thing I’d ever experienced or would blow up spectacularly in my face.

I waited silently. She was loving every second of having my full attention.

But she didn’t know who she was dealing with. I didn’t give orders lightly, especially to a slip of a girl like her. My body was coiled tight as she took her sweet time, relishing the power she held in this moment.

She reached up under her soft gray sweater dress and grasped the waistband of her leggings. Slowly, she slid them down, inch by tantalizing inch, first one side, then the other, over her hips and down her thighs. She teased me, knowing good and well that the dress fell over what I longed to taste but couldn’t yet get a glimpse of. The sight of her fingers tracing the curves of her body had my cock throbbing.

This little elf thought she had me figured out. Every move she made was intentional, calculated to drive me mad, and it was working—damn, how it was working.

Noelle twisted a little to the side, her blonde curls bouncing with the movement. She placed the toes of her foot—the one with the twisted ankle—lightly on my stomach, using me for balance. Then she bent down, carefully tugging her leggings off. For a second, I worried about the pain she must be in, but she didn’t slow down. This girl was determined, and I wasn’t about to stop her.

She stepped back, wincing as she repeated the move with the other leg, quickly pulling the leggings free. Then, with a quick motion, she hooked them around my neck and pulled me up to her for a quick, hard kiss before abruptly letting go, sending me back onto the pillows.

Damn, she was audacious. I tucked my hands behind my head, sizing her up. “Well, keep going,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than I’d expected. Need coursed through me. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

Noelle hesitated, toying with the hem of her sweater dress as I scrutinized her. She was a vision, standing there, with her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and her eyes locked onto mine. But a flicker of uncertainty had replaced her previous petulant confidence.

Just when I thought she had chickened out, she moved her feet to straddle my hips once again. Carefully, she lowered herself onto her knees and then sat squarely on top of my cock. The heat of her core was a silent entreaty for something more, but she just sat there, keeping her eyes locked on mine. I remained still, waiting.

“You’re not finished,” I said.

For a moment, we just stared at each other. I could see the wheels turning in her head, conflict flashing in her eyes, but she remained stubbornly clothed.

I let out a disappointed huff, shaking my head as I moved my hands away from where they rested behind me. But she wasn’t having it.

“No.” The word was rough, commanding, and completely unexpected from her. Her hands shot out, pinning my forearms so I couldn’t move my hands from behind me. I relaxed, and she let go, returning to her perch on top of me.

Then she brought one hand up to her mouth and, with the flat of her tongue, licked a line from her wrist to the tip of her middle finger. She sucked two of her fingers into her mouth all the way down to the third knuckle and slowly slid them back out, all the while keeping her eyes on me. She did this two more times, and when her fingers left her mouth the last time, they were glistening wet.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. I had a feeling I knew where this was going, but I wasn’t prepared for the sight that greeted me next. She used her other hand to lift her dress, giving me a peek at her dark pink lips. My cock twitched beneath her, aching to get inside that tight, wet heat.

She then dragged those wet fingers down the hollow of her folds, and my dick jerked again. Fuck, this girl was killing me. She slid her fingers to the tight little bundle of nerves at the apex of her pussy and, with agonizing slowness, drew small circles around and around. Her head fell back over one shoulder, and her eyes became hooded, but she didn’t ever fucking lose eye contact with me, even as she started to squirm under the pressure of her own fingers.

“That’s it. That’s the last of my fucking control,” I said. My hands slapped down on her thighs, startling her from her sensual display, and she gasped. In one fell swoop, my hands flew under her dress and raked up her sides, taking the sweater up with them. I shoved the dress up her arms and over her head, then tossed it aside.

Her hair tumbled down around her shoulders, a wild, curly halo that framed her flushed face perfectly. And then I saw the most delicious sight .

“What? No bra all this time?” I said, my eyes roaming over her bare chest. Her nipples were pebbled into tight buds, begging to be teased and tasted. “Damn, I never would have guessed.”

Noelle regarded me with a wicked look on her face, her confidence returning in full force. “Maybe it’s your lack of experience with women,” she teased, her fingers idly tracing patterns on my chest.

At that, I laughed—a genuine laugh that seemed to reverberate through the room. If only she knew how long it had been since I’d laughed wholeheartedly. “Oh, Stinkerbelle,” I said, shaking my head. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”

I had to hand it to her—not many women could get under my skin. But this little wildcat had. She’d made me crazy from the moment I’d laid eyes on her at the airport. From that sassy mouth to the curve of her hips, she had me entranced, and there was no going back now.

Without thinking, I threw my arm around Noelle’s waist and twisted. Using our momentum to my advantage, I slammed her back onto the thick pallet. She let out a startled yelp. Before she could utter a single word, I was on my feet, looming over her. This was a game to her, one she was intent on winning. But nobody got the better of me, especially not when it came to matters of the flesh.

I ripped off my T-shirt and tossed it aside. Her gaze flicked over my bare chest, taking in the tattoos that snaked across my skin, before settling back on my face.

My heart hammered in my chest, pulsing with the need to have her, to brand her as mine, but I held back the fierce urge to take her hard and fast.

“Take them off,” I demanded, pointing to my sweatpants.

Noelle sat up, keeping her dark blue eyes on mine as she got onto her hands and knees. She crawled over to me, each movement deliberate and slow, before kneeling at my feet and dropping her head. The sight of her, submissive and waiting, sparked something primal within me, a raw need to make her wholly and completely mine.

“Oh, so you can be submissive when you want to, hmm?” I asked. I wasn’t buying her act for a second, but I had to admit, she played the part well.

She remained still, keeping her head bowed, and for a moment, I thought she might defy me and refuse to do what I’d asked her to do.

I reached down and grabbed a fistful of her thick hair, pulling her head back so she had no choice but to look up at me.

“I said take them off.” I tightened my grip just enough to let her know I meant business.

Slowly, she dragged her eyes away from mine, letting them travel down my body. They lingered on the large bulge in my pants, a smirk playing on her lips as she took in the sight of my arousal. She was enjoying this, enjoying the power she wielded over me at this moment. But she was about to discover that I was no one’s plaything.

She rose up on her knees and reached for my waistband. Slowly, she dipped her thumbs under the fabric, running them along the edge to the back of my pants until her arms were wrapped around me. Then she splayed her fingers across my lower back. She was careful to never make contact with my cock.

With a rough tug, she dragged my pants and boxer briefs down, exposing the curve of my ass to the cool air of the room. Her fingers then slid back around to the front, pulling both the briefs and pants forward and down, more than clearing my rock-hard dick. It sprang free, standing at attention and aching for her touch .

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked up at me with an approving grin, then bit her lower lip.

This little elf was playing with fire, and I was going to give her more than she expected. Let her have her fun for now.

Suddenly, she yanked my pants all the way down to my ankles, quickly tugging them off each foot before shoving them aside. And then, just like that, she returned to kneeling submissively at my feet. Her push-and-pull behavior said it all. She wanted to be in charge, but she also didn’t want to disappoint me.

For a few heartbeats I stood there, naked and hard, looking down at her. The curves of her body were highlighted enticingly by the warm glow of the fire.

Finally I reached down and cupped her chin, lifting her face so that our eyes met. “You want to play games, Stinkerbelle?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous. “I can play.”

Her breasts rose and fell with each breath, her nipples tight and begging for my touch. Her eyes flashed with defiance, but she didn’t pull away from my touch. Instead, she leaned into it, her lips parting ever so slightly. It was an invitation, one I wasn’t about to refuse.

My cock was hard as steel, aching for her. I’d been itching to say it all night, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Noelle, I want that sassy mouth of yours wrapped around my dick now.”

Her hands found my ankles, and she teasingly tugged them toward her, forcing me to close the gap between us. She placed her palms on my calves, gliding her fingers up and down, skimming my skin with featherlight touches. My muscles twitched with anticipation as her fingertips traced along the sensitive skin at the backs of my knees and left trails of fire blazing in their wake. With each pass, her touch became more demanding. And then, with an impish glint in her eyes, she trailed one finger between my legs, barely brushing against my balls.

A bolt of electricity shot through me, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Her mouth was so close to my cock but never touched it. The little minx was pushing me to my limits. Without warning, she cupped my ass, digging her fingers into my flesh, heaving my thighs against her boobs while I fought to maintain my stance.

It was too much. I’d been holding back all damn day, and if she didn’t get to the main course soon, I was gonna blow before she even got going.

“You teasing little—” I sputtered, reaching down to tangle my hand in her hair. With a firm tug, I brought her chin to my cock, leaving no room for protest or argument. And of all the damn reactions she could have had, the little vixen let out a giggle.

A soft moan slipped past my lips as her breath tickled my skin. I twisted a fistful of her thick, curly hair and yanked her head back, narrowing my eyes as I glared down at her.

“Mm-mm,” I growled as a warning. Her boldness and untamed spirit were undoing me, but I wanted her to know she was playing with fire. No more games. No more teasing. It was time for action.

Her playful smile faded to a look of pure want. Pulling back slightly, she rolled her lower lip into her mouth as if to stifle another giggle, and the action robbed me of what little restraint I had left. Keeping my fingers entwined in her hair, I guided her back to what I wanted.

Finally— finally —she wrapped her hands around my aching shaft. And she began to caress me. Her fingers barely closed around me, her grip tightening just a fraction as she explored my length.

The warmth of her hands and the softness of her skin made me sigh with pleasure. It was the best kind of torment. I could already imagine how her mouth would feel on me—tight, wet, and perfect.

The first touch of her tongue on my cock had me biting back a groan. She started at the root of my shaft, dragging the flat of her tongue up along its length. The sensation was almost too much to bear. I let out a low moan, my hips involuntarily bucking toward her mouth.

When she reached the head, she swirled her tongue around the sensitive tip, flicking it back and forth across the frenulum. Her tongue gave me a searing rush of pleasure—swirling, licking, sucking.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to be inside her mouth, to feel the tightness of her throat as she took me in. With a groan, I guided her closer, my hand still tangled in her hair.

Her touch was maddening, her tongue nimble as it teased. When she finally took me in, I couldn’t stop the groan that ripped from my throat. “Mmm, fuck. That’s good.”

Noelle rose on her knees. She was just tall enough to take me deep. Her lips slid down, and she pulled back, going down again with a slow roll of her head. She shifted her stance, planting one foot on the ground for leverage, and suddenly, the crown of my cock slipped past the ridge of her throat. Her lips slid down nearly to the base of my shaft, and I swore I saw stars.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her head bobbed back and forth, slow and steady. She took her time. Goddamn, she had a mouth on her, and she knew how to use it. This little elf was a hellcat in disguise, making my legs shake. I fought to hold back, to maintain control, but as the muscles of her throat tightened around me and she struggled to take more of me, it was almost too much.

Fuck, I couldn’t believe this seemingly delicate creature could fuck me this hard with her mouth. She was perfect—everything I had ever wanted and more. Gripping the tendrils of her hair tighter, I took over the rhythm, guiding her up and down my shaft with increasing speed.

Within seconds, I started to thrust my hips, losing myself to the rush of this carnality. She met my thrusts with eager moans, the vibrations shooting straight through my cock. Her tongue slid over the sensitive skin, teasing and drawing out every ounce of pleasure. Gripping her shoulder, I thrust hard and deep. She took it all with an eagerness that was my undoing.

Knowing I couldn’t hold on much longer, I reached down and wrapped my hand around the back of her neck to gently urge her back. I eased out of her mouth, my cock wet and shiny with her saliva. She looked up at me, her eyes glazed with lust. A glistening strand of my pre-cum connected her lips to the head of my dick. The sight nearly finished me.

My chest heaved as I fought for breath and tried to calm the storm of need raging through me. Noelle’s eyes sparkled with mischievous delight. With a sinful smile, she lowered her head, her tongue darting out to lick the salty residue from my cock. My balls drew up, a clear sign I was close, so fucking close. Her hot mouth closed over the tip, sucking hard, and that was it. I was done.

Pleasure ripped through me like a tsunami, an explosive rush that stole my breath. My hips jerked uncontrollably as I let out a guttural groan, the sound reverberating off the walls of the room. My orgasm ripped through me, a wave of pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. The muscles of her throat tightened around me as she struggled to swallow my cum that was jetting down her throat.

And with that, I was spent. My vision blurred as I relished the last aftershocks of my orgasm. I stood there, bracing myself against her shoulders, trying to catch my breath and waiting for my heart to slow its frenzied pace. Noelle’s eyes shimmered with a mixture of triumph and desire. She’d done this—pushed me over the edge—and if the smug look on her face was any indication, she was damn proud of herself.

Her tongue swirled one last time, a last lick that sent a shudder through me, and then she released me with an audible pop. I stepped back, giving myself some space, needing a moment to process what had just happened. I had to admit that I hadn’t seen that coming.

Noelle sat back on her heels, satisfied with the result of her efforts. She had taken control and shown me she could handle anything I threw her way.

And in that moment, I knew I was in deep trouble. This girl was more than just a passing fling. She was a force to be reckoned with, a wildfire that was quickly consuming me. I had to tread carefully, or I might just find myself falling for her—harder and faster than I’d ever thought possible.

But for now, I would enjoy the ride, savoring every moment of our time together. Because one thing was certain: Noelle Nichols was unlike any woman I had ever met, and I had a feeling she was about to turn my world upside down.

“I knew you had a mouth on you,” I said finally, “but never in my wildest imagination would I have guessed what it was capable of. Damn, Stinkerbelle, you’re just full of surprises.”

Noelle looked up at me with a proud little smile, her lips still glistening. I grunted, shaking my head in disbelief. Hell, she should be proud—she’d certainly blown my mind. “I don’t even want to know how you learned skills like that.”

She laughed, a sound that was quickly becoming one of my favorites, and I figured some smartass comment was about to follow .

“Oh, God, you’re going to tell me anyway, aren’t you?” I said, not even bothering to hide the amusement in my voice.

She grinned, and there was a naughty glint in her eye. “Well, now that you mention it…”

I held up my hands in surrender. “No, that’s okay. I don’t need the details.”

With a mock-pout, she rose to her feet. “Fine, I’ll spare you the story.”

I shook my head, grabbing my sweatpants off the floor and pulling them on. I needed a moment to regain my composure, to reset before I did something I might regret—like letting her into my heart. I turned and walked toward the kitchen. The familiar strains of Christmas music were playing. I’d left my phone connected to the camping radio, and Bing Crosby was crooning about a white Christmas. This was definitely a far cry from the usual music I listened to, but it was a holiday indulgence.

I grabbed a couple of bottles of water, as well as my phone and the radio, before heading back to the living room. As I rounded the corner, my breath caught in my throat at the sight that greeted me.

There Noelle stood, in front of the fireplace, jabbing at a log with a poker. She had my uniform shirt on, barely buttoned and hanging halfway down her thighs. She looked fucking incredible, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

I cleared my throat, trying to get my heart under control. “Here,” I said, holding out one of the water bottles. “I thought you could use this.”

She took it with a smile. “What? No more wine?”

“I think you’ve had enough,” I said, though the words tasted like a lie. The truth was, I liked seeing her let loose, liked the way her eyes sparkled when she was being cheeky .

“Pish,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “That’s not any fun. Come on, we still have one more bottle to go.” She limped toward the table, taking a big swig of the water. Picking up her wine glass, she swung it back and forth. “How about you pour me another glass, Mr. Wine Connoisseur…I mean, Mr. Captain.”

She laughed again, and damn if it didn’t do something to my heart. I liked the happy Noelle, the one who wasn’t anxious and wound up by her past or the uncertainty of her future. I moved to stand beside her, setting my water bottle, phone, and radio on the table. “All right, Stinkerbelle,” I said, “but only because you asked so nicely.”

I poured what was left of the first bottle into her glass and then opened the second. I had to admit, it really did have a nice fragrance, and it had paired well with—of all things—chocolate fudge.

Glasses in hand, we propped up against the sofa. For a while, we sat there listening to Christmas songs, eating fudge, drinking wine, and watching the fire. Noelle had her elbow propped on the edge of the sofa and was turned halfway toward me. One of her legs was extended on the floor toward the fire, the other was bent, and my shirt was open just enough to give me a peek of her glistening folds.

I was already getting hard again, but I didn’t want to disturb the peaceful moment. There was something about the way the firelight flickered across her skin and something about the serene expression on her face that made me want to capture the image and hold onto it forever. While she gazed into the fire, she played with a tendril of her hair, wrapping it around her finger and letting it spring loose over and over. After a little while, she glanced over at me and smiled, and it was like a punch to the gut.

God, what a beautiful woman. I could envision her welcoming me home from every trip .

That thought had come unbidden, and for a moment, I allowed myself to entertain it. Noelle was unlike anyone I’d ever met, a whirlwind of energy that had blown into my life and threatened to turn everything upside down. She was vibrant and sassy, with a zest for life that was infectious. And yet, there was a sadness to her, a vulnerability that she tried so hard to hide behind her laughter and her sass.

I found myself wanting to know more about her, to uncover her secrets and truly see the woman within. What had made her the way she was? What dreams and fears lurked beneath the surface? And more importantly, why did I care so damn much?

I took a sip of my wine, letting the rich, complex flavors wash over my tongue as I watched her. Noelle was completely at ease, completely herself, and it was a sight to behold. She caught me staring and raised an eyebrow in question. “What?” she asked, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

I shook my head, grinning. “Nothing. Just enjoying the wine and the company. This was definitely not the day I’d envisioned when I woke up this morning.”

She laughed. “Well, you’re not the only one.” She reached out and took my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine. “You know,” she said, turning to face me fully, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Why Icehawk ?”

I smiled at the mention of the call sign I’d earned during my time in the military. “It’s a long story, but the short version is that it’s a play on my last name, Vinter. Swedish for winter , right?”

She nodded, listening intently.

“Well, in the military, hawk is often used in call signs. It’s meant to signify keen observation and the ability to swoop in for the kill. So, I was given Icehawk . It seemed fitting, given my specialties.”

Noelle’s eyes sparkled. “That’s so interesting. I’ve always wanted a cool nickname. The best I’ve gotten is No-torious , which my friends used to call me when I was a kid because I was so damn stubborn.”

I laughed. I’d gotten a good demonstration of her obstinate nature earlier. “I can see that.”

She gave me a playful punch on the arm. “Hey, I’m not that bad.”

“No, you’re right. You’re worse.” She stuck her tongue out at me. “Yeah, I think Stinkerbelle is fitting too.”

“You know, I was hoping if I ignored that ridiculous name, you’d drop it. But no. Even when I’m giving you the best blowjob you’ve ever had, you still have the audacity to use it. Now, Mr. Captain, you tell me who the stubborn one is.”

I laughed. “You’re funny.” God, this girl lit me up. Her mouth wasn’t the only thing I wanted to fuck. No, I wasn’t nearly finished with her.