Christmas Cancellation

17. KOL

Chapter seventeen

N oelle’s gaze drifted around the old kitchen, and she frowned slightly. “I’ve got to have a shower. I mean, after traveling and all the…um, sexy time, I just have to get clean. I don’t even care how cold it is. Professional athletes take ice baths all the time and survive, right?!” she declared, her nose scrunching up in an adorable way that made me want to kiss her again.

“Mmm, I like the just-fucked look on you. Means I did my job well and you enjoyed yourself.”

“Oh my Lord, only you would think that me looking like a troll earned you fuckery points. All the same, I still really need to clean up, but it feels so weird using my Aunt Mary’s personal things. I feel like such a visitor in her home.”

I sat back in the chair. “Well, it all belongs to you now. Try not to overthink it. After all, it’s just stuff. She doesn’ t need it anymore.”

“At least while I’m stuck here in Saratoga,” she muttered under her breath.

Surely, she’d change her mind about keeping this place. I wanted to convince her to stay, but bottom line, it was up to her.

I pushed back from the table, the legs of the chair scraping against the floor, and an errant idea formed in my mind. “I’m going to get a shower and use all the hot water!” I shouted, taking off in a sprint toward the stairs.

“What? No you’re not!” I heard her chair clatter to the floor, followed by the sound of her feet pounding against the wooden steps as she chased after me. We raced up the stairs and down the hallway, the old planks creaking beneath us.

We burst into the bathroom, laughing and breathing hard.

The black-and-white tiles, claw-foot tub, and ornate cast-iron fixtures spoke of a bygone era. “This place must not have been updated since nineteen twenty,” Noelle said, still panting. “It’s so cute though. You know this house would make the perfect bed-and-breakfast.”

It was good to hear her speaking of future possibilities for the house. But I didn’t give her any more time to daydream. My sweatpants and shirt hit the floor in record time, and I turned on the water, stepping into the shower while the water was still ice-cold. Noelle, not one to shy away from a challenge, hurriedly shrugged off my jacket and undressed—revealing that glorious body of hers. Then she unwrapped her ankle and joined me under the spray.

She squealed as the cold water pelted her and tried to jump out, but I grabbed her, wrapping my arms around her and forcing her under the icy stream. We wrestled and laughed, our bodies slipping against each other, the friction igniting a fire that no amount of cold water could extinguish .

When the water was warm, I took her face in my hands and kissed her with an all-consuming hunger. Her lips parted, welcoming my tongue eagerly.

Forcing myself to release her, I reached for the soap and lathered my hands before running them over her curves. I washed her with a reverence that belied our previous teasing, my fingers exploring every curve and dip. She let out an appreciative moan as I began paying special attention to her breasts, her nipples pebbling under my touch while the water streamed over them.

“You’re insatiable, Mr. Captain.”

“And you’re perfect,” I murmured, my hands continuing to caress every inch of her. I’d never been with a woman I couldn’t keep my hands off of, and Noelle was driving me crazy.

“You’re going to make me think you only want me for my body,” she sassed.

“Damn right,” I growled. “But I also like your smart mouth.”

She bit her lower lip, looking up at me through those long lashes. “Well, then…maybe you should find a better use for it.”

Challenge accepted. I captured her lips in a kiss, pouring every ounce of my desire into it, but that wasn’t enough for Noelle; she was a wildfire—uncontainable. She broke away, her mouth blazing a trail of heat down my torso, leaving a wake of tingling skin. I loved watching her focus on giving me the pleasure I craved. My breath hitched as she descended, her intentions clear and her destination unmistakable. Her lips charted a course straight to my cock, and when she arrived, the memory of last night shot through my mind. The way she’d taken me—it had been so fucking hot. My shaft twitched as she slid her tongue along it. She cupped my balls, opened her mouth wide, and glided down my cock, taking me to the back of her throat.

Damn, this woman gave the best head. She eagerly went to town on my dick. Almost immediately, I was right there. Jerking out of her to prevent things from ending too soon, I spun her around and pressed her against the tiled wall. She gasped as the cool tile met her skin. I nudged her legs apart with my knee, my hand traveling down to find her slick and ready for me.

“Kol,” she breathed wantonly.

“Hold on, baby,” I warned, positioning myself at her entrance. With one swift thrust, I was inside her, the tight, wet heat of her pussy enveloping me completely.

She cried out, her fingers scrabbling against the tiles as I set a punishing rhythm. I couldn’t get enough of her—the feel of her body, the sounds she made, the way she moved against me. It felt so fucking good.

Soon I was breathing hard, and I thought I was going to lose my mind. I could fuck her for a lifetime and never get enough.

“Kol,” she whispered, her legs trembling.

“I’ve got you, Elle,” I assured her. I pulled out and whirled her around. Reaching down, I grabbed the backs of her thighs and lifted her up. She eagerly wrapped her legs around my waist, digging her heels into my back. Her slick pussy clenched around my cock as I continued to drive into her. She moaned, sinking her fingers into my shoulders as I moved inside her. The water streamed over us, steam rising around us as our bodies slid together. Her moans urged me on, driving me to pound into her, hard and deep, over and over again.

Soon my orgasm was building, a fire running through my veins, pooling in my balls. Determined to wait for her to come, I reached between us, finding her clit with my thumb and rubbing circles. She clenched around me, her body shaking as she shattered, her cries echoing off the bathroom walls.

She was absolutely perfect.

With one last thrust, I came harder than I ever had before. My vision blurred, my body grew rigid, and I followed her over the edge, my release barreling through me.

I rested my forehead on the wall behind her. We stayed like that for a moment, panting and spent, the warm water cascading over us.

After catching our breath, we had fun helping each other wash up. It was so easy to relax and be playful with Noelle—something I hadn’t experienced with a woman since my early days in the Army. It wasn’t until we stepped out of the shower that we realized how cold the room was. Noelle shivered, her teeth chattering as she reached for a towel. I wrapped one around my waist, watching her as she dried herself off with quick, efficient movements. I handed her another towel, and she wrapped it around herself before sitting on the little vanity chair. I picked up the compression bandage and helped her wrap her ankle back up.

The cold air motivated us to grab our things and rush back to the living room, which was relatively warm again from the wood I’d added to the fire earlier. We quickly scrounged through our bags and threw on some clean clothes. Noelle was still cold, so she threw on my jacket. Seeing her in it did something to my heart. I never wanted her to wear another man’s clothes. It made me possessive of her in a way I’d never felt about any other woman. Maybe my buddy McAllister was right: finding the right woman to snuggle up with at night was worth the risk.

“Your hair,” I said, eyeing the damp curls. “We can’t leave the house until it’s dry. You’ll catch a cold.”

“Okay, Mom ,” she teased, moving to sit as close to the fireplace as she dared, running her fingers through her hair.

While she sat there before the crackling fire, I took the opportunity to go outside and collect an armful of wood. I returned and stacked it neatly along the hearth to dry out. The cold air from outside clung to me, but the sight of Noelle, warm and glowing in the firelight, chased it away.

As I watched her, I wondered how I was ever supposed to walk away from her after the snow cleared. The thought alone was enough to make my chest tighten.

But that was a worry for another day. Who knew how long this storm would have us trapped in Saratoga? For now, I had a fierce, feisty woman to keep warm, and I was going to enjoy every moment of it.

She turned her gaze to me, twisting a tendril of hair around her finger. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually glad the flight got canceled.”

I grinned, leaning against the mantel. “Me too, Noelle. Me too.”

We spent the next hour by the fire, waiting for Noelle’s hair to fully dry, chitchatting about random stuff. Boy, could the girl talk. There was never an awkward silence. Once her hair had dried, I suggested we explore the house a little and find a proper bedroom for the night. “Let’s take our stuff upstairs,” I said, standing and offering her my hand. “My guess is, they’ll have the power restored sometime today.”

I grabbed our luggage. She found her tote and my flight bag, and we started up the staircase. At the top, she paused outside her aunt Mary’s old bedroom, looking uncomfortable. “Not this one,” she said firmly. “I can’t sleep in here. It feels…wrong. Creepy even. Like I’m intruding.” She shuddered, stepping back from the door. “Sleeping in a dead person’s room? No thanks.”

I nodded, understanding. “Fair enough. Let’s pick a different one.”

We ended up choosing one of the other bedrooms down the hallway. It wasn’t quite as large as some of the others, but it still had its own en suite bathroom, and the bed looked comfortable. Noelle set her tote and my bag on the dresser, heaving a sigh. “ This feels much better.”

I dropped our suitcases on the bed while she moved to the opposite side of the room. “Hate to say it,” she said with a grin, “but I really don’t want to take this jacket off. It’s too cozy.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind seeing you in nothing but my coat.” I smirked. “All the time.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do all pilots have a one-track mind?” she asked, though there was a flicker in her eyes that told me she liked the idea. “I should probably add some layers if we’re going to walk all the way over to Broadway in the snow. I wonder what all my aunt might have stored in here? I could use a decent pair of boots.”

I laughed. “Yeah, those pretty spiky ones won’t cut in this kind of weather.”

Noelle wandered over to the closet and opened it. “Looks like she stored her winter clothes in this one. I’ll just have to pretend like I’m borrowing something from Amanda. That way it won’t feel so weird.” She rummaged through, pulling out a few things. “Hey, check this out,” she said, holding up a thick sweater, some gloves, and a couple of woolen scarves. “We can use some of this stuff to stay warm outside.”

She continued to search the closet with an enthusiasm that surprised me. Soon she turned with a triumphant grin spread across her face, holding up two beanies—one a navy blue, the other a light gray. “Look what I found!” she exclaimed, tossing the navy one at me. “Now, we won’t freeze our ears off out there.”

I caught the hat. “Isn’t this a little too… cute for me?”

“Nope,” she said firmly. “They’re practical. And adorable.”

I rolled my eyes. “What else did you find in your treasure hunt? ”

She turned back to the closet and pulled out a pair of boots. “Oh my God, these Hunter tall wellies are amazing and just my size!”

That made me laugh. “So you’re trading your fancy, spiky heels for chunky lug-soled boots?”

Noelle shot me a mock glare. “Those Louboutins were perfect for the trip until the snow apocalypse wrecked my life.” She slipped the boots on, giving me a defiant look. “For your information, I pick the appropriate shoes for the occasion. Those were perfect for the airport. But these”—she gestured out the window at the snow-covered landscape—“are perfect for today. I’m not about to break my other ankle just to look cute.”

“The snow apocalypse seems to have wrecked your fashion plans, huh?” I teased.

She took off my jacket and tugged the sweater she’d found over her other top. Then she shrugged on her pretty red coat and pulled on the gray beanie. At least she’d be easy to spot against all the white outside.

“Something like that,” she said. “Now come on, let’s go outside and see what we’re dealing with. And don’t forget to put your hat on.”

I pulled on my jacket, and we headed back downstairs and out the front door. The snow was deeper than I’d expected, easily two feet, with drifts even higher where the wind had blown it against the house. Noelle started down the porch steps, insisting she didn’t need help, but I wasn’t having it. I wrapped an arm around her waist, ignoring her protests.

“I don’t want you taking another nosedive,” I said, guiding her carefully.

She huffed but didn’t pull away. “Fine, fine. But only because I don’t want to face-plant into the snow again. ”

We made our way across the sidewalk, the snow and ice crunching under our boots. The driveway was a solid blanket of white, so we trudged slowly across it, down to the street, which was barely visible beneath the snow.

The neighborhood came to life when we reached Caroline Street. Kids bundled in brightly colored snow gear played in front yards. Adults were out shoveling driveways, and a few brave souls navigated the roads on cross-country skis. I took Noelle’s hand, and we turned toward Broadway, taking off in earnest.

Her eyes widened as she took it all in. “It’s like a winter wonderland out here.” She laughed, kicking at the snow. “You never see this in Atlanta. I’ve missed it.”

I smiled, squeezing her hand. “It is perfect for Christmas Eve. And it’s even better with you.” Oh God, this girl had me being all sappy like some die-hard romantic.

She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed from the cold, her eyes sparkling. “You’re just saying that because I’m the only one here to keep you warm.”

“Ha! Maybe. But it’s still true.”

As we were passing a large parking lot, a barrage of snowballs pelted us.

“Ambush!” Noelle shrieked, ducking behind me for cover. I scanned the area, spotting some kids hiding behind snow-covered cars and bushes. They had turned the parking lot into a battleground.

“Oh, it’s on now,” I growled, dragging Noelle with me as I dashed for safety behind a car. “Quick! Take cover!” Several more snowballs sailed our way.

While we crouched behind the car, I quickly formed some snowballs and launched them back at the kids.

“Kol, what are you doing?” she asked. “They’re just little kids. ”

“We’re under attack,” I said, packing more snow into a ball. “We have to defend ourselves. And trust me, some of those minions have a good arm on them.”

She rolled her eyes but started making her own snowball. “Fine. But I warn you, I’m terrible at this.”

I grinned. “That’s okay. I’ve got enough skill for both of us.”

We started launching snowballs at the kids. Their giggles rang out as they scattered. Noelle’s throws were wild, most of them missing the kids by a mile. She wasn’t wrong about being terrible at this. I’d never seen anyone with such bad aim.

“Nice try,” I teased as one of her snowballs fell apart mid-air.

“Shut up!” She laughed, throwing another pathetic snowball, which landed only a couple of yards away from us.

I showed off, packing tight ones and hurling them with precision at our tiny attackers. The kids tried to surround us, but with tactical efficiency, I pulled Noelle out from behind the car, and we took cover behind the corner of a building.

“That’s cheating!” a kid yelled as another of my snowballs hit one of them squarely in the chest.

“We’re just using superior strategy!” I called back.

“You’re pretty good at this,” Noelle said, packing another snowball.

I winked at her. “Military training. It comes in handy.”

She snorted. “I bet they didn’t teach you how to dodge snowballs thrown by eight-year-olds.”

“You’d be surprised. There’s a lot of crossover between snowball fights and combat tactics.”

She threw her snowball, which sailed wide, missing the kids completely. When they jeered playfully, she groaned, stomping her foot. “This is ridiculous. I can’t even hit a stationary target.” Then she laughed so hard she nearly fell over. Her next attempt hit me square in the back of the head instead .

I turned.

“Oh, no!” She gasped dramatically, tossing one straight in my face. “Friendly fire!”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

Before she could react, I grabbed a handful of snow and shoved it right into her face. She squealed, flailing her arms and grabbing my jacket as she went down, taking me with her. We tumbled into the snowbank next to the building and rolled down an embankment.

When we finally came to a stop, laughing like idiots, we found ourselves face-to-face, with me on top. Our breaths mingled in white puffs between us before I closed the gap and kissed her thoroughly. The world around us faded away, the kids’ laughter and the distant hum of the city disappearing until all that was left was the two of us, lost in each other.

Suddenly, a chorus of “Ewww!” broke through our little bubble. We pulled apart to see the kids staring at us, their faces scrunched up in disgust.

“Gross!” one of them shouted, and they all took off running and laughing.

Noelle buried her face in my chest. “Well, that’s one way to end a snowball fight.”

I grinned, wrapping my arms around her. “Looks like we won.”

“Yeah,” she murmured against my mouth. “We definitely won.”