SEALed Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

VICKIE

V ickie’s cheeks burned as she glanced at Knox, his broad shoulders and strong frame slightly hunched as he limped toward the shuttle van. They’d decided to head back to the lodge ahead of the group instead of skiing anymore. She knew he was trying to downplay the pain in his knee, but the way he was favoring it as he walked gave him away.

Guilt gnawed at her. If she’d just listened to him earlier about the trail… She didn’t know why she wanted to test him. Perhaps, it was because he’d been so gentle with her. The man she’d met three years ago was in charge. She respected how slow he was going with her and how he constantly made sure to get her consent for everything, but she’d really wanted to see the side of him he’d shown her at the bar. The one who took charge and let her know, with no uncertain terms, that he was the boss.

“Do you need some pain meds? I have some in my room. When we get back I can?—”

“Hey,” Knox said, interrupting her as he opened the van door for her. “It’s not a big deal, Vickie. I’ve had worse. I’m fine.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better,” she murmured, climbing into the seat. She knew in any one of her favorite romance novels, the girl would have likely been spanked for disobeying. It was interesting, she’d been curious about spanking from a sexual point of view, but for the first time, she wondered if she’d want it for other reasons, like to assuage the guilt of her blatant disobedience causing her man to be injured. Not that he was her man… although, she had little doubt that he didn’t want her to be.

Knox followed, settling in beside her with a soft grunt as he adjusted his leg. The driver shut the door behind them, leaving them alone in the back of the van as it began its slow descent down the mountain to the lodge. It was only a five-minute drive, but it felt much longer sitting beside Knox. She didn’t know what to say to make it better. She knew he was self-conscious about his injury. He shouldn’t be. He took a bullet in the line of service to his country.

The air between them felt charged, heavy with unspoken words. Vickie couldn’t shake the image of Knox diving after her on the slope, his arms wrapping around her just before she could collide with the tree. The memory of his body pressing hers into the snow lingered, the warmth of his touch contrasting sharply with the chill of the mountain air. The way his lips felt against hers. One thing was for damned sure, the sexual chemistry between them was still very much there.

“You don’t have to babysit me the rest of the day, you know,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ll probably just sit in front of the fire, read my Kindle and drink some hot cocoa.”

Knox chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “Who said anything about babysitting? I’m enjoying the excuse to sit by the fire with you instead of trying to keep up with my brothers on the slopes.”

Vickie smiled despite herself, glancing out the window as the snow-covered trees blurred past. She was really beginning to enjoy his company.

Inside the lodge, the silence was almost startling. Without the usual hum of voices and laughter, the place felt cozy, intimate. Most of their group was still at the ski slopes, leaving the grand common room and its roaring fireplace practically deserted. Vickie and Knox grabbed steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder from the dining room and then made their way to a pair of armchairs near the fire, the flickering flames casting golden light across the rustic space.

After putting his mug of cocoa on the small table between the chairs, Knox sank into his with a soft groan, stretching his leg out carefully. Vickie perched on the edge of her seat, cradling her mug carefully in her hands. It was filled to the very brink, and she didn’t want to spill it over her cream sweater. She was glad to have shed the ski suit back at the slope. Bulky clothing was not her favorite.

“You okay?” she asked, nodding toward his knee.

“I’ll live,” he said, offering her a crooked smile. “You don’t need to hover.”

“I feel terrible,” she admitted, staring into the swirl of whipped cream in her mug. “You told me not to go down that trail, and I?—”

“Vickie,” Knox interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. “You don’t need to apologize. You’re not responsible for this.”

“But if I hadn’t veered off?—”

“I would’ve still ended up sore from overuse,” he said, his gaze locking onto hers.

The intensity in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. She swallowed hard, unsure how to respond.

Knox leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. “You scared the hell out of me up there, you know,” he said quietly.

Vickie’s chest tightened. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know.” He took a sip of his hot chocolate, his eyes never leaving hers. “But it reminded me how quickly things can change. One second, you’re skiing down the mountain, and the next…”

His voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

She nodded, her throat thick with emotion. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For catching me. For being there.”

Knox shrugged, but his gaze warmed. “Now that we’ve found each other, it’s my intention to always be there to keep you from falling.”

The simple word sent a shiver down her spine, and she found herself clutching her mug tighter to keep her hands from trembling.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the fire crackling softly in the background. Vickie found herself relaxing, the warmth of the hot chocolate and the steady presence of Knox easing the tension that had been building all day. She sat back in the big chair and watched the flames dance in the fireplace.

“This place feels so different when it’s quiet,” she said after a while, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah,” Knox agreed. “It’s nice. Feels like we have the whole place to ourselves.”

Vickie smiled faintly, her mind drifting back to the night they’d first met. She’d felt this same quiet connection with him then, even in the chaos of the crowded bar.

“Do you remember that night? Three years ago?” she asked, her voice hesitant.

Knox’s lips curved into a slow smile. “I’ve thought about it more than I should probably confess.”

“I think about it sometimes,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing. “What you said to me, how you acted… It was like you stepped out of one of the romance novels I read.”

Knox raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Oh yeah?”

Vickie bit her lip, debating whether to say more. But the words spilled out before she could stop them. “I’ve never forgotten how… commanding you were. At the bar, the way you looked at me, the way you spoke… It was like you saw right through me.”

His gaze darkened, the intensity in his eyes making her pulse quicken.

“And the things you said,” she continued, her voice growing quieter. “You told me you were a man who always gets what he wants, and the way you looked at me when you said it…”

Her voice trailed off, but the memory lingered in the air between them.

“I meant every word,” Knox said, his tone low and deliberate.

Vickie’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening around her mug.

Knox leaned forward, setting his hot chocolate on the table beside him. His eyes never left hers as he reached out, gently taking her mug from her hands and placing it next to his own.

Her heart pounded as he moved closer, his broad frame dwarfing hers. The heat of his body seemed to radiate through the small space between them, and when he finally spoke, his voice was a low, dangerous growl.

“Tell me something, Vickie,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. “Do you still think romance novel heroes don’t exist?”

Her pulse raced, her lips parting in a soft gasp as his words sent a shiver down her spine.

“Knox…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his eyes searching hers. Then, without another word, he took her hand and stood, gently pulling her to her feet.

“Come with me,” he said, his voice rough with barely restrained emotion. “Let’s make use of the quiet and privacy.”

They walked hand in hand to his room. He stopped and turned to face her, his hands coming to rest lightly on her waist. The air between them felt electric, every nerve in Vickie’s body alive with anticipation.

“You know,” Knox said softly, his gaze holding hers. “There are certain things about that night I won’t ever forget.”

Vickie swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing. “Like what?”

“Every damn day,” he admitted. “I kept hearing your voice in my head, talking about that dating ad you were going to place. I even downloaded dating apps to see if I could find you on them. I looked for the headline, ‘must love curves,’” he quoted, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Vickie’s heart raced. “You remember that?”

“Of course I do,” he said, his tone turning serious. “I remember every word you said. About wanting a man who could handle your weight—not just your body, but your heart. Your expectations. Loyalty, respect, love…”

His hands tightened slightly on her waist, drawing her closer.

“You said you needed an alpha male,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “Someone who would protect you, who would lay down his life for you. Someone who would guide you, push you, make you feel wanted.”

Vickie’s breath hitched, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths as his words washed over her.

“Is that still what you want?” Knox asked, his gaze piercing.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “It’s what I need.”

His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. “Good.”

And then he kissed her.

The world seemed to fall away as his lips claimed hers, firm and unyielding. His hands moved to her lower back, pulling her flush against him as his mouth explored hers.

Vickie melted into him, her fingers tangling in his hair as a soft moan escaped her lips. Every touch, every caress ignited a fire in her, her body responding to him in ways she hadn’t felt in years.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting together.

“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted,” Knox murmured, his voice raw with emotion.

Vickie’s heart swelled, tears pricking at her eyes. “And you’re everything I never thought I could have,” she whispered.