Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 37

thirty-seven

NORAH

After the tree lighting and a sleigh ride through the countryside, we make it back to the lodge with a tired Gino sagging in my arms. He yawns and adjusts his head on my chest.

“And you were worried about a sugar rush.”

“I forgot about the other activities. The adrenaline rush of being up close to horses and riding in a sleigh zapped that sugar right out of him.” He scoops Gino from his arms. “I’ll put him to bed and be right back.”

I nod and turn to the tree, studying the twinkling lights, old fashioned ornaments, and silver tinsel. The tree is gorgeous with its nostalgic presentation, and fits the theme of the lodge to a T.

Once I walk to the window that overlooks the mountains and valley down below, I sigh. How lucky am I to have found an amazing guy with an adorable son who loves this place where I grew up? Beyond lucky. My ex hated Evergreen Lake. I grin as Gabriel’s reflection grows in the windowpane. Masculine. Sexy. A feral leer on his face.

I spin on my heel. “I must be an amazing tour guide.”

“As a matter of fact, you are.” He pulls me flush against his body. “I think you’re a witch because a few weeks ago, I thought this place was ridiculous with its lack of amenities. I never thought for one second that I’d be eager to finish a football season to rush back here to see my woman.”

I arch an eyebrow and rock into his tight abs and jutting erection. “Your woman?”

“Yes, baby, you’re my woman, and it’s about time I showed you that.”

In seconds, our clothes are tossed onto the floor, and he lays me down beside the tree. The lights flash, leaving rings of red, blue, yellow, and green on the side of his face that is closest to the tree. I trail my hands along his sides and relish the groan that emits from his lips.

He cups my face. “Norah, I love you. Thank you for not flipping me off and dismissing me because of my shitty attitude when we met.”

I open my legs to him and arch against his body. His weight on me and the sincerity in his eyes drive a wildfire through me. “Your son made up for it. He was cute enough for both of you.”

He chuckles low in his throat, sending a vibration to my core. “You’re horrible.”

I caress his back, content with the understanding that he means what he’s saying. He wants to be with me. I’m his choice. I’m not someone who trapped him. He chose me. “I love you.”

And then words aren’t necessary. He slides inside of me slowly and thoroughly. With each inward thrust of his cock, I gasp and mewl my pleasure. The friction builds as he moans my name. I wrap my leg around his back and tip my lower body upward.

From this position, the head of his cock; slices against my G spot, and stars fill my eyes. “That feels so good.”

His control breaks, and he pounds into me. I gasp as spasms rock my body.

“Norah,” he groans my name and jerks against me, stilling and grunting as he orgasms deep inside of me.

We make love until the clock above the mantel chimes 2 a.m. Then, he carries me upstairs, and we make love again until my muscles are sore, but in the sweetest way possible.

He cups my hip, rolls me over, and settles me against his side. “Not good enough.” He adjusts me until I’m half-sprawled across him. “That’s better,” he says into my hair.

And it is. I close my eyes and inhale his musky scent. Of us. Life can’t get any better than this.

The door smashes against the wall, and I shoot upright on the bed. Gabriel’s bed with the comforter kicked off the edge and the white sheet wrapped around our legs.

A blonde woman with a pinched face stands in the doorway, and the faint sunlight from the window bathes her in light. “Well, look what we have here. My husband has managed to find himself a cleat chasing ski bunny to screw while his wife cries alone waiting for him to return her call.”

I yank at the sheet, trying to cover my breasts, but Gabriel’s weight still holds it down as he blinks awake and sits up. My heart thunders in my chest. I’ve never been the other woman. I’ve never been cornered by a scorned lover.

My stomach rolls as horror floods through me. When Sloane was on the other side of the country, it was easy to pretend she wasn’t real. But now, she’s here, and I’ve spent the entire night fucking a man that isn’t mine. What was I thinking? I yank harder and fall back as the sheet comes loose.

“Sloane,” Gabriel growls, but it doesn’t discourage his wife.

She stomps into the room while slapping her hands onto her hips and glaring at me with disgust. “My son is in the other room, and you’re naked in my husband’s bed. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

She shifts her attention to Gabriel. “And you need to apologize for taking up with another woman so we can return to normal.” She clasps her hands together in front of her. Her red suit jacket and skirt fit perfectly, even though they’re way too skimpy for Evergreen Lake in the middle of winter. “I miss you, and we owe it to Gino to work things out. He deserves a mother and a father. Together.” Her eyes flash over me. “A biological mother and father, not some two-bit–”

“Sloane!” Gabriel’s voice is sharp as he rises from the bed. He doesn’t bother pulling on anything as I cower in the bed calculating the distance to the door. “You say another word about Norah, and you won’t see Gino again. Or my money.”

Her lower lips pop out. “Don’t be like that, baby,” she purrs as her eyes rake over him. “You look good.”

His jaw flexes as he glares at her, and I scramble off the bed. “I need to go.”

“Good.” Sloane smirks. “Go. My husband and I need to talk.”

Gabriel’s chest rises as he inhales. “Yes, we do. We need to have a long talk.” He strides to the dresser and slips on a pair of shorts.

My stomach churns for not only the realization that I’m the most horrible woman in the world but also that he wants to talk to her. I fight the curling of my shoulders. They’re married. They have a son together. Surely, it wasn’t as bad as he said.

If they talk, they can work things out. I swallow over the lump in my throat. I clutch the sheet around me, take a step toward the door, and stop. Sloane laughs, the sound is shrill and catty.

Don’t. You’re the slut that eagerly spread her legs for a married man. Heat creeps over me from head to toe. She has every right to be angry. Maybe even a little unhinged.

“Norah,” Gabriel’s voice is low.

Rather than look at him, I rush past Sloane, jog down the stairs, and have my clothes in my hand before Gabriel can reach the door. I blink hard to keep the tears at bay, gasping for air and hating myself with each step.

“Norah,” Gabriel calls from the top step.

“Don’t.” I raise my hand to ward him off. “You need to work things out with Sloane.”

I don’t stop when he calls to me again, dragging on my clothes as I walk and leaving the sheet in a pile on the floor. This time, I make it to the door and jerk it open. The hallway is eerily quiet in the pale morning light. My head pounds with each heartbeat.

Shit. I’m at the lodge without a vehicle. Eden is on this side of town. I ring her number and wait. Seconds later, her groggy voice answers.

“Can you come get me at the lodge?”

“What?” She clears her throat. “Never mind. I’ll be there.”

The phone clicks in my ear, and the first tear slides down my cheek. Go. Go now before you unravel. I rush to the elevator and slump inside as it descends to the bottom floor.

Before the doors open, I scrub my face and slap on a ridiculously fake smile. The last thing I need is for the person at the front desk to realize I’m a fucking cheap whore. I slide past the front desk and drop into a chair while waiting for Eden to arrive.

It feels good that my best friend is willing to drop everything to save me. No questions asked. At least there’s one thing right in my life. Except…. A ball of tears closes my throat. Except, Eden is Gabriel’s sister-in-law.

I should’ve stayed away from him. Another tear slides down my cheek. Why didn’t I stay away? Now, I stand to lose my best friend also.

Fifteen minutes later, my phone dings.

Eden

I’m here in the front.

I jump up, not looking in either direction, and nearly run outside.

The second the SUV door opens, I drop inside and gasp at the heat flooding over me from the vents.

“What happened?” Her gaze skates over me looking for injuries or whatever else she can see.

I spill everything in gasping, ragged breaths. How Sloane showed up. What she said. What a horrible person I was for being with a married man. Everything. As Eden slowly goes back down the mountain.

When we reach the streets of Evergreen Lake, she pulls over and clasps my hand. “Norah, listen to me. Gabriel doesn’t love her. He never has. She’s a manipulative, conniving bitch, and there’s only one reasons she’s here. Not to see Gabriel. Or to tell him she loves him. Or to see Gino. She’s here for money. There’s no other explanation. Gabriel knows she’s greedy. Give him a second to deal with this and everything will be fine.”

“I’m a homewrecker.”

“Honey….” Eden smiles weakly and pats my arm. “You’re not a homewrecker. That home was wrecked before it was ever bought. They’ve not ever loved each other. They haven’t lived together for over two years, and he filed for divorce months ago. Before he ever met you. They’re married by law, but that’s it.”

I wrap my arms around myself and shiver before shaking my head. “I hope you’re right because I couldn’t live with myself if I was….” I swallow. “What she said I was.”

“You’re not that person,” she bites out. “You’re not wrecking anything, and that’s the last time I want to ever hear you say that. Gabriel loves you, and don’t forget it.”

It’s not that easy. Yes, her pep talk made me feel better, but she wasn’t there.