A Winter's Date (33 page)

He chuckles and gets out, walking around to my door and opening it. “Come on, baby. I want this gorgeous body naked in my arms.”

He leans in to lift my skirt a little and help me out of the SUV. “Is the pain in your foot tolerable, Heather? You’ve been on it all day.”

“I’m hanging in there. It’s not nearly as bad as what it once would have been. I’ll need to take my medication, though.”

I feel his hand at the small of my back when he pushes me forward to shut the door. “Well, let’s get you inside, and I can take care of my girl.”

This man makes me swoon all of the stinking time. We get up to our hotel room and the turn-down service must have already been in because the bed sheet is pulled back, and the nightstand lamp is set on dim.

I rest my bag on the chair as I enter the room and walk over to the bed. My mind is running a million miles a minute as I sit on the bed and slowly remove my boot. I haven’t even processed what happened today. I was so consumed with worry for Noah that I didn’t have time to think about my own fears. I can’t believe how open and loving Ellery and Henry were toward me. They could have treated me differently, much differently. But today was an outpouring of love for the both of us. Before I can think of much more, I look down and see Noah at my feet, helping my foot out of its confines.
Where did he come from?
I must have been so lost to my thoughts that I didn’t even see him kneel at my feet.

He sets my boot down and reaches for my medication on the nightstand. “Do you need one or two?”

“I think one will be just fine, thank you.”

He hands me one, and gets up, grabbing a bottle of water from the mini fridge. “Lie down, ballerina; you need to relax.”

I take my medication and lie back to watch him move around the room. “Mmm . . . so bossy, I love it,” I say, trying to joke with him. He lifts his t-shirt up and off of his torso, and my mouth goes slack.

“Do you now?”

I nod. “When you finish, can you grab me some pajamas out of my bag?”

“No. You’re sleeping naked tonight.” He drops his jeans and walks over to my side of the bed before dropping his boxer briefs too.

“Oh?” I play coy and roll onto my side to watch him.

He climbs over me and lies down, so we’re face-to-face.

I smile and run my finger down his bare chest. “Hi.”

“Mmm, hi, gorgeous.”

His arms move around me and pull my maxi dress up and off, revealing my matching bra and panties.

I watch as his eyes devour every inch of my body. “Thank you for taking such good care of me, Noah. You’re always so thoughtful. I always think I’m going to wake up and this will all be a dream—you won’t be real.”

“I’m real, baby, and I love you.” He pulls my bare skin against his and locks me in his arms.

I look up at him and kiss his jaw. “I happen to love you too.”

His smile is so earnest, it melts me. “You know, I never thought I’d ever hear you say that.”

“Well you better not get sick of it now,” I tease and press my lips to his, tasting his need.

I feel his growl rumble low in his chest, and my tongue teases him. I love teasing him; it’s become my new favorite activity.

His hands move down to cup my behind, toying with the lace of my cheeksters while our tongues tease each other’s.

I must have fallen asleep on him last night because when I open my eyes again, morning light spills into the room through an obscured crack in the curtains. I groan and hide my face in his chest before pulling the blanket up and over my head. He must be awake because I feel his chest move with a chuckle that I don’t hear.

“Are you grumpin’ already, ballerina?”

“Shh . . .”

“I’ll take that as
hell yes, don’t fuck with my sleep, Noah
.”

“Noah . . .”

I feel him kiss the top of my head and slide out from underneath me. I am now lying on a hotel pillow instead of my spot, worsening my already grumpy morning.

“Come back?” I try and plead with him, but I hear the shower running before I can get the words out of my mouth. I reluctantly get up and toss the blanket. I’m too hot now, and it’s pissing me off. I want my Noah back.

I stomp, yes stomp, into the bathroom and stand in front of the glass shower door in just my lace underwear. “We didn’t have sex last night?”

He opens the door and takes in my body and mood. “Is that why you’re grumpin’?”

“No . . . well . . . maybe.” My sex is throbbing from the mere sight of this naked Greek god. “Why didn’t we?”

He runs the washcloth over his bicep, and my mouth waters from wanting to bite him there. “You fell asleep kissing me, and I didn’t want to wake you. Yesterday was the longest you’ve been up on your feet in weeks. You needed to rest.”

“But I wanted to be fucked,” I huff and cross my arms, intentionally pushing my breasts up.

His eyes go wide because I said
fucked
. “I believe another sucker is in order on our drive home, Miss Lane.”

I bite my lip and almost lose my body to the memory. “Oh?”

“Mmhmm, now get in here and get ready. We have thirty minutes before we need to meet them for brunch.”

I quickly remove my lacy underwear before stepping into the shower with the water cascading down one side of my body. “You really like them, don’t you?”

“Yeah. They are a lot different than what I expected them to be.”

“They are truly amazing,” I add before completely stepping under the waterfall showerhead.

He nods and gives me that damn sexy wink again.

I need more suckers.

We’re at a restaurant called 75 Main in Southampton. The French doors are open onto the sidewalk, letting in the slightest cool breeze. It took us an hour before we could actually get a table inside of this gorgeous place for brunch. Henry and Ellery have just ordered us all bottomless mimosas as we look over the menu.

When the waiter returns with our mimosas, Ellery orders the marinated portobello and vegetable salad, Henry orders the Belgium waffles, Noah gets the omelet with sweet sausage, and I follow Henry’s lead with the waffles, my sweet tooth shining through.

Once the waiter walks away with the menus in hand, Henry clears his throat. “How are the accommodations over there at the Maidstone?” I smile and look over at Noah and then back at the two of them.

“I’ve slept really well. I actually don’t remember passing out last night.”

I hear Noah chuckle and feel him put his arm behind my chair. I get chills when his thumb rubs along my bare arm. “Yes, well, you are taking medication. It’s either that, or I’m incredibly boring,” he jokes lightly, showing his parents a new side of himself.

Henry chuckles and takes Ellery’s hand. “This feisty one passes out on me every night. It’s the Somer’s curse, I tell you.”

“I try to stay up, I really do, but I cannot seem to keep my eyes open past nine in the evening.” She laughs and tries to defend herself.

“I know you do, angel, but you get up at the crack of dawn. I know your garden needs your attention too.”

I almost melt at his term of endearment for her. I briefly glance at Noah and back at my surroundings, wondering if Noah ever thinks of calling me anything other than ballerina. I hear the clatter of silverware somewhere in the distance while my thoughts run wild—and not in a good way. I suddenly have questions for Noah, about the girls in his past—how he referred to them and what he did with them intimately—questions I want answers to, but I’m also unsure if I want to hear them.

“Heather, dear?” Ellery’s voice interrupts my thoughts. My hearing becomes unclouded, and the room is once again loud with chatter. I realize then that I’ve dazed out in front of everyone. “Hmm?” I look around, and everyone is staring at me.

“Are you in pain?”

I blink and shake my head quickly. “No, no, I’m fine, Ellery.” I give her my best smile, but she seems to watch me like a mother hen.

Our brunch arrives, and Noah looks at me suspiciously. He turns to whisper in my ear, “You can’t hide shit from me. I’ll find out what’s wrong.”

My reply is caught in my throat, and I’m fairly turned on by his confidence.

“Ah, before you two leave today, we need to talk in private, please?” Henry announces as Noah takes a bite of his omelet.

I sip my mimosa before drizzling syrup on my waffles. I don’t reply because I’m assuming he’s addressing Noah.

“Sure, that won’t be a problem,” Noah says and takes my hand underneath the table, playing with my mother’s engagement ring.

I clear my throat and address Ellery. “You’ll have to teach me how to keep a plant alive. I don’t have much of a green thumb.”

“Oh, I’d love to, darling. The next time you come down we’ll plant something for you to take home. I have a little trick for my potted plants—I use the makings of a diaper and mix it in with the soil. It holds a lot of water and you can go days without having to worry about it drying out.”

“Really?” I’m genuinely surprised but still skeptical of my ability. “I don’t know. I’ve even killed off that lucky bamboo stuff that is supposedly hard to kill,” I say in all seriousness, but Noah starts laughing.

“Well, that’s something I have yet to hear. I’ll help you, darling. Just let me know what plant or flower you’d like to grow before coming down, okay?”

I smack Noah’s arm playfully as he continues to laugh. “Okay, I’ll think of something.”

“Noah, play nice,” she lightheartedly scolds him.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I put my fork down because I am stuffed. I watch Noah reach for his wallet and slip the waiter his card. Henry won’t be happy about this, I’m sure.

I try to keep Henry occupied with a question. “Um, Henry . . . you said you’d like to take a look at my foot today. Is there a reason? Am I walking funny?” I’m suddenly nervous.

“Not that I can tell, but this is what I do. I won’t trust just anyone with you, Heather. Let’s head back to the house, and we’ll take a look.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Henry moves to ask for the check when Noah helps me stand. “It’s already been taken care of,” Noah states before pulling out his mother’s chair to help her as well.

Henry raises his eyebrow and chuckles to himself as if he’s got something to hide. “Ah, we’re playing this game, are we?” He winks at me and we walk out to the SUV and their Mercedes.

It doesn’t take long before we’re back in the confines of the Somers’ Southampton home. We’re all sitting in the living room with a fresh mimosa in hand.

Henry’s voice grabs my attention and what he says makes me smile. “Young man, I’m not happy with that stunt you pulled at brunch, but your mother and I appreciate it.”

Noah smiles and reaches for my hand. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

He clears his throat and looks over at Ellery questioningly. We both watch as she nods and smiles softly, prompting Henry to say, “Noah, come to my office with me?”

“Yeah, sure.” Noah gets up and follows Henry into his office down the hall.

Ellery moves across the couch to sit closer to me. “Now tell me all about the ballet.”