A Winter's Date (35 page)

I get over into the right lane of 495 to turn off the expressway at the next exit and then follow secondary roads heading west toward Manhattan. I drive another fifteen minutes before getting off at Smithtown, where I find a place to get gas and just fucking inhale without being suffocated.

The cool night breeze hits me when I get out of the SUV. I shut the door and start filling the tank up before I walk back to the driver’s seat. I pause when I see my ballerina through the window, sleeping soundly. Every time I see her in all of her innocence, I have to pause and remind myself that she’s mine. I have to remind myself that the path that I’m on is where I want to be, and it’s where she wants to be too.

It’s in this moment that I decide that I won’t put us on a hiatus for anyone or any petty excuse anymore. I know what I want with her, and I trust that she knows what she wants out of this relationship too. Sure, we’re on the fast track, but it’s what has been working for us.

The gas pump clicks before I’ve even managed to open the door again. I finish up and get back into the car.

“Where are we?”

“Hey sleeping beauty. I had to stop and get gas. We’re about an hour out from the city and an hour from Southampton.”

“Oh? I feel like I’ve been asleep for much longer.”

“You have been. We were stuck in standstill traffic for a while. Go back to sleep. I’ll get you to bed when we get back.”

“Mmm, okay.” She moves and lays her head on the center console before she’s lights out again, and I’m drawn back into my turbulent ocean of thoughts.

HEATHER

I’ve been in better spirits, but Noah is trying his best to keep me in a good mood. He knows I’m bummed out about what Henry told me regarding my foot. I had a feeling that something like this was going to happen. I miss dancing but I’ve also enjoyed my time off. I’ve enjoyed my time with Noah. It’s been like a vacation for me, a vacation that I’ve needed for years. I’m lying on the couch on my stomach, searching for a movie to watch. He was rather adamant about having this time with me tonight. I can hear him whistling while he makes popcorn in the kitchen. I’ve tried making it myself, but it’s one of the few things that I can’t do. I burn it every time, so he’s taken over. I sigh and drop the remote on the living room floor and lay my head on my arms.

“There’s nothing worth watching,” I mumble into my arms, not necessarily talking to anyone.

“Well, I’ll have to disagree with you, beautiful,” he says close to my ear, startling me, and I almost jump out of my skin.

I sit up and groan, “Noah . . .”

“What is it?” he asks and sits next to me, offering me the bowl of popcorn.

“I just like moaning your name.”

He raises his eyebrow and laughs. “Well, that makes two of us. I quite enjoy you moaning my name as well.” He winks and I have to squeeze my thighs together. I push the bowl of popcorn away and out of his lap. He watches as I crawl closer to him and lie on my back with my head resting on his thigh.

“You don’t want any?” he asks and stretches for the bowl, moving it within his reach.

“No, I don’t feel like it,” I reply, sounding a little more bummed out than what I thought.

He grins and hands me a different bowl, setting it on my stomach. I lift my head and my spirits are lifted if only just a bit.

“Peanut butter M&M’s?”

“I had a feeling you would want something sweet.”

I love how well he knows me; this Greek god is someone I never thought I’d have in my life. I push his black V-neck up and sink my teeth into his side.

He grunts and his abs clench.

His hand finds the back of my head, and he pulls on my hair just a little. “Damn it; give me some warning next time.” He growls that sexy growl but leaves my head in place. I can’t help but smile and kiss him where I bit, before moving back out from under his shirt.

He looks down at me and runs his fingers through my hair. It’s soothing, and I smile softly as I eat an M&M.

“I want to talk to you about something important,” he says with a serious but soft tone.

“Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good,” I joke, but I’m honestly a little frightened. He runs his thumb over my eyebrow softly, and it makes me close my eyes. I instantly force my eyes open and focus. He doesn’t know that this move could render me unconscious in seconds. My father used to do that to put me to sleep when I was little.

He avoids my small joke and continues to rub my eyebrow. “What are your thoughts on moving out of the city?”

“Mmm . . .” My eyes close slowly and I try to picture living somewhere other than the city. I think about what it would be like to be Henry and Ellery, with yard work. I can feel my lips move, and I grin. “Mmm, maybe.”

“Yeah?”

I can hear his surprise, and I think he’s smiling, but I’m too comfortable to open my eyes. “Mhmm,” I reply and continue to think about what he’s asked me.

He hasn’t stopped rubbing over my eyes, and I try to fight off sleep. I think he’s realized that this is a surefire way to relax me. I lazily move my hand up and weakly shove his away before frowning and turning my head. He chuckles low and deep, and I hear him move the popcorn and M&M’s before lying down beside me.

I turn my body into his and lay my cheek against his chest. His cologne envelops me and makes me swoon. “Mmm, you smell good.” My voice is dreamy and slow.

“Oh yeah?” He starts rubbing over my eyes again. “I think that’s two new things I’ve learned about you in the last twenty-four hours,” he says quietly.

Before I can ask what he means, he offers up the information. “Your little feet are ticklish, and I can put you to sleep by touching you here,” he all but whispers while he touches me.

I try and fight him off with my hand, but I’m so relaxed. “Nooo,” I groan into his chest.

His hand moves lower to run over my back and down my thigh. “Mmm, but your noes usually mean yes.”

I can hear that he’s amused with himself but I’m too close to passing out to check and see.

“Mmm, go to sleep, my beautiful girl,” I hear him say before a blanket of warmth covers me, and I fall into a relaxed and peaceful sleep.

I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand. I lift my head and try to remember how in the hell I got here. Last I remember I was tucked into Noah’s warmth, moments from passing out. The buzzing is persistent and annoying, and I’m about to reach over Noah’s body for it when he groans and extends his arm. He grabs my phone, and I think he’s going to hand it to me when he tosses it across the room. I gasp and try not to laugh.

He drags his heavy arm around my waist and pulls me down again.

“It’s okay, baby, I got it,” he says before falling back asleep.

I smile and lie quietly in his arms, listening to him breathe. I hear the early morning traffic down below us and cringe when a fire truck blares its horn. For the first time ever, I wonder what it’s like to live away from all of this ambient noise and constant chaos.

Would I like it?

Is it something I could get used to?

I’ve never lived outside of the city.

Where would we live? Would we have a lawn? A lawn mower? I don’t even know how to mow grass.

Would we have neighbors? Barbecues with them? Is that a real thing that happens or is it just in the movies? Would this mean more than just moving in together? A house . . . with Noah?

I start to panic but then his arms move, and he holds me tighter to him. Can he feel my heart rapidly beating while he sleeps? Is his body so attuned to mine that he knows when I’m stressed, even while he’s out cold?

I start to think about that first night at his parents’. Their home was so cozy and inviting and I loved it. I loved how peaceful it was out there, away from the loud and rude city occupants. They were free to enjoy their fire pit in silence, cuddled up on the outdoor chaise if they wanted.

As soon as I saw it, I pictured myself and Noah curled up by the fire. It was such a romantic fantasy, but I dismissed it immediately. Now . . . maybe . . . could we have that?

That one single thought of me and my Greek god curled up by the fire is all it takes. All it takes to make one of the most important decisions in my life without any more hesitation.

“Noah?”

He forces his eyes open and runs his large hand down his groggy face. “What is it? Are you okay?”

I lift my head and shake his shoulder lightly.

I smile because, God, he’s always thinking of me. I lay my head back down, resting my chin on his chest. “I’m okay. I just wanted to tell you . . .” I pause and watch as he nods and almost drifts off to sleep, “ . . . I want to leave the city.” I hold my breath while I watch him nod with his eyes closed.

“Okay, baby, we’ll go out today,” he speaks as he almost passes out again.

I have to hold in my laugh because he seems to have forgotten about last night. I shake his shoulder again, and his eyes fly open.

“I’m up, I’m up,” he says sleepily and then closes his eyes again.

“Noah?” I try and persuade him to wake up by running my hand down his bare chest and under the hem of his sweatpants.

He groans, and I can feel him grow hard beneath me. He’s never been this hard to wake up before; I briefly wonder what time he brought me to bed and how long he lay awake for. My phone buzzes on the hardwood floor again, and I move to get off of him.

“Sweetheart, come back here, please?” he says once I’m off of the bed and leaning down to pick up my phone.

I melt when I hear that word leave his lips again. Yesterday when he said it, it took me by surprise.

I grab my phone and see a handful of missed texts and phone calls from Dillen.

Dang, Dillen, it’s too early.

I walk back over and set my phone on my nightstand as I climb back in bed with my man. His arms mold around my body the moment I’m back in bed. He nuzzles me and takes in a deep breath to help wake himself up. “Who the hell keeps calling, and where did you want to go today?”

“It’s Dillen. And I don’t think you’re understanding me.” I lightly drag my nails down his chest again and watch as small goose bumps break out over his skin. “I want to leave the city. Like, move away.”

I think it finally registered in his sleepy brain because he tilts his head up and looks down at me with wide eyes. “Are you serious? You would do that?”

I nod slowly and watch as his eyes flicker with excitement.

I feel his chest thunder with eagerness before the smoky growl comes through his lips. He flips me onto my back onto the pillow-top bed and moves his lean, tanned body over mine, “Where are you willing to go with me?”

I look up at him, and my hands run over his chest. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“I wouldn’t take you far, beautiful. I was thinking that it’d be a good place to be between my parents and here. I think I want them more involved in my life.”

“I’d really like that too. They were so excited to be a part of your life; I think it’s a great idea.”

His lips find mine instead of answering me. “You wouldn’t mind living in Long Island?”

“No . . .” I answer when he lets me up for air. Before I can say any more, he’s back on my mouth again.

I can feel his girth digging into me, but my phone starts vibrating again, and I break our kiss to see that it’s Dillen calling once again.