Snowy Encounters (10 page)

“When you say anyone, are you talking
female-wise or just anyone in general?”

“Jealous?”

Maddy bit her lip. He’d said the same thing
the first day she’d been in town and the green monster had made a
few appearances since she’d been home. “Maybe.”

He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth.
“Don’t be. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

Her heart tightened. Her ex-father-in-law’s
reaction replayed in her mind.

“Stop that.”

She frowned. “What?”

“Whatever you’re thinking.”

She had to grin. “I can’t see so I have to
think.”

Her breath caught when Cole lowered her legs
and pulled her right up against him. Her nipples hardened at the
contact. “You ready?”

“Just take it off,” she replied, annoyed he
was teasing her. The whole day had been one encounter after
another. She didn’t know how much more she could take, nor could
she continue to ignore the heated tension building inside her every
time he touched her.

Cole chuckled, turned her around and she felt
his fingers behind her head, unknotting the blindfold. The cloth
whipped off her face. She slowly blinked adjusting her eyes to the
dark and the building before her.

The two-story structure was huge, probably
four or five times bigger than Tall Oaks. Redbrick, along with
million of windows went around the place. Light shined through the
glass. Above the front door, hung a sign “Limestone Manor.”

Dread wormed it way through her body as she
glanced at Cole. The hopeful glint in his blue eyes stifled the
resentment. The town needed him and what he could offer.

“Well, what do you think?” He waved a hand to
his new lodge.

Instead, a sadness crept up around her heart.
No matter how much she loved him, or wanted him, she couldn’t
compete with his business. The pride and joy in his face forced a
smile on her. “It’s beautiful. I think it’ll bring the town a good
amount of tourists. Then maybe they’ll have a new church sooner
than they hoped.”

He laughed and pulled her against him. He
continued to stare at the manor. “I figured so too. I already have
events and bookings scheduled until summer.” He pulled her along to
the front doors.

Cole continued to talk while she watched him.
He led her around the first floor to the open windows and
recreation rooms. Everything was of the highest quality. Pride
boomed in his voice with each word that slipped past his lips.

She allowed him to lead her up the stairs.
Once they reached the landing, she gasped. In between the wooden
pillars, the upstairs waiting room took up most of the floor. She
spotted the million candles lining the windows. As she moved in
closer, she spotted the lit fireplace and living room set on the
furry white carpet. The area was huge and cozy. Warmth emanated
from the setting. The scene was magical and seductive at the same
time.

Cole gripped her hand. She glanced at him and
his eyes darkened as he took in her expression.

“It’s beautiful. You did all this while I
waited in the car?”

He nodded with boyish pleasure. “I wanted it
to be special.”

Her heart melted. She reached up and laid her
fingers against his chin as she lifted and kissed him. He swung her
up into his arms and carried her to the fireplace. Once he reached
the couch, she slid down his length, palms pressed to his chest.
“Thank you.”

Cole tucked a strand of hair behind her ear,
and she smiled up at him. “I can’t wait till this place opens and
fills up with people.”

Sadness whipped through her. Laying her head
on his shoulder, she gazed out at the ceiling-to-floor windows.
Snow glittered as it fell from the darkened sky. “I’m sure you’ll
do very well. Everyone is so proud of you and all you’ve done for
the town.”

He stiffened as if waiting for something.

Leaning back to look at him, her hand rested
against his cheek. “I am too.”

With a relieved groan, he kissed her. She
didn’t understand his reaction, but it didn’t matter. The town
hated her, his father hated her, and she didn’t belong here with
him anymore. She wanted to hide somewhere with him where no one
would find them and make more memories. Hopefully, to last her a
lifetime.

Sliding her fingers over his chest, she
worked his coat to the floor, never breaking contact as his tongue
dueled with hers. The taste of wine teased her taste buds as she
met him with more ardor. She had to make this night count.

Once she got his tux jacket
off, she flattened her hand on his chest and pushed. He fell back
with an
oomph
onto
the couch. Maddy gave him a mischievous smile as she tugged her own
coat off and allowed it to slide to the floor. Cole’s eyes
darkened. She unknotted the ties that held her dress up and the
material slowly shimmered over her breasts, her stomach and finally
to the floor until she stood only in her bra, panties and heels. He
tugged his bowtie off as if it constricted his
breathing.

Closing the distance, she stopped when her
shins touched the couch between his legs and she dropped to her
knees. She settled her hands on his chest and leaned up to catch
his mouth. Cole gripped her hips as she kissed her way down his
jaw, then to every button she undid. Pressing her lips to every
inch of skin exposed, she nipped his softness with her teeth,
trailing her tongue over the spot to ease each bite.

Once she reached the waistline of his pants,
Cole gripped her shoulders. “Maddy….”

She pushed him back when he tried to sit up.
“It’s my turn.” She undid his belt and slipped the button through
the hole. Lowering the zipper, her heart jumped with anticipation.
Heat radiated from his growing arousal. Her insides tightened. She
wanted to taste him, tease him, and then have him fill her. Her
muscles clenched just at the thought.

His cock sprang free. He was thick and hard.
Cole groaned, his head falling back against the couch the moment
she closed her lips over him. She swirled her tongue around the
tip. As she lapped up and down his length, her fingers cupped his
balls. He pressed deep, reaching the back of her throat. The taste
of his salty skin and scent overwhelmed her senses. Teeth scraping
against his shaft, she wrapped her hand around the base of his
cock, stroking upwards with quickening pulls.

Cole growled and tugged at
her hair. “Enough. I need you.
Now
.”

Before she knew it, she found herself on her
back, panties torn and flung to the side. Cole shifted over her,
gripping her legs to wrap around his flanks as his hardness pressed
against her wet folds. He covered her lips and surged. Maddy
gasped. He filled her completely, perfectly, her inner muscles
clenching around him. Sliding an arm under her nape, he started to
move.

Maddy whimpered at the feel. The pull. The
slide. Each thrust touched her deeper and deeper. She tightened her
hold on him, needing him. “Harder,” she ordered.

He groaned. His hips jerked, pounding into
her, each time hitting the hilt. The controlled rhythm turned
fierce. Each stroke brought her closer and closer to the end. His
hand slid across her stomach, over her pelvic bone, and pinched her
clit, his fingers drawing circles around the taut bud. Maddy cried
out, climbing higher and higher. She rose, meeting each of his
movements. Tension rocked through her body.

Cole hammered harder, each stroke faster,
quicker. She turned her head, teeth sinking into his arm,
fingernails digging into his back. Her release struck. Her entire
being tightened as fierce pleasure gripped her. She fell apart in a
million pieces. He continued to thrust into her until he stiffened
above her and came. Needing him more than she’d ever needed another
man, she wrapped her arms around him, milking him, taking
everything he gave.

With the last shudder, he dropped. Chest
heaving, Maddy hugged him to her, their sweat-slickened skin
sliding against each other. Her eyes closed as exhaustion stole
over her, until she heard him.

“I love you.”

Chapter Eighteen

“It’s Christmas.”

Maddy looked up from her perch on the floor
and smiled. “I know.”

Cole placed a tray of fruit and cheese on the
carpet and sat down next to her. Pressing a quick kiss to her lips,
he handed her a strawberry. “Merry belated Christmas. The day is
almost over.”

She bit into the fruit and then held it to
his mouth. “Guess we’ll just celebrate here with no
distractions.”

He chuckled. “At least it’s warm in
here.”

She nodded and reached for a cracker. After
they had made love last night, they’d fallen asleep in each other’s
arms. She’d woken up only to have Cole feasting on her skin, and
he’d taken her for another exhilarating ride. They’d spent most of
the day in various states of undress, frolicking around the lodge,
even testing the couches in his office. Now dressed in his
white-button down shirt, she’d made him fetch food from the
kitchen. She was surprised he’d gone through so much to prepare for
last night. The candles around them had all burned out and the
fireplace provided enough light to bask the room with a warm glow.
“What would you have done if I had you take me home after the
reception?”

He chewed on a piece of cheese before he
answered. “Probably dragged you into your parent’s house and had my
way with you.”

She laughed. “No you wouldn’t. You were too
much of a gentleman back then to even kiss me on my parent’s front
porch in case my dad showed up with a rifle.”

Cole grinned. He slipped an arm around her
waist and pulled her over him, until she straddled his hip. She
moved against him, his cock jumping at the contact. Picking up
another berry off the platter, she held it to his mouth then rubbed
her lips over his. The sweet taste was tantalizing. Her mind
started on a creative run. They’d used to love sitting in front of
the fireplace, just talking and feeding each other and she’d miss
those days. His words replayed in her head, but she ignored them.
Not long after he’d fallen asleep, she’d laid there for hours
listening to his heavy breathing. She wanted to believe him, wanted
to tell him how she felt, but what good would it do?

She couldn’t stay here. She’d only hurt him.
Her ex-father-in-law told her so.

“Hey, where’d you go?” Cole pinched her chin,
turning her to look at him.

She shook her head, pushing
her thoughts aside.
Focus, Maddy. Enjoy
your time with him.
“Right
here.”

He frowned. “You looked like you were far
away.”

Maddy gave him a smile. She laid her head on
his shoulder. “No. Just thinking about random things.”

“Like what?”

Like
how I love you and I never want to leave you. But the town
hates me and I’ll want more than you can give.
“Nothing much. Just random things.”

Cole rubbed her back. “About?”

Ignoring him, she picked up another berry and
snuggled against him. Her teeth bit into the plump sweetness,
accidentally dripping a droplet on his chest. Her tongue stuck out
and licked the juice off.

He groaned. “You’re going to be the death of
me.”

“Better than me pushing you down the mountain
side.”

With a chuckle, Cole laid his head against
the couch cushion. A thoughtful look passed over his features. “Are
you still mad at my dad?”

She stiffened. Even though Brad Sr. was a
good man, his words had struck something in her last night. She
couldn’t fight his family if that was the way they saw her. “He
hates me.”

“No, they don’t.”

“You heard what your father said.”

Cole sighed. “He just…don’t agree with some
of the choices I make.”

She scoffed. “You mean like marrying me in
the first place.”

“Dad loves you as a daughter and he was
excited about our baby. He’s just thinks that…”

“All women are like your mother?” Maddy sat
up.

“It wasn’t easy for him.”

“I know. But I’m not here because you’re
successful or that you’re richer than when I married you. I don’t
care.” She rolled off him to the side, tugging the hem of the shirt
over her knees. “I’m not like your mother.”

Cole didn’t say anything right away and she
gave him a glare.

She stood up. “I need to call my
parents.”

He latched onto her hand and tugged her back
down. She landed across his lap. “Hold on. Let’s talk about
this.”

“About what?” She couldn’t keep the
irritation out of her voice. His mother was a gold digger, each
time coming back to the family, until the last Christmas when she’d
left Brad Sr. for a richer man. Maddy wasn’t like that and if Cole
believed that then she shouldn’t be here at all.

“I don’t think you’re like my mother. But
what are your intentions?”

She jerked in his arms, startled. “What do
you mean?”

Cole frowned, picked her up and dumped her on
the couch. With rigid movements, he tugged on his pants then faced
her with his hands on his hips. “About us.”

Us?
She really wanted to believe they could start new, but it was
impossible. Maybe if she’d stayed and fought for their marriage and
tried to work out her unhappiness before she’d jumped the gun and
called for a divorce, she wouldn’t have put herself on the town’s
bad list and lost her husband. It was her own fault. As much as she
dreaded the town’s opinion of her, they were right. She wasn’t good
for him. A pang pounded in her chest as she slowly swung her legs
over the side and sat up. “I’m going back to the city
tomorrow.”

His eyes narrowed and fists formed at his
sides. Her heart jumped nervously, a lump forming in the back of
her throat. She wanted nothing more than for him to ask her not to
leave, but she wouldn’t want any discord between Cole and his
father. “What was all this then?”