Chase was looking at Noelle as she slept peacefully next to him. They’d gone back to his place, fed the dogs and played with them, then left instructions for Tricia who was on babysitting duty while he and Noelle had a night to themselves.
He’d always known the Mistletoe Inn was on the outskirts of Bennington but he’d never had the need to visit or stay there. Set back from the road, he was shocked Noelle even caught a glimpse of it but with the leaves all down from the trees, it was probably more visible for her.
He had to admit the place was pretty magical when he walked in. Lots of wood, dark—more like dim—but cozy.
The foyer was open with a roaring fire off to the side where guests could relax with a drink or snack from the small restaurant or watch TV. There were rustic looking decorations everywhere he turned. Not cluttered, but artfully arranged. He could even see the wheels in Noelle’s head turning when she came to get pictures of the place.
He and Noelle wouldn’t be joining the other guests for drinks or TV. Dinner was planned but then they were going back to their room where he was going to spend the night showing her what she meant to him.
He’d never been one to take his time and cherish a woman. Never wanted to. Never knew what to even do had he wanted to do it.
Sure, he’d always said he liked to take it slow when she wanted to rush. In his mind, savoring sex was different than cherishing.
He wanted her to feel what he couldn’t voice out loud. That he was falling in love with her. That he was terrified he was going to do something so stupid and she’d walk away.
Or worse yet, that she’d realize there was something bigger and better for her in the world than what she had here.
Part of him was holding back for that very reason. That he knew she’d experienced so much in the world that most couldn’t imagine, let alone dream of...himself included.
What could she possibly want with a small town veterinarian who devoted his life to animals because people just didn’t make that much sense to him? Because his parents’ relationship and every one he’d had was nothing short of shitty.
Or more like, people often let him down.
For some insane reason, she wanted to be with him, and he wanted to show her—rather than tell her—the same.
He’d picked her up in his arms that first night they’d been together. But that was different than what he’d done last night.
They had been sitting on the little loveseat in their room just watching TV, her legs over his lap. He loved when she did that. When she wanted to be so close to him, even if they were just relaxing. Like if he moved out of her grasp he might escape. Sure, it was fanciful thinking on his part, but it worked for him.
He’d reached over for her foot, ran his finger down her arch and made her jump. She even had beautiful feet. It should be illegal for someone to not have one flaw on her body. Not one unsightly mark.
“What are you doing?” she asked, eying him cautiously.
“I’m going to give you a foot rub.”
“Oh yeah,” she said, her eyes lighting up slowly like the streetlights at dusk. “You’re the perfect boyfriend. Go right at it.” She’d scooted back and put both her feet on his lap. “Don’t be lazy either, they both need it.”
“Perfect boyfriend?” he asked, lifting his eyebrow. “I doubt that. I’m sure you’ve been lavished with all sorts of attention over the years.”
She frowned. “It doesn’t mean much when someone does it because they want something in return.”
He didn’t really want to address that, just wanted to keep it all light. She brought her past up at the worst times when he always wanted to know more. “Maybe I want something in return too.”
“It’s different with you. Everything you do comes from the heart. I can’t say that about a lot of people I’ve crossed paths with in my life.”
More hints and snippets that he wanted to address, but couldn’t right now. He just wanted to show her what he felt. Maybe make her feel a little bit of it too.
Quietly in the beautiful old but comfortable room, he started to give her a part of himself that he’d been afraid to show anyone before. That he didn’t even know he had in him to give.
His fingers dug into the arch of her foot; he heard the moan and felt the blood rush to every part of his body in full force. But this wasn’t about him, this was about her.
This was letting her know he appreciated her.
That he cared for her.
That he was falling in love with her.
The words were trapped in his throat, but he could try to show her the best way he could. The only way for now.
Trailing his fingers from her arch to her ankle and back, he never thought such a little touch could be so erotic, but Noelle was proving him wrong. Her head was laid on the back of the couch, her eyes shut, her lips parted. It was like looking at Marilyn Monroe and seeing seduction in her beauty rather than sex in a magazine.
It was natural, not forced.
It was feelings emitted as a result. Cause and effect. No cameras. No big paycheck.
Just her reacting to him. To what he was doing to her.
If there was a bigger aphrodisiac on the face of this earth, he’d never know, because in his mind, it couldn’t get any better than supermodel Noelle Bennett looking like she was in ecstasy over his simple touch.
A touch that came not from a physical need, but an emotional desire.
He moved her legs off his lap, stood up, then bent down to cradle her in his arms.
“Whoa, what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, squirming to get out of his arms, the look he’d managed to put there gone by apprehension.
“Carrying you to the bed. Please don’t insult me and tell me not to drop you.”
She bit her lip and he saw in her eyes that was exactly what she was going to say. He shook his head at her, then leaned down and kissed her on the lips quickly moving over to the bed and laying her down.
“No one has ever carried me before like that,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear.
“Good. It’s nice I can give you a first in your life.”
Her hand came up to the side of his face. “You’ve given me more firsts than you realize.”
All that blood that rushed through his body was warming right now. Filling him with a heat that had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with emotions so deep in his heart he was afraid he was going to split in two as they made their way out.
He stood back to undress. When she started to remove her own clothes, he said, “No, let me.” So she stayed there and just watched him undress, making him feel like she only had eyes for him and those self-doubts were vanishing like the fog in the sunlight.
He knelt on the bed and started to undress her until she was as naked as him. And when her body was bared in all its glory, it was time to worship her the way it should be done. The way she was born to be treasured.
He was going to be the one to do it. He was going to be the one she’d remember years from now.
Kissing her cheek, then her neck, her ear, her collarbone, down her chest. His lips and his tongue needed to taste it all. This was about letting her know it was more than sex.
This was making love.
“Chase?” she asked. Her voice was low, a tone he’d never heard before. Like a whisper and a plea mixed together. “Is that all you’re going to do?”
“I could kiss your body all night. I could show you how beautiful you are.”
“There is more to me than my body. Than my face,” she said.
He looked up into her eyes and for the first time he started to realize she really did have insecurities in her life. That maybe this famous supermodel didn’t have it all together. That she wasn’t as confident as she always wanted everyone to believe.
“You’re right. There is.”
He stopped what he was doing and started to reach for a condom, but she halted him. “Don’t. We don’t need it. I’m on birth control. I’ve always been protected, always made a man wear a condom, but I don’t want you to. I just want a connection with you like I’ve never felt before.”
Moving back over, he covered her, threaded their fingers together and entered her heat and wetness smoothly. Slid in and it felt like he was coming home. For as hot as he was, her body was hotter. Her body was taking him in, and controlling the show.
Thoughts of treasuring her body were gone and replaced by a desperation to connect on a level higher than heaven itself.
He kissed her softly, but she turned it deeper. She turned it carnal and it wasn’t for speed, but for need. He let her have her way and the two of them gave each other something he was positive could never be experienced with another person again.