Page 21 of Snowed in with a Grinch

Noelle's body tenses beneath me, her inner muscles fluttering around my length as she nears her peak. My own release builds, but I fight it back, determined to watch her fall apart first. Sliding a hand between our sweat-slicked bodies, I find the sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs and press down.

“Sawyer!” She throws her head back with a keening cry, fingernails scoring my back as her climax crashes over her. The sight of her lost in ecstasy sends me hurtling over the edge with her.

“Noelle,” I groan, burying my face in her neck as I spill myself deep inside her perfect cunt. “My Noelle...”

Wave after wave of bliss rolls through me, my release seeming to go on forever. Noelle clings to me, gasping and shuddering through her own prolonged climax. I've experienced nothing so profound, so consuming. In this moment, I realize I will never, ever let this woman go. She’s my lifeline. My heart.

Carefully, I roll us to our sides, keeping Noelle wrapped tightly in my arms. She sighs contentedly, nuzzling into the crook of my neck as our racing hearts gradually slow. I run soothing hands up and down her back, savoring the feel of her soft curves molded against my harder planes.

“You know this won't be easy,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I'm still learning how to let people in. How to celebrate instead of just survive.”

She props herself up, those warm eyes full of understanding. “Good thing I'm a patient person. And I have years of Christmas traditions to share.”

“About that...” I hesitate, then push through. “Maybe we could start small. Build our own traditions. Together.”

Her whole face lights up. “Really?”

“Really.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “But no musical sweaters.”

“We'll negotiate on the sweaters.” She traces my jaw with gentle fingers. “What made you change your mind?”

I catch her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “You did. You showed me that sometimes the best gifts are the ones we don't expect. That maybe some crashes alter your life in a good way.”

“Even if they destroy your fence?”

“Especially then.” I pull her closer, breathing in her warmth. “Stay for New Year's?”

“And Valentine's Day?” she asks hopefully.

“And every day in between.”

Her answering smile is brighter than any Christmas light she could string up. And as I hold her close, I realize that maybe this is what healing feels like. Not forgetting the past, but finding the courage to build a future.

A future with her.

NOELLE

“So let me get this straight,” Mom says through my phone's speaker, trying to sound stern but failing to hide her excitement. “You're not coming to Christmas dinner because you're in love with the mountain man plant guy?”

I look over at Sawyer, who's making us coffee in the kitchen. He's shirtless, hair still damp from our shower, and the sight of his broad shoulders and defined muscles makes my insides melt. There's something incredibly intimate about watching him move through his morning routine, especially knowing he's doing it for both of us now.

“That's about the size of it,” I say, unable to keep the smile from my voice. “But we'll come visit tomorrow. I promise.”

“We?” Mom's tone turns sly. “So he's a 'we' now? My little Christmas elf moves fast.”

“Mom!” I feel my cheeks heat, especially when Sawyer glances over with a raised eyebrow.

“What? I'm just saying, you crash your car in a snowstorm and end up finding true love? That's some Hallmark movie magic right there.”

“He's everything.” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I watch Sawyer freeze at the coffeemaker, his back tensing before relaxing into something softer.

He turns, his expression tender as he crosses to the couch, two steaming mugs in hand. He passes one to me, dropping a kiss on my forehead before settling beside me, close enough that I can feel his warmth all along my side.

“Well,” Mom says after a moment, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I suppose we can forgive you for missing Christmas dinner. But only if you bring that handsome man of yours round tomorrow to make up for it. We need to meet him and make sure he'll be good to you.”

“He's going to be great to me, Mom.” I lean into Sawyer's side, smiling when his arm automatically wraps around me, pulling me closer.

“I hope so, sweetheart. And Noelle?”

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