Chapter 46
Noelle was mortified. She wanted to sink into the couch and hide until morning. She didn't mean to ask Cole to spend the night. At least not out loud and not in the way it probably sounded. Cole's flinch and the shock on his face was ingrained in her mind and if her Christmas wish when she was eight came true, she'd be invisible any moment.
She remained very visible unfortunately, and had to clear things up before Cole went running for the hill or take her up on the strange offer and she didn't know which was worse.
"I didn't mean spend the night, spend the night, you know? Not that I wouldn't want something like that in the future. The very far future. Okay not too far, but you know what I mean, right?" She felt her face on fire and her mind was going haywire and the only thing she knew how to do in this situation was word vomit so she continued. "I just mean do you want to stay on the couch, or there's a futon in the extra bedroom, but it's tiny and you're gigantic so I figured this would work better. I just asked because it's getting late and I don't want you driving this late and you must be tired or am I just an old lady who gets tired-" before she could continue in her brain spilling out of her mouth two hands suddenly cupped her face and brought her face towards Cole.
His large, rough from hard work hands made her blood rush and her feel alive, and with his amused face looking at her she became a puddle. She almost forgot her rambling, but Cole started speaking and reminding her of it all.
"You have to breathe between sentences, darling," he said with a chuckle. Noelle's heart almost burst out of her chest at him calling her darling. She didn't think she'd like a pet name, but she liked that, more than she should have. "I figured you meant something like that, and I appreciate you offering more than anything, but I have to get home and finish some last minute Christmas stuff." She wanted to pout and feel sad at his refusal of her offer, but she had no claim to him. Nothing written in stone at least. Before her mind could spiral downward, Cole must have noticed because he stepped closer to her while rubbing her cheeks with his thumbs.
"I want to come back in the morning though if you'll allow it. I have a gift or two for you and Jacob and I'd like to see him opening all his gifts, including mine. Is that okay?" She nodded immediately and Cole smiled grandly at her quickness. "Before I leave, I'd like to do one more thing though." He took a deep breath and let it out with his face towards the ceiling before looking back down at her. He looked almost...nervous. "Would it be okay if I gave you a kiss goodnight?"
Noelle felt her knees buckle, but Cole was so close and quick he was there to make sure she stayed standing. He wanted to kiss her. It felt like every dream was coming true and she was panicking and dancing internally. She knew she had to go with her gut before she thought too long and her body was nodding yes before the words made their way to her mouth. "Yes. Please. I mean, I'd like that very much." Her almost ramble brought a chuckle to Cole once more and his eyes lighted with joy before he slowly moved his head towards hers.
Noelle closed her eyes once she felt Cole's breath tickle her face and when his lips met hers, she could have sworn she heard fireworks. His lips were soft, much more than she thought they'd be and they tasted of cinnamon. Her hands reached up and clenched at his shirt so she could have a crutch to hold on in case her knees tried to betray her again.
This kiss was magic. Noelle could probably spend hours trying to think of all the words that described this one small kiss from the very large man, but they wouldn't do it justice. It felt right in every way and even though it only lasted a few seconds, she knew it was perfect. When Cole slowly moved his head back and she opened her eyes to his, she saw the admiration in his eyes. He felt the Colee.
"Wow," Cole whispered in response. Wow was right. She didn't know how to respond herself at least nothing that wouldn't make her look foolish so she smiled brightly and nodded in agreement.
"You're beautiful, Noelle. The most beautiful woman I've ever met. I've don't know what else to say right now, you've broken me," he joked. The laugh they shared was comfortable and Noelle, still not sure of words that wouldn't betray her, decided the next best thing to respond with, so she unclasped her hands from his shirt and wrapped her arms around his torso.
Her unannounced hug was immediately met with large arms wrapping around her. He may have been large and commanding, but his hugs were soft and secure. She felt like she could stay there forever and she made no movement of letting go.
"I could stay like this forever," Cole whispered, practically mirroring her thoughts. She nodded with her face in his chest and squeezed her eyes, wishing for this moment to never end. Unfortunately, a phone buzzing brought the pair back to reality and when they stepped away from one another she instantly felt cold from the lack of his presence.
"It's my sister," Cole spoke up as they both checked their phones to see who had the nerve to message them at this time.
"Oh," was the incredibly profound and well thought out response that Noelle came up with and she wanted to slap her palm to her face at how lame she sounded.
"Yeah she wanted to see if everything went according to plan." That had her ears perking up. Was she in on this?
"What plan?" Noelle didn't mean to sound accusatory. She just didn't want to be a part of some twisted game or something and with how well tonight had gone she was worried maybe it was too good to be true.
The reddening of Cole's cheeks and the shy way he rubbed his neck eased the tension that started to build on Noelle's shoulders. She had to remind herself that he wasn't a bad person, he made one bad mistake, but he's owning it. "I uh....I told her about what I did and how I felt about you and stuff," he looked adorable admitting he got help from his sister and Noelle couldn't hide the smile on her face. "She helped me figure out what I should do to talk to you. If you want to blame anyone about the ride with Santa, it was her idea." They shared a laugh at how quickly he threw his sister under the bus. He liked that he appeared to have a good relationship with his siblings, much like her and her brothers.
"That's okay," Noelle wanted to make sure she was okay with him telling others about them. "What did you tell her?" She felt nosy, but her curiosity was getting the best of her.
"I told her it's going much better than expected." Cole barely finished talking when his phone buzzed again. When he looked at it he chuckled lightly and rolled his eyes before responding quickly and placing the phone back on the table. "She asked when she can meed you and your son, but I told her to go to bed and mind her own business tonight."
"I'd like to meet her. And see your brother again. Is he still looking for a date on that app? Maybe I'll reach out to him," Noelle was shocked at herself for being so playful so quickly but she wanted to mess with Cole. She wanted to see his reactions and his playfulness as well. She got her wish when she saw Cole's nostrils flare followed by him stalking back to her in a commanding manner. A normal person may have been afraid, but she knew she was far from normal and the look in his face had her flushing with a sense of adrenaline creeping up her spine.
"It's too late for that. You're mine now and you know it." His words made Noelle buzz with delight. She could have relished in them for awhile, but his hand tipping her chin up to look at him brought her back to reality. His eyes were possessive and full of want. "Please tell me you're mine." His words were firm, but soft. His eyes took a more pleading look, almost begging for an answer that will make him happy. She needed him to know that she was, if only to get that insecure look off his face.
"I'm yours as long as you're mine." Her whispered response brought a large breath out of Cole.
"I think I was yours the moment I met you. Even if you didn't want me, I was yours."
"How could I not want you. You're everything I've ever wanted, even when I didn't know it."
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