Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
I’m not fool enough to assume she’ll wake with the same lapse of self-control. She won’t.
Tonight, this was—no.
I was her moment of weakness. She allowed her body to make the call her mind won’t entertain, and what her body needed, what it craved, was my touch. She fell headfirst into years of repressed desire.
Tomorrow she’ll try and place her wall back up, but what she doesn’t know is that wall didn’t simply lower itself for me tonight. It cracked and then crumbled into a hundred tiny pieces around our feet.
There is no rebuilding, and if I do this right, if I have my way, she’ll realize she doesn’t need it.
Not when it comes to me.
Not to protect her from us.
Tomorrow morning, she will pull away.
But I’ll do all I can to draw her right back.
CHAPTER 5
Noel
With the morning sun comes the inevitable sense of regret, but where I imagined it would dig beneath my skin, clawing at me to the point of pain, it’s not. It’s a softer sort of sting, like the ache between my legs, like my nonexistent abs—every time I move, I’m reminded of last night from every point of my body.
A small smile tugs at my lips because even regret and expertly earned body aches aren’t enough to dampen the mood.
My plate is stuffed high with brown sugar pancakes, and my cappuccino is heavenly. The perfect balance and temperature for my taste. I’m sitting in one of the bistros set right at the corner’s edge of the long glass railing, overlooking the snowy mountain morning, a fresh blanket of powder having come in overnight, covering the trees from top to bottom with hints of snowflakes in the air if you really pay attention. The sound of children laughing below and the subtle hint of holiday music whisper in the background.
There couldn’t be a more enchanting sight to wake to and look out at than this, and not only the guests we invited get to enjoy it, but as of this morning, it’s open to all, and from what I’ve heard, the entire third floor is now occupied, along with the first and second.
I imagine the look on the guests’ faces when they walk into their memory of choice, be it the ultimate holiday getaway or their first trip to the beach, Halloween in December, or any of the other three-dozen memories we’ve created here.
I spent some time people-watching during my first cup of coffee, trying to guess if they came to relive a moment or experience something they may have missed for the first time.
So yeah, it’s been a serene morning, and I’ll admit, sneaking out and leaving Roman to wake up in the motel bed alone was the perfect way to start it. Satisfying even.
He was oh-so satisfying…
Chuckling at myself, I shake my head. “Get a grip, girl.”
Bringing my coffee to my lips, I inhale the sweet, creamy beverage before taking a small sip and allowing it to warm my throat.
“Noel?”
My eyes pop open, and I peek to my right. “Arianna, hi.” I smile.
“Oh good, it is you.” The gorgeous brunette laughs as she walks closer, but stops after a few steps. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to bother you, you, you look so comfortable.”
My grin broadens, and I lean forward, setting my cup down as I wave her closer. “Please, bother me. I don’t mind.”
She grins, and I reach out, helping her lower her tray of muffins and pancakes onto my table before she eases into the seat across from me. “Hi.”
Laughing, I tug my sleeves over my hands, sweats and matching hoodie the outfit of choice this morning. “Hi. I was hoping you guys would venture out into the hotel a bit. I imagine it’s rough when everyone’s always drooling over your husband.”
Chuckling, she peeks over her shoulder. “Thankfully, he’s not a movie star and isn’t always recognized, so we’ve been exploring all morning. They’re right down there actually, playing in the snow.”
She shifts her seat some, and I stretch my neck to see a little farther, right as a teeny tiny little thing runs into view, black curls bouncing around her shoulders as she chases after her big brother.
“So cute. How old again?”
“Three and two going on ten, plus spitting images of their dad.” She chuckles, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she looks at the tray of goodies. “And equally as obsessed with his pancake recipe as I am, Noah’s already been up here twice, so I volunteered this round. Lolo literally eats them like chips. If you try and cut it up, she’ll give her dad big pouty eyes, and he’s got a new one for her in seconds. The sucker.”
We share a laugh.
I decide it’s safe to grab my coffee again, cupping the warm mug in my palms. “Yeah, I can’t tell you how many times someone tried to talk me out of the all-inclusive breakfast buffet, but that was nonnegotiable. It’s a huge selling point and the best way to bring everyone together before families split ways for tubing or boarding, or my fave, shopping.”