Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

The holiday festival was a Sweetheart staple. Each year in early December the square filled with local vendors, food trucks and Christmas cheer. Every inch of the park at the center of town was decorated in red, green and gold. Lights twinkled, carols hummed from the strategically-placed speakers, and once every hour, magic happened when manufactured snow rained down over the crowd.

It was an event, and something Noah hadn’t often participated in even when he’d lived there.

Christmas had been uneventful in his life. Despite his grandparents going out of their way to make the time special, his father had somehow always managed to make it…unhappy. Most kids looked forward to two weeks home from school, but for him that was just more time he had to work at gauging his father’s level of sobriety and staying out of the way when he hit the point of mean.

But today…he almost believed in the magic. His father was gone - headed to he-didn’t-care-where after his mom divorced him – and Autumn was beside him, brimming with excitement and possibilities.

All around them, kids laughed and played, running from one booth to another and hollering out excitement to the parents that trailed behind. The scent of chocolate, sugar cookies and popcorn filled the air.

Autumn slowly strolled beside him, her gloved hands tucked firmly into the pockets of her puffy jacket. She didn’t say much, but the quiet between them was…easy, comfortable.

“Noah,” someone called out from deep in the crush of people. Craning to try and find the source, Autumn set a hand on his arm and pointed several people ahead of them. The wrinkled face in the crowd looked so familiar, and somehow so different.

"Coach,” he responded, easing his way across the flowing sea of people to the man who’d taught him everything he knew about football.

“What are you doing here ?” The last place Noah would expect to find the hard-ass who’d run their team like a drill sergeant would be behind some colorful display of scented candles and jagged-edged soaps.

Reaching over the table, Coach slapped him across the back. “I could ask the same of you.”

Nope, not the same question, but Noah answered his anyway. “I’m in town for Harry and Ed’s fiftieth wedding anniversary this week.”

“That’s right. I’ve had the invitation on my refrigerator for weeks now. Just assumed you’d be too busy with rehab to make it back. Think you’ll be on the field in time to help make it through the playoffs?”

The question startled him. For the last few days he’d been so far removed from the world of football, the constant media cycle and conjecture that went with it. It hadn’t sunk in that the announcement of the end to his career hadn’t made it public yet. Matt had wanted to delay until after speaking to any interested teams.

The realization left him unsettled. But the gentle pressure of Autumn’s hand to the small of his back steadied him.

“Don’t say anything, Coach, but I’m not going to be back.”

Eyes cloudy with age widened. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Your injury looked bad, but we all hoped and prayed you’d be okay.”

“I am okay.” Or he was going to be. “But definitely not the outcome anyone was looking for. That’s life. I had a great run. Maybe I’ll come back to Sweetheart. Who knows.”

Autumn’s fingers stiffened where she touched him.

“The town would be lucky to have you. I’m sure the new coach for the football team would love it if you came by.”

“You’re not coaching anymore?”

“Nope, hung my whistle up…almost five years ago. Marjorie has me making candles and soap. Out of soy and goat’s milk if you can believe that. We travel around to art fairs.”

Noah’s lips twitched. “I have to admit, that’s the last thing I would have expected to find you doing, Coach.”

He’d been a hard ass, but a fair one. The man had demanded everything out of his team, and with a few exceptions always got it. The players might have groused behind his back, but they’d also respected and appreciated the things he’d taught them.

A loud laugh boomed out of the other man. “Honestly, neither did I son. But surprisingly enough, I’m enjoying it. Sometimes, life hands you what you need, not what you want.”

For some reason, Noah’s gaze was pulled to Autumn, standing quietly beside him.

They talked for a few more minutes before Noah extricated himself and they moved back into the flow of the crowd.

It didn’t take her long to say, “I didn’t realize you were thinking about moving back.”

“I didn’t either until the words popped out.”

“You hate Sweetheart.”

“I don’t hate Sweetheart.”

Autumn cut him a knowing glance. “You ran from this place so fast there was practically dust in your wake. Not to mention I can count on one hand the number of times you’ve been back.”

Steering her away from the crowd to a quiet spot at the end of a row of booths, Noah grinned down at her. “I wasn’t aware you were keeping up with my comings and goings so closely.”

The faint pink that tinged her cheeks made something light effervesce through his chest. Sunlight spilled over her hair, highlighting golden streaks through the warm chestnut. God, he wanted to kiss her.

“It wasn’t like that,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

One eyebrow quirked up. “Oh? What was it like then?”

She huffed out a breath. “I mean, I wasn’t trying to keep track. But most of the time, whenever you did come home, someone would inevitably think it was important to tell me.”

“Interesting.”

“Not really. This town is small, gossip is our Olympic sport. You’re famous and everyone knows we were together before you left. That adds up to unwanted information being passed my way.”

“Unwanted information that you kept track of.”

Irritation glittered deep in Autumn’s golden eyes.

“I’m teasing you, Autumn, although I have to say you’re beautiful when you’re upset.”

“I’m not upset.”

“Sure. Either way, I have plenty of good reasons to come back here.”

“And you have plenty of reasons not to stay.”

Reaching for her hand, Noah intertwined his fingers with hers. “I’m not making any promises, Autumn. Hell, we’ve barely had a single date. But, I know what we had and I know what we could have again. And that’s worth coming home for.”

He expected for her to argue. Wouldn’t have blamed her for doing just that. But instead, her sharp gaze ran across his face. She stared for several seconds, searching. Noah fought the urge to squirm beneath her knowing, assessing gaze, to shutter and protect himself. But he didn’t. Instead, he let her take her time, laying himself bare to her in a way he’d never done with anyone else.

Slowly, she nodded. “We’ll see.”

She was probably an idiot, but she couldn’t help herself. Not where Noah was concerned.

She wanted to believe that he meant what he said.

There had always been a deep connection between them. Maybe they’d both needed time to explore who they were and grow into adults capable of loving each other the way the other needed.

That was what Autumn had always wanted, a relationship as perfect and deep as her parents.

If she could find that with Noah, didn’t she owe it to herself to take a leap of faith and try?

They spent hours wandering the fair. Autumn found the cutest set of gourds painted as penguins, but talked herself out of buying them, only to turn around and find a bag slung over Noah’s shoulder with the entire set.

She’d rolled her eyes, but accepted them. What else could she do?

She’d bought a few Christmas presents for her family. Although she’d finished her shopping weeks ago, she couldn’t resist the matching hair bows for Cindy’s girls or the marshmallow gun for her son.

The sun was setting, pink, orange and purple tinging the sky, as they wandered through the last booths in the long line. One snagged her attention, a shiny airstream trailer with a green and red striped awning. Underneath was an eclectic assortment of Christmas ornaments and the most adorable little woman with long white hair and a bohemian air about her.

“That must be the place Harry was talking about. Where she got my ornament.”

Noah nodded and followed slowly behind as Autumn made a beeline.

“Welcome, welcome,” the woman said, sweeping her arm to bring them under the tent. “Anything specific you’re looking for?”

Autumn shook her head. “Not really. A friend bought an ornament from you, I think, and I just wanted to say it’s adorable and perfect.”

“Oh, really? What did she get?”

“A little snow globe.”

The woman’s eyes began to glitter with joy and merriment. “Of course. The snow globe. You made a wish when you shook it, right? Christmas wishes are so powerful.” Without waiting for Autumn’s answer, the other woman’s gaze swept behind to take in Noah lurking at the edge of the displays.

“What a handsome fella you have.”

Autumn tossed a glance over her shoulder. “Oh, we’re not together.”

The other woman’s eyebrows lifted, taking in all the packages Noah was carrying for her. He’d insisted. “Sure looks like you’re together.”

“Long story,” which she wasn’t about to get into with a stranger. “I just wanted to ask, do you have any more of those ornaments? I know someone else who’d like it as much as I did.”

“Oh, no, I’m so sorry. Most of my ornaments are unique and one-offs.”

“Oh,” Autumn glanced around and realized she didn’t see any two items on display that were exactly the same. “I didn’t realize. I just assumed.”

“That’s what makes them so special,” she winked. “But I hope the snow globe brings you many years of joy.”

Autumn smiled in thanks. “I’m sure it will. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.”

“No doubt, I will.”

Autumn backed out of the booth and headed towards the gazebo at the far end of the park square.

Beside her, Noah said, “She was a little…odd, wasn’t she?”

“No, I don’t think so. Just sweet and quaint.”

The day had been perfect. Easy. And by the time Noah pulled into her driveway stars had begun popping out against the bruised night sky.

And she didn’t want their time together to end.

God, what was wrong with her? Clearly a glutton for punishment, Autumn found herself saying, “Want to come in for a drink?”

They’d eaten at the fair, so she didn’t even have that excuse.

“I’d love that.”

Noah followed her inside, closing the door behind them. Her house was quiet and dark, something that had never bothered her before. But right now, it felt too quiet. Too close.

“Let me just grab some wi-” Noah grasped her arm and spun her to face him. His mouth was on hers before she could blink.

The kiss was deep and thorough. Autumn found herself melting beneath it, her body going lax and simply leaning into his. He was hard everywhere she was soft. Chest, arms, abs.

His tongue teased hers, tangling and stroking in a way that made her body burn. His hands stroked her skin, arms, collarbone, throat. She tingled. Everywhere. And she wanted more.

Every inch of her throbbed with that incessant need. It had been building, like steam in a kettle, and she felt ready to burst.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured against her parted lips. “Now. Because I don’t think I’ll be able to if you wait much longer.”

Did she want him to stop? Not on your life. But could she live with the reality that this was a one-time thing? A night of passion with the man who’d been the measuring stick for every other in her life?

Maybe not, but right now, Autumn wasn’t sure she had any other choice. She’d rather have this moment with him and the potential heartache that might come later than miss the experience of loving him as an adult and not a teenager on the brink of life.

“Don’t stop.”

Pressing his mouth against her throat, his moan of relief echoed through her entire body. An unexpected giggle tickled up her throat. “Same.”

Grabbing his hand, Autumn walked backwards through her dark house, pulling him with her. Once through the bedroom door, she stopped long enough to pull the heavy sweater over her head. She started to undo the fly on her jeans, but his hands on hers stopped her. “I want to.”

Deep, dark need throbbed through his words, sending an answering shudder to her core.

Stripping each other became an art. And a tease. Their mouths and fingers caressed and touched. Explored. Hot, wet kisses trailed along the curve of soft, warm skin. Sighs and breathless gasps were the only sounds. Sounds that quickly escalated to moans and unintelligible words of encouragement and pleasure.

God, she wanted all of him. Her entire being was on fire, a raging inferno of need.

“Please,” she whispered against his shoulder even as his fingers stroked deep inside her warm, wet sex. “I need you.”

Picking her up, Noah carried her over the bed. Gently, he placed her in the center, staring down at her, the same wildfire of need roiling through his gaze. “Condom?”

Autumn pointed to the bedside table and watched as he grabbed one out and rolled it over the long, hard length of his cock. She’d stroked and touched, learned the places that made his breath catch. Next time, she was going to enjoy doing the same thing with her mouth.

But right now, she wanted him seated deep inside her. Needed that more than her next breath.

Noah stroked a hand down her body, cheek, throat, the center of her chest. Autumn arched up into his touch even as she reached for him, demanding more.

And then he was there, pressing into the tight opening of her body. That first slide in… There just weren’t words. It was familiar and yet wholly different. His body was harder, broader, but the smell of his skin, that warm, honey and leather scent, was the same.

He slid into the hilt, his hips settling tight against hers. And just stayed there. Not moving. His eyes slid shut and his head tipped back, a look of utter bliss stamped across his face.

That expression only made her want more. Beneath the weight of him, Autumn squirmed. Then she grabbed a handful of his ass and pressed – hard – arching and pulsing her own hips until he joined her in the rhythm.

Their breaths mingled, her gasps of pleasure intertwining with his. In and out, he stroked. Fast and then slow and then fast again until Autumn thought her brain might explode right along with the rest of her body. Tension pulled at every muscle, bowing her body tight as she fought for more and more of him.

Until everything around her went nuclear. Her body pulsed and throbbed with the relief of release. Noah’s matching groan tickled her ear even as she could feel the rhythmic pulse of him deep inside.

Together, they collapsed onto the cool sheets, legs, arms and torsos tangled up in a sweat-slicked pile of bliss.

Slowly, Noah twisted to look at her. His heavy-lidded eyes glittered. “That was even better than I remembered, and let me tell you, sex with you has been the stick no one else has ever measured up to.”