11. Noelle

NOELLE

“ S o 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?”

“Yeah?”

“I'm happy for you. You sound... different. Good different. Like you've found your missing piece.”

I look up at Sawyer, finding him already watching me with those intense green eyes that see straight to my soul. “I am different. Good different. The best kind of different.”

After saying goodbye, I set my phone aside and take a sip of perfectly made coffee. “You know what this means, don't you?”

“That I have to face your entire family tomorrow?”

“No.” I set my mug down and straddle his lap, enjoying his sharp intake of breath. “It means we have all of Christmas Day to ourselves.”

His hands settle on my hips. “And what exactly do you plan to do with me all day?”

“Well...” I unbutton the shirt of his I'm wearing, enjoying how his eyes track every movement of my fingers. “First, I thought we could exchange presents.”

He raises an eyebrow, his hands sliding up my thighs. “I didn't get you anything.”

“Oh, you got me plenty.” I roll my hips, delighting in his sharp intake of breath. “And after we've shared a few more of those gifts...” Another roll of my hips makes his fingers dig into my skin. “I thought maybe you could show me how to properly care for your orchids. Since I'll be around to help from now on.” I trail my fingers over his chest. “Think you have room in your careful plans for a social media manager turned plant enthusiast?”

His lips twitch. “I suppose I could use someone to handle the business side. Someone who sees beauty in everything and isn't afraid to share it. Someone who makes even the most stubborn blooms want to open up.”

“Is that what I did to you? Made you want to bloom?”

“You made me want to grow.” His voice has dropped an octave, sending shivers down my spine.

“Mmhmm.” The shirt falls open, and his eyes darken as they roam over my naked body.

“And what about your career with the toy company? I don’t want you giving all of that up to focus on my plants.” His hands cover my breasts, taking their weight, and I gasp.

“I won’t. I've been thinking about the logistics of that too,” I whisper against his lips before claiming them in a slow kiss that has me whimpering for more.

“Tell me,” he murmurs, handing moving lower.

“Well, Wonder Toys already loves my remote content.” His thumbs trace patterns on my hipbones that make it hard to concentrate. “They say it's more authentic when I'm actually in a home playing with the toys instead of just filming in the office.” He grinds up against me, offering the friction I so desperately need. “ Oh …”

“Keep talking.”

“I…I can, um, work from here most days.” It feels almost impossible, but somehow my mouth forms words as Sawyer continues to tease my body with his skilled movements. “Go in for important meetings, and maybe even help you develop something special.” My hands go into his hair as he kisses down my neck before trailing his tongue between my breasts. “Can't you just see it? 'Mountain Magic Botanicals: Where Christmas Blooms All Year Round.’” I let out a moan as his mouth moves to claim my nipple. “We could share your passion for rare plants with the world.”

“You've got it all figured out, haven't you?” he murmurs, looking up at me while his fingers take over where his mouth left off.

“ Hmmm. I'm good at what I do,” I say, trying to maintain my train of thought as his mouth gives some attention to the other side. “And what I want to do is build a life here. With you.”

“And your Christmas obsession?” His fingers glide down my ribcage and he grinds up into me again, over and over, his hard cock pressing perfectly into my seam, the ridge of his tip rubbing against my clit. “How does that fit into life on the mountain?”

“Oh, I have plans.” I arch into his touch, rocking against him. “Big plans. Starting with teaching you how to decorate a tree that’s more than books and candles.”

He growls and flips us so I'm pinned beneath him on the couch, his body pressing me into the cushions. “I'll show you big plans.”

Kissing his way down my body, he pushes my panties to the side and slides his tongue through my folds, that wicked smile on his face making me whimper.

“Oh God,” I moan, clutching at his hair as he feasts on me. “Sawyer, please…”

He lifts his head, eyes burning, my juices already coating his lips. “Please what?”

“Don't stop.”

Dipping his head, he laughs against my skin. “As if I ever could.” And then he's back at it, mouth and tongue and fingers working together as I moan and writhe against him. “You’re so fucking delicious, angel. So perfect. This pussy of yours,” he pauses while he inserts a third finger, stretching me, readying me for him, “belongs to me now, doesn’t it? Mine to do with as I please?”

“Yes! Yes, Sawyer, please!”

I'm writhing on the couch, my orgasm building, teetering on the edge. So close.

“I need you to come all over my face, angel.”

I gasp as Sawyer's filthy words send a shiver straight to my core. “Yes, Sawyer. I'm yours. Take me, please.”

His growl of approval sends a thrill through me as he redoubles his efforts, his tongue and fingers masterfully stroking and teasing my every sensitive spot. His free hand slides between us, palm flat against my stomach.

“That's it, angel,” he rasps against my core, “give it all to me.”

I arch my back. “Oh, god!”

My body convulses as my orgasm rips through me, shattering every last bit of control I have left. Sawyer seems to take my release as an invitation to increase his efforts, and before long, I’m a howling, sweaty mess, with nothing but liquid for bones.

Sawyer's touch gentles as he guides me through the aftershocks, his fingers still moving inside me but with less intensity. His tongue laps softly at my over-sensitive flesh, soothing rather than stoking the flames. I tremble, gasping as he slowly kisses his way back up my body. When he reaches my lips, I taste myself on his tongue and moan softly.

“I never want you to stop touching me like that,” I whisper against his mouth, running my fingers through his hair.

When he pulls back, the heat in his eyes makes my breath catch. “Promise?”

A slow smile takes over my face as I nod. “Promise.”

His expression turns serious for a moment, though his hands never leave my skin. “I love you too, you know. Even if this is crazy. Even if we're moving too fast. Even if?—”

I silence him with a kiss, pouring everything I feel into it. When we break apart, we're both breathing hard.

“No more 'even ifs,'“ I whisper against his mouth. “Just us. Just this.”

The look he gives me steals my breath before his mouth claims mine again, and suddenly words don't matter anymore as he shucks his pants and slides into me…

Later, much later, we lie tangled together on the pull-out couch, watching snow fall outside. His hands trace lazy patterns on my bare skin, and I've never felt more at peace.

“Sawyer?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for letting me stay.”

He pulls me closer, his lips brushing my shoulder. “Thank you for making me want to.”

“Merry Christmas, my grumpy mountain man.”

His chuckle rumbles through his chest. “Merry Christmas, angel.”

And it is. The merriest Christmas ever. The first of many we'll share on this mountain, in this cabin that now feels like home. And I plan to fill every single one with enough magic, love, and yes, decorations, to make up for all the ones he missed.

Because sometimes the best gifts come wrapped in mountain snow and second chances. Like a rare orchid finally finding the perfect conditions to bloom, our love opened slowly, beautifully, right when we needed it most. And like Sawyer's precious plants, I intend to nurture it, cherish it, and watch it grow stronger with each passing season.

After all, isn't that what Christmas miracles are all about?