Authors: Cerian Hebert
"I'm going for your mother, okay?"
Nell nodded and leaned back into the pillows.
Chapter 15
Late February pushed insistently against the windows, pelting the panes with seed-like snow. But inside it was as warm as Nell could ever want, and busier than it ever had been in all the years she lived there.
Her studio was set back up. Jill and Paula worked at the sewing machines while her new hire, Melody, pieced together a pattern on the dummy, a dozen pins sticking out of her mouth. Even Emma worked hard, running to help anyone who needed an extra hand.
In the kitchen, her mother made lunch. She’d decided to spend the winter in New Hampshire while Nell recovered from the accident. Though she tried to argue, Nell relented and gave up her space in New York City. There was no way she could handle it in the condition she was in. Luckily Jill and Chuck had no problem relocating as well. In May, her assistant would be married and embark on the life she and Chuck longed for in a quiet little town.
Nell relished the busyness surrounding her. Such activity had been key to getting her through the trials of physical therapy, giving her something to concentrate on during her recovery. Once again she was designing, putting together her spring collection, and managing Inner Goddess Fashions from the old farmhouse. Her show in New York gave her company the boost it needed and she’d become highly sought after, much to Javier's chagrin.
Nell followed his success with the designs he stole from her. Though she couldn’t benefit from the financial rewards or have her name on them, she was still proud they were amongst ‘his’ most popular designs. He had to be kicking himself over letting her go, but the thought just made Nell smile.
Her personal recovery had been slow and painful. Her doctor told her flat out she'd always have a limp and she'd have scars to remind her of the accident. Not that she needed reminders. Yet when she felt down, letting the pain get the best of her, Eli was right there next to her to make sure she moved forward. He stopped in nearly every day, generally for lunch. Today was no different.
After Eli tracked her down in her workroom, Nell contentedly leaned against him. Now that she didn't have to hide who she really was, and could be open in her feelings for him, she let them flow freely. "You're a patient man," she finally muttered. "I would have left me months ago."
Eli kissed the top of her head and gathered her tightly against him. "Not a chance. I did that once and look what happened."
"Mmm. I wouldn’t trade this crap for nearly everything in the world. A spring show to plan, physical therapy. Summer collection. I'm going stir crazy!"
Eli squeezed her gently. "You need a break. Before you collapse."
"I wish. I love my family and I love what I do, stress and all, but I would kill for a weekend with nothing but silence."
She settled for his kisses. She'd missed them so much during her recovery. Not once did they have more than a few minutes alone together for a little snuggling and kissing. No time, no privacy and it drove her batty. Nights were especially frustrating when she dreamed of him, of what they shared the past summer. What they were going to share as soon as they found five minutes free of company.
"Hmm." Eli burrowed his face into her neck, nibbling at her sensitive skin. Desire took over and threatened to turn her legs into gelatin. Thank God Eli was there to hold her up, otherwise she would have ended in a puddle of lust on the floor.
"It's not fair," she murmured. "You can't do this to me when my mother is in the next room."
Eli pulled away, but grinned. "I have to get back to work anyway. I'll give you a call this evening, okay?"
"Mmm."
With one final, long kiss, Eli took off. Unfortunately, he left her completely turned on, and a good half hour passed before Nell could even concentrate on work.
Eli had plans to take Nell away for a few days. Nobody needed a break more than she did, and he wanted her all for himself. Except for an occasional evening out, they hadn’t shared a moment when someone else wasn’t in the next room.
Tonight he’d change that. With a phone call, a quick trip to his parents’ house, and a longer one to the grocery store, Eli headed to Nell’s place, ready to whisk her away.
“Pack a bag,” he told her as soon as she opened the front door to him. He stepped past her into the foyer and leaned in for a quick kiss.
“A bag? Why?”
“You need to get away and I’m the one to take you there. Now, go on. Pack some clothes—nothing fancy, just jeans and sweater or sweatshirt, and we’re out of here.”
Nell laughed and nestled her face into the crook of his shoulder and neck. “Man of surprises. Where are we going?”
“Uh-uh. It’s a surprise.” Eli turned her around so she faced the stairs and gave her a gentle pat on the butt. “Go.”
Fifteen minutes later, they headed out of town, traveling northwest, stopping only long enough to get coffee from a drive-thru donut joint off the highway.
Despite the fact the drive took over two hours, Nell didn’t ask him once about their destination. Instead they talked about a hundred different topics.
When silence fell between them Eli glanced at her, and smiled to see her eyes had closed. He suspected she’d sleep a lot over the next day or so, to make up for the hectic schedule she’d set for herself the past few months.
Well, as long as she’s sleeping with me
.
At last, with moonlight streaming on the snowy scene before them, Eli pulled into a long driveway, thankful someone kept it plowed. He stopped the truck and gently nudged Nell awake. “We’re here.”
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked out the window. “Where’s here?”
“My folks’ cabin. Outside Killington, Vermont. We’re borrowing it for a few days.”
Nell straightened in the seat and released her seatbelt. “Beautiful. Eerie, the way the moon is glowing off the snow.”
“Come on, let’s get settled and then I’ll bring our stuff in.” Eli grabbed their bags and exited the truck with more energy than he believed he’d have after such a long drive. He only had to glance over at Nell to figure out why. Even dressed in her dark green winter jacket and matching wool cap, she was damned sexy. And for at least two days—longer if they could manage—she’d be completely his.
First thing, first. As soon as they entered the cozy two-bedroom chalet-style log home, he turned on the heat and started a fire in the living room’s fieldstone fireplace. His parents had been there not too long ago, so everything Eli needed was close at hand. When the room was warming and Nell had hung up her jacket, Eli returned to the truck to haul in the supplies he’d picked up in Harper’s Grove before they left.
“This is a perfect little hideaway,” Nell commented as she wandered into the kitchen to help put groceries away. “You ski?”
“I used to. Haven’t for years. I planned on bringing Dylan and Emma here but something always came up and I kept putting it off. Don’t suppose you ski?”
Nell laughed, a low and sexy sound that made Eli’s blood course faster through his veins. It didn’t help that her soft, pale green sweater hugged her breasts and was low cut enough to reveal a tantalizing amount of cleavage. “Ski? Strap two slippery pieces of wood to my feet and rush headlong down a mountain? That’s what I call insanity. I will admit to cross-country skiing. I used to go with friends in college. But I don’t think these legs will allow me to do anything major, anyway. Maybe we could fumble through a little cross-country together.”
“Well, maybe we can find a couple pairs while we’re here. My parents like both styles of skiing and they usually leave their skis behind.”
“It was nice of them to let us use the place.”
They’d entered the small talk phase and Eli wanted anything but small talk. The fire in the living room crackled heartily, its orangey-yellow glow haloing Nell’s figure. It didn’t take much imagination to picture her completely naked, the light of the dancing flames reflecting off her smooth skin.
Heat that had nothing to do with the fire poured through his body like molten lava. If he didn’t have her soon, he’d go nuts. Already his arousal pressed hard against his jeans, needing release.
“Come on. Living room.”
This was just what she needed, time away from the stress at home. Away from the family, friends and coworkers who constantly surrounded her, making sure she was okay, that she didn’t need anything. She loved each and every one of them and they had been unbelievable since the accident, but to say she’d felt smothered the past few months was a gross understatement.
And once again, Eli rescued her. Nell watched him closely as he added another log to the already roaring fire. How in the world did she get lucky enough to snag such a hot, sexy guy? Lord knew she didn’t deserve him one bit. Yet here he was.
Here
they
were, in a cozy mountain hideaway, no one else around for miles. Her body ached with need just looking at him. As he stepped to her, his gaze held her mesmerized. Desire burned in his eyes as she slid easily into his arms. He pressed his lips beneath her jaw and she felt him inhale deeply.
“My God, you smell fantastic.” His hands slid down the length of her back and pushed up the hem of her sweater so his fingers, still warm from the fire, roamed over her bare skin.
Far too much time had passed since he’d last touched her this way. If the merest caress of his hands against her flesh sent sparks flying around her heart, stomach and right between her legs, Nell couldn’t imagine what she’d feel when he pulled off her clothes and really touched her. She eased back, tugged the sweater over her head and tossed it on the floor. Before she had a chance, Eli unhooked her bra and dropped it next to the sweater.
Eli’s ragged breath competed with the sound of the fire. One hand circled her breast and he leaned down, taking an already hardened nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling against it. Nell’s knees lost all strength and her body sank against him. Thank goodness his arms held her tight because she wouldn’t be able to stand without support.
She moaned as his teeth lightly scraped against her highly sensitive flesh. “Get naked,” she ordered in a broken whisper. “I can’t take much more of this.”
Eli released her and dragged his shirt over his head while she shoved her pants over her hips. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him, the way his skin stretched taut over well-defined abs, the strong arms that returned to hold her when he was as naked as she, and of course his mouthwatering erection she longed to have inside her
. Intoxicating Eli. And all mine.
“God, I love you.” Nell never wanted him to forget. To never doubt. She slid her hands along the hard muscles of his chest, lightly trailing over his nipples, and pulled him closer. His cock pressed against her and she wiggled her hips provocatively.
Eli nuzzled his mouth against her neck. “I love you, too.”
With deliberate leisure, Nell slithered down his body, brushing kisses against his warm skin as she went, until she knelt in front of him. Her hand encircled his engorged arousal and smoothed it back and forth. Eli groaned low and long.
Nell tickled the head of his penis with the tip of her tongue, circling it while her hand gently stroked him. She took him into her mouth, a little at a time, swirling and tasting. Her other hand reached around and caressed his buttocks. With each second, she delved deeper, took more of him into her mouth, relishing in his throaty growls. His hand dug into her hair and helped the pumping motion she’d begun. Every thrust of his hips built heat in her own thighs, and desire grew between her legs with monstrous strength, but she kept going, wanting him to explode right there.
Instead, Eli quickly brought her to her feet and lifted her up. “Baby, we have a long night ahead of us,” he whispered against her mouth before pressing a savage kiss to her lips.
He set her on the sofa and pressed kisses along her neck, working his own way down her body in a torturously long journey, stopping to lavish attention on her hardened nipples while his fingers played dangerously close to the apex of her thighs. Never touching her completely where she wanted him most, but getting damned close.
“You’re killing me.” she uttered a laugh which became a gasp when his fingers scraped lightly against her tender folds.
When he finally parted her flesh, she came almost immediately. The release took no more than a light touch of his tongue against her clit before she tumbled over the edge.
She wanted more, but wasn’t sure how much more she could handle. Eli wasn’t stopping, though. His tongue swept over her, circling and probing, his lips closing over her bud and sucking gently while he stroked two fingers inside her slick center. She didn’t stand a chance against his attentions. Another climax came on strong and hard and it was all she could do not to buck her hips against his mouth and hands. His name escaped her throat in a tight moan as she closed her fist in his hair.
“No more,” she pleaded and tried to pull him away. “Oh God, Eli, I can’t take any more of that.”
Eli eased away and moved up her body until he was face to face with her again, a fire glowing in his eyes, his breathing harsh. Nell caressed his cheek and smiled. “Thank you,” she whispered, tracing his lips with her fingertip. “You always make me feel incredible.”
“Because you are incredible.”
She reached for the condom packet she’d laid on the table. Her eyes locked with his, she opened it and slowly sheathed him. He slipped into her body and held still for a long moment as her legs wrapped around him and she felt his thick heat. Then slowly he rocked, withdrawing until he was almost out of her before thrusting deep and strong. This was a familiar tempo, yet it never ceased to amaze her, or want it less. No man had ever made her so hot, so wanted and loved, as Eli.
She didn’t pull him in for a kiss. Instead, they stared at each other as their bodies moved in fluid motion together. He delved deeper with each rhythmic push. Frantic, then measured and steady. As their urgency built, she writhed against him, throwing back her head and breaking their eye contact. When he touched her clit with his fingers, adding to the already insane build of sensation, she knew she was about to go reeling into space.