Chapter Five
Mia
I was uncomfortable. He knew I’d seen him. Hell, I almost think he wanted me to catch him jerking off in the woods, that he’d known I was there.
I glanced over at him just as he pulled in front of his cabin. Images of me seeing him here just days ago slammed into my head. The picture was vivid, erotic...arousing. I shifted on my seat as my pussy became wet.
He was out of the truck before anything could be said. I watched as he hurried around the front of the vehicle, the wind and snow whipping around him. He opened the passenger side door and helped me out. And then he hustled me up the porch steps and into his cabin.
The drive had been long, seemingly endless, but the weather was getting progressively worse, and the radio mentioned it wouldn’t let up until sometime in the middle of the night.
I didn’t even know if the tow truck would be able to make it out to get my car, not with the weather so dangerous. I stood there, my hand braced on the wall, just looking around. It was spacious and smelled like him, this woodsy, pine and citrusy scent that invaded my senses. There were beams on the ceiling, and the walls were exposed wood. It had a rustic, definite cabin-feel to it.
I loved it.
He took me over to the couch and I sat down, staring at him. For long seconds all we did was gaze into each other’s eyes. I had no doubt he was thinking about the last time he’d seen me, because hell, that’s where my mind was. I couldn’t help but lower my eyes to his crotch, knowing exactly what he looked like down there. I quickly lifted my gaze back to his face so as not to seem like a pervert.
He was smirking.
I felt my face become so damn hot.
But despite all of that the electricity that I felt was tangible, causing the hairs on my arms to stand up.
After a few moments of silence between us, he cleared his throat. “Let me go get some things to tend to your ankle,” he said, his voice hard and thick. I hoped he couldn’t see the way my skin formed goose bumps at the effect he had on me.
He turned and disappeared down the hallway. I sat there, my heart thundering as I looked around his house. He came back only minutes later with a first aid kit. I didn’t know what he was actually going to do, given the fact I was pretty sure I just had a nasty sprain.
I exhaled and tried to calm down, to loosen up and not be so tense. There were no doubts in my mind that me watching him in the woods would be brought up while I was here. It was just too thick of an incident not to talk about. I also owed him an explanation, and an apology for watching him then running off.
Noah came back a minute later and set the first aid kit on the kitchen counter and proceeded to grab two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. Then he walked back over to me and sat down. I didn’t move as I watched him pour us each a drink. He handed the glass over to me and our fingers touched as I took it from him. I barely refrained from shivering from that small touch.
He took a long drink of the whiskey, watching me over the rim of the glass, before setting it back down.
I swallowed the thick lump that had suddenly formed in my throat. I took a drink as well, the alcohol burning its way down. I needed this liquid courage to bring up what needed to be talked about. “Um. I feel we should probably talk about...” My throat grew tighter. “You know.” I averted my gaze as embarrassment flooded me. I took another drink of the firewater.
When he didn’t respond I chanced a look at him. He wore a smile but was making himself busy with the first aid kit. Several seconds passed before he finally stopped what he was doing and looked at me. “Yeah,” he said, his voice sounding deeper, thicker. “I was wondering if that would get brought up.” He was still smirking.
Damn him.
I finished off my drink. I watched as he did the same. Maybe he was just as nervous as I was?
He took the now empty glass from me and smiled. It was genuine, and not the cocky one he’d been sporting earlier.
For long moments neither of us said anything, but the heat, the electricity and the chemistry were there, like fire licking over our bodies. Surely I wasn’t the only one experiencing it? “I wanted to say I’m sorry for being on your property and...” I cleared my throat. “And sorry for watching you in a very private moment.” God, I was actually going here with him, and it was humiliating.
“I knew you were there, watching me.”
I snapped my head up and stared into his eyes. “What? You did?” I didn’t know why I felt so shocked right now. I had wondered if he’d done it on purpose. I mean who jerks off in the middle of the woods right after they finish chopping logs?
“I did.” The way he said that was deep, husky. He was staring right in my eyes, this heavy-lidded gaze piercing every single erogenous zone in my body. “It was a dirty thing to do, but fuck if it didn’t turn me on even more, Mia.”
God, the way he said my name had me tingling.
I imagined his big, strong body over mine, his muscles bunching as he held me down gently, thoroughly. Long seconds passed before he spoke again, before I could even think of a coherent word.
He cleared his throat and leaned back against the chair. It was like what we’d just been talking about was pushed aside. I could see the slight shift in him, as if he had so much self-control it made me feel like a raging teenager who was hormonal.
“I’m sure you’ve heard all about me,” he said, changing the subject easily. Or maybe it wasn’t so easy for him. Maybe he needed to talk about something else in order to control the situation better?
But truth was, I was glad we weren’t talking about the masturbatory session he’d had in the woods as I watched. It was turning me on just thinking about it.
“What do you mean?” I had an idea on what he was talking about, but I didn’t want to bring that up on my own. I didn’t mention the fact that Flora had told me about how he’d lost the woman he was in a relationship with all those years ago, or about how he stayed to himself. He was known in town as a recluse, a loner. And behind his eyes I could see the pain, but also the light that was just waiting to shine brighter again. It was a little on the crazy side, but my instincts told me this man was just like me, moving through life, waiting for...something more.
He looked me in the eyes, maybe knowing I was keeping that truth from him. “I’m sure you heard about my past, about...everything.” His big body seemed to dwarf the chair he sat in. “This is a small town. People like to gossip.”
Yes, I’d come to realize that in the short amount of time I had been here. “I heard a little bit,” I admitted, not bothering to try and deny it.
“I’m sure Flora told you the majority of it.” He didn’t seem upset. “I saw you two at the diner. She knows us well, so it’s only natural she’d tell you things.”
I remembered that day at the diner, when he’d looked right in my eyes before he left, when I’d felt the chemistry move between us. “You know her well?” Although Flora hadn’t said she’d been in a relationship with Noah, my heart sped up slightly at the fact he might admit that. Maybe that’s how she knows the Ash brothers well?
“She’s lived in Rockbridge her whole life. That and my brother is in love with her but is too much of a hardass to admit it.”
I felt my eyes grow wide at the fact he’d just told me that.
“But Flora and my brother Johnny’s relationship, or lack thereof, is a story for another day,” he said and chuckled deeply. “Even if Flora hadn’t told you about my past someone else in town would have, I’m sure.”
I glanced down at my hands. “Yeah, she mentioned you moved away but came back.” I looked up and stared in his eyes. I didn’t bring up the tragedy, didn’t want to talk about him losing his girlfriend.
He exhaled, not saying anything for long moments, but then I felt the air, which had been thick with tension, lighten up. And then he opened up to me, a woman he didn’t really know, telling me about the love he’d had once, what he’d lost, and how he had been single ever since. He’d immersed himself in work, in his business, had focused on everything but himself. A part of me broke for him, for what he lost, what he’d lived through. I couldn’t even imagine.
“I’m so sorry,” I finally said after he was done.
He smiled but shrugged. “It’s fine. It’s been a long time. I’ve changed as a person, moved on with my life. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, even if those things are pretty fucking bad.”
I nodded. I believed in that, too.
We sat there in silence for long moments, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, wasn’t the kind that made a person shift in their seat, needing to get away.
“Tell me about you. Where did you come from originally, what brought you to Rockbridge?”
I settled back in the chair, feeling so comfortable in this man’s presence that it startled me. For the next hour I talked about myself, where I used to live, what had brought me to town. I told him about needing to get out of the city, and he seemed to get that, to get me. It was crazy to think that I could click with someone in such a short amount of time, but there it was.
Then there was the silence again. He’d started a fire, and the sound of the flames licking over the logs was soothing. Before either of us could say anything else, could strike up a conversation again, his cell phone went off. He answered the call and I could vaguely hear someone on the other end, the muffled voice deep.
“Shit, you okay?” Noah glanced at me, his brows lowered over his eyes, concern on his face. “Yeah she’s here.” Now it was my turn to feel confused. “I’ll let her know. No, no, don’t worry about it. I’ve got it covered.” Noah disconnected the call and tossed the phone on the coffee table.
“Everything okay?”
“That was the tow. He got in an accident right outside of town and can’t get your car tonight. He said he’ll get it first thing in the morning. The only other tow truck he has is out doing runs, so if it frees up he said he’ll swing by and get your car.”
“God, is he okay?”
Noah nodded. “He’s fine, said he tried calling you but there was no answer.”
I thought about it and cursed. “I think I left it in my car.” I thought back to how I’d set the phone on the seat instead of my purse. “Dammit,” I cursed under my breath, then heard Noah chuckle.
“Listen, I have a spare room in the back. You’re more than welcome to use it, or we can brave the roads and get you to town.”
I wasn’t going to risk his safety just to get home, not when I felt comfortable with him and he’d gone out of his way to help me. Maybe I should have been more cautious seeing as we were strangers, but the truth was I felt safe with him, as insane as that sounded.
“Your room would be great, thank you.” I instantly felt my cheeks heat at what I’d just said. “Well, not your room, but the room you have in the back.” I laughed nervously, but noticed the way Noah looked at me. He had this intense gaze and it was locked right on me.
He cleared his throat and shifted on the seat. “How about I get you something to eat, then I’ll look at fixing up your ankle?”
“That sounds really great actually. Thanks.”
He nodded and got up, and I couldn’t help looking at his ass as he walked away. Lord have mercy, Noah Ash looked good in a pair of jeans.
It was about twenty minutes before he finally came back, set a bowl of chicken noodle soup, a half sandwich and a beer in front of me. He also grabbed me a glass of water and some ibuprofen.
“Thought you could use some,” he said and smirked at me.
Once I took the pain meds, downed the water, and started in on the hot soup, I started feeling better despite my throbbing ankle. “This is delicious. It’s homemade, isn’t it?” This didn’t taste like a can of soup, that was for sure.
“It is. Made it myself.” There was pride in his voice, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“It might be the best chicken noodle soup I have ever eaten.”
Noah didn’t seem like the blushing type of guy, but I swear his cheeks turned pink then. He cleared his throat and gestured for me to finish eating.
Once I was finished I set my bowl down and leaned back. The ibuprofen was kicking in, and I was full and warm.
“Let me take care of that ankle, then I’ll find you something to wear for the night and show you the room.”
The very thought of staying here had my heart racing again, my blood rushing through my veins. Whatever I felt for Noah in this moment was dangerous, but also pretty damn exciting.