The Dark Nights of Winter

Chapter 4 - Noelle

After everything had settled down, Alice insisted I headed up to the flat out of the way. She said it was so I could chill out, but I knew it was because she was suddenly as worried as I was that it would only be the first incident of many. Not only did I not bother to argue with her about it, even though I should have been working to get the shop back to normal, but I was relieved when she suggested it.

The world felt so cold for some reason. I couldn’t seem to get warm no matter what I did. I had changed into my fluffiest pyjamas, with matching socks, lit the fire and made myself a hot chocolate in the largest mug I owned, but still there was a chill lingering in the air. With my mug on the simple oak side table beside me, I pulled my legs up underneath me on the equally simple red sofa and pulled my laptop out from the drawer under the coffee table. Propping it up on the arm of the sofa and firing it up. I knew it was a mistake, but I headed to the news sites to see what they had to say about everything.

I checked five different news providers, none of them had reported anything new and there wasn’t a single mention of me or any other woman associated with Alex. Relaxing a little, knowing that the entire world didn’t know where to find me. Before clicking off the last website, a photo I recognised caught my eye. The Duke of Windsor with his wife. He was once upon a time the King of England, but barely. He abdicated for his love. She was an American divorced actress and, at the time, England was still quite conservative. The disapproval was because she was divorced, or rather that was the main sticking point, but back then, the royal household projected a certain image and Walice Simpson just simply didn’t fit the mould.

It wasn’t remotely the same situation. As far as I knew, no one had suggested there was an issue with Alex and me, except me. Still, the idea of a king abdicating was big news, the sort that became engrained in history. It never really went away. There was a chance Alex’s abdication would follow us for the rest of our lives. I clicked on the article out of curiosity. Skim reading it, but it was only really talking about a new drama that had been released covering the event. A sort of fact checking article. Walice Simpson had been widely disliked, hated even by some. There was a ghost of similarity and I couldn’t help but think that was probably going to be my fate as well when the news finally broke.

I heard footsteps on the stairs and guiltily closed my laptop. I was bent forward, putting it away, when Alex snapped, “Why the hell did you not ring me?”

I looked at him, confused, and in the process, caught my finger in the drawer. “Ouch.” I put my throbbing finger in my mouth. “Ring you?”

“Alice, text me and said some paparazzi had barged into the bakery and ambushed you. Why didn’t you ring me?” I hadn’t really seen him angry before. He was normally pretty playful, cocky even.

“There was nothing you could do. He had already gone, it was dealt with.” I knew I had upset him and Alice knew he would want to know, but I had no idea what difference it made or why he was so pissed off about it all.

He walked across the small living space, which, with his unreasonably long legs, only took him about six strides. He didn’t even stop before yanking me from the sofa by my wrist. His tug was hard enough that I landed against his chest with my hands up. His finger slipped beneath my chin and forced my head up until our eyes met. “Anybody and I mean anybody upsets you, harms you, threatens you, hell, even looks at you sideways, I want, no, I demand to know about it.” His lips sort mine in a passionate but short kiss. “Never again, Noelle, never again do you fail to tell me.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” I mumbled the words against his lips as he kissed me again.

His fingers brushed my jaw. “I don’t want you to be sorry, snowflake. I just like to protect what’s mine and I can’t do that if I don’t know about it.”

“Yours?” The word barely a whisper.

“You are mine. You were from the moment I saw you fall face first in the snow. You always will be mine.” His voice had changed and had taken on a deep, husky note. The effect was immediate, but I wasn’t sure if it was his voice or the words he spoke. The desire gathering in my deepest depths and burning a slow ember. It was the first time I had managed to shake the cold all day. Just as I thought I was getting used to the feeling, Alex slowly ran his fingertip along the curve of my shoulder. The slightest feather of a touch running down my arm and searing my skin, even through the thick layer of fleece.

When he stepped away, the chill slowly returned. I was frozen to the spot as I watched him slowly remove his suit jacket. Meticulously lining up the sleeves and tucking them in before he folded the article in half and carefully laid it over the back of a chair belonging to my tiny dining table. There was something provocative about the way he moved. Teasing his royal blue silk tie through its knot so slowly it was erotic. Again, he paid careful attention to smoothing the fabric and folding it before it joined his jacket. I suddenly felt underdressed in my pyjamas and messy hair pulled into a loose bun.

His cufflinks clattered as he placed them on the table. Slowly rolling the sleeves of his shirt up until they were just below his elbows. Every movement taken with precision and care, his fingers moving deftly over the cotton. I was still just stood there watching him, but if he noticed, he made no indication. His carefulness and ordered nature only served to remind me of my own clumsy escapades at the palace.

He turned towards me, a smirk playing at his lips. “You look nervous, my little snowflake. Not afraid to be alone with me, are you?” He laced his fingers around the button at the top of his shirt, slowly releasing a button at a time until I could see just a sliver of dark brown chest hair peeking out.

I swallowed hard. “No, of course not.” I wasn’t afraid, but I was nervous. When he walked past me and picked the remote up off the coffee table, a wash of disappointment came over me, despite my lack of confidence. I knew he wouldn’t expect me to be untouched, but I hadn’t found the right moment to mention it.

He settled onto the sofa and propped his feet up on the coffee table, looking entirely at home. “Are you planning on joining me?” There was still a hint of amusement in his voice. As I walked around the coffee table and seated myself beside him, I couldn’t help but feel like prey. As he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him, I settled instantly. I was there a few moments before I realised all the thoughts that had been plaguing me all day had completely vanished.