"When do we start?"
"As soon as you throw the first snowball."
I cannot remember the last time I had a snowball fight. Earlier, when he mentioned that he wanted us to go outside burn some calories, I pictured myself skiing or maybe even on top of him, not playing with balls. Unless they were his. But somehow, here I was, all decked out in snow gear, with Blake smiling a ways down from me. I especially didn't expect Blake to be the one to instigate the snowball fight--it seemed so out of character for him!
My hands gripped some snow and rolled a shape between them. I flailed it over at him and I missed horribly.
"Oh, come on! You're not even trying! Put everything in it. What's the worst that can happen?"
I shrugged my shoulders. Fuck it. Snowball fight he wants, snowball fight he gets.
Chapter 10
The snowball fight was fun in a way that only Blake can make me enjoy myself. I can't remember the last time I giggled like that. It started out as a regular snowball fight but then it gradually became a game of stealth. We would try to hide and dump snow on each other. No matter how much I tried to find out where he was hiding, he would always be one step ahead of me. He would find me, throw me into a pile of snow, and was off before I could even think about throwing snow at him. We chased each other around like a couple of kids.
"Aren't you glad that you let loose a little bit?" He was peeling out of his clothes by the front door.
"Yeah, I guess it was pretty cool." I chuckled. "No pun intended." He helped me take off my boots. "Thank you."
"I told you I was a gentleman."
"Wish there was something I could do for you to show my appreciation." I lowered and raised my eyebrows suggestively.
"You can do plenty." He winked. "But for now, how about you make some hot cocoa while I set the fireplace?"
I came back with cocoa, marshmallows, and a few other treats I found in that massive kitchen of his. He was lying on the floor, staring at the fire. I handed him the cocoa, put the rest of the tray on the table, and sat next to him.
"It is really beautiful out here," I said softly, looking out the French windows at the powder-covered trees illuminated by the moonlight.
"I love it. I bought this place after my grandfather passed away. He was a big outdoors man. He was also the one who got me into the outdoors. We would often go on fishing trips or camping together. When he passed, a chunk of me died with him. My father was always more interested in his company than in raising me after my mother passed, so my Grandpa was the closest thing I had to a father. I'm just happy that he lived long enough to see me succeed. He didn't give me much, but with his patience and the lessons he put into me, I was able to become who I am today."
We sat in silence watching the flickering of the flames. I didn't dare ask him about his father; the way he spoke of him made it sound like there was a lot of tension and strain in their relationship. A part of me hurt for Blake, too, because it was obvious that he was still seeking his dad's approval even after all of these years of neglect.
I leaned back on my elbows, keeping my eyes on the fire. I glanced over at him and saw that his eyes were glossy and my chest constricted for his pain. I scooted closer to him and nuzzled his neck before kissing him lightly on the cheek.
"You're a good man, and I bet he was proud of you even before you became the huge success you are today. How could he not? You have a heart of gold."
Blake's face lit up at that and he began to nod slowly. "You know, you're the only person I've ever told that story to. Usually, when people ask about this place, I don't even mention that at all." He looked over at me. "What is it about you that has such a powerful effect on me, Christina?" he murmured, his voice low and thick.
"My winning personality!" I grinned jokingly. "My infectious charm."
"Yes." The corner of his lip twitched in a small smirk, but his hand affectionately reached up and stroked my cheek. "All that and more."
When his lips touched mine, my body heated up in a way that must have been impossible for the fire to match. Blake's rock hard body was on top of me within seconds, snatching off my clothes and pulling them up and over my head. Within moments, I was stripped bare and being warmed by the flames and Blake's scorching flesh. His own clothes came off seconds after.