SNOWED IN WITH THE BILLIONAIRE

You ought to have kept away, Rory."

His deep, gruff voice shakes me up my spine-one I can't quite get rid of. Just a few feet away, the dim living room light gleams in Cole Hartman's keen blue eyes. Thick flakes spinning against the large windows characterise the outside sheet-like snowstorm. While the storm has caught us here together, that is not what drives my heart to race. Always him; he is the one.

I back off but my pulse sharpness is not going to stop. "You never get to tell me what to do, Cole." I cross my arms, yet even then I hear my voice faltering. Damn him for dragging me down to earth.

"You never could resist me, could you?" His lips expand to a knowing smile, and for a minute we appear to be in the past-before all went wrong. Before I lost myself into a marriage that tore me, before I thought I had buried all the old feelings I felt for him.

Especially not now, after everything I have gone through; his being here in my family's house is a dangerous complication I did not need. After my divorce and after losing myself fully, I should have learnt to keep my distance from guys like him. Billionaires with far too many secrets, too many flaws, too much power.

Here he is, nevertheless, rushing back into my life and looking far more desirable than ever. He is not the same person I grew up knowing from Pinehaven. That Cole is gone and replaced by a hardened man most plainly suppressing his past.

Pulse racing, I try to ignore the fire growing between us and murmur, "You've changed, Cole." You are not this.

His lips shuts and he approaches. Rory, you don't know me anymore. Never do.

His words hang in the air and sting, however I'm not sure why. Years of trying to stifle the strong need I previously felt for him have gone towards forgetfulness. But being here in front of him, it comes pouring back-the heat, the tension, the raw emotions I thought I would always lock away.

I stutter, then back off trying to establish some distance and add, "You're wrong." "I know just exactly who you are. You are trouble all by itself.

He laughs bitterly, the sound drifting off my sensitivity. Why then, Rory, are you still standing here?

I want to tell him it's because I'm trying to protect myself even though the reality is more complicated. Once he came back into my life, my walls fell and I have not been able to rebuild them.

I also add. "Because you're dangerous," my voice scarcely audible above a whisper, yet it's enough to get him to stop. His eyes darken, and for a minute I see regret flickering behind them. Then it vanishes and is replaced by that awful grin.

"Funny," he says, his voice only gently softening. "I was almost ready to say similarly about you."

We stand there in quiet conflict of will. Tension in the atmosphere between us is neither of which we can ignore. But the silence is shattered before either of us can say another word by the sound of a car door slamming outdoors.

Stop. My body turns to the window reflexively and stiffens. The porch's light accentuates the swirling snow even if nothing is there. exactly the storm. Though less now, I do not feel safe. Not lately for a long time.

"Who is that?," queries My voice tight, pulse thumping, I beg.

Cole's expression is blank as he turns towards the window. "I'm not confident," Although his voice is protective and strong, I feel something is wrong.

"Shouldn't we investigate?" enquired.

He nodded slowly, never turning away from me. "Stay straight here." I will go have a look at it.

I want to argue something. He should go before it's too late, keep away. But the words stop in my mouth as he gets closer to the door, and I find myself standing there staring at the black windows, my stomach knitching in anxiety.

I hate how my heart beats around him. I object to his straightforward approach of guiding my views. Above all, though, I lost the way my body betrays me and craves him when I should be racing in the other direction.

I take a long breath and go for the door; my footsteps on the wooden floor are silent.

I say, "Cole," with a faltering voice. "Come back indoors".

Still, he's outside; his shape scarcely contrasts with the black backdrop of the storm. I try to ignore the way my mind rushes with every shadow, every sudden movement far away. I should stay inside even though everything inside me struggles to let go of the need to know what's happening.

Before I can open the door, I jump when something smashes into the window.

An individual. a shadow-someone-something outside.

My pulse thundering in my chest, I gasp.

I scream, my voice unsteady. "Cole!". But the storm drowns me; above the howling wind I cannot hear anything.

Cole there, his face sharp, eyes wild with fright, the door opens abruptly. "Get away from the window," he says, taking my arm and yanking me back into the room.

I wobble back, my breath seized as I look about for the noise source. " WHAT was that?" Who resides?

Cole answers slowly, fixed on the door then back to me. His posture makes me shiver down my back. He seems tight. His voice is tightly constrained and brief. Rory, you do not find safety here.Exactly what do you mean? To whom is it?

His voice dark, he says, "I'll explain later." Still, we have to go right now.

His tugging me towards the back door causes my head to swirl and for a few seconds my thoughts fly with questions I cannot address. The basis is... What is going on?

But my heart freezes at the loud, sudden sound of a crack before I can even ask.

The voltage evaporates.

The house gets black, and I hear a door slam closed some distance distant.

From someplace within the tempest, low and menacing, a voice cries out.

" Rory, you can't hide. I'll be here for you.

Breath freezes and my heart accelerates.

The door is closed; the storm is roaring outside; and nowhere to escape the dream that is exactly in front of me.

The last thing I see before everything closes down is Cole's black face; nevertheless, his blue eyes appear to be full of something I cannot name. everything detrimental. Something hinting he has been hiding personal secrets.