Read Online Honor: a novella by Chasie Noble - Free Book Online Page B

the back door for me and went to get firewood from the far end of the porch. I set the food in the fridge and went out to help him. He had a fire going shortly after as I sat on his couch and watched.  
    “I think the snow has finally let up out there.” He motioned toward the window. It had stopped, but the snow covered everything in sight.  
    “You mind if I take a shower?” I asked him.  
    “No, let me get you a towel,” he said.  
    I went to the bathroom and started the shower. He came into the doorway holding a towel and one of his shirts. “I thought you might need this to change into afterwards.”  
    “Thank you,” I said taking them from him.  
    He stood there leaning against the doorway, staring at me as if he were about to say something and didn’t. “I will let you shower now,” he finally spoke up. He quietly closed the door between us.  
    I undressed and hopped in. His shower was much larger than mine, but I was sure he had built it that way because of his size. I stood under the hot water and scrubbed my hair with my eyes closed tightly, thinking of how embarrassed I had been on the ride home with our conversation. I began to wonder as I showered just how many women he had slept with. I didn’t like the idea of him with anyone else. I decided I just needed to let it go. I got out of the shower and dried off as quickly as I could because it was freezing. I put on the shirt he had given me. It totally swallowed me, but it did smell like him, so I was still willing to wear it. I combed my hair out and walked out into the hallway.  
    Osric stood there staring at me. “Nice shirt,” he said. He was shirtless with just his jeans on and I couldn’t help but stare back at him. “I am going to shower,” he informed me as he walked past me into the bathroom. I noticed he had left the door cracked as I walked away. I heard the shower turn on as I went to put my things in the living room.
      I noticed that he had taken the plastic covering off the library doorway. I walked into the room and saw he had started filling some of the shelves with books. The books were extremely old, older than any I had ever seen. I looked a few of them over and they all seemed to be first edition books.  
    I heard Osric walk up from behind me; I hadn’t even noticed the shower cut off. I turned to him with one of the books in my hand. “Where did you get these books?” I asked as he walked closer.  
    “I bought them. I started collecting them a long time ago.”  
    I put one back on the shelf. “I like what you have done in here.” I motioned to the finished bookshelves.  
    His hair was wet and he only wore flannel pajama pants. “Thank you.” He ran his hand through his hair. The room was drafty and I wrapped my arms around myself. “You’re cold, let’s go sit by the fire,” he said while taking my hand and leading me into the living room.  
    He grabbed a blanket off the couch and wrapped it around me. He rubbed his hands up and down my arms just staring at me. He was about to say something when my phone rang. “You better get that.” He leaned down lightly kissing me. The phone rang again as I started kissing him back. He pulled away placing his forehead on mine.  
    “I guess I should get it,” I said turning to grab my purse. I pulled my phone out and saw it was my mom. “Hello.”  
    “Honor, I was just checking to see if you two got back okay?” I could hear my aunt and dad talking in the background.    
    “Yes, we did. Everything is fine,” I assured her. I omitted the part about me being in just a t-shirt and standing in Osric’s living room. “Thank you for everything today,” I said.
    I could hear the smile in her voice as she responded, “I am glad you brought Osric. We enjoyed having him here.”
    “He is pretty wonderful,” I told her.  
    “Well, your dad and aunt are wanting to play cards, and Mr. Miller from next door is over because his heat went out. Keep your