Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine Fanfic)

Chapter 47: Winter Bliss

Jade's POV

The first rays of morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the cabin, lighting up the snow-draped pines outside. It was peaceful in a way that felt almost otherworldly, like this little slice of Telluride existed outside of time. The only sounds were the faint crackling of the fire in the hearth and Nick's soft, even breathing beside me.

I turned onto my side, letting my eyes drift over him. His hair was a tousled mess, his lips slightly parted in sleep, and the blanket was pulled halfway down his chest, exposing the faint lines of his muscles. Bloody hell, he looked good. Even like this—especially like this.

I resisted the urge to reach out and wake him, though my fingers itched to brush the hair off his forehead. Instead, I slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, grabbing one of his oversized sweatshirts from the chair. It hung loose on me, falling almost to my knees, but it was warm and smelled like him, so I didn't mind.

Padding out to the kitchen, I found our private chef already working on breakfast. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and something buttery filled the air, and I let out a contented sigh.

"Morning," I said, leaning against the counter as he turned and smiled.

"Good morning, Miss Collins," he replied. "I've got something special for you two today—croissants, scrambled eggs with fresh herbs, and a little side of fruit. Oh, and coffee, of course."

"You're a magician," I said, grabbing a mug and pouring myself a cup. The first sip was pure bliss, warming me from the inside out as I stared out the wide windows at the mountains beyond.

This. This was what I'd been craving. No schedules, no pressure, just me and Nick and a world that felt like it was ours alone.

Nick's POV

I woke to the smell of coffee and the faint sound of something sizzling in the kitchen. For a second, I forgot where I was, but then the memories of last night came flooding back—Jade in the hot tub, her soft laugh, the way she felt in my arms under the stars. A lazy smile tugged at my lips.

Slipping out of bed, I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie before heading toward the kitchen. Jade was already there, leaning against the counter with a mug of coffee in hand, the sleeves of my sweatshirt pulled over her fingers. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks still pink from sleep, and I swear I fell in love with her all over again.

"Morning, gorgeous," I said, stepping up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

She tilted her head back, grinning up at me. "Morning, sleepyhead."

The chef greeted me with a nod as he slid a tray of golden croissants onto the counter. "Perfect timing, Mr. Galitzine. Breakfast is ready."

The table was set by the windows, overlooking the mountains, and we ate slowly, savoring every bite. The croissants were flaky and buttery, the eggs perfectly seasoned, and the coffee strong enough to wake me up fully. But it wasn't just the food—it was the quiet between us, the way Jade's foot brushed against mine under the table, the way she smiled at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Later That Morning

We decided to spend the day skiing. The private trail just beyond our cabin was pristine, untouched except for a light dusting of snow that had fallen overnight. Jade was bundled up in a sleek white jacket and matching ski pants, her cheeks already pink from the cold as she adjusted her goggles.

"You ready to get your ass kicked?" she asked, her grin mischievous as she strapped on her skis.

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You do remember who you're talking to, right? I'm bloody amazing at this."