Heartstrings: The Complete Collection

7. Elli

Chapter 7

Elli

I slump into the mattress as Noah slides my legs from his shoulders. He crawls up the bed, and I give him a shy smile as he drinks me in.

“That was amazing,” I huff, my chest rising and falling with my rapid breaths.

“You are unbelievably hot when you come,” he mutters, caging me in with his arms and bending to claim my mouth in a blistering kiss.

My hands delve into his hair, my tongue tangling with his as I kiss him back like he’s my air. I need him inside me, need our bodies joined in the most elemental way.

“You ready for me, sweet thing?” he asks, nudging his hips between my thighs.

My eyes glisten as I gaze at him. “I’ve been ready for you my whole life.”

“Shit, Elli.” He swallows hard, dropping his forehead to mine. “You’re fucking everything. Gonna make you mine now, sweetheart.”

I tense as he probes my entrance, my hands gripping his biceps. “Sorry, I’m nervous.”

He kisses me softly and rolls us so he’s on his back with me straddling his hips. “You control this, okay? We have all the time in the world.”

I nod, biting my lip as I grasp his swollen cock and position him. I sink down, and Noah groans as the head slips past my folds. Only the crown is inside me, but I already feel full.

“Please, just do it,” I pant, needing him to take control.

“Are you sure?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“Yes. I want you. Need you.”

That’s all it takes. Grasping my hips, he buries himself inside me with one brutal thrust. I cry out at the burning sensation, squeezing my eyes closed.

“Ah, fuck, Elli. You feel so good. So fucking good,” he grunts, forcing myself to hold still so I can adjust to his length and girth.

He smooths my hands over my body, cupping my breasts and tweaking my nipples. I gasp and arch my back as my inner muscles clench harder around him.

“Doesn’t hurt now. Please move,” I huff, bracing my palms against his chest.

Anchoring his hands on my hips, he pulls out and thrusts back in, sending white-hot fire up my spine from where we’re connected.

I gaze at the man who is becoming my entire world. How is it possible to feel so close to him after such a short period of time? I never dreamed I’d have this kind of connection with someone, that I’d be lucky enough to find my soul mate in this big, wide world.

Noah’s hands guide me as I move my hips with his, learning the rhythm and finding the position that sends sparks shooting through my core with each thrust. He fills me from the inside out, stretching me in every direction with his sheer girth.

“So tight. So fucking perfect,” Noah groans, flipping us so I’m on my back again and pounding into me.

I cling to him, noting his tight expression, taut jaw, and blazing eyes as he seats himself deep inside me.

“Noah… ah… shit.” I sob as he hits some heavenly spot inside me.

Noah reaches between us, pressing his thumb to my clit as he continues to thrust. “That’s it, baby. Feel me deep inside you? Gonna make you come around my cock. I want your juices all over me.”

The wet sound of our bodies coming together is erotic, tightening the coil of pleasure building inside me. The combination of his cock hitting my G-spot and his thumb circling my clit has me hurtling toward another orgasm, this one sure to leave me a puddle of pleasure on the mattress.

It hits me all at once, tearing through me like a high-speed train as Noah continues to stroke inside me. My body clenches before exploding outward, my vision blurring as I chant his name. I come hard and fast, digging my nails into his back and clinging to him for dear life as ecstasy buffets me, wringing every ounce of bliss from my body.

Noah tenses above me, shouting my name hoarsely as she spills inside me, his cock jerking as I bite down on his shoulder with a whimper.

“I love you,” I whisper, tears leaking from the corners of my eyes as I give every part of myself to this man—a man who accepts me exactly the way I am.

“Fuck, I love you, too,” he rasps, scattering kisses over my cheeks, my nose, and my eyes.

Our gazes clash, and something ancient and powerful passes between us. Happiness bubbles through me, knowing he loves me too, seeing it in the way he looks at me, in the fierce, unstoppable pleasure he’s given me. Impossible as it is, we’ve fallen for each other, each recognizing the missing piece of ourselves in the other.

I wince as Noah pulls out of me. He climbs out of bed and heads to the bathroom, returning a minute later with a warm washcloth which he uses to gently clean me. I push down my embarrassment, enjoying being loved and cared for in this intimate way.

Noah quickly disposes of the washcloth and crawls back into bed, tugging me against him and tangling his legs with mine. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“Amazing,” I sigh. I tilt my head back to look at him. “Is it always like that?”

“It’s never been like that for me. Never,” he replies, making me shiver as he trails his fingers along my bare arm. “That was something else, like an out-of-body experience.”

“This feels so good. So right,” I confess. “I meant what I said. I’m in love with you, Noah. I know it’s crazy, but?—”

He cuts me off with a kiss. “Then we’ll be crazy together because I meant it too,” he murmurs against my mouth. “I love you, Elli. Come to New York with me. Live with me. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

My mouth drops open as I gape at him. “I… What?”

“I want you with me. Not for tonight. Not for tomorrow, but for the rest of my life,” he whispers in my ear.

My mouth moves, but nothing comes out. Am I dreaming? Is Noah saying what I think he’s saying?

He cups my face in his hands, his eyes boring into mine. “You deserve so much more than this. What’s keeping you here, Elli? Your mom is gone. Your stepfather and stepbrothers treat you like shit. I want you to be my wife, the mother of my children. I want to grow old with you and watch our children have children of their own. I want to take care of you.”

Leave Virginia and my job at Mountain Ridge Resort? Go to New York with Noah, where my best friend now lives? Apart from Simone, my life is miserable and lonely here. Can I trust Noah and follow my heart? Start a new life with him?

“Elli?” Noah asks tentatively.

I throw my arms around him and smash my lips to his.

He laughs against my mouth. “Is that a yes?”

“Hell, yeah!” I beam at him. “I’d go anywhere so long as we’re together. Yes to New York. Yes to being the mother of your children and growing old together. Yes to anything with you, Noah.”

“Anything?” He smirks, sliding his hand between my thighs.

“No fair,” I moan as he parts my folds with his fingers.

“I love you. You’ve brought me back to life. You’re my sunshine,” he mutters, nipping at my mouth.

I’m in heaven, in the arms of the man I love, as he expertly moves his fingers on me. Reality will intrude soon enough, but for now, tomorrow can wait.

I don’t remember falling asleep. Noah gave me two more orgasms, one with his talented fingers and another while he was buried deep inside me before I passed out.

The sun is beginning to rise when I wake the following morning. I’m plastered to Noah’s side, one leg thrown across his body. His face is relaxed in sleep, and my heart melts as I watch the steady rise and fall of his chest. He’s so handsome. How did I get so lucky?

Fire-breathing butterflies erupt in my stomach as I remember last night. Noah asked me to move to New York with him. Start a new life together. The thought fills me with equal amounts of nerves and anticipation, but I know it’s right. He’s right.

I glance at the clock on the bedroom wall. 6 AM. Even though it’s my day off, I’m used to waking early.

I don’t want to return to the house—it’s not like anyone will have missed me—but I need to grab my few belongings. Noah said he’d come with me, but he looks so peaceful, I don’t want to disturb him. I can be in and out of the house before my stepfather or stepbrothers’ wake. They most likely have no clue I didn’t come home last night, which only solidifies my decision to move forward with my life with Noah.

I gently untangle myself from Noah, careful not to wake him. After using the bathroom, I retrieve my bag from the living room floor where I dropped it last night. I dress in the jeans and t-shirt I stashed there yesterday and pull on my sneakers before scribbling a note for Noah and heading out the door.

I enjoy the crisp September air as I make the ten-minute walk to the parking lot where I left my car last night. It’s only a short drive to the house, and I pull up in the driveway, climb out and let myself in quietly.

Up in my room, I pull a small suitcase from my closet and start filling it with clothes, a few books, my jewelry supplies, and my photo album, which holds all my pictures of Mom. I also remove the map from my wall and carefully fold it, stashing it on the top before zipping the case closed.

I take one last look around the small room, waiting for the doubts and second thoughts to kick in, but they don’t come. This house hasn’t been home since Mom died. My home is wherever Noah is now. I think she’d be happy for me. Noah was right—she wouldn’t have wanted this life for me. I was waiting for my prince to come along and open my eyes with his kiss. Okay, I kissed him first, but you get the gist.

Plucking my case from the bed, I open my bedroom door, letting out a frightened squeak when a large body blocks my way.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Raymond growls.

I raise my chin. “None of your business.”

His eyes narrow as they land on my suitcase. “Going somewhere?”

“Again, none of your business.”

“Oh, I think it is my business when my sister stays out all night, sneaks in early the next morning, and tries to leave with a suitcase,” Raymond sneers, taking a step forward.

I hold my ground, refusing to let him intimidate me. “Fine. I’m leaving. I planned to call Harold once I was back at the cabin with Noah to let him know I wouldn’t be coming back. The house is in his name, so it’s up to him to run it now because I’m done here.”

“Jesus, you actually went and did it! You fucked some rich idiot for a ticket out of here,” he says in disgust. “Well, well, looks like little miss innocent ain’t so innocent anymore.”

“It’s not like that. I love him. Not that you’d know what love is. No woman wants a lazy hypocrite with no career prospects,” I bite back.

“Wake up, you stupid little cunt. He’s using you for sex. Once he’s tired of you, he’ll dump you like the worthless slut you are.”

Fury bubbles up my chest, almost choking me. “I work my ass off every day to keep a roof over your head,” I hiss, jabbing a finger into his chest, “and you treat me like crap. No more. Noah loves me and treats me like an equal. He’s made me realize I’m worth so much more than running around after you, catering to your every petty whim. Now, get out of my way because I’m leaving, and I hope to God I never have to see your worthless faces again.”

I shove past him, taking him by surprise. Despite my bravado, I’m shaking with nerves as I sprint down the stairs. I need to get the hell out of here. I reach the bottom of the stairs and throw open the door, heading toward my car.

Raymond comes barreling out after me, his face twisted with anger. “You’re not going anywhere. You don’t get to just up and leave. What the fuck are we supposed to do?”

I whirl to face him. “Ooh, let me think,” I say sarcastically. “How about… get a fucking job, you lazy, worthless piece of shit!”

I know I’ve gone too far when Raymond launches himself at me. I turn on my heel, intending to dive into my car, but he’s too quick.

He grabs my wrist and hauls me toward him. “Like I said, you’re not going anywhere. Without you, we have no income, no way to pay the bills or buy food.”

“Let. Go. Of. Me.” I enunciate each word clearly, despite the pain of his fingers biting into my flesh.

Raymond ignores me, getting up in my face and tightening his grip until my eyes water. “Make me.”

I don’t think. I swing the small suitcase as hard as I can, smashing him in the side of the head. He rears back with a grunt of pain, releasing me so suddenly I lose my balance and fall backward onto my butt.

Raymond recovers quickly, pressing his hand to the cut on his head and cursing as he sees the blood. “Bad move, sis ,” he spits, advancing on me.

I scramble backward, but he grabs my legs, holding me in place as he pulls his fist back. I throw my arms up to protect my face and wait for the blow…