Chapter Six
Noah
I step out of the elevator and walk into the lobby of the Hudson Hotel, immediately greeted by the buzz of activity. It’s always like this in the mornings: staff rushing about, guests checking in, the whole operation running like a well-oiled machine.
Then, just as I pass the reception desk, I spot the head chef, Miguel, rushing toward me with a look of panic on his face. His white coat is a little disheveled, and his normally controlled demeanor is frayed.
“Noah!” he exclaims, breathless. “The truffles you ordered—they haven’t arrived. We were supposed to have an hour ago for tonight’s menu, but they’re still not here, and I need them for the sauce. It needs to simmer for at least eight hours.”
I feel my irritation rise immediately. Truffles are supposed to be a specialty item, handled by our suppliers like clockwork. But, of course, something always goes wrong when I’m already juggling a thousand things.
“Let me guess,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “They’re saying they are delayed.”
Miguel nods vigorously. “I need them now , Noah. If we don’t get them, tonight’s special is going to be ruined.”
“All right,” I reply, my voice tight. “I’ll handle it personally. Get me the address for the supplier. I’ll make sure they’re on their way.”
I turn on my heel, already making a mental note to deal with this disaster first. It’s another curveball in a long list of things I don’t have time for today. I pull out my phone as I walk through the hotel, looking up the address and quickly plugging it into the map. This is going to be a pain in the ass, but I’ve dealt with worse.
Walking through the bar, I scan the area.
Then I spot her.
Blossom.
She’s just walked in, still a little early for her shift, but no doubt ready to get started.
She looks up as she sees me, and I feel a small flutter in my chest, like some instinctive part of me notices her before I even consciously register it.
“Blossom,” I say, my voice firm. “Clock in and follow me.”
She looks at me a little confused but obeys without hesitation, walking behind me as I head toward the back exit.
“Where are we going?” she asks after a moment, her voice curious but guarded.
I glance back at her, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “We’re leaving.”
She stops dead in her tracks, eyes widening. “What? You’re kidding, right?”
“No,” I reply, my pace not slowing. “We’ve got a situation to deal with. And we don’t have time to waste.”
She looks almost shocked.
I can tell she’s trying to figure out what the hell I’m up to.
But she follows anyway, like she always does.
I push through the hotel’s back entrance and head toward my car, the luxury vehicle parked just outside, looking like a beast in the morning sun. I slide into the driver’s seat, giving Blossom a quick glance before I start the engine.
She hesitates for a second before getting into the passenger seat, the door closing softly behind her. I can tell she remembers this car from the night we spent together. She’s trying not to acknowledge it, but I can see the way her eyes linger on the leather interior.
“So, why did you want me to come with you?” she finally asks, breaking the silence as we pull away from the hotel.
I let out a slight chuckle. “Maybe I just wanted to spend some more time with my newest employee.”
She shoots me a glance, the corners of her lips twitching, but she doesn’t smile. “Really?”
I lean back slightly, my eyes focused on the road ahead. “Just kidding. You’ll need to know where we get our supplies if you’re going to work here.”
She seems to relax at that, but the tension in the air doesn’t completely dissipate. There’s something else between us that neither of us is addressing directly, but I don’t want to think about that right now.
The city passes by in a blur as I drive, the streets flashing by quickly. I focus on the road, but I can feel Blossom’s eyes on me every now and then, as if she’s still trying to piece together why I asked her to come with me on this errand.
The skyline looms in the distance as we make our way to the market. It’s a bustling part of the city: crowded, noisy, and chaotic in its own unique way. The car hums as I park in the large lot nearby, and I can see Blossom’s expression shift.
She looks uneasy, her bright eyes darting around, taking in the grimy exteriors of the buildings and the mix of cars and delivery trucks parked in the lot. The place is far from glamorous, but it’s where we get some of our finest ingredients.
I can’t help but notice her wariness. She’s used to the polished side of the hotel industry, not this raw, no-frills world behind the scenes. But I also see the flicker of excitement in her eyes as we step out of the car, her curiosity piqued despite her unease.
“Ready?” I ask, glancing back at her.
She hesitates but then nods. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
I lead the way, and as we walk toward the entrance, I can tell she’s wondering what the hell she’s gotten herself into. But I have a feeling she’ll get used to it.
She has the kind of fire I like.
And, maybe, something more. But that’s not something I’m going to deal with today.
The market is a world away from the pristine luxury of the hotel. As soon as we step inside, the noise and chaos hit me. It’s bustling—people shouting to each other, bartering, haggling over prices. The air smells rich with the scent of fresh fish, meat hanging on display, and spices wafting from nearby stalls. It’s not clean, and it’s not polished, but it’s alive in a way that makes my heart race.
Blossom follows closely behind me, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene. I can tell she’s a little out of her element, so I grab her hand without thinking, my fingers brushing over hers. She looks up at me, startled, but I offer her a reassuring smile as I pull her through the crowded aisles.
"Stick close," I say, guiding her around a vendor’s table where a large fish is being expertly filleted.
The smell of raw seafood lingers in the air, mixing with the thick, savory scent of meat from the butcher’s corner. I can see her wrinkling her nose slightly but she doesn’t pull away, instead walking in step with me as we navigate the tight space.
We pass a stall selling vibrant vegetables, the colors so rich they almost look fake, and a sweet aroma of ripe fruit fills the air.
People around us shout about their deals, bargaining for the best price. It’s nothing like the smooth flow of service at the hotel, but there’s a certain energy here that I can’t help but appreciate.
We reach the truffle dealer’s stall, and I release Blossom’s hand, stepping forward to address the man behind the counter. He’s older, wearing a stained apron, and looks a little flustered when he sees me approach.
“Noah Hudson,” he says, almost apologetically. “I’m so sorry, but the truffles are delayed. The shipment’s stuck, and I don’t have any to send you right now. I know you’re on a tight schedule, and I deeply apologize for this.”
I take a deep breath, my patience thin, but still intact. “Look, I don’t have time for this,” I say, keeping my voice steady but firm. “I need those truffles today. You understand the kind of pressure we’re under. The entire night’s menu depends on them.”
The dealer looks down, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know, Noah. I’ve had some problems with my suppliers. If you want, I can get them to you tomorrow, but—”
I cut him off. “Tomorrow won’t work. What can we do today to make this right?”
I glance over at Blossom, noticing how she’s watching me closely, her eyes sharp.
The dealer looks at me, then nods. “I’ll tell you what. I can give you a premium deal for the inconvenience, a discount for next time, and priority shipping for this order. It’s the best I can do.”
I look over at Blossom, then back at the dealer. “Done,” I say, extending my hand. “Let’s seal the deal.”
As we walk away, I feel Blossom’s gaze on me.
She’s impressed.
“Not bad,” she says quietly. “That was...smooth.”
I smile. “You’ve got to know how to handle these situations. In business and in life.”
I pull out my phone and call the hotel, telling my chef that he’ll have to improvise for tonight, but the truffles will arrive tomorrow in time for him to create the menu he has planned. I also tell him to make sure that he calls me if there’s a rush at the bar that the bartenders can’t handle.
We get back into the car, the engine humming to life as I prepare to pull out of the parking lot, my mind still buzzing from the deal I just made. The city’s lights begin to blur around us, the night closing in, but the air between us feels charged.
Blossom is sitting silently next to me, but I can feel her glancing over at me every now and then. The tension from earlier is back, different, but still present.
I want to reach for her, but I don’t.
Then, out of nowhere, she leans in.
Her lips are soft, hesitant at first, but they meet mine, and I’m lost.
I kiss her back, just as softly, letting the tension between us melt away in the heat of the moment. It’s not a kiss that was planned, but it’s urgent, like we’ve both been holding our breath for too long.
When we pull away, she looks at me with wide eyes, almost surprised at herself.
I grin. “I guess we’re both in a rush to see where this goes, huh?”
She laughs softly, still a little breathless. “I guess so.”
The drive back to the hotel is quiet, the tension still hanging between us, but this time, it feels different. There’s something more beneath it.
When I pull into the hotel parking lot, I turn to her. “You want to come up? I’d like to spend some more time with you.”
She looks at me for a long moment before nodding. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
The elevator doors close behind us, the quiet hum of the ride almost drowned out by the quickening pulse in my ears. I can’t help myself. I reach for Blossom as soon as we’re inside, pulling her close, kissing her with a hunger that feels long overdue.
She responds immediately, her body pressing against mine as we lose ourselves in the moment. It’s a familiarity mixed with something new, something more. It feels like we’re right back where we were that night, only this time, it’s different.
The elevator dings when we reach the top floor, and I barely pull away. We walk down the hallway, our hands brushing, the tension between us almost unbearable.
When I open the door to my penthouse, we step inside, and I quickly shut the door behind us.
I lean against the door for a moment, catching my breath.
Blossom steps toward me, her eyes dark with desire. “No one can know about this,” she says quietly.
I nod, stepping toward her, my fingers lightly grazing her cheek. “I don’t want anyone else to know, either.”
We kiss again, the door to my penthouse closing behind us, leaving the rest of the world outside. I take her into my arms, holding her against me as we kiss, our lips enveloping one another’s over and over again.
She feels so light and small in my arms and I love it. I pick her up and carry her into my bedroom. I lay her down and climb atop her, kissing her again, feeling my cock press against her.
I grind my hips against her, thrusting toward her, letting her feel my dick begging to be released from my pants.
Her small hands fall to my crotch. She teases me, rubbing against my hard dick with her hand, only the fabric of my pants keeping us apart.
Silently, she unbuttons them, pulling down my zipper, and I feel the cool, air-conditioned climate hit my exposed cock. She pulls off her pants and straddles me, her delicate hand placed against my chest and pushing me backward.
I feel her slip herself against me, her wetness sliding across me and making me shiver with delight. It’s only a few passes before she grabs my shaft with her hand, standing me erect before sitting down on me completely.
I feel myself plunge into her, my hands fall to her hips, and I grip her tightly as I pump up to meet her. I watch as she serpentines her body across me, flicking her hips back and forth, grinding against me.
I groan, feeling myself rut against her, harder and harder, until she collapses across me, screaming my name and shuddering.
We’re lying in bed, tangled together, our bodies warm and relaxed after everything that’s happened tonight. The city lights pour through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow over the room. I can hear the city’s hum below: cars honking, people shouting, the distant sound of life going on.
But in here, it’s just us.
Quiet. Peaceful.
Blossom’s head rests on my chest, her breath soft against my skin. I can feel the rhythm of her heartbeat, steady and calm. My fingers trace small circles along her back, and for a moment, everything else fades away. I’m not thinking about the hotel, the business, or the complicated mess I’ve gotten myself into. It’s just her, here with me.
We’ve been talking quietly, our words drifting like the night air. “You know,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper, “this feels real. Like...not just a one-off thing.”
I take a slow breath, unsure of how to answer.
There’s something in her tone, something deeper than just physical attraction.
It’s like she’s asking if there’s more to us than what we’ve shared so far.
“Yeah,” I say, my fingers still tracing the curves of her back. “But...I don’t know what it means.”
She shifts slightly, raising her head to look at me. “What do you mean?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.
I hesitate, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I’ve been avoiding real connections for years. I don’t know how to let someone in without...being afraid of losing them.” My voice cracks a little, and I clear my throat. “This place,” I add, gesturing to the penthouse around us, “it was Whittney’s dream. She wanted to restore this hotel, make it beautiful. I promised her I’d do it. It was important to her.”
Blossom’s eyes soften. She doesn’t say anything right away, just listens, and I’m grateful for that.
Blossom shifts again, and her fingers slide gently over my chest, tracing the scars that I know are there but rarely let anyone see. She lifts her head, her expression gentle but full of concern. “Noah, what happened to Whittney? Why are you so afraid to let someone in?”
I swallow hard, the memory of her still raw after all these years. “She...she died,” I whisper. “Cancer. It was five years ago. It happened fast. We knew it was coming, but it still hit like a ton of bricks. I was with her until the end, holding her hand when she couldn’t hold her head up anymore.”
The words feel heavy in the air between us. I haven’t said them out loud in so long, and I don’t know why I’m saying them now. Maybe because she’s here. Maybe because I need someone to hear it.
“I’m sorry,” Blossom says softly, her arms wrapping around me, pulling me close. I feel the warmth of her embrace, her fingers threading through my hair. “That must have been...so hard.”
I let out a shaky breath, leaning into her touch. It’s a comfort I didn’t realize I needed. “It was. I lost the person I thought I’d spend my life with. And after that, I couldn’t...I couldn’t even think about letting anyone get close.”
She holds me tighter, her voice low and comforting. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore, Noah.”
I close my eyes, allowing myself to relax for the first time in years, feeling her warmth, her presence, as if for just a moment, I’m not alone anymore.