Chapter 16
Sixteen
T he drive back to Ruth’s condo was quiet, a shared sense of relief settling between them now that her wrist was properly tended to. “Would you like to go to Ethan and Molly’s instead? We could make it there a little after midnight.”
Ruth stared out at the falling snow. “No. I don’t think I could manage going there. Would you mind taking me home?”
“Whatever your heart desires.” He clasped her hand.
Noah made a quick detour to a liquor store, emerging moments later with a chilled bottle of champagne tucked under his arm. Ruth raised an eyebrow at him as he climbed back into the truck. “You deserve a midnight toast,” he said simply, his grin disarming.
Once back at her condo, Noah parked and hurried around to help Ruth out of the truck. He carefully guided her inside, holding her elbow to steady her, mindful of her new cast. The warmth of her home embraced them as they stepped in, the soft glow of her Christmas tree welcoming after the harsh fluorescent lights of the ER.
He helped her out of her coat and ushered her toward the couch, easing her down into the cushions. “Stay put,” he ordered gently.
Ruth chuckled, her voice still a little shaky. “Not like I’m going anywhere.”
Noah disappeared into the kitchen, returning moments later with two glasses and a homemade ice pack wrapped in a fresh towel. He sat beside her, pulling her close with an easy strength that made her feel impossibly safe. Carefully, he adjusted her position, settling her into his lap with her legs draped over his. He tucked a pillow beneath her injured arm, then placed the ice pack over her cast.
“Better?” he asked, his voice low, his breath warm against her temple.
She nodded, the tension in her body easing. “Much.”
On the TV, Ryan Seacrest’s voice filled the room, introducing the latest entertainer singing on a windblown stage in Times Square. “We have a few minutes.”
“You called me Rae. Why?” She shifted her position, her bottom now resting on his lap.
“I know many people call you Ruthie, but after Matt Brandt—well, I wanted a different nickname than he uses.” His green eyes twinkled. “Besides, you are a ray of sunshine.”
The entertainers, Ryan, and his cohost readied to count down the last minute of the year. Noah reached for the champagne bottle, twisting the cork with a satisfying pop. Bubbles fizzed up the neck as he poured two glasses, handing one to Ruth with a steady hand.
“Cheers to surviving this treacherous New Year’s Eve,” he said, raising his glass.
“And to impromptu ER trips,” Ruth added with a wry smile, clinking her glass against his.
The countdown began—ten, nine, eight… Ruth’s heart thudded with each passing second, but not from the excitement of the New Year. Noah’s presence, solid and comforting, sent a warmth spreading through her chest, eclipsing the throbbing ache in her wrist. So much for the anesthetic working six hours.
At the stroke of midnight, they both took a sip of champagne, the bubbles effervescent on her tongue. Before she could set her glass down, Noah leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. The intensity in his gaze made her breath stall.
“Here,” he said softly, taking her glass and placing it beside his on the coffee table. His hands, warm and steady, returned to her face, cupping her cheeks with infinite care. His thumbs brushed her skin, sending a ripple of anticipation through her.
He leaned in slowly, his movements deliberate, giving her time to stop him if she wanted. She didn’t.
“Happy new year.” His lips met hers, soft at first, testing the waters. The kiss deepened, his mouth moving over hers with a purpose that left no doubts. This wasn’t an accidental brush of lips; it was a claiming, a connection. His hands stayed on her face, his fingers threading gently into her hair as he tilted her head to deepen the kiss.
Ruth melted into him, her uninjured hand gripping the fabric of his shirt as if tethering herself to him. His kiss was everything at once—gentle and commanding, tender and consuming. He tasted of champagne and something inherently Noah, something that made her toes curl and her heart skip beats.
He broke the kiss only long enough to breathe, his voice a low rumble. “I’ve wanted to do that all night.”
Her lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes fluttering open to meet his. “What took you so long?”
His answering grin was laced with both amusement and relief. “Timing. But no more waiting.”
This time, she was the one who leaned in, capturing his mouth in a kiss that mirrored his earlier purpose. When they finally pulled apart, the world outside seemed far away, and the New Year had already begun with a promise of something new between them.
Noah cradled Ruth in his arms as he carried her to the bedroom, the intimacy of the moment wrapping them in a cocoon of quiet understanding. She rested her head against his chest, her breath warm and uneven against his neck. When they reached her room, he nudged the door open with his foot and gently set her down on the bed, making sure her injured arm was propped securely on a pillow.
He sat beside her, brushing her hair from her face, his green eyes searching hers. “Rae,” he said, his voice tender but steady, “I need you to tell me if this is what you want. All of it.”
Ruth looked up at him. The low light from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across his face. She furrowed her brow and caught her bottom lip with her teeth, trying to hold back words she was too scared to say.
Noah watched her with a calm patience, his arms open in his lap, his expression tender, understanding.
"I just..." Ruth started, her voice barely a whisper. She glanced up at him, then away, shyly staring down at her good hand as if it held the answers she couldn't find. "I don’t know how to... how to do this." She waved a hand vaguely between them, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "You’ve been with other women. You know what you’re doing. And I’m just—" She broke off, a frustrated sound escaping her lips.
Noah’s warmth and presence were a comfort, but they also made her heart race faster, the nerves bubbling up to the surface. "Rae," he said softly, his voice like a soothing melody. "What’s going on in that head of yours? Talk to me."
She shook her head, her hair falling in front of her face like a curtain she could hide behind. But Noah reached out gently, caressing her cheek, pushing the hair out of her eyes. His touch was so gentle, it made her eyes sting with the threat of tears.
"I’m scared," she admitted finally, her voice cracking. "Scared I won’t be enough for you. That I’ll disappoint you."
She let out a shaky breath, her words tumbling out now like water breaking through a dam. "Because I’m so... inexperienced. I don’t know what I’m doing, Noah. And you—you’ve lived, you’ve had relationships, experiences. What if I can’t satisfy you? What if I’m... boring or awkward or—" She clamped her mouth shut, realizing how ridiculous she sounded but unable to stop the flood of self-doubt.
Noah took her hand in his, his thumb tracing slow circles on her palm. "Rae," he began, his voice firm but kind, "stop right there."
She looked up at him, her wide eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But?—"
"No, listen to me," he interrupted gently, shifting so he could face her more fully. "I’m here with you because I care about you . Not some idea of what you think you need to be for me. Not because of your experience or lack of it. Just you. Do you understand that?"
She blinked, startled by the intensity of his words. "But what if?—"
"Rae," his voice dipped lower, a husky warmth in his tone. "Do you know what I find most attractive about you?" He reached up, brushing his knuckles against her cheek, his gaze steady on hers. "The minute I met you in Tristan’s dining room. Serving coffee and food as we struggled to find Izzy. Your heart. Your honesty. The way you care so deeply. That’s what drew me to you, not some checklist of... whatever nonsense you’ve convinced yourself I need."
Her lips trembled, but before she could say anything, his hand slipped to the back of her neck, steadying her. "What a pair we are, Rae. You assured me that my doubts weren’t warranted, and now your doubts bubble up. I want this to be about us . No expectations, no pressure. And if that means I rest beside you, and we fall asleep with you in my arms, that’s fine too. Let’s do what feels right for you. Do you trust me? Believe me?"
She nodded, the knot in her chest loosening slightly. "I do," she whispered. Her hazel eyes glistened, the vulnerability in her gaze mirrored by the trust she was beginning to place in him. “I want you, Noah.”
"I’m glad." He smiled softly, leaning closer to press a kiss to the tip of her nose. "Then let me show you this doesn’t have to be perfect or practiced. It just has to be real."
He kissed her—a slow, deliberate kiss that seemed to melt away all her fears. He didn’t rush, didn’t push. Every touch, every movement, was as purposeful as it was tender, giving her the time and space to feel, to trust, to be herself.
Noah broke the kiss, his lips curving into a reassuring smile. “We’ll go slow,” he murmured. “I’ll never hurt you, Rae. You set the pace. If you want me to stop at any time, just tell me.”
She nodded, her nervousness ebbing as his words wrapped around her like a balm. Her fingers reached up to touch his face, tracing the line of his jaw. “I trust you.”