Chapter 17
Seventeen
N oah leaned down again, his lips brushing hers in a kiss so tender, it felt like a promise. He took his time, letting her feel every nuance of his affection, his desire. His hands rested on either side of her, steadying him as he deepened the kiss, his lips coaxing hers into a rhythm that felt as natural as breathing. He wanted her in a way he had never wanted anyone.
Ruth’s uninjured hand slipped into his hair, her fingers threading through the soft strands. She tugged gently, her sigh melting into his mouth as he kissed her again. Each kiss was a conversation of touch that allowed her to explore her own responses.
Noah pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. “Rae, I’ll grab a condom, but we can stop anytime.”
Her cheeks flushed as she nodded. “I don’t want to stop, Noah.”
He stepped away briefly, rummaging through his wallet to retrieve a condom—the other thing he purchased at the package store—before returning to her side. He slid off his shirt, revealing the toned lines of his chest and shoulders.
Ruth’s eyes widened slightly as she reached up, tracing a tentative finger along the curve of his collarbone. “You’re beautiful.”
Noah chuckled softly, his hand brushing her hair. “I was just going to say the same about you.”
He helped her out of her sweater with infinite care, ensuring her injured arm was never jostled. His eyes never left hers, silently asking permission at each step. Ruth’s cheeks flushed as he slid her jeans down her legs, his movements reverent rather than rushed.
His hands skimmed over Ruth’s skin with a slight tremor, not from nerves but from the intensity of the moment. He wanted her to feel cherished, every hesitation and insecurity melting away with his touch. As she lay before him, her hazel eyes watching his every move, he felt her trust and vowed to handle her heart as gently as he was handling her body.
Noah leaned over Ruth, his eyes locked onto hers as he pressed another kiss to her lips, soft but lingering. His hand gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin as though she were the most delicate thing he’d ever touched. The moment stretched between them, the air thick with unspoken words and mutual need.
Her breath hitched as he kissed her again, deeper this time, his lips coaxing hers to open for him as her body shuddered. He was patient, his touch unhurried as he let her set the pace. He wanted her to feel in control, to understand that this was about her, about them .
“You’re beautiful, Rae,” he murmured against her mouth, his voice thick with emotion. “You have no idea how much I want you.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I want you too,” she whispered, her voice trembling but sure.
Noah’s hand slid down her side, pausing at her waist. He trailed his lips down her jawline to the curve of her neck. Her skin was hot beneath his mouth, her breath coming in soft gasps as he explored her.
“Let me know if you want me to stop.” His lips brushed against her collarbone.
“I won’t,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want this. I want you.”
Her words ignited something in him, but he kept his movements measured, his hands moving to the hem of her camisole. He paused, his eyes meeting hers, silently asking for permission. She nodded, her trust in him clear.
He lifted the fabric slowly, his fingers grazing her breasts as he revealed more of her. His gaze never left hers, ensuring she was comfortable with every step. When the camisole was gone, he leaned back slightly, his eyes roaming over her with a mixture of awe and reverence.
“You’re perfect.”
She reached for him, her fingers brushing against his skin.
Noah sucked in a breath at her touch, his eyes darkening with desire. “You don’t have to be shy with me, Rae,” he said softly. “I’m yours.”
She explored, tracing the muscles of his chest and shoulders. He leaned down and suckled her nipple, claiming her with more urgency now. His hands followed the curve of one breast and then the other. She mewed when he nuzzled the silken underside of each. His fingers followed the soft curves of her torso, slipping beneath the waistband of her panties. He paused again, his gaze seeking hers. “Is this okay?”
“I trust you, Noah.”
With her permission, he removed her panties, his hands and gaze reverent as he committed every inch of her to memory. He discarded his own remaining clothes before settling beside her, his body warm and solid against hers.
He kissed her again, his hands exploring her body with infinite care. “I’ve never felt this way before.” His fingers slid over her red curls and between her wet folds.
“Noah,” she said breathlessly as his finger circled her nub, feeling it swell. Her knees rose and fell open. One finger slipped into her tight core, dipping deeper. Her hips lifted to take his finger, and he slipped a second inside. His thumb teased her clit as her breath caught in her throat, her muscles clamping around his fingers. When he finally positioned himself above her, he paused, staring into her eyes.
“This is about us ,” he said, his voice low and steady. “If it’s too much, tell me. We’ll stop.”
She shook her head, her hazel eyes locked onto his.
“Rae, I need to know you’re ready.”
Her hazel eyes searched his, and she nodded, her voice soft but certain. “I’m ready.”
“We’ll go slow,” he promised.
* * *
As their bodies joined, Ruth’s breath hitched, and she clung to him, the fingers of her good hand digging into his shoulder. Noah moved carefully, giving her time to adjust to him, his every motion guided by her responses. He kissed her deeply, his lips holding her in the flood of emotions that washed over her.
Noah’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining as he continued to move within her. His touch, his whispered reassurances, guided her through every wave of uncertainty, until all she could feel was him. He was her steady constant as the intensity of the experience built between them.
She matched his rhythm tentatively at first, then with growing confidence, her body learning his. She looked into his bright eyes as she let go, her breath freezing in her chest, her core tightening around him. Still in control, he thrust through her ecstasy and came with a guttural moan of her name.
When it was over, Noah didn’t pull away immediately. Instead, he stayed close, pressing soft kisses to her lips, her temple, and her shoulder as their breathing slowed. Ruth felt her heart racing, her emotions teetering on the edge of overwhelming, but Noah’s presence calmed her.
“You’re amazing, Rae,” he murmured against her lips.
His words, his touch, and the depth of his attention made her feel cherished in a way she’d never experienced, bringing tears to her eyes. The vulnerability she’d feared melted away, replaced by a growing confidence as they had moved together, their bodies and emotions aligning.
Noah pressed a kiss to her temple. He rolled to his side, careful not to jostle her injured arm, and pulled her close. His fingers brushed through her hair as he gazed down at her. “How are you feeling?”
Ruth blinked back unexpected tears, her lips curving into a soft smile. “I’m okay. I’m more than okay. I just…” I feel safe and… loved, she thought.
Ruth felt his arms tighten around her, his embrace steady even as her own heart raced. She could feel the depth of his emotions in the way he held her, as though she was something precious, something he didn’t want to let go of. When his lips met hers again, the kiss was soft, unhurried—a silent invitation to let her walls down. There was no rush, no urgency, only tenderness that coaxed her to trust him, to trust herself.
His hands and mouth moved over her with a gentleness that brought tears to her eyes. Every touch, every caress was deliberate, teaching her something she had never truly understood before—that intimacy wasn’t about expectations or perfection. It was about connection, about being seen and accepted.
As the night unfolded, Noah’s whispered reassurances and unspoken patience guided her. He was attuned to her every response, easing away any hesitation with the warmth of his kisses and the quiet strength of his presence. He gave her time, space to feel safe in this moment with him. Slowly, her doubts began to melt away, replaced by something softer, something she hadn’t dared to hope for—trust.
By the time they lay tangled together for a second time, Ruth’s worries had dissolved entirely, replaced by the warmth of something unshakable. She smiled against his chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns across his skin, marveling at the ease she felt in his arms. Her head rested against him, his heartbeat steady and reassuring beneath her ear, her injured arm carefully propped on the pillow he had adjusted for her comfort.
Noah’s arm wrapped securely around her, holding her as though he belonged there—as though they both did. The quiet of her bedroom wrapped around them, and for the first time, Ruth felt completely at peace. She nestled closer, letting her body relax against his, her heart full in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
This was home—not a place but a person. Noah.
* * *
Noah glanced down at her. Ruth’s face was soft, peaceful as she rested against him. The slow rise and fall of her chest, the warmth of her body, the way her fingers curled around his without thinking—it tugged at something deep inside him.
He exhaled, barely a whisper of sound. “This is different,” he murmured, half to himself.
Ruth didn’t stir. She had no idea what she was doing to him, how she was slipping past every defense he’d ever built. He’d felt things before—intense, fleeting, burning emotions—but this? This wasn’t fire. It was something deeper, quieter, something that settled into the corners of him without asking permission.
She had a way of pulling him open without trying. He wasn’t even sure when it had happened.
His rational mind protested. Too fast. Too soon.
But none of it mattered. Not when she made him feel like this. Like he’d finally stopped running.
A sleepy murmur pulled him from his thoughts. “Noah…” Her voice was soft, drowsy. She shifted slightly, her head tilting just enough for her heavy-lidded eyes to find his. “What are you thinking?”
A slow, unbidden smile crossed his lips. His fingers slid into her hair, tangling gently.
“You,” he admitted, his voice low. “How incredible you are. How lucky I am.”
A faint blush touched her cheeks. She ducked her head, a shy smile forming.
“I think I’m the lucky one,” she whispered, almost as if she hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
Something twisted in his chest, almost painful in its intensity.
Before he could stop himself, he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, lingering there just long enough to memorize the moment. The words sat on the edge of his tongue— I love you —but he held them back. Not because they weren’t true. But because when he said them, he wanted it to be perfect.
For now, this was enough.
He closed his eyes, holding her close. One truth settled deep inside him: this wasn’t just desire. It wasn’t infatuation.
It was something far, far greater.
And when the time was right, he wouldn’t hesitate to tell her exactly what she meant to him.