Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Watch and pray, dear, never get tired of trying, and never think it is impossible to conquer your faults.” ~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
T hree days in a row with breakfast made by a very sexy man. Nat could get used to this. Perched on the kitchen island, her short legs dangling, she watched as Noah made them vegetarian breakfast burritos. After Summer left last night, she’d exchanged a series of flirty texts with Noah that resulted in him arriving and bending her over the desk in the living room.
He’d slept over again, but she’d woken up alone. When she woke, she knew he wasn’t gone. Nonetheless, the loss of his arms chilled her.
“This is nice.” She sighed.
“Agreed.” His lips lifted, forming happy crinkles about his eyes.
“I’d like to propose something,” she said, taking the plate he handed her.
“Okay.” He leaned against the counter beside her.
“Clayton and Elle return Saturday afternoon, which may make these sleepovers challenging.”
Noah nodded.
“I say we take advantage of this time, and you sleep here for the rest of the week. It will give us more time to settle into this and figure out the next steps.”
“You mean you just want a week of uninterrupted orgasms and homecooked food.” A wicked gleam sparked in his eyes.
“I wouldn’t be the only one benefiting.”
Noah arched an eyebrow.
“I mean, you’d have the pleasure of providing said orgasms and homecooked food.”
“Your benevolence knows no boundaries,” he deadpanned.
“Oh.” She placed her plate on the counter behind her and jumped to the floor. Moving in front of him, she took his plate and set it aside. “I can be very benevolent.” Her voice was a husky whisper as she popped the top button of his jeans and dragged the zipper down.
His pupils dilated, and his breath grew ragged.
Wicked mischief swirled in her, curling her lips into a seductive smile. She lowered to her knees, pulling down his jeans and boxer briefs. Her hands grazed up the muscles of his legs to his growing arousal, wrapping her hand around it.
“Let me show you how benevolent I can be,” she purred, pumping him twice with her hand.
“So fucking benevolent.” A throaty groan escaped Noah with her first slow lick up his length.
An hour later, they kissed goodbye. Noah headed to the bakery, and she drove to the clinic. Two orgasms really were the breakfast of champions. With an extra sated pep in her step, she glided through the clinic, her ruby red ballet flats paired with a white pencil skirt and red blouse.
“You seem extra chipper this morning,” Mom said, meeting Nat at the reception desk after she’d said goodbye to her patient.
“I had a good workout this morning.” Breathiness shook her voice as she recalled this morning’s workout .
The tug of Noah’s long fingers into her hair while she wrapped her lips around his cock and undid him. The loss of his measured control when he pulled her from her knees and took her against the fridge. His deepening thrusts driving her into bliss. All while whispering that she was fucking perfect.
“You look flushed. Are you feeling okay?” Mom stepped closer; her brows knitted together in assessment.
“I’m fine. It’s warm in here today.”
“Are you sure?” She placed her palm on Nat’s forehead.
“If only there were someone in this room with a medical degree to assess if someone is fine…oh wait, there is,” Nat sassed, batting her away.
“I’m still your mother,” she tsked .
“Is Dr. Owens here?” A voice cleared.
Nat turned to find Mrs. Lewis at the counter being greeted by LeAnne.
“Sorry, Dr. Owens is at the hospital doing rounds and hasn’t returned yet,” LeAnne explained.
“Will he be back soon?” Annoyance creased Mrs. Lewis’s wrinkled face.
Nat opened the half door and stepped into the patient check-in area. “Hello, Mrs. Lewis. May I assist you?”
Mrs. Lewis’s brown eyes narrowed. Her judgy gaze swept down Nat, reaching the ballet flats. Her lips pursed. “I’ll wait for Dr. Owens.”
Nat sucked in a breath. “Mrs. Lewis, I am Dr. Owens.”
“I want the real Doc?—”
“I am a real doctor,” Nat sniped through clenched teeth.
Mrs. Lewis bristled. Her features fixed into a disapproving frown.
Nat waved her hands. “I know…I know…my father.”
“Mrs. Lewis.” Mom beamed a warm smile at the cranky woman as she stepped beside Nat. “So lovely to see you. Chris will be back from the hospital any minute now. Would you like to have a seat? I’ll have LeAnne bring you a cup of tea?”
Mrs. Lewis’s expression softened. “Some of that delicious lavender tea?”
“Of course,” she said, escorting the older woman to a seat in the waiting room.
Nat balled up her fists and shoved them in her lab coat pocket. I am Dr. Owens. I am Dr. Owens. Don’t slap Mrs. Lewis!
“Dr. Owens,” Dad greeted her as he walked into the clinic. His blue eyes shimmered with playful pride.
She frowned. “Hey, how was the hospital?” Her voice was soft, like a delicate sheet of parchment that could easily be torn.
“Good. Mrs. Jarvis and the baby are doing well.” His warm stare focused on her. “Are you okay?”
“Mrs. Lewis is here.” She motioned to where Mrs. Lewis sat with an oversized tan leather purse in her lap, waiting for her cup of tea. “She wants you…the real Dr. Owens.”
His grin flattened. “Natalie…” His eyes flicked to Mrs. Lewis and back to her. “…it will take time, but it will get better. I promise.”
With a tender squeeze of her shoulder, he turned and walked to Mrs. Lewis. Nat stood, watching Mrs. Lewis light up with his approach.
“Oh, thank goodness Dr. Owens is back.” LeAnne let out a long breath as she shuffled past with a cup of tea.
Nat dug her fingernails into her palms, pivoted, and walked away.