Chapter 2
Chapter Two
EVERLY
Thirteen Years Ago
Noah patted my back, a silent urge to shift off his hard body. His chest still moved rapidly as we both caught our breath, our bodies covered in a sheen of sweat. “Babe, condom.” I soaked in the endearment that became so natural in only twelve hours. A very busy twelve hours.
We’d already used three condoms and it wasn’t even lunch time. Add those to the two we used the night before when we got to my hotel room and then the two we used when we woke each other overnight. We were definitely trying to hit some kind of record.
I lifted my head and gave him a sleepy smile, my fingers brushing against his short dark hair. “Can’t move. You’ve broken my body.”
Noah’s smile was not nearly as sleepy. Those dark eyes were shining with humor. His arms tightened around me and in one swift move he turned us over and pulled out of me. The emptiness that hit me was more significant than I would ever admit. “Take a nap, I’ll order takeout and wake you for lunch.”
He’d been waiting to do that. I had ordered us a late dinner and breakfast from room service, and he had not been happy I paid for both meals. Even when I told him, the record label would be picking up the tab, so he need not worry, he still was not happy.
“I want pizza and loaded fries.” I snuggled under the covers, admiring his ass as he walked toward the bathroom, the dim light highlighting all the muscles in his back.
“I need to carbo-load if we’re going to have another round.”
He disappeared into the bathroom, and I must’ve dozed off for a few seconds because the next thing, he was back in the bedroom, hovering over me in all his naked glory.
“Ev, you said, I have you all weekend.” He kissed my forehead and stood again. “There’ll be more than just another round.”
Wow. Where did the man find the stamina?
In my experience, it was one round before the guy passed out.
Maybe I’d have an orgasm. There was certainly never the amount of attention Noah had paid to making sure I came before him.
At least twice. The man seemed to be interested in more than just sticking it in and getting off.
Oh no. The things he could do with his mouth and his hands before we got to actual intercourse, were the stuff myth and legend were made of.
The kind of soul-shattering things romance writers likely dreamed up but real women rarely experienced.
Snuggling further into the snowy plush covers, I closed my eyes and savored his scent on the sheets.
Sex and forest, mixed with something I couldn’t quite name.
I imagined all the things I wanted to do with Noah in the time I had left with him.
At some point my imagination must’ve turned into dreams until another gentle tap on my shoulder woke me.
“Babe.” Noah’s soft gaze melted my insides. “Food’s here.”
I widened my eyes in an attempt to wake up quicker and rose to lean on my elbows. “Let me find my dress.”
He was wearing his dark jeans, zipped but not buttoned, and handed me his black button-down shirt. “Put this on. It’s not like I don’t plan to have you naked as soon as we’ve had some sustenance.”
I resisted the urge to hold the fabric to my nose and inhale his masculine scent, but couldn’t help myself as I pulled the clothing over my head. Noah’s gaze wasn’t just heavy, it was predatory, tracking the way his shirt skimmed my thighs. I shifted, my skin prickling under his scrutiny. “What?”
He shook his head as if shaking off whatever was on his mind. “My shirt looks good on you.”
I sat opposite him at the small dining table in the open section of the hotel room.
Pulling a slice of pizza from the box, I tipped my head to catch the corner with my mouth before the cheese slid off.
The mouthful was still too hot and I waved my hand in front of my open mouth trying to cool it by inhaling.
Noah pressed his lips together and I could tell he was trying not to laugh.
“I take it you’re hungry.” That deep rumbling chuckle had my belly flipping and thighs clenching. It was easily the sexiest sound I’d ever heard.
“Starving.” I finally managed to swallow the mouthful without burning my tongue. “It’s your fault.”
“I’ll happily take the blame.” He pulled his own slice from the box. “Watching you come has been the single best thing I have ever witnessed. And I plan on witnessing more of it.”
Like the previous two meals we’d shared, our conversations stayed light, but not superficial.
We’d agreed to no last names, even though hopefully soon, mine would be relatively well known.
Well, my stage name, at least. I mean even so early in my career, a simple Google search on my first name and my record label and you’d find me.
I’d already checked. At twenty-two I may not be ancient, but I’d been around long enough to have been spoken or written about in some industry journals and blogs.
Anonymity was our only currency. A silent agreement to keep our bubble from bursting.
He had his reasons, no doubt related to being a Marine.
Mine were mostly wrapped in PR and stage lights.
Which was why I wanted just one weekend.
A time to relish just being Everly Hale, the woman. Not Eve Halle, the budding pop star.
Still, the little bits we shared with one another was a little more than surface stuff.
Our conversations revolved around my debut album with a major record label and my first single and the music video had also been received well.
Or the fact he was a Marine and in town visiting his parents.
He was at The Dane to see a friend who worked security.
He’d gate crashed the party, since his friend had snuck him in.
I’d spent a few hours downstairs, when I had fulfilled my duty of attendance and invited him upstairs. Brie and Cassie, my friends who joined me would figure it out. Besides, I texted them from the elevator.
Best. Decision. Ever.
Great sex was the goal, yes. However, awesome conversation with an intelligent man was not something I’d expected when I invited him to my room. In another place and time, Noah would be the kind of man that one held on to. But alas, that was not how our time together would be.
“So, getting to perform is a lifelong dream?” He asked after I explained that I had been singing all my life. He took another huge bite of his pizza and waited for me to answer.
“I love being on stage.” I didn’t speak about my parents’ disapproval, that would only ruin my mood. Instead, a smile played at my mouth like it always did when I spoke about singing. “More than singing in a studio but yeah, getting to sing for money is basically the dream come true.”
“And you’re in it for the long haul?” He sat back in the chair on the other side of the small dining table. “I mean, you could do it as long as Madonna or Cher?”
“Yeah. I mean, maybe not that long.” I leaned back considering his question. “JLo’s still going strong. And she’s raising her kids and continuing her career. But that’s a bridge I’ll cross when I get there.”
Noah scrunched his face. “I don’t think I would want to raise kids in that industry.” A shadow crossed over his face and before I could ask him more, he pointed at the box of unopened fries. “You want this now, or should we save them for later?”
“That’s why I wanted them loaded. Plain fries are horrible cold. But those will be good later.”
That sexy smirk I was becoming addicted to, played on his lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
He dragged my chair along the polished wood floors until I was seated alongside him.
In one quick move he picked me up and twisted me until I was straddling his lap.
His forefinger caught under my chin and he lifted my face until my eyes met his.
“You have the most beautiful eyes. From far, they look turquoise but they’re actually blue with green bits in them.
” He kissed my nose. “Your nose is adorable especially when you scrunch it when you’re thinking about something. And your smile lights up the world.”
His words were simple, but he sounded as if he were memorizing my features, memorizing me.
I held his face in my palms. He didn’t have a full beard, but he clearly hadn’t shaved in a day or two. The scruff prickled my palms. “You’re not too bad yourself, Noah, with those soulful brown eyes and gold flecks. A girl could get lost just staring into them.”
“Stare as much as you want, babe.”
He lifted the shirt over my head and lowered his mouth to my breast. His tongue swiped over my nipple and the sensation shot straight to my core.
My head fell back and I savored what he was doing. “Noah, I need you.”
I had never been one to beg in the bedroom. In my limited experience, there was just never any need to be that desperate. Noah made me desperate. He made me want things that were just impossible. I intended to get my fill of him before he walked out of my life. There was just no other way.
“Grab the condoms on the counter behind me, babe.” He used his free hand to unbutton his jeans and freed his erection. “I want you to ride me right here, right now.”
I grabbed the condoms. We had used one each time we came together and several more over the twenty-four hours that followed.
Not once had he entered me unprotected. Which was why eight weeks later I was shocked to find myself with two missed periods and two pink lines.
I was pregnant and had no idea how to contact the father of my baby.