Chapter 23 Lily #3
I wince when he squirts a stream over the cut, washing away the dirt and blood. It stings, but I bite my lip and let him work. He’s attentive and works quickly, tilting my hand toward the tall lamp beside the chair.
“Any more rocks in there?” I grit out.
“Doesn’t look like it.” His voice is low and wavers with his words. Is he upset?
After the cut is clean, he grabs another bottle and drops a few globs of ointment onto it. It stings even more, and I hiss. “A little warning next time would be nice.”
He smirks. “Where’s the fun in that?”
I glare at him, but it morphs into a wide smile.
He bites his lips and reaches for a roll of gauze. His fingers move deftly, securing the bandage nice and snug with practiced efficiency.
“You know? This is the second time you’ve had to tend to me for an injury in Yosemite.” I wink at him, and he allows the pads of his fingertips to skim down the delicate underside of my wrist.
His gaze lingers on my mouth, and without saying anything he sits back on his heels and meets my eyes. “How about some fresh clothes?”
I don’t argue. Instead, I give him a once-over, then stand.
The throbbing in my hand has died down, my heart picking up the pace at his mention of clothes.
I’d forgotten I was soaked, especially with this warm sensation settling deep in my belly.
It grows when he takes my hand and leads me to the bedroom.
My stomach flips, and I drag a hand through my wet hair.
In the bedroom, he leaves the door open, and I stand at the foot of the bed while he digs through the dresser for an extra pair of sweats and a T-shirt, chewing my lip.
There’s a tension in the room, the air charged and thick. He glances back at me watching him, and we stare at one another too long—it burns.
I shift, crossing my arms to feign indifference, but I can’t help the hitch in my breath as he steps forward, lifting the change of clothes in his hand. His gaze flickers to my lips once more, then snaps away, jaw tight, as if he’s holding back.
It’s reckless, but I’m done waiting. I push the fresh clothes out of his hand to the floor—this single action setting the tone. The space between us is too vast, the distance teasing me.
I step into him, closer. So close.
His hand, hanging at his side, gravitates toward mine, and the brush of his fingers gives me pause. I shut my eyes, waiting, aching. Everything is drawn taut, this bubble of denying each other ready to break.
There’s a sound in the kitchen—Max tossing around a toy—and I smile, sidestepping Noah to shut the door. When it latches, I turn around and lean my back against it.
Noah studies me, a fire burning in his gaze as he drags it down my body.
Oh hell. Is this happening? My hands tremble. Actually, is my entire body shaking?
“Lily …”
I don’t hesitate.
I run to him, colliding with his body and pushing up on my toes to kiss him. It’s not soft. It’s not sweet. It’s damn near painful.
I want to press closer than physically possible.
Noah becomes unhinged. Squeezing me from behind, hands diving underneath my wet shirt. When his touch creeps farther up, I rip away. My breaths are shallow.
“Lily? Are you okay? We can stop—”
“No, no. Please. I want you, Noah. I …”
How do I tell him I’ve fallen for him? I want to show him how much he means to me. I reach for him again.
Noah presses a finger under my chin and lifts my face to his. “I won’t ever just take from you. I’ll always give you what you need.”
Noah drops to his knees, lifting each foot to remove my boots. He looks up at me, tilting his head in silent request. I nod, while my heart tears out of my chest. He reaches up, hooking his fingers over the band of my soaked leggings, then rolls them down to leave me exposed in my black underwear.
I run a shaky hand through my hair, letting it fall in my face. Unsteady, my knees knock together as his hands brush my thighs.
He stands, his thundering presence squeezing the breath from my lungs, and he tilts his head down for a kiss.
His tongue swipes over my lips, and I open for him, allowing his kiss to sweep me away in the moment.
A fire ignites low in my belly, and I paw at his shirt, grab the hem, and pull it up and over his head.
Ridges and valleys dip across his abdomen, chiseled and symmetrical.
I run my hands over the sculpted six-pack, the skin taut and stretched over them and glistening with light sweat.
He’s worked up, and that knowledge sends a pulsing through me.
I press a kiss to his chest, and his fingers curl into fists at his sides.
The raw, contained energy thrumming through him is palpable.
He lets out a quiet hiss as I tease the spot between his waistband, and he reaches out for my shirt. Up, up, up, so slowly he lifts, leaving me in my matching bra.
Swallowing, my eyes dart to the exit. Don’t, I chide myself. Don’t ruin this. It’s Noah.
But it’s as if my thoughts are plastered all over my face, and he knows what I’m thinking. He steps back, and I’m worried he’s going to pull away, to stop out of respect for me.
“Don’t stop, please, Noah.”
He gives me a lopsided grin. Taking my hand, he tugs me toward the bed, but instead of laying me down, he turns, putting his back toward it. He pauses, eyes pleading in silent question again. He steps back, sinking into the plush down, and holds his hand out.
I take it, allowing him to guide me on top of him. One leg over each side, I straddle him, and his hands drop to the sides of his pants as he lays back. “You’re in control,” he says.
I shake my head, fighting the tears threatening to pool in my eyes. Not because I’m scared, but because he’s been perfect. Understanding and gentle. “I want it to be good for you.”
“Lily, anything with you will be good for me. I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you. There will be time. Time for me to throw you beneath me, time for us to explore—if you want. I want to devour every inch of your body, every contour, but that will come with time. On your time.”
My cheeks heat at his words, but inside I scream in anticipation. I want him to blot out all the past hurt. To replace my pain.
“Can I touch you?”
I nod, sinking into a calm I never thought I’d experience, and he skims both hands up my bare legs, leaving a dusting of goose bumps in his wake.
I’m lost somewhere between a tickling sensation and gut-spiraling bliss.
His touch is featherlight, reverent, and the fight-or-flight response I was anticipating washes out to sea.
Not returning in a tidal wave of panic, but with pleasure.
I arch as he lazily thrums his fingers over my body.
Both my hands knead the muscles on his chest, gripping harder as his fingers coax soft hums from me, but when I tip back to focus on the wood-stained ceiling, his ministrations cease.
“Eyes on me, Lil.”
My head snaps forward, obeying his command, and I’m met with an all-consuming gaze as his head lifts to focus. He devours me with each exploring look, and in the quiet between our heartbeats, I swear my soul reaches for his.
“Say it again,” I sigh. I want to hear this name on his lips. Only his lips. He’s destroying my memories, rebuilding them, and the nickname I never wanted to hear again is a delicious sin from his mouth.
I let myself go as he encourages me. There’s no scraping of bark against my back, only his fingertips offering affection.
There aren’t disgusting grunts of taken pleasure, but soft hisses and sighs as he shudders beneath me, tempering his desire.
It’s not “you like that, don’t you” but rather “tell me what you like.”
The air in the room is thick with the scent of sweat and mountain pine, creating a bubble around us that I inhale as my longing erupts into a gallop of need.
“I love you,” I breathe out, and Noah stills.
One of his hands moves to my face, cupping my cheek, then he drags a thumb over my lips. “You’re everything I’ve been looking for. The wild take-a-jump-off-a-cliff love. You have me utterly wrecked and at your mercy.”
I look down at him, his eyes glassy with a worshipful expression. He’s been so patient with me, kind and loving.
Noah takes me in, enraptured as his eyes trace over me, and the chill in the air causes me to shiver. “You’re so beautiful.”
He plays with the ends of my hair fallen around my face, using them to brush circles against my sensitive skin.
“Are you okay?” he asks, reaching for me.
I nod. I’m ready. So ready.
“Good,” he says. “Now take from me, Lil.”