Chapter Twenty-Three
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
With every step he took, Noah’s shoulder dug into her belly, causing her laughter to explode in short, sharp bursts.
Where she’d found the courage to demand her pleasure so brazenly, Beth had no idea, but she was glad she had, because Noah was so impatient to get her inside that he almost kicked the door down.
When he crossed the threshold and immediately tipped towards the couch, she squealed and clung on for dear life, but all he did was turn on a table lamp.
Moving further into the room, he tossed her from his shoulder and her butt landed on something hard—the dining table.
He hauled her to the edge, right up against him, and her amusement evaporated instantly thanks to the heat radiating off his body.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and held him tight, and when he pressed forward, his eagerness hard and persistent, she couldn’t help but throw her head back and sigh, revelling in the feel of him.
It was happening. It was finally happening. How many times had she touched herself and wished for someone to share the moment with, someone who could transport her to that otherworldly place where nothing but euphoria mattered?
Now, here he was, licking and sucking her neck as if it offered life-giving sustenance. And when his teeth scraped against her skin, she lost her mind.
Touch. She needed to touch him.
Reaching for the buttons on his shirt, she fiddled with them ineffectually, her fingers refusing to cooperate.
Understanding her need, Noah helped. He released the first few buttons, then grabbed the collar and yanked the thing up and over his head, giving her an uninhibited view of his glorious body.
‘Oh god.’ She devoured him, took in every curve, every dip, every beautiful inch, and then her hands were on him. She slid them up and over his stomach, his ribs, sighed at how wonderful it felt to have his heat permeating every atom of her being.
He whispered her name, his breath hot on her neck.
She shivered and fumbled with the button on his jeans, but he took hold of her wrists.
‘Not yet.’ He nibbled her pouting lips. ‘Lie down.’
Her breath caught at the promise in his command and she lay back, eagerly complying, but Noah was in no rush at all.
His heated gaze travelled the length of her, over her chest, her waist, her hips. He slid his hands from her knees, travelling up her thighs and taking her skirt higher, until his thumbs found the crease of her hips. He muttered a strained curse.
‘I am dying to taste you.’
Sucking in a breath, she arched her back. ‘Please.’
He kicked a chair away from the table and sat, then hooked her legs over his shoulders. She felt his breath on her skin. Oh, god. She was going to pass out! He hadn’t even touched her yet, but the anticipation was killing her, her vulnerable position lighting a fire in her belly.
And then his tongue skimmed over her, its heat unexpected. She sighed and spread her thighs wider, wanting more.
He delved deeper, groaning as he stroked her, and the vibrations just about did her in.
‘God, Beth, you’re perfect.’ He latched onto her and sucked.
She cried out and gripped his hair, holding him to her as he feasted on her, his tongue, his lips, his teeth all working her into a frenzy. The multitude of sensations intensified and she bucked against him, unable to decide whether it felt pleasurable or torturous.
Overwhelmed by the need to climax and frustrated that it seemed just out of reach, she nudged him away and, sitting up, wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him to her. ‘I need you inside me. Now.’
With a growl, he hauled her into his arms and, kissing her senseless, headed for the bedroom.
Finally, he relinquished his hold on her and she slid to her feet, skimmed her hands over his shoulders, his chest, his stomach, until her fingers hovered at the waistband of his jeans. She shot him a questioning look.
‘Now?’
He nodded, this throat working as he swallowed.
Feeling empowered, she tried to still her trembling hands as she lowered the zipper and pushed his pants down over his hips. He kicked them off and stood before her in a pair of black boxer briefs, his body toned to perfection, his arousal clearly visible.
She let out a shuddering breath, then kissed his chest, breathed in his male scent.
God, she loved this man.
He cradled her head, making her feel cherished, adored, and gave her time to explore. Then his fingers were at her waist, stroking, the lightness of his touch making her shiver.
‘May I?’ He fingered the hem of her cami.
She nodded and lifted her arms. Pulling her top over her head, he discarded it and stared down at her, his fiery gaze blazing a path over her skin.
He nuzzled her neck and, sliding his hands lower, cupped her butt.
With an unrestrained groan, he thrust against her, gently, but it was enough to let her know how much he wanted her.
Emboldened, she stepped back, reached behind her and unclasped her strapless bra, letting it drop to the floor before shimmying out of her skirt.
She straightened, feeling oddly calm—she’d always assumed she’d feel and self-conscious if she ever ended up naked in front of someone—but then she caught Noah’s reaction.
Looking as if he wanted to consume her—or perhaps destroy her—his gaze travelled over every last inch of her body. He closed the distance between them, primal need making him seem predatory, but she’d never felt safer, more desired, than she did right now.
She went with him, moving towards the bed, then lowered herself onto it, never once breaking eye contact. Noah was right there with her, hovering over her, his passion intoxicating.
Reaching for him, she pulled him down to her and mumbled against his lips, ‘Touch me.’
He kissed her, hungrily, and as their tongues danced, he caressed her, sliding a hand between them. Parting her slick folds, he teased her briefly then pushed a finger inside her.
She arched her back and sighed, the sensation so pleasantly unfamiliar that she wanted to weep. Another finger joined the first, and Noah swallowed her cries.
This, she decided, was everything.
But then he curled his fingers inside her and rubbed his thumb against her, and she realised that no, this, this was everything.
‘Noah!’ She didn’t quite know what she was asking, only that she needed him to take her there. Throwing her head back, she cried out. Close. She was so close.
And then she was there, clutching his shoulders, her muscles clenching as she finally found release.
He kissed her neck as she floated back down to earth. ‘You are so fucking beautiful.’
Leaving her briefly, he rummaged in his side drawer, and once he’d shucked off his underwear and sheathed himself, he was back with her.
‘You okay?’ He smoothed her hair away from her face.
Still half-dazed, she slurred, ‘Never better.’
He chuckled, then cupped her breast and took it into his mouth.
‘Oh, god!’ She shoved her fingers in his hair. ‘I stand corrected.’
Finally, after showering her with all the attention, he gazed down at her. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes.’ She wrapped her legs around him. ‘Yes, now.’
He inched forward, slowly, perhaps expecting resistance, but she was so ready he slid in easily.
‘Oh, fuck.’ His eyes fluttered closed as he pushed all the way in. ‘I don’t … Shit, I’m not gonna last.’
Burying his face in her neck, he stilled.
Screw that. She wanted unbridled passion.
Heady with a sense of her own power and eager to see if she could make him lose control, she bit into his shoulder and scraped her nails over his back.
He swore, pulled out and grunted as he thrust into her.
God, yes. But, still, she wanted more.
Pressing her heels to his thighs, she put her mouth to his ear and demanded he move. ‘Do not stop.’
Lifting his head, he stared down at her, his eyes glazed as he thrust into her again.
And then again.
His movements became frenzied, his desperation sparking that yearning deep in her belly. She clung to him, revelling in the strength of his desire, in his lack of restraint, until he jerked violently against her and, finally, grew motionless.
Still throbbing inside her, he hung his head, his breath hot against her skin.
She stroked his back and let him find his breath.
‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered into her shoulder.
‘Huh?’ She nudged him away slightly, frowning. ‘What are you talking about?’
He rolled onto his back. ‘I can do better, I promise.’
Annoyed that he thought that what’d just happened was anything less than perfect, she shook her head. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘I’m serious, I’ll—’
‘No, I’m serious!’ It hit her—the reason she’d been so desperate to see him lose control. ‘Seeing you like that … I … I never thought—’ She bit back a sob. Hid her face in her hands when it crumbled.
‘Hey.’ Concern laced his tone as he propped himself up on an elbow. ‘Talk to me.’
He attempted to tug her hand away from her face, but she jerked away from his touch. If she opened her mouth right now, she’d lose it.
With her composure teetering precariously, she lay there, still and silent, doing her best to hide her pain as she fought to regain control.
Tugging her into his arms, Noah placed a tender kiss on her shoulder and waited. He stroked her hair, the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat helping her to relax. How could she not? He was her safe space, her refuge, and when they were together, she felt as if she were home.
Finally lowering her hands, she wound her arms around him and snuggled closer, her cheek to his chest. It was funny. Once she knew there was no pressure to explain, she found she wanted to.
Breathing him in, she focused on the feel of his skin against hers, his solid presence. ‘I just … I never thought I’d find anyone, let alone someone as amazing as you.’
Not long ago, he’d helped her realise that she’d been lonely before coming here, but it wasn’t until just now that she grasped the extent of that loneliness.
How isolated and unimportant she’d felt.
Not only since losing Rosie, but for as long as she could remember.
She’d always been alone and hadn’t known any better.
Hadn’t known what she was missing out on. But now, she knew better.
‘Seeing you lose control like that,’ she added, ‘for me …’
She couldn’t go on. That was the best she could do to communicate how she was feeling. Noah was amazing, a dream come true, and he wanted her. She still couldn’t quite believe it.
He shifted, rolling her onto her back so he could look down at her. And when he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, wiping away her tears, she fell a little bit more in love with him.
‘I never thought I’d find anyone as amazing as you, either. But you should know—’ he gave her a grave look, ‘—now that I have, I’m never letting you go.’
‘You promise?’ she whispered, pushing her fingers into his hair and glorying in the way his eyes closed and he leaned into her touch.
‘Mm-hmm.’ He nodded, and when he finally opened his eyes, he stared down at her, his expression earnest. ‘I love you. So much.’
She smiled and cupped his cheek. ‘I love you, too.’
Kissing her shoulder, her neck, he ran his hand up her side, making her sigh and turn towards him. He twitched against her thigh in response.
She grinned against his lips. ‘Already?’
‘Can you blame me? It’s a huge turn-on when the woman of your dreams tells you you’re amazing.
’ He winked, then groaned and rolled away, got up and headed for the ensuite bathroom.
‘Let me get cleaned up and then we’ll go for round two.
I plan on proving to you just how amazing you are at least a few more times tonight. ’