Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Eva
“Tell me again why you have a strange and weirdly large collection of worn baseball caps and camo clothing and what I can do about it,” I shout from across Noah’s new small apartment. We just moved our last load from his old place late last night and are now busy unpacking boxes.
“It’s not strange or weird,” he smirks at me from over the boxes he’s unloading in the kitchen. “I don’t ask you about your collection of antiques, books, or writing notebooks, do I?”
“Play nice or I might have to come across this room and make you,” I tease.
“By all means, please do,” he smiles mischievously, bracing himself on the counter and pushing down a few times, testing its sturdiness.
“I don’t believe we had a chance to break in the kitchen last night.
Besides, all this moving has made me starved.
Your sweet, wet, pussy sure would taste like heaven right about now. ”
Blushing, I ignore his response, and instead say, “I thought you were supposed to be showing me all I’ve been missing not being with a country boy before.”
I hold up a hat with so much dirt and sweat stains the logo is almost unrecognizable, and an almost full-on camo suit that looks like it has been worn more times than most of the other items in his closet. I wait to continue until I have his full attention. “This, darlin’, is not it.”
He flings a dish towel at me, which falls short, several feet from where I actually stand. “Watch it or I’ll be forced to come over there and set you straight, woman,” he playfully teases. “I’ll take you just as hungrily across the back of my couch as I will on the kitchen counter.”
Smiling, I go back to work unpacking and arranging his clothing. That kind of a break would be fun but there is still so much to do.
If I thought I knew Noah before, packing and unpacking all of his belongings helps me know him in ways I hadn’t imagined.
So many things that people don’t talk about come out in their personal belongings: clothes, movies, magazines, toiletries.
I get a glimpse further into his world the more I continue helping him move into his own place.
He’s becoming more of a real person than the fantasy I fell in love with, and even through all the camo and sweaty baseball caps, I find I love him even more.
My phone rings on one of the boxes next to me. Noah looks up inquisitively as I answer the call.
“What’s up, lady?”
“I’m calling to confirm that we are in fact partying our asses off for your birthday in a few weeks,” Gwen asks. “I haven’t seen much of you these last few weeks now that you're busy helping Noah move.”
“I don’t know about a party. Some ideas have been thrown around, but nothing is set in stone,” I explain.
“That’s not what your boyfriend’s man-whore of a best friend said.”
“You’re talking to Rex? Since when do you ever talk to Rex?” I ask.
“He called me this morning. I guess a party in your honor is being thrown at that damn club he owns. He left a message saying under the circumstances he had to invite me, the ass,” Gwen harshly adds.
“Well, I talked to Rex about it, but I hadn’t said yes to anything. I thought maybe Noah and I might just have a quiet night alone,” I suggest, knowing there is bound to be a fight from Gwen. “Or maybe we could just do something small …”
“Oh hell no,” she shouts, cutting me off. “This man can have you every day of the week, practically every day of the month, but there is no way in hot hades that he is taking you from me on your birthday. Tell him to back the hell off!”
I laugh. Gwen is right. I have been secluding myself a lot lately.
“It wasn’t his idea, it was mine,” I explain. “But if you want me that bad, I’m all yours.”
“Damn straight you are,” Gwen shouts. “Besides, it’s been way too long since we had a night out together.”
“Gwen, every time I see you, it’s a party,” I laugh
“That’s because I’m so damn fun,” she sasses, then hangs up, leaving me giggling to myself.
“What was that about?” Noah asks, coming closer. He hands me a beer that I take willingly.
“Gwen wants to go out for my birthday. She says Rex is throwing some party at Gatsby’s for me.”
“I know, I’m the one that asked him to do it,” Noah says, smiling.
“You? But why?”
“You come alive when you’re in a group of people, Eva.
Don’t get me wrong, I like having you all to myself, too.
But there is something that takes my breath away about you when we are all together.
You steal the show, and damn, it’s sexy as hell to watch, knowing that I’m the one that’s taking you home and you are all mine.
Plus, it’s your birthday. I wanted to throw you a big celebration, marking the first of many we will hopefully spend together,” Noah says, taking a long sip of beer.
“Are you already planning our life together, Mr. Stewart,” I tease.
Noah’s eyes shine. He looks at me like he has a secret. It’s a secret I want to know, but one I’m also afraid to find out.
“If you’ll let me,” he grins.
Shakily, I ignore his comment, and give him a smile that I hope doesn't come across as forced as it feels. This is moving too fast. Sure, I’m enjoying myself with him. But futures means plans.
Turning my attention back to my work, I start to unpack another box of clothing. Setting his beer down, he grabs me from behind, he nestles his lips against the side of my neck.
“We don’t have to go if you really don’t want to,” he whispers before planting tender kisses against my neck.
“If you keep kissing me like that, I’ll do anything you ask,” I admit, even though I’m still slightly shaken with how fast my life’s changing.
Noah laughs. It vibrates on my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
“I’m serious, Eva. If you don’t want to go, we can stay home.
I can think of a million things I can do to you here that I can’t do to you there.
” Noah’s voice grows heavy, passionate, and I brace myself against a box.
“Then again, I can think of a few things I want to do to you there in a dark corner,” he says with a low suggestive growl.
“Fuck you hard and fast, with the risk that someone is watching.”
His hands trail to my center, and he gropes me hungrily.
“No,” I pant, as he massages my clit and sends my head spinning. “I want to go, it would be … good to see everyone,” I admit through rushed breaths.
Noah’s petting slows, and he turns me around to look him in the eye.
“Good!” he smiles. “Because I want to throw you the best party you have ever had.”
“That might be kind of tough. My dad bought me a pony when I was six!” I tease.
Noah’s mouth falls open. Dumbfounded, he stares at me. I start laughing. “Kidding,” I say.
“Phew, you had me scared there. Ponies are pretty hard to beat,” he leaves my side, and grabs an envelope in the kitchen. Offering it over, I’m a little reluctant to take it, not knowing what it is.
“Open it,” Noah insists.
I turn it around a few times in my hands. There is something inside, although I have no clue what it could be.
Slowly, I open the envelope and turn it upside down in my palm, trying to extract whatever object is hidden. A shiny gold key falls into my hand. Startled, I look up at Noah.
“Just in case you ever need to use it, I wanted to make sure you had one,” he says. I look up at Noah and then back down at the key.
“I don’t know what to say,” I finally tell him.
“Don’t say anything.” He kisses the top of my head and heads back to his unpacking.
He doesn’t even think twice about giving me little gestures like this, and somehow the thought never crosses my mind to do the same in return. Standing in Noah’s new apartment, I wonder why that is as the burn inside starts to resurface.