Chapter 7 Corey
COREY
I woke up with my cheek pressed against Noah's warm chest and his steady heartbeat thumping against my ear like a lullaby. For a moment, I forgot where I was, still lost in that hazy space between dreaming and waking.
Then it all rushed back to me. Noah at my door, my confessions about the stockings, the app…and most significantly, his sweet milk still lingering on my tongue.
Oh god. I'd just nursed from my next-door neighbor's chest.
The same gorgeous, grumpy professor I'd been crushing on didn’t turn me away. He pulled me into his arms and…fed me. And miraculously, I was still curled up in his strong arms. “Hi.”
Noah's arms tightened around me instinctively, and I felt his chest rise with a deep breath. "Hey there, sleepyhead," he murmured. "How're you feeling?"
I tilted my head up to look at him, half-expecting to see regret or embarrassment. Instead, his hazel eyes were warm, crinkling at the corners as he looked down at me. Something inside my chest fluttered like a happy butterfly. "I'm good. Really good, actually."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "No regrets about…any of this?"
"None." I sat up quickly so I could look him right in the eyes. "It was...incredible." My stomach chose that exact moment to growl loudly, shattering the intimate moment that we needed to have.
Noah chuckled. "I think so too, but when's the last time you ate something? And I don't mean milk."
I buried my face against his chest. "I was gonna make dinner before you knocked on my door so…probably this morning."
"Corey…” Noah’s tone was stern, but his fingers began tracing patterns on my back with casual intimacy that made my heart skip. "What if we grab something to eat? There's a good burger place down the street."
I peeked up at him and grinned. "Like...a date?"
"Yeah." His expression softened, and he cupped my cheek. "I think we might be doing things a bit out of order here, but I'd like to take you on a proper date, my little stocking elf."
The unexpected tenderness in his voice sent a shiver through me. "Okay, I'd like that."
"Good." He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before untangling himself from me. "How about we clean up and I'll come get you in thirty minutes?"
"You're gonna pick me up?” I smiled at how cute he was being. “We live next door to each other."
He stood up and stretched his arms above his head before putting his shirt back on. "Humor me." Noah chuckled. "I'm old-fashioned that way."
Old-fashioned. Right. The man who had just let me nurse from his chest was old-fashioned. It was silly but also incredibly endearing. "I'll be ready in thirty minutes."
After Noah left, I practically floated to my shower. The hot water cascaded over me as I tried to process everything that had happened. Yesterday, Noah Richmond was just my grouchy neighbor who scowled whenever I passed by him.
Today, he was...what? My date? My Daddy? The thought made me blush fiercely, remembering how naturally that word had formed in my mind while I was nursing. And how easily he offered that kind of relationship…with me.
I towel-dried my hair and stood in front of my closet, suddenly worried about what to wear.
It was just burgers, but it was our first date, and I wanted to look good.
I settled on my nicest jeans and a soft blue henley that brought out my eyes, layering a plaid flannel over it. Casual but put-together.
At least, I hoped so.
Exactly thirty minutes after he left, there was a knock at my door.
“This is it. We’re really doing this.” I kept my voice low during my pep talk to myself and pulled in a deep breath.
When I opened the door, Noah was standing there with a stocking in his hand. It was one that I’d given him. “I didn’t have a lot of time to shop, but…I hope this is okay.” He'd changed into dark jeans and a forest-green sweater that made his shoulders look even broader.
"For me?" I reached for the stocking. "Thank you." I pulled out the tissue paper at the top and found a chocolate bar under it. And beneath that was a sealed bottle of cold milk. “Just some sweets for when I’m not around.”
I curled the bottle of milk to my chest and beamed. “Thank you, Da— Noah. I love chocolate, but I really love the milk.”
"You’re welcome, sweetheart." He brushed a stray strand of hair off my forehead. “Were you going to call me Daddy?”
I nodded and bit my lip. “I almost did. Is that okay or only during…feedings?”
Noah cocked his head and pulled me in for a hug.
“It’s always okay, sweet boy. Any time that is comfortable for you.
” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and held there for a moment.
“For now, while we’re getting to know each other, I know it might still feel awkward.
But in time, I hope you’ll feel comfortable thinking of me as Daddy all the time. ”
I shrugged. “I kinda already do.”
He kissed my lips, pulling me closer as his tongue slid across my mouth.
I opened up to him, inviting him to deepen it. His tongue wasn’t the first thing that had been in my mouth, and I didn’t want it to be the last.
Before we took things too far, Noah pulled back. “Dinner first. More of this, later.”
“Promise?” I reluctantly pulled back to grab my coat. “Cause I could live off milk forever, I think. Milk and cookies…” I waved my hand to the various packages of cookies ready to be shipped out.
“Nope.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the door.
“My boy needs proper nutrition to keep up with all these orders.” He ushered me out into the hall and then held out his hand for my keys so he could lock up.
“And I need lots of calories to keep making creamy milk. You don’t want it all watery and thin, do you? ”
“Creamy is yummy.” But truthfully, I’d take anything he offered. I wanted it all, and I wasn’t picky.
The walk to the burger place was only a few blocks, but the December air was crisp with the promise of snow. Christmas lights twinkled in windows and storefronts, and a group of carolers was singing by the town square.
Noah walked close beside me with our shoulders occasionally bumping. When my hands got cold, he noticed immediately and took my right hand in his, slipping both into his coat pocket. "Better?"
I nodded, suddenly too choked up to speak.
It was such a small gesture, but it felt significant.
Like this was what it was going to be like from now on.
Having something protecting me from the cold.
Thinking of my needs before I did and fulfilling them.
I'd dated random guys before, but none of them ever made me feel like they truly thought of me first.
"So," Noah said as we walked. "Tell me something I don't know about you."
I thought about it for a moment. "Well, there’s a lot you don’t know, but one thing I’m excited about is that I have over a hundred thousand followers who watch me bake things."
He looked genuinely surprised. "Seriously? You're internet famous?"
"Sorta. It's mostly just people who like watching cooking videos. Nothing too exciting."
"That's selling yourself short." He gave my hand a squeeze. "That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment. Good job."
I tried not to display how much those words meant to me. "Thanks. Um, what about you? Tell me something most people don't know about you." I glanced meaningfully at his chest. “Besides the obvious.”
He laughed, a deep, rich sound that warmed me from the inside. "Fair enough. Let's see... I collect vintage vinyl records. Mostly jazz and blues."
"That explains the music I sometimes hear through the wall." I actually thought it was coming from across the hall. "I always pictured you sitting in a leather armchair with a glass of whiskey, looking all professorial."
His eyebrow quirked up. "You've spent time picturing me, have you?"
I blushed. "Maybe a little."
We reached the burger joint, a cozy local place that was known for having the best milkshakes in town. The irony of ordering a milkshake wasn't lost on me, and when the server came to take our drink orders, I caught Noah's eye across the table and we both broke into grins.
"Two chocolate milkshakes." Noah winked at me. "Though I bet mine's better."
I nearly choked on my water. "Behave," I murmured, but I was laughing.
Throughout dinner, I couldn't take my eyes off him.
The way he listened intently when I talked about opening my own bakery for real someday made it seem more realistic than just a pipe dream.
And it was cute the way he gestured with his hands when he got excited explaining the next history course he was developing.
And when he was serious, a little frown line formed between his eyebrows.
I was completely, utterly smitten.
"What?" He cocked his head when he caught me staring.
"Nothing." I kept staring with my chin resting on my hand. "I just like looking at you."
He rolled his eyes, but I caught the pleased smile he tried to hide behind his napkin. "You're something else, Corey."
"Something good, I hope?"
"Definitely something good."
When the check came, I reached for it, but Noah was faster. "Daddy’s got this."
"Oh." I felt warmth flooding through me, and not just on the skin of my neck and ears. “Thank you.”
"I want to take care of you, Corey." His eyes darkened slightly. “In all ways…”
The walk back was quieter with a growing anticipation between us. The temperature had dropped, so I huddled closer to him.
Daddy immediately put his arm around my shoulders and tucked me against his side. "Better?"
"Much." I wrapped my arm around his waist. It felt so natural, like we'd been doing this for years instead of hours.
When we reached our apartment building, he walked me to my door, just like a proper date. My heart was hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it.
"I had a great time." I suddenly felt shy again.
"Me too." Noah reached up and gently cupped my cheek in his cool hand. "Can I kiss you good night, Corey?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.