Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Noah
“Say cheese.”
Tori laughs, holding her phone up above us, and I press a kiss to her cheek as she takes a snap of us together.
We stopped at the lake, tied the horses to a tree, set up our picnic blanket, and devoured the basket of food Tori put together.
This, this right here, is my idea of heaven.
A slice of peace I have craved my entire life.
I could stay right here with her, forever.
She’s curled into my side as we lie on the picnic blanket, the sun shining through the clouds just enough to make Tori’s skin glow.
The mountains stretch out before us, the perfect backdrop to the lake, and the grass is littered with tiny daisies.
Tori spins one between her thumb and pointer finger, looking so peaceful.
“I haven’t seen daisies this small since I was living in the countryside in England.”
“Did you like living there?” I ask, curious to know absolutely everything about this woman.
She nods. “Yes. We used to live next to this really cranky old lady who hated us. Harry more than me because he was always kicking his ball into her flowers.”
I could listen to her talk about her childhood all day. It was a far cry from the one me and Ria got.
“Is that why you went back to London? You missed it? Do you think that’s where you will stay now?” I ask, preparing myself for her answer.
“England will always feel like home for me, but I’d live anywhere, with the right person.” When she says the right person, she moves her head, and I twist mine to be able to look at her.
Her big midnight blue eyes pull me in, and I’m gone.
I press my lips to hers, and I don’t just kiss her.
I devour her like she may disappear. I roll so she is beneath me, my body covering hers as she cups my face, arching her neck, offering me more.
My left hand roams her body, landing on her breast, and I give it a gentle squeeze, earning a soft moan from her lips.
My mouth finds that sensitive spot on her neck, and I suck as she gasps.
“Noah.”
The sound of my name on her lips has my dick hardening, and I trail a path with my tongue from her neck to the swell of her breasts.
A deep rumble of thunder startles us both; a dark gray cloud, working its way toward us.
“It said rain later today, but not now,” I say, looking at the skyline, trying to judge how long we have before the heavens open.
“It doesn’t matter,” she says, her breathing ragged. “Don’t stop.”
I give her a wide grin and press my lips back down on hers. I love this spontaneous side of her, a side I know was lurking in the shadows of her grief for so long, and I’m grateful she didn’t lose that side of herself completely.
A clap of thunder and then the heavens open. Rain hammers down, and Tori squeals.
“Quick, there’s an old stable just down there,” I call, pointing across the field.
We frantically grab the picnic, throwing it into the saddle bags, laughing hysterically as we become soaked to the bone.
I take Tori by the hand, dragging her through the field to the trees where we tied our horses.
In a quick movement, I unhook them both and lift Tori onto her horse. I mount mine and tug the reins, galloping off through the fields following Tori.
“Over here,” I yell, signaling to the run down stables that I have passed many times on my runs or rides through this part of the hills.
I get off my horse, and then help Tori. We lead our horses inside, and I’m thankful to find the door is still working.
“You are looking a little wet, darlin’.” I take in her dripping hair and her see-through top.
“I’m soaked,” she says through chattering teeth.
“You’re freezing.” I brush the backs of my knuckles over her cold, wet skin on her cheek.
“You better warm me up then.”
A clap of thunder and a bright light make us both jump, and she stumbles, hitting her back off old wooden saddle stand.
“We need to get you out of those wet clothes,” I say with what feels like rubble in my throat.
Tension, want, the desperate need for her thickens the air as I sink to my knees and slide my hands down her bare thighs, blood rushes around my body, and there is something primal about the way I crave this woman.
I take her boots off, never looking away from her.
Her chest heaves, and her eyes grow heavy.
I press a kiss to the inside of her thigh, dangerously close to her center.
My fingers brush the metal of her belt, and I work it as I run my tongue up the inside of her thigh to where her denim shorts bunch.
When I get the buckle open, I drag her shorts and underwear down her toned legs. She steps out of them, and I rise to my feet.
“Arms up, baby,” I say softly, nuzzling my nose with hers.
She does as I ask, and I peel the wet fabric from her skin and over her head, exposing her swollen breasts.
I take my wet shirt off and toss it to the ground, and then press my bare chest to hers, using the heat of our bodies to warm us up.
The feel of her cold skin against mine sets my own skin on fire.
I tilt her chin with my finger, forcing her to look at me.
“I want you so fucking bad,” I growl, my need for her taking over.
“Then take me.”