Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
GRACIE
Ifight a yawn as I listen to the professor speak.
Not only is this class boring as hell, but I also didn’t sleep much last night.
I had woken up as soon as Noah let himself into my dorm, but I pretended to be asleep, wanting to know what he would do.
What I didn’t expect was for him to lay his mask on the bed beside me after I murmured his name.
Does he know that I know?
I don’t think he does, but why else would he leave the mask?
Does this mean that he’s done with the whole anonymous persona? He hasn’t texted me from that number yet today when he normally would in the mornings, so it is a possibility.
Is it because he feels bad for lying to me the entire time?
Does he plan on coming clean?
Somehow, I don’t think that’s the case.
It has been fun messing with him though. Serves him right for all of the confusion and stress he’s put me through.
It’s strange how things can change so much in such a short amount of time.
Not too long ago, I saw Noah as nothing but one of my brother’s best friends. Sure, we were friends too, but I had always placed him in a box that was labeled as one of Cole’s friends. I had never thought to pull him out of that box, never seen him as anything but that.
People would ask me how I didn’t crush on all of the guys, and my answer was always the same.
Because they were like brothers to me.
Obviously not brothers, brothers because ew, but they were always strictly in a zone where the lines couldn’t be crossed.
And all that time, Noah was harboring feelings for me. I know that to be true, because there’s no way he would do everything he did if he didn’t feel something for me.
He’s even said it himself a time or two, that this has been going on for far longer than I’ve been aware of it. That night at the club was just a catalyst for everything that followed.
What would have happened if Noah didn’t need to step in when Joshua wouldn’t stop harassing me? Would he still be pining for me from a distance, keeping his feelings to himself? Or would have found a different way to insert himself into my life?
It’s crazy to think just how unaware I was, how na?ve and clueless I had been about his feelings.
Looking back now, I can see the signs. Noah was always extra attentive with me, always more overprotective whenever I spoke to guys and he always treated me a little different than Logan and Harley did.
I didn’t think I would ever look at him than anything other than a friend.
And now, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him.
There’s no pretty sure about it.
I sigh. Okay, so maybe I am definitely, absolutely, one hundred percent in love with him.
It’s an issue, because I have no goddamn idea how we’re supposed to overcome all of the secrets and deceit. I’ve been going along with the plan that Freya helped me set out, and while it has been fun… I’m not really sure where it ends.
But I do know that we can’t go on like this.
Finally, we’re let out of class and I’m one of the last to leave, opting to wait out the throngs of people.
I check my phone as I leave, which is clearly a mistake since I’m not focusing on my surroundings.
My heart jumps up into my throat as a hand clamps around my mouth and I’m dragged backwards, through a door and into what looks like a storage room.
Once the hand lets me go, I spin around to face none other than Noah White. My eyes widen, since it’s strange for him to do something like this while not wearing the mask.
“What the hell,” I sputter, and he grins at me.
“I wanted to see you,” he says with a shrug and I chuckle at the puppy dog expression on his face.
How can someone be a golden retriever one minute and an insane psycho the next?
“You did?” I ask, a slow smile spreading across my face and he just… stares.
He doesn’t say a word, just looks into my eyes with an intensity that has my body heating and no doubt making a blush form on my cheeks.
“So fucking pretty,” he murmurs before cupping my cheek and leaning down to press his lips to mine.
This is the first time we’ve kissed since the day that I figured out who he was, and I didn’t realize until right now just how much I’ve missed feeling his mouth on mine.
It’s slow and sweet, such a contrast to all of the other times we’ve kissed, but it doesn’t stay like that for long. The kiss heats up, the slow, sensual pace quickening as he grabs the back of my head and leans in deeper.
I moan into his mouth, and he backs me against a wall, pressing his body into mine.
“So perfect. So goddamn beautiful for me,” he whispers, and I whimper as he presses his thigh between my legs.
My eyes roll as I move tentatively, grinding myself against him.
“That’s it, babe,” he murmurs into my mouth. “Use me to get yourself off.”
His mouth attacks mine then, his tongue swiping across my lower lip before dipping inside my mouth and I lean into it, needing more as I move against him.
His body is so hard pressed to mine, and it feels so freaking good as I rub myself against him.
He pulls his mouth away and I whimper, but before I can call him out on being a tease, his head dips and he starts to press kisses against the junction of my neck, making my body feel like it’s on fire.
Last time we were together, it was rushed. I was unsure of what we were doing, since I was more focused on me doing it with Noah of all people, but now that the illusion of that is gone, all I can do is feel.
Feel his hot breath against my skin, and it feels so goddamn good to be with him without the mask between us.
“Noah,” I moan and the sound of his name on my lips makes him groan.
“That’s it, babe. Keep going.” His tongue slides up my neck before he brings his lips back to mine in a scorching kiss and he whispers into my mouth, “Come for me, Gracie.”
And I do.
I’m helpless to stop it as he moves against me, my entire body lighting up as white hot pleasure hits me and I succumb to the orgasm. His mouth is still against mine, but we’re both panting, breathing each other in.
Once I finally come back to myself, my hand reaches out to undo his slacks so I can return the favor, but he pulls away before I can, shaking his head and I frown.
“You’ve gotta get to class, little one,” he says with a wink before brushing his fingers through my hair as though he’s trying to make me look at least a little presentable and he opens the door and gives me a look that says go on.
Well then, this was an unexpected turn to my afternoon.