36. Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Noah
S he trusted me.
My heart thudded like I'd just run a sprint, and my head felt just as light. There was a sense of triumph and euphoria that I had never felt before. Nothing compared to Stella Hunt trusting me again after what I did—nothing ever would. This was my most hard-won victory, and the taste of it was more delicious and potent than a fifty-year-old single malt scotch.
I'd planned for us to have a weekend-long date. I hadn't expected the sex we had last night, but I wasn't regretting it. Even after she made the now, I can have sex with some rando remark…okay, that's not what she exactly said. Still, it felt like that's what she meant. I felt no remorse for getting her into bed and keeping her there. I was never letting her go. What we had right now was fragile, I understood that—but after being inside her again, every territorial instinct I had flared into life. I wasn't beating my chest and shouting, " this is my woman ," but it was close.
We anchored near a secluded bend in the river, where the water was calm and inviting. I went into the cockpit, and came back with a picnic basket that had been arranged for by the Rhodes Hotel staff.
While Stella napped, I set up lunch on the deck. It was simple: a variety of sandwiches, iced tea, and a bottle of chilled Chenin Blanc.
She grinned when I woke her up and saw the picnic basket on top of a colorful blanket.
"Are you wooing me with picnics, Noah?"
"Is it working?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. It's working."
We shared our simple lunch, laughing and lounging against the deck. Surrounded by nothing but the open sky and the gentle lapping of water against the hull, it was tranquility at its finest.
"Noah?"
"Yeah, Sweet."
"This is nice."
Her eyes were closed as she leaned against the deck next to me. I took her hand in mine, loving how relaxed she was. I had made her life so stressful the past months, and it was a pleasure to see her like this: calm, rosy-cheeked, happy.
"Yes," I said hoarsely, my throat choked with tears.
"Thank you."
I brushed my lips against hers. "No, baby, thank you for giving me a chance with you."
"It's been the most perfect day." Her lips curved in a smile. "Let's stay here for as long as we can."
"Yeah."
"Or as long as the mosquitoes allow it."
I laughed and put my arm around my woman, holding her close.