Chapter 53
HANNAH
Noah plays with my hair. I’m half asleep, legs draped over his, my head resting on his chest. I hear his heartbeat thump, matching the tempo of mine, the sound soothing.
Our bodies are naked, blankets having fallen to the floor during our sexcapade.
He hums an unfamiliar tune, running his fingers through my hair, making me sigh contentedly.
Tawny skin, smooth under my touch, the smell of Noah reminds me of home, making my chest ache with nostalgia.
He makes it bearable, though, and I continue to immerse myself in his touch, squeezing against his waist in joy.
Something I haven’t felt since Liam left. Or at all when we were together.
Our fight earlier, looking back on it now, shows me a side of Noah where he’s not afraid to right the wrongs he’s caused. His apology for his outburst on the half pipe to the shitty paparazzi swarming the resort, Noah’s playboy demeanor starts to slip, the mask breaking off in chunks.
Hours must’ve passed, my body is kind of stiff from resting in the same position for so long, and I stretch, catching sight of Noah admiring my body.
“Maybe you should take a picture, it’ll last longer,” I tease, ruffling his dark, curly hair.
He smirks, then sees my camera bag on the coffee table, helping himself to it and playing with the lens.
Noah zooms in on my body, and it’s the first time I don’t hide behind the covers, showing who I truly am.
He takes shots from every angle, even hovering over my body on his knees, capturing me from the waist up. “Your skin flushes after sex, and it’s my favorite shade of red.”
“Yeah?” I can’t help but smile widely, enjoying his compliments. “I thought it was my hair?”
“That too. And this,” he squeezes lightly on my hips, taking a picture of my flesh in his hand.
He cups my cheek, forcing me to look down the barrel of the camera and snaps a picture, then looks at the shot, smiling.
I can already feel myself getting wet.
Noah takes his time, making sure his hand is touching some part of my body in the shot. Lines have blurred, and I’m sinking deeper into his snow bank, with no intention of getting myself out.
To admit it out loud that I want something more…
I wonder if he knows something has shifted between us. Or it’s all in my head.
I take the camera out of his hands, ready to take his picture, when he stops me.
“Not me, Red. Only you. Promise me if you ever doubt yourself, you’ll look at them, okay?” Noah comes closer, lips brushing my cheek, then my chin, hovering over me. “Promise me?”
I try to close the distance, but he waits for my answer, pulling back as he holds my gaze, knowing I’ll say yes regardless.
Knowing all I want is to continue to hide out in this room, rolling in these very sheets until we’re completely spent.
“Yes,” I agree.
He pecks me lightly, then devours me, our bodies connected, making it easier to slip back in, engulfed in flames of desire so intense the whole room might combust, maybe even set the whole resort up in flames.
And for the first time, I enjoy the way it burns my skin. The way it keeps me alive, rather than half dead, walking among the living.
Because maybe it’s the most I’ll ever get from him.
From us.