Chapter 5NOAH
Chapter Five
Noah and Emma
NOAH
I clean up the breakfast mess in the kitchen and can’t help myself as I glance over at Emma, curled up on the couch by the fireplace.
It’s one thing to have your book out to millions of strangers, but it’s a whole other ballgame to watch the most important person in your life read it right in front of you.
Even though our genres are entirely different, with her being a children’s book author and me being romance, we work really well together, bouncing ideas off of each other and helping each other with edits.
It’s become a daily routine for us, whether we are in our office we share writing side by side or curled up in bed at night going over edits.
This book is different, though. It’s not a memory we both share of another lifetime.
It’s right here, right now. It’s everything I feel about her and everything we have gone through to be right here in this present moment.
It’s not easy writing down your feelings for someone when there aren’t enough words to describe what you feel.
It’s like trying to contain the universe in a bottle.
It’s too infinite and too powerful to ever fit in a small space.
Her laughter rings out, making me smile. I throw the dishtowel down on the counter and head for the bedroom. Instead of sitting here driving myself crazy and watching the pages turn, I decide to go for a run and get this nervous energy out.
Throwing on some sweats, I pull on a hoodie over my t-shirt and lace up my running shoes. I’ve been on a run a few times when we visited, and there are some nice trails out back that are fun to explore.
“I’m going to go for a run while you finish up the rest of the book. Will you be okay while I’m gone?” I ask, coming back into the living room.
She lifts her eyes to meet mine. “Of course. Have fun,” she smiles as I bend down to kiss her goodbye before heading to the door.
Chuckling softly, I see her nose already back in the book as I step outside.
I can almost guarantee she will be in the exact same spot when I return.
Nothing can pull her away from a good book…
well, almost nothing. I can be very persuasive when I want to be.
I can’t stop the grin that splits my face when I remember the last time I got her to put a book down.
If the satisfied look on her face is any indication, she didn’t regret it for a second.
The snow crunches under my feet as I step down from the porch.
I make a note to shovel the snow off the stairs when I get back.
Pulling on my black beanie to cover my ears, I breathe in the cool, crisp air.
With the new snow from last night, it looks like a winter wonderland out here.
I can’t help but take in the beauty of the white-covered pines and mountains off in the distance.
I walk around back to the tree line and find the path. With the cover of the trees, the snow isn’t more than a couple of inches on the trail, so I easily set a steady pace as I take off through the woods.
My muscles warm up, and by the time I hit the turnaround point at the top of the trail, I’m drenched in sweat and feel the burn in my legs that I’ve come to crave on my runs.
I stop to admire the mountain view when my phone rings.
Pulling it out of my zippered hoodie pocket, I grin when I see Mav’s face on the screen.
Accepting the FaceTime call, Maverick and Bella’s face appear.
“Merry Christmas!” They both are in matching Christmas pajamas, and I can’t help but laugh at how I never thought I would see the day that my best friend would be engaged, let alone wearing matching plaid pajamas with a reindeer on his shirt. It just shows how much he loves my sister.
“Merry Christmas to you guys. Nice pj’s,” I grin.
“Don’t even pretend you weren’t wearing a pair this morning. I know for a fact our girls went shopping together and got us both a few pairs,” Mav laughs. “Besides, I’m not even going to lie—the flannel keeps my balls nice and toasty, and the comfort level is a ten.”
“Oh my God,” Bella says, laughing. “I’ll be sure to mention how toasty your balls are if I leave a review.”
“You need to. Guys would want to know these things.”
“He isn’t wrong,” I laugh. Two golden retrievers fill the screen as they jump on the couch and try to sit on their laps.
“You aren’t a puppy anymore, Daisy,” Mav groans when their dog sits seventy pounds on his warm and toasty balls.
Chuckling, I watch Nala attack my sister with kisses.
Nala is our golden retriever. I’ve had her since she was a puppy, and I thought I was her favorite until Emma came along.
The two of them are very close, and now that Emma is pregnant, Nala rarely leaves her side.
It’s like she knows there is something worth protecting in her belly.
“Has she been good for you?”
“They are always good together.” My sister rubs behind Nala’s ears and is rewarded with another kiss. “We drop them off tomorrow at Mom’s. I don’t know how she will do it with three of them, but she insists they will be fine for the week.”
I laugh, thinking of poor Hurley and how these two younger goldens are going to keep him on his toes.
Our parents have Hurley, Nala’s dad, and he has no clue his life is about to be turned upside down for a week.
“At least they have the big backyard to run around in. That will help.” I chuckle as Bella tries to see the camera past the fur sitting on her lap
Mav throws a ball into the kitchen, and both dogs jump down and race to find it. “You guys ready for everyone tomorrow? Our flight gets in at four, so we should be there around five.”
“We’re ready. I’m excited for you both to see this place. The pictures of the renovations don’t do it justice…and,” I turn my camera around and show them the view, “we have snow for you all.”
“Wow. It’s beautiful,” Bella says, taking in the mountains in the background. “I can’t wait to see it in person.”
“It is beautiful. Looks cold, too,” Mav laughs. I turn the camera back around and grin.
“It is. I feel like my balls are freezing up while I’m standing here talking to you.”
“Good thing I’m bringing my new reindeer pajamas to keep my balls nice and toasty.”
“I’ve got you,” Bella says, throwing her arms around his neck.
“You always know just what I need, baby.” He nuzzles her neck, and I clear my throat.
“I think that’s my cue to say goodbye before I see something of my sister’s I would rather not see.”
“Good call,” Mav’s voice is muffled in her neck as he whispers something in her ear.
“Bye Noah! We’ll see you tomorrow.” I hear her shriek before the line goes dead.
Chuckling, I shake my head. Even though it was awkward at first having your best friend date your younger sister, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love seeing them both so happy. There’s not a guy on this earth that I would trust more with my sister’s heart than Maverick.
I pick up my pace again and head back to the cabin. Going to the garage, I grab the snow shovel to get the steps cleared off in case Emma gets out today. My body breaks out in a sweat under this hoodie by the time I’m done.
I see Emma right where I knew she would be, finishing the last pages of the book under her fuzzy blanket. She looks up when I walk in, and I can tell she’s been crying. The last pages of the book were some of the hardest I’ve ever had to write.
“How was your run?” She puts on a smile for me, but I can tell she’s emotional.
“Good. I talked to Mav and Bella. They are excited to come tomorrow.”
She nods her head and flicks her eyes back to the page she was reading. Wanting to give her this time to finish the book and process her emotions, I leave my shoes at the door and head to the bedroom.
“I’m going to take a shower real quick while you finish.”
“Okay. I should be done soon,” she softly says, her eyes never leaving the page.
Emotions clog my throat when I enter the bathroom. I know exactly what part she’s reading, and just thinking about it sends a cold chill to my bones. I turn the water on as hot as I can stand it while I get undressed.
The warm spray hits my back as I stand under the water, trying to ease the ice flowing through my veins.
Whenever I think about how close I came to losing her, it always feels like the air is sucked out of my lungs.
I remind myself to breathe as I bow my head and place my hands on the cool rock tile.
She’s here…she’s alive. I keep repeating the words in my mind.
I must have stood there longer than I thought because I feel her hands wrap around me from behind.
My thoughts were too loud in my head to even hear her come in.
I grab her hand with one of mine and hold it to my chest.
“I finished,” she says quietly. Her cheek rests against my back as she holds me tight.
“Thank you.” I hear her breath catch and can tell she’s trying not to cry.
I squeeze her hand and close my eyes tightly.
“You’ve given me the greatest gift, and I don’t know how to explain everything I’m feeling.
I laughed, I cried, I got angry all over again…
I felt my pain and my loss,” she chokes out.
“This time, though, I got to feel you. I felt your longing for me…I felt how scared you were…I felt your pain…God, did I feel your pain,” she sniffles against my back, and I blink back my tears as I remember the day in the hospital.
“But most of all, I felt your love, Noah. You poured your love for me onto those pages, and I can’t tell you how deeply I felt it,” she whispers.
“It's all I ever want you to feel,” I manage to get out through the lump in my throat. “I got a second chance with you, and I’ll never take that for granted. You are my life, Emma. I can’t do this life or any other life without you.”
“You won’t have to. We always find each other, remember?” I turn and face her. The water mixes with our tears as it blends together and washes away. I step closer and grasp the sides of her face with my hands.
“I remember,” I breathe. “I love you so completely, Emma.” I close my eyes briefly when her hand comes up to lay against my cheek.
“I love you so completely. Always, Noah.”
My lips crush to hers, wanting something tangible to hold onto.
Her tongue seeks out mine, and I moan at the invasion as I deepen the kiss.
Walking her back until she hits the tile, my hands roam her body, wanting to touch what is alive and here right now…
needing the reminder that she’s mine…that she will always be mine.
My hand drops between her legs as I sink two fingers into her warmth. Her moan caresses my ear as I lean down and suck the soft flesh on her neck. I set a pace with my fingers that I know will bring her a quick release. I want her to remember how alive she is in this moment.
Her head falls back on the tile as she arches further into my hand, matching my pace. I pull a tight nipple into my mouth and suck deeply. Her fingers dig into my hair on a gasp as I devour the other one.
“I’m so close, Noah,” she whimpers.
“I know, baby,” I rub her swollen clit hard with my thumb pushing her over the edge.
“Let go for me, Em. I’ll always be here to catch you.
” Her body responds as my name leaves her lips.
Her pussy squeezes my fingers tightly as I milk every last drop of her orgasm from her.
I hold her up as her body trembles beneath me.
She’s breathing hard as her forehead falls to my shoulder. I slowly remove my fingers, and she lifts her head to look at me. Her greens take hold of my soul as they watch me enjoy the taste of her on my tongue. When every last drop is savored, she lowers to her knees and licks her lips.
“You’re very pregnant, Em. You shouldn’t be on the floor like that on your knees. I don’t want you uncomfortable.”
“And let you have all the fun? I think I can handle being on my knees for a few minutes. Besides, I was promised dessert earlier after breakfast, so it’s only fair I get a taste, too.
” Her tongue comes out to swipe all the way down the length of me, and my last coherent thought is how fucking unbelievably lucky I am.