15. Noah #2
The hostess led us to the secluded booth in the corner that I’d requested upon making the reservation.
We ordered, and a glass of wine later, our meals arrived.
I watched Zoey take a tentative bite of her steak, savoring the flavors with a look of appreciation on her face.
It was moments like these that I wanted to freeze in time, to keep her safe and content forever.
“Everything to your liking?” I asked.
“Mm-hmm,” she hummed. “This is wonderful, Noah. Thank you.”
The conversation between us came naturally, like a symphony where each note seamlessly blended into the next. Every so often, I caught myself just watching her, admiring the way she’d tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear or how her laughter would ring out, pure and unguarded.
But beneath the casual banter, my mind raced. Zoey was my fated mate, yet fate didn’t dictate her feelings. She was human. She didn’t feel the instinctual pull that governed my species.
I wasn’t even sure how best to broach the subject. Heather had proven to be a reliable source of support. She’d known Zoey all her life and had seen the bonds of mates from both sides. I resolved to talk to her before broaching the subject again.
“Zoey,” I ventured cautiously, “I’ve been thinking...”
She tilted her head to the side. “About?”
“Us.” The word hung in the air, heavy with implications. “I just want to know... where you see this going.”
She hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air. “Noah, I’m not sure. I’m still healing, and everything feels so new.”
“I understand,” I said quickly, not wanting to press her. My wolf raged, impatient and possessive, but I restrained him. She needed time, something I had in abundance if it meant winning her trust. “Let’s just enjoy tonight,” I added, reaching across the table to take her hand.
Her smile returned, and with it, my hope for the future. Our future.
I leaned back in my chair, watching Zoey trace the rim of her wineglass with her finger. The restaurant’s low hum of conversation swirled around us, a cocoon of normalcy that seemed almost surreal given all she’d been through.
“If you could paint your future without any fears, without George looming over it, what would that picture look like?” I asked.
Her eyes met mine with a clarity that took my breath away. It was as if she was seeing beyond the here and now, envisioning a life unfettered by shadows.
“Freedom,” she said, the word hanging between us like a promise. “To wake up without dread. To just... live.”
“Tell me more,” I said quietly, captivated by the hope flickering in her gaze.
She smiled, a wistful curve of her lips that made my chest tighten. “I’d love to travel. I want Ro to experience everything life has to offer. To see him laugh and run, maybe take him to Disney World. God, I want to give him the world.”
I nodded. I could see Roland at Disney World. See his delight and hear his laughter on the rides. “He deserves that. And you? What about your dreams?”
Zoey shrugged, a blush creeping across her cheeks. “This might sound silly, but I’ve always been terrible at baking. I’d love to take lessons, to actually surprise Ro with a cake that doesn’t look like a disaster.”
“Nothing silly about that,” I said, chuckling softly. “What else?”
“Beyond that...” She paused, biting her lip. “I just want to be happy. Maybe find someone to share my life with. Possibly have more children.”
Her words painted a future so vivid, so full of life and love, it was almost tangible. I wanted to be part of that painting, to be the one standing beside her. But I held my tongue, afraid to rush her, to scare her away with the depth of my desire.
“Sounds perfect,” I said instead, raising my glass to her. “To your dreams, Zoey. May they all come true.”
“Cheers,” she said, smiling, raising her glass in a toast.
I couldn’t help but chuff, a soft sound of amusement mixed with a swell of affection, as the image of Zoey with a child—our child—danced in my mind.
It was a future that called to me, one I found myself wanting more than I’d ever admit.
The thought of being part of her and Roland’s lives, of giving them the world and the safety they deserved… it was everything to me.
“It’ll happen,” I murmured, peering into her eyes that radiated tales of courage and endurance. “You deserve everything you dream of, Zoey. And I hope... I really do hope that there’s a place for me in them, someday.”
She searched my face, perhaps for sincerity or maybe a hint of pressure. But I meant every word, and I wanted her to know that without feeling any rush or obligation. The corner of her mouth lifted in a cautious smile, and it was enough for me.
The conversation continued, flowing effortlessly between us, and before I knew it, the lights in the restaurant dimmed, signaling closing time. Yet, I wasn’t ready to let this night end. Not when every second with her felt like a chance to rewrite our stars.
With my heart thrumming, I said, “I’m not ready for this night to end. Would you be comfortable coming over to my place?”
She hesitated, just for a heartbeat, and I held my breath, preparing for disappointment. But then she nodded.
“Okay,” she said, and I nearly lost it right there.
“Great,” I managed to say, staying as cool as the evening breeze outside.
As we walked to the car, I fought the urge to punch the air in victory. Instead, I reached for her hand, intertwining our fingers, and she didn’t pull away.
I flicked on the soft glow of the floor lamp in the corner and grabbed a bottle of wine and some glasses from the kitchen. I returned to where Zoey sat and handed her a glass. I filled it with a smooth red, and her eyes followed me, a gentle curiosity in their hazel depths.
“Hope you like this one,” I murmured, offering her a glass.
“Thank you. I’m sure I will.”
I put on some music, and the low, mellow tune flowed out of the speakers. We settled into the couch, our bodies angled towards each other, the space between us shrinking with every word exchanged.
“Your place is nice,” she said as she gazed around the room.
“Thanks,” I said. “It’s better with you in it, though.”
That made her blush, and I couldn’t help but inch a little closer. The conversation drifted from light-hearted banter to dreams, to hopes, all the while our feet nudging, knees brushing. It was a dance, a slow build-up of something undeniable.
“You’re incredible, you know that?” I told her.
Her response was a deep breath and a gaze that held mine captive.
Right then, my restraint crumbled, and I leaned in, capturing her lips with mine.
She melted into the kiss, her hands finding my shoulders, pulling me closer.
The passion surged, fierce and consuming, and I poured every unspoken word into that kiss, hoping she’d understand.
She traced the line of my jaw, sending shivers down my spine. This woman, whom fate had tossed into my life, was awakening parts of me I thought were long dormant. She wanted me. I could feel it in the urgency of her touch, hear it in the hitch of her breath against my mouth.
I tore my mouth from hers. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes,” Zoey answered, breathless. “I... I want this.”
“Only if you’re sure,” I said. My heart hammered against my chest, yearning for her, yet caution urged me not to rush her past her comfort zone.
“I’m sure, Noah. Please,” she said, her voice laced with a desire that matched my own.
My lips crashed against hers. With tender care, I continued to explore the connection that pulsed hotly between us, determined to show her just how much she meant to me without pushing too far. Tonight, it was all about her, about us, and nothing else mattered.
I reached for Zoey’s hand, my fingers intertwining with hers as I guided her to the bedroom. Her pulse fluttered beneath my touch like a caged bird, her vulnerability almost palpable in the dim light of the room.
“Is this okay?” I asked as we stood next to the bed.
Zoey nodded, a silent storm of desire and uncertainty swirling in the hazel depths of her eyes. “Yes.”
I sensed the tension building up inside her, the ghosts of her past lurking nearby. But there was also a flicker of trust, a tentative offering laid bare between us. I would handle it with the care it deserved.
Slowly, reverently, I eased the blouse from her shoulders, revealing the soft curves. My hands roamed over her skin, feather-light, as if she were something sacred. Zoey exhaled softly, and her eyelids fluttered closed as she surrendered to the sensation.
“Tell me if you want to stop,” I said, even as I continued worshipping her body with each caress, each kiss.
She shook her head, the motion stirring her long black hair against her bare shoulders. “Don’t stop.”
Encouraged, I continued my exploration, mapping the expanse of her skin with my lips and tongue. When I reached the valley between her breasts, I lingered, savoring the sweet taste of her. Zoey twined her fingers in my hair, the gentle tug at once hesitant and demanding.
Moving lower, I traced the lines of her abdomen before coming to rest at the waistband of her skirt. I slid the fabric down her legs, leaving her exposed and beautiful in front of me.
“Beautiful,” I said.
Her entire being seemed to call to me, a siren’s song that promised depths of passion yet uncharted. Yet, I restrained myself, determined to keep my promise, to move at her pace and show her that she was safe with me.
I knelt before her, my gaze never leaving hers as I parted her thighs.
This was more than desire; it was an act of communion.
My fingers danced along her inner thigh, drawing a path to where she was warm and wanting.
She gasped when I touched her, a soft sound of surprise and pleasure that stirred the beast within me.
“Relax,” I said against her skin, my mouth hovering just above her. “Let me take care of you.”
Zoey’s hips rose off the bed in invitation. Her skin was alabaster in the dim light, soft as silk as my tongue traced its way up her thigh and onto the lacy edge of her panties. I slid them down her legs, revealing her to me completely.
She bit her lower lip nervously, but when our eyes met again, there was a fire burning bright within them that told me she wanted this as much as I did. I licked my lips in anticipation before moving between her legs, taking in the sight of her.
Her curls were soft against my nose as I pushed them aside to reveal her most intimate flesh. She gasped as my tongue circled her entrance, teasing and tasting. Goosebumps erupted on her skin. I gripped her hips to keep her still while I explored every inch of her with my mouth and tongue.
When I slid my tongue into her wet heat, she let out a soft moan that was music to my ears. It was like heaven to feel the warmth of her body open up for me, surrendering completely.
She tasted sweet and fresh. With every flick of my tongue, she let out a soft gasp. She tasted so good, so pure. The scent of her arousal filled my senses, making me even more determined to please her in every way possible.
Her body trembled beneath my hands, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling lightly as she urged me on, wanting more.
My free hand trailed up her quivering stomach, teasing the undersides of her breasts before circling a nipple through the thin fabric of her bra.
She arched into my touch, moaning softly as I rolled it between my fingertips.
With a gentle pull, I released the clasp and slowly slid it down her arms before returning my attention between her legs.
I slid two fingers inside of her slowly. She was so wet, so hot. Her muscles clenched around me. Her hips began to buck against me, meeting each thrust of my fingers and demanding more.
Her taste grew richer with each passing moment—sweet and salty with desire as she neared her climax.
Her moans filled the room like a symphony playing just for us alone, raw and vulnerable yet so fucking sexy.
She shattered beneath me, her body convulsing with waves of pleasure that made me shiver in anticipation.
I held her tight, sucking on her clit as she cried out my name, her body arching off the bed.
The taste of her desire on my tongue was intoxicating, like nectar from the gods.
Slowly, tenderly, I pulled away from her warmth and stood, ignoring my rock-hard cock and pulling Zoey up. She stared at me with sweat on her brow and stars in her eyes. It was hard not to chuckle at the expression on her face. I loved that I’d given her that.
“What about you?” Zoey asked quietly.
“Tonight is only about you,” I said. “I wanted to give you a release and show you that it doesn’t have to be about anything else.”