35. Zoey #3
As the other students filtered in, I tried to center myself. No matter what drama Emily tried to stir up, I wasn’t going to let her distract me from that goal. I was done being a victim. Done letting others dictate my choices and my future.
Carla led us through a series of warm-up exercises. I focused on my movements, trying to ignore Emily practically throwing herself at Noah. She kept finding excuses to brush against him, her hands lingering just a little too long when he adjusted her stance.
“Like this, Noah?” Emily purred, arching her back and sticking out her chest. “Am I doing it right?”
I gritted my teeth. That bitch. I was right here. Emily wasn’t here to learn self-defense. She was trying to seduce Noah.
But to my surprise, Noah seemed completely unfazed by her advances. He stepped back, putting some distance between them. “You need to focus on your form, Emily. This isn’t about looking good; it’s about learning how to protect yourself.”
A wave of relief washed over me as Noah continued to rebuff Emily’s attempts at flirtation. He moved around the room, offering guidance and encouragement to the other students, his attention never lingering on any one person for too long.
As we transitioned into practicing strikes, I threw myself into the drills, channeling my frustration into each punch and kick. The satisfying thud of my fists against the pads helped clear my mind, and I got lost in the rhythm of the movements.
“Good job.” Noah appeared at my side. “Remember to keep your guard up, even when you’re attacking.”
I adjusted my stance and ignored the spark of pride that ignited at his praise. I wasn’t the most experienced fighter in the class, but I was improving with every class.
By the end of the session, I was sweaty and tired, but I also felt a sense of accomplishment. I had faced my fears and pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I hadn’t let Emily get under my skin.
I caught Noah’s gaze from across the room. He gave me a small, reassuring smile, and my heart fluttered in response. Despite the chaos of the past few weeks, I was exactly where I was meant to be.
I took a long, hot shower after the class, letting the steam and the pounding water soothe my aching muscles. I stayed under the spray until I was sure everyone else had left the locker room, not wanting to face any more awkward encounters or pitying looks.
Once I was dressed, I sat on the bench, taking a moment to compose myself. My mind was still racing from Emily’s outburst, but despite the drama, I was more balanced than I had been before the class.
I had questions, things I needed to talk to Noah about before we could move forward. But for now, I just wanted to bask in the feeling of accomplishment. I’d stood up for myself. That was something I wouldn’t have done before.
A soft knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. “Zoey? You in there?”
My stomach fluttered at the sound of Noah’s voice, but I pushed it down. “Yeah,” I called back. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
I took one last deep breath and stood up. It was time to face whatever came next. My heart pounded as I opened the door.
“Hey,” he said softly, a gentle smile on his face. “You ready to go?”
I didn’t trust my voice. He took my hand, his touch sending a thrill shooting down my spine, and led me out to his car.
The drive to his house was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. I found myself stealing glances at him, admiring the strong lines of his profile, those large hands gripping the steering wheel.
When we arrived at his place, he came around to open my door and helped me out of the car.
We walked up the sidewalk, hands clasped, and I marveled at how natural it felt, how right.
Inside, he took my coat and hung it up, his fingers brushing against my shoulders.
That slight touch was nearly enough to make my knees weak.
“How are you feeling?” I asked. “Now that you’re back home, I mean.”
Noah chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I’m just glad to be out of there. You know how they say sleep is the best medicine? Well, try telling that to the nurses who wake you up every five minutes to poke and prod you.”
I laughed, but it came out sounding nervous and slightly forced. There was so much I wanted to say to him, so much I needed to tell him, but I didn’t know where to start. I fidgeted with the hem of my sweater.
“Zoey.” Noah took a step closer to me. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I forced myself to look into his eyes. “I... I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to let myself trust someone again, after everything that’s happened. But I want to, Noah. I want to trust you.”
His face softened, and he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I know it’s not easy,” he said. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. We can take this as slow as you need to.”
“Thank you for being so patient with me,” I whispered.
He smiled as he rubbed his thumb over my cheek. “You’re worth it. You’re worth everything.”
I sat down on the couch, clasping my hands tightly in my lap. Noah took a seat beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body, but not so close that it was overwhelming.
“I’ve been thinking a lot,” I said. “About everything that’s happened. About how I’ve been blaming myself for all of it.”
Noah reached out, his hand covering mine. “Zoey, none of what happened was your fault.”
I shook my head. “I know that. Logically, I know that. But it’s hard to believe it sometimes. It’s hard not to feel like I could have done something differently. That I could have prevented it all.”
“You did everything you could. You survived. That’s what matters.”
I swallowed hard, fighting back the lump that had formed in my throat. “I know. But it’s not just that. It’s... it’s the way I’ve been pushing everyone away. I’ve been so afraid to let anyone in.”
Noah squeezed my hand gently. “That’s understandable, after what you’ve been through. No one blames you for that.”
“But I do,” I whispered. “I hate that I’ve been hurting the people who care about me. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own pain that I couldn’t see how much it was affecting everyone else. And I hate it.”
“Zoey,” he said softly, his free hand coming up to cup my cheek, “you’ve been through hell. It’s okay to take time to heal. It’s okay to not be okay.”
I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes for a moment. “I know that. But I want to be better. I want to be stronger. I want to be the person I was before George came into my life.”
“You will be. But it’ll take time. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
I opened my eyes. “I know. I’m sorry I pushed you away. I’m sorry for not trusting you.”
Noah shook his head. “You don’t have to apologize. I understand.” He took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “I’m really glad you came to talk to me. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. More than I realized.”
He brought his free hand up to my cheek. “Zoey...” His voice was low, almost rough. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
My breath caught, but I didn’t pull away. I didn’t want to. “Then kiss me.”
His lips met mine, soft and sweet and full of promise. The kiss quickly deepened, all our pent-up emotions pouring out as our lips moved together. Noah’s hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair.
Our breaths mingled, our tongues moving in a well-choreographed dance. My lips tingled with desire, as if they had awakened from a deep slumber.
His hands explored my body, tracing the curves and contours over my clothes, leaving me breathless and utterly consumed. His fingers glided down my bare arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake. My muscles responded with a subtle tension as each nerve ending came alive, amplifying the pleasure.
A flush spread across my cheeks and neck.
My breaths quickened, each inhalation filled with Noah’s unique, woodsy scent.
A gentle sigh escaped my lips, carrying with it the weight of longing and the intensity of our connection that only fueled the fire that burned between us.
The kiss, a silent language of its own, expressed the words I couldn’t find.
Our bodies responded with pure need, aching to be closer.
I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
It mirrored my own, synchronized in a dance of desire and passion.
The pleasure, anticipation, and vulnerability created an intoxicating combination that left us both breathless and yearning for more.
We were both breathing hard when we finally broke apart. Noah rested his forehead against mine. “God. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
I grinned. “I think I might have some idea.”
He chuckled, then winced and pulled back slightly.
I frowned. “Are you okay? I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Your side...”
“It’s fine. Just a little sore still. But it was worth it.”
I bit my lip, glancing away. As much as I wanted this, wanted him, we needed to be careful. “We should take it slow. At least until you’re fully healed.”
Noah sighed. “You’re probably right. How about a glass of wine? We can talk for a while.”
“That sounds nice.”
He led me into the kitchen, then filled two glasses with red wine. I leaned against the counter, watching him. Even injured, he moved with a grace and power that took my breath away.
“So, how’s Ro doing?” he asked, handing me a glass. “Is he adjusting okay, with everything that’s happened?”
I took a sip of my wine. “He is. But he’s worried about you. He’s afraid that because of what George did, you won’t want him to be part of the pack and won’t want to train him anymore.”
Noah’s eyes widened. “What? I would never abandon Ro like that.”
“I know. I told him that. He’s scared.” I leaned down into my glass. “George really did a number on him.”