Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
ryder
My heart hammers in my chest as I stare at the ceiling. Noia’s scent still lingers in the room and my cock is still painfully hard, throbbing from the ghost of her hot, wet mouth.
“Fuck,” I sigh into the dark.
When I woke up to Noia sucking my cock, it felt so fucking good, I nearly lost it right then and there. The feel of her kneeling between my legs, full lips wrapped around my dick, was erotic as fuck.
I feigned sleep as long as I could before I pushed her away and flipped her onto her back. Then it took every ounce of self-control I had not to rip off her shorts and bury myself deep inside her.
But I can’t give in. Not yet.
I’ve been planning our next date for days now—something special that’ll push her boundaries in all the right ways before I finally give in to what we both have been craving. If I cave now, all that anticipation, all that delicious tension we’ve been building, will be wasted.
I drag a hand down my face, willing my erection to subside.
“Goddammit,” I growl, throwing an arm over my eyes.
Sleep is impossible now. I can still taste her, feel the soft skin of her neck against my lips. Marking her had been instinctive, primal—a need to claim what’s mine.
Mine.
The thought slams into me. When did I start thinking of Noia as mine?
Goonie jumps onto the bed, settling himself on my chest with a disgruntled meow.
“Yeah, I know,” I mutter, stroking his fur. “I’m a glutton for punishment.”
Kneading my chest with his paws, he purrs in agreement.
“What am I supposed to do, huh?” I ask him quietly. “Just a couple of more days. That’s all I need to hold out.”
Goonie yawns at me, then closes his eyes, unimpressed with my current dilemma.
I let out a sigh and continue petting him. It calms me enough that after a few minutes, I’m able to fall asleep, dreaming of Noia’s soft blond hair and her full red lips wrapped around my cock.
The next morning, I wake to the sound of laughter drifting down the hall and the smell of coffee and something sweet.
Noia and Sasha are up.
I drag myself out of bed, pull on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and head down the hall, bracing myself.
When I walk into the kitchen, Noia is at the stove stirring eggs. Wearing jean shorts and a tank top, her hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun, exposing the curve of her neck. Seeing the dark purple mark I made only hours before makes my cock jerk.
Something primal and possessive stirs in my chest, but it’s immediately interrupted by the sound of Sasha’s chirpy voice. “Morning, sunshine.”
“Morning,” I grunt, making my way to the coffee pot.
I can feel Noia’s eyes on me, but I keep my eyes to myself. If I look at her, I might just haul her over my shoulder and take her back to bed.
“Sleep well?” she asks innocently, but there’s a challenge in her eyes.
“Like a baby,” I lie, taking a long sip. “You?”
I look up and see her cheeks flush pink as her hand automatically goes to her neck, fluttering over the mark I gave her.
Her voice comes out as a squeak. “Fine.” She clears her throat. “We’re making breakfast. French toast and eggs.”
“Sounds good.” I take a sip of my coffee and lean against the counter, ogling her ass as she moves around the kitchen. “What time are you heading out, Sasha?”
Sasha’s eyes dart between us, clearly sensing the tension. “After breakfast,” she says as she grabs plates from the cabinet. “I should start packing. My drive back is going to take longer with Sunday tourist traffic.”
“I’ll help you after we eat.” Noia scoops the eggs onto the plates before turning back to the stove to flip the French toast. “I was thinking of driving back with Sasha for a few days. Maybe do some shopping in the city.”
My mug freezes halfway to my lips. “What?”
She turns to face me, expression neutral. “Just for a couple of days. I need to pick up some things, and it would be nice to have a change of scenery. For inspiration.”
My jaw clenches and my hand tightens around the mug. She’s running. “I thought I was helping with your inspiration.”
Sasha glances between us, then suddenly becomes very interested in her breakfast. “I’ll just... take this upstairs and go pack.”
As soon as she’s gone, I set my mug down and move to stand over Noia. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” she sighs, flipping another piece of French toast onto a plate. “I just need some space.”
“Space,” I repeat flatly. “This is about what happened last night.”
“No. Well, yes.” She tries to run a hand through her hair, but only manages to dislodge a few strands from her bun. “This whole slow-burn thing is driving me crazy, Ryder. I think some distance might help me… us… reset.”
I step even closer, backing her against the counter. “Or maybe you’re afraid you’re going to lose our little bet.”
Her eyes flash. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Prove it,” I challenge, dropping my voice into a low rumble. “Stay.”
Her breath catches, and for a second, I think she’s going to give in. Then she shakes her head. “I already told Sasha I’d go.”
“Fine.” I take a step back. “When will you be back?”
“A couple of days. Wednesday at the latest.”
Three days without her. The thought makes my chest pull tight.
“I have something planned for us on Wednesday,” I say, trying to keep the disappointment from my voice.
Her eyes soften. “I’ll make sure to be back by then.”
I take another long sip of my coffee, studying her over the rim. “So, this is your strategy now? Running away to avoid temptation?”
“I’m not running,” she protests, the flush creeping up her neck proving otherwise. “I just need a break from...” She waves a hand in the air between us. “This.”
“From me, you mean.”
Her shoulders slump slightly. “From the sexual frustration. From wanting you so bad that I can’t think straight. From waking up in the middle of the night aching for you.”
The raw honesty in her voice makes my cock throb.
Unable to resist, I set my mug down on the counter and crowd into her again.
“You think distance is going to help with that?” I trace a finger along the mark on her neck, feeling her pulse jump beneath my touch. “You think you won’t still see this and think about what you did?”
She swallows hard, eyes darkening. “At least it will remind me not to sneak into your room again.”
“That was a dirty move, by the way,” I whisper, leaning in and brushing my lips across her ear. “Waking me up like that.”
“You weren’t complaining at the time,” she whispers back.
“Trust me, kitten,” I chuckle. “I’m not complaining at all.”
The air is charged with tension, and her breath hitches as I step back, eyes locked with hers.
“If that’s what you need, then go.” Shoving my hands in my pockets, I clench my fists. “I’ll be here when you get back. And Noia? Our next date? It’s going to push you over the edge.”
“We’ll see,” she counters, her voice lacking conviction.
“All packed!” Sasha says as she stomps down the stairs.
“Great,” Noia says, voice bright. “Let me just grab a few things and we can head out.”
As she brushes past me to head upstairs, I grab her wrist. “Don’t forget what I said.”
Her eyes meet mine, dark with want. “Believe me, I won’t.”