53. Willow
WILLOW
NOVEMBER PRESENT DAY
The next two days passed in a blur. They ended up keeping Noah one extra night because of the pain levels consistently staying high, but today he hardly even has a headache, so they released him.
They did say that someone has to stay with him twenty-four seven for the next few days because there could still be complications from the concussion.
Jeremy offered to stay with him the entire time, but I also chimed in and said I could stay for a while and switch on and off with Jeremy. I’ve been here since Sunday with him, so what’s the difference?
The last couple of days have been fun getting to know more about Noah.
Most of my unease about what he said before is gone.
I’ve decided just to chalk it up to being in the moment after sex because since then, he hasn’t said anything that even slightly hints that he knows more about me than he’s letting on.
We talked more about our childhoods. I stuck to the stuff I remember, mostly after I was eight.
Any time before that is still really fuzzy, but lately, the more I talk about my childhood in Texas, the more my mind starts filtering through memories of before when I was still living in Michigan.
It’s weird. Some of the memories don’t even feel real.
I don’t remember the people in the memories, so it’s like watching a movie that you know is about your life, but you’re being played by a different person and the rest of the cast is people you don’t recognize.
I found out his favorite food is Ramen, specifically Birria ramen.
He hates baseball and basketball but loves football and he played it all through high school.
Noah and Jeremy are only a few months apart, and Noah’s the older one.
He made sure to point that out because Jeremy always tries to act like he’s the older one.
He's always wanted a dog, but his dad hates animals.
He said that when he was a child, there was a barn cat that he helped nurse back to health, but one day, when he came home from school, it was gone.
Years later, his father told him that he got rid of it because it was too much of a distraction, and he was sick of the mess the cat made.
When he talked about how much he loved that cat, I swear I could see his inner child’s heart breaking all over again.
I’ve always wanted a cat. I did joke on the way back to his place that we could stop at the pet store and get a cat if he wanted, shared custody, of course.
Let’s just say his eyes practically bugged out of his head, and if Jeremy hadn’t been driving, we probably would have stopped.
Now we’re home…Well, back at his home. Jenna brought me over a bag of clothes for the next few days.
I called into my work and told them I had to take a few days off to take care of a family member who got a concussion and cannot be left alone.
A little white lie, but I hardly think my manager would be okay with me calling off work to play nurse to the man I just met on Friday.
Plus, I probably won’t be working there much longer and I have plenty of vacation days to burn since I never go anywhere.
“So, what do you want to do for dinner tonight?” Noah asks as he walks over to where I’m sitting on the couch and sits on the floor at my feet.
He starts massaging my calves and feet while staring up at me.
It’s weird how easily we’ve fallen into each other’s lives.
There isn’t this awkwardness between us that so many people say happens at the beginning of a relationship.
Maybe that’s because I’ve never really been in a relationship before.
Sure, I’ve dated a little bit, but nothing serious.
No one’s ever caught my attention like Noah has.
“Hello? Willow?”
“What? Sorry.”
His fingers just feel too damn good as he continues to move higher up the outside of my thighs.
“I asked what you wanted to do for dinner. I’m starving, and honestly, the shit they gave me at the hospital shouldn’t even be considered food.”
“I don’t know. The stuff I ate in the cafeteria was actually really good. Maybe your taste buds were just off because of your brain injury,” I tease as I run my fingers through his hair.
“Brain injury? I’ll have you know I feel perfectly fine. Hell, I don’t think I need constant supervision anymore either.”
“Oh, really?” I taunt. “Well then, let me go grab my stuff and head home…since you don’t need me.”
I try to get up, but he wraps his arms around my waist as he kneels between my thighs, keeping me pinned on the couch.
“That doesn’t mean I want you to leave. I just don’t need my cousin hanging around all of the time.”
“I heard that, fucker,” Jeremy shouts from the dining room.
He’s been using that as an office since we got home this morning because he needs to work on a case.
“See? My point exactly,” Noah whispers.
“You know it’s just because he loves you, right?”
“Oh yeah? What’s the reason you’re doing it then?” he asks, and my heart jumps into my throat, nearly choking me.
“I…Umm…” I don’t know what to say.
“Willow, calm down. I was just teasing you. As I said, we will take this at whatever pace you’re comfortable with.”
He kisses me softly, but as his hands move further up my thighs, it turns more heated. I can feel the passion as he begins to press me against the couch.
“Noah, we can’t. Your cousin's right through those doors,” I whisper as I try to gently push him off, but he only smirks as he kisses me harder and presses his hand between my thighs along the seam of my leggings.
“I think you like the thought of getting caught, Little Rabbit. If I slip my hand inside your leggings, will I find out just how turned on you are from that possibility?”
He presses harder, and I can’t hide the embarrassing whimper that comes out.
My eyes are closed, and my head tilts back as he begins to use his palm to add pressure to my clit through the leggings.
His other hand moves up inside the front of my shirt until he finds my lace bra.
His fingers tease my nipple through the thin fabric before moving to my other breast.
“Fuck, Noah. Please,” I whimper, not even knowing what I’m asking for.
“Use your words, Willow. Tell me what you want.”
“You,” I whisper against his lips as I pull his body closer. “I just want you.”