Chapter 30
ALICIA
I wheeled my suitcase into my room, then flopped on the bed.
We’d just arrived back at the Love Hotel’s Santorini resort and I was knackered.
Noah and I had shagged two more times before we’d finally gone to sleep. And we’d only stopped because we’d run out of steam. Otherwise, we would’ve kept going all morning.
My pussy felt like it’d been scrubbed with a metal sponge, so it was probably for the best that we were tired. It needed time to rest and recuperate.
But like I’d said to Noah, I had zero regrets. I’d remember that night for the rest of my life.
I couldn’t get enough of him.
And it was more than just about the sex. It was the intensity.
The connection.
Somehow because it was him, it made everything a million times better.
We already had a great foundation: friendship and trust. That meant that I didn’t have to worry about all of the things that normally plagued my thoughts when I was screwing.
For example, what the guy thought about my body.
Whether he really liked me or this was just sex.
If he’d call me again. How long until it’d be over and whether I should fake an orgasm now or wait an extra two minutes out of politeness.
With Noah, those questions weren’t even a consideration. I felt so safe and secure that I was able to just totally let go and enjoy myself to the max.
And the result was that I was more sexually satisfied in one night than I’d been in my entire life.
I might not have had questions like the ones that normally swam around my head, whilst we were in bed together, but I’d had a few since. Like, how was I supposed to be with any other man after this?
Noah wasn’t just the gold standard. He was platinum level. And he’d ruined me for life.
As I’d asked briefly earlier, I also wanted to discuss how we could manage this situation so that it didn’t ruin things between us once we were back in London. Although the sex was out of this world, our friendship was more important.
We’d agreed to talk about it later, but didn’t get the chance because we’d only had less than two hours’ sleep before we had to get up to shower, eat, then catch the boat back to Santorini. And unsurprisingly, we were so exhausted when we did, that we both slept for the entire journey.
Noah asked if I wanted to get lunch, but thankfully I’d had a massive breakfast (not ideal before a boat journey, but after all the calories I’d burnt, I needed it), so I’d said I just needed to rest.
I’d suggested we meet later instead. Hopefully then we’d have a proper chat. But right now, there was only one word I could think about: sleep.
I woke up to a flurry of messages, including texts from Sammie first asking how Mykonos was, then what I was doing now, before saying that she’d given up waiting for me to reply about whether I wanted to meet up and she had to go and do some wedding prep so to call her when I could.
There were also messages from Noah.
Seeing his name on my phone screen instantly made my stomach flip-flop. Funny how one night could change everything.
Noah
You awake?
I’m starving, so I’m going to the restaurant soon. Want to join me?
Guess you’re still sleeping. Let me know when you’re up. Got a surprise for you.
There went those stomach flutters again.
I bolted up in bed and started typing.
Me
I’m awake! Feeling human again (sort of!)
Oooh! A surprise! How exciting! Let me know when you want to meet.
It was just gone five in the afternoon so I felt bad that I’d wasted most of the day, but at least we still had the whole night ahead of us. I couldn’t wait to find out what my surprise was.
My phone pinged.
Noah
Can you be ready in half an hour? I’m taking you on a date.
Cue more excited fizzing in my belly. With all this stomach flip-flopping, and fluttering, I’d have a six-pack by dinner time.
Me
Now I’m even more excited! I’ll be ready!
Noah
Great! I’ll pick you up then. xxx
I leapt out of bed, had a quick shower to wake me up, then got dressed and did my make-up.
Although I knew Noah would be happy even if I turned up in a bin bag, I wanted to make an effort. I wanted to look nice for me, but also for him.
Five minutes before the agreed meeting time, there was a knock at the door. I didn’t even need to open it to know it was Noah. He was always early. That was one of the many things that I loved about him.
‘Whoa,’ he said as I opened the door. ‘You look incredible, Ali.’
His eyes popped, then roamed over my body, starting from my head, down to my toes, then back up again, twice for good measure.
I’d opted for a strapless, fitted yellow-and-pink ombré dress and was wearing my curls down.
‘You scrub up well too,’ I replied, drinking him in. His tan shorts showed off his thick thighs and muscular calves and the white linen shirt displayed the perfect ratio of delicious forearms with a hint of sexy chest. I approved.
‘Thanks.’ Noah leant forward and kissed me softly on the lips.
My whole body lit up like the entire IKEA lighting department.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
‘As much as it pains me to stop—’ Noah pulled away slowly ‘—we really need to go. We can’t be late.’ He held out his hand and as soon as I took it, my pulse quickened.
We walked to the chauffeur-driven car and it only occurred to me once we were inside that we’d just kissed and held hands in places that other people might see.
People like hotel guests, Love Alchemists, or my sister.
I hadn’t even replied to Sammie’s messages yet or told her about what had happened with Noah.
I could hear her smug words in my head right now. I knew you guys would end up shagging! I’ve been telling you for years that Noah fancied you, but would you listen to your wise, brilliant sister? No!
Yep. I was never going to hear the end of it.
Then again, maybe it was better if I didn’t tell her.
Noah and I hadn’t even discussed this yet, so maybe I needed to wait until we had, before broadcasting that we’d slept together, which was exactly what Sammie would do the second I told her.
She’d get the wrong idea and be straight on the phone to Mum who’d then call me and ask if I wanted her to book the church and how many guests she should expect for the wedding reception.
Mum had always adored Noah and she was almost as bad as Sammie when it came to trying to push us together.
Then there were our friends…
Just thinking about the whole thing was so overwhelming. I didn’t want this kind of pressure. This was sex, not the start of a full-blown relationship.
I couldn’t think about this right now. I just wanted to focus on tonight and see what this surprise date was.
‘You okay?’ Noah asked, squeezing my hand.
‘Yeah!’ I said, snapping out of my thoughts. ‘Excited to find out where you’re taking me.’
‘Good. You should be. Even though obviously we know literally everything about each other, I still wanted to take you out. Last night was amazing and you don’t know how tempted I am to repeat everything we did, in the car and your room, but I need you to know that this isn’t just about sex. You’re special to me, Ali.’
My heart squeezed.
Then I swallowed hard.
For a second I thought that when he said it wasn’t just about sex that he was suggesting we start something serious, like a proper relationship. But then I came to my senses and realised that he was just referring to the intensity of our connection.
He was right. Sex between us wasn’t like sleeping with anyone else. It was extra special because we were friends. I’d thought the same thing earlier. Good to know we were on the same page.
‘You really are amazing, d’you know that?’
‘I try,’ Noah replied modestly.
‘Although, saying that, I am still open to back-seat kissing, if you’re up for that? It’ll be a good distraction from staring out the window.’ I smiled.
‘Good idea because there’ll be some steep views along the way.’
‘In that case, I don’t have a choice. We have to kiss. My wellbeing and comfort are at stake.’
‘Your wish is my command.’
And as Noah pressed his lips onto mine, the whole world, melted away.
‘We’re back in Oia!’ I said as I stepped out of the car, smoothing down my dress, which had been hitched up one too many times during the journey. It was a miracle that we didn’t end up banging on the back seat. Thank goodness Noah had self-control and stopped things before they got out of hand.
‘Yep.’ Noah wrapped his arm around me. ‘I hated that you missed out on seeing the sunset at the Agios Nikolaos Castle ruins, because I know how much you were looking forward to it. So I couldn’t let you leave the island without seeing it properly for yourself.
We’re here nice and early, so we’ll be able to secure a great spot. ’
‘Oh my God! You’re the best!’ I threw my arms around him.
I was about to give him another kiss, but the chauffeur was standing right there and the last thing I need was for him to go and blab to Sammie about us.
Once we’d said bye to the driver, we made our way up the pretty narrow streets and headed towards Agios Nikolaos Castle ruins.
Noah took my hand and, as our fingers intertwined, happiness flooded my veins.
It was so thoughtful of him to bring me back to this place. Everything he said was right. I was looking forward to seeing the sunset here and I was absolutely gutted when I missed it.
And I knew that despite how happy I’d felt since it’d just been Noah and I, when I looked back on this trip, I still would’ve had that feeling of disappointment niggling at me.
Because he knew me so well, Noah recognised that and now he was helping me to replace the bad memory of my first trip to Oia with an amazing new one.
When we reached the viewing spot, we took some pictures together, then settled on a place to watch the sunset. We probably still had at least another half an hour or forty minutes, but I was more than happy to wait.