Chapter Eighteen #2
“I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had a good steak,” I respond.
We continue talking about all the trouble we used to get into. Katie laughs so hard she nearly chokes, which causes her to laugh even harder. By the time I bring out the dessert, she’s wiping tears off her cheeks.
“You gonna make it?”
“I-I think so.” She swallows down the rest of her wine, then clears her throat.
I can’t stop admiring her beauty and how good time has been to her. The woman sitting in front of me is the same girl I fell in love with, and there’s no doubt she’s the only one I want.
“Before we have the Tiramisu, I wanna give you your birthday gift.”
“Noah…you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I technically didn’t.” I wink, then grab the box from the coffee table. “I made it.”
I hand it to her and hold my breath as she opens it.
She releases a small gasp, then looks at me. “Is this the scrapbook I made you for graduation?”
“Yep, except I added some pages of my own.”
She grins as she opens the cover and the first page makes her burst out laughing. “We look like babies.”
“We were.”
She gazes over her senior prom picture. Gabe was supposed to take her, but he got drunk on a fishing trip and slept off the buzz in his truck, so I took her.
When Gemma texted and told me, I refused to let Katie go alone, so I went to dinner with them.
It was one of the best nights of my life.
I was so damn close to confessing my feelings to her that night, but then Gabe showed up, and I lost the courage.
“We had so much fun,” she says, meeting my eyes.
“I’m glad you did.”
She furrows her brows. “You didn’t?”
I shrug. “It was a long time ago.”
“I had the time of my life dancing with you,” she says defensively. “I thought you—”
“I did too,” I interrupt. “In fact, I almost got lost in the moment and kissed you. Was gonna spill the truth about how I felt until Gabe arrived and ruined it.”
She stares at me, speechless, and I feel bad that I’ve brought him up when this is supposed to be our time together. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said—”
Katie stands, then pulls me to my feet in front of her. “Tell me now.”
I swallow hard, gazing into her gorgeous green eyes.
“Tell me what you wanted to say that night,” she demands. “I wanna know and hear you say it.”
Gripping her waist with one hand, I brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I know this is the worst timing, and I apologize for that, but I can’t hold it in anymore.
” I drag my fingers across her jawline, then pluck her bottom lip with my thumb.
“I’m in love with you, Katie Walker, and if you give me a chance, I’ll spend every day proving how much you mean to me.
If I were ever lucky enough to call you mine, I’d cherish you the way you deserve. ”
I clear my throat as she’s seemingly frozen in place.
“Then I would’ve cupped your face like this…and so very slowly moved in…then brushed my lips against yours until—”
Our mouths collide as she snakes her arms around my waist. When I slide my tongue between her soft lips, she whimpers and melts into me. My fingers slowly tangle in her hair.
The taste of her is something I’ll never get enough of, and I hope I never know what it’s like not to kiss her again.
Sliding my hands down to her ass, I quickly lift her, and she wraps her bare legs around my waist. There’s no denying she feels how hard I am, and when she presses into me, I release a deep throaty groan.
“Fuck, baby girl.” I walk to the loveseat and sit with her straddling me.
“Baby girl?” she whispers as she grinds against my cock. “I like that.”
“Yeah?”
“Mm-hmm.” She leans in. “I like it a lot, actually.”
I smirk and bring a hand to her cheek. “Now tell me what your response would’ve been.”
Katie leans back slightly. “Truthfully, I probably would’ve slapped you for deciding to finally tell me when I had a boyfriend…”
The sass in her tone has me rolling my eyes.
“But after the initial shock, I would’ve said, ‘Noah, it’s about damn time, but you’re too late.’”
My heart drops into my stomach as she smiles with amusement.
“Then I would’ve admitted that I’ve been in love with you for years, and it was the kind of love you don’t just ignore or walk away from.
” She cups my face and stares into my eyes.
“As hard as it is to admit, I would’ve left Gabe had I known.
Even then, I knew I deserved better, but after I suffered a miscarriage, I felt tied to him. ”
“You what?” My eyes widen in shock. “When?”
“The summer before my senior year. I took a test, and it was positive. By the time I went to my first doctor’s appointment, I had miscarried.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“I planned to once it was confirmed, but after I lost it, Gabe made me promise to keep it between us. I’m not sure why, but he was adamant about it not being anyone’s business but ours and promised to make us a family. It’s why we got married so soon, and why I’d gotten pregnant again so quickly.”
“Wow…” I blink hard. “I wish I’d known, so I could’ve been there for you. It must’ve been an emotional roller coaster.”
“It was, but it was something I figured out on my own. You were working at the garage a lot, and we hadn’t been hanging out as much because of our schedules. It didn’t take much convincing from Gabe for me to stay quiet about it.”
“Well, either way, I’m sorry.”
“I think it’s why I stayed with him through the emotional abuse and his cheating. He promised me he’d change, and we’d be a family, and a part of me believed I owed him that for the baby I’d lost.”
“You’re braver than you give yourself credit for.”
“I think you mean cowardly.”
“There are lots of words I associate with you, but that’s not one of them. You were young and in love. People do stupid things for love, trust me.”
“I thought I was in love, but I should’ve known better when the only person my heart fluttered for was you.
Even after years of being friends, I’d get butterflies in my stomach.
Sometimes I’d sweat so bad, I’d have to change my shirt.
” She laughs, then blushes. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I just admitted that. ”
“I wanna know everything about you, embarrassing or not.” I swipe a piece of her hair and tug.
A mischievous twinkle flashes in her eyes.
“What?” I ask, gripping her waist when she rocks her hips again.
“I used to masturbate to thoughts of you. Then I’d scream your name into a pillow.”
Swallowing hard, I lick my lips. “Jesus Christ, Katie. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve jerked off to dirty thoughts of you? Basically my entire adolescence.”
“So I wasn’t the only one with a naughty mind?”
“Hell no. You should show me,” I encourage. “Show me how you touched yourself.”
Katie doesn’t hesitate but instead confidently stands. Our gazes lock as she slowly unzips her dress, teasing and tempting me at the same time. I watch in amazement as it falls to her feet and she steps out of it. I scan down her body, admiring the goddess standing in front of me.
“Fuck, I wanna rip off your panties right now.” I adjust myself and narrow my eyes on her chest.
“No, sir. Only watching, remember?”
I groan, then sit back as she slides her hand down her stomach. The pure willpower she holds over me is monumental. I’d do anything to be able to touch her.
“Alright, I’m here for the show.” I smirk.
Her fingers dip into her panties, then she spreads her legs slightly as she releases a soft moan. I wish I could see what she’s doing underneath the fabric, but by her little breathy sounds, she’s rubbing her clit slow and steady.
“I bet that feels good, doesn’t it?”
“So good,” she confirms with her eyes shut. “I’d picture your big hands touching me as you lay next to me, whispering all the dirty things you wanted to do.”
Goddamn. She’s going to make me fucking bust in my jeans.
“Well, I’m here now, baby. Let me show you…”
She purrs, opening her eyes.
“Do it with me,” she says, lowering her eyes to my hard-on. “Then show me.”
I unbutton my jeans and lower them to my ankles, then slide down my boxers. My cock throbs in my palm as I stroke it a few times.
Katie’s eyes widen as she takes in the view, then she blinks a few times.
“First, I’d ease my finger inside nice and slow…”
“W-what?” She blinks again. “Oh, right. Yes. Go on.”
I chuckle at how flustered she is.
“I’d slide my tongue up your neck as I push in deeper until I fill you completely.” I watch as Katie moves her hand down farther and enters herself. “Then I’d pull out and thrust in hard, over and over, until you squirted.”
“Oh my God…” Her head falls back, and I pump my cock faster.
“Yes, just like that,” I tell her when her hand moves rapidly. “Then I’d trail down your body, kissing every inch of you before I pull your throbbing clit between my teeth.”
Her breasts rise and fall as her breathing increases.
“Massage yourself, baby,” I demand. “Imagine it’s my tongue.”
Her eyes flutter closed as she obeys, spreading her legs wider and circling her nub.
“Faster, Katie.” I pump my cock to the same rhythm and can feel the buildup pulsating through me.
“I’m so close…” she murmurs.
“Good girl. Keep going.”
“Finish me off. Please.” She opens her eyes and pleads. “I want you.”