Chapter 21 Audrey
Twenty-One: Audrey
Better With You - This Wild Life
Istir at the sound of a door closing. Checking my phone, I see that it’s barely past six and I have a text from Connor.
Connor: I’ll be out for a few hours, do with that what you will.
I close my eyes as the “you’re alone with Noah” devil on one shoulder is battling with the “don’t rush into anything” angel on the other. But when a long exhale escapes Noah the devil wins and my eyes betray me.
Suddenly, I’m met with the bluest eyes and the sexiest bed head I’ve ever seen.
“Morning.” His voice is soft, and his smile is contagious.
Fuck. I was not prepared for grown-up sleepy Noah, especially in the same room as me.
Seeing his bare shoulders peeking out from under the blanket is sending me over the edge.
“Hi,” I reply with a squeak, hoping my hair doesn't look like a complete mess.
He rubs his eyes in the most adorable way. “Sleep well?”
“Ye-yeah.” I give a slow nod. “Did my brother kick you much?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I think I had a charley horse—or five. You’d think he’s a soccer player or something.”
“I think I still have a bruise from a family trip we took when I was like four,” I joke. “Sorry I stole your bed.”
He gives me a lopsided smile. “It was never my bed, Auddie. You beat me here so it was free game.”
“I mean, if you want to avoid getting kicked tonight, I don’t really move in my sleep so …” My face is on fire as I cover my eyes.
Seriously? Maybe I could’ve waited five minutes before suggesting that … I need to chill.
“Hm.” Is followed by the sound of blankets moving and then his body weight is beside me.
I peek through my fingers, rolling onto my side to face him. “What are you doing?” I whisper, staring at his bare chest and his perfect abs.
“Testing the bed,” he teases, leaning towards me. “You definitely smell better than him. Much better on the eyes, too.”
“Damn right I am,” I reply with faked confidence, my eyes fixed on his lips.
He clears his throat, blinking at me.
“Auddie.”
His hand grazes across my cheek and my breathing hitches as my eyes plead for him to kiss me. Instead, he wraps his arms around me, bringing me against his chest before kissing my forehead. “Are you doing okay with everything?”
Oh, Connor told him about Paul like I asked him to.
“Yeah, actually, it was like the last thread that was holding onto our relationship was severed. This new piece of information makes it easier to forget him.”
And makes me grateful we weren’t having sex at the end.
“Either way, I’m sorry … if I ever see him again, I’ll deck him for you.”
A long laugh escapes me as my fingers trail along his smooth skin, tracing the outline of every muscle and rib.
“Seriously, I could run into him tomorrow and feel nothing at all. He’s out of sight, out of mind.
I don’t want you thinking I’m just saying this because I know it’s what you want to hear.
” I meet his eyes as I continue, “It wasn’t the kind of love I wanted or deserved.
And I’ve realized that I had a lot of time to grieve the end of our relationship.
I started grieving long before it was over and long before I knew what he was doing behind my back. ”
“Are you sure?”
I nod, nuzzling into him. “Yes, Noah. I know Connor is upset too, but I’m over him in every possible way.”
I’m too busy wanting to be under you.
“Okay, I just didn’t want to glaze over it and make you think I don’t care.”
I poke his side. “I know you care about me, whether you ask about things or not. But can we just move on from Paul?”
And enjoy being in bed together.
“Sorry, yes. I have a beautiful girl in bed with me, that should be my focus,” Noah replies, squeezing me tighter against him. After a beat of silence, he lets out a long breath. “Why didn’t you text me?” He sounds almost self conscious.
“Why didn’t you text me?”
His heartbeat speeds up as he says, “Because I thought you wanted or needed space or were … shit, I was trying to be noble.”
I smack my forehead. “And I was waiting for you to reach out so you didn’t think I was needy.”
“Auddie, send me nine hundred texts a day and I’d still never call you needy.” We share a smile before he pulls me back against his chest. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too. Like, a lot.”
“So text me next time, you ninny!” he retorts. “Every time Connor got a text, I wondered if it was you and hoped that I’d get one too.”
“I’m sorry, think of all the annoying texts I could’ve been sending you.”
“Well you can bet your fine ass you’ll be getting a good morning text every day now.”
I’ve been waiting a lifetime to get a good morning text from Noah. A blush grows across my skin as I let my hand land on his lower stomach. “Wanna know a secret?”
“Always.” His heart beat picks up again as I trail my hand along his hip bone.
“I started fantasizing about touching your abs at like thirteen so this is like one of five hundred fantasies I’ve had about you.”
Noah’s chuckle rumbles against me. “Fantasies, hm? I’m flattered.”
I groan and pull away from him, turning onto my side.
“Hey, I wasn’t trying to make fun of you …” His body wraps around me from behind and a wall of warmth presses into me.
And something else.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I can officially cross “give Noah a boner” off my bucket list.
A giggle passes through my lips. “Good Lord, Noah. What happened to baby steps?”
He nuzzles into my shoulder, kissing my neck. “I can’t control how that part of my body reacts to you. He’s almost as obsessed with you as my other head and my heart are. It’s a full Audrey Mendez fan club over here.”