His hand moves away from my thigh and meets his other hand that has worked its way up to my breasts. He cups them slowly and rubs them in his palms. The sensual way he gently squeezes my nipples makes the blood pound in my ears. My heart starts to thump wildly in my chest as he softly and incredibly slowly kisses my neck, just below my ear. He pushes his hand down the side of my body, trailing over the curve of my hip until he reaches my leg again.
Y
His left hand moves down over my stomach and through the thin scattering of pubic hair until he finds my clitoris. He presses gently around the outside of it as if he’s pinching it between his two fingers. My hips involuntarily buck at the same time a groan falls out of my mouth.
O
He starts to move over my clitoris in excruciatingly slow movements. The finger of his right hand joins in, followed by another finger.
And then another.
His left hand moves away and back up to my breasts. His breathing is now coming thick and fast and falls out of his mouth in quick, hot spurts against the skin of my neck. I’m tingling from head to toe.
Why hasn’t he finished the word?
His left hand moves up and away from my breast. He runs it along my jaw, wrapping his arm across my chest as he cups the right side of my face. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers into my ear.
I sigh as I feel his right hand on my thigh again.
U.
Then his hand travels slowly up the inside of my thigh. I’m itching for him to touch me again. I don’t have to wait long. His left hand moves like lightning back over my body until he finds my clitoris again. His right hand continues to sneak up my leg until it finds his other hand. He uses all of his fingers to stimulate me, and oh God, does it feel good. I don’t know what fingers from what hand are where now.
When my breasts start to move up and down because of how heavily I’m breathing, I know I’m close. Both hands stop and then his fingers slowly flick over my clitoris at the same time as he slowly pushes a single finger deep into me. I squeeze myself around him, trying to get him to move to where I want him. His fingers are big and chunky, but they’re nothing compared to the feeling of him being inside me, filling me up. I feel him smile against my neck as he kisses me again, this time on my cheek.
“Noah,” I pant.
He shakes his head and pushes another finger inside of me. I let my head drop back against his chest and groan with pleasure as he slowly moves in and out.
In. Kiss. Out. Kiss.
The fingers on my clitoris never stop. They’re unforgiving as they continue to assault me. Those fingers start to speed up, but the fingers slipping in and out are slow. Too slow. I buck my hips to try and encourage him to go quicker, but he does the opposite. He squeezes another finger in and moves them together so slowly that I’m not even sure I’m feeling it.
“Noah, please,” I breathe.
He pulls them out of me just before I orgasm and lifts my legs by hooking his hands underneath the backs of my knees. “Brace yourself,” he says, “and turn around.”
“No, just carry on,” I demand, trying to wriggle myself back down onto him.
He lifts me up and grins. “Turn around. Now.”
I do as he says and put my hand on the side of the bath, pushing against his chest so my bum swivels in the water. When I’m facing him, he pulls each of my legs around his hips and shuffles into the middle of the bath. I feel his erection rubbing against my clitoris, forcing a noise to come out of me that sounds like an irritated growl.
“Ariel,” he whispers into my hair. “I want you.”
He lifts my chin with his thumb and stares into my eyes.
“Let me have you,” he says, but I don’t think he’s asking.
He wriggles his legs so I end up being squeezed on top of them. His hands come underneath my bum and he lifts me just a fraction so I can still feel him against me. He kisses my neck—slowly. His wet lips touch my skin and suck a little before moving on to another section. I start to shake. I push my fingers angrily through his hair and grip it at the back of his head.
“You had me from the beginning,” I rush.
He trails wet, hungry kisses along my jaw and groans as if he can’t get enough of me. But it’s the other way around. I let my left hand drop to the side of his face and then I trail it over his shoulder, briefly touching the edge of his scar. He gasps, but he doesn’t stop.
He kisses my cheek.
I circle my fingers over the beginning of his scar. I feel his hands tense and his fingers dig into my bum.
He kisses my cheek again, but this time his lips brush the edge of my lips.
The sensation of feeling another person’s lips where I’ve tried so hard to keep them from is like pouring boiling hot water over ice. I melt. Noah’s eyes burn into mine, and then his gaze slowly drops to my mouth. He eyes flash up to me again through hooded, jet-black lashes and he stares at me.
We sit like that for a few seconds. My wet breasts pushed against his wet chest. His erection hovering just on the outskirts of me. His hands on the curve of my bum.
I make the first move. I spread my hand out and hold it flat against the space in between his chest muscle and his shoulder. I feel the soft scar tissue underneath and break eye contact to lean my head down to kiss it.
“You’re amazing,” I whisper against the deep red skin.
When my eyes flash back to his, he leans forward and touches his nose against mine. He moves his head a fraction, tilting it so his nose rubs against the side of mine. My hand moves further down the river of scars, touching and caressing every bit I can get my hands on. He kisses the end of my nose then he kisses my cheek and pulls back.
I take a deep breath and lightly skim my hand up and down his scar. He brushes his hot lips against mine and lifts me up. Just as he starts to slide inside of me, his tongue delves into my mouth and his lips encase mine.
Fuck. The feeling of him being fully inside me makes my lips part. He sees this as an opening and starts to furiously kiss me. His kisses are like tiny fireworks on my lips. He dips in and out with his tongue, brushing it against my teeth and then sucking on my tongue. He’s devouring me and I don’t even have to think about it as I grip the sides of his face and kiss him back.
We rock together and it’s slow and meaningful. I’m thanking him for what he’s done today, and he’s letting me thank him. I want him to stay inside me all night and all day. I want to do this with him forever. He moves down a fraction in the bath, forcing his hips to tilt so he hits a different part of me, and I feel like I light up.
“Noah—”
“What?” he says, spreading his hand out against my back. He starts to slowly move downward, his hand morphing into just a finger.
“I think—” I gasp when his finger trails down the middle of my bum until it gets to a place that I thought no person would ever touch.
“What were you going to say, Ariel?” he asks, pressing just that little bit. He’s not quite in but hovering right on the outside, teasing me. I can’t concentrate. I’ve almost forgotten what I was about to say as I feel myself wanting him to go inside of me. He’s making tiny soft circles, but he’s still staying on the edges. I never thought I’d want someone to explore there, but I do. I want it. I can feel myself pulsating, getting ready for him.
“I really…” I breathe, but I have to stop. One hand is still teasing my forbidden place, but the other has come around to my clit. I’m being invaded in every hole and it’s mind-blowing. My heart is hammering in my chest and my stomach is doing crazy little flips as I think about what’s about to happen.
“Do you want this?” he says, tapping me with his finger.
“Yes,” I say. “Yes. Do it.”
He smiles and licks the underside of my jaw. “Slowly,” he says, circling some more. “Tell me what you were going to say.”
“I like you,” I rush. I just want him to do it. I want to feel him completely inside me. Everywhere. “I really
like you.”
He kisses my bottom lip as the tip of his finger slips inside. My body doesn’t know what to do. What part should it listen to? Where are all these feelings coming from? Noah smiles against my mouth as I start to shake around him. He pulls his finger out a bit and my body involuntarily tries to suck him back in. He complies and delves deeper this time as he takes my nipple into his mouth, sending me into frenzy. My orgasm builds from deep within me, and as he flicks over my clitoris and thrusts deep into me, I start to tumble down all around him. It’s so powerful that it’s almost painful as it invades every part of me. I stop breathing and grip the back of his head with my fingers. My orgasm pulsates and expands from my core and spreads to my head and toes. My eyes feel like they hit the top of my head as the lightheaded feeling lingers for a couple of seconds before it drops out of me, sapping the last remains of my energy as it recedes.
I collapse onto his chest with him still inside me and pant against his skin. He kisses my head as my breathing begins to slow and shuffles around me until I’m on all fours. He caresses my bum with the flat of his hand as he slips in between my legs and slowly pushes himself back into me.
“This won’t take long,” he says as he begins to thrust. He’s rough and fast and because of how turned on I am, he’s able to go deeper and faster. Water sloshes all over the side of the bath and in my face. “Fuck,” he whispers.
His fingers dig into my hips as he creeps towards his peak. I hear him moan and feel him shudder behind me. It sounds like he almost laughs as he stills, but I think it’s a sort of euphoric thing. I almost did it too.
“I really like you too,” he huffs, dropping a kiss onto my back.
After he’s washed and dried me, he carries me into my bedroom and slides me onto the bed. He pushes me over on my side, gets in behind me and snuggles right up next to me. I feel completely and utterly spent. I’m not quite sure if it’s from the walk or from the mind-blowing sex we’ve just had, but I know I’m going to sleep like a baby.
“Good night, Ariel,” he whispers against my back.
I smile in the darkness. “Good night, Noah. And Merry Christmas.”
Chapter 20
NOW
Pizza Party
“I’m not sure about this,” I say to Ruby as we walk up the stairs.
“Why not?” she asks. “Is it because you’ve got some weird history thing going on with hunky Noah?”
Hunky? “Yes.”
“It’ll be fine. He’s apologised for punching you and work didn’t say anything about your bruise, so it’s all gravy.”
I wish I could live inside Ruby’s head. It must be lovely and full of roses and rainbows. “Didn’t they say they had patio heaters and fire pits?” I ask, nodding at her snow boots and massive coat.
“Yeah, but it’ll still be freezing.”
She stops and turns to look at me. I’ve decided to dress a bit better this time. I’m wearing brown leather ankle boots with a rubber sole, perfect for walking on the frost-covered pavements, along with skinny black jeans, a cream long-sleeved top and a black body warmer. I have a black scarf on and matching black mittens.
“You look very grown-up and sophisticated,” she observes, “but incredibly sexy too. How’d you do it?”
Sexy? Hmm. That wasn’t the look I was going for, but I’ll take it.
“I think it’s your hair and your permanently tanned skin,” she says. “Have you fake-tanned again?”
“No,” I say. “You know I’ve got a hint of olive skin. Stop making it out like I’m a walking Oompa Loompa.”
“Actually, I think it’s those Bambi brown eyes of yours, which are pretty big, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“I have big eyes?” I ask. No one has ever said that to me before.
She nods. “All the Disney princesses have eyes like yours. Haven’t you ever noticed? Apparently, it’s attractive. I read somewhere that’s why babies have big eyes, so people automatically feel for them and have this weird need to look after them.”
I hadn’t noticed, but come to think of it…
“Anyway,” she sighs. “I think you look very pretty tonight, and every other night too.”
I smile at her and throw my arm around her neck. “Thanks, Rubes. You already know you’re hot.”
“Hell, yeah I do,” she says, sashaying up the steps in front of me while wiggling her bum.
When we get to the door to the penthouse patio, I stall for a second. I really don’t want Noah kicking off at me in front of everyone. If he doesn’t want me here, then I hope he has the decency to tell me quietly.
“Ready?” asks Ruby.
I nod. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Oh, and you’re spilling all the beans to me tomorrow,” she says, pulling me through the door. “We can have a nice chilled-out Sunday. Just the two of us and our duvets.”
“If you say so,” I mumble. I can’t tell her, but I don’t know what lie I can tell that won’t get me found out. I’ll have to come up with something tonight. Great. Now I won’t be able to concentrate.
“Well, hello there, ladies,” smiles Owen. He walks right up to Ruby and kisses her on the mouth.
I avert my eyes and notice Ben hovering close by, looking awkward.
“Hello,” I say to him.
“Ariel,” he says with a nod.
I frown. “What’s up?”
“The last time I saw you, you were naked,” he whispers, looking around to make sure no one is listening. I see Noah standing nearby with his back to us. “And you had just had a hissy fit and told me to get out.”
Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten about that bit. I shrug. “Forget about it. I think I know you were trying to be friendly, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to be my shrink again.”
“Okay,” he says. “I was just trying to help.”
“I know,” I say. “Just forget it now. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”
“I can’t believe I saw you naked,” he whispers.
I giggle. “Haven’t you ever seen a girl naked before?”
“Yeah,” he says, giving me a frown. “I just don’t normally see them again afterwards.”
I smile coyly at him and nudge him with my whole body. “Sounds like a boy after my own heart.”
“From what I’ve heard, that’s not really funny.”
I stare at the back of Noah’s light brown head and sigh. “No,” I agree, “it’s not.”
“Whatcha talking about?” asks Ruby, coming to stand next to us with Owen in tow.
“Nothing,” Ben and I say at the same time.
Ruby’s eyes move quickly between the two of us. “Oooh,” she says with a smirk, “what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I huff. I take a big sip of my mulled wine and pull a face as it travels down my throat. “That stuff is gross.”
Owen laughs. “Ben was in charge of the mulled wine. He had three slow cookers on in his apartment today. Stunk the fucking place out.”
I look at Ben and smile. “I didn’t mean to insult your wine-making skills, I just meant that mulled wine in general is horrible.”
“Hmm-hmm,” he says. “I believe you, but thousands wouldn’t.”
“Why do you believe her?” Ruby demands.
“It’s those eyes,” he says. “They suck me right in.”
Ruby folds her arms and turns to me. “Told you so.”
“You’re such a child,” I say playfully.
A woman comes to stand at the edge of our group and peers at us. “Can I help you?” Ruby asks.
The woman sticks her hand out, making her short black bob sway near her chin. “I’m Kelli,” she says. “I think we’re neighbours.”
Owen grins. “Yeah, yeah, you are. I forgot you were in number fourteen.”
I wonder how he knows what door number she lives at, and so does Ruby by the way she glares at him.
I stick my arm out and shake her hand. “Nice to meet you,” I tell her. “I’m Ariel and this is Ru
by.”
Ruby keeps her arms folded. Oh dear.
“Can you believe it’s four weeks until Christmas?” Kelli asks, trying to make conversation.
“Is it?” I ask. “I hadn’t realised.”
“Ariel hates Christmas,” Ruby says. “She’s worked every single one since I’ve known her. She’s a proper humbug for the whole of December.”
Noah turns his head slightly. He doesn’t turn to face me, but it’s enough to show me that he’s listening.
“Why are you two just starting now?” asks Owen, looking confused. “Didn’t you finish your course in May or June?”
Ruby nods. “We did. We went on holiday for six months.”
“Where did you go?” he asks.
“We took a road trip across America,” she tells him.
She doesn’t tell him that she was a complete pain in the arse the whole time we were away. She moaned and whined about the insects and heat every single day. Turns out, Ruby has oversensitive sweat glands in her armpits. I found it quite amusing at first, but then it got annoying very quickly because we had to keep stopping at petrol stations so she could wash her pits in the toilets.
“Nice,” says Owen. “I’ve always fancied Australia and New Zealand myself. Would love to go for New Year’s.”
Ben shuffles on his feet. “I’m going to go and get a beer,” he tells us. “That mulled wine is shit.”
I smile and watch him leave. He stops to talk to Noah and I try and listen in, but Kelli is insistent on talking to me. “I assume you’re both at the hospital?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m a midwife and Ruby is an A&E nurse. You?”
“I’m into eyes,” she says. “Surgery, mainly.”
I nod and shoot a glance at Ruby.
“Have you tried one of the pizzas yet?” she asks.
I realise I hadn’t even bothered to look around. Now that she’s mentioned it, I can see a big, wood-fired pizza oven on the far side of the terrace. The patio isn’t as full as it was when it was Noah’s birthday, but most of the people here were here then so I see a few familiar faces.
Noah and Me Page 14
