by Lee Rose
“Talking with you about our child has helped,” she said softly, and it had. She would never stop grieving, but the pain was not so intense. Quinn listened, but she didn’t know what to say. Chance cried with her and assured her he would help her push past the grief, and he had done exactly that. He treated her like fine china, and she reveled in it at first. Now she was ready for more. She wanted to be treated like a healthy, desirable woman.
“I feel hopeful.” She felt slightly nervous, but the feeling of excitement was prevailing. He pulled into her driveway, and soon they were headed up the porch stairs. She held his hand, her steps feeling light.
* * * *
Chance stood in front of Noelle and absorbed the desire, the excitement, and love in her eyes. She made him feel weak-kneed. He had faced dangerous situations and even death, but right now he felt shaky and nervous.
Noelle was the balm to his achy soul, and he needed her. She looked up at him with trust, and he wanted to never betray that trust again.
“I feel like this is our first time all over again,” she whispered, but she didn’t look scared. She looked eager, and that fueled the fire he was already feeling deep inside. Her arms were wrapped around his neck. She had always been so eager to please him, and he bathed in it. This time, he wanted to please her. He lowered his head and kissed her. She opened wide without any hesitation. Their tongues intertwined, and he felt it down to his toes. His body came alive as if it recognized its lost mate. They were both breathing hard, and he wasn’t sure who was holding who up. He glanced at her bed, remembering all the times he had been in it, yet now it felt new all over again. Her bed was made all nice and neat, but soon, if he had his way, it would not look like that.
“It will be better this time because I appreciate what I have with you, and I know I want us to be together forever.” He didn’t want her to feel pressured, but he did want her to know she belonged to him, and his plan was to spend his life making sure she always had a sparkle in her eyes.
He traced the edges of her lacy pink bra. Her shirt had disappeared in the living room as soon as he shut and locked her front door. Her nipples were like stones through the thin silk material. He unclasped the bra, letting it fall to the floor. He cupped her breast and rolled her pretty pink nipple between his thumb and finger. She closed her eyes and moaned with the pleasure she was feeling. She was so open and so responsive to his touch. It heated him up inside and melted his heart. She never tried to hide how much she enjoyed everything he did to her. He flicked his tongue over her areola. He suckled on the tip, and he felt her fingers grip his hair. He was letting it grow a bit.
He slipped her navy blue skirt down her legs along with her panties. He laid her on the bed gently and started kissing her from her neck to her shoulder. He couldn’t resist tasting the berry of her breast again. He sucked it between his teeth.
“God, I missed you, Chance,” she moaned. “I missed the feel of your hands and mouth on me. It kept me awake in agony so many nights thinking I would never feel like this again.”
“Well, tonight we are about to get reacquainted very well. I am going to show you how much I ached for you, too,” he assured her. She opened her eyes and giggled. “I suggest you get naked, then. Otherwise, this might not work.”
She was so beautiful she made his throat swell with powerful emotions. He took off his clothes, but he studied every square inch of her creamy skin. Her breasts were full and round. Her stomach was flat. Hopefully someday she would carry another child there, but this time he would be around.
“Do I need protection?” he asked her, glad he had a couple of condoms in his wallet.
She shook her head no. “I got on the pill after the miscarriage.”
Her long legs were closed, hiding his favorite part of her.
“Open your legs, angel. Let me see your pretty pink pussy. You are so wet for me.” His voice sounded rough, but he was so aroused it was painful. He had gone without, and his body was eager to end his celibacy.
She obeyed him even as her cheeks turned pink. He could see her pink folds shining with moisture. “Being without you was hell, Noelle. Never again.”
She nodded and reached out her hand for him to take. He didn’t hesitate. He took it and hovered over her. Their lovemaking had always been hot and frenzied. Tonight, he would take it slow, even if it killed him. He caressed her smooth, satiny thighs with his hands until he found her treasure. She was wet and hot. He loved the feel of his fingers sliding through the wetness of her pussy. The little sounds she tried to hold in drove him nuts. He inserted his fingers deep until he found her clit. It was swollen and wanting attention. “You are sweeter than honey. I remember your taste.”
He leaned down and replaced his fingers with his tongue. She arched up as he explored every inch of her womanhood. He lapped up her cream like a man dying of thirst. She couldn’t hold still, and soon she was crying out his name as a climax hit her. He kissed his way up her thighs and to her belly. His dick was hard and throbbing. It wanted inside her velvet heat. He slid in quickly and sighed with something that felt like true contentment. Her vaginal walls gripped him hard, and he groaned. It had been much too long. Never again. “You feel so damn good, angel. I never want to go this long without having you again.”
“So do you. I have dreamed of this but thought all it would be was a memory.” She cried out as he slid back and forth into her wetness. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rocked against him. The friction caused his stomach to tighten up. He leaned down and took her mouth pushing his tongue into her every crevice, reacquainting himself with the familiar sensation that was all Noelle.
He slid his cock in as deep as he could go. He began pumping in to her with quick, short strokes. He let go of her lips and closed his eyes. She felt so amazing that the fire was building up. Her body was trembling underneath him. “Mine.” He nipped her ear feeling a throwback from some ancient time. He felt like he wanted to hide her away and never let her go, wrap her in cotton and make sure no one ever hurt her again, including himself. Her hands gripped his shoulders tightly as she held herself still from the force of his actions. Her head was thrown back against the pillows. She looked so seductive.
“Oh yes,” she murmured, squeezing his shoulders as she held on to him. The bed was creaking underneath him as he went in and out faster and faster, building up the fire until it was so hot he felt like he would explode any minute.
“Feels so good. Yes, harder, Chance,” she mumbled.
He had to take deep breaths as he plunged into her. Her sweet scent of arousal surrounded him, and he felt his heart clench, but not with pain but with joy this time that they were here together in this moment. He didn’t want it to end, but he also couldn’t wait for the explosion he knew was coming.
In and out he went, until his body shook with the pleasure sweeping through him. He began to thrust fast, feeling like he was soaring above the clouds. He felt out of control, but Noelle always made him feel that way. She screamed as she reached her point of pleasure. He thrust a few more times as his semen filled her up. He closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the feel of being in her body after a long period of time. He slowly withdrew and looked at her face. Her eyes were closed, but she had a soft, dreamy smile on her face, and he found himself overwhelmed with the feeling of tenderness for her. She opened her eyes, and they were filled with happiness. She yawned and stretched. “That was amazing, Chance.”
He lay next to her and held her close. “You are amazing, Noelle.”
He smiled with satisfaction at her sated look. Her eyes were heavy and relaxed. He loved seeing her like this. “We’ll take a shower and do it all over again. After all, I have lots of time to make up for.”
She put her chin on his chest. “I like how you think, Chance Brooks.”
He squeezed her tightly until she laughingly protested. He loved this woman, and he felt a lot of his tension and fear fade away. Things were finally on the right track, and he was determ
ined they would stay that way.
Chapter 10
Chance woke up the next morning and tried to move until he felt something heavy on his chest. He opened his eyes to see the sun peeking in from behind frilly purple curtains. Noelle was draped across him, and her legs were intertwined with his. A peaceful feeling swept through him. How had he fought against this before? He couldn’t change the past although he wished he could. Her face when she had seen him kissing Carly still haunted him. He couldn’t even remember what it felt like to kiss Carly. He had been fighting the deep hold Noelle had on him. She had been becoming so important to him, and it scared the hell out of him. Now that he knew what it was like to be without her, he would do everything he could to convince her they belonged together. Now he knew he was sure.
He was thankful for second chances. Noelle was everything he wanted, and his mission was to prove that to her. He caught her looking at him as if waiting for a sign he was going to leave. Soon she would trust in him again.
She stirred in his arms, and he soothed her by caressing her hair. As tempting as it sounded to wake her up and make love, he knew she needed her sleep. He felt like he’d never get his fill of this amazing woman.
She raised her head and gave him a sleepy smile that went straight to his heart. Her hair was tangled and messy, but he felt himself smiling with her.
“Morning.” She sighed. She felt so soft and warm against him that he didn’t want to move. He wouldn’t mind just lying here all day. He heard her stomach rumble and chuckled. He was hungry, too.
“Let’s get dressed and go to breakfast,” he suggested, kissing her forehead.
She yawned and mumbled something that sounded like yes. The sun caught the gold streaks in her hair and made them shine.
“I love the streaks. They look like gold in the sun.” He played with the short silky strands. “I miss the long hair though.”
“Quinn wanted to cheer me up. She wanted us to get tattoos, but I chickened out.” She chuckled. “Cutting it and putting gold streaks in it was daring enough for me. Quinn is much more daring than me.”
“I like it.” He hated that other people pulled her out of her grief because he was blind to what he had until he lost it. He wanted to be the one she counted on in bad times. “I wasn’t there for you before, Noelle, but I will be from now on. This may be too soon, since we just got back together, but I love you, Noelle.”
Noelle looked up at him. She seemed to be trying to read him and gauge his sincerity. He knew how shitty her parents had been to her. It would take time, but he would prove to her he was here for her.
“I have felt it by how caring you have been with me this last month. The words are nice, too.” Noelle ran her fingers through his hair, and he made a soft sound of contentment. “I have loved you since you almost ran me over in your bike, and I haven’t stopped. I have been angry and hurt, but the love was still there.”
“I didn’t almost run you over, angel. You ran out in front of me.” He tugged lightly on her hair. His heart swelled with joy. Finally things were the way they should be.
“Let’s have breakfast at Della’s Diner,” he suggested. “I have been wanting their biscuits and gravy for ages.”
She tensed for a second, and he figured she was trying to get out of being seen in a popular diner. Maybe she was afraid of running into Carly or hearing the whispers of gossipers. He held her chin up and looked into her pretty eyes.
“If we are going to make our lives in this town, we can’t spend the next fifty years hiding out because of gossipers.” He was determined to get her to quit hiding. He’d show all the gossipers that Noelle was his and they better not mess with her.
She let out a sigh, then smiled up at him. It was a little shaky. “Fifty years, huh? So you think last night was that good?”
He chuckled and rolled them until she was underneath him. “Hell yeah, it was that good. Want me to prove it to you all over again?” He moved her thighs open with his knees, and she sucked her breath in and nodded in agreement. She was wet, and he felt his cock twitch with excitement. Breakfast would have to wait. Maybe they’d make it out for lunch. Maybe.
* * * *
Chance and Noelle sat across the table from each other. The restaurant was busy, so they had chosen a table in the back. This was not the romantic lunch he envisioned, but it was time to let everyone know they were a couple again. He was ready to deal with any smart-ass remarks.
“You two back together?” Missy, the waitress asked before anything else. Her blue eyes looked Noelle over, and Chance held Noelle’s hand on top of the table.
Chance looked up at the waitress. Missy was Carly’s cousin, and he was probably not her favorite person. She didn’t look too angry, just curious. “Yes we are. I came back because I missed her too much.”
Chance looked at Noelle and winked. She smiled and blushed. They already had coffee.
“Can we still get biscuits and gravy?” Chance asked Missy.
Missy nodded her blonde head at them. “Sure. They serve them all day. You want extra sausage?”
Chance nodded yes and Missy walked away.
“Let’s hope she doesn’t poison my food.” Chance sighed. At least Carly was absent.
Noelle rolled her eyes. “This was your idea. I offered to cook scrambled eggs. I suppose I could have googled how to make gravy.”
“I want people to know we are together and plan on staying that way,” he said seriously, grabbing both of her hands. Her skin was silky and smooth. “I love you, Noelle, and I refuse to hide. People are going to have to accept it. I am sorry for my mistakes, but that was yesterday. Today is a new beginning.”
“Okay.” She seemed to agree with his statement, and it settled his nerves down a bit. She gave him a small smile, and he could see her shoulders relax.
“I have a busy week, but Friday we can go to Cole County. They have a romantic Italian restaurant,” Chance said to her, leaning forward until their noses almost touched.
“You know Italian is my weakness.” She laughed, leaning back, looking happy and relaxed. This was how he wanted to see her, always.
Missy came back with their plates and was polite, if not friendly. He pretended not to notice her chilly attitude. A few people nodded at them in greeting. A few others whispered to each other. Chance ignored them all and concentrated on Noelle only. All in all, he was happy there were no huge scenes, and he didn’t have to kick anyone’s ass.
They walked outside holding hands. The sun was warm, and the sky was bright. He didn’t want his time with her to end yet. Tomorrow would be another work week, and they would both be busy with work.
“Let’s spend the day watching old movies,” he suggested, wanting to be alone with her. Maybe he could convince her to stay naked all day and night.
She grabbed his hand despite the people walking down the crowded sidewalks. They started walking slowly back to her place. “I like that idea. I have popcorn.”
He grinned and looked into her hazel eyes filled with joy. This was the Noelle that filled his memories. He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her lips. He wanted her to always have this look. Happiness.
* * * *
Noelle, Chance, and Quinn walked around the summer fair. They had waited for the evening so it would be cooler. With the summer months starting, the day was getting hot. Noelle was having a great time despite her reservations about coming. Every person in town, and some from neighboring towns, were in attendance.
Noelle didn’t see much of Chance during the week. Sometimes a quick lunch or a quick dinner, but the weekends they always spent together. This was their second week that they had decided to give their relationship another go, and it was smooth going. Sometimes she felt like she was waiting for some disaster to happen.
The neon lights of the rides added to the fun atmosphere and gave off a fun energy. People were laughing and smiling.
They ran into Chase, who was on duty, but he took the time to challenge Cha
nce into a shooting contest. Noelle and Quinn listened to them insult each other and just shook their heads with amusement.
“Men.” Quinn whispered with a smile. Noelle saw her checking Chase out and hid her smile. Quinn hadn’t shown much of an interest in men besides Chase. Ever since her college boyfriend betrayed her, she had been cynical about dating. Watching the train wreck between Noelle and Chance had not helped her cynical beliefs. Quinn claimed Chase was just a friend. Noelle hoped it turned into more.
“I know.” Noelle laughed.
Quinn sighed and looked at Chase. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt that said Police in big yellow letters. She looked at Noelle as if trying not to notice how attractive the deputy looked.
“You and Chance both look very relaxed together. I take it second time around is better?”
Noelle nodded. “We both know third chances are rare, so it’s like we’re both trying to compromise and make it work. So far, so good.”
Quinn smiled. Noelle and Quinn watched Chase cheer when he won a huge bear. Chance looked annoyed and paid for another round. By the time Chase had to get back to making his rounds, both Quinn and Noelle had giant bears to lug around.
“Why don’t you two take your new friends to a picnic table and I’ll get us some drinks?” Chance suggested, laughing at the picture they made trying to carry the huge stuffed animals.
They found a table and waited. They were laughing about a crazy ride Quinn wanted to try when they heard a female voice calling Noelle.
Noelle turned her head to see Carly. She had prepared herself for seeing Carly during the carnival. It was a big event after all. Still, anger rose up quickly, along with impatience that Carly could not open her eyes and realize Noelle and Chance loved each other.
“Oh great,” Noelle cursed at her rotten luck. Arguing with Carly was not what she wanted. She was still angry about her broken windows. Carly had been laying low since then.
