Page 21

20

CHARLOTTE

“If Theo doesn’t show soon, we’ll be going in our cheer uniforms,” Andi says, braiding the sides of her hair and tying them together in the back.

“Have faith,” I say, glancing at the options of lingerie on the bed. Black or baby pink, depending on the dress Theo brings.

“You still mad at Noah?” Andi asks. I didn’t make it two feet in the door yesterday before blurting it all out. Talk about triggering your trust issues.

“Do I even have the right to be mad? What he and I are doing is pretend.” The word is bitter on my tongue.

“Sure.” She nods her head. “I’m sure all those orgasms feel sooo fake.”

“It’s only been a few times,” I say, biting my lower lip.

“That’s a few more than anyone else has gotten from him,” Andi points out. “He’s usually a one and done type of guy. No repeats. No strings.”

A strange feeling settles in my stomach. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

It’s totally true.

“That man is an enigma,” she says. “Getting Noah Caruso to sleep with you is like finding a unicorn in the wild.”

I shrug, the corners of my lips quirking upwards. “Save a horse, ride a unicorn.”

“Hell yeah.” She snorts, and my phone vibrates, drawing my attention.

Noah

Fun Fact: Some galaxies have two stars that orbit so close together they’re destined to connect in a cosmic kiss

Me

That’s hot

Will I be getting one of those later?

Noah

Absolutely.

The car will be there in an hour

I release a shaky breath, excitement coursing through me.

Me

I’ll be coming naked if Theo’s not here soon

Noah

That’s an option?

brb, telling Theo to return your dress

“Holy shit,” Andi says, and my eyes pull to her. “Did you see this?”

She holds out her phone, and the photo of me and Noah in front of the wildflower field shows on the screen. He must have finally posted, and it has—what the fuck.

“Thirty thousand likes?” I gawk.

“Yep,” Andi says. “And three thousand comments.”

I click on the responses, immediately regretting it.

Who does this bitch think she is?

Noah baby you’re cheating on me??

Excuse me, he speaks italian?

Another rookie focused on pussy instead of playing.

Andi plucks the phone from my hand.

“Hey!” I protest.

“Nope.” She shakes her head. “We are not doing this tonight.”

“Doing what?”

“The social media sabotage.”

“Why are people so mean on the internet?” I say, sighing and sitting on the bed.

“Because they’re salty.”

“There should be a rule that if you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t type it.”

Andi sits beside me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. “But then how would the haters get their hate-orade fix?”

“I’m used to attention from the press.” I rest my head on her shoulder. “But this feels different.”

“Yeah,” she says, rubbing my arm. “Because people aren’t focused on your mom like usual. They’re focused on you. They’re jealous of you.”

My mouth twists. “Little old me?”

“Girl, you are a smoke show, come on,” she says, standing and dragging me with her.

Releasing a heavy breath, I look in the mirror, frowning. Tiny baby hairs stick out of my scalp, and I pat them down. Turning side to side, even in my comfy clothes, I note my bloated stomach and suck it in. I shouldn’t have eaten the extra portion of rice at lunch today.

Visions of Noah’s appreciative gaze on my naked body come to mind. He said I should never view myself as anything less than perfect.

I shove the insecurities away in a tiny box as a knock comes on the cabin door.

“Finally!” Andi says, hopping off the bed, and a handsome, familiar face walks in with a bouquet in one hand and two garment bags in the other.

“Special delivery,” Theo says, beaming proudly.

Andi grabs the vase of wildflowers with dandelions sticking out of the top. “I think these are for you,” she tells me, and I take them, placing them on my dresser.

Noah is so thoughtful.

“First of all, you ladies already look hot ,” Theo says. “But wait till you see what I’ve brought you.”

Andi extends grabby hands. “Show us the goods.”

* * *

My palms rub against the silk of the fitted baby pink gown as I stand outside the door to Noah’s hotel room. It’s tight around my core—was almost too tight to zip, but I won’t be telling him that—and flares slightly at the knees to the floor.

Hopefully he likes it. My arm wraps around my tummy, as the snug fit of the dress doesn’t hide that little insecurity like I hoped.

‘You just needed to practice your confidence.’

Noah’s words echo in my mind, and I blow out a shaky breath. I can’t change what I look like, but I can show him how much the practice is helping.

Bringing up a hand, I rap my knuckles against the door.

Within seconds, it flies open, Noah’s smiling face falling to a dropped jaw in a millisecond. He’s clad in a black suit with a bow tie matching the color of my dress, and I have to stop my own jaw from unhinging because it should be illegal to look that good.

“Wow,” he says, green eyes dragging along my body, lighting a fire trail. “You look…” He rakes a hand over his face. “Wow.”

I sway on my heels. My very high, uncomfortable, totally worth it heels. “You look pretty ‘wow’ yourself.”

He gestures an arm for me to come inside our hotel room, which is also… wow. There’s a long teal couch, a small kitchenette, a cozy king-sized bed I’d love to dive into, and a gorgeous view of the Bay. The gala is for the conservation of Tampa Bay’s aquatic life, so I suppose they decided a hotel by it would be appropriate. The sun is setting, and the orange light dances across the water, the colors blending as if they were always meant to meet.

My attention returns to Noah, and I wonder if all the theories of kismet and invisible strings are true. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, everything in my life has brought me here, to him?

Noah stands before a gold-framed, floor-length mirror, adjusting his bow tie.

“First time?” I ask, desperate for a distraction from the overthinking.

His eyes slide to mine in a glare. “No.” He continues fiddling in the mirror before blowing a breath of defeat. “I just can’t get it to be symmetrical. Every time it’s a little lopsided.”

Noting the slight shaking of his fingers, I walk over, resting a hand on them. They still instantly.

“Allow me?” I ask.

“You know how?”

“I always watched my dad put one on before events,” I say with a smile, chest aching. I should call him. “He taught me how once I was older. Said it was an important life skill.” I’m definitely grateful for the lesson now.

“Can’t be worse than I’m doing.” He removes his hands and sits on the arm of the couch, bringing us eye to eye.

“Raging endorsement,” I tease, sliding between his legs, untying his lopsided bow and pulling the sides evenly. My eyes fall to his pulse, the memory of his skin under my lips imprinted in my memory.

Noah taps his fingers against his thighs. Is he itching to touch me like I am to touch him? My gaze wanders back to his, and I grip the bow tie strings, tugging him forward until our lips are inches apart.

“You are breathtakingly beautiful,” he says against my lips.

“I would hope so. This dress is clearly couture.”

“Not the dress.” He places a hand on my hip, gaze locked on mine. “You.”

A blush creeps up my cheeks. With one word, he’s vanquished every negative self-sabotaging thought. My eyes fall to the bow tie, opting to focus on the task at hand. My fingers work on the silk material, and in a few quick moves, I’m done. “There. All better.”

He places a hand on mine. “Thank you.”

“It’s just a bow tie.”

“How ever will I repay you for ensuring I don’t look entirely out of place?”

His musky cologne overtakes my senses. Making me weak. Making me brave. “I could think of a few things.”

His fingertips find my thigh, trailing upwards and nudging the material with it. “You have fun choosing what to wear under this dress?”

“I decided it was better to go with nothing.”

His fingers pause. “ Soffione .” He grips my thigh tight, and my center throbs, aching for him.

His warm, raspy voice echoes in my mind. ‘Be confident, Charlotte.’

I hook my hands around his neck and tug him towards me, our lips inches apart. “How did you sleep last night without me?” I ask. It was the first we’d been apart since the bonfire, and after tossing and turning in my cabin, I took his offer of sleeping at his place. Once I was wrapped in his sheets, his scent surrounding me— basil, cedarwood, home —I drifted right to dreamland.

“Terrible.”

“Did you have a nightmare?” I ask, chest heavy with concern, and he shakes his head. Relief floods me. “Good.”

“How did you sleep?”

“Fine.” I shrug, remembering the ache, looking at his empty side of the bed this morning. “Was pretty lonely when I woke up though.”

“Yeah?” he says, pleased, grip tightening.

“Mm-hmm . ” The need between my thighs intensifies. “And giving myself a morning orgasm was way less fun. It took me forever. ”

His lips part, and he leans to my ear. “Did you think of me when you were taking care of that needy cunt, soffione mio ?”

Goosebumps scatter down my spine. “Well, I was spread naked on your bed.”

He drags his calloused fingers up my arms, causing me to shiver. “Now it’s your turn to tell me what you fantasized.”

My stomach tightens as his hungry gaze urges me on. “I imagined making you sit and watch.”

“ Hmm .” His hands find my neck, angling my mouth to his. “And were you able to take care of yourself in this little fantasy? Or did you cave and imagine me taking over?”

My clit throbs. “I imagined you stroking your cock and getting off from me pleasuring myself,” I admit. The idea of him coming without even touching me makes me insane.

He stands to his full height and nudges me backwards, caging me against a wall. Groaning, he grips my neck gently and angles my mouth towards his.

“Fuck the gala,” he says, warm breath hitting my lips. “Let’s stay here.”

My breath shudders. “That is a very appealing option.”

His lips crash against mine, hand slipping in the slit of my dress, pushing it upwards. My body molds to him, bright light surrounding me, body weightless. He rolls his hips, and I whimper, hooking my leg around his waist, tongue slipping into his mouth, that gravitational pull making it impossible to stop.

A horny motherfucker in motion must stay in motion.

Knock. Knock.

Unless a cock-blocking force gets in the way.

He squeezes my leg, and grips my hair with his free hand, deepening our connection. I’m lost in him. Drowning. He sighs into my mouth, and if he weren’t holding me, I’d collapse with need.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“ Helloooo ,” Andi’s familiar voice calls out, muffled by the door. “Can you two save the shenanigans for after the gala?”

Noah curses, pulling away. His eyes meet mine, our breathing heavy. “We are finishing this later,” he says, tone firm.

“It better be cosmic.”