Page 33 of Glitches and Kisses (The Havenwood #2)

For dinner, I ordered seared scallops in a white wine sauce, perfectly golden, served over creamy risotto. Noah went for grilled salmon, citrusy and fresh, paired with roasted vegetables. Everything was so fucking good that for the first few minutes, we barely spoke, too consumed by the flavors.

Eventually, we slowed, and the conversation flowed, easier than it had in a long time.

We talked about everything and nothing, work, stupid childhood stories, travel. Noah told me about the summer he spent in Europe during college, how he got lost in Venice and ended up wandering the city for hours, refusing to ask for directions out of sheer stubbornness.

“I figured it out eventually,” he said, smiling over his glass.

I shook my head. “I love that your ego is so big, it wouldn’t let you admit defeat to an actual city.”

He shrugged. “Seems reasonable.”

We talked about Seattle itself, what he liked about it, what he would do if he ever lived here. “It’s different from Havenwood,” he admitted. “I like the pace of it. The space. The anonymity.”

I enjoyed my wine, watching him. “And yet, here you are. With me.”

He glanced up. But instead of brushing it off, instead of deflecting like he always did, he let his foot nudge against mine beneath the table.

“Here I am,” he said. With a wink.

I felt that everywhere.

By the time dessert arrived, a shared slice of key lime pie, tart and sweet and perfect, the wine had made itself known, curling through me, warm and languid. We lingered, stealing slow bites and fingers occasionally brushing. The sexual tension was thick between us.

Outside, the city looked softer, almost dreamlike.

As we left the restaurant, Noah reached for my hand. Not ready to head back to the hotel just yet, we decided to explore the city together again.

Then it started. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

A soft drizzle at first, then a steady, warm rain, making the pavement glisten beneath the streetlights. Noah hesitated, pulling out his phone like he was about to call an Uber, but I grabbed his wrist.

“Wait.”

He glanced at me, brow furrowed.

“Let’s just walk.”

He hesitated for half a second. Then he nodded .

And that was how we ended up walking the streets of Seattle, the pavement slick beneath our feet as mist curled through the air. The drizzle had turned heavier, soaking into my jacket, dampening Noah’s dark curls.

The city was different in the rain. Quieter. More intimate.

Noah ran a hand through his soaked black hair, shaking his head slightly. “This was a mistake.”

I laughed. “Nah. This is romantic.”

He smiled. “You’re ridiculous.”

I bumped my shoulder against his. “And yet, here you are. Walking in the rain with me. Almost like you enjoy it.”

He gave me a knowing look with a seductive grin. “Almost.”

We ducked under an awning, my chest still rising and falling from the laughter I hadn’t been able to hold back when Noah stepped directly into a deep puddle. His jeans were soaked up to the shin, his expression an unamused scowl.

“I told you to watch where you were walking,” I chuckled, shaking water from my hands.

“I was watching,” he grumbled, pulling at his wet jeans. “Just not at the ground.”

And that was when I felt it. The shift.

The way he was looking at me, eyes dark and intense, his breathing just a little uneven.

I swallowed hard, my own pulse spiking.

The rain pattered against the awning above us, the street nearly empty, the neon lights from the bar across the road casting a soft pink glow over his face.

I didn’t overthink it. Didn’t let myself hesitate. I stepped in closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of him, close enough that when I tilted my head up, our mouths were just a breath apart.

Noah was looking at me. Really looking at me.

“Noah,” I said.

He looked right into my soul. Then he kissed me.

Slow, deep, unhurried, like he was memorizing the shape of my mouth, the taste of rain and sugar still lingering on my lips. Like I mattered. His hands landed on my waist, pulling me closer, and I melted into him, into the warmth of his body, the heat of his breath against my skin.

It wasn’t like last time. Last time had been all fire, all desperate hands and unchecked urgency. This was something else. Something slower. Deeper.

When he finally pulled back, he smiled against my lips, his forehead resting against mine.

“Let’s go back,” he announced.

My stomach tightened.

I nodded.

The Uber ride back to the hotel was all soft murmurs and wandering hands, the city lights twinkling through the rain-speckled windows.

Noah held my hand, his grip firm, grounding.

My pulse thrummed when he leaned in, pressing slow kisses along my jaw, his lips ghosting over my cheek before finding the spot just below my ear.

He nibbled, just lightly, enough to send a shiver down my spine.

I turned toward him, catching his lips in a lingering kiss, unhurried, tasting wine and key lime.

The driver up front didn’t exist. The world beyond the car didn’t exist. Just this, just Noah’s warm breath against my skin, his hand tightening around mine like he had no intention of letting go. Just us.

By the time we stumbled into the hotel elevator, the tension had coiled so tight I thought I might combust. The doors had barely slid shut before Noah moved, backing me against the wall, his mouth crashing into mine in a kiss so deep, so consuming, I forgot to breathe.

His hands framed my face, his body pressing against mine, heat and want radiating between us.

My grip tangled in his shirt, tugging, needing more.

Drowning in the way he kissed me like he finally, FINALLY knew what he wanted.

We didn’t hear the ding. Not at first. But then, soft gasps.

A giggle. A muttered “Ewww!” The doors had opened, revealing a waiting family, a mom, a dad, and two kids wide-eyed with curiosity and disgust in equal measure.

Noah and I bolted from the elevator, laughter bubbling between us as we rushed down the hall, their mother’s amused chuckle and a whispered, “Ah, young love,” following us as we disappeared into our room.

As we stumbled through the hotel room door, our bodies collided in a frenzy of desire.

Noah’s hands grasped my shoulders, spinning me around to pin me against the wall.

His mouth crashed down on mine, urgent but not rushed, as if he wanted to savor every moment of our reunion.

The kiss was passionate, yet tender, a delicate balance of force and finesse that left me breathless.

I could feel his erection pressing into mine, the heat of it making my head swim, every inch of us straining to be closer.

His lips moved slowly over mine, exploring every curve and contour of my mouth. His tongue danced with mine, a sensual waltz that sent shivers down my spine. I felt his hands roam over my body, stripping me bare with a gentle touch that seemed to cherish every inch of my skin.

As we kissed, the world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us.

Noah’s eyes locked onto mine, burning with an intensity that I had not seen before.

I saw vulnerability there, a glimmer of emotion that went beyond mere lust. It was as if he was letting his guard down, allowing me to see the real him, the man behind the mask.

As I stood there, locked in Noah’s arms, my hands began to roam over his body, I traced the lines of his clothes before grasping the hem of his shirt.

I pulled it up and over his head, revealing his chest and torso.

My eyes widened as I took in the sight of his bare skin, I drank in the contours of his body.

I had seen him shirtless many times before, but this time I took him in.

“Damn, Noah,” I whispered, my voice full of awe.

“You’re... wow.” I trailed off, my hands moving to his pants, unzipping them with a slow deliberation that made him shiver.

As I pushed them down over his hips, I felt a thrill of excitement at seeing him exposed like this.

My eyes roamed over him, taking in every inch of his gorgeous brown skin, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the lean muscles that lay beneath.

Who knew a nerd would be so stacked? I thought to myself, a low chuckle rumbling through my chest as I reached out to touch him again.

I let my fingers dance across his abs, feeling the ridges and valleys of his muscles beneath my fingertips.

He was perfect, all sleek lines and smooth skin, and I couldn’t get enough of him. I asked, “Are you ok with all this?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely. Are you?”

I firmly stated, “I am. Completely.”

I felt his hand trail down my chest, tracing the lines of my body with reverence.

Every touch sparked a new flame of desire within me, until I was burning with need.

Every kiss he placed on me unraveled something deep inside that pulled me apart in the gentlest, most devastating way.

But Noah took his time, teasing out every moment of bliss.

As we broke apart for air, I saw the hunger in his eyes had given way to something more profound, affection.

He looked at me like I was something precious, something worth holding onto.

And in that moment, I knew this wasn’t just about sex; it wasn’t just about getting off.

This was about connection, deep and abiding connection, between two people who were willing to be vulnerable with each other.

Noah looked me up and down, then stared right into my eyes and said “My god, Evan. You are fucking beautiful. ”

As we stood there, holding each other close I couldn’t help but want to take things to the next level. I gently guided Noah towards the bed, our lips still locked in a passionate kiss. We tumbled onto the soft sheets, our bodies entwining as we continued to explore each other.