Page 29

TWENTY EIGHT

Olivia

Twelve delicately prepared shared plates and almost two bottles of wine later, we have neatly skirted around talking about anything real. About feelings or the faux pregnancy or the way we left things. Instead we talk about food and travel and Noah’s impressions of the US so far.

I drift from the restaurant out onto the street and hand my phone to Noah. “Film me for a moment? I just want to do an intro for my next video.”

I step back into a position in front of the restaurant. “Can you get the sign in?”

He nods. “Go ahead.”

I don’t even need to fake the huge smile I wear for the camera. I just let it show. “Oh wow! I’m back in the US and I’ve just had the most exciting meal I’ve had lately right here in this brand new Peruvian Japanese fusion restaurant. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.”

Noah presses something on the screen and gives me a little pout. “The most exciting? I won’t pretend I’m not jealous, but I will admit it was pretty amazing.”

“Aww, don’t be jealous. I wasn’t counting yours.” I step toward him and have to catch myself against his chest when I almost stumble. I guess I’ve had more to drink than I thought.

He pulls me close until our lips are almost touching. Dangerous territory. “Of course I’m jealous. I want to be the most exciting thing in your life.”

I lose control of my knees at about that moment when his words run through me like a lightning bolt. “Noah, we—”

I forget what I was about to say when his mouth crashes into mine and a groan tears from his chest. I forget everything. Cars and people passing by on the street, the chill air creeping beneath my jacket, the last few weeks of stress and angst and tears.

All I know is his lips are moving against mine. Our breath mingles, and it’s stupid but maybe our souls do too. There’s definitely some kind of strange magic that happens between us every time we’re together.

That’s my excuse.

It takes me over whenever I’m with him and tonight is no exception. Eventually, he pulls away, looking down at me. “Come back to my hotel. Or take me home with you.”

I flush, thinking about the awkward conversation in the morning. “Your hotel.”

He grins, and moments later, he’s hailed a cab and pulls me into the backseat with him, dragging me right up against him as he gives the driver the name of his hotel.

I’m breathless with excitement, caught up in the flurry of emotion and relief. He leaves me no chance to come to my senses either. As soon as the driver pulls away from the curb, Noah’s hand slides up my thigh beneath my skirt. “God, I need you.”

My pussy agrees, throbbing as his hand slides higher.

I glance at the driver in the front, but his eyes are on the road. Noah notices the direction of my look and gives a low chuckle. “Am I embarrassing you? Should I stop?”

I bite my lip. I don’t want him to stop. I want to make up for all the time we lost.

He grins, leaning in to graze his lips along my neck. “I didn’t think so. I think you like it when there’s a risk of getting caught. Better keep quiet, though. We don’t want him to crash.”

I almost lose the game right away when he nips at my earlobe. The sharp bite makes me press my legs together, aching for his touch there.

Noah just caresses my inner thigh with his thumb. “Shhh.” His hand closes around my throat. The touch is gentle but possessive. Enough to command my complete attention. Like he didn’t have it already.

He turns my head, captures my mouth again with a kiss.

Outside the cab, the lights of the city rush past and we seem to float along the road like we’re floating in the ocean.

I feel like I did that day when he made love to me beneath the water.

Reliant on him for every breath, both lost and found at once in his arms.

I blink when I realize the car has stopped and Noah reaches over me to open my door. “Here we are, Liv.”

It seems like only a few moments until we’re in his room and I’m thinking that I should call my parents and let them know I might not be home tonight. Noah presses me up against the wall, sliding my jacket over my shoulders as he kisses my neck.

Noah growls against my ear. “Do you know how badly I need you right fucking now?”

My pussy floods with moisture and I turn my head to find his mouth for another hungry kiss.

By the time we come up for air, his hand is rubbing my clit over my panties and I’m gasping into his mouth, desperate and needy. Determined to regain some control, I drop to my knees and reach for the waistband of his trousers.

When I free his cock, it swells rapidly in my palm. The foreskin stretches back as I stroke him, leaving the slick blushing head exposed.

He sucks in a breath when I open my mouth to lap at the salty liquid beading at the tip.

The feeling of power when he has to brace himself against the wall goes to my head.

I grin as I work my tongue around the crown of him, savoring the heat, the smell, the taste.

All of it is addictive. When I finally close my lips around him and draw him into my mouth, his eyes flutter closed and his hand fists against the wall.

I watch beneath my lashes in fascination as tendons begin to stand out on his neck, as I bring this gorgeous monster right to the brink of his control.

He’s panting when he pulls me away. “Enough. My turn.”

My protests are ignored as he scoops me up and carries me to the bed.

As soon as he deposits me on top of the covers, he tugs my dress over my head and yanks my panties over my ankles.

I sit up on my elbows to ask him if he has a condom, but he interrupts me with a dark look, shoving my own panties into my open mouth.

“You’re going to come at least three times on my tongue and hands before you need to worry about that, Liv,” he says, as if he read my mind.

I subside into a meek puddle as he pushes my legs apart and makes good on his promise.

This is crazy.

We haven’t even really talked about where we left things. But does it matter? He’s just here to prove some point to himself. And I can’t care about that any longer when his tongue swipes around my clit and my eyes close all on their own.

I thread my fingers through his hair and pull him closer. We can’t stop now. He’s right. I need to come.

I’m a sticky mess by the time he lifts his head. I grin when I realize I’m such a mess he’s shifted. I love seeing him in this form. He makes a low noise of satisfaction, dipping his head to take one more lick, which has my pussy clenching.

Oh god, I’ve missed this.

I steel myself for more, knowing it’ll be almost as hard to say goodbye in the morning as it was when I left Australia. At least this time we can leave things on good terms. Not on an argument.

Then Noah yanks me to the edge of the bed and positions me bending over the mattress.

He brings my arms behind my back, wrapping a tentacle around my wrists to keep them in place.

Then he kicks my legs apart and there’s a pause before he brings his cock to my pussy.

“I’m wearing a condom this time, OK? I want to show you I can be responsible. ”

I don’t have time to process his words before he thrusts forward and enters me in a single stroke. My pussy is so wet and ready that he slides right in. My hands tighten and I gasp at the feel of him there. So full. So perfect.

Then he begins to move.

My knees buckle and I’m glad I’m braced against the bed.

Oh fuck. He finds just the right spot like magic.

Instantly the pressure builds again. I can’t do anything but take it as he fucks me in faster and faster strokes, our bodies slapping together.

I hear his grunts and groans of pleasure, and for a while that’s all there is.

Then he flips us. I’m spread out again, legs hoisted up high, held secure by one of his many limbs. Noah leans over me and looks deep into my eyes. “I’m going to show you I’ll be anything you want me to be.”

I can’t speak. He slips the tip of one tentacle between us and with that and his cock fucking into me in a steady rhythm, I can hardly breathe.

This feels like more than a one last time. It feels like he’s offering me forever. But I can’t do that with this guy. Not with the guy who walked out on me when I needed him. Not with the guy who doesn’t do relationships. Who couldn’t even take a pregnancy test with me.

All my thoughts shatter as he leans in to kiss me and I tip over the edge. He’s everywhere. Possessing my mouth, my breath as I come apart. Leaning over me, continuing to pump into me through my orgasm.

When it ends, I blink up at him. “You can’t. We can’t.” I push at his chest, and he frowns in confusion but pulls back.

“We can’t what?”

My voice seizes up. My limbs won’t cooperate. Noah withdraws and I stagger to my feet, searching for my clothes. “We can’t do that . That’s not what this is.”

“What do you mean?” He’s staring at me as I fumble on the floor for my things.

“You didn’t come here thinking that we could be a couple, Noah. That’s not you.”

He reaches for me, but I dart away. “Olivia—”

“No.” I shake my head, dragging on my dress, pulling on my shoes.

“Noah, I can’t. How can I trust you? I can’t do this.

” I rush from the room while he’s still standing there staring at me looking horrified.

I have just enough sense to hesitate in the doorway and fling back, “I’m not pregnant, Noah. I never was.”

I hate the thought that I’ve hurt him, but really, what did he expect? How can I give my heart to someone who already broke it? I rush down the stairs and into the street before I pause to call a cab and go home to nurse my broken heart all over again.