Page 41 of Noah

Numbers told her this beautiful home was hers for her service to Numbers and as she stared at Noah standing in the warm fading light, her heart pounded faster.

Noah’s eyes were feral and wild, and even though she couldn’t always tell what he was thinking, she recognised that look from when he stared at her in the warehouse with growing lust.

She felt an answering surge inside as she shifted on her feet and began backing towards the hall, which she assumed led to the bedrooms all so her scent didn’t give anything further away.

“I’m just going to…” she whispered, pointing behind her.

She shifted uncomfortably as he tracked her movements with his eyes, not with his body and his eyes spoke volumes. Resisting the urge to give in and throw herself at him, she fled down the hall.

Opening the first door she came to, she snuck inside, shutting the door with a quiet snick.

Trying to calm her racing heart, she breathed hard and fast, pressing her head against the wood.

God, he was handsome. Why did he have to look so damn delectable?

When her heart finally stopped racing, and her breathing returned to normal.

She finally peeked over her arms and gasped aloud. She looked around in wonder.

“This is insane,” she breathed.

There was a four-poster bed with curtains hanging from the ceiling like something from a medieval castle. Wide, glittering gold sashes held back heavily embroidered curtains in gold and royal blue. A dark wood bed with squiggly knots reminded her of a tall fir tree.

Drawn to the soft material covering the bed as it fluttered softly in the cross breeze from the open bay window, her fingers ran across the blue bedding. The plush royal top cover was so rich and tempting that she almost threw herself into the pile of matching gold and blue throw pillows.

Two hanging chairs were screwed into the ceiling in front of the window. Using a fraction of her weight, she tested the rope. It held and she sagged back in the egg-shaped chair, laughing to herself as she rocked.

All the emotions that had been building finally came to the surface, and the laugh turned into a sob.

She let it all out and when she finally finished, she sniffed and wondered why she was so upset.

Compared to the warehouse and even her apartment, everything here was beautiful. She couldn’t complain about the living arrangements…could she? No. Definitely not.

Standing up and stretching out the weariness in her body, she sniffed and headed for the door beside the bed.

The first led to a blue ensuite with a jetted corner tub. Oh yeah, she was getting into that tub tonight. She could enjoy an hour of soaking with the jets running full blast.

At the thought, she almost groaned.

The other door led to a small closet already stocked with clothes they had bought from Numbers’ shop while they were in medical, however she hadn’t had time to get all her stuff. The most she had done was pack it up, ready to come back for it.

She wondered who picked them up and hung them for her. She would have to thank them…she probably wouldn’t stop thanking them if they kept treating her so well.

If they were trying to convince her to stay, they were doing an excellent job.

She flashed back to the drive down the beautiful cobblestone paths and past the charming cabin homes. She knew that those who spoke of Moon as a stunning city with luxurious buildings were right.

When they built the buildings, they took great care not to cut corners or do things cheaply. In considering aesthetics, the Numbers—or their design crew—took great care.

It was probably because it was their home and they wanted to take care of it and respect the nature around them. She assumed that grey walls for a lifetime had influenced what they wanted to see every day.

Suddenly, she noticed a long box against the wall and a small rectangular box on the floor. She approached it and was surprised to see her name on it.

Since she hadn’t ordered anything, she picked at a corner and when she saw a palette, her fingers twitched to start creating.

After ripping off the tape in a hurry, she blinked at the contents of the box. A variety of acrylics, chalk, paints, and pencils. An easel that easily folds up. Suddenly her heart was in her throat as she tore the brown paper away from the upright package.

Canvases. Who did that…?

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