Page 17 of The Reward of You

“Bed,” he grunts, tugging me over to the specified piece of furniture. I’m laughing with delight when he trips on his own pant leg and falls on top of me.

“More, Sam. More of you losing control, more of you asking for what you want.” I wiggle until I can kiss his cheek, but he turns his head and claims my mouth instead.

This time his cock makes slow, leisurely love to me, stroking in and out with steady ease like he’s got all night and wants to enjoy every minute of it. I tug on his hair. “I want to cum, Sam. You can fuck me a third time if you need to, but…”

His smile is sweet and wicked. “Then up on your hands and knees. I want to send you over from behind.”

This too is new and, lord, I had no idea what I’ve been missing. His cock somehow stretches me wider, goes deeper and before I know it, I’m a trembling incoherent muddle. Sam’s two hands grip my ass firmly as I moan into the mattress and only then does he let himself cum. It’s one more sensation on top of what seems like nine thousand. Then he picks me up once again and carries me into the bathroom.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, beautiful. You’ve earned a good night’s sleep.” His voice is full of loving pride.

“Not working for your love here, Sam.” I mumble. “You deserve to be loved, and I do love you. No strings.”

His hands stop briefly on my skin before he resumes. “You’re my reward for enduring all the injuries and being alone so long. My very own sweet Noelle. I’m not letting you go.”

I smile through my exhaustion even as he swipes a washcloth over my pussy. “Then hold me tight, Sam.” And he does. All night long.

11

The school run with Bea has me pondering the blessed quiet of the office after only a few days. Mostly I don’t have to say anything, just listen. But the ideas her eight-year-old brain can come up with — the mind boggles. Do I think frogs celebrate April Fool’s Day? Is it possible to dye the inside of an Easter egg without changing the outside shell color? Her teachers deserve a raise, that’s all I can say.

I’ve spent every night with Noelle, only going to my place in the morning to shower and change before running Bea to school on the way to work. You would think things would be awkward, meshing two different household routines, but they really haven’t been. At least not until Thursday evening. Miranda is loading the dishwasher and Bea is assembling her lunch for the next day when Noelle turns to me with a slight frown.

“I used to think that you went out on dates every Friday night, but now I know that’s not true, so where do you go?”

She was paying attention to when I was home? I want to tease her about it, but I can tell Noelle’s not quite confident enough for that yet. “Book club, or rather, the IPDIESAC study group. That book you started reading? The one that’s kinda about me? That’s what the group is all about. But my attendance is not required, so we can do whatever you want.”

Noelle shakes her head firmly. “No, I think you should go. I promise not to get into any accidents while you’re gone.”

At first I’m thinking she’s ready to put some space between us, but my thoughts must show because she’s up and pulling me into the living room in an instant. “Stop it, Sam. I just want you to maintain your friendships. There’s absolutely no need to sacrifice your own social life one night a week. Go, have fun, and you can tell me all about it when you get home.”

“You wouldn’t rather snuggle on the couch with a movie?”

She shrugs with a smile. “I can do that with the girls tomorrow night and with you on Saturday night. And I’m going to keep telling you I love you until you believe it in every single cell in your body.”

I don’t let her get any more words out. I’m too busy kissing her ferociously.

And on Friday when I show up at Damien’s place, somehow the guys all know instantly before I can say anything.

“Fess up, North. Who’s the girl? Have you made your move yet?” One of them jibes before sticking his head in the fridge.

I shake my head in bewilderment. “Her name is Noelle, she’s a neighbor, and I’ve essentially already moved in.”

“And I thought I moved fast,” Dom mutters.

“So did you finally sign up for one of those classes?” Dean asks kindly.

I shake my head. “Naw, literally found her right next door. She works at the college and that’s partly why I didn’t want to go there. Too embarrassing to explain, I guess. Anyway, turned out she was sorta watching me too.”

There’s a few raised eyebrows from the guys that are positive there’s more to the story, but they don’t push for the details.

“Good for you, Sam.” Damien claps me on the back. “It’s good news for me as well, because now maybe Buttercup can stop matchmaking on your behalf.” He raises his voice, which means his wife is hiding out in the kitchen. We’ve kept up the pretense of the study group being men only even if most of the men are married now with a wife in residence at whatever house we hold the meeting at. And everyone knows she’s likely within hearing distance, but it keeps it our thing. I guess I see Noelle’s point now in wanting me to continue participating. I’ll go say hi to Tamsin, aka Buttercup, in a few minutes.

By the time we’ve discussed the new trend in spicy small town shifter romances to death — with examples — I’m ready to get home to Noelle and inquire if she’s read any of them.

Somehow I corral the girls into something resembling our old Friday night routine — which only lapsed two weeks ago, so this shouldn’t be so difficult. But Sam has slotted into our life like he’s always been a part of it, so somehow his absence is making the house seem empty. Which we all need to get over because he needs some things that are just his. I don’t know how I know this, I just do.

Still, I’m delighted when I hear his car in the driveway next door. That’s another thing we need to sort out. I leave for school and work earlier than he does and come back later, so it’s difficult to get the cars arranged correctly in the narrow driveway, but there has to be some practical solution.

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