Page 40 of Bond Strength

Last night had been a date. One that hadn’t ended with the person leaving halfway through dinner. And not just that. I didn’t want to bolt either. Sure, I had to head out for my job soon, but I only had toget back to my house and work in my pajamas, since I’d intentionally chosen to do remote today.

I flipped the sheets off me, and Noah let out a groan, his grip on my waist tightening. My thighs were covered in fingerprint-shaped bruises, and I pressed down on them to feel the ache. Ngh. Getting restrained had ignited a thousand and one fantasies in my brain, which kept churning out scenario after scenario. And it was clear Noah liked to bind me up as much as I enjoyed being at his mercy.

I peeled Noah’s arm off my waist and slid from the bed.

He stirred, pushing up to rub at his eyes. “You’re here.”

I arched a brow as I snagged my glasses from the nightstand table. “Was I supposed to flee in the middle of the night?”

Noah smiled, the big, dopey smile that made my pulse race. I’d thought it was irritation, the prickling of my skin, but no, it was a breath-stealing feeling that went far deeper than mere attraction.

“No, I wanted you here. You’re not leaving now, are you?”

“I mean, I will need to soon for work. Besides, don’t you have a job to get to?”

Noah scrubbed at his eyes. “That’s right. I’ve got a full plate today. Including fixing the cracks in the walls of someone’s house.”

“If you’re being coy, I have no way to interpret that.” Caffeine was high on my agenda.

A sharp laugh burst from Noah. “I mean your place. I can swing by there later if that’s okay?”

“I’ll be working,” I said, panic stirring. Did he expect me to fuck off at my job?

Noah’s grin didn’t leave. “So will I. But even being near you, knowing you’re there, makes me happy, if I’m being honest.”

My heart thundered. That was everything I could’ve hoped for. The ease Noah and I slotted together was unfathomable to me afterspending years of going on dates and feeling like a rock face with no holds to begin the climb.

“When can we have our next date?” I needed scheduled time to see him again.

“What are you doing Saturday?” he asked.

“Going on a date with you.” My chest eased at the promise of more time together. “Can I plan it this time?”

“Surprise me.” Noah’s sweet grin lit up his gorgeous blue eyes. My heart thudded, and already, ideas sprang to mind.

“Done.” I walked toward the door. “Do you happen to have tea?”

“In one of the top drawers in my kitchen.” He pushed up from the bed and followed me. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pressed a kiss to the back of my neck. His hard length nudged against my crack, and a whimper left my lips. The idea of him sliding right in sparked my synapses to life.

“Are you negative?” I asked. “Do you have test results?”

“On my phone, yeah. And I’m on PrEP. But if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, then I want to take my time with you.”

“I want you to fuck me bare. If not Saturday, then soon.” I pulled away, starting toward the kitchen.

“Jesus Christ, Declan. You can’t keep dropping these bombs on me. I’ll die.”

“Of what, horniness?” I glanced back, and as I’d guessed, he tugged at his balls to calm himself. A grin lifted my lips.

“Well, yeah, if I have to wait until tomorrow to fuck you again.”

We entered his kitchen, the early morning light streaming through the windows. Noah made a beeline to his coffee machine, but he also filled up an electric kettle and set it to boil. After pulling open two drawers, I found the one I searched for. There was a surprising arrayof tea for a coffee drinker. He even had Earl Grey Crème. A little burst of excitement flowed through me.

“How does someone who barely drinks tea have all this variety?” I nabbed the tea bag and opened his top cabinets to rummage for mugs.

Noah dipped his head and squeezed his nape. “I might’ve gone out and grabbed some after having it at your house. I…just want you to feel comfortable here.”

My chest tightened, and my pulse sped, my autonomic nervous system lighting up. He’d done that for me. I found the mugs and snagged two blue ones from a set. “Thanks.” I passed him a mug. He’d gotten his coffeemaker loaded, so it chugged away now, pushing out the nasty blackened liquid. To each his own.

---