Page 106 of Purchase Power
Chapter 32
Coming to Noah’s room, let alone dressing like it was date night, could only end one way. Lucy was weak enough now to give into him. She only hoped that one night of passion would either end there or result in something stronger. Something more meaningful. Something that wouldn’t leave her crying at night and hoping that she wouldn’t be scarred for life.
Of course, now she knew what “scarred” truly meant. She had seen it in the eyes of not only Stacey, but the big brother that had bent over backward to protect her fragile soul. The things Noah casually talked about happening between himself and his stepfather had sent chills down Stacey’s spine. Now? Now she prayed that the worst moments of their lives were truly behind them. Perhaps they could go forward, together, and forge better memories.
Then he kissed her, and she knew that their first memory would be this night.
Noah didn’t need to reiterate his love for her. She felt it in his kiss, the first of what would hopefully be many for the rest of their days. She tasted it in the frenzy that ensued the moment they wrapped their arms around one another and moaned their thanks that this was finally happening.He’s not the only one who has been desperate to make love again.Yet Lucy would not give in. Not until she was sure that it was what her fragile heart could handle.
“Stay with me tonight,” Noah said between kisses. He was still awkwardly positioned over the side of the chair, one hand wrapped around the back of Lucy’s neck and bringing her forever closer to his own lips. “I don’t care what we do, but I want you in my bed. I need you, Lucy. You’re the only one who has ever given me hope.”
She was feverish enough to agree to anything, but a glimmer of sense remained in her addled head.He’s asking me. Not telling me. The fantasy part of this really is over.They were acting like a real couple now. Noah Gabriel, asking Lucy Craig to be his. Not only tonight, but possibly for the rest of their lives. This time, she could set the standards of her own theoretical contract. She could be more than his bed warmer or someone he conveniently used to get off. She could be hisgirlfriend.His partner. His future wife. Lucy saw the threshold between her old, mundane life in New York and a new, unknown world here in the universe that centered on the Gabriels. She could become a new chapter in their lives. A better, more helpful chapter. A chance to start over and be with someone who loved them unconditionally, despite their flaws and tragic histories.
The worst was behind them. The only place to go was onward.
“Can I tell you something?” That was how Lucy minded her nerves as he helped her out of her chair and took her by the hand. Noah glanced at her over his shoulder before maneuvering them both past the couch.Guess he doesn’t want me there… ah, does that mean we can never be that dirty again?“The truth is… you’re only the second man I’ve ever been with. I never corrected you about my job because I needed you to think I was a full-service escort who had plenty of experience, but in reality, I’m not experienced at all. I’ve had one shitty boyfriend who barely knew his way around his own dick before I met you.” She’d leave the news about the ex-girl for next time.
If Noah was taken aback at all, he didn’t let it be known. “I had begun to wonder. For no other reason than I wanted it to be true. Except I don’t care how many men you’ve been with, Lucy. That’s never mattered to me. Whether I know the truth or thought you were an experienced escort, I only cared about what we had together in the moment. And fuck it, I only care about what we’re going to do now.”
She allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. As soon as he kissed her, she was his. A feeling she recognized in her own heart. A state of being consuming her mind. Everything, from the depths of her soul to the fluttering butterflies in her stomach, belonged to him.
Her body? That had long belonged to him, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing it.
“Take me,” she murmured on Noah’s lips, as he pulled her blouse out of her skirt and wrapped his warm hands around her sweating midsection. “Don’t even think about it. I don’t want to think about it. I just want you inside of me.”
His low, trembling growl as he popped one of her buttons open after another sent a spiral of uncontrollable thrills straight to her groin. “I fucking miss being inside of you.”
“I’m waiting.” This was taking too long. How could it take so much time for one man to pull off her blouse and decimate her bra like it was nothing? Why would Noah waste time taking off his own shirt when she was perfectly happy to make love to him with their clothes on?All I need is my panties off and his fly open.It shouldn’t be so hard. It shouldn’t mean the difference between standing up on her two feet and lying on her back like she was meant to be doingright now.“Don’t make me wait, Noah.”
“Why?” He abandoned his quest to rid them of their vestments and encased his hands around her face. “Will you lose interest in me if I don’t hurry up?”
Lose interest? Inhim?That was such a preposterous notion that Lucy almost had to laugh. “I will lose my mind, perhaps,” she said. “I will have no regrets, though. Make love to me how you always do. I just want to feel good, and I want to feel good with you.”
“You know me, Luce.” That nickname sounded like Heaven on his tongue.I know what else feels like nirvana on his tongue…“I can be like an animal, even when I’m showering you with love and attention.”
“Yes. Be like that.” She tugged on his shirt, still half-unbuttoned and awaiting her desires. “Be like a fucking animal who can’t contain himself. You can make slow and sensual love to me some other time. It’s been weeks, Noah. I want you. Ineedyou. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve fucking needed someone as much as you?” She released his clothes and tugged on her own. The zipper in her skirt. The clasps of her bra. Lucy would undress before him if it got her what she wanted.I’d much rather he rip the clothes off my body and fuck me until I scream, but I’ll take what I can get.Now that she dedicated herself to this moment, there was no looking back. Lucy belonged to him. He needed to come collect his belongings.
He took one last, long look at her before taking her by the wrists and kissing the fists she instinctively made. Lucy melted beneath his rough touch. Her bra attempted to fall off her torso, but with her hands in his, there was nowhere for the straps to go. Yet the moment Noah beheld her half-naked body, he held her hands above her head and kissed a heavy trail of needy kisses from her brow to her breasts. Once he reached his destination, he released her hands, and they fell atop his back, cradling him against her.
They naturally fell onto the bed together, his body overcoming hers. Shoes slipped off their feet. The kisses grew heavier. Noah cupped her breast before shoving that same hand beneath her skirt and searching for her lonely slit.Yes. Touch me. For fuck’s sake. Fuck me, Noah.She may have whispered those words. They may have existed only as a reminder in her own head. Either way, she was prepared to feel him in every orifice and to hear his voice in the depths of her ears.
His finger searched beneath her underwear and penetrated her with one stroke. It helped that Lucy kept her legs spread wide open for him.Just the way I like it…She wanted him as deep as the love they harbored.
“Yes…” Her eyes rolled back as his finger sank deeper. “Yes, Noah. Please. Fuck me. I need you. I need you so goddamn much.”
She had missed this, yes, but she had missed their twisted form of intimacy more. Noah had the power to destroy her. He also had the power to transform her demise into something grander than themselves.
“Kiss me.”
Her final command was met with his lips pressing upon hers. As his tongue slid inside of her, so did his finger, and Lucy further melted into something she no longer recognized.
But she didn’t want to be recognizable. She wanted to be new. Reborn. A reason to enjoy the world beyond their own twisted imaginations.
“If I fuck you,” Noah muttered against her lips, “I won’t stop. I won’t be able to stop.”
“Yes…” Her breath hissed between her teeth as his finger plunged into the softest part of her body. “Don’t stop. Make me yours.”
Noah pulled his finger out of her. Time stopped. All that existed were the heavy breaths crashing upon their lips and the trembling thighs begging Lucy to close them.
