Page 133 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
The drive to his house was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. I found myself stealing glances at him, admiring the strong lines of his profile, those large hands gripping the steering wheel.
When we arrived at his place, he came around to open my door and helped me out of the car. We walked up the sidewalk, hands clasped, and I marveled at how natural it felt, how right. Inside, he took my coat and hung it up, his fingers brushing against my shoulders. That slight touch was nearly enough to make my knees weak.
“How are you feeling?” I asked. “Now that you’re back home, I mean.”
Noah chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I’m just glad to be out of there. You know how they say sleep isthe best medicine? Well, try telling that to the nurses who wake you up every five minutes to poke and prod you.”
I laughed, but it came out sounding nervous and slightly forced. There was so much I wanted to say to him, so much I needed to tell him, but I didn’t know where to start. I fidgeted with the hem of my sweater.
“Zoey.” Noah took a step closer to me. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I forced myself to look into his eyes. “I... I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to let myself trust someone again, after everything that’s happened. But I want to, Noah. I want to trust you.”
His face softened, and he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I know it’s not easy,” he said. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. We can take this as slow as you need to.”
“Thank you for being so patient with me,” I whispered.
He smiled as he rubbed his thumb over my cheek. “You’re worth it. You’re worth everything.”
I sat down on the couch, clasping my hands tightly in my lap. Noah took a seat beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body, but not so close that it was overwhelming.
“I’ve been thinking a lot,” I said. “About everything that’s happened. About how I’ve been blaming myself for all of it.”
Noah reached out, his hand covering mine. “Zoey, none of what happened was your fault.”
I shook my head. “I know that. Logically, I know that. But it’s hard to believe it sometimes. It’s hard not to feel like I could have done something differently. That I could have prevented it all.”
“You did everything you could. You survived. That’s what matters.”
I swallowed hard, fighting back the lump that had formed in my throat. “I know. But it’s not just that. It’s... it’s the way I’ve been pushing everyone away. I’ve been so afraid to let anyone in.”
Noah squeezed my hand gently. “That’s understandable, after what you’ve been through. No one blames you for that.”
“But I do,” I whispered. “I hate that I’ve been hurting the people who care about me. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own pain that I couldn’t see how much it was affecting everyone else. And I hate it.”
“Zoey,” he said softly, his free hand coming up to cup my cheek, “you’ve been through hell. It’s okay to take time to heal. It’s okay to not be okay.”
I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes for a moment. “I know that. But I want to be better. I want to be stronger. I want to be the person I was before George came into my life.”
“You will be. But it’ll take time. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
I opened my eyes. “I know. I’m sorry I pushed you away. I’m sorry for not trusting you.”
Noah shook his head. “You don’t have to apologize. I understand.” He took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “I’m really glad you came to talk to me. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. More than I realized.”
He brought his free hand up to my cheek. “Zoey...” His voice was low, almost rough. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
My breath caught, but I didn’t pull away. I didn’t want to. “Then kiss me.”
His lips met mine, soft and sweet and full of promise. The kiss quickly deepened, all our pent-up emotions pouring out as our lips moved together. Noah’s hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair.
Our breaths mingled, our tongues moving in a well-choreographed dance. My lips tingled with desire, as if they had awakened from a deep slumber.
His hands explored my body, tracing the curves and contours over my clothes, leaving me breathless and utterly consumed. His fingers glided down my bare arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake. My muscles responded with a subtle tension as each nerve ending came alive, amplifying the pleasure.
A flush spread across my cheeks and neck. My breaths quickened, each inhalation filled with Noah’s unique, woodsy scent. A gentle sigh escaped my lips, carrying with it the weight of longing and the intensity of our connection that only fueled the fire that burned between us. The kiss, a silent language of its own, expressed the words I couldn’t find.
