Page 170 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Snorting, I grabbed my bags and headed out with Mike. The drive back to Noah’s seemed to take forever. Anticipation hummed through my veins. Were Heather and Sam right? Could I really do this? Could I open myself up completely, trust Noah with all the bruised and broken pieces of my heart?
God, I hoped so. Because despite the fear, I knew one soul-deep truth: what I felt for Noah was worth fighting for.
After saying goodbye to Mike, I stepped inside Noah’s house. A delicious aroma of tomato sauce and garlic filled my nostrils. Curious, I followed the scent to the kitchen, only to stop short at the adorable scene before me.
Noah stood at the stove, stirring a pot of something that smelled divine. And there was Ro beside him, a streak of red sauce across one cherubic cheek, carefully layering lasagna noodles in a casserole dish.
“We’re making lasagna, Mommy!” he announced, beaming at me with a gap-toothed grin. “Noah, let me help!”
“I can see that,” I laughed, dropping a kiss into his dark curls. “Looks like more of it ended up on you than in the pan, buddy.”
“Hey, that’s a sign of a master chef.” Noah winked at me over Ro’s head. “Means he put his whole heart into it.”
My heart swelled near to bursting. Ro had never had moments like this with George. He’d never known what it was like to have a strong, caring man teach him things, play with him, show him he was loved.
But Noah gave him that. Gavemethat.
Throat tight, I slid my arms around Noah’s waist and stretched up to brush a soft kiss over his lips. “Thank you,” I murmured. “For making lasagna with Ro. For giving him good memories. It means everything to me.”
Noah’s blue eyes glowed as he cupped my face between his hands. “You never have to thank me for loving your son. He’s an incredible kid. Besides...” He rested his forehead against mine. “You’re both part of my heart now. Forever.”
The words stole the breath out of my lungs. Noah’s gaze held mine, so full of tenderness and promise that it almost hurt to look at.
He must have sensed my hesitation because he gently brushed his thumb over my cheekbone. “I know you’re scared. I know you’ve been through hell. But I’m not him. I will never behim.” His lips curved in a soft smile. “I’m gonna prove to you every single day that you’re safe with me. That this is real.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I swallowed hard. “Noah, I...”
“Shh. It’s okay. We’ve got time.” He wrapped me in his strong arms, cocooning me against his broad chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I exhaled a shaky breath and burrowed closer, letting his warmth and scent surround me. Maybe I could do this. Let myself trust. Let myself love.
Later that night,after Ro was asleep, I padded down the hall to Noah’s room—ourroom at the moment. He looked up from his book, surprise and pleasure lighting up his face.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
I nodded. Took a deep breath. Then I untied my robe and let it slip off my shoulders to pool at my feet.
“Zoey...” Noah’s eyes darkened as he took in my naked body. “Baby, what are you doing?”
“Showing you,” I whispered. “Showing you how much I want this. Want you.”
I crossed to the bed and straddled him, my heart hammering. Slowly, I leaned down until my lips hovered just above his.
“Make love to me, Noah,” I breathed. “Please.”
His answering groan vibrated through me as he crushed his mouth to mine.
I felt his warm hands on my waist, pulling me closer, our bare skin touching in a tentative dance before his fingers sank into my lower back and pulled me flush against him. The roughness of his stubble scraping against my face added an electric thrill as our tongues met in a desperate, passionate dance. His handsroamed up to cup my breasts, and I let out a soft moan that only seemed to whet his appetite more. He rolled one of my nipples between his thumb and forefinger, pinching just enough to make me gasp.
Our tongues twirled together, the taste of red wine from dinner mixing with our breaths. It was like fire in my mouth, and my stomach somersaulted. Noah’s cologne filled my nose, and I couldn’t help but inhale deeply, the heat rushing through me as we continued to kiss. I ran my hands over the solid wall of muscle under his T-shirt. God, he was so strong, so capable. I knew without a doubt that this man would protect us with every fiber of my being.
His hands slipped lower to grab my ass cheeks and pull me even closer, rubbing slow circles that made me press myself against him. I wanted more. Ached for more friction from the hot, hard length of him beneath his shorts.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned his forehead against mine, panting heavily. “Zoey,” he groaned out, voice thick with desire. “You’re killing me.”
His lips traced a path down my neck as he spoke, then rolled me off him. He stood up from the bed and reached for the hem of his shirt. He pulled it off over his head and ran his hands over his chest and abs, flexing them slightly before tossing the shirt to the floor.
Dropping to his knees on the mattress, he pulled off his shorts, then quickly rolled onto the bed beside me. He leaned over me, capturing one of my nipples in his mouth and suckling hard while sliding a hand between us to run a finger along my slit. I gasped at the sensation. His fingers teased at me softly before he plunged two inside me. I moaned, bucking my hips in response to the feeling that threatened to undo me completely.
