Page 17 of No Promises
Christo laughed softly. “I know what you mean…and we have all the time in the world. Besides, we do know some things. I know you like your belly and the nape of your neck kissed. I know you love your job – that was obviousyesterday.”
“Did you likeAlly?”
“Very much. I knew she would give me a rough ride, and rightly so.” His smile faded a little. “There are a lot of things in my past I’m ashamed of, Noosh, but none more than what I did to you thatnight.”
Noosh cupped his face in her palm. “Tell me. Tell me what was going on with you thatnight.”
So, Christo told her, and they talked late into the night, pausing now and again to kiss and caress each other. Noosh felt something shift in her soul, and she didn’t want this night to end. Not being able to have sex, full, hardcore penetrative sex at the moment had meant their tryst was more than just a fuck, that they were forging a connection that neither of them could deny. They ordered pizza at 2 a.m., Christo going down on her again as they waited for it to be delivered, then gorging themselves on the pie, joking and laughing around with eachother.
They finally fellasleep as dawn began to break. Upon waking, they showered together and, after a breakfast of eggs, Christo drove her back to Allison’s apartment. As they rode through the streets of Manhattan, Christo asked her about her home in London, and she told him all shecould.
“Why do I get the impression you’re leaving something out? Why did you leave? Why did you come to NewYork?”
Noosh hesitated. “Ihadto leave. Let’s just say a relationship went wrong and I had toleave.”
Christo stopped and turned to her. “Was it him who shot you?” His face was hard, and Noosh couldn’t lie to him. She nodded.Please don’t ask me who heis.
But she knew he would. “Who?”
For a moment, she was silent. “I can’t tell you. If I told you, your life would be in dangertoo.”
Christo studied her, his expression still hard. “You think he’ll tryagain?”
She gave him a sad smile. “I know hewill.”
“Not going tohappen.”
Noosh touched his face. “You’re sweet to care, but I survivedonce.”
“The police know,right?”
She nodded. “They can’t do anything. There’s noproof.”
Christo gave a frustrated hiss. “Noosh…”
“Christo, please, let’s not drag that into whatever this is. Last night was the happiest night I’ve had for years, but technically we are still strangers to each other. Let’s just concentrate on getting to know each other – if that’s what you want, I mean.” Her voice shook as she suddenly had a dip in her confidence, but Christo smiled around ather.
“There’s nothing I want more. Noosh, do you have to work thisweekend?”
She shook her head, and he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Would you spend it with me? I’d like to take you out to my place upstate, where my workshop is, so you can see how I really love tolive.”
Noosh smiled back at him. “I would lovethat.”
At the entrance to her building, he kissed her then leaned his forehead against hers. “I hate to leave you, but I know you have to work. Can I call youlater?”
“I can’t wait,” she whispered, and hesmiled.
“Until laterthen.”
They said goodbye and Christo waited until she was safely inside before he drove away. Noosh waved goodbye, then got into the elevator, feeling bereft at the parting. Suddenly she realized something else; she had left her cane at his place. Grinning to herself, she tested her legs again, hopping gently from one to the other. Yes, her back still protested but she felt different, better – maybe it was just the shot of confidence that last night had givenher.
In the apartment, Ally had already left for work, leaving Noosh a note not to worry about coming in late. Usually, Noosh was there earlier than anyone, but today she took Ally’s note at face value and took a long soak in the tub, hoping to ease some more of her back pain, then called her doctor and asked if there was anything she could do to speed up herrecovery.
“Well, this is a good sign,” Beth said cheerfully. “You sound more motivated than ever. Well, it’s been almost seven months, so you should have started noticing improvements regularly. But, yes, I think you could help yourself along – maybe a yoga class or two a week, and swimming. Don’t try running yet, that may be toomuch.”
Noosh laughed, cheered by the thought of improving her situation. “I hated running before I got shot, so that won’t be hard. But yoga and swimming, there’s no problem there. In fact, my building has a pool, and my boss does yoga so I can piggyback on her class,hopefully.”
“Wow,” Beth chuckled, “what happened? Not that I’m not over-the-moon about this change in attitude, but whatgives?”
