Page 111 of Into The Light
Eager.
And more than a little embarrassed that I actually cried in front of her. On her. I haven't cried since I was a little kid. I just…hearing her say those three incredible, magical little words was so unexpected that it just broke something inside me.
I open the bathroom door, letting steam swirl out. It's late, almost ten, and the summer sun has set. I'm not sure what I expect, but it's not what greets me.
The room is dark, the lights off, and the blinds shut. The only light is a flickering orange glow from a dozen candles Noelle has lit around the room —on the bedside table, her dresser, and the window sill. The candlelight creates a warm, welcoming, romantic ambiance, drawing me further into the room. A small Bluetooth speaker on the dresser plays soft, inviting acousticmusic—guitar, a mandolin, a piano…I don’t know. All I know is the music is lovely and soothing. Romantic.
Romance has never been a part of my life. I don’t know shit about it. But this?
It tells me everything I need to know. And I know I'm going to give her this as often as I can, now that she's shown it to me.
It's yet another gift she's given me, one of so many. My heart feels so big and full in my chest that I'm half worried my ribcage can't hold it.
Noelle is at the side of the bed, lighting one last candle. She turns me, and my breath lodges in my lungs, catching and sticking at the hot hard dense lump that has formed there at the sight of her.
She's wearing a thin white robe that’s covered in pink cherry blossoms. It doesn't quite reach mid-thigh, leaving her beautiful, creamy, milky thighs bare. Belted loosely around her waist, it drapes open in a wide V, exposing the inner curves of her perfect breasts and a hint of a sapphire bra—just a snippet of lace around the lower curves of her breasts. She's brushed her long copper hair until it shines, hanging in loose waves over one shoulder. She's put on a little makeup, her lips vivid scarlet, eyes rimmed in black, making the shocking kelly green pop.
"Fuck," I growl. "Fucking gorgeous, Noelle."
She sets the long-neck lighter on the side table and glides toward me, her hips swaying in a sultry, seductive rhythm. "You haven't even seen what's under the robe, yet."
I'm speechless, tongue adhered to the roof of my mouth. My cock goes ramrod hard behind my towel, and I cling to the knot at my belly button, holding it in place, instinct making me try to hide the bulge of my arousal.
"Noelle." It's a breath, a prayer. "So perfect."
She moves closer. "I'm ready, Bear." She looks up at me from a foot away. "I need you."
My heart slams in my chest, my pulse pounds in my throat. I can't breathe. "Jesus." I reach a trembling hand toward her, and her eyes brighten as I rest my hand on her hip. "There aren't words to describe how fucking beautiful you are." I put my other hand on her hip, and her big, full, heavy round breasts swell with a deep breath at my touch. "How bad I fucking need you. How much I love you."
She trails her fingernails down my chest, making goosebumps crawl all over my body. Her fingers dance over my abdomen, playing and toying with the grooves and blocks of my abs. To the knot of my towel. "So don't tell me." She rubs her palms back up, scraping her smooth hands over my nipples, making me suck in a sharp breath. "Show me."
"Fuck." I caress her face, brush my thumb over her lips. "Don't know where to start."
She looks up at me from under her eyelids, long lashes thick and dark against her pale, freckled flesh. She rolls her thumbs over my nipples again. "Earlier, you said I’m a gift, right?"
I nod. "You are. The greatest gift I could ever get."
"So unwrap me." She rests her hands on my waist, a sly, eager, sexy smile on her lips. “Start there…my love."
My eyes burn—her endearments ravage me to the core of my soul every time. The way she says them—they're not just words, cheap and overused. They're deeply, passionately meant.
Grasping her waist, I spend a moment longer just looking at her.
"What are you waiting for?" she whispers.
"Memorizing this moment," I answer. "You, looking like that—forme. Soft and sexy and so goddamned beautiful in the candlelight." I shake my head, catch my breath in a rushed inhale. "Gonna remember this forever. You, like this. Treasure it. Cherish it."
"God, Bear," she says, in that tearful yet exasperated tone she gets when I say shit like that. "So damn sweet."
I grin, touch her lips. "Love it when my good girl curses."
"I am your good girl, aren't I?" she breathes. "All yours. All for you." She lifts on her toes, and her soft lips, tasting of bubblegum lip gloss, ghost against mine in an almost-kiss. “Unwrap me, Bear. Please.” She grips the knot of my towel and grips it with white-knuckled fingers. "Get me naked and make me yours."
I growl, so aroused it hurts, so in love I don’t know how to contain it. My hands shake as I tug the tie of her robe. The simple bow-knot comes loose and the robe drapes open.
My breath is hot as fire in my throat. "Jesus, Noelle."
She nibbles her lower lip nervously. "Bought it a long time ago. I've never worn it."
