Page 77 of Loving Josy
Noah recovered his memories, and I’m still reeling from the news. I can’t stop smiling, my heart light and full. Dinner was delicious. It was simple yet perfect, just like Noah.
After we are both done, I start to gather the plates before Noah reaches out, placing a hand gently over mine. “Don’t. I’ll take care of it. You’ve been doing everything for me these past few weeks. Tonight is about you.”
“Noah, you don’t have to?—”
“I want to,” he interrupts, standing and taking the plates from my hands and putting them back on the table. “Now, I want you to take a bath. Relax. I’ve got this.”
I hesitate for a moment, but the look in his eyes leaves no room for argument. “Okay,” I say, setting the last of the silverware on the table.
Noah extends his hand, and I take it, letting him lead me down the hallway to my bedroom. His touch is warm and grounding, and I can’t help but feel giddy at the care he’s showing me.
When we step into the bathroom, I stop in my tracks. The soft glow of candles illuminates the room, their light bouncing off the walls and casting the space in a golden hue. The tub ishalf-filled with water, the faint scent of lavender wafting through the air.
“You did all this too?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He grins, leaning down to kiss my temple. “You deserve it,” he says simply, walking over to the tub to turn on the water again. “Just a few more minutes to fill it up, and it’ll be ready.”
Noah turns to me, his gaze soft and intent.
“In the meantime,” he murmurs, his hands finding the hem of my shirt, “let me help you get comfortable.”
He lifts my shirt slowly, his fingers grazing my sides as he pulls it over my head. I shiver, not from the chill, but from the tenderness in his touch.
When the shirt is off, I look down self-consciously at the sports bra I’m wearing. “It’s not exactly sexy,” I say, half-laughing, half-apologizing.
Noah shakes his head, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. “You’re beautiful,” he says, his voice low and steady.
He kneels in front of me, sliding his hands down my sides to the waistband of my yoga pants. Tugging them down, along with my panties, he leaves me standing there as his eyes sweep over me with reverence.
When he stands, he brushes a kiss across my lips, his hands resting gently on my hips. “The tub’s ready,” he says, turning back to shut off the water.
I step into the tub, sinking into the warmth and letting out a contented sigh as the water envelops me.
“Relax.” Kneeling beside the tub, he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’ve earned this. You’ve been taking care of me for weeks.” I lean into his touch. “And now it’s my turn to take care of you,” he says, his voice filled with so much love.
He presses a kiss to my forehead before standing. “I’ll be back in a bit. You just enjoy.”
I watch him leave the bathroom, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. The flickering candlelight and the soothing heat of the water feel like the perfect metaphor for us: steady, comforting, and full of promise.
I sink deeper into the tub, letting the lavender-scented water melt away the tension in my body. Closing my eyes, I savor the moment of peace and solitude.
A few minutes later, I hear the door creak open. Opening my eyes, I find Noah leaning against the doorframe, his shoulder resting casually as he watches me.
“What?” I ask, a soft smile tugging at my lips.
“Nothing,” he says, his voice low and warm. “Just admiring how beautiful you are.”
Heat rises to my cheeks as he steps further into the bathroom, the soft glow of the candles catching the sharp lines of his face.
“Are you going to join me?” I ask, tilting my head toward the water. The tub is more than big enough for the two of us.
“Yes,” he replies without hesitation, pulling his black shirt over his head and tossing it to the side.
My eyes roam over him, taking in every detail of his toned chest and the faint bruises still fading along his ribs. His body is a masterpiece, marred only slightly by the signs of his recent injuries, and yet even those make him more endearing.
“If you keep looking at me like that,” Noah teases, his voice dropping a note lower, “I might do something else.”
He winks as he hooks his thumbs into the waistband of his joggers and slides them down in one fluid motion.
