Page 92 of The Way Back Home
“I did, but only long enough to talk to Mona and pack my stuff.”
She was aware of him moving behind her, hanging up her jacket and tossing his keys onto the small table just inside the door.
“How’d she take your resignation?”
Noah laughed. “Pretty well actually. Her regular doc was ready to come back.” Noah paused. “She asked about you.”
“Oh?”
“She told me not to worry. That you’d come back when you were ready.”
Teagan felt him move closer, his warmth surrounding her, cedar and pine and soap filling her senses.
“You didn’t believe her,” Teagan said, remembering what he’d said earlier.
“Oh, I did. According to my mother, Mona is never wrong.”
“But you said you were planning to go to Ireland.”
“Mona said you’d come back.” His hands strokedher arms. His lips brushed her temple. “She never said it wouldn’t take some convincing.”
He turned her gently, and the look on his face stole her breath—want, need, hope … and uncertainty.
“If you don’t want me to kiss you,” he whispered, eyes locked on hers, “tell me now.”
“I want you to kiss me,” she whispered back.
He cupped her face, his rough palms welcome against her skin. Lowering his head, he paused a hairbreadth from her lips. “Last chance to say no.”
“I’m not saying no, Noah. I’m saying yes.”
“Yes to what?”
“Yes to all of it.”
His soft groan vibrated through her, and then his mouth was on hers.
Teagan had imagined kissing Noah more times than she could count, but the real thing surpassed her expectations. His lips were soft but firm. His breath, scented with peppermint. His tongue, gentle and insistent as he licked along the seam, asking for permission.
She granted it. Bringing her arms up, she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer. The rest of the world faded away until they were the only two people who existed.
Then the very floor vanished beneath her feet as Noah lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
Laying her down, he broke the kiss only long enough to ask, “Still yes?”
Her body was burning in a way it never had before. She wanted Noah. Wanted to feel him everywhere. Tohave him erase every ugly thing that had been done to her and replace them with his loving touch.
“Absolutely,” she said breathlessly, “but …”
She didn’t have to say it. He knew.
“We’ll take it slow,” he said, smoothing her hair back away from her face, placing kisses on her forehead, her temples. Then he looked deeply into her eyes. “If anything makes you uncomfortable, say the word, and we stop. You are in control, Teagan. You have me, no matter what. In fact …”
He flipped them over so Teagan was on top. “I’m all yours.”
Something deep inside her unclenched. He meant it. That safety, that trust, was everything.
“I love you, Noah.”
