Once we climb into the cabin of Noah’s truck, he kicks over the engine before cranking up the heat. I’m shivering so much, I’m certain my lips are an alluring shade of blue without needing to peer at my reflection in his tinted windows.
My heart beats out a funky tune when Noah pulls me over to sit straddled on his lap. I don’t know if he is hard, but try as I may, I can’t ignore his girth.
After removing the wet towel between us, Noah uses body to warm me. A blanket from behind his truck seat heats my back while his impressive pecs, stacked abs, and more than adequate crotch warm my front. Within minutes, my blood is almost boiling.
Getting caught up in the moment, I flatten my breasts against his chest before raising my needy eyes to his. With an extremely thin bra the only material between us, he would have to know how budded my nipples are. I could blame the chilly conditions for their hardened state, but that would make me a liar. It’s from having Noah’s ridiculously handsome face so close to mine, and we won’t mention the other mouthwatering parts of his body.
“I’m nice and warm now,” I murmur on a moan before I can stop myself.
I purr like a kitty when Noah runs his thick fingers through my wet hair to help it dry. When I adjust my position so he can reach the ends, a moan spills from my lips. He’s thick and hard beneath me, and the wet material of his boxer shorts is incapable of holding back the enormity of his cock.
As sparks of lust heat the air, I press my lips to his tattoo. The temperament goes from easygoing to roasting when I place a trail of kisses along his jawline, chin, and mouth as he did to me while carrying me out of the water.
As our tongues dance an intricate routine, I grind down on his thickened shaft. The friction is unbelievably teasing. It has every inch of my body tingling with excitement.
For the next several minutes, we make-out like I hope we do the night of prom. From the moans Noah is releasing, I’m confident he’s enjoying this as much as me. However, I need a little bit more.
“Please, Noah,” I murmur while stroking his rock-hard cock through his now dry boxer shorts.
Apprehension bombards me when he removes my hand from his crotch. “Not here, Em.” He runs the back of his hand down my inflamed cheek, easing the worry scorching my veins. “The first time I take you, I want it to be special.”
I’m about to say that today has gone above and beyond my greatest expectations, but before I can, Noah pulls my lips back to his by the back of my head. This time, when he ravishes my mouth, he does it in a way that shows I mean more to him than a random hook-up. He’s not rejecting me because he doesn’t want me. It’s because he wants me to see my worth.
I can’t fault him for that. . .
5
After my eyes begrudgingly open, I scan them over the strange room I'm waking up in. A blue curtain surrounds me, and a weird smell is invading the air. I'm wearing my regular clothes, but an IV line is inserted in my right wrist. Although it's obvious I'm in the hospital, I have no idea why.
My bones jump out of my skin when a familiar thick timbre booms across the room. “Does Noah know your pregnant?”
As my hand darts up to ensure my heart remains in its rightful place, I shoot my eyes to Jacob. He's sitting on a hard plastic chair on my right, his lips hard-lined. The worry etched on his face returns memories I'd give anything to find unfounded.
As images of Noah in the intensive care unit overtake the beautiful memory/dream I just had, I shake my head. “No. I never got the chance to tell him. That’s how I stumbled onto his accident. I was rushing to tell him.” I scoot up the bed as panic sets in. “Is the baby okay?” I’ll never forgive myself if I hurt him or her.
Relief engulfs me when Jacob nods. “Yes, everything is fine. You fainted because you’re dehydrated and malnourished.”
The anger in his tone is understandable, but I rather it arrive without the judgment it came with. “I haven’t eaten since last night because stumbling upon your fiancé’s accident scene does weird things to your appetite.”
Feeling hot with anger, I throw off the sheet covering my legs before slipping out of bed. My hurried movements cause my head to get a rush of dizziness, but before I hit the deck for the second time today, Jacob grabs the tops of my arms, saving me from another tumble.
“You need to slow down, Em. Noah needs you in one piece.”
“Not as much as I need him! God, Jacob… what if he doesn’t make it?” My words are choked by the sob sitting at the base of my throat, begging to be released. I’m barely holding it together. My emotions are all over the shop.
“He’ll fight, Emily. He won’t give up. I won’t fucking let him. I told him today that I won’t let him leave me like his brothers left him.”
I take a step back, stunned by the sheer fury in Jacob’s tone. This is the first time I’ve seen him so angry. The rage settled in his eyes is disturbing, but not enough to stop me from comforting him.
When I curl my arms around his broad shoulders, he stiffens for the quickest second before he pulls me in for a firmer embrace. “Why Noah, Em? Hasn’t he been through enough?”
I try to form a response, but I'm honestly at a loss on what to say. How can I explain why one person's life is riddled with so much heartache and sadness, whereas others always have it easy.
Noah doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him—especially after the years of misery he’s endured. I guess sometimes the reality of life is a little fucked up.
* * *
A short time later, the doctor who admitted me to the emergency department arrives to remove my IV. While he does that, he gives me a stern warning on ensuring I get adequate nourishment a minimum three times a day. If I fail to adhere to his demands, he said he wouldn't hesitate to admit me again.
