Same Time Next Year

Chapter 3

Now that we were sitting so close, with our hands intertwined, Noah's hand still resting on my cheek, my mind is going back through the past few minutes, trying to figure out how we got here so quickly.  Noah and I are closer than we've been in a year, yet I'm trying to pretend he isn't only inches away.  When I do finally make myself face reality and steal a glance at him, I see his eyes have turned dark and he is looking at me like he wants to devour me. That was the look Noah always gave me the moment we were alone after he had been away at school. I obviously always knew what he wanted when we had been away from each other for so long, I always felt the same, but that look always told me exactly what he was thinking. I'm not sure how I felt about seeing it right now, though. As much as I've imagined this moment since we've been apart, I can't help but feel like I should be putting on the breaks before we do something we'll regret.

I was so much in my head that I almost jumped when Noah finally broke the silence, his voice rough, "I know this is probably stupid, but I can't help myself. Please stop me now if this isn't what you want too." I knew what was coming next and that he was waiting for me to stop it, but I only stared at him, unable to respond one way or another. Noah licked his lips a second before leaning closer and kissing me gently. Our kiss mirrored the night of the Kissing Booth, when I kissed Noah in the gazebo only to have him pull away before kissing me seconds later. This time, it was me who broke our kiss and backed away, taking a second to think of how much of a bad idea this was, much as I imagine Noah was thinking those years ago, before deciding I didn't care how stupid this is, this is what I wanted. I wanted Noah and I didn't just want to be friends. I wanted all of him. Apparently, Noah wanted all of me also because as soon as our lips touch again, he pulls me into his arms, deepening the kiss.

My mind is on overdrive, even as Noah and I continue to kiss. I know this is not the way for the two of us to get in a better place. I realize this has disaster written all over it but I can't seem to help myself. There are a hundred things we should be saying to each other before we do what we're doing, questions we should be asking. But, this feeling of being in Noah's arms is exactly how I remember. I feel like things are finally right after a year of everything being wrong. When Noah stood up from the couch, reaching for my hand to pull me up, I willingly place my hand in his. When he picks me up, my legs automatically wrap around his waist as if we had just done this yesterday, before he carries me upstairs.

Once we made it into his bedroom, Noah set me down, so I was standing in front of him. He was staring intently at me. I know he was again giving me a chance to stop him or waiting to see some hesitation from me. Neither happened. I sucked in a breath as Noah's hands started on either side of my face before trailing slowly down my arms until they reached the hem of my t-shirt. It wasn't long before his hands made their way under my shirt, his knuckles making contact with my bare stomach, before his hands reach behind my back to pull me close again. I followed Noah's lead, my hands immediately moving underneath his shirt to his muscled back.

This skin to skin contact finally made our initial shyness go away and suddenly things were moving at a more frenzied speed. I grabbed Noah's shirt, pulling it over his head seconds before he did the same with mine. I was braless under my shirt so I'm exposed as soon as it is gone. He bit his lip and stared as if he lost track of what he was doing. His hands moved to my breasts followed quickly by his lips before he seemed to remember what he had started and went back to removing all of my remaining clothing before backing me towards the bed. I had also become sidetracked by Noah's hands and lips on my body and didn't realize until I watched Noah gazing at my naked body that he was still half dressed and I had some work to do to get caught up. Neither one of us had said a word since we came upstairs, instead communicating only through looks and touch.

Once my clothes had disappeared, Noah laid me down on the bed. He stood there above me for some time, his eyes slowly making their way up and down my body as if he was trying to memorize it. Noah standing in front of me in all his naked glory gave me my own chance to drink in the sight of Noah Flynn. Never one to disappoint, Noah looked like he had spent the last year in the gym, rather than spending most of his time in the classroom. I shivered in anticipation at the thought of being with him again. Finally, Noah seemed to realize how much space was between us as he laid down next to me on the bed, pulling me on my side to face him. He locked eyes with me once again before his mouth moved back to my lips, then quickly to my neck. My hands moved through his hair while I felt the the heat of his lips on my skin. Any hesitancy between us had completely disappeared by now.