You're Welcome

Chapter 4

With the final pale shades of sunlight gone, dark clouds obscure any view of the stars or the moon. Street lights flicker on and cast an orange glow over the slick pavement and road. The rain is spitting in a veil, people staying in their homes leaving the street empty while their drawn curtains cast long shadows on the pavement from the warm glow of life inside. The hiss of rain and occasional swish of a car going by are the only sounds, minus Sally and Noels light footing on the pavement.

Sally looks down at their intertwined fingers, her face hidden from Noel as she pulls her hood up with her free hand, a focused look on her features as she stares. She's trying to understand the feelings reawakening inside of her, unknown and strange. She first first felt it when she had caught Noel staring at her, then when they had shook hands and again when he has wrapped his hands around hers to shield her cigarette from the wind. She counts it all off in her head, it was every time Noel touched her or looked at her in a certain way, she would get this jolt, this lightening bolt of... of... She wasn't sure. Noel's thumb skims over her skin and heat rushes to her cheeks. It's this innocent tender act of contact that she realizes whats going on and she's almost knocked off her feet. She had been numb for so long that she'd forgotten what it was like someone, to click with someone, to find someone desirable. Sally blushes brightly at her choice of words but looks him up and down again, just to make sure. Peeking at him, her stare lingers at the chest hair peeking at his neck, the strong line of his jaw, his full and inviting mouth. Discreetly with her free hand, she gently touches her fingertips to her own lips, wondering how his would feel on hers.

Noel can feel her watching him and he smiles, his hair now slick on his forehead from the rain. He rubs his thumb absentmindedly over her hand, loving how soft the skin felt against his calloused hand and he stares around them, trying to keep track of where they were going. It occurs to Noel that maybe the hotel was further than he originally thought because he was sure that they should be there by now but then again, when he left he wasn't exactly paying attention. He reluctantly leaves Sally to her thoughts as his own drift and wander. He winces inwardly as he finds himself thinking about his now ex-wife. At the time he felt like he'd been crushed and physically winded. It had brought on the first panic attack he'd had in years. It had just destroyed him. For weeks he just wondered around their empty house, her having moved out and wrack his brain as to where it had all gone wrong. He couldn't sleep at night because she never gave him a reason as to why. Why she threw away their marriage, why she was leaving, why she didn't love him anymore. With a sickly feeling, Noel remembers being served the divorce papers. All the feeling had drained away and formed a puddle at his feet, leaving him hollow and empty. His hand had shook as he signed away his love and his life. He packed up and left immediately after that, moving from place to place, doing coke, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, fucking girls. They didn't make him feel better, they just quickened the rotting inside him. Noel squeezes shut his eyes, the dread wrapping around his heart like a serpent when a squeeze to his hand slams him back into reality. He opens his eyes and looks at Sally who's looking at him with a soft understanding concern. Her lips are slightly parted and he swallows hard as he looks between them and her eyes. Her breath comes out in short white puffs of condensation as her breathing quickens. Without noticing, they stop, tension crackling in the air between them. Biting her lip, Sally pushes back her hood and Noel's blood thuds as she looks up at him with a pleading look in her jade eyes.

Noel pushes Sally against the wall, gripping her waist as he ducks his head down, crashing his lips against hers. Sally's chest swells in a breath as her blood catches fire, wrapping her arms firmly around Noel neck. He kisses her greedily, his body pressing her into the wall, his arms gentle yet firm around her body under her coat. His tongue explores her mouth, claiming her as his and she tugs at his hair at the nape of his neck, her breath quickening with every beat of her thundering heart. Noel relishes the feel of his body on hers, the curve of her breast against his chest, the dip in the small of her back under his hands, tasting her soft skin as he kisses along her jaw, the heat of her breath on his face as he kisses down her neck, the small moan in his ear as he nips the hollow at the corner of her jaw. Her perfume is airy and sweet, like spring flowers and lemon tart only further fueling Noel's need for more. He presses his lips back to hers as he claims her once more, his tongue slipping into her mouth, his breath catching in his throat as she drags her leg up his thigh, Noel catching it and running his hand along her thigh and under her dress, squeezing her firm rump. She hisses against his lips in pleasure, biting his bottom lip and sucking it softly, still tugging his hair as he strokes up and down her thigh, breathless against her mouth. Noel pulls away as a little voice in his mind reminds him of the hotel room, still holding her tightly as he stares at her breathless. Sally makes a small laugh, smiling at him and Noel grins back at her, letting go of her leg as she plants her foot back on the ground. He smiles softly at her smiling widely at him, a beautiful smile that makes him melt and Sally closes her eyes as he presses a soft tender lingering kiss on her lips. She sighs against his mouth, feeling lightheaded and euphoric as she grips his jacket, glad of the walls support.