The One He's Not

First Steps & Hesitant Courage

First Steps & Hesitant Courage

KAT

 “Come on, Gingy. You can do it.”

“But Noel, it hurts! Can’t you just carry me around? I won’t complain!”

“You complain when I carry you, but when I let you walk yourself, you whine about that too. Come on Gingy, man up.”

I huffed and stared at the distance between Noel and I. We were in the open field and my crutches were at my feet beside me. All morning, Noel had been trying to get me to walk on my own and even though it was my suggestion at first, I was now against it. Having Noel carry me around wasn’t half bad anyway…

I shook my head and pretended to roll up my nonexistent sleeves. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

One foot at a time, I absorbed the grass beneath my soles and tried my best to shuffle my way towards Noel. Surprisingly, my sore ankle only tingled and the unbearable throbbing was now distant and I could barely feel a thing.

It took me a good amount of time, but I finally made it to Noel. My foot was starting to pulse more intensely, but at least I was able walk on it by myself.

Noel smiled and pulled me into his arms. Taking me by surprise, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground to swing me in a circle.

“Way to man up,” he whispered teasingly and then kissed me on the temple. I shivered because of his rough stubble and shimmied out of his grip so he could put me down. Once my feet were firmly on the ground, I let out a breath as the slight throbbing in my ankle started to return.

“That’s probably not the best thing to say to me,” I purred as I tugged lightly on Noel’s hair.

When he got my eager message, Noel bent down and kissed my lips eagerly. I trailed sweet kisses from his lips to his jaw and then found my way down his neck where I continued to tease him. I could feel his skin getting warm underneath my touch, which meant that my plan was working.

With one last playful bite to his soft spot, I swiftly stepped out of Noel’s arms and shuffled an arm’s length away from him. His dark, messy hair was standing on end and the colour to his cheeks told me that I had made him a little frazzled.

“You’re the one who said karma existed,” I giggled as I observed his stunned expression.

Noel ran a hand through his hair and smiled devilishly at me. I could feel my face drain colour when I saw him take a strong step towards me. Oh shit…

“Alright, you asked for it,” He mumbled. I had already turned to run, but my busted ankle didn’t get me very far. I was already being carried on Noel’s shoulder and I was getting a perfect view of his bare back. His shirt had ridded up by accident, but I wasn’t complaining. His skin had obvious signs of sun and as he flexed his muscles while holding me, I found my mouth watering at the sight.

“Earth to Kat, you alive back there?”

I shook my head, still dazed. “Uh, yeah. Why do you keep doing this? It isn’t very comfortable being held upside down.”

In one quick motion, Noel swung me back over his shoulder and placed me back on my feet. He wore his classic amused smirk and I found myself staring blankly into his eyes. How someone could have such deep and clear blue eyes, I will never know.

“It’s because it gets you all fired up,” Noel answered as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “And I like it when you’re all fired up.”

I blushed at his statement and hid into his chest. When he talked in a low deep voice like that, I always got bashful around him and it was embarrassing. It showed weakness, which was something I never liked to show people, especially Noel.