by Anne, Melody
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, his voice scratchy and warm, making her insides stir.
“Good morning,” she replied. “How are you feeling?”
He chuckled. “I should be the one asking you that.”
“I’m feeling pretty amazing,” she admitted. “A bit sore.”
Her last words sent a surge of heat shooting into his eyes that made her insides heat up quick and hot. It was insane how much she wanted him all the time.
“I can make you more sore,” he said. It was a promise she knew he could keep.
“Anytime,” she told him with a wink.
“Maybe I should let you have your coffee first,” he said as he poured her a cup and brought it over.
“Mmm, I like breakfast in bed,” she said with a smile after sitting up and accepting the cup from him. “I like lots of things in bed,” she added after her first sip. Coffee was fuel for the soul.
He chuckled again as he sat on the edge of the bed. He leaned down and kissed her while resting his hand on her thigh. She was melting all over again, ready to jump the man. She lifted her cup and took another sip before she caved and did just that.
“I’ll bring you anything you want to bed,” he told her as he sipped on his own cup of coffee with one hand while rubbing her thigh with the other.
She had to change the subject from sex talk. She should really shower first before they went another round. Of course maybe the two of them could just shower together. She wouldn’t mind that at all.
“How did you sleep?” she asked, deciding to change the subject.
“Well, what little sleep I got was great,” he told her. “Someone did a really good job of wearing me out.”
For some reason his words made her blush. He chuckled again as he squeezed her thigh. The one thing she’d learned about Noah in the time she’d known him was he did nothing at half measure. He moved quickly in life, but she appreciated that. Right now he seemed to be slowing down a bit for her. She appreciated that as well.
This moment right here and now was what she’d describe as perfect. If she could, she’d make the rest of the world go away so she could just be there with him. Eventually she’d miss the people she loved, but in her perfect moment, it was a bubble, and that bubble wasn’t allowed to be popped. So she decided to not have any negative thoughts.
But even though this moment was utter perfection, she knew the world had a habit of getting in the way of these sorts of moments. Humans were tricky beings. They’d hold on to grudges, fight when there was no need, and let pride stop them from being happy. She wasn’t all that sure she’d be strong enough to rise above in the end. She sure hoped so.
Yes, it was true that she couldn’t control everything. But she was in charge of her own destiny. She could decide to be happy, or she could wallow in fear. At this moment she chose happiness.
“I slept well when we actually slept, too,” she told him.
“I want you again,” he said as his fingers climbed up her thigh. That heat she’d been feeling turned immediately into an ache that needed to be sated. The shower could definitely wait.
“I’m right here,” she said as she set her coffee cup on the nightstand.
He leaned down and kissed her hard as he set his own cup aside and lay down next to her. His hand slipped up and over her stomach, and he cupped her breast in his hand and pinched her nipple. She arched against him, instantly wanting more.
He leaned into her and ran his tongue over her lips as he continued kneading her breast. She wrapped a leg around him. She was ready just that quickly for him to be back inside her.
He gave her a scorching kiss that took her breath away before pulling back and looking at her. He looked hungry and confused at the same time. She could fully understand the feeling.
“I don’t know how you do this to me, but I can’t seem to get enough of you,” he told her.
“I feel the same,” she admitted.
He’d begun to lean into her again . . . when there was a knock on the door. Noah instantly looked irritated, which made her smile. She wasn’t exactly happy about the interruption, but he looked ready to kill whoever had dared to come to their door.
“Just don’t answer, and they’ll leave,” Noah said.
Another knock sounded. She chuckled quietly. “I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she assured him.
“Shh,” he said as he placed a finger over her lips.
She couldn’t help but chuckle again, and it wasn’t quiet. Noah glared at her as if it was her fault they were being interrupted.
“Come on, Noah. I’m not afraid to stand out here all day,” Hudson called through the door. “I’ll go and find a key.”
“I don’t think he’s bluffing,” Sarah warned.
“If you’d have been quiet, he’d have gone away,” Noah told her.
She laughed again, not even trying to hide the sound this time. They’d been busted. And from what Sarah had learned so far about the Andersons, they didn’t give up when they put their minds to something.
“Noah, I’m growing impatient,” Hudson called again.
“Fine!” Noah snapped. He got up, moved to the door, and cracked it open. “Give me five minutes.” Then he slammed the door in his brother’s face. They both heard Hudson laughing on the other side of the wood.
He turned back and looked at Sarah, who was enjoying the show. She was being left needy and wanting, but the frustrated look on Noah’s face made that well worth it. She might have a bit of an evil streak.
“Don’t look so smug. I could nail a board across the door, and he’d never get in,” Noah said.
She laughed again. She didn’t normally laugh so much in the morning. She was enjoying it. “I wouldn’t push him. He might come in through the ceiling.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “I know. I’d better get out there. I can’t believe we slept in until almost eleven.”
“Considering we didn’t sleep much more than a couple hours, you can’t exactly call that sleeping in.”
Noah quickly got dressed, gave her one more scorching look, then went to the cabin door and disappeared. Sarah was sad to see him go. She lay there for a few more minutes before climbing from bed.
She took her time taking a much-needed long hot shower, then finally was able to get dressed so she could get on with her day. There was a lot to explore in this wonderful place, and she wasn’t sure how long they were going to stay, so she wanted to see as much as possible.
The first step outside the cabin was perfect. It was a warm day with a nice breeze blowing in from the mountains. No one was around, so she made her way up to the main lodge. She was ravenously hungry.
There were a few people milling around as Sarah made her way through the giant great room and headed toward the kitchen. Everyone knew that all the good stuff always happened in the dining area. Deals were made, people fell in love, and children were fed, all in the kitchen.
She was only a guest at this place, so she didn’t want to step through the actual kitchen doors, but she was happy when she found Alice in the dining hall, speaking to an older couple. She approached and found a baby pug sitting on a woman’s lap. The puppy looked at her suspiciously as she approached. She smiled. She’d always had a thing for pugs.
“We have brunch all ready to go,” Alice told her as she moved closer.
“I don’t want to interrupt. I was just going to say hi,” Sarah said.
“Oh, please join us. We love coming to this lodge because we always meet such amazing people,” the woman said. “My name is Eileen, and this is my husband, Ray.”
“Thank you so much for the invitation. I’d love to join you,” Sarah told them. She’d always enjoyed sitting with older couples, as they had the best stories to share. And she really wanted to get her hands on that puppy.
“This is Scooter,” Eileen said. “I swore I’d never get a puppy again after we lost our Bella, but a friend of ours had puppies, and he was the runt of the
litter, and when I visited, and he looked at me, I knew it was meant to be,” she said with a chuckle.
“I knew her ban on dogs wouldn’t last,” Ray said as he reached over and squeezed his wife’s thigh. She giggled like a teenager as she looked at her husband with adoring eyes. Sarah found her cheeks blushing a bit at feeling like an intruder in the intimate moment.
“He’s a beautiful puppy, and he seems pretty protective of you already,” Sarah said with a chuckle as she reached slowly toward the dog. His ears went back a bit, but he slowly leaned forward and sniffed her hand. After a moment he decided she wasn’t an enemy and gave her a soft kiss that made her smile.
After a moment the dog was scooting toward her, and Sarah looked at Eileen with hopeful eyes. The woman laughed.
“Would you like to hold him?” she asked.
“Very much,” Sarah said. “I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, but I live in an apartment and can’t have any.”
“Oh, that’s just tragic,” Eileen said as she handed over the pug, who stretched up on his small legs and sniffed Sarah’s chin. She was grinning from ear to ear.
“Eileen and Ray spend about a month a year with us, and I’m sure the guests are going to love little Scooter,” Alice said. “They sure adored Bella. We all miss her.”
Eileen’s smile fell away as her eyes teared up. “It’s just tragic to me that our dogs only live for ten to fifteen years. I think they should grow old with us. But I wouldn’t trade a single moment I’ve had with any of my beloved pets.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Alice said.
Right then Scooter jumped up and licked Sarah on the chin, which made her giggle. She was instantly in love with the animal.
“Thank you for sharing your puppy with me. I needed a fix,” she said as she scratched Scooter behind the ears.
“Of course, my dear,” Eileen said. “Anyone who loves one of our animals is instantly okay in our books.”
“Yes, most of the time we like our pets more than our children,” Ray said with a chuckle.
“Animals are loyal, that’s for sure. They love us no matter what we do or say,” Sarah said. She wished the same could be said about humans. But kids got mad at you, and people tended to go away. An animal never would.
“Maybe you should get a puppy of your own. I know some apartments allow them,” Alice said.
“Is it that obvious how much I need a dog?” Sarah said with a sad laugh.
“Yeah, it’s pretty apparent,” Alice told her.
Sarah’s heart clenched. She was so confused about where her life was heading. But sitting there holding the puppy was calming her. She’d woken up in such a good mood, but no matter how much she wanted to hold on to that, she was very much aware that her future was completely undecided.
“Maybe I’ll take your advice to heart,” Sarah told her.
Before Alice could say anything more, they looked up to find Noah and Hudson coming toward them. Noah looked at the puppy on her lap and smiled. He easily moved toward her and knelt down.
“Did you find a new friend?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m thinking I need one of my own,” she said. She only looked at him for a moment before her attention went right back to the dog, who was now snuggled in her lap, looking perfectly at ease.
“We had dogs growing up, but I haven’t had one since I lived at home,” he said as he reached out and petted the pup, who reveled in the attention.
“I’ve never owned one of my own. I’ve always just enjoyed my friends’ pets. I have spent some time at the Humane Society, though. When I need a fix, I do some volunteer work.”
He looked at her as if he was thinking about something, then shook his head and focused on the dog again.
“I hate to take him away, but we’re going to go on a walk now,” Eileen said. Sarah reluctantly handed over the pup, and Eileen and Ray slowly walked off.
Alice went in the back and got food for everyone, and they all had a quiet brunch together. Sarah wasn’t sure what tomorrow was going to bring, but for some reason she was feeling sad all of a sudden. After her amazing morning she didn’t like it at all.
They finished up, and Noah reached over and squeezed Sarah’s hand. “Are you ready to stimulate your brain?”
“Of course,” she told him with a forced smile. “What’s on the agenda for the day?”
“We’re going to walk the grounds and jot down notes. Whatever inspires us we’ll take back to the drawing board,” he told her as he stood.
She joined him, then turned to Alice. “Thank you so much for a wonderful meal. I’m really enjoying this place,” she told her.
“I truly hope you’ll come back over and over again. Our best customers have been coming for years. Your next time here is on the house.”
“I will definitely take you up on that,” Sarah told the kind woman.
She and Noah walked outside, where their golf cart was waiting. “Wouldn’t it be better to walk and take notes?” she asked as he led her to it.
“This property is too extensive. This will be better,” he said as he helped her inside, though there weren’t any doors. She still liked the gesture.
A notepad and pen were already waiting for her, which she was glad for, since she hadn’t thought about bringing them. The two of them began driving, and after a bit she was glad for the wheels. As much as she needed exercise, this property was really large, and she didn’t think she had the energy yet to walk that far.
For some reason Noah was really quiet all of a sudden, and it was making her uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure what was going on. They’d made love all night and then had been so happy just a couple of hours before. She was trying to get herself to ask him what was going on, but she couldn’t seem to get the words past the lump in her throat. What had happened in the hour they’d been apart?
He drove the two of them up a steep path and then stopped. “I like the view from here. Let’s get out for a minute and stretch our legs,” he said. His voice was so cold. She wasn’t liking it.
“Sure,” she said. He didn’t come around and help her, and she didn’t want to tell him it bothered her.
They stood side by side, overlooking a cliff, and finally she couldn’t take the silence any longer. This moment right now was why she’d so wanted to freeze other moments. How could two people go from utter happiness to total awkwardness in such a short amount of time?
“Is everything okay, Noah?” she finally asked. She couldn’t stand it any longer.
He didn’t answer her question, but as he looked over the cliff, he did speak.
“Hudson said Joseph fell down this trail over here. He was knocked out for a little while, and when he came to, he found Katherine kneeling over him with panic in her eyes. He told her she was his everything, and he’d never depart this world knowing he was leaving her behind.”
He seemed perplexed by this story. She was even more confused.
“The way they feel about each other is unusual in my experience. It’s special. I think everyone hopes for a love that strong,” she told him.
“Yeah, I never believed a love like theirs was possible,” Noah said. “But I see it every time they’re together. I almost feel like an intruder when the two of them look into each other’s eyes.”
“I’ve seen that myself. It’s so beautiful,” Sarah said. Then she took a deep breath. “What has you so pensive?”
He was quiet for several moments. “I don’t know,” he finally answered. She was afraid he did know. She was afraid he’d gotten freaked out by their own intimacy. That was why she’d been afraid to let her guard down. She had a feeling it wasn’t going to end well for her.
“This is moving a bit too fast for you, isn’t it?” she finally pushed.
He looked at her as if he had a lot to say, but no words came from his mouth. He looked away and gazed back out at the beautiful view before them, but he was still silent. Sarah decided not to push any further.
“W
e have more to see,” he finally said.
She felt heartbroken, but she didn’t push him anymore. She’d asked, and he’d given her an answer by not answering. It seemed that maybe her bubble had been popped—long before she was ready for it to be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The rest of her day with Noah was quiet as they looked over the grounds and took notes. Nothing else personal was said, and without Noah having to tell her, she knew they wouldn’t be staying another night. Something had happened in the hour after he’d left the cabin that had changed their circumstances.
She really wanted to know what that was, but she wasn’t going to push. She’d begun to hope the two of them would have a future together, but somewhere deep inside she’d known it was too good to be true.
But even knowing that, she’d learned something invaluable in her time with Noah; she’d never settle again. She wouldn’t stay with someone because it was comfortable or easy or because of a fear of being alone. She wanted extraordinary for the rest of her life, or she wanted nothing at all. Noah had given her a gift. And even though her heart was shattering into a million pieces right now, she was also thankful, because he’d made her see there was so much more to life than simply existing. She wanted to soar from this day forward.
She hated saying goodbye to Hudson and Alice, who seemed confused by their early departure. They’d both assumed the two of them would stay for at least one more day. She’d pasted on a smile and hugged them both before Noah drove them away, back to the private runway.
They didn’t talk, just as they hadn’t most of that day. She was more exhausted than she was willing to admit, but she was so sad it would be impossible for her to sleep. What she truly wanted was to lie down alone in the dark and cry for an hour or two. She didn’t even know why she needed to cry; she just knew she needed the release.
She didn’t mind having bad moments in life. Without the bad a person truly couldn’t appreciate the good. And though she and Noah had shared both good and bad moments, she wouldn’t give any of it up, because she’d grown so much as a person in her time with him. She was just wondering how he was planning on ending their time together. Was he going to tell her goodbye, or was he going to disappear? She guessed she’d soon find out. A person should always listen to their gut, and everything in her told her he was pulling away from her.