by Sidney Wood
Noah.
Her reason for going home, and the reason she no longer felt like a loser at life, waited for her. She was so elated over the idea that she wanted to drop everything and board a plane home that instant, but there were still too many things to do. She had Miranda to consider; her schooling and the shared custody agreement with Chuck. Ulie also wanted to finish her graduate degree. She only had a few more classes before she reached that all-important milestone.
As silly as it sounded, Ulie worried she’d be an old lady before she and Noah could truly be together. After much debate and agonizing, Ulie decided she’d finish her degree before moving to Alaska. A few more months apart wouldn’t change anything between them, and Noah agreed the wait would be worth the reward.
His words made Ulie believe she could do it. He had texted, “Baby, the last thing I want to do is get in the way of your dreams. I’ll wait. Besides, nothing says we can’t visit each other in the meantime.”
Miranda returned to her dad’s house in less than a month, and Ulie already had a trip to Alaska planned for the two of them, just before the switch. They would arrive in Alaska in three short weeks. Ulie would spend the last weekend alone with Noah before heading back to Washington for work and school.
As she imagined a weekend getaway to her lover’s bedroom, she had an idea, and it called for wine.
Ulie poured herself a glass of red wine and reclined against the pillowed arm of the couch. She dialed Noah and smiled in anticipation as it rang.
“Hey good lookin’,” he said, his voice, smooth and strong.
“Hey.” Ulie bit her lip, happy to hear his voice, yet unsure what to say next. “I don’t really have a reason for calling. I just wanted to feel close to you. Our trip home is so far away.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
“You have?” Ulie sat up, eager to hear more. “Any ideas?”
Noah chuckled. “I always have ideas. They are just terrible most of the time.”
Ulie laughed. Talking to Noah always brought her comfort. She hugged her knees and sipped wine.
“I learned a long time ago, that to make love to a woman, there has to be a connection. Before a man touches her body, he must touch her mind. I think that’s one of the things that make us so great together. We have great chemistry, and that got me thinking. I want to do something for you. If I do it right, it’ll move this long-distance relationship of ours a little further than other people go.”
He stopped talking and Ulie’s heat beat faster. What did he mean by taking it further? She replied nervously. “Um… I’m listening.”
“It’s a surprise. I’ve already started working on it, and unless I’ve really misjudged our connection, I think you’re going to love it.” He chuckled again. “You’re going to have to trust me.”
Ulie exhaled, deflating. “You can’t give me a little hint?” she said.
She imagined him rubbing his head as he pondered a response.
After a moment he said, “You know how we share stories and send pictures? Well, that’s what gave me this new idea. I’ve never met anyone I can be so open with, and I love that about you.” He cleared his throat.
“Is he nervous?” she wondered.
“I thought, maybe I can improve the experience by making a voice recording,” Noah said. “But now that I say it out loud, it sounds kind of cheesy.”
Ulie blushed. Hearing his voice as he described his desire for her would be heaven! “No! It’s not cheesy at all. I love that!” She leaned into the phone, heat suddenly warming her core.
“That’s good to hear. I’m going to write it out and, I don’t know…perform it for you so you hear my voice instead of just reading my words. I’ll be describing exactly what I’m doing to you and how makes me feel. As you listen, I’ll tell you what to do. You’ll be right there, in the moment with me. In my head, it’s a personally guided lovemaking session. I guess it’s like phone sex, but you can listen to it as often as you like, and I won’t be nervous because I can edit any awkward parts out. What do you think?”
“I think I want you to hurry up!” She laughed and hugged her knees tighter. The warmth between her legs grew more intense.
“Do you want to hear the first part?”
Ulie heard a hint of playfulness in his voice and her smile spread wider. “Oh yes, please!” she said.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes. Are you?”
“Yes, I am. Before I start, you need to get comfortable, and I mean naked.” They both laughed, and Ulie agreed.
“Give me a sec,” she said. “I’m not gonna miss an opportunity to enjoy you, even if it’s over the phone.” On her tiptoes, Ulie ran for the bedroom, careful not to spill any wine. She set the glass on the nightstand and shoved her pants down to her ankles, quickly stepping out of her jeans and socks. In one swift movement, she pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. “I’m in my bra and panties. Is that far enough, or were you serious?”
“That’s fine… for now.” His voice grew deeper, with a smoky edge missing a moment before.
Titillated, Ulie shivered.
“Now lie down on the bed and get comfortable. Your phone should be on speaker, because I need your hands completely free. You can turn the lights off or leave them on. That’s up to you. What matters is that you’re relaxed, and you can hear my voice. I want you all to myself.”
“I’m lying on the bed.” Ulie closed her eyes and rested her hands at her sides. The phone lay on the pillow next to her head so she could hear every word and every breath as he spoke to her.
“Here are the rules,” he said.
“Rules?” thought Ulie, biting her lip. “This is going to be fun.”
“Your hands are my hands. Your fingertips are my lips and my tongue. They are any part of me that touches you. Your hands and fingers are my body as I caress you and make love to you.”
Ulie squirmed, relishing the heat his words brought.
“If I tell you that I’m kissing your brow, your temple, the lobe of your ear, and your neck; you’ll touch those places with your fingertip as I move from one spot to the next. If I say my tongue is circling your nipple, flicking it gently; you’ll do the same with your fingertip. When I nip gently with my teeth, sucking and licking it with my tongue; you’ll pinch your nipple and tease it the way I describe. Will you do that for me?”
“Yes,” Ulie answered, soft and breathy. Her body hummed with energy as she imagined Noah’s mouth teasing her erect nipple. One hand massaged her breast from underneath as the other pinched and rolled her nipple in the gentle manner he described.
“That, my beautiful secret, is how I’ll make love to you from a thousand miles away.”
Ulie moaned. “I want that.” She exhaled heavily as her body writhed on top of the bed. “I want you now.”
“That’s all I have so far, but I’m glad you liked it.” Noah’s tone lightened, and he chuckled. “There’s a lot more to come, I promise.”
Ulie groaned. “Seriously?” Covering her face, she laughed. “That was so good!”
“Great! This is going to work better than I thought.” Noah laughed.
Ulie rolled on her stomach, placing her mouth near the phone. She breathed on the speaker as one hand slid between her thighs and touched her sweet spot. She moaned. “If you’re out of ideas, why don’t I tell you what I want to do to you right now,” Ulie said.
“I like the sound of that.” Noah’s voice regained its smoky tone.
“Good. Get comfortable, cowboy.” Ulie rolled to her back. “And by comfortable, I mean naked.” They both laughed.
****
There were still two weeks before their trip and Ulie had already started packing. “Do you think these shoes are too dressy?” She dangled a pair of open toed heels by the straps.
Miranda squinted and twisted her lips to the side. “Nah. You may want them if you guys go on a date.”
“You’re wise,” Ulie said.
>
Miranda nodded matter-of-factly. “I know. Are you almost ready? I’m supposed to be there at seven.”
Ulie threw her hands in the air and ballooned out her cheeks. “No, but let’s go anyway. I have plenty of time to figure this out.”
“Great! I’m heading to the car.” Miranda scooped up her jacket and backpack, darting toward the door.
“Go ahead and start it!” Ulie shouted before her daughter could get away. “Keys are on the counter.”
Starting the car was a big deal. Still a long way from driving, she was all-smiles each time her mom trusted her to turn the ignition. Miranda took the keys and skipped toward the driveway.
Ulie dropped Miranda off at the trampoline park to meet her friends. One of them had invited Miranda to a sleepover birthday party, and they were all meeting at the park.
“Call me before bed,” Ulie said.
“I will. Love you, Mom!” Miranda gave her a quick hug and raced toward the building. Her friends were bouncing in excitement and waving at her from inside.
Ulie looked forward to a quiet night alone. When she pulled into the drive, her phone buzzed. She shut off the engine and swiped the screen. Her heart skipped and she felt tingly; her cheeks flushed pink.
She needed to get inside and turn down the lights, maybe pour a glass of wine. She sure as hell wasn’t going to listen to Noah’s voice message in the car. Her hands trembled as she unlocked the front door. Ulie couldn’t wait, beside herself with happiness and anticipation of the gift he had prepared.
Ulie dropped her purse and jacket on the couch on her way to the kitchen and charged her favorite glass with red wine. She presented it to her lips with a tip of her wrist. “Mmmm.” She licked her lips. It was time.
She didn’t need to wind down or get in the mood. She was already there. Ulie wanted to listen to Noah’s smooth voice, to hear the way he planned to make love to her. On her tiptoes, Ulie quietly walked to the bedroom.
Setting her phone on the nightstand, Ulie undressed slowly, imagining Noah stood behind her, watching as each piece of clothing slid off her body to land on the floor. She recalled his warm hands and strong arms, the way his body felt pressed against her. It took her breath away.
Ulie stripped everything off, even her bra and panties, and crawled onto the bed completely naked. She ran her hands over her smooth skin, priming her body for Noah’s game. “I hope this is as good as the teaser he gave me,” she said.
Ulie pressed play.
“Hello lover,” he said. “This is my gift to you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.” He spoke low, with that smoky tone she loved. His words were paced and annunciated to emphasize the importance of each phrase. Ulie’s hands were already exploring her body. She thrived on the sound of his voice.
“Before we begin, I need you to get comfortable. Take off your clothes and lie on the bed, or draw a bath and settle in. We’re going to take our time, and I want your undivided attention. Press pause if you need to. I will wait.”
She pressed pause and caught her breath, already flushed. “A bath; that’s what I want.” She laughed at herself. The real fun hadn’t even started.
Vaulting from the bed, Ulie tiptoed through the doorway and ran water in the tub.
“My lover’s voice and the gentle caress of warm water…how could this night get any better?” she thought. Ulie returned to the bedside for her phone and wine. As the tub filled, she selected a photo Noah sent after she admitted deleting the others. It showed Noah, bare-chested with unzipped jeans pushed down slightly by his thumb. Ulie noticed more definition in his muscles and a sexy layer of scruff, but the biggest difference was an old ball cap. “Did he wear it because I called him Cowboy?” Whatever the reason, it worked. He was too hot for words, and Ulie bit her lip. She couldn’t help it. Her poor abused her lip took a beating every time she thought of him.
Ulie turned off the lights, letting the soft glow of a lamp from the other room provide minimal light in the bathroom.
Slipping into the steamy tub, Ulie lay back and exhaled. Hot water lapped at her body, welcoming her into its warm embrace. She pressed play.
“Now that you’re comfortable, let me explain the rules.” Noah walked her through the same instructions he had provided before, yet slower and more deliberately. His voice coaxed her into his world, until Ulie felt his hands touching her and his lips kissing her.
A sexual firestorm consumed Ulie. His voice, sultry and mature, moved her unlike anything she had ever experienced, and she needed more. Each word reverberated deep within her body, sending vibrations to her most sensitive place.
For nearly thirty minutes, he made love to her with his voice and with her hands. He described in vivid detail how he touched her and guided her to create the same sensation. Overwhelmed and enthralled, Ulie had never felt so connected to someone not physically present with her.
When the recording finally came to an end, Ulie sunk down in the water and floated.
It was magical.
Chapter Thirty-Three (October)
Noah leaned against one of two gargantuan pillars on either side of the escalator leading down to the baggage claim. Straight ahead of him, a corridor divided the secure portion of the terminal from the freely accessible areas of the airport. All passengers had to exit through the hallway when they arrived in Anchorage. He scanned faces as crowds of passengers walked through, searching for a particularly gorgeous set of brown eyes.
As time passed and the groups of individuals passing through thinned, Noah worried that something had gone wrong or that the plans had changed. He checked his phone, finding no notifications. According to a wall mounted display the aircraft landed half an hour ago.
Noah swallowed, hoping he was overreacting.
Rounding the corner, a large pair of brown eyes searched the stationary crowd of relatives and friends awaiting the arrival of their travelers. A wide smile beamed from her face as she recognized someone.
Noah looked down, observing a matching smile on Luke’s face as he ran forward to greet Miranda. Noah’s own matching smile rounded the corner a moment later. “There she is,” he whispered. His heart swelled and a lump rose in his throat. Tears threatened to embarrass him as he strode forward, nearly as fast as Luke.
Noah’s hands found Ulie’s cheeks at the same moment her fingertips touched his face. Less than half a breath later, their lips pressed against each other in sensual bliss. The slow smoosh of their mouths and tongues preceded the willing and hungry press of their bodies into one another. Noah’s swollen heart pounded an eager rhythm, celebrating Ulie’s return.
Ulie couldn’t control her smile. The second their lips touched, the fire in her womb ignited, roaring to life faster than ever before. Her whole body tingled, singing loudly to the universe that her soul had found its mate. She melted into Noah’s warm embrace, loving the way his hands gently caressed her face then found their way around her waist. She felt him gently lift her, not crushing her, but making her feel safe and warm.
They glanced at Miranda and Luke, standing nearby making gagging noises and giggling the way two nine-year-olds should. Noah took Ulie’s bag, keeping an arm around her and holding her close as they walked. Her body heat energized and intoxicated him.
Noah and Ulie shared a smile when Luke offered to carry Miranda’s bag. Noah felt particularly gratified to see his son behaving like a gentleman.
As they drove to the valley, the kids buzzed in the back seat, asking questions and chattering endlessly. Their laughter and infectious smiles increased the veracity of the late autumn sunshine filling the cab.
From the passenger side of the pickup, Ulie stole glances at Noah as often as she dared. “I can’t believe we’re here… together,” she thought. The pink of her cheeks gave her away. She wanted to be alone with him. She wanted to be close to him, to be one with him. Ulie rubbed her knees together as she thought of his hands touching her.
In the back seat, the kids played “I Sp
y,” giggling innocently as evergreens and towering mountains whizzed by outside.
****
Miranda waved from her Grandma’s porch as Ulie and Noah drove away in his work truck. Luke was spending the week at his mother’s house, and Ulie finally had Noah all to herself. A shiver ran through her when Noah gently rested his large hand on her thigh. The fire in her belly sank lower, conjuring warmth and moisture as she recalled their last trip together. Ulie glanced at Noah’s lap.
She snorted, immediately covering her mouth with a hand in embarrassment.
Noah smiled at her reaction. “Sorry about that,” he said. “I can’t really help it. Every time I think about you it just…”
Ulie inhaled swiftly, her cheeks turning pink. Biting her lip, she reached over and placed a hand directly over the bulge in Noah’s blue jeans. Heat radiated from it as if a furnace were burning in his underwear. She squeezed, eliciting a low growl from deep within his chest. She heard his breath quicken and his facial features sharpened.
Ulie knew he felt the need to make love as keenly as she did. “Take me to bed,” she said.
“Yes, Ma’am.” Noah pressed the accelerator and they raced toward home.
Opening the passenger door, Noah lifted Ulie in his arms like a child. She hung her arms around his neck and rested her head against him as he carried her inside. Through the door and up the stairs, Noah carried her, not stopping to take off shoes or to turn on lights. He pushed the bedroom door open and walked to the bed. Ulie expected him to set her down, or to lay her down. Either one suited her, she just wanted him close. She wanted him touching her.
Noah surprised Ulie by turning around and sitting on the edge of the bed, still cradling her in his arms. His hands transitioned to her lower back and to her cheek, and he kissed her deeply. “I love you, Ulie,” he said, his voice low and husky. “I’ll never hurt you again. I swear.” He kissed her lips and her neck.