Stay With Me

by Alexa Powers

  Resting her head on his shoulder, she draped her arm across his abdomen, her curves pressing against him. He’d never really enjoyed cuddling before and usually made an excuse to remove himself before it got awkward, but he couldn’t think of a time when he felt more content than he did at that moment. Having her wrapped up tightly in his arms just felt right.

  “I love it when you play your guitar for me. Almost as much as when you’re playing with me,” he joked, tracing his fingers along the smooth skin of her arm.

  “Oh, that’s cute, Noah,” she replied, shaking her head at his lame attempt at humor.

  “Baby, you can play with me any way you want…any time you want.” He turned to face her, nipping at her lip before sliding his tongue along the seam of her mouth, and when she opened for him, he took full advantage. Massaging her round bottom as he pulled her against him, he was quickly realizing that he would never get enough of her; her kisses were intoxicating and left him wanting more, needing more.

  Breaking away before he untied her swim suit, leaving her exposed to passersby on the beach, Noah stood up and reached out his hand for her. Without letting go, he gathered up the takeaway and led her inside.

  After finally eating lunch, they settled on the couch. Noah sat next to her ‘studying’ the rugby matches he’d recorded, and she had to bite back a laugh; she couldn’t remember enjoying a study session quite so much…ever, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Snuggling comfortably against his side with her e-reader, enjoying the closeness as Noah’s arm draped lazily over her shoulder, his fingers mindlessly combing through her hair, she couldn’t help but smile.

  Rugby season was starting soon and school was about to begin, so she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. She also didn’t see the point of going back to Lily’s with only her thoughts to keep her company.

  After reading the same paragraph over and over again, yet still unable to focus on the book she was reading, Emma decided to broach the subject of her spending the night in a roundabout way. “What time were you thinking of taking me home?” she asked, once it looked like he was at a convenient stopping point. He paused the game and turned to face her, her heart beating quickly as she braced for his answer.

  “About that. I was thinking, um hoping actually, that you’d stay with me until Lily and Josh come home.” He hesitated before quickly continuing. “No pressure. It’s alright if you don’t want to, or if you have other things to do, but I’d really like it if you’d stay. I quite like having you here with me.”

  He wanted her to stay. Emma felt a smile spread across her face as his words sunk in. He wanted her to stay.

  “Well? What’s it to be, Emma?” He tugged gently on a lock of her hair and she literally melted into a gooey puddle, complete with an obligatory sigh.

  “I’d love to. I wanted to, but I was afraid to ask.”

  “Oi, please don’t ever be afraid to ask me for what you want, Emma. I thought I’d made myself and my intentions where you’re concerned perfectly clear. I want you. Here with me. Have no doubts about that. Ever.” He snaked his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him as he leaned in for a kiss, his breath warm against her skin. “Never. Ever. Ever. Think that I don’t want you by my side. Ever,” he continued sweetly, as he left a trail of kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

  “Okay, good. Because I want that, too,” Emma giggled as he licked the ticklish spot behind her ear.

  “You are the sweet to my heart. The honey to my bunny,” he laughed, as he slowly lowered her to the couch and pressed his weight into her.

  “The honey to your bunny? Seriously?” she snickered, tilting her head to give him better access.

  “Hey, don’t make fun of me,” he smiled against her neck. “It was off the cuff. And I happen to enjoy a honeybun. Almost as tasty as you, actually. Maybe I’ll have to drizzle some honey on your bunny, eh? Yes, that sounds delicious. Two of my most favorite things.” His naughty smile told her he wasn’t joking.

  “Sounds messy,” she frowned, as the blood started rushing through her veins at an alarming rate at the image that flashed in her mind.

  “Sounds fantastic. And I think you’ll enthusiastically agree once I’m licking it off of you. In fact, I may even get a ‘hell yes’ out of you.” He gave her a quick wink and a mischievous smile and she felt a shudder rock through her body.

  “Oh, well, if you must. Who am I to object?” she exhaled in mock indifference, waving her hand through the air like she could take it or leave it.

  “Sweet as.” Noah kissed the tip of her nose and then lifted off of her. As he stood to his feet, he reached for her, then led her by the hand into the kitchen.

  It seemed that every time with Noah was a new experience for her. He was as adventurous and playful as he was insatiable and she loved that about him.

  Sitting on the island with Noah standing between her thighs, she held her breath as he began to spread a thick line of honey along her breasts. The cool temperature of the sticky substance followed by the heat of his breath on her skin as his tongue licked her clean, made her desperate for more. He didn’t disappoint when he dipped his finger in the jar and drew a line down the length of her.

  “Mmmm,” Noah smiled, as he licked his fingers clean, then leaning down, he followed the golden trail with his mouth and showed her how fantastically delicious a little honey and one very talented man could be, complete with Emma’s euphoric cry of ‘hell yes’ when he finished.

  After fully exploring each other, they ended up in his shower together to wash themselves clean of the sticky residue that consisted of honey and a few other tasty treats. Noah did a painstakingly detailed job of making sure Emma was polished and scrubbed, which only served to tease and torment her to where she physically ached for him.

  When he got on his knees in front of her, mentioning something about doing a thorough inspection to make sure she was clean…everywhere, her mind went blank and she thought she’d faint as he drove her wild, leaving her dizzy and clinging to his broad shoulders for support. He continued his relentless assault until she felt her whole body begin to shake and quiver, then he held her against him until the waves of her orgasm faded, placing tender kisses along her belly.

  Lifting her onto him as if she was as light as a feather, he used his weight to press her against the wall. He drove into her as he cushioned her head with one hand, and the other cupped her bottom for support. Wrapping her legs around his hips, her hands raked through his wet hair, the frenzied pace stole her breath as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss so hot it branded her as another climax ripped through her. Noah was right behind her as he nuzzled his face against her neck and groaned her name.

  Noah appeared tense after they were dressed and sitting once again in front of the television. Emma guessed it was due to the fact that they’d forgotten to use protection during their feverish coupling in the shower.

  “Noah, is everything alright?” she asked, not entirely sure how one approached such a delicate and potentially uncomfortable subject.

  “Yeah, everything’s fine. But I realized we didn’t use a condom in the shower just now. I got carried away in the heat of the moment, I guess. I’ve never done that before…had unprotected sex. I’m really sorry, Emma. I should’ve taken better care of you,” he frowned, his brows knitting together. As he spoke, his eyes darted from her to the wall over her shoulder and back again.

  “Aw, baby. You always take good care of me.” She touched his cheek, making sure he was looking at her as she spoke. “This is kind of awkward, but I guess it’s good to get it out of the way now. You should know that I’m on the pill and I’m clean.” He took a deep breath, and she could see relief ease his worried features.

  “So am I. STD free, I mean. I’m not on the pill, though, I’m very forgetful at times and skipped a few, so I’m waiting for my next cycle to start taking it again,” he joked. She knew he was going for a feminine pitch to his voice, but with his deep masculine v
oice, it came out sounding more like a sick cat.

  “That’s good to know, sweetheart,” she chuckled. “And I’ve never had unprotected sex before either, by the way,” she assured him.

  “It’s funny, but at the time, all I could think about was how amazing it felt…being with you. It never occurred to me that it was because there was nothing between us. I think I could get used to that,” he added hopefully.

  “Well, I don’t mind. Either way is fine with me.”

  Noah looked so cute, his crooked smile on full display, taking her breath away. “Sweet as. I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven.”

  “I think you’ve just discovered one of the benefits of monogamy.” She’d never even considered having unprotected sex before, a condom was always non-negotiable, but with Noah it was different, she trusted him to be faithful to her.

  “I like the way that sounds, and since I can’t get enough of you, think of all the trips to the market we’ll save for late night rubber runs.”

  “How environmentally-conscious of you.” She tried to maintain a straight face at his adorable expression, biting down on her lower lip, but couldn’t stop the giggle from bubbling to the surface.

  “That’s me, just doing my part for the planet, one unused condom at a time.”

  As the week flew by, they settled into a comfortable routine. Now that he’d discovered the additional pleasure he experienced without the barrier of a condom between them, he’d become even more insatiable than before. On more than one morning, Emma woke to find Noah suckling her breast, which led to an early morning round of hot and steamy sex before showering and eating breakfast together.

  The Blues had begun practicing for the upcoming season but as an All Black, Noah hadn’t been required to attend until now. He came home at the end of the day worn out and a bit bruised and battered, and Emma delighted herself in taking care of him. Who knew that tending to his cuts and scrapes and having dinner ready for him would be so satisfying? It was all very domestic and she couldn’t have been happier. Over dinner, they discussed their day and anything else that came to mind, before washing up together.

  On several nights, they relaxed in the hot tub, so Noah could soak his aching muscles. Unable to keep their hands to themselves, especially with so little clothing on, they inevitably ended up naked and satiated before climbing from the water. Their nights spent together in Noah’s big bed were filled with passionate lovemaking until finally falling asleep, exhausted and tangled in each other’s arms.

  Being with Noah was easy, almost too easy. Weren’t relationships supposed to be filled with angst and drama? Rarely were two people as concerned for the other person’s happiness as they were for their own. Emma had never been with a man as unselfish as Noah. He put her first, always. He had a way of making her feel special and cared for, but it also unnerved her at the same time. It was too good to be true. He was too good to be true.

  It was hard to keep the demons of past relationships from creeping to the forefront; she’d had the rug ripped out from under her on more than one occasion, and the experience taught her that if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was. She feared that if it happened with Noah, she’d never recover.

  He hadn’t given her any reason to doubt him, though. In fact, he’d gone out of his way to reassure her that he wanted her to be with him, and it was getting harder and harder to see herself walking away when her time in New Zealand finally came to an end.

  On several occasions, they’d talked about the future, about their hopes and dreams. Even though it was in abstract terms, as if they were afraid to put a face or a name to their future spouses, she always felt like they were picturing each other in those roles.

  Noah had told her that he’d purchased and renovated his home with the vision of his future wife and children in mind, and it broke her heart to think of another woman filling that role in Noah’s life, another woman taking ownership of his heart and his bed, bearing his children. It wouldn’t be her chasing their toddlers through the spacious lounge, listening to them squeal with delight as she encouraged their first steps.

  Being with Noah, here in his home, brought out the desire to nest like she’d never felt before. She’d never realized that she was such a masochist, that she would allow herself to fall for a man that she could never have. She was drawn to Noah like a moth to a flame, but unlike the moth, she knew she was going to get burned, but even so, she still couldn’t bring herself to turn away.

  It was too soon to feel so strongly about Noah, she knew that, but her heart refused to be bound by societal norms that dictated the proper amount of time before you could acknowledge that you were in love with someone. Even knowing that she was heading for a heartbreak so shattering she may never be able to put the pieces back together, wouldn’t keep her from Noah.

  Unless he broke it off, she’d stay with him until she boarded her flight back to Charlotte. Only then would she allow herself to deal with the fallout, safely tucked into her mother’s loving embrace. Somehow, she’d find the strength to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and head back to Boone to finish school.

  Hopefully, one day she’d find a man who could hold a candle to the memory of Noah. She wondered if that was even possible. She’d never wanted a man or needed a man as much as she wanted and needed Noah. She quivered at the slightest touch of his fingertips and his kisses lit a fire deep down that grew into a raging inferno as soon as his lips met hers, but more importantly, she enjoyed his company.

  It was the simple things he did, like the way he gently squeezed her hand like he didn’t want to let her go. Or the way he ran his fingers through her hair while they snuggled on the couch. Or that he really listened to what she had to say and valued her opinion on things. No, she doubted that another man existed who could fill the place he occupied in her heart.

  Like a fool, she’d made the fatal mistake of giving her heart to a man who was unavailable to her. Why was she such a glutton for punishment? Of course Noah’s unavailability was geographical, not emotional. He was refreshingly open and honest with his feelings and if they didn’t have ties that bound them to live half a world apart, she could easily see herself as his wife and the mother of his children.

  What a cruel twist of fate, to have fallen in love with the man of her dreams, only to be able to have him for a short while, leaving him to find love and comfort in the arms of another. She felt the sting of tears as they slid down her cheek at the thought of Noah looking at another woman the way he looked at her.

  Wiping the tears away, she made a vow to not dwell on the inevitable demise of her happily ever after. She’d focus on the time they had together, cherishing each and every moment…memories she’d treasure for a lifetime. Memories that wouldn’t keep her warm at night, but she could pull them out when she was lonely, or whenever she needed a reminder not to settle for second best.

  Unfortunately, Noah owned the key to her heart, and he’d broken the mold and destroyed the spare. Maybe one day in the far distant future, another man would come along who would have the proper tools to pick the lock, but he would only be a poor substitute for the original, and she sincerely doubted anyone else existed who possessed the proper equipment.

  Chapter 17

  While Noah spent more and more time practicing with the team and traveling for promotional obligations, Emma spent her days preparing for classes to begin and doing her part to be supportive when he was tired or irritable after a long day.

  Being an All Black made him a huge draw for the fans, so in addition to his grueling workouts with the team, he was required to show up for whatever luncheon or photo op the PR department set up for the players. Knowing how uncomfortable he was with the attention, Emma always tried to make it easy for him when he got home, so he could relax.

  Emma’s phone chimed with a text from Lily as she was putting dinner in the oven, and she couldn’t help but smile at the picture Lily had sent. The image of Lily and Josh’s legs, t
anned by the tropical sun, melting into the powdery white sand and clear blue waters of the lagoon was a vision of paradise.

  Quickly sending a picture of herself in front of the open oven, excitedly pointing to the meatloaf, Emma wasn’t entirely surprised when her phone started ringing within seconds, knowing Lily would instantly recognize Noah’s kitchen.

  “Hello! When were you going to tell me?” Lily stated impatiently, without waiting for Emma’s greeting.

  “Hi Lily. How are you? How’s married life treating you?” Emma replied playfully.

  “Yeah, yeah. No worries there. Couldn’t be any better. Now stop avoiding my question.” Emma knew Lily had the patience of a two-year-old, so it was fun to mess with her just a little.

  Ignoring Lily, Emma continued. “Are you bored with Josh already? Is that why you’re calling me?”

  “Don’t try to change the subject, Emma. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Now spill it,” she demanded.

  Emma chuckled as she took a drink of water, prolonging Lily’s suffering just a little while longer. “Poor Josh, I see married life has already turned you into a demanding shrew.”

  Lily let out a loud laugh, before quickly returning to the matter at hand. “Shut up, Emma. Now, I want to know everything.”

  “Seriously, are you that bored already? Is Josh not entertaining you properly?” she teased.

  “Oh. Trust me. If Josh entertained me any better I wouldn’t be able to walk. The man’s insatiable,” Lily giggled, as Josh mumbled something that Emma couldn’t make out. “Now, stop dodging.”

  “Fine. I’ve been staying at Noah’s since you left. He asked me to stay with him while you’re gone, so I wouldn’t be alone in the apartment.”

  “Yeah, right. Is that why? Somehow, I don’t think that’s the only reason.”

  “Probably not,” Emma stated honestly, suddenly feeling shy and thankful Lily couldn’t see the blush spreading across her cheeks.