“Was that all she said?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Olivia was never a fan of me,” Lauren shrugs.
“She’s still under the impression that you and I had an affair while you were married,” Lauren explains with a shake of her head.
“I did no such thing,” I wave a hand, dismissing the idea.
“You really are getting married?” Lauren asks.
“Yes,” I nod.
“And Tinsley is the love of your life? You got it right this time around?” she queries.
“Impeccably right,” I smile.
“Good.” Lauren smiles genuinely, as the waiter reappears.
She turns to him with the authority she’s always commanded.
“Mr. Stone and I will both have the stir-fried Brazilian lobster. We’ll start with the roast duck pumpkin puffs, and we’ll need a bottle of champagne, we’ve got something to celebrate,” Lauren is precise with her words.
After all these years, she still knows what I prefer most.
8
Tinsley
July 26, 2017
Lauren and Noah.
They’re on page six, with the accusation that Noah is dating Lauren Darlington.
This infuriates me, and that’s why I slam the paper down on the table in front of him when I enter his penthouse.
“Is it true?” I ask, even though I’m sure that I know the answer.
“Is what true?” Noah raises an eyebrow at me casually, sipping his coffee.
“That you are the new Mr. Right for Lauren Darlington?” I flop down on the chair beside him, frustrated with how things are developing.
“Oh, you saw that?” he barely reacts.
“Kind of funny isn’t it?” Noah asks.
“No, it’s not funny to me,” I shoot back at him.
“Oh, come on Tinsley.” Noah sighs.
“You know it’s nothing, you know I am with you, we’re engaged,” he reminds me.
“Tinsley,” Noah seems worried now.
“You don’t actually believe idle gossip?” He asks.
“No,” I admit.
“But it’s frustrating to see you arm-in-arm with another woman, and that papers are screaming about such a thing, it’s infuriating,” I tell him.
This makes me pause, because how long did he have to watch me on Connor’s arm?
I can only begin to imagine what he went through.
“It’s really nothing; you know Lauren, and I are old friends. That has nothing to do with us,” Noah says certainly.
“Nothing,” I repeat, taking a deep breath.
“What’s going on?” Noah knows there’s something deeper to this, that the article was just the catalyst.
“I spoke with my mother.” My voice is small.
“She said you were going to drop me, just like you dropped Olivia.” I try to keep the pained expression from my face.
“You don’t believe her of course,” It’s a statement.
“Do not believe her,” Noah implores me.
“I told her it wasn’t the same thing, but what if we are Noah? What if you get bored of me and move onto the next nineteen-year-old that catches your eye?” I question.
My mother has done her worst.
Noah takes my hands in his.
“Tinsley, you are not Olivia. What happened between us was fate, you and I were friends long before anything happened. There is no one else, in the world, I would want to be with,” He tells me honestly.
“Noah…,” he takes my breath away once again.
“Do you remember, when you were seventeen, and you had a crush on that boy? You came to me with that. You’ve always come to me when something is wrong; this is built on much more than what Olivia and I had, which was a spur of the moment marriage.” I ask.
Noah nods, remembering the conversation.
“It was around your birthday.”
“Noah that boy was you. I was talking about you,” I admit.
I’ve always had feelings for him, and now they run deeper than I ever thought possible.
I was struggling with the fact that he was married, it was depressing.
I went to Noah and asked for his advice, made up someone and asked what he would do.
“Do you remember what I told you?” he asks.
“That he would move on, eventually realize what was right in front of him, and that he was a fool if he didn’t see how fantastic I was,” I reply as I smile at the memory.
“I didn’t realize I was talking about myself at the time,” Noah laughs.
“But it was true wasn’t it? I moved on, and I figured out the woman of my dreams was right in front of me the whole time.”
“Oh Noah,” I throw myself into his arms, finding his lips as Noah wraps his strong arms around my waist, squeezing me tightly against him.
Every single kiss leaves me breathless, and I can’t imagine anywhere else in the world that I would rather be.
“I believe you,” I whisper as we finally part, Noah’s hands slinking up my skirt.
“I believe you,”
“I don’t think you ever doubted me, love.” His lips move along my neck.
“Maybe you just needed a reminder, of how deeply in love with you I am?”
Noah’s whisper is accompanied by more kisses, as he pulls me onto his lap.
“Let’s just do it then.” I purr into his ear.
“Now?” Noah laughs, rubbing my back.
“On Sunday,” I tell him.
“Let’s get married on Sunday.”
“Done.” He agrees with me, ready to jump into this with both feet.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Let’s just go to the courthouse. I don’t want to wait any longer than that.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Noah seals the promise with a deep kiss, his hands snaking up the back of my shirt.
“Are you sure? You don’t want a real wedding?”
“Noah I just want you,” I tell him honestly.
I don’t want to tell him that if my parents may not be at our wedding, there really is no point.
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of my father walking me down the aisle towards the man of my dreams.
Now I just want to be with Noah, none of that matters anymore.
“Then me, you shall get.” Noah’s hands shift, picking me up and carrying me towards the bedroom.
“Oh really?” I ask as he gently lets me down on the bed.
“I’m not going to lie to you, the idea of you finally being my wife, turns me on immensely.”
“Your wife?” I feign as though I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“Mrs. Stone.” He continues.
“I can’t wait to call you my wife.”
“That would make you… the court jester?” I tease.
“Or my husband?”
“Both probably, I’m a fool in love.”
Noah is finally going to be my husband; this has been such a long time coming that I simply can’t wait for Sunday.
The idea is thrills me so much that I readily accept his hungry kisses, which set my body alight with desire.
Suddenly I’m desperate to feel his body against me, and I rip open his shirt, buttons flying everywhere.
“Tinsley.” Noah’s gruff voice is accompanied by a smirk as he pulls my blouse over my head, and I wiggle out of my skirt.
We can be husband and wife; we can have the world together.
I release Noah’s cock from his pants, pushing them down with my feet as I stroke the shaft.
He buries his face in my neck, biting at my skin.
Somewhere in between the kissing, my bra and thong fall away as well, as we move together, Noah kissing and sucking on my skin, before he presses me back against the sheets.
I lick my lips, wondering what he’s going to do next, the anticipation of touch building.
“What do you want?” He growls at me.
“Your cock, in my mouth,�
� I demand, and I get a devilish grin in response, before Noah lowers his body over mine, giving me access to his shaft as his fingers begin to play with my clit.
My tongue sliding against the length of his cock makes him groan, and I push my lips over the head, swirling my tongue before taking him deeper.
Noah continues to rub my clit, then his tongue is delving between my folds, running along the sensitive nub, drawing out a long moan, and I feel the urge take his length deeper in my mouth.
The delight of Noah’s fingers inside me is met with another moan, his cock in my mouth only making me wetter as Noah continues, sucking lightly on my clit.
With Noah’s cock in my mouth and his tongue lapping at my clit, every inch of my body is alive and tingling.
I love his cock in my mouth while he pleasures me.
It intensifies everything.
The sensitivity of my body is heightened I can’t stop moaning on his cock, causing him to groan and moan with every lick and suck.
He brings me closer to orgasm fast, and I take his whole shaft in my mouth.
The whole experience drives me closer to orgasm, until I topple over the edge, cumming as he continues, drawing out my orgasm.
Unable to stop moaning and whining on his cock as my body shakes, I feel his cock stiffen as he groans loudly, sending a stream of hot cum in my mouth.
I swallow every last bit of it cum, licking and sucking until he can’t take anymore, his body shuddering as Noah collapses beside me.
“Holy shit.” He stares up at the ceiling.
My entire body feels weak and relaxed, and I can’t believe how hot that made me feel, everything about Noah’s his cock stuffed in mouth while he pleasured me sent me spiraling into another world.
“That was amazing.” My breathless voice comes after a few long moments of trying to return my breathing to normal.
“You’re breathless.” Noah inhales heavily, out of breath and panting.
“Holy shit that was amazing.”
He crawls up beside me on the bed, pulling me into his arms as we become entangled in his silk sheets.
“You are amazing.”
My smile tells him everything I need to know, looking up into his eyes, I realize that no man has ever looked at me the way that Noah does.
He’s looked at me the same way all this time.
His love for me has never waned.
“You look at me in the most amazing way.” Stroking his cheek, I bite my lip.
“So do you.” His voice is low as he pulls me against him, his lips pressing against mine with urgent, feverish kisses that make me tingle.
He still gives me butterflies after all this time.
Noah can’t resist me, and I’m intertwined deeply in our love.
Every kiss and touch sends a wave of emotion through my body.
Feeling his heart beat against mine, I can only think about our future together, I’m lost in how harmonious our lives would be.
This was meant to happen.
I know it’s the truth.
The rest will work out.
Our kissing intensifies, and Noah moves between my legs, his breathing picking up as I feel his cock slide inside me.
A whine escapes my lips, as his thick shaft makes my toes curl, my legs wrapping around his waist as he moves against me.
He draws out only to thrust back in, filling me to the hilt with his thickness.
“Noah!” I gasp pleasurably.
“Tinsley,” he murmurs into my hair, his lips pressing lightly against my neck.
“You’re beautiful.”
My heart thumps wildly against my chest as I arch my back, moving my hips against his, taking him deeper.
A long drawn out moan escapes my lips as my body quivers under his touch.
Noah is the only man I’ve ever known, and the only man I want to as I absorb the feeling of his cock hitting all the right places, breathing heavily as I realize that we are finally together.
This is it.
Our lips meet again, and his hot kisses only intensify as he murmurs that he loves me under his breath.
“I love you too.” I bite my lip as sinks his cock deeper inside me.
My nails dig into his back, kissing his neck, his shoulders, drawing out every single moment.
This is more alive than I’ve ever felt before.
He’s embedded himself in my heart, and my every desire.
“Noah I’m close!” I moan in his ear.
“Cum with me!” he groans, and his words send me skittering beyond the edge of reason.
“Oh!” my cry echoes through the bedroom and beyond, a powerful orgasm rolling through my body as I cling to his shuddering form.
“Tinsley!” He grunts, emptying every last drop of his cum inside me, his cock embedded so deep the orgasm rolls over and over my body until I’m shaking mess in his arms.
Noah wipes my hair away from my face, looking deeply into my eyes.
Watching the soft smile forming on his lips, I wrap my arms around his neck.
Every single kiss is tender and sweet but filled with fire between us.
“You’re going to be my wife.” He almost seems as though he’s in disbelief.
“I am.” I smile, letting the certainty wash over me.
Eventually, we both succumb to sleep, but the last image in my head as I drift off isn’t one I like.
There’s a bad feeling, deep in my gut, and it won’t go away.
9
Noah
July 30, 2017
The suit I wore the night Tinsley and I first made love is the one I select for our small courthouse ceremony today.
“You ready?” Evan peeks in the door as I look in the mirror.
“I think so,” I nod.
I take one last look in the mirror.
I feel as though grooms are supposed to be nervous, but today, nervous is the last thing on my mind.
My wants are simple: I want Tinsley to be my wife, and I want her in my arms.
The idea of not seeing the bride before the wedding seems antiquated to me, but I let her have this one thing, as I know this can’t be the wedding of her dreams.
Tinsley says it doesn't matter, but to her, I can't imagine that it doesn't.
“Nervous?” Evan comes forward with a box.
“Not in the slightest,” I tell him.
Then I glance at the box and raise my eyebrows.
“What's that?” I ask.
“I got you something,” Evan admits.
“I didn't tell Athena what it was for when I asked her what I should get you,” he explains.
“You had to ask Athena? In London?” I ask dubiously.
My sister back in London for a while is the best thing that could've happened to me.
I need less of her interference, and I know that if she were here, she'd burn the building to the ground.
“Yeah, well, I asked her and everything she said just seemed too... I don't know, you. I came up with these,” he explains.
Then he opens the box with a smile.
A simple pair of gold cufflinks with ‘Noah & Tinsley Stone’ engraved onto them.
“Evan..,” I'm shocked my son thought of this.
“Yeah well,” he begins to take my cufflinks off, to put these on.
“When it comes to her, you wear your heart on your sleeve, I figure you may as well show off the woman you love,” he says.
This is far more than I expected from Evan.
“What's changed you?” I ask.
This sudden change in my son baffles me.
“I met someone,” he sighs heavily.
“Victoire has made me rethink everything I ever thought was true,” he almost sounds morose over this.
“Oh?” my expression changes.
“Except she doesn't want me,” he continues.
“She says I'm not the type of man she pictured herself with,” Evan snorts now, as though he doesn't believe it.
�
��Victoire is a different type of woman,” I note.
“Yeah,” Evan's admission doesn't shock me.
“Dad she challenges me, she makes me feel like a different man,” he says.
“That sounds a lot like love,” I look down at the cufflinks my son has given me.
I'm not sentimental, but I like the idea of wearing our relationship right on my sleeve, as though it speaks volumes about how she should always be by my side.
Forever.
“It's only love if that love is returned, Dad,” Evan shakes his head.
“She ended things?” I raise an eyebrow, that seems unlikely.
“No. I did. All she wanted was sex with me when I asked for more, and she could've given it, I knew it was a lost cause. I'm not going to stick around for her to badger me for more sex while she falls in love with someone else,” Evan broods.
“Well, I think you did the right thing,” My easy smile relaxes the features on my son's face.
“Well, if we’re going to do the right thing, shouldn’t you call Ava?” Evan asks.
“Ava just got back. I hardly doubt she would want to come,” I answer.
Then I try to shake the sense that I've missed out on Ava.
“Dad talk to her, please. She's a floor below you,” Evan pleads with me.
“Oh fine. But you better be ready to leave,” I nod.
I give in.
Only because I want to.
When I knock at Ava's door she is surprised to see me; her bump has grown quite a bit since the last time I saw her.
“You look radiant,” I smile.
“Thanks... Noah?” Ava guesses.
We’re still stiff and formal with each other.
I don’t know how to act, she doesn’t know how to react.
“You can call me Noah if you feel it's appropriate,” I tell her in an attempt to smooth this over.
We are like strangers together.
“Come in,” Ava opens the door.
“Corban went out, we've got the place to ourselves.”
I know what she's worried about, what we're both worried about.
Denial_A Stone Billionaire Series Novel Page 5