The Girl Across the Hall

by Thayer King

  Noah held her hand on the elevator ride up to their apartment, and though she allowed that intimacy, she shifted away from him rather than leaning into him as she usually did. By the time he got her to her door and she tried to get rid of him without even giving him a goodnight kiss, he’d had enough. He followed her into her apartment. “Okay, what’s wrong? What did I do?”

  “I don’t want to talk right now, Noah. I need some time to think.”

  He groaned. That’s the last damn thing he wanted to hear. That did not sound good. It couldn’t possibly to be to his benefit. “No, baby, if you’re pissed, then you tell me why. Talk to me.”

  She folded her arms over her chest and stared at her feet. “Did you tell your friends that we’re not sleeping together?”

  “No, of course not. I-” Then he stopped as he recalled his conversation with Avery last Sunday. “It sort of just came out.”

  Zoe made a sound of disgust. “How does something like that just come out?!”

  Noah took her hands. “Avery came over last Sunday morning and she just assumed you’d be in my bedroom. Then she guessed that we weren’t sleeping together since I wouldn’t have thrown you out of my bed after sex. I’m sorry, baby. I don’t discuss my sex life with my friends. When we’re finally together, it will be between just you and me.” He squeezed her hands. “Baby, look at me.” She lifted dark brown eyes filled with hurt and it just about killed him to know he was responsible for her pain. “I am so sorry.” He drew her to him and kissed the top of her head.

  She squeezed him back and then withdrew. “Thank you.”

  “So we’re okay?”

  She nodded and he could have sighed in relief. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She reached up and stroked his jaw before drawing his face down to hers. She kissed him lightly. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.” He waited until he’d heard the door lock before stomping over to his own apartment. He pulled out his cell. It was rather late but he knew Avery would still be awake.

  “Hello?”

  “Lipscomb, you’ve really fucked me this time,” he growled.

  A strangling sound came over the phone. “W-what?”

  “Why the fuck did you tell Zoe that you knew we weren’t having sex?”

  “Noah, I’m so sorry. Well, it was a slip up really. I didn’t mean to do it.”

  Noah understood how easily that could happen since he’d never intended to Avery become privy to such personal information. Still, he was furious that Zoe had been hurt. He ran his free hand over his hair and tried to calm his temper. He wasn’t an angry guy, but he was finding that he had a short fuse when it came to Zoe. “Did you tell anyone else?”

  “No, of course not.”

  He sighed. “Good. Could you please keep it that way?”

  “Of course, Noah. Really, I’m sorry.”

  “Okay. Look, I’ll talk to you later. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Zoe was having a hellish Monday. The new software upgrade that they’d scheduled for all the computers in the firm had gone awry. It was throwing so many errors that it had basically rendered the computers unusable. Worse still, they didn’t have a recent backup of their data. It had been Luke’s turn to do the backup the previous week but he’d had a date and the computer had been running slow. So he decided to do it later. Only he’d forgotten. Long ago the IT team had decided that they’d never point fingers. If one of them was to blame, they were all to blame. Likewise, none of them took credit for their achievements. They all received kudos when they were due. That did not make it any easier for Zoe or Justin when they had to listen to David Zimmer curse them all out for twenty minutes.

  They finally got the problem under control shortly after lunch. Zoe was eager for the break. Unfortunately, she bumped into Felicia as she was returning from lunch with Henry. Felicia had insisted on coming to lunch with her. While Zoe ate quickly, Felicia sipped a cup of coffee and complained about how Henry’s mother was trying to take over her wedding.

  At the end of the day, a violent storm sprang up. Just as Zoe was stepping out of the office, a strong wind turned her umbrella inside out, immediately ruining one of the thin metal spokes. While she fought to right the umbrella, she was soaked in the downpour.

  Her shoes squished as she walked inside the foyer of her apartment building. She felt very self-conscious as the material of her dress clung to her body like a second skin. Her hair was soaked and was beginning to curl. She still wore it in a bun at work, but she’d taken it down once she got out of the car and tried to squeeze out some of the excess moisture.

  Zoe’s shoulders slumped after she pushed the button to call the elevator. The only bright spot in her day had been the bouquet of mixed pink flowers that Noah had sent her. Unfortunately, she couldn’t even look forward to spending the evening with Noah. He and Ty were having a boys’ only night.

  The elevator dinged as the doors opened. Noah and Ty were in the car. “Baby!” Noah cried happily as she stepped into the elevator. And then his gaze swept over her. His mouth dropped open and his eyes grew so hot that Zoe thought it was a wonder that steam wasn’t rising off her dress.

  “Um, hi…Zoe,” Ty said, seeming likewise stunned.

  “Hi, Noah. Hi, Ty.”

  When the elevator doors started to close, Noah threw out a hand to stop them. “Get the fuck out, Ty,” Noah said without taking his eyes off her.

  “Huh? What? What about-”

  “Get out before I throw you out.”

  Ty chuckled. “Okay. Guess I can’t blame you.”

  “And stop fucking looking at my woman.”

  “Got you,” he called over his shoulder, moving out swiftly. “Call you tomorrow.”

  “Well, that was rude,” Zoe said when they were alone and the doors slid closed.

  Noah backed her into the corner of the elevator car. “Zoe?” He flattened his hands on either side of her head, caging her between the wall and his big body.

  “Yes?”

  “We’re done waiting, baby.” His tone was deep, guttural.

  Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

  His gaze travelled over her body and he pressed closer. “Damn, Zoe, you’re fucking gorgeous. Don’t make me wait anymore. I know you want me.”

  She shivered and it had nothing to do with her soaked clothing or the chill from the building’s air conditioning. “Y-you said you’d wait until I was ready.”

  “Zoe, we’ve been together for over a month. We spend practically every free moment together. If you’re planning on waiting until we’re married or something, you need to let me know. I can deal with that. It’ll take some readjustment in my thinking, but I can do it. But that’s not what you told me. You said you needed time.”

  She couldn’t think because of his proximity. Had he just mentioned marriage? Is that where he saw this going? “B-but-”

  Noah cupped the back of her neck, tilting her face up to his. “Baby, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Why can’t you just admit that you want to fuck me?”

  She pressed her palms to the hard wall of his chest to establish some space between them. “It’s never been about that.” She bit her lip. Everything he’d said was true. Would he really have wasted a month pursuing her if all he wanted was sex? He was the best friend she’d ever had. That long ago night when Avery had made her doubt that Noah could make a lasting commitment, Zoe had been on the verge of telling him that she was ready to make love with him. But then she’d been so angry that he’d discussed their lack of a sex life with a friend, she’d decided that she wasn’t ready to take that step with him. It had shaken her trust in him briefly.

  But she did trust him now. And she wanted him more than anything.

  “Tell me. I want to hear you say it.” He rolled his hips against hers and she couldn’t miss his blatant arousal. Zoe whimpered. “Tell me that you want to fuck me.”

  “Noah, I-” The elevat
or doors opened onto their floor.

  “Let’s continue this somewhere private.” Noah took her hand and led her to her door. “Open it.” Once she’d let them inside, he linked their fingers together and led her to her bedroom. He positioned her in front of her bed, his large hands warming her waist through her wet clothing. A small smile curved his lips. “You really are fond of pink.”

  Her comforter was pink and frilly. On the bed she had an assortment of stuffed animals and pillows. All of them were pink. Her bedroom was the one place where she freed her ultra-feminine side.

  “You’re soaked. You should get out of these clothes.” He began tugging her dress up her hips.

  “Noah.” She covered his hands with hers, halting his progress. “I’m scared,” she whispered.

  “Why? I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “W-what if you don’t like it?”

  “Oh, baby, I’m going to love it.”

  He had so much more experience than her. How could she hope to satisfy him? “But-”

  “Sh.” He pulled her dress up and over her head and tossed it aside. “Zoe, you’re worrying about nothing.” His eyes darkened with desire as he stared down at her in only her bra and panties. “Damn, you’re gorgeous.”

  Zoe fought the impulse to cross her arms over herself. “I’d feel better if you were naked, too.”

  He smiled and reached behind himself to grab the collar of his shirt. He yanked it over his head and flung it in the same direction as her dress. He toed off his shoes and undid his jeans. His eyes never left her. His cock pushed against his briefs. Zoe reached out to touch him. He was incredibly hot and hard. She wet her lips thinking about how good he would feel inside her. She barely managed one stroke before he stopped her. “No. I’m too close to the edge and I want to make this good for you.” He shoved his jeans down and stepped out of them.

  He pulled her close and kissed her again and again. Each kiss was more passionate and deeper than the last. Zoe was vaguely aware of him unclasping her bra. She moaned as he cupped her ass and ground his erection into her. Her nipples were tight peaks. They rubbed against his chest. It felt good, but she needed more. “Noah,” she gasped.

  He kissed along her jaw before nipping her earlobe. He ran his lips over the column of her throat before nuzzling her neck. “You know what I need to hear. Tell me.”

  “Noah, please. I want to fuck you.”

  He groaned. “Good, baby, because I want to fuck you, too.” He lifted her and threw her onto the bed. She’d barely stopped bouncing before he was on top of her, sliding between her thighs. He ran a hand over her panties. They were just regular cotton. She didn’t own any fancy lingerie. Noah caressed her mound in a little circle that massaged her clit. Zoe whimpered and arched her hips into his hand.

  “You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe you’ve been hiding all this from me.” He cupped her full breasts. He kissed each of her nipples before licking them and sucking them until she was squirming beneath him and panting his name. He slid a hand beneath the band of her panties. For a moment, he did nothing more than hold her. Then his fingers parted her nether lips and stroked in a slick circle around her clit before two fingers thrust unerringly into her pussy. Zoe cried out. He wasn’t gentle or tentative. His strokes were hard and deep. Noah growled. “Baby, you’re soaked. You’ve wanted me for a long time, haven’t you? I could have been keeping this pussy satisfied from day one.” He went back to suckling her nipples, causing her internal muscles to clasp his invading fingers.

  Zoe couldn’t gather enough breath to say a word. She gripped the sheets with one hand and his bicep with the other as he continued to pleasure her. “Oh, Noah, please…I-” She broke off with a scream as an orgasm broke loose in her belly. Her back arched, pushing her breast more fully into his mouth. He moaned and sucked harder.

  When the last of the spasms in her pussy subsided, Noah withdrew his fingers and licked them clean. She’d say it was for her benefit, but he wasn’t even looking at her. His eyes fluttered closed as though he’d tasted ambrosia. Then he gripped both sides of her panties and eased them down her hips.

  He arranged her thighs so that they were over his shoulders. She frowned down at him. What was he doing? She wanted him inside her now. “Noah?”

  “You denied me before, but tonight, this pussy is mine.” He spread her labia and took a long firm, lick. Zoe moaned and she collapsed back onto the bed. His large palms coursed over her belly to cup her breasts. He latched onto her nipples and tugged and pinched them even as he flicked her clit with his tongue. Zoe filled her fingers with his hair. He was driving her slowly out of her mind.

  Her hips bucked when he began to suck. “Oh!” She twisted beneath him unsure if she could take this much pleasure. She was going to come again. Noah growled and he curled his arms around her thighs to keep her where he wanted her. His mouth was hot and merciless on her tender flesh.

  A second orgasm rolled over her. Noah didn’t stop his intimate kiss until she went limp beneath him. He rose to his knees and pushed down his underwear. He got off the bed so that he could kick them off his feet. Staring at his erection sent a quiver of desire through her belly. Noah grasped it and stroked it. Zoe was mesmerized by the sight of his long fingers moving over his dick. “Maybe we should pull back the comforter.”

  Zoe emitted a sound of dismay. She hadn’t given a thought to her lacy comforter or the assortment of pillows scatter across her bed. She scooted off the mattress and rolled it to the end of the bed, scattering pillows onto the floor. Then she climbed back on the mattress and moved to the center.

  Noah followed her and spread her thighs wide and pushed them up. He fell over her, supporting himself on his elbows. Though his cock was lined up with her pussy, he made no effort to enter her. He stared down at her, his gaze intense. “I’m going to fuck you, Zoe.”

  She whimpered. “Yes.”

  “I want to be gentle with you,” he said softly, rubbing his nose across hers. “But I don’t know….” He rotated his hips so that his cock stroked over her clit. Groaning, he thrust again and again. “Zoe, I can’t wait anymore.”

  “Then don’t wait.” His beautiful mouth slammed down on hers, his tongue plunging deep. She kissed him back desperately, her fingers tunneling through his hair. He kept rolling his hips over hers. Eventually she felt the broad head of his cock forcing its way into her opening.

  Her breath caught in her throat at the pleasurable burn of his entry as he stretched her open. He retreated and came back at her again and again, each thrust burying him deeper in her core. She felt utterly possessed by the time his hips were flush with hers. He was so deep.

  Noah broke off their kiss suddenly and pressed his face in her neck. “Fuck,” he drawled, “you’re tight. I can’t-” He moaned. Grabbing her hands he laced his fingers with hers. He flattened her hands on the bed as he pulled his hips back until only the tip of his cock remained inside her. He slammed back inside and groaned her name. Zoe cried out.

  His hands tightened on hers as he fucked her hard and deep.

  Zoe could scarcely believe that this was happening to her. Never before had she experienced the sensations he was able to so easily ring from her body. She lifted her hips to him, moving with him as he rode her pussy. She couldn’t contain her moans each time he plunged back inside. Each harsh thrust rocked her. She knew she wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. And then he found her g-spot. “Oh! Oh, my…! Oh, Noah!”

  Noah began to grunt as he sped up. His hot breath warmed her neck. “That’s it, baby. Come on my cock.”

  As though her body had only been awaiting his permission, the spasms began deep in her pussy and exploded outward. Her orgasm rolled over her with all the subtly of a train wreck, leaving her thighs shaking in its wake. Noah growled as her pussy began to milk his cock. He fell out of rhythm, thrusting fast and erratic. Then he stiffened. “Zoe,” he groaned, sounding almost like he was strangling on the pleasure. He ground his hips into he
rs, holding himself deep within her. She could feel his cock swell and pulse as he filled her with spurt after spurt of his hot cum. It felt so good. “Oh, shit,” Noah said, sounding mildly alarmed yet too exhausted to move. He pressed a kiss into her neck and squeezed her with his elbows in a sort of sweaty embrace as their fingers remained interlocked over her head.

  ***

  He couldn’t believe he’d just cum inside her. And he didn’t regret it. Hell, the thought of her filled with his cum had his dick stiffening up again for another round. That just wouldn’t do. With some effort, he levered himself off of her and rolled onto his back. Zoe quickly drew the sheet up around them. He pulled her into his arms. She had a banging body. He couldn’t understand her determination to hide it. Seeing her in the elevator with her dress molding curves that would bring a grown man to his knees had been a shock. She should consider herself lucky that he’d managed to restrain himself enough to wait until they got to her apartment before he fucked her.

  He’d been so turned on that he’d done the one thing he’d never done. He’d ridden her bareback.

  “Zoe, are you on birth control?”

  She jerked. “Oh.”

  “I’ll take that as a ‘no.’” And he wasn’t surprised. She was very tight. He hadn’t seen her with a man since she’d moved in six months ago. He’d ask but then that would be opening the door to her questioning him about his sex life. He’d rather not open that can of worms. “Just so that you know, I’m clean.”

  She bit her lip. “I-I’ve only been with one person—my boyfriend in college,” she said, inadvertently answering his unasked question. “I’ve been tested since then and I’m clean, too.”

  So that just left a possible pregnancy. Surprisingly, he wasn’t worried about that. He felt himself relaxing until Zoe stirred.

  “I feel sticky.”

  “Let’s take a shower.”

  She agreed. He followed her into the bathroom and turned on the water to warm. He watched in fascination as Zoe applied a lotion to her hair and brushed it through before braiding it and stuffing her it under a plastic cap. They climbed into the shower together. He tried to avoid getting his hair too wet. He wanted to take Zoe again—especially as he watched bubbles cascade over her beautiful breasts and down her belly and disappear between her legs. Man, he envied those bubbles. He’d be all over her but he was pretty sure she would be sore as it was. She’d been so fucking tight that he’d struggled not to cum on the first stroke. Her eyes dropped to his dick and she froze. “Ignore it,” he said, washing himself briskly.