The Girl Across the Hall

by Thayer King

  “Don’t fight me, Zoe.” He rubbed the head of his cock between her pussy lips before centering it at her drenched opening. Both of them moaned. “Tell me what I want to hear,” he demanded.

  “I-I can’t.”

  “Please, Zoe. Let me have your pussy,” he said, sounding as desperate as she felt. He shuddered against her back. “I’ve missed you. I’m only half alive without you. I love you so fucking much, baby.”

  Zoe dropped her head onto the door, admitting defeat. “I love you, too, Noah. Fuck me. Make me yours again.”

  He groaned and shoved deep into her pussy. She moaned at the exquisite pleasure of his thorough possession. “Baby, you were never not mine.” And then he went to work, rolling and thrusting his hips.

  Zoe cried out and pushed back against him. The feel of him filling her over and over became her sole focus. She widened her stance, spreading her thighs, and he slid deeper, hitting her g-spot. She screamed his name as he pummeled her pussy with fast, hard strokes. Her orgasm rushed over her, making her light headed with its intensity. Noah circled his hips and fucked her through it. “That’s right, baby, come on my cock. That feels so f-f-fucking good.” He groaned and then he was coming as well. She could feel him swelling and then there was a rush of liquid heat. The pulsing of his cock rubbed over her sensitive tissues making her moan.

  She would have collapsed from exhaustion but Noah held her up. He pulled out and lifted her in his arms. He carried her to the bed and crawled on after her. He held her close and linked their fingers.

  “You didn’t use a condom,” she said some minutes later when she could catch her breath enough to speak.

  “Damn right I didn’t. I didn’t intend to. And I’ll keep filling you full of cum until I get you pregnant. You’re not cutting me out of your life ever again, Zoe.”

  It was a crazy plan and she didn’t believe he was serious for a second. She shifted so that her head rested on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “Don’t you think that’s a bit drastic?”

  “Do you have any other suggestions as to keep you from running scared again?”

  Still not taking him seriously, quipped, “I don’t know, maybe a marriage proposal in a year or so?”

  He shook his head. “Not good enough. If I get you knocked up now, you’ll have to marry me.”

  “Based on what logic?”

  “Based on the fact that even if you don’t say yes, my mom will badger you until you do the honorable thing and make an honest man out of me.”

  She couldn’t help it. She laughed. “Are you saying you’d like to get married sooner?”

  “Yeah.” He shifted beneath her and then she heard what sounded like a ring box creaking.

  Her eyes popped open. She stared at the round diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds in stunned silence. “W-what is that?”

  “You know what it is. Will you marry me, Zoe?”

  She sat up so that she could look down at him. “What? B-but-”

  “Yeah, I know. I said I didn’t date. I didn’t do commitment. But I’d never met anyone I wanted to commit to. I love you, Zoe. These last couple of weeks without you has been hell. Will you please marry me?”

  “What happened to us discussing Avery and you calling me weak and-”

  He sat up as well, bracing his back against the headboard. “One, I truly didn’t know about Avery and I foolishly thought I was being a good friend. She’s put me on the backburner numerous times for a boyfriend and I didn’t like it. Apparently, everyone but I noticed that she was in love with me. Plus, I thought it meant you didn’t trust me. I was wrong. I admit that. And I lashed out like an idiot. That brings us to number two. I never called you weak. I don’t think you’re weak. Shit, when I saw you in that dress tonight, I almost swallowed my tongue. I wanted to throw my coat over you and cover you from the stares of all those lusting men downstairs. I’m really sorry that I hurt you, Zoe.”

  She nodded. “And I’m sorry that I cut you off like that. I-I was scared.” She’d been scared this past week as well when he didn’t call or come by or send flowers as well. She thought she’d lost him. “Why did you stop trying to contact me? I-I thought you’d moved on.”

  “That was Felicia’s idea. She said all the begging was pathetic and that if I wanted you back then I was going to have to grow a set of balls and demand you take me back.”

  Her cousin knew her well, Zoe admitted. She would have kept avoiding Noah unless she was forced to face him. “Wow. So she set all of this up?”

  “We came up with the plan together. By the way, is her middle name really Divine?”

  “Yes, why?”

  He chuckled. “Because she said it would take divine intervention to get you back. Guess she was right.”

  Zoe reflected that Henry had been really good for her cousin. She couldn’t believe Felicia had gone to all this trouble to help her. “I owe my cousin a big thank you.”

  “Zoe, you’re killing me here,” he burst out, his impatience and anxiety apparent. “You never answered my question. Will you marry me?”

  “Oh, yes, Noah,” she said, happy tears filling her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth to his deliciously succulent lips. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He rolled her beneath him and deepened the kiss. Zoe’s slid her fingers into his hair and allowed herself to drown in the pleasurable feelings he aroused within her so easily.

  Epilogue

  “Please tell me he begged? I want all the details. Did he get on his knees? Did he cry?” Warren asked eagerly.

  Zoe only laughed. Noah narrowed his eyes. “No, I did not cry or get on my knees.”

  Warren smirked. “But you did beg.”

  Noah growled. “Fuck off.”

  “Noah Granger!” his mother gasped as she carried a tray of lemonade out onto the back porch. “Is that any way to talk to your brother?”

  “He started it,” Noah said defiantly and Warren laughed.

  Their father sighed from his position by the grill. “Why is it that when the two of you get together you devolve into five year olds?”

  Kelsey slapped Warren on the arm. “Warren, behave. You should be happy that your brother is happy and getting married.”

  “Oh, he knows I’m happy for him. We just show our love in a different way. I put him in a headlock when he got here, didn’t I? That’s big brother sign language for ‘I love you.’”

  When he noticed his parents weren’t watching, Noah gave Warren the finger. Zoe clasped his hand and linked their fingers together. Her touch soothed him immediately and reminded him of why they were here. His family wanted to celebrate his and Zoe’s engagement.

  Though it was three weeks ago, he still chuckled whenever he thought of his mother’s reaction to when he’d informed her that he was engaged. He’d called the day after Zoe accepted his proposal. At first his mother had been thrilled. Then she’d been doubtful that he really meant engaged to be married. He’d asked her what other type of engagement there was. Her doubt was soon overcome by joy. After that she’d promptly accused him of playing a practical joke on her. Tired of her emotional rollercoaster, Noah had finally suggested that they have a cookout to celebrate. He didn’t want anything too elaborate, or too fancy—just the immediate family and close friends. He didn’t want to overwhelm Zoe.

  His mother was going to be so disappointed when she learned that they’d decided against having a wedding. They were going to exchange vows at the courthouse. Most women wanted a big day where they’d be the center of attention. His Zoe didn’t want that. All she wanted was to be his wife and damn, he couldn’t argue with that.

  It also calmed Noah that later he’d be alone with Zoe and he intended to make up for lost time. He wanted her underneath him, crying out his name. He couldn’t help the turn of his thoughts. Whenever he linked fingers with Zoe, he thought of sex, of sliding between her thighs and joining their bodies together. He suspected that she did as well since
her breathing usually grew shallow whenever he took her hand in his.

  He raised their joined hands and kissed the backs of her fingers. He nibbled on of her knuckles and grinned when her irises darkened with desire.

  “For Pete’s sake,” Ty groaned. “Could you give it a break?”

  “I have to agree,” said Felicia. “She’s already limping. Can’t you give the poor girl a rest?”

  “Oh my, God,” Zoe moaned, clearly embarrassed. She buried her face in his chest. Noah kissed the top her head and folded her in his arms. He wasn’t the least bit ashamed of the fact that he couldn’t keep his hands off Zoe.

  “I think it’s wonderful,” said her Aunt Amanda wistfully. “I wish I had a man who looked at me that way.”

  “Gross, Mom, gross,” Felicia said dryly.

  Even when she wasn’t at his side, Noah couldn’t take his eyes off Zoe. She was smiling and laughing while talking to her aunt and cousin. Just seeing her so happy made him full to bursting with joy on the inside. A breeze ruffled her hair and she pushed it back behind her ear. She wore a loose sundress with a floral print, but it wasn’t the sort of dress she usually wore. This dress had thick straps and a fitted bodice that clung to her breasts before flaring out at her hips. Noah loved it and he hated it. The soft peach color made her skin glow. She was breathtaking it in, but it was torture for him. He’d been semi-hard all day thinking about bending her over the nearest surface and shoving the hem up around her waist.

  “Really, man, give it a break,” Ty said.

  Noah grunted. “Sorry. I can’t help it.”

  Julie pinched Ty in the arm. “It wouldn’t hurt you to be so obviously smitten.” She flounced off to join the other women.

  Ty glared at him. “See what you did? You’ve gotten me in trouble.”

  Noah laughed. “I didn’t get you in trouble. You did that on your own.”

  Ty grumbled. “Have you heard from Avery?”

  “No. You?”

  “Yeah. She said she’s going to give it a go with Patrick again.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’ll work this time now that she knows that you’re not a possibility.”

  “God, I hope so.” He hated that his friend was hurting and he was unable to help her or even be there as her support. The best thing he could do for her was stay out of her life.

  “Me, too.”

  “So, Ty…when are you going to tie the knot?”

  Ty glared at him. “Do not start that shit with me, man.”

  Noah burst out laughing. “Come on,” he said when Ty walked off from him in a huff. “I was just kidding!”

  ***

  Zoe wrapped her arms around Noah’s neck and held on for dear life. She tried to muffle her cries as he pumped into her, but her efforts of discretion were probably wasted at any rate. The headboard of his old twin bed was banging against the wall with every thrust of his body into hers.

  “Oh, God, baby,” Noah groaned into her neck. He slid his hands up her sides and linked their fingers together over her head. “Your pussy is so fucking good.” He punctuated the last three words with hard thrusts, burying his cock to the hilt in her pussy.

  His jeans abraded her inner thighs. They hadn’t bothered to remove their clothing. Noah had backed her in here under the pretense of showing her the bedroom he’d grown up in. She hadn’t even taken a complete turn of the room before he was kissing her and pulling up the skirt of her dress. He seemed surprised to find her already wet when he slid his hand in her panties. As if any woman wouldn’t be after having him eye fuck her the entire day. After that, it was on. He’d ripped off her panties, a lacy orange pair this time, then guided her back on his bed and kissed her senseless. She didn’t protest when he shoved down his jeans and pulled out his cock though for the sake of propriety she probably should have. They were in his parents’ house after all with their engagement party still going on downstairs.

  Zoe bit her lip. She was so close. She could feel the orgasm building in her belly. She squeezed his hands tightly as it barreled down on her. Her hips arched up into his as he continued to pound into her. “Oh, Noah,” she moaned.

  He grunted, speeding up the pace of his thrusts. “That’s right, baby. Come on my cock.” He growled as he stiffened, his cock pulsing deep inside her as he flooded her with his hot seed. Then he released a long groan and collapsed on top of her. Zoe relished his weight. He pressed kisses to her neck and jaw. “Baby, I’m sorry. I really didn’t bring you in here for this.”

  She laughed. “A likely story.”

  “Okay, so I was hopeful.” He ran his lips up under her chin before claiming her mouth in a slow, sweet kiss. “I love you, Zoe.”

  “I love you, too, Noah.” He began levering himself off of her. He tucked himself back into his briefs and zipped up his jeans. He took Zoe’s hands and pulled her to her feet. She grimaced at the wet feeling between her thighs. “I need to clean up.” He bent, picked up her ripped undies, and shoved it into his pocket. “Have you got anything I can put on?”

  “Nope. It’ll be just as hard for me, knowing that you’re not wearing any panties.”

  Zoe shook her head. “You’re insatiable,” she said, but smiled.

  “Only when it comes to you, baby.” He gave her a quick kiss. “I can’t wait to get you home in our bed.”

  He’d basically moved out of his apartment and into hers. He was almost at the end of his lease and he had no plans to renew it. When hers was up, they’d buy a house. They’d already started hunting since Noah wanted to start a family right away. When her man settled down, he really settled down.

  They walked out of his bedroom hand in hand and ran right into his mother. Zoe felt her face go hot. Surprisingly, Noah blushed as well. Lillian only shook her head. “Well, at least I know you’re working on giving me another grandbaby.” And then she continued down the hall to the stairs.

  “Shit.”

  Zoe laughed at his thunderstruck expression. “I’ll see you downstairs, babe.” She kissed his cheek and went to the bathroom to clean up. When she came out some minutes later, still self-conscious about being bare assed, her cousin was waiting for her in the hallway.

  Felicia gave her a knowing grin. “I never would have thought that you’d have it in you to sneak off in the middle of a party to fool around. Well, at least now that he’s got it out of his system, he can stop drooling after you. Girl, you have got that guy so smitten.”

  Zoe laughed. She couldn’t help it. She was happy. Noah was not at all subtle about how much he was into her and she loved it. “Felicia, thanks again for everything you did to help get us back together.”

  She shrugged. “It wasn’t a problem.” They headed towards the stairs. “Henry pointed out that I was happy with my life and that I had no reason to be jealous of you anymore.”

  Zoe halted. “Jealous of me? What on earth for?”

  “Because you’ve always had your shit together. You had two parents who loved you more than anything. Even when your entire world fell apart when they died, you didn’t let it break you. You’ve always been so smart, and organized, and talented. I was none of those things. I felt like I couldn’t compete.”

  “Felicia, I never wanted to compete with you. I only wanted to be friends, sisters.”

  “I know that now. I wish I’d been better to you. I’d really like it if you’d reconsider being my maid-of-honor. I want it to be you. Besides, I can’t pick between the twins. Talk about competitive!”

  Zoe laughed. They’d reached the bottom of the stairs. “I think I’d like that.” Felicia hugged her and she hugged her back.

  Zoe traced the script down Noah’s shoulder blades. She thought that the quote might be from Frankenstein, but she wasn’t sure. She hadn’t read it since college. Noah twitched as her finger travelled down his spine. “Does that tickle?”

  “A little.”

  She leaned down and kissed the back of his neck. Even amongst all the pink pillows and ruffles of their bedroom, he looked manly
. Perhaps he looked even more so. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders and down his back, simply enjoying touching him. Noah hummed. He was probably exhausted and rightfully so. As soon as they’d walked in the apartment, he had her holding up her skirt again while he went down on her in their kitchen. Then he’d taken her against the door. As if that weren’t enough, he’d decided to move the action to the bedroom. He’d stripped down to nothing and then made her beg for the pleasure of riding him—all while she was still wearing her dress. Zoe concluded that he really liked her new dress. She threaded her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp.

  Noah moaned. “Keep it up, baby, and I’ll be rolling you beneath me. I know you’ve got to be sore.”

  “And you should be too sated to even think of doing it again.”

  “We covered this earlier. I seem to have no satiation point when it comes to you.”

  “Noah, this is supposed to be a comforting massage.”

  “You expect me not to respond when you’ve got your hands on me?”

  When he put it that way…. “I agreed to be Felicia’s maid-of-honor.”

  “I can’t wait to see the dress.”

  Zoe shook her head at his one tracked mind. “Felicia’s wedding is going to be all about her. My dress will be just short of hideous. It won’t be so ugly as to ruin the day, but definitely nothing special.” She allowed his hair to sift through her fingers.

  “What will you wear when we get married?”

  “I’m going to shop for something. I’d like it to be white and lacy, but I’m starting to have my doubts.”

  He turned his head so that he could look at her. His lids were at half-mast. “Why?”

  She dropped a kiss onto his lips. “You can’t seem to control yourself when I’m not covered up.”

  He grinned. “It’ll be our wedding day. Isn’t that the point?”

  “Yes, but it’d be nice to get through the ceremony and maybe a dinner afterward without you dragging me off somewhere to be naughty.”