Velvet Exhale

by Beth Mikell

  "Hey, what's up with you and Noah? Lunch Friday, date Saturday night...now you two are sharing holiday time--sounds serious. Something you'd like to share with me?"

  I rolled my eyes. "No. And don't say anything to anyone either--especially Mother. When I'm ready, I'll tell." Gemma grimaced, looking away but I caught the scent of traitorous activity. "What? You told?" I asked my tone shrill and accusatory.

  She shrugged.

  "Gemma! Shit! Now she's going to go ballistic and bring out the 'you don't trust me' speech. She already thinks I have no sense where men are concerned and while that may have been true in the past...Noah is...different. Mother means well, but the last thing I need is her hovering." Besides, I'm not even sure what the hell was going on between us. How could I explain it to my overprotective mother?

  "Sorry..." she said. At least my sister had the decency to look remorseful. "I just mentioned you had a date, nothing more. Mother didn't show any interest, much," she explained, looking away.

  I narrowed my eyes. "How much?"

  Gemma sighed. "Well if you include his name, stats including bio, hair color, and shoe size pretty much everything." Dammit! I hung my head and Gemma placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Rey, but you know how protective Mother can be, and I'm powerless but to comply. Her mom superpowers override anything, but luckily she's on holiday with Dad and you're safely under her radar for another week so you have time to come up with something good. Speaking of another week...are you coming to the dressmaker for our last fitting for our gowns? We leave soon, ya know. I'm a stressed bride and need the comfort of my sister." She pouted and I melted.

  For the next hour or so, Gemma and I went over plans for her Lake Tahoe wedding between smiles, reassuring banter, and loving happiness when Claire popped her head around the corner.

  "Gemma, Trey's here to pick you up, and Tess just left with her sister, plus Gary just got back from Ocala and I'm headed out with him. Looks like someone will have the place to themselves," Claire crooned in a singsong voice and I blushed, vomiting in my mouth or something like it.

  I mentally pulled out my long forgotten death glare, blew off the dust, and threw it Claire's direction. Her smile was replaced with a wince, duh! My sister was sitting right beside me I wanted to fume! Gemma had as much resistance to our mother as a bug to a pretty bright, blue light right before it's zapped.

  God.

  I'm saved by the phone ringing, and I leaped up to answer it.

  It was my mother…I cringed.

  The day took a pit dive into hell.

  Chapter 14

  I want to put myself absolutely at your mercy for good or evil without any condition without any limit to your power. Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

  "Hi Darling, how's my girl?"

  "Hello Mom...I'm good. How's the cruise?" I mentally prayed my father was nearby because his presence tended to stabilize my mother's overprotective nature.

  She laughed sweetly. "Oh it's fabulous! Your father and I needed this holiday so much. I can't believe we waited so long."

  Gemma kissed my cheek goodbye and waved with a big smile exit, damn. She's fleeing fast before she could endure my sisterly wrath. My mother heard the commotion. "Who was that?"

  "Gemma stopped by."

  "Oh, that's good. I'm happy my girls are so close. Did you celebrate Memorial Day together?"

  "No. Tess and Nick had a falling out, again. Gemma and Trey stopped by to do damage control."

  My mother sighed. "That's so sad, actually. They're so cute together, but a row every week seems a pity. What about you, darling? Gemma mentioned a new man in your life. Really, Reyna, I'm surprised you never mentioned it?"

  Crap! I bowed my head and pinched the bridge of my nose, but it didn't help relieve my stress. "Is Dad around?"

  My mother laughed again. "No. He's off chasing the Captain around, boys and their toys, love. Stop stalling Reyna Marie and tell me about this Noah Alexander."

  As if on cue, Noah appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, I blushed. Double crap! He looked completely sexy with his tousled dark hair and shard-like, blue eyes. I swallowed hard, while my brain did tripled time to say the right thing without giving away the fact I'm talking about him. It's harder than I realized with him standing not three feet away all super hottie adorable, while I'm sweating. Worse still, he gave me a hot smile, leaning against the entrance as if he knew what was going down. Oh my. Damned if he didn't look happy about it!

  "There's not much to tell, Mom. But, when there is, you'll be the first to know."

  Silence ensued for a moment and I prayed I lost connection, but no, I'm not that lucky.

  "Is he there with you?"

  My mother also subscribed to no bounds and then it hit me! No bounds...equaled my mother...equaled Noah. What an interesting connection and I spaced out for a split second as I pondered what it meant. I'm used to the no bounds antic because I was raised under the influence. It appealed. It had kept me safe and guarded by Angela Lourde all these years. Now, I'm knotted up inside for a man that exhibited similar qualities...wow. I can't help but smile--giving all my happiness to my super hottie across the room, loving how his brow quirked up with curiosity and the warmth of his gaze burned me.

  Only then, I remembered my mother's question. "Yes, Mom."

  "Well, I won't keep you, then. He'd better treat my girl right and be safe. I know you're on the shot, but it's not foolproof--use some condoms. And on another note, I have internet and know how to use it! If he crosses one hair on your head, I'll drag his balls through cyberspace so hard he'll wish I was a myth."

  My eyes widened and I'm horrified, flushing red. Birth control? Really? But, of course! "Mother! God, perspective, please!" I suddenly recalled how she added all four of my ex's to an internet hall of shame, and her comments were so ruthless the bastards probably remained single to this day, deservingly of course. Oh, Mother! Please stop! You're embarrassing me.

  "I have perspective, darling. Remember how you made me promise to not let you jump into another hellish relationship? When Gemma called to tell me of your date, of course I worried. But, he is sinfully handsome, though, I Googled him. Just be careful, love, he's rich to be sure, but wealth isn't everything. Your heart is! And after our return, please bring him around--your father and I would love to meet him."

  I think I would love the floor to open up and swallow me whole...a mysterious black hole? Something? "Okay, if I promise too, will you drop the subject? Please?"

  "Yes, well, I must be off. I see your father making a nuisance of himself. He's such an exhibitionist. Kiss, kiss...and take care. Love you, darling."

  "Love you too, Mom. Bye." I hung up and dragged in a deep breath.

  Noah strode across the room and took me in his arms. "Your mother?" He bent to nuzzle my neck, planting a kiss against my racing pulse.

  My breath left my body and I drowned in his delicious scent. His warm lips bled over my skin, taking my sanity in a second and my hands sank into his hair, lost. "Hmmm, my sister told her about us and you've made the Angela Lourde Most Wanted List, tentatively. She did threaten you with bodily harm if you so much as cross a hair on my head." He smiled against my neck, it tickled, and I loved it.

  "I would expect no less. I just hope I can prove her wrong. I look forward to meeting her." His lips moved up my neck, across my jaw to my ear and his teeth sank down on my earlobe. Mmmm, all coherent thoughts flew south, filling my girl parts until I'm nearly panting. "How soon can we meet?" His scrumptious lips trailed over my cheek, hovering over my lips.

  What? "W-well, she and my father are away on a cruise...maybe the week after next?" A man that wanted to meet my parents? There's a first! I could rarely drag the craptastic four kicking and screaming to spend time with my parents for a brief stint on holidays! Had my luck changed? I'm stunned.

  "I'm looking forward to it," he said, covering my mouth with his.

  Noah took a long, leisurely tongue journey through my mouth w
ith sexy exploration. So warm, so hot, I'm a mess of quivering flesh by his mouth alone. I moaned, sinking into his arms. He hugged me closer, pulling back and taking his lips away. I pouted and he grinned.

  I can't win.

  I smoothed my hands down over his chest, his muscles rippled under my touch through his shirt. "Not to sound trite, but why do you want to meet my parents? With my mother gunning for you, I would think you'd want to run far, far away from the Angela Lourde firing squad."

  He smiled. "Your parents made my girl. What's not exceptional about that? You're special to me, Reyna and I want them to know that. I want them to trust me, especially when all I want to do is strip their daughter naked...and re-pillage," he said with a dark gleam lighting his blue eyes.

  My body tightened in response, ready for another course of...him. "Mmmm, what will you do, Mr. Alexander? Spicy vanilla or hot kinkery? I'm thinking exotic. Maybe bondage?" Lord, what was coming out of my mouth? Perhaps I should install a filter. I want to experience everything with my Adonis, no holds kind of thing.

  He chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll sexify you--I've got game, baby."

  I wanted so badly to laugh, but I pursed my lips instead, summoning my most serious gaze and with as much strength as I could muster against his thick, hard body, I pushed him away. He didn't go far (thick wall of muscle that he was), but Noah's stunned expression was priceless, lost even. I think he didn't know how to respond and blinked a couple of times.

  I jabbed my finger in his direction. "You me. Bed now!" In a nanosecond, he scooped me up over his shoulder and I squealed. "Noah! I was kidding! Ah!" He swatted my behind--hard, striding out of the kitchen, and down the hallway.

  "Oh, Ms. Lourde, anytime you throw down, I'm so ready to accept."

  All my blood rushed to my head, I'm dizzy dangling over his shoulder, but I did have a nice view of his ass. The man was gifted, in more ways than one, mouthwateringly so.

  "Noah!" He hit me two more times. It stung. Ow!

  "Quiet! At this rate you'll have no ass left before we reach your bedroom, and believe me, I quite like your ass."

  "Fuck!" He swatted me again, but this time his hand stayed, caressing over me and rubbing out the pain. I shuddered. His sexy spanking comment came to mind, and I groaned.

  "Thought you'd never ask, baby," he crooned softly, still rubbing my backside offered up in the air, my arousal spiked. He reached my bedroom door, "Close your eyes and no peeking. If you cheat, punishment will follow."

  I gulped, but felt no fear as his hand continued to stroke me, and closed my eyes tight. I heard him open the door and the scent of perfumed candles greeted my nose in a stellar welcome. I can't stifle a smile...he'd done something special--for me--again, darling man. In a split second, I felt cherished and wanted inside three days with Noah than ever before. My heart bloomed, though I tried so hard not to place too much hope in the possibility of a richer feeling. I willed myself not to care too deeply for Noah. For me, he would be easy to...love...even with all his darkness.

  Crap! Don't go there, Reyna! Somehow, peace flooded over my entire being at the thought. I instantly decided to allow myself to float inside the feelings, holding them close. He couldn't see them, and I sure as hell wouldn't say them, but I think I really did love Noah Alexander.

  "Are your eyes still closed, baby?"

  "Yes..."

  He shifted me down and I slid seductively over his chest and his erection to the floor. I'm unable to stifle an indrawn breath as every part of me whispered over every hard delight of him.

  "Open your eyes."

  My bedroom room was cast in candle light and my beautiful, pink roses he sent to me on Friday pulled apart and scattered all over the bed and floor. My room was smaller than Claire’s, but comfortable with all white, wicker furnishings, white walls and white carpet, down to the white Egyptian cotton sheets, white comforter and white lace curtains. A custom-built ceiling canopy hung suspended over the bed draped with white tulle, tied off at each bedpost and a huge gilded mirror mounted over the headboard, a gift to myself after visiting an antique shop in Orlando. Everything screamed stark, modern romance with a touch of fairy tale, my personal white-ivory tower. I've always enjoyed the clean freshness of a white bedroom, but with Noah here...it seemed to girly than romantic.

  "I see you've been busy, Mr. Alexander," I said almost breathlessly.

  "Claire was...unexpectedly helpful. Nice room by the way." He stepped away to the new phone dock sitting on my nightstand, whipping out his phone and placed it in the cradle. After a few taps on the screen, music poured through the room. Oh my. Frank Sinatra..."The Very Thought of You"...filled the air.

  My heart melted inside a pool of love, much to my dismay. I didn't want to care this much, too fast.

  He turned to me, gathering me in his arms. "Dance with me."

  Noah didn’t wait for my affirmation, but led me to the gentle strains of Frank and my rapid pulse moved inside the small confines of my room as the most romantic moment of all my life. God, this beat my current single life or my past Monday night football and chicken wings foreplay with the craptastic four. The man may be too much, but totally had my attention and my heart took notes, storing every nuance.

  Noah bent down, nibbling my ear, while humming the music. I whimpered as the vibration of his deep voice pelted my desire and trebled my breathing into undue submission. I buried my lips against his neck. "Noah..." I whispered, brushing my lips along his neck. "You are too much."

  He pulled back to stare deep in my eyes, surprise reflected in their blue depths. "You think so?" He stroked down my cheek with the back of his hand. "You deserve much more. Champagne and silks, a grand ballroom with a concert pianist fit for a queen. This hardly scratches the surface of what you deserve. And as the last night with you until Friday...I just want to enjoy every moment with you--roses, Frank, and maybe something…exotic."

  My sweet no bounds man, ah. I'm so lost in him, and the words of the song.

  "Now, let's peel you out of these clothes."

  First my shirt, then he unhooked my cargo pants. I wiggled them down, stepping out and kicking them aside. "You are wearing too many clothes, Mr. Alexander. What shall I do about that?"

  A sexy smile curved his lips. "Take them off?" His dark blue eyes were full of teasing, seductive light, stealing my breath.

  "Thought you'd never ask," I whispered, reaching for the hem of his shirt and he lifted his arms as I drew it up over his head, tossing it. His hard body rippled with temptation, pitting my need against my ribs with every rapid pulse of my heart. I ran my hands through his dark chest hair, skimming his tattoo. Impulsively, I leaned forward and brushed my lips over the inky mark.

  He groaned. "Reyna..."

  I smiled against his warm flesh, inhaling his delicious scent--all Noah--as my hands skim down his torso, reaching for his belt buckle and making short work of his jeans. Inspiration hit and I dropped down to my knees on the pretense of helping him step out of the material, his erection straining with his desire for me. My eyes cut up to his with determined intent, and he smiled. I tugged on his boxers, freeing his arousal and my breath hitched as I take him in, large, beautiful and exclusively mine.

  I reached for him.

  "No!" he hissed his hands capturing my wrists, roughly yanking me up to stand. Noah rested his forehead against mine. "No, baby. I can't let you...do that. Not now...not ever."

  What? I instantly know I've crossed his imaginary line, again. I'm mortified, losing ground in the war of the unknown. I'm so embarrassed. "Noah--I--"

  He relaxed his grip on my wrists and gathered me close. "Shh...no, baby. Please understand me, I can never allow you to touch me like that," he said. "Damn...I'm sorry."

  "Why? Tell me." I'm practically begging by this point, not to mention embarrassed.

  Noah shook his head, running his nose down mine. "As I mentioned in my past experiences with women...they touched…only there, but, not you--never you, Reyna. You are worth a
million to one compared to them."

  Oh my God. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. I'll never get to touch him--there. This was too fucked up, there had to be more to it. I drew in a deep breath, stepping back from him and the look on his face pulled at my heart, surprised and lost.

  "I'm not going to pretend this isn't awkward," I began and he moved to speak, but I thrust a hand upward to still his protest. "I never know where the line is, Noah. Don't do this, don't do that--jeez--it's as if I've fallen into some kind of wormhole of no return. I know you have secrets you'd rather not share, but I can't worry about how I'm going to touch you or what new problem is waiting for me. You have to trust me, a little."

  Noah stepped forward and I step back. "Reyna--"

  Chapter 15

  How blessed am I in this discovering thee. To enter in these bonds is to be free.

  ~ John Donne (English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest)

  "No. I won't force you to spill your skeletons, Noah, but neither will I allow you to wrap me up in knots."

  He pushed a hand through his dark, tousled hair in obvious frustration. "You're not crossing some line, Reyna. But, if you touch me there, it will remind me of all the empty moments I've had with meaningless women. That isn't what I want with you. I love the feel of your mouth on me, but not there...not that way. Perhaps the reason is deeper than what I'm willing to share right now, but I ask you to trust me. Give me time, Reyna, that's all I ask."

  What should I say to that? My heart ached for him, pleading with him to trust me, while he asked so ardently for my trust. I wanted too, but how? I'm so afraid the truth was worse than the reality of standing in front of him. I feared my emotions, my feelings, and the lure to love him as I've never loved anyone in my life. I could take anything--and have--but somehow this man's darkness scared me more than my mind could process.

  "I'm afraid to lose you, Noah."

  He inhaled sharply, stepping close, but not touching. "And I'm not looking to lose you."