Wren considered her and Noah knew what she saw. Behind Adrienne’s delicate beauty and innocent air was a veil of strength that was often hard to see. “I think you would surprise yourself.”
“Maybe, or maybe I’m just a judgemental bitch,” Adrienne giggled, and he realised she might have had too many drinks.
Noah tried to pry the drink from Adrienne’s hand, but she clutched it like a baby with a bottle. He grunted in irritation as Adrienne chased the rim and tried to put it to her lips.
She managed to get one gulp before Noah pried it from her and in the process sloshed some over the back of their hands. He shook his head at his small female’s tenacity…she didn’t want to give up that drink.
“I think you better get her home,” Wren said.
Adrienne leaned heavily into his side. Clutching his shirt, she placed her head on his chest so she could continue watching the dancers. “No, can we stay a little longer?”
When he hesitated, she rubbed her tiny face over his heart, unintentionally scent-marking him, and when Adrienne said, “Please!” Noah was a goner.
Wren smothered a laugh. “I see you have your hands full. I’m off to dance. Enjoy your evening.”
“We’ll stay a little longer,” he whispered to Adrienne while nodding at Wren. “It’s been enjoyable talking to you.”
Wren cocked her head like she was considering whether he was telling the truth or not.
Noah wasn’t deceitful…except to his mate. He groaned internally and squeezed Ren tighter.
“You mean that? Which means.” Wren’s eyes flicked to Adrienne. “You’re doing what she asked.” Wren’s grin was wide and cheeky as she dashed away to dance.
“Yes, I am,” Noah whispered to himself. “Did you hear that Ren? Wren said I did what you asked. Now it’s your turn.” He wasn’t talking about her art, but how she should take a chance on him.
Running his hand over her hair. He wanted to increase his intimacy with her. The small touches were soothing. He longed for skin-to-skin contact with her.
Adrienne stayed quiet and he glanced down and groaned aloud. She was like an angel curled against him staring dreamily as people came and went.
They stayed like that in comfortable silence, rocking their bodies, yet he was happy to keep holding her. It was an intimacy of its own.
When he had the urge to mate in captivity, all he thought about was getting in and getting out of the female’s body. That to him was what intimacy was about.
But he didn’t know anything because Adrienne was everything.
The small touches he shared with her; the way Adrienne trusted him implicitly. Adrienne was proud to stand beside him and call him a hero. His chest ached with strong emotion.
It was intimate sharing his day with her, living comfortably with each other.
Everything else was just sex and that was fine for other people. Not him, Noah wanted to have more than just sex, he wanted a true mating with all those intimacies included and ones he hadn’t discovered yet.
His eyes snagged on Cain who tumbled his daughter into his arms and whispered something in her ear. Her small bow lips quirked up, mischief in her expression. They stalked the dancefloor together, bobbing and weaving her small body between feet until they pounced on Lila.
Lila feigned surprise and praised her adorable hunter and Noah felt a pang in his chest.
He glanced down. Adrienne had her hand curled into him and her eyes closed. Her breathing was heavy, and he had a feeling the only thing keeping her upright was him.
He shook her shoulders. Her eyes widened and she murmured, “Hmm?”
“Come on little warrior I think that’s enough for tonight.”
Adrienne looked at him with sleepy eyes. “Thank you for agreeing to come. It was fun?” she asked rather than told, her eyes searching his.
“Yes Ren, it was fun,” he replied, lips twitching at the happy sound she let out.
“I knew you would enjoy yourself,” she said confidently.
Noah enjoyed himself because Adrienne was there. Without her, the world simply didn’t make sense to him, and he just plain needed her.