Page 103 of Noah

Having him close wasn’t painful anymore, instead, there was a sense of sad need. As if they were both waiting for a command to start tearing down the walls they had built.

“I couldn’t wait anymore. I didn’t want you to doubt yourself ever. No one has the right to make you feel like that,” he grinned. “Not even you.” Noah glanced around and she followed his eyes unable to believe the crowd, so full that people bumped into each other. “What do you think?”

“It’s gorgeous…beautiful. Thank you.”

He shrugged. “You did all the hard work. I just wanted to show you it was worth it.” She heard the hidden words: “I’m worth it.” The ones he didn’t want to say.

He was holding himself back, trying not to push her.

“Noah,” she sighed.

“Please don’t deny us,” he begged. “I won’t lie to you again. I was going to tell you that evening, but you had already left.”

“I want to trust you,” Adrienne replied. “I did trust you.”

Noah scowled at himself. “I know and I’m prepared to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please just give me a chance.”

Adrienne gripped his arm, and he glanced down. She winced when she saw white under her fingers, not realising how tightly she held him, and went to pull away, but he held her fast.

He took her hand, guiding her to his side. She couldn’t refuse him; he was being a gentleman and she wasn’t sure she even wanted to. Having him close wasn’t painful anymore, instead, there was a sense of building energy. As if they were both waiting for a command to start tearing down walls.

“I couldn’t wait anymore. I didn’t want you to doubt yourself ever. No one has the right to make you feel like that,” he grinned smartly. “Not even you.” He glanced around and she followed his eyes, still unable to believe the crowd. People were bumping into each other. “What do you think?”

“It’s gorgeous…beautiful. Thank you.”

He shrugged. “You did all the hard work. I just wanted to show you it was worth it.” She heard the hidden words: “I’m worth it.” The ones he didn’t want to say.

He was holding himself back, trying not to push her.

“Noah,” she sighed.

“Please don’t deny us,” he begged. “I won’t lie to you again. I was going to tell you that evening, but you had already left.”

“I want to trust you,” Adrienne replied. “I did trust you.”

Noah scowled at himself. “I know and I’m prepared to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please just give me a chance.”

Adrienne gripped his arm, and he glanced down. She winced when she saw white under her fingers, not realising how tightly she held him, and went to pull away, but he held her fast.

“Don’t please,” he said roughly. “I haven’t felt you in so long. Even through clothes…” He shuddered. “You feel exquisite.”

She licked her suddenly dry lips.

He grabbed her a drink from a passing waiter, and she threw it back in one swallow. The burn was good.

One of his eyebrows rose, but he didn’t say a word. Taking the glass from her, he placed it on a tray and then gave her a crooked grin.

“This is wonderful.” Adrienne felt so out of sync like she wasn’t sure if she should be there.

There were people with dresses in the hundred thousand digits. One of the females Adrienne had passed dripped in diamonds giving off a clear, clean sparkle. Adrienne dreaded thinking about what they would cost.

Then there were Armani suits and expensive cufflinks. Gentlemen with signet rings, as if they come from families that used to use them as a personal signature, symbols of their family heritage.

The sort of ancestry that needed signet rings looking at her paintings was a little frightening. If she had to be honest, the power and money in the room overwhelmed her.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Noah’s voice held a pleading edge to it.

Adrienne laughed. It cut off when she caught a gentleman having his servant or butler write a cheque for him. Who uses chequebooks anymore? And what did that mean in terms of what he was offering?

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