Page 123 of After All This Time

“You’re my moonlight. The moon is just a mere shadow of the sun and for years, I thought I hated you for always being around. But even then, you were always there in the back of my mind. So goddamn persistent, too.”

He’s breathless and wholeheartedly mesmerized by me.

“I’ve never met a man who cares so deeply about his family and his loved ones. You’re the only man who makes me blush just by looking at me. I’ve never laughed or smiled so much in a long time.” I smile which turns into a breathy laugh. “You can’t have two halves without a whole. I need you in my life, Noah. I need my moonlight.”

I reach over and grab the glass of water sitting on my bedside table, gulping the entire thing down my throat.

After several minutes of me spilling my guts out, Noah finally says something to me. “Are you done?”

“Yup.”

“Okay, before we do this, you need to promise me this can’t be a one-time thing. If we do this, that’s it. You’re it for me. There’s no going back.”

I used to despise the word ‘promise.’ Noah is giving it an entirely new meaning now.

His hands grab onto my hips, tugging me closer to him.

Tilting my head, my hands wrap around his neck as I smile. “I promise.”

He aggressively grabs me by my waist, our lips come into collision so hard I might wake up with a nice bruise on my lips tomorrow.

“Lie down flat on your back for me,” Noah tells me.

He slithers down to the lower half of my body like a snake with his hypnotizing eyes on me the entire time.

My pulse staggers, latching onto every imperfect heave coming out of my chest.

He tickles the skin on my stomach with the string from my shorts. “I’m taking these off. Is that okay?”

Fuck, yes.

“Yes.”

I let out a smooth breath, staring at the ceiling.

He slides them down my legs, throwing my shorts off the bed. His eyes land back on me. “Lift your arms for me.”

“Hey, I thought I was in charge.” I frown, my voice going up several octaves like I’ve been sucking on a helium balloon for several hours.

“You’re on a brief intermission.”

I open my mouth, letting out a gasp.

He takes off my shirt without any issues, proceeding to examine my chest area and smiling up a storm.

“What?”

His eyes relocate to my face. “You’re wearing a bra this time.”

I cross my legs, raising my right eyebrow and tilting my head with my eyes firmly planted on his. “I couldn’t make it too easy for you. You’re going to have to work for it.”

“You should know it turns me on when you challenge me.” He bites down on his bottom lip as he checks me out.

His dreamy ocean eyes wander to my chest and down to my stomach.

“Are you okay over there?” I smirk.

“No, I’m just overwhelmed that a woman like you exists. Dani, you’re a fucking masterpiece.”

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