Page 174 of After All This Time

Once we breeze our way through security, we run to the elevator.

When the elevator doors open, he presses the button with the number four on it.

As the doors close, I gather my hair at the back of my head and secure it into a low ponytail.

His gaze is setting me ablaze.

“What?” My face scrunches before my lips shift to the side of my mouth.

Strutting over to me, he pins me against the wall. His lips make a crash-landing on mine, one hand cupping my face as the other wraps around my waist.

Ding. Level 2.

His mouth makes its way to my neck, gently tugging on my skin.

This cannot be happening right now. He’s trying to freaking kill me.

Ding. Level 3.

“Noah,” I groan through a faint breath.

His lips are soft and cushiony like a great quality pillow you’d get at a fancy resort.

Ding. Level 4.

He pulls his lips off mine and walks out of the elevator.

I stop to collect myself.

That was one of the best kisses I’ve ever had in my entire life. That says a lot because pretty much every kiss I’ve had with him has been life-changing.

Goosebumps cover the outer layer of my skin, visible for everybody to see.

He looks behind, noticing that I’m not following him. “You alright?”

“Uh-huh. I just…um…I need a moment,” I say before letting out a smooth exhale.

A big smile appears on his face. “Took your breath away, didn’t I?”

“You could say something like that.”

“Just wait until tonight, Sweet Peach.” He winks an eye, a smirk clutching onto the corners of his lips.

My eyelids rapidly blink. Brain attempting to process what I just heard come out of his mouth. God, his mouth. It’s trouble in all caps.

My cheeks are overheating. They’re most likely bright red.

“Your flushed cheeks aren’t going to go away if you keep rubbing them. That’s only going to make it worse.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“If you keep telling me to shut up all the time, you’re going to have to make me. Every. Single. Time.”

I exhale, rolling my eyes. “Let’s go, Heart Eyes.”

Walking over to Lizzie’s room, Noah’s speed-walking to catch up to me. When he does, we see his mom and my mom standing in the doorway.

“Hi, Mom,” he says to Laura.

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