Page 156 of Echoes of Us

“Are you okay?” I opened the condom and put it on.

“Yes, please get in me already.”

I pushed against him, entering him with ease. Noah let his legs slip farther apart, supporting his weight on his palms.

“You look so good arching like that.”

He moaned. I grabbed his shoulder, pulling him towards me, pressing his back against my chest. I started pumping my hips, keeping my pace slow. One hand stayed on his hip, feeling him push back towards me, while the other held his neck. Noah arched beautifully, leaning his head back on my shoulder. I kissed his jaw and watched him moan.

“This feels so fucking good, please get your hand on me.” He gasped.

I did as he asked, and he reached his hands to my hair, tangling and pulling to keep himself steady. Every time I moved my hips, Noah met me halfway, drawing me deeper before pulling back and starting over.

“Stop, stop.” He covered my hand with his.

“What’s wrong?”

“Absolutely nothing. I just want this to go on forever. Keep moving like that. Don’t move your hand, just keep it there.”

I followed his orders. I wasn’t sure if it was my pace or his anymore, or if we had somehow made this movement ours in the best possible way, but I knew exactly what he meant. I wanted to feel this with him forever. It wasn’t about reaching the end but savoring each moment before we got there. Every time I quickened the pace, Noah slowed me down seamlessly. I did the same for him, keeping each other in line and preserving this moment.

When his legs started to shake with the effort of staying upright, I moved him to the bed, his back against the pillows. I hooked one arm under his knee, pressing him up, cradling his head with my free hand. Noah held his arms loosely around my neck, parting his lips for me, his hands strokingmy hair or shoulders with soft movements that were a caress, not urging me in the slightest.

Noah’s moans started rising in intensity, and I quickened my pace, making sure he got where he needed. I pressed my hand on the bed to give him room, watching his hand move quickly over his cock as he threw his head back, lost in pleasure. I leaned down to lick the sweat from his neck, tasting the saltiness of his skin, and he groaned again, a deep sound. Noah tightened his fist in my hair, pulling me towards his lips, and came against my mouth, moaning as he arched off the bed, his entire body trembling.

Seeing him like that, so vulnerable and open, was all it took for me to follow his lead. I pushed into him, riding my orgasm, then stopped with my hips flush against his, our bodies perfectly aligned.

We caught our breaths together, his forehead on mine, our soft exhales matching. I opened my eyes to see him looking right back at me. He stroked the side of my face and back towards my hair, tracing his path with his eyes.

“Whatever the hell that was, please do it again.” I loved how breathless his voice sounded.

“That definitely wasn’t just me.” I leaned in to kiss him.

Noah was soft and relaxed, his usual edges smoothed by the afterglow. I had never felt him this malleable to me, this open.

“I know you don’t know this, Atty, but sex isn’t usually like this, like what we just did. You felt that, right? It’s not just me being crazy?” He searched my face.

“I felt it,” I assured him, brushing the hair away from his brow.

He closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to hold onto the moment.

“I could never give you up, Atty. I don’t think you know how much I love you.”

“You don’t have to give me up. I’m here.”

His eyes met mine, a soft smile following close behind. His knuckles grazed my cheek, and I leaned into the touch.

“You are, aren’t you?” he whispered. “I’m never letting you go, even if you beg me to.” He smiled and bit his tongue.

He meant it as a joke, but I wished he didn’t. I didn’t want Noah to ever let me go.

Sex started to become a quick fix. If Noah tried to get up in the middle of the night, I’d keep him with me in bed. If I woke up and he was gone, I’d either go to him and end up having sex on his couch or bring him back to bed for the same. If I saw him reach for his third Red Bull in an hour, I’d kiss him against the fridge to make him forget about it. By Friday, I was starting to feel sleep-deprived too.

That afternoon, I got called to my advisor’s office.

She told me my grades had been dropping. It wasn’t significant yet, but she wanted to make sure I was on top of it. My RA had mentioned I hadn’t been sleeping in the dorm since winter break, and my advisor warned me that new relationships could sometimes be too intense and drive us off course. She said I needed to rethink my priorities before it was too late. She didn’t have to mention that, if my grades kept dropping, I would lose my scholarship. The conversation made it clear enough.

I talked to my mom after that. I told her what they told me, about Noah and the trip to Seattle. She was very against it. It had been a while since the last time we had a disagreement, and I hated how it made me feel. It was like I was disconnected from everything in my life that wasn’t Noah.

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