Page 171 of Echoes of Us

“Shit.” Noah leaned his back against the counter.

How many times had he climbed over it and urged me towards him? I’d lost count. I had no idea who this Noah was. At the same time, I had him memorized. How close had I been to never seeing him run his tongue over his lip? I took another step towards him, walking into the kitchen and placing my hand on the counter.

Noah glanced at me before reaching for the fridge. “Isuppose if we’re going to have this conversation, we should probably have a drink. Or you could.” He pulled on the handle.

The soft light fell on him. In the dim apartment, it made it look like he was glowing. He was so uncomfortable, but I didn’t really care because he was still standing there. He was alright and breathing. His heart was beating under his ribcage, and all I wanted was to feel it, to make sure it was there.

I walked closer.

“I don’t keep anything stronger than beer, and apparently only have one of those left. You can have it, and I’ll pretend to be having something stronger while drinking club soda. How does that sound?” he rambled.

I just needed to make sure he was okay. Noah’s hand held a can of beer as I pushed the fridge doors closed. His eyes met mine again.

“I didn’t come here to talk about the overdose.” I took the can from his hand and placed it on the counter.

A crease formed between his brows before they rose. Realization and disbelief crossed his face. “Then…?” The word was barely a question but loaded with meaning.

I stepped closer, and he tilted his head back to maintain eye contact. My heart drummed against my chest as I reached for his neck. Noah’s shoulders tensed, his lips parting in surprise. His eyes darted over mine, scared. His hands touched my wrists, not pushing me away, just holding me hesitantly. My thumbs stroked his cheeks as I tilted his head back and stepped closer, pressing him against the fridge and caging him in.

“What are you doing?” he whispered.

I licked my lips, and his eyes followed the movement. “I think it’s pretty fucking clear.”

The corners of his lips twitched upwards before I kissed him.

There was no slowness. I couldn’t have done it even if I tried. I tilted his head back and touched my tongue to his. Noah’s fingers slipped into my hair, holding me close as I kissed him deeply, pushing him against the fridge and pressing my body against his. He was here. Noah was here. He was okay.

I let go of his face and moved my hands under his shirt, feeling his body respond. I wrapped my arms around his waist, not moving from his lips, pulling him up towards me. I turned him, lifting him enough to get him on the counter, and stepped into the V of his legs. Noah kissed me back frantically, nodding when I grabbed onto his thighs, moving them over my hips.

I reached for his shirt to pull it off, and he hesitated. I pressed my forehead against his, and we stared at each other before he gave me a small nod, and I resumed. Noah’s body was heaven. Beautiful and lean, his muscles decorating this stronger, healthier version of him. I spotted a scar on his chest, a single line towards the left side. It wasn’t big, but it made my heart stop. I could have lost him.

I kissed his neck and bit down on his collarbone while Noah held me tightly with his arms and legs. I felt his chain against my lips and kissed up to his mouth again. We kissed each other hungrily, like we were both starved for it. I wanted to be as close to him as I could, and he gave me just that. I had one arm around his waist while my other hand braced against the counter, leaning on him, and Noah arched towards me. He was still so perfect.

Then he moved from my lips, turning his face, and I kept kissing his cheek and jaw. “Atty.” He sounded out of breath. I had missed that sound so much.

“I love how you say my name like that,” I whispered.

He frowned before licking his lips. I couldn’t hold back. I licked his lips too and tried to get him to kiss me again, but he pressed his hand on my chest and turned from me once more.

“What?”

He moved closer. I thought he was going to kiss me again, but it was like he was trying to smell me. “You’ve been drinking.” It wasn’t a question.

I kissed him again, and he responded before pushing me back.

“Are you drunk?”

We breathed into each other’s mouths for a few more tantalizing seconds before I nodded.

Noah sighed. “Damn it.”

“Noah, let me kiss you.”

He kissed me again, the same passion in each one I managed to get in before he moved again and groaned in frustration. I moved, running my hands over his back and kissing his neck again.

“Atty, you’re drunk. You don’t want anything to do with me, remember? I’m the asshole that dumped you,” he said as I sucked on his skin, feeling his shoulder rise and a soft exhale escape his lips.

“I don’t care, Noah. I just want to make sure you’re here. I almost lost you. I just need…” I peppered kisses all over him, trying to get back to his lips.

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