Page 137 of Aria

She ducked her head. “It might be more comfortable…”

I garnered the strength to pull myself up from the couch, hissing through my teeth as my body cussed me out for ignoring the doctor’s orders of limited exertion. Chelsie was at my side right away, one hand clasping her blanket, and the other holding me steady. The journey up the staircase seemed painstakingly long compared to the usual trek, but mostly because all I could think about was being inside her again.

When we reached the bedroom, Chelsie turned to face me, letting the blanket flutter from her grip. The moonlight brightened her ivory skin, and I couldn’t help but stare in wonder. “You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?”

She replied by stepping forward and leaning up on her tiptoes to plant a sweet kiss on my mouth. Reaching behind her back, she unhooked her bra, dropping it to the floor beside her feet. “You make me feel beautiful,” she whispered against my lips.

I ushered her backward, walking her toward the bed and climbing in beside her. “You just make me fucking feel.”

Her hair splayed out around her on the bedsheets, her eyes dancing with anticipation. She lifted one knee and cupped both breasts in her palms, pulling a groan out of me as I leaned over her to pepper kisses down her neck and chest.

“Make love to me.”

Fuck.

I was insatiable—I couldn’t get enough of her.

There was no reality in which I wouldeverget enough of her.

Chelsie curled up beside me, sweat-soaked and spent, after I’d taken my time discovering every perfect inch of her body. Her head was resting on my shoulder, her fingers drawing lazy designs across my chest. I held her close, concentrating on the way her skin felt against mine and burning it into my brain forever.

“We’re, like… the perfect duet,” I whispered, my hands combing through her hair.

Chelsie’s fingers paused on my chest. “Duet?”

I shrugged lightly. “I’m a music guy, so that’s the first thing that came to mind. You know, when you hear this killer duet and you think, ‘shit, they go so well together.’ That’s us… that’s you and me.”

She considered my words, going silent as she laid sprawled against me.

“Think we should get some shut-eye before the little man finds his way in here?” I asked, giving her a gentle squeeze. “I wish we could make this night last forever, but you know… dad life.”

She nodded into my chest. “I know.” Rolling off me, Chelsie pulled the covers up to her chin. “Noah?”

A pang of worry washed over me when she said my name. The tone, the pitch—something in her voice had changed. The mood shifted ever so slightly. I braced myself for what she might say. “Yeah?”

She reached her hand out and rested it along my cheek, her eyes wide and expressive. “Sam is so lucky to have you,” she murmured, her eyes shimmering in the milky moonglow.

I kissed her hand. “He’s lucky to have you, too. We both are.”

She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Goodnight, Noah.”

“Goodnight.” I watched as she rolled over to face away from me, burying herself beneath the blankets.

As I drifted off, I could have sworn I heard the faint sound of muffled cries. But I was so consumed with exhaustion, I was unsure of anything at that point, so I blamed it on the howling wind outside my window and fell into a comfortable sleep.

* * *

When sunlight spilled inside the room the next morning, I stretched with a content smile and reached over to the other side of the bed. Memories swirled around me. I was eager to feel her warmth.

But when I opened my eyes, my bed was empty.

I was alone.

Frowning, I sat up with achy muscles and throbbing wounds, looking around the room in a sleep-filled daze.

That’s when I spotted a note resting atop one of the pillows beside me. My stomach sank. It took a moment for me to work up the courage to read it, so I just let it sit there for a few minutes longer. I savored those final moments living in a reality where Chelsie was still mine because I knew…

I just fucking knew.

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