Page 29 of Connected By Souls

“I know. I loved it too. Let’s see what we can find. Race you to the water.” I take off running. Hearing her laugh behind me is one of the best sounds in the world, and I intend to have her do it often.

Reaching the water's edge, she runs up behind me. “No fair,” she laughs. “You had a head start.”

Catching my breath, I grin. “Nah, I’m just faster.”

“Prove it,” she says, running down the beach.

“Oh, you’re going to get it.” I run after her, easily catching up to her. She squeals as I grab her by the waist and pull her to me. She tries wiggling out of my arms, causing us to lose our balance as we fall together on the sand. I cushion her fall by pulling her on top of me. The laughter dies down as our eyes meet, breathing heavily. I reach out to put her hair behind her ear, feeling the silky strands. “You’re so beautiful,” I whisper.

Hearing her breath quicken, I lower my eyes to her lips as she wets them. Meeting her eyes and seeing the desire behind them is the only permission I need. I grab the back of her head and pull her to me, crushing my lips to hers. Tracing my tongue along her bottom lip, I plunge in deep, tongues colliding.

Every sense of mine is on fire. Every kiss we have ever shared hits me all at once as the familiarity of her lips sparks the flame in me that has been dormant in this lifetime. A moan escapes her as I lightly bite her bottom lip, grasping her hair tighter. My tongue explores her mouth as I hungrily feed off of her trying to feed that starvation I’ve felt my whole life. Feeling her hands on my chest, she fists my shirt and gently pulls away. Putting my forehead against hers, we struggle to catch our breaths.

“Are you ok? I’m sorry if that was too much. I can’t seem to control myself around you,” I breathe.

“Don’t be sorry. If I’m being honest with myself, I wanted it just as much as you did. I just,” she struggles with the words. “The way you make me feel when I’m around you scares the hell out of me,” she confesses softly.

I lift her chin to meet my eyes so she can see her emotions mirrored in mine. “It scares the hell out of me too, but do you feel the connection between us? It’s like a soul-deep knowing that this is exactly where we’re supposed to be.”

She nods her head. “I feel it. It’s like my whole life has led me to be here with you, but I don’t know if I’m brave enough to listen to it.”

“You’re braver than you think.” Reaching for her, I softly kiss her lips before getting up and helping her stand. Brushing ourselves off, we grab our nets and flashlights. “We better head back. I don’t want to keep you out too late with work in the morning. We can search for crabs on the way unless you aren’t any good at finding them,” I tease her, wanting to make her smile so she won’t get in her head and overthink things.

“Just try and keep up,” she says, grinning.

We laugh and joke like kids, each trying to find one before the other. Looking at her laughing now as she splashes in the water, trying to catch one, I know a part of her is healing. Little by little, she’s becoming whole again. She’s coming back to me just like she always does.

ChapterFourteen

Emma

Returning to his house,my mind is a mix of emotions. I know I’m struggling and resisting what I feel when I’m with him. He brings out a side of me that scares the hell out of me. It also makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt before. That kiss...just thinking about how it felt causes a blush to creep up on my cheeks. My body, remembering how he held me possessively and kissed me like he wanted to devour me, has me throbbing with need in places I thought would never feel alive again. It had taken everything I had to turn my head and break the kiss, my body and heart feeling betrayed, but fear had crept in, clouding my desire.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I hear Noah ask, sending me back to the present.

Startled and flustered, I clear my throat, my body still on fire from the memory. “Um, I was just thinking how much fun I had tonight.”

Reaching out and touching my blushing cheeks, he grins. “I’m glad you had fun, and if this blush is any indication, you and I have the same favorite memory,” he teases.

“Very funny.” I feel slightly embarrassed that I got caught. He’s very good at reading me and knowing exactly what I’m thinking. “I should probably go home. It’s getting late, and I have work early in the morning. Thank you for tonight. I can’t remember the last time I smiled so much.”

Walking me to the door, he turns to me. “I’m glad. I love making you smile.” His eyes turn a heated dark blue as he leans down to whisper in my ear. “I’m not going to kiss you goodnight. If I start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop, but I want you to know that I’m feeling everything you’re feeling right now and more. I want you, all of you. I’ll be patient until you’re ready, but don’t fight us much longer, Emma. You will be mine, and I think deep down you know it too.”

Feeling his breath against my skin, my body shakes with desire. He nips my ear softly with his teeth before pulling back and opening the door. I shakily go outside, feeling like my legs will give out any second. Turning back around, I see his heated stare knowing full well that he means every word he says. I won’t be able to fight it much longer. I’m powerless against this man.

“Night, Emma, sweet dreams,” his voice is low, and his blue eyes never leave mine.

I swallow hard. “Night, Noah,” I say, barely audible, as I break his intent gaze and turn to walk home.

Lying in bed later that night, I fall asleep thinking about our kiss. In my dream, though, I never turn away. I let my heart lead, and I take what I want, what we both want.

Grasping his shirt, I let my hands roam down his tight stomach pulling his shirt over his head. Desperate to feel his skin, I run my hands over taut muscles causing him to shiver with need. Suddenly, flipping me over so I’m on my back, he kisses his way down my neck, lightly biting, causing me to moan. “That sound makes me come undone,” he breathes against my neck.

Feeling his hard length against my thigh, I rub against him, trying to ease the throbbing between my legs. I hear him moan as he shifts between my legs, giving us better access. He pulls my shirt lower down my shoulder, softly biting my nipple through my lace bra. I cry out from the intense pleasure that it causes. Pushing my bra aside, he feasts on me as I shamelessly grind against him, desperate for release.

“Do you remember Emma?” His hand moves under my waistband, cupping my wetness. “Do you remember how good we are together? You’ve always been mine. Nobody knows this body like I do.” He pushes two fingers inside me and rubs my swollen bud with his thumb. I whimper from the pleasure of wanting, needing more. “Let go, baby. I’m here to catch you.” The pressure builds deep in my core before I shatter into a million pieces as wave after wave of pleasure consumes me.

I cry out in my sleep. Waking up, I gasp for air. My body trembles as I come down from my euphoric high. Reaching over, I grab my water from the nightstand and gulp it down, trying to quench my thirst.

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