Page 54 of Connected By Souls

“I’m glad it helped you.” He kisses my head.

We stay a bit longer before saying our goodbyes, promising them I would be over again soon. Noah calls for Nala, and she jumps in the back seat as we take the top down. We want to enjoy the full moon and stars tonight. I lift my head to the sky and close my eyes, letting the breeze blow through my hair as we go through town. Thinking about my conversation with Mimi has filled me with peace and a deep knowing. I’m right where I should be. I have a chance to be happy and experience a love that most people dream about. Mimi’s had fifty-three years with the love of her life, and they’re still going strong because she chose to walk toward Frank despite her fears.

Looking over at Noah, I see his dark hair slightly blowing in the breeze, the perfect line of his jaw and sculpted cheekbones, and I know with all my being that there’s no other choice for me than to walk towards him.

Looking over at me, he smiles and takes my hand. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“I was just thinking I don’t want this night to end.”

“I was thinking the same thing. I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for a drink and maybe a swim. The full moon is beautiful tonight.”

“That sounds perfect.” Stopping by my house, I run in and grab my swimsuit before climbing back in the Bronco and heading to his house, knowing we can exchange cars later.

We get Nala out of the car and make our way inside. She runs to her bed and curls up to sleep, exhausted from her evening with Hurley. “I’ll get us some wine while you change into your suit. The bathroom is right there.” He points to a door off of the kitchen.

“Thank you.” I walk to the bathroom and close the door. Looking at my reflection, I take deep breaths. Suddenly nervous, I let my hair down and finger comb the waves that got windblown from the ride home. I change into my white bikini and reapply some lip moisturizer. I’ve never been big on lipstick, but I love my chapsticks and clear lip gloss.

I put a hand on my stomach, trying to will the butterflies to calm down. I can do this. I can take this next step forward. Taking a deep breath, I walk out and set my folded clothes on the table with my bag. I see Noah in the pool with our wine glasses on a tray beside him. Smiling, I see he’s even got the fire table going again for the ambiance. I walk outside and can feel his gaze on me as I walk to the pool’s steps and join him on the side.

The water is slightly warm from the sun and feels amazing against my skin. It’s only up to our stomachs on this shallow end, but on the deeper end, there’s a waterfall coming from a high rock formation giving it a tropical feel with plants surrounding it. A hot tub sits in the corner, surrounded by potted palm trees. “This pool is beautiful. I love the rocks that surround the waterfall.”

“I’ve always loved the feel and sound of waterfalls. My parents would have to drag me out of them when we would see any on vacations. When I got bigger, I would jump from the top of them with the locals scaring my mom half to death,” he laughs.

“I can imagine.” I smile at the image of a young, carefree Noah enjoying the feeling of flying. I take the wine he hands me. Taking a sip, I sigh. “This night is perfect with all the stars and the full moonlight reflecting off the ocean.” I look and take in all the beauty.

“It is perfect,” he says softly, looking only at me. I feel my face grow warm from the compliment. “Did you have fun tonight? My family can be a little loud and overwhelming sometimes.” He chuckles and takes a sip of his wine.

“I did have fun. They all are so wonderful and made me feel so welcome. I loved everything about them.”

“They loved you too. I think they want you to come back more than they do me.”

“That’s just because they see you all the time anyway.” I laugh at his teasing.

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. They most definitely have a favorite. I can’t blame them. You have that effect on people, making them fall in love with you as soon as they see you.” His eyes are full of emotions that would have had me running for the hills not too long ago.

I feel my heartbeat quicken at his words. I decide to be completely honest and brave. “It seems like we have that in common as well.” Hearing his breath hitch at my words, he takes my wine glass from me and sets them both on the tray.

“I want you to know, Emma, that I don’t take this lightly. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I can’t help the way I feel. The first moment I saw you, I knew you wereitfor me. I hope that doesn’t scare you off with me saying that, but I want you to know this isn’t some fling for me.”

Staring into his eyes, I can see the emotions that I know are mirrored in mine. “I was scared, but I’m more scared of walking away and never feeling the way that you make me feel ever again. You’reitfor me too. I don’t understand how it can happen so fast, but I’m done questioning it. I’m done being scared of what could happen when I have you here, right now, beside me.”

“I’ll always be right beside you.” He closes the distance between us. Putting his hands on either side of my face, his lips find mine. We pour all of our emotions into this one kiss. Our tongues collide as we explore each other. Needing to feel him, my hands find his chest and back. He grabs my behind and lifts me so I can wrap my legs around him. Groaning at the contact, I throw my head back as he kisses down my neck, gently biting and sucking. My hands go into his hair, grabbing and pulling as my body throbs with desire.

“Fuck,” he breathes, lifting his head and meeting my eyes. “I really need to talk to you about something tonight, and I didn’t mean to start this before I did.” He’s breathing hard and trying to get himself under control. “I just lose all control when you’re near me.”

Feeling his hardness against me, all I can think about is easing this ache deep inside me. “Can’t it wait? I don’t want to talk right now. I just want to feel this with you. You make me feel so alive when I’m with you. I need you so much right now.” I give him a small smile. “Please don’t make me beg.”

I can tell he’s struggling with which way to go. Whatever he has to tell me can wait. Now that my mind is made up to move forward, I want all of him, and I don’t intend to stop tonight until I get it. Seeing his eyes start to burn into mine, I think he’s made his decision.

“Oh, you’ll be begging me tonight, but for different reasons.” Carrying me up the pool stairs with my legs still around his waist, he walks over to the waterfall and lowers me down on the ledge that goes around the pool. He walks us to the waterfall. Water cascades down on me, bathing me as we stand under the fall. Pulling me further under the waterfall, we come out on the other side. We’re in a makeshift cave surrounded by rocks. The rush of water surrounds us, creating a wall of water between us and the outside world.

“I’ve always wanted to do this behind a waterfall.” His voice is dangerously low as he approaches me. My back hits the smooth rock wall, wet from the moisture of the fall. He grabs my wrists with one hand and puts them above my head, holding me there while the other hand finds my nipple already hard as he rubs his thumb across it. I gasp and arch my back from the sensation. Reaching up, he unties my bikini top freeing my breasts as he hungrily looks at them. Taking a nipple into his mouth, he lightly scrapes it with his teeth before sucking deeply. Moaning, I try to free my hands to touch him, but he holds me in place. I feel him grin against me. “Not yet. I just got started. I like you writhing against me, unable to touch me but wanting to so badly.” My breathing increases in anticipation of what’s to come.

Moving to my next nipple, he circles it with his tongue before lightly biting and licking it. Heat courses through my body as I throb and ache for something, anything to give me relief. Moving his hand down my stomach, he cups me through my swimsuit and rubs my sensitive bud.

“Oh God,” I breathe as I try and rub myself against him.

“You like that?” He whispers against my ear before trailing his tongue down my neck. He pushes my suit to the side and enters two fingers. I’m so wet and throbbing as I move against his hand.

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