Page 34 of The Man Next Door
He laughed out loud, and when he finally settled, he walked away, shoulders hunched, head still shaking. Finally, he turned back to me. “Um… well, thanks a lot for the muffins, kid. You should probably go.”
“Uh… I thought we’d just established that I am, in fact, not a kid anymore.”
He cracked up again, laughing at my expense. “Oh… yes… I forgot. You’ve been officially ordained into womanhood. Congrats again.” He took a few steps toward me and patted my back. He then signaled to the door. He couldn’t wait for me to leave, and I was completely heartbroken.
Why the heck did I tell him that?I asked myself over and over again on the way back home. I stomped onto the porch, swung the door open, flung my sneakers at the wall, trudged to my bedroom, and flopped down on my bed. Of course I knew why I had told him that.
I wanted him to know that I wasn’t just a kid anymore.
I was a woman.
* * *
I’m paintingmy toes pink for work. It’s not something I do often, but since it’s sandals season and I actually have a job now, I figured I should make the effort.
I’m miffed when I mess up and get some polish on the tip of my big toe. I reach for the polish remover, and the doorbell buzzes. Now, I’m even more annoyed, wondering who it could be. The neighbors here are pretty friendly,toofriendly, one might say. Mrs. Moore is single like myself, and she’s always going away on vacation. And who looks after her cat? Me, of course. I love that cat, but… And then there’s Mrs. Rogers who is always bringing me baked goods. She reminds me of myself when I was a kid.
I plaster on a forced smile before I open the door. I’m absolutely breathless when I see him. He looks completely wrecked.
“Come in, Noah.”
He brushes past me, and leans back against the wall. “I’m so sorry, Abby.”
I close the door behind us, extremely confused. “For what?”
“I can’t stop thinking about you.”
His words warm my heart, my whole being. I want to scream that I’ve felt the same this past week, but for some reason I don’t quite understand, I don’t say a word.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he goes on.
“I am. I’m fine, Noah.”
“I didn’t expect this to happen. I’d forgotten how—”
In a sudden completely unexpected move, he presses me hard against the wall, and my heart lodges in my throat. I’m taken aback by his aggression, by his unexpected behavior, but I adore every second of it, every chill he sends down my spine, every delicious tingle down below.
He runs his hot mouth against the length of my neck, and I completely melt into him, utterly hopeless. “You’re still so beautiful,” he whispers.
I close my eyes and enjoy the warmth of his breath against my skin. I forget all about the sweats and ratty t-shirt I’m wearing, and the half-painted toenails. The last man who made me feel this wanted was Gavin.
I run my hands along his jaw, and rub the prickly stubble on the pads of my fingers. My mouth searches for his, and as our lips find each other’s, we get completely lost in the moment. His mouth tastes sweet, and his skin smells deliciously masculine. And up close against me, he feels so large, so overpowering. I’m overwhelmed by the delicious sensations traveling through every inch of my core, every single cell of my body. My desire is powerful, all-consuming, and unexpected. I’ve never been so responsive to a man in my life.
His mouth tears away from mine, and I look into his eyes, and for a brief moment, I see so much there; lust of course, but also pain and confusion. Why is this so hard for him? What has made him afraid to love?
