Page 98 of All of Him
55
Amanda
NOAH LEANED IN TOkiss me a little too quickly, knocking my half-full wineglass nearly out of my hand.
“Shit!” I hissed, putting it on the counter and looking down at my shirt. A dark red blotch saturated the white cotton, and I rushed over to the kitchen sink to rinse it.
“Sorry,” Noah groaned. “I completely forgot you still had that.”
“It wasdirectlyin my hand,” I joked, smirking at him as I worked on the stain. “It’s not a big deal. It’s coming out.” I scrubbed the fabric gently, but I could feel the wet spot start to reach my bra. Not wanting to be soaked, I peeled off my shirt and shoved the whole thing under the water.
Out of the corner of my eye, Noah moved carefully around the counter, stopping behind me. The hair on my neck stood up as he closed in, and I shut my eyes to savor his proximity. Even though we’d been about to kiss, I wasn’t sure if he was actually ready to do so.
I stopped scrubbing, no longer concerned about the shirt. Noah’s hands delicately brushed against my shoulder, moving my hair to one side. I sucked in a breath as he leaned against me, turning off the water. The entire mood shifted once the faucet stopped. The floorboards creaked below us, and Noah’s lips found my neck.
“I know you said a kiss,” I teased, “but this is so much nicer.”
Noah chuckled, his breath hitting my shoulder before his lips. I leaned into him, taking in the way his hard chest pressed against my bare back. I didn’t want to push him; he was the one driving the moment. He had to be.
I turned my head and opened my eyes just enough to make eye contact with him, then glanced at his lips. He took the hint, capturing my mouth with his own. The kiss was slow, calculated, and reminded me of our first kiss in Ireland. We were relearning one another’s movements, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It needed to be a kiss that would hold me over for next time. Whenever that would be.
And then I met a whole new Noah.
I reached behind me and ran my hand against his cheek, appreciating his strong jawline. He had other ideas, gently biting my bottom lip. I opened my eyes, catching a devious grin. We’d been intimate overseas, but he’d been routine about everything, possibly self-conscious. I’d had no issue with that; it was something we could work on. The shift I felt in his kitchen though, told me that we were about to get right to it.
“Manda,” Noah whispered in my ear, “I want to feel you.”
I looked forward, closing my eyes again as Noah’s hands ran down my sides.
His mouth connected with my shoulder, then ran up my neck to my ear before stopping. “Is that okay?”
I nodded but couldn’t find any words. He hadn’t even done anything to me yet, and I was already having to hold myself up.
He pulled my hips away from the counter slightly, undoing my button and zipper. I sucked in a breath, my knees weak as he dipped his hand into the front of my jeans.
“Holy fuck,” I whispered, tucking my head back against his chest.
Noah kissed my neck again as his fingers slid into me, nearly undoing me right then. Once he noticed my knees giving way, he pulled away his hand and spun me around to face him. I barely had any time to react before he had me up on the counter. Into a puddle of water.
“Is that counter wet?” he asked, regret taking him over.
“Uh-huh.” I laughed, biting my lip. “We might need to, you know, remove these jeans too. And maybe move to a dryer location.”
Noah nodded to himself, thankfully finding the situation amusing.
“That can be arranged.” He laughed, his eyes flicking to the back door. “I’ll be right back.”
I continued to sit in the water, watching Noah race up the stairs. I needed to be back in that moment, needed to witness the confident version of him again. By the time he returned though, I was skeptical as to what he was up to.
“A sleeping bag?” I asked, leaping off the counter with my jeans still unbuttoned.
Noah wiggled his eyebrows.
“Don’t move. Give me a second.”
I held my palms out, confused but also intrigued as he darted onto the back porch. I listened to him rustle around, wondering how in the hellhe’dbecome the awkward one.
Finally, he came back inside, pulling his shirt over his head as he walked toward me.
