Page 54 of Falling for Fury
“Congratulations, that is amazing. Well, I won’t hold you up, was nice to see you again.” Strange guy.
“Oh, Lucas is over there drinking with us if you want to join?”
“Oh no, I won’t interrupt, me and the guys are having a beer together so I better get back, I just came up to say hi and collect my turn of the shout.” Felix places four pints on the bar. A knowing heaviness sinks low in my belly. I couldn’t possibly know all of Ethan’s friends. I know one of them is Matteo, from college. And I know Matteo’s friends from college include Ethan and Noah. My heart races with anticipation at seeing him here, my sweat glands working overtime. I hadn’t realized how much of a frenzy all those notes and gestures had worked me into, but the thought of seeing those chocolate brown eyes and arrogant smile has me nearly keeling over from lack of air in my lungs. It doesn’t help that the last time I saw him in person, I was fleeing from mind blowing sex. Sex that ruined me so thoroughly I didn’t even bother trying to date after that. Between my exam schedule and knowing no one could live up to that, there was no point trying.
My mind immediately runs over our last encounter, and I struggle to remember why it couldn’t work between us. His lips and tongue on my neck, my lips, my breasts, his hands gripping me as he brought me to the edge—pull yourself together, Addison. I thought the clean break I gave us worked until he sent my stomach into a mass of butterflies, flipping and escaping with the care packages. Between the cute notes, the lavender-scented heat pack, a box of different teas meant to help with stress and anxiety, a bath pillow and salts, candles with hilarious labels, ‘I’m a badass bitch’ and ‘born to argue’ with a balancing scales icon. The raunchy messages, food and coffee, all of it, was adorable, stupid, and ridiculous, and my heart flooded with feelings I was trying so desperately ignore.
“Are you okay?” Ethan’s question snaps me back to reality, and I shake my head.
“Ah, yeah. Sorry. Um, okay, well, enjoy your beer.” I turn and hightail it back to the table, suddenly too nervous to face the Greek god himself.
“Addison.” I skid to a halt so fast the drinks shake on the tray, and I only just manage to stop them from toppling over. I don’t need to turn around to know the owner of that voice. The caramel richness of it rakes over my entire body and it comes alive. I turn slowly to see Ethan sipping his beer and darting his eyes knowingly between us.
Noah.
Even his name in my mind is a breathy sigh. I can’t physically open my mouth to say anything in return. I did my best to leave him alone, spare him from the torment that would be dating me, and saving my heart from the inevitable heartbreak when he is bored of me. I knew—know—this couldn’t work between us. It would hurt more to try, and find out I was right all along.
“How… how are you?” His voice is husky, and he clears his throat before leveling a look at Ethan.
“See you around.” Ethan beelines for the front bar.
“I’m, ah, good. Actually, celebrating today.” I don’t even recognize my voice, and my heart lurches to my throat at the smile that spreads across his face.
“Exams? You’re finished now, right?”
“Yeah, me and the girls and Lucas are celebrating.” I gesture to our table, and when I look, I see them all staring, Rosie with her usual shit-eating grin and Casey wiggling her eyebrows. I turn back, and Noah’s eyes haven’t left mine.
“I am so happy for you, Ads. You must be relieved. Bar prep now, right?” He takes a subtle step closer to me.
“Mmm, I haven’t decided if I’ll sit it yet.” It’s one thing to say it to my friends, it’s another to admit it to Noah, or anyone else. The sudden fear of judgment washes over me, and I feel my cheeks pink slightly.
He just shrugs, that smile of his never faltering, making butterflies take flight. “I’m sure you’ll decide whatever is right for you.”
I nod at him, appreciating the lack of judgment or suggestion, and all the reminders of the ways he has always done that flood my memory. The way he accepts me for everything I am without being scared off or judging me. I thought our night together would have gotten him out of my system and the space would have snuffed out the flame of energy that ignites between us, but his acceptance of me, quiet encouragement for me to just be unapologetically myself, makes me want to jump his bones so Goddamn badly. That familiar flame of desire awakens and burns across my skin furiously.
“Thank you,” I whisper the words and try to tamper down the flames. Trying desperately to strap down my emotional boner for this man, trying to recalibrate my brain.
“What for?”
“The gifts. You didn’t have to do that. I’ll give it to you—you are persistent.” I give him a soft smile, and my eyes trail is form. Beautiful specimen, this one.
He shrugs, but his cool confidence surrounds him as he leans casually on the bar. “Told you I wasn’t going anywhere. I’m glad you liked them, though. I wanted to make sure you weren’t too stressed, were giving yourself a break.”
“The cupcakes were my favorite. Everyone knows the way to a girl’s heart is with food.”
“Is that where it got me, to your heart?” He winks at me, and my heart beats so fast I’m surprised I haven’t passed out. I have no words to respond, and he must sense the increase in my heartrate as he continues with his salacious flirting. “The strawberry cupcakes were certainly mouth-watering. Gave it a taste test first, but I’ve had better.” Oh, man. How does everything he says always sound like a dirty promise? I don’t know how I manage, but I remain standing, no moaning to be heard as his smooth voice enters my ears like a dirty caress. See, this is why I was glad his original offer had been over text. How was I ever going to turn him down in person?
He steps forward slowly, and in an attempt, I try to move the conversation on, still trying to tie down that emotional boner, and now hormonal boner, thanking the heavens that God didn’t give women a giveaway for when they are ready to go. “How have you been?” Not actually certain I can handle any words that come out of his mouth at this point.
“I’ve been better.” His voice is rough and husky. I know this energy between us affects us both, and his lips just look so fucking kissable right now. I don’t want to ask why he’s been better. I know where this is going, and I can feel my resolve, my determination, slipping away at the seams. “Just the usual. Work, stress… lonely nights.”
There it is. “Noah.” My words are barely more than a breath as I take a step towards him. His eyes are whopping chocolate circles with a sadness to them that nail me straight in the stomach. “Don’t. Don’t say anything. It is better—”
“Is it, Addison? Is it really better? I can’t stop thinking about you. You say we can’t do this, but there hasn’t been a chance for us to even try. I don’t know when this happened, probably that day at the Play House, but… I want you. I know I want you, all of you. I don’t want to share, but I will if I have to. I don’t think I can handle not having you around. However that is.”
He takes a step closer, the distance between us shrinking rapidly, stealing the breath from my lungs, my words stuck in my throat. But what if it doesn’t work? What if you break my heart? I set the tray of drinks on the table next to me and mirror his steps. We are so close the toes of our shoes are almost touching. My head is tilted to take in his smooth brown eyes, his spring scent, and the lust written all over his face.
“Noah, I can’t stop thinking about you either. But—”