Chapter 471 Chapter 471
Noah stiffened and moved back from her; she could see the apology on his face before he opened his mouth. “I’m…”
Shaking her head, she put her hand over his mouth and then opened her own to feel the sharp feline teeth filling her mouth.
Noah’s eyes rounded as he watched her actions.
Emersyn covered her mouth again and then shook her hand. “My cat,” she mumbled around the foreign teeth in her mouth, “wants to bite you.” She blurted it out without even realizing that was what was happening.
Noah gave her a wary look. “Bite?” He said it slowly, his voice still deep from the emotions their kisses had stirred in him. “Mate bite or…”
Emersyn nodded, hoping that was the only reason her unpredictable creature would want to bite this man.
Noah opened his mouth to say something and then closed it and looked down at the bed for a moment. He shifted and was sitting on the edge of it now, nowhere near as close to her as he had been. “I don’t—” he lifted his hand and then looked at her, “I didn’t expect that kind of reaction.” He blew out a breath, “I actually didn’t know what to expect.”
She felt awful and later when she was alone, she would be having some harsh words with her animal, in or outside of her head. “I’ve never kissed anyone before.” She said it so fast that she had no idea why she had.
He looked at her, surprise on his face.
Now she felt like she needed to explain. “I never let anyone kiss me before.” She knew he wouldn’t ask for details, because he understood what she’d been through.
He reached toward her, then hesitated. She watched the internal debate he was having go through his facial expression. When he gently took her hand in his, she hoped that meant he’d won. “I’ve never kissed anyone either.” His hand flexed around hers, “after hearing—knowing what,” he shook his head and then huffed out a breath.
“I understand.” She nodded. It had crossed her mind once or twice since he’d rescued her, wondering if he had been like some of the other guards, but her heart had told her no and now it was confirmed for her mind too. She ran her tongue over her teeth and was happy to feel they were her own and not partially her cats. She smirked, “we’re quite the pair.” She whispered it.
Noah tilted his head and then nodded, “if it wasn’t so fucked up it would be funny.”
They sat there, the silence growing longer, and just held each other’s gaze. It wasn’t how she would have liked to end such an intimate moment between them, but she had to go check on Aspyn and at some point, at least lay down and attempt sleep. “I should,” she looked at the door, “Aspyn.” She turned back to him.
He cleared his throat and slowly released her hand.
She stood up and then he grabbed her hand again, only to wince that he’d done such a thing. She squeezed it gently, “It’s okay, Noah.”
He stood slowly, so many emotions were going through his eyes that she wasn’t sure what to expect. She could feel the tension rising in him again. “I’m uh,” he looked down at her, that pain was back in his eyes again, but there was something new there too, “I’ll be going back out with Blair and Calum in two days.” He watched her as he spoke. “Calum and Shaelan are back at Blair’s they’ll be here in the morning.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw but still held her hand, “that’s why I didn’t get back earlier, we were talking to some of the other teams and planning—things.” He took a deep breath.
She didn’t want him to leave but didn’t want him not to either because she knew what he was doing. “Just make sure you come back.” She said hesitantly, suddenly wanting to tell him how she felt about him. “I don’t care how often you leave or for how long, Noah, just always—come back.”
The pain in his expression changed to something lighter for a few seconds, and he nodded. “Always.”
She felt, more than heard his conviction in that one word. Nodding her head slowly, she suddenly needed to get out of the room and breathe. “I should…”
“You should finish the house and decorate it however you want.” The words were hurried as they fell from his mouth.
She blinked up at him.
“So-so you and Aspyn have a quiet place,” he nodded, “I know all the commotion of so many get to you,” he lifted one shoulder and let it drop, “the same as me.”
Emersyn opened her mouth to ask if he was planning to join them in that house or if he was just telling her this so she would have something to do and somewhere to go when he wasn’t here. Blowing out a short breath, she closed it and nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
He looked relieved by her answer, making her question what he meant more. Leaning down, he kissed her cheek softly and then released her hand as he straightened up. “I’ll see you, ah, later.” He looked nervous and filled with doubts again.
She smiled at him, “I’m hoping for five minutes of sleep before Aspyn is jumping on the bed.”
He smiled, “I’ll take her for a run later or something to give you a break.”
“Okay, but if she asks for a saddle for you, it’s your fault.” She took a step back toward the door. “Try to rest, Noah.” She whispered it and then went out the door before she started spewing all the questions his words had filled her head with.
Moving down the hall, she kept going right past the kitchen. A snack was not on her needs list now. She felt emotionally wrought, but giddy and puzzled all at the same time. When she turned the corner, she saw that Tia was sitting outside her door. She took up quietly.
“She hasn’t even moved.” She whispered.
“Thank you.” She reached over to open the gate, wishing she were tall enough to step over it. When she glanced back at Tia, she saw that look that she hated seeing on faces. Pity, only this one was blended with worry. “Don’t ever let him see you look at him with that look on your face.” She said quietly. “Ever.”
Tia nodded, then licked her lips and blew out a breath. “Got it.” She turned and went down the hall without another word.