“Ugh, that smells horrible,” Emery said, walking in the kitchen in her bathing suit and flip flops.
Noah’s eyes darkened as he took her in. He put down his fork and stalked over to her, unceremoniously pulling her bathing suit top down and wrapping his mouth around her nipple.
A gasp escaped her lips and her hands drifted to his head as hers leaned back against the wall. He was very cautious with her, always, which allowed her to feel safe with him. It was eye opening to know what someone could make her body feel even though her mind felt nothing.
Phil had almost killed everything, but her body responded to Noah and he made her feel cherished and safe. Those were both feelings she’d never felt, or if she did, she didn’t remember it.
“Wow, that bathing suit would look awesome on the floor,” Noah breathed into her ear.
“You just got tuna breath all over me.” Emery giggled, pulled up her top, and allowed him to nibble at her neck. Then she moved to the fridge and grabbed some carrot sticks. “Why in the world are you eating tuna?”
“Getting in shape for the season. It’s my last one, you know.”
“In April?” Emery cocked her head to the side in disbelief.
Noah blew his gut out and then patted it. “Too many beers lately.” He laughed.
She shook her head. Noah didn’t have to eat tuna to get in shape, but most of the time he was conscious about everything he put in his body.
Emery popped a carrot stick in her mouth. “So what’s your plan after you graduate?”
“My plan is to make you take your swimsuit off.”
Emery giggled and batted his hand away from her. “After graduation?”
“Funny thing is, I don’t want to think about anything except you, without clothes.”
“Noah!” she squealed as he pulled her bottoms down and ran a finger across her abdomen.
Her body shuddered in anticipation.
“Emily,” he said.
She sighed; him calling her that always made her sad. Her wish that he would really know her and want his mouth on her drifted into the air and disappeared without being granted. It simply wasn’t her reality. What they were doing wasn’t reality, just like the romance book she had started reading.
“You’re hot and sweaty…and did I say hot?” he commented as his hands traveled over her body. He ran his tongue up her neck. “And salty.”
“Well, it is hot outside,” she murmured as his tongue found her nipple again.
He turned her around and pushed her toward the wall. Time stopped and she froze. Confused, she braced her hands against the wall. His chest was against her back in a heartbeat, then his fingers entered her and all of the walls caved in on her. Emery left the cozy condo and was back in Atlanta with Phil. She used every ounce of strength she had and pushed off the wall, causing Noah to fall on his ass on the kitchen floor.
Sobs racked her chest and she ran to her room and locked her door, then went to her bathroom and locked it. She sank to the floor, pulled her knees up to her chest, laid her head on her knees, and began counting. She grabbed the towel from the rack to cover herself. Her eyes snapped open when she heard pounding on her door.
“EMILY!” Noah yelled from the hall.
She looked up at the ceiling and knew she couldn’t face him. She couldn’t face her ghosts, how was she going to face him?
“Emily, if you don’t let me in right now I’m knocking this door down.”
Emery stayed where she was, now curled in a ball on the floor in the bathroom. She knew Noah wouldn’t break the door down.
“Emily!” Noah pounded on the door and then she heard a splintering sound. “Emily!” He looked around, frantic for her, and saw the bathroom door closed too. He walked over to the door and put his palm on it. “Emily, open the door, please.”
“I can’t!” she yelled at him.
“Baby, you can. I know you can. You’re so strong.” His words were melodic, meant to soothe.
“Noah, just go away,” she cried, trying to ward off hysteria. He didn’t know her, and she wasn’t strong. She was a coward.
“Not happening,” he responded shortly.
“I can’t talk to you right now. Let me cool off.”
“No, Em.” Noah leaned against the door with his body. “Do you want me to break this door too?”
Emery sighed. She guessed he would break the bathroom door down too. Slowly, she reached up and unlocked the door, then shrank back into herself.
“Emily.” The sound escaped his lips as he squatted down next to where she was bunched herself up against the wall. He slid down the wall and sat next to her. “What happened?” His eyes were full of pain. He didn’t touch her.