Chapter 0353 âNo. We wonât.â
As soon as we arrived home, I made my way to the closet in our bedroom where I had been keeping the box with all of our papers. I pulled out the sex contract and the divorce papers, holding them for a moment before turning to Noah, who was standing in the doorway.
âLetâs burn them,â I said decisively.
Noahâs eyebrows shot up, but he nodded, following me to the fireplace. We knelt together on the plush rug as I placed the papers in the grate. Noah struck a match, and we watched as the flames consumed the documents that had once symbolized the end of our marriage.
As we watched the papers curl and blacken, Noahâs hand found mine. He intertwined our fingers, gently tugging me closer to him. Neither of us spoke, although we didnât need to; we just watched, leaning against one another, as the flames licked at those damning documents.
Staying together. We were staying together.
And it felt so, so right.
When the last of the papers had finally turned to ash, Noah turned to me. He cupped my cheek gently, his thumb tracing my cheekbone.
âI promise,â he said softly, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames, âthat I will do right by you and our baby. No more coldness, no more distance. Iâm here, fully and completely.â
His other hand came to rest on my swollen belly, and I covered it with my own. We pressed our foreheads together, breathing each other in. His scent enveloped me, and I felt almost dizzy with love.
âI love you,â I whispered, the words feeling both new and familiar on my tongue.
Instead of responding with words, Noahâs lips met mine in a tender kiss. It was different from our recent passionate, desperate, hungry encountersâthis was slow, sweet, full of promise. Full of love and full of history.
When we finally broke apart, Noah scooped me up in his arms, carrying me toward the bed. I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck, feeling suddenly giddy and lightheaded.
âWhat are you doing?â I asked, although I had a pretty good idea.
âIâm about to make love to my wife,â he said, his voice husky. âAny objections?â
I pretended to think for a moment, tapping my chin. âHmm... nope, canât think of any.â
He laid me gently on the bed, his hands and lips exploring my body with reverence. This wasnât the frenzied passion of our recent encounters, driven by the terms of a contract and our own need for release.
This was something deeper, more intimate.
Noahâs touch was gentle, almost worshipful as he undressed me. His fingers trailed over my bare skin, Yeaving goosebumps in their wake.
When he climbed between my legs and slipped into me, it felt like coming home after a long time at war.
1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0353 We moved together beneath the sheets, tongue and lips and teeth grazing each otherâs skin.
I clung to him as we ground our hips against one another, my legs wrapped firmly around him as if he might slip away. But he didnât pull away, didnât once pry his warm body away from mine.
For the first time ever, I felt whole. Complete. This was what it meant to be truly mated, truly in love. The pleasure built slowly, a warm glow that spread through my entire body until I finally splintered on him.
When I did go over that edge, he cupped my face in his hands and peppered gentle kisses across my cheeks and nose. He peaked not long after that, soft growls and groans brushing against my ear as he finally let out one last gentle shudder.
I tangled my fingers in his hair, listening to his ragged breathing as he slumped on top of me. Even then, in the wake of our heat, he didnât pull away. I wouldnât have minded if he just stayed there forever.
And the words he uttered next made me want to never let go.
âI love you, Hannah...â