Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One thing to know about black tie galas is that they are, for the most part, excruciatingly tedious.

Now, imagine having to attend multiple ones in a year.

At the end of the summer, Nick decides to call it quits and decline any further RSVPs. At least until the holiday season comes around, anyway. That’s when the Leister Foundation hosts its annual winter event the week before Christmas. With that being his family’s business, he is not only required to make a red carpet appearance and engage in conversation with guests, but also to take the stage for the closing speech alongside his father. That has always been a tradition and he knows William counts on him to be by his side.
But until then, he swears he will avoid any other formal gathering like the plague.

Except this one.

The only reason keeping him from jumping on his car, speeding away and spending the night cruising around is, to absolutely no surprise, Noah.
Tonight’s fund raising event is the result of her hard work and commitment and he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate her achievements for anything in the world. This project means so much to her and she means a lot to him. His attendance is a no-brainer.
He needs to be there.

Standing in front of the gold rimmed round mirror down the main staircase, Nick is desperately trying to fix his hair. He’s wearing his favorite tailored black tux and as per usual his bowtie is perfectly aligned, a skill he’s mastered over time. The polished platinum cufflinks reflect the light as he moves his hands.

Looks like the highlighted curls on his head chose this particular moment to go on a strike and resist the gentle combing of his fingers and the generous amount of heavy duty styling products he applied earlier.
“What in the actual fuck!”
He frowns for a second and then he realizes it is, indeed, time for a haircut. He shakes his head, his mouth curving upward in a smirk as he recalls Noah’s words the last time they talked about it.
Don’t make me go all Edward Scissorhands on you.
And for a second, there, he feared she could be capable of cutting it off in his sleep.

A faint swishing sound makes him focus his attention on the mirror, which gives a perfect view of the stairs behind him. Nick senses her presence even before he actually sees the hem of a dressing gown appear in the reflection.
The carpet muffles the noise of Noah’s high heels as she gracefully makes her way down and he gasps as soon as he takes in her full form. She is a living dream.

When he turns to take a proper look at her, his throat feels tight and he checks the collar of his tie.
“Damn,” he exhales loudly, as his body finally remembers how to keep the air flowing in his lungs.

Noah’s slender frame is wrapped in a dark teal tulle and sequin dressing gown, the embroidered fabric flowing elegantly around her with each step she takes. She could easily audition for the role of a live-action Disney princess.

It’s not the first time he’s seen her coming down the stairs in formal attire, and definitely not the first time he’s had to fight the urge to pull her flush to him because there’s other people around.
The tight knot in his stomach isn’t that new of a feeling either, as of late, and he’s having trouble keeping his breathing even.
Especially after not seeing her for an entire week while he was away with his father.
Also, he wonders, is it naughty of him to fantasize about what kind of underwear she has on? He hopes it’s black lace lingerie.
Shit, Noah, what the hell are you doing to me , he finds himself thinking, once again.

Now that she’s standing still on the last step, he can also appreciate all the small details in her look. Her luscious dark hair is styled in a soft half-braid on the left side of her head, leaving the rest of her waves loose down her bare shoulder.
He’s almost clueless about makeup. All he knows is that her long lashes look perfect even after spending an entire afternoon in the pool and that he’s addicted to the strawberry taste of the chapstick she wears. It always lingers on his lips after he kisses her.
But tonight she’s done a more elaborate makeup and it enhances her delicate features. There’s a subtle green hue on her lids, he can’t tell if it’s eyeshadow or something else, but the shade is matching the dress and making her brown eyes pop. She’s still a bit tan from the summer and her skin literally glows, her freckles showing through. And of course she painted her accordingly, too.

He’s surprised to see she picked a thin silver and emerald ivy leaves necklace, bracelet and earrings set over her favorite mix & match pieces and staple chunk chain. It probably wouldn’t have been the most suitable choice for the occasion but he knows that for Noah, that particular item is not only a fashion statement but it also represents a security blanket.
It has for the longest time, and the fact that she’s comfortable enough to leave the house without it marks yet another big step in her healing journey. 
She asks if they’re late as she grips at the small bag in her hands. She’s nervous. It’s her big night, after all. She must feel the pressure.

“Ella and my father just left,” he confirms, “but we have time. You’re the honorary guest, it’s only fair you’re granted some tardiness. Besides, there’s enough champagne and canapès to keep the guests busy until we get there. Let them wait!”

Noah nods, checking herself in the mirror one final time.
“How do I-” she starts to speak again but he interrupts her. He must.
“You look fucking incredible!”
There’s absolute confidence in his tone and no doubt in his mind. Though, he regrets using the word incredible , because he’s sure it’s not doing her justice. He could have come up with more appropriate adjectives such as stunning, ravishing or breathtaking, for example.
Anyway, his concern is short lived because the shy smile that spreads on her glossy nude lips and the way her eyes light up despite her obvious trepidation, is enough proof that he’s said the right thing at the right time.

When Noah compliments him, she instantly realizes her misstep because he eagerly jumps on the opportunity to tease, especially when that opportunity is served to him on a silver platter.
“Wait,” he interrupts, flashing his eyebrows. “You think I’m handsome?”
“I was just gonna say that you look right out of one of those loud, big budget, sexy-wannabe spy movies or something,” she mocks, trying to fix things and ending up fueling his theatrical comeback.
Nick’s left eyebrow arches and he pretends to smooth down a non-existent fold on his jacket before fixing a suggestive gaze on Noah.
“Name’s Leister, Nicholas Leister.”

How he manages to keep a straight face as he delivers such a cliche line is beyond him, but then she tells him to shut up and bursts up laughing. “No, no no, hold on just a second, you think I’m handsome and sexy. I think you should elaborate on that…”
“Just…shut up!” she repeats, still giggling.

They stay like that for a few more moments, completely at ease, enjoying each other’s company, then Nick checks his watch and he offers his right hand.
“Come on.”

The last time he did this he backed out at the last second, leaving her hanging, and choosing to make bitter remarks on her outfit and overall inadequacy. He knows that was a dick move, he knew it back then, too. He acted on misplaced resentment, forgetting they were both going through the same upsetting consequences of someone else’s choices. And yet, holding a grudge was much easier and safer than admitting to be attracted to her.

This time, there's a jolt of electricity sparking between them as their hands touch.
He’s unable to tear his eyes from her beautiful face and the now familiar knot in his stomach is back in full force, gripping at his insides. He’s getting more and more accustomed to it and, frankly, he even welcomes it. Despite it being a surprising and terrifying feeling at the same time, deep down he knows exactly what it means. He just isn’t quite ready to embrace it. 
He walks Noah down the last flight of stairs, through the foyer and out on the driveway.
Since both his beloved McLaren and the Nissan got wrecked beyond repair, he’s been using the family’s Range Rover for the time being, although it’s not his style and he doesn’t enjoy driving it. It doesn’t give him that thrill that supercars bring to the game.
That’s the reason why he’s asked Martin to be their driver tonight.

Unexpectedly, though, when they step out on the gravel, the bulky suv is nowhere to be seen.
In its place, parked in the driveway, there’s the beautiful silver Aston Martin DB12.
The security guy is waiting for them, holding out a car key for Nick.
“Your father said you can take his car tonight, show Noah around after the gala if you want. Have fun.”
Nick is speechless - which is a very rare occurrence - as he takes the keys and unlocks the doors. He has a sort of reverence towards this car and he’s excited to be able to drive it. 

Nick takes a minute to check both the exterior and the interiors, touching all the controls on the dashboard.
“This is a magnificent car,” he whispers in adoration, “should I get one?”
It’s a question mostly to himself rather than Noah. He knows she likes his sadly-now-wrecked McLaren more. But he needs a new ride, after all.
Might as well take a look around and explore his options.
Noah makes a comment about him basically completing his James Bond cosplay as he turns towards her as he swiftly starts the car, maneuvering out of the property and into the light late afternoon traffic.
“Oh, but you love it!”

The ride is filled with small talk about unrealistic US action movies, the unreasonable stubbornness of UK's vehicular habits and whether Mars chocolate bars are better than Twirls. As fun and challenging it is to dive into these US vs UK  debates with her, Nick is glad that she finally looks more relaxed.

The bickering is innocent and mildly flirtatious, at first.
For example when they’re both trying to reach for the radio controllers and Noah playfully slaps his hand away, making snarky comments on his music choices. Or when Nick brushes the tips of his fingers over her knot tattoo and down her neck pretending to fix her earring.
However, when Nick’s hand reaches out to rest on her knee, sliding a few inches upwards and then squeezing, she whimpers. It’s like she’s been desperate for his touch and the air around them charges with pent up desire.
“Nick…”
If they weren’t already a little behind on the evening’s schedule, he could come up with at least half a dozen ways to enjoy their time together.

Nick exhales deeply, bringing their joined hands to his mouth and brushing her knuckles with his lips. It’s a tender gesture, but it barely expresses how much he actually wants her. As they’re waiting for the green at the last traffic light, he cups her face and steals a heated kiss. 

It’s brief, but also a promise of things to come.

The rest of the drive to the venue feels too short and by the time they arrive at the valet point, Nick has reluctantly removed the hand that was still resting on her thigh.

As he hands the keys to the valet, Nick scans their surroundings. Photographers are lined up in front of the red carpet and they look ready for battle. The fact that the most important guest has arrived a little later than expected has them all in a frenzy.
He would gladly skip this part of galas and social events in general.
Being screamed at, asked inappropriate questions - that’s why he tries to avoid posing with girl friends or acquaintances - and basically been given orders - Turn this way! Smile! To the left! - is nerve wracking.
It must be very similar to what animals at the zoo experience when dozens of people start screaming to get their attention and slam flash cameras in their snouts to get the perfect shot.
No wonder they always look apathetic and overall sad.

Over the years he’s grown accustomed to these annoying formalities and he’s learned how to deal with them, but it’s all new for Noah. The unnatural tightness on her shoulders and the plastic smile plastered on her face are a clear indication of how uncomfortable she truly feels.

Both Nick and one of the Foundation’s assistants offer Noah a supportive smile as she steps onto the red carpet. He notices when she draws in a big, deep breath and lifts her chin up. If he didn’t know her, he would easily believe she’d done this before.
Unfortunately, the camera-wielding vultures seem to feed on her nonchalant attitude and become demanding very quickly.
Must be because she’s fresh meat tonight. They already know him, he’s not news anymore and they know better than to upset him.
At this point, he’s one step away from calling off the paparazzi, because they’re getting a touch too rude for his likings. Since he can’t literally flip them off, he takes a couple of steps towards Noah to give the photographers another target. And it works because the photographers are now focusing on both of them.
They’re actually supposed to take pictures together tonight, so he’s not worried about raising suspicion as he casually brushes his body with hers to let her know he’s there .
He’s comfortable being closer and even going as far as placing his hand on her waist. What he has a bit of a struggle doing is holding back a smug smile as his body molds against hers, so he focuses his attention on giving the paparazzi what they want so that they can move on.
It’s a quick but excruciating process as flashes blast and cameras click all around them.
After what he considers the right amount of time, Nick raises his hand in a manner that dismisses any more pressing request and gently leads Noah towards the entrance.

At the gala they’re sitting next to each other at the table, with Giles, Jenna and Lion. Nick helps her to briefly rehearse her speech before she gets called on stage. Keeping his hands to himself when she’s so close is challenging, the magnetic pull is almost unbearable. He steals a few touches here and there but the more he feels her shiver, the more he wants to carry her out of the room, find a dark corner and claim her mouth.
But with so many prying eyes and family members around that’s too high of a risk.
Lucky for him, a few moments later, William calls for Noah to join him on stage, effectively putting Nick out of his predicament for the time being.
He wishes her good luck as she moves her chair back.

Nick has a pretty good understanding of her feelings and body language to know she’s a bundle of nerves right now. That’s why he was trying to distract her by taking his teasing up a notch.
Well, that and also because he enjoys the reaction he’s able to coax out of her. He’s never had this kind of connection with any of his girlfriends, or friends-with-benefits he should say.
Girlfriend is a definition he can’t honestly apply to his past relationships. More than once he asked himself if this was some sort of emotional trauma caused by his parents’ divorce after his mother left and the resulting turbulent relationship with her or if he simply didn’t meet the right girl. Maybe it was an unfortunate combination of the two.
One thing’s for sure though: he hasn’t been able to have such a level of intimacy and openness with anyone before Noah. She came into his life and gave him a new perspective on things, prompting him to reassess his priorities. She unexpectedly rocked his world around.
The least he can do is reciprocate in the same way. And tonight it means encouraging and backing her up, as she takes on a new challenge.
Since he can’t physically hold her hand, he keeps his eyes on her the whole time as she walks towards the podium. He’s there if she needs him.
 

When she takes the stand and confidently articulates her program and goals, he’s filled by the most wholesome feeling of pride and it takes all his strength not to jump on his feet and scream “ that’s my girl ” in front of all the guests. Instead, he watches her intently as he sips from his champagne coupe and joins in as the crowd rewards her with a heartfelt applause. He hasn’t yet stopped staring when she eventually turns in his direction and meets his gaze from across the reception room. Nick raises his glass in a toast, winks at her and her beautiful face lights up with a beaming smile.

What follows resembles a slow-motion movie scene, as jazz music softly wafts through the air, setting a relaxing mood for everyone. Noah slowly comes down from the podium and walks towards the table as he stands up, buttons his tux and moves to meet her halfway, their movements perfectly synchronized.

He tries, but there’s an invisible force at play tonight and he can’t contain a smug smile from forming on his lips, as Noah is finally - God, finally! - within arm’s reach once more. Now he can take advantage of the dimmed lights and the slight increase in the music’s volume to sneak behind her as people around them are gathering in pairs to dance. 
“Hey you,” he softly greets, seizing the opportunity to slide the palm of his hand from her shoulder blades down to her lower back, effectively bringing her close. 

“Hi,” she murmurs back. “How did I do?”
“You were great. Everyone was literally hanging on your words.” Nick looks around the room, pointing at the donor’s desk where a small group of people is already standing in line to make a pledge. 
“By the look of things, you can easily secure the fundings for your outreach program within the next hour! Your hard work paid off. ”
Nick nudges Noah’s side to get her attention and when she focuses on him once again, he’s smiling. “I’m proud of you, and you should be, too.”

Even in the darkness he sees her cheeks flush. Sometimes he doubts if people in her life let her know how appreciated she is. If it was down to him, he would cup her face and kiss her right in front of everybody. She was great on stage and he thinks she should be reminded properly.
Maybe later, when they get back home, he will.
But since it’s not the right time to let everyone know just how intimate they really are, he spins her around, taking the lead and starting to dance.

They dance for a while, swaying gracefully to the beat, relishing in each other’s closeness. 

At some point someone must have realized jazz music was, in fact, a mood-killer for the younger guests and decided to put on a more upbeat playlist, transforming the room into a nightclub. Jenna and Lion decide to meet them in the middle of the dancefloor and the four friends enjoy the rest of the evening.

Paying that DJ an insane amount of money - at least three times the average fee for these kinds of events - has been one of the best ideas he’s ever had.
Noah can be quite picky with her music and by the look of things she’s having a blast. The three glasses of champagne she’s had might have helped, too. She’s a little tipsy but still in control and Nick makes sure she doesn’t get overboard.

By the end of the night, as the atmosphere is once again cosy and the music has gone back to a buzzing jazz tune, Nick notices she seems in some kind of discomfort.

He’s immediately alert and approaches her to find out what’s bothering her. Fortunately it’s just a rant about her shoes, and although she seems to complain a bit too much, he’s glad it’s not something too serious.
She goes on about high heels and how they must have been created by a man considering how painful they are.
Noah stumbles and grips his shoulder to balance herself. That’s when his arm moves around her waist to help her upright.
He’s never seen her struggle so much in high heels - and she looked perfectly fine dancing just a few minutes before - but he’s more than willing to offer his support anyway. 

If having the perfect excuse to hold her is what he gets to do when she’s wearing uncomfortable shoes, Nick makes a mental note to buy her some more heels the next time they go shopping. The higher, the better.
From his point of view, it’s a win-win situation.
Nevertheless, he can’t hold back the snarky remark that follows.
“You couldn’t stop jumping up and down to that Britney Spears song, not once, not twice but three times!”
“Do not…” she warns. “Leave Britney alone, okay?”
“The DJ was about to call it quits! The poor guy.”
He openly laughs now and this seems to piss her off even more.
She demands he takes her home and even though the temptation to tease her some more is strong, the murderous look on her face makes him change his mind.

Nick shakes his head, still amused. “Alright, let’s get you home!”
Being a gentleman, he’s more than willing to oblige her however she wants. Plus, he loves when she pouts and frowns over silly things. She gets all worked up, desperate for an outlet. And he’s found out her favorite way to unwind, on such occasions, is having her way with him.
Be in charge.

As they approach the valet desk, Nick has to physically carry Noah all the way to the car because she decides to remove her shoes and insists on walking barefoot. After a quick glance to the surroundings and making sure nobody’s looking their way, he straight up spanks her, giving her a real reason to protest if she wants one.

Bantering and bickering has become their foreplay of choice lately.
Nick knows he’s probably been pushing his luck with the heavy teasing all night, because she sounds genuinely angry with him.
His reasoning comes down to the fact that he was forcibly deprived of her presence for a week and he’s wanted to have her naked and on top of him since she came down the stairs at the house. And that is a few hours too many than he’s physically willing to endure.

So he does the one thing he knows can drive her mad: using pet names. Noah told him she doesn’t like them and only allows Jenna to call her babe because she’s her best friend, she knows it’s her Brit nature and she can’t help herself.
To be honest, it's not his cup of tea, either. Ever since she came into his life, Nick has always used her full name. He likes it. Likes the sound of his voice when he calls her.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, he thinks, so as he helps her into the car he bows to whisper in her ear: “Come on, babe, let’s get you home.”

Noah shoots him a fiery glare and that’s when he knows: game's on.

Chapter Text

Obnoxious.
One single word perfectly describes her first ever black tie event in London, at the beginning of summer.
Noah assumed that being ripped away from her life, friends, comforting routine and the Florida sun to be dragged overseas should be considered enough punishment for one day.
However, since tragedy rarely ever strikes just once, she had been required to attend a boring gala on the very same night she landed in the UK.

Jet lagged, sleep deprived and equipped with a shiny pair of dark circles under her eyes, she made her best to fix her appearance. Makeup can do wonders, but it’s powerless in front of the absolute whirlwind of emotions of someone dealing with a completely new family arrangement.
To cap it all off, the fact that Nick - total stranger and newfound step-brother - had been a condescending asshole all evening had felt like the proverbial last straw.
She swore she wouldn’t let his arrogance and British snobbery have the best of her, she even told him in his face, but deep down she couldn’t help being affected by his scrutinizing gaze all night.

Fast forward a few months and here she is, getting ready to enter the social arena once again.
At least this time it’s for something she cares about deeply.

In the aftermath of what happened with her father, she’s found herself wanting to help other domestic violence victims, becoming an advocate for those who have no voice. So, through one of the many side branches of the Leister’s Foundation, and with her mother and William’s help, she hopes to raise funds to schedule a series of meetings in primary and middle schools in the area, to spread awareness on this delicate subject and provide support to those in need.

As she moves along the corridor, Noah can smell a very familiar scent, a scent she’s found herself surrounded, inebriated and aroused by many times over the summer.
It’s Nick’s cologne. Deep citrusy notes linger in the air, he must have come down shortly before.
When she rounds the corner on the last flight of stairs she sees him fumbling with his hair and hears him cuss under his breath.
The teasing about his highlighted ends is a daily occurrence at this point and she enjoys it. She suspects that he does, too, but he’s too stubborn to admit he needs a haircut.
She’s threatened to cut it off herself and put an end to his misery but, truth be told, she would miss the feeling of combing through his hair and wrap the unruly curls around her fingers when he’s falling asleep beside her. That’s a sort of calming ritual for her.
For obvious reasons, they can’t spend a whole night together - the chances of getting caught are too high - therefore she tries to appreciate every second she gets with him.
Sometimes she wonders if it wouldn’t be easier to come clean with their parents.
Sadly, all the scenarios unfolding in her head at the mere thought are all rather catastrophic.
So for the time being they sneak around, pretend to get along well but not too much - by throwing in the right amount of bickering - so that their parents don’t get suspicious.

When Nick finally gives up trying to tame his curls, she catches a glimpse of his sexy pout in the mirror as she pads down the stairs. Since he doesn’t seem to have noticed her just yet, she takes a moment to check him out.

All that fight training with Lion certainly keeps him in shape. Nick’s body is defined without being overly ripped. His outfit emphasizes his broad shoulders and narrow waist, not to mention that it makes him look even taller than he already is.
She loves how he can effortlessly tower over her and how they fit together so perfectly.

The fabric of her dressing gown swishes with her every movement and Noah figures out the exact moment he’s aware of her presence because the smolder in his eyes when he turns in her direction glues her to the spot. He mutters something under his breath that she can’t quite catch before greeting her.
“Hey.”
There’s something to be said about Nick in a suit: he should be carrying a warning sign!
He's wearing the black tux she helped him choose a few weeks ago.
When he told her they needed to go shopping she thought he was going to buy a new leather jacket or yet another pair of sneakers but then she found herself sitting on a black velvet plush sofa in a very bougie Armani boutique in Oxford Street sitting as Nick tried on at least half a dozen equally beautiful suits and waited for her opinion on each.
The one he ended up getting was her personal favorite and also the one which fit his body to a T. Like he was born to wear it. They didn't even have to tailor it up. It was insanely perfect.
Noah had to check if she was drooling as she took in 6′ 2″ of impeccable British charm all wrapped up in expensive Italian haute couture. He couldn’t get any hotter than that.

“Hi.” As she gets closer, she notices the various elements he selected to complete his outfit.
First of all, his stance and overall demeanor scream confidence .
The fact that he’s been exposed to a privileged lifestyle since he was born has inevitably determined the way he carries himself around. But not in a bratty, entitled way like the vast majority of his peers. Despite being ridiculously rich, he’s not a spoiled daddy’s boy. He knows what he wants, he knows his worth and won’t let anyone push him around or mess with the people he loves.
Oh, how wrong she had been with her first impression of him!
Now she knows how Nick really is, what kind of man Nick really is.

When it comes down to clothes, cars and jewelry, his taste is impeccable. He owns a curated collection of silver anything, basically. Tonight he’s wearing a few of his many rings and, since the occasion calls for them, also cufflinks.
The only missing piece, his trademark silver necklace - the one he never, ever takes off - is nowhere in sight but she can bet it’s hiding underneath the white suit shirt. Maybe later she can go on a treasure hunt for it. But for now, she grins: their jewelry matches.

“Did everyone leave already? We’re late, aren’t we?”
God! She hates the slight panic creeping up her voice, making it quiver. If the small designer bag in her hands could talk, it would be wailing in pain by how tightly she’s gripping at it. Damn, she’s a nervous wreck right now.
When Nick nods, for a moment her heart sinks. Being late at her first big event isn’t something she wants to deal with, but then he dismisses the issue in a well-mannered, very British fashion. That makes her smile, because she’s grown particularly fond of his accent. It gives more depth to his already sexy voice. 

With a final look at herself in the round mirror, she lets out a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
They have a tight schedule, there’s no time to question whether she chose the right dress for the event, to debate if it’s too much or not enough. Wait, did she go overboard with the makeup?
Whatever the case may be, it's too late to change the outfit or wash her face and do everything from scratch.
She means to ask him if her outfit is fancy enough for the occasion, but Nick interjects immediately and what he says, in utter adoration, shakes away a good part of her concern and makes her chest tighten.

That’s been happening a lot lately. Sometimes all it takes is stealing a glance in his direction, watching him swim in the pool while she pretends to read a book or daydreaming about how soft his lips are and her heart skips a beat.

The atmosphere is so different from the first time they attended a gala together. Back then he'd been rude and judgemental, belittling her wardrobe choice and rejecting her attempt at small talk.

Noah smiles. “Thank you. You look good, too. You always do, it’s kinda annoying. I mean,” she grins, “aren’t you tired of walking around all handsome…”

Handsome is an understatement, though.
Nick could wear a pair of worn out jeans and a plain white tank top and fit right into a Calvin Klein commercial. Considering his many connections, Noah wonders why he has never been offered some sort of runway modeling job, because he would be perfect! She knows he has posed for Giles’ sister - who is a fairly well-known fashion photographer - once or twice in the past. But that’s that.
Along the line, she even makes a comment about handsome men in sexy spy movies. Words that she regrets immediately after because she knows Nick is not one to let go of such a lucky chance to tease.
And so he does.

“Name’s Leister, Nicholas Leister.”
Not the trademark 007 pick-up line! Noah thinks as she watches his serious face.
“Shut up!”
There’s a single moment of silence and then she bursts up laughing. Never the one to back down first, Nick doubles down.
“Hold on a second, you think I’m handsome and sexy, yeah?”
His tone is playful, but the way he's pinning her on the spot with a single stare does something to her insides.
Noah tells him to shut up once more, but she knows he’s not the kind of guy to take the hit and wave a white flag around. On the contrary, he could torment her until she caves and flatters him. 

Providentially, after a few seconds, a gentle blip from his wrist redirects his attention to his watch.
Then he stretches his hand out, “time to go.”

There’s a sense of deja-vu in his simple gesture.
But this time, when she reaches out, Nick is there . His hold on her palm is soft but firm and it makes her whole body tingle. He’s not gonna let her down, he’s not letting go. 
Enduring a whole week without him has been torture. Not as bad as when he was in a hospital bed, recovering from a stab wound to his belly, but bothersome nonetheless.
Being apart and missing Nick’s presence is a feeling she’s not familiar with nor she wants to get used to anytime soon.

He says “ come on” , but what she hears in her head is “ I’ve got you” , and that’s more than enough to keep her feet moving confidently forward.

The house is quiet as they walk across the foyer and step outside. There’s nobody else around except for Martin, the head of security.
She remembers Nick telling her something about having someone from security to drive them to the event.

The day of the accident both of Nick’s cars got destroyed and, even if he puts on a brave face, it’s clear as day he’s miserable without his McLaren. He liked the Nissan too, but he used it mostly to street race with. The McLaren was his true pride and joy. He bought it after he cashed out by selling his ride-sharing app Connect .
Noah secretly feels guilty because at the end of the day she was the one responsible for crashing both of his cars at once, but Nick never brought up the subject or blamed her. He’s told her several times that he’d crash his car personally again if that meant keeping her safe and away from her father.
So, he’s been driving a bulky Range Rover ever since but he doesn’t like it much, which is why he would rather somebody else drive it for the night.

To their mutual surprise, they find out that William is allowing them to take his Aston Martin. Nick is overjoyed as he grabs the keys. He looks like a kid in a toy shop, his eyes shining bright. For just a moment Noah loses his undivided attention as he takes a quick trip around the car. Once he’s satisfied, he focuses on her again and he opens the passenger’s door and helps her with her dress as she slides into the seat.
The Aston Martin is definitely more comfortable to get into than Nick’s beloved McLaren, but it doesn’t give her the same on-edge vibe. She remembers how cool it was to drive it, the low and steady roar of the engine and the feeling of having so much power at her feet, literally.
Unfortunately, she can’t buy him a new one, but she’s hoping he might choose to. She’s seen him scrolling through several luxury cars websites on his phone lately. Maybe the mourning is over.

When she’s tucked in, Nick rounds the hood of the car, opens the door and peeks inside.
She’s having too much fun witnessing his overly dramatic reaction to the car so the comment she makes as he slides behind the wheel comes out of her mouth without hesitation.
Of course he's wearing the most elegant black tux of all time, and drives a fucking Aston Martin, too ! Noah thinks. He’s not playing fair.
“And now, ladies and gentleman, the James Bond transformation is complete.”

Nick turns towards her as he starts the engine.
“Oh, but you love it!” looking at her from under his dark lashes.
She does. She loves it. She loves him .
Noah shakes her head at how simple and natural it is to finally admit it to herself.

Along the ride they chit-chat back about unrealistic US action movies, the unreasonable stubbornness of the UK's vehicular habits and whether Mars chocolate bars are better than Twirls, has a positive outcome: she feels more relaxed now.
Nick has the ability of grounding her, making her feel anchored to the present. Her night terrors are less frequent ever since they got together. Especially when she can fall asleep in his arms. Unfortunately, it’s not something that happens often.

Their back and forth banter in the car is innocent and mildly flirtatious, for the most part. For example when he’s reaching for the radio controllers and Noah playfully slaps his hand away, making snarky comments on his music choices or when Nick brushes the pads of his fingertips over her knot tattoo and down her neck pretending to fix her earring. 

His touch always feels spontaneous and natural. Whether it’s a gentle brush of his fingers through her hair, the firm hold of his hand on hers under the dinner table after they’ve been apart all day -  or the needy way in which he grabs her chin as they kiss passionately.

The warmth of his skin through the fabric of her gown as he places his open palm on her thigh is comforting and Noah instinctively covers his hand with hers, entwining their fingers.
She steals a glance in his direction, his features are relaxed as he keeps his eyes on the road for a while. Then .
Nick’s delicate touch becomes arousing when he gently but mercilessly moves his hand further up where her thigh meets her hip bone, a prelude to the intimacy they both so desperately crave.
Judging by the way his jaw clenches, Noah knows he’s physically restraining himself from going any further. If they had alone time and didn’t have to worry if anyone saw, he would immediately act on his instincts.

Noah squeezes his hand, hoping it’s enough to let him know she feels the same way.
A trembling sigh leaves his mouth, a clear sign that he’s reigning himself in, despite his body language still reveals an urgency. At first he seems content to just brush her knuckles with his lips but when the red hue of a traffic light washes over the windshield, Nick quickly pulls her in for a bruising kiss that leaves them both panting. 

The rest of the drive to the venue feels too short and by the time they arrive at the valet point, Nick has reluctantly removed the hand that was still on her thigh.

As often happens at these events, as guests start to arrive, they are invited to walk the red carpet for a photo-op. 
Photographers scream to get the guests’ attention and make them turn in their direction. It’s all very loud and fast-paced. It’s also kinda rude and despite forcing herself to appear nonchalant, Noah feels like a puppet. She’s repeatedly asked to turn to the right side, then to the left, to smile, to toss her hair behind her shoulder, to move her dress this or that way. What prevents her from running up the hills is Nick walking towards her.
Noah has to steady her breathing when she feels Nick’s body heat behind her. She sees his lips twitch subtly from the corner of her eye and then his hand is on her waist, gently pulling her closer. His stance is completely relaxed as he offers his best charming expression to the cameras. 
There’s flashes and more screaming from the photographers for a solid minute or two, then he makes a “ that’s enough ” gesture towards them. Nick’s hand moves to the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd and into the building. God, she’s so happy he’s by her side tonight!

This time around she isn’t just going to be a table ornament, surrounded by arrogant people waiting for her to make a wrong move and make her feel inadequate.
Tonight she has full support from her family and friends. Noah has extended the invite to her best friend Jenna and her boyfriend Lion so they're sharing the same table along with Giles and a couple more mutuals.
And then there’s Nick.

As dinner is served, the atmosphere is laid back. Everyone is having fun chatting about their holidays, new university projects and latest gossip. Especially Giles, who seems to have all the juicy details nowadays. Jenna mentions he is London’s very own Gossip Girl and the table erupts in laughter.
Noah leans forward, giggling, to reach her glass and she feels Nick’s knuckles brush the naked skin between her shoulder blades, stopping right where the deep v backline of her dress ends. His other arm is casually draped on the back of her chair. She’s glad nobody’s looking in their direction, because she almost squirms in her seat. It’s ridiculous how badly he can make her want him. Pure fire simmering just under her skin.

Luckily, a few moments later, William calls for her to join him on stage, and she gladly welcomes the chance to move her chair back and escape a sure case of self-combustion. As she stands he hears Nick chuckle under his breath - the bastard - and wish her good luck.
Smacking that smug smile from Nick’s face would give her a well-deserved satisfaction but she has more important things to do now. For example, trying not to trip on her gown on the way to the stage or remember her speech.

Nick’s moves have accomplished a very specific goal up until that moment: divert her anxiety and ease her mind, but as soon as she’s walking across the room, Noah feels incredibly nervous once again.
This is a defining moment for her. For the woman she wants to become. And for the people she hopes to help in the future.

But there's one thing that's keeping her grounded and focused in spite of everything.
Nick.
Specifically, the fact that he’s alive and well. Something she’ll never take for granted again. The words “holding on for dear life" took on a new meaning the day Nick almost died. Noah remembers clearly the moment he lost consciousness and how hard she clung to his body as they both collapsed to the ground while the air around them filled with police officers, sirens and screams - mostly hers.
She repeats to herself that if she's able to be here tonight, it’s thanks to him. What is stage fright compared to the chilling terror crawling down her spine when she didn't know if he would make it?
That day Nick saved her in more ways than one.

Right before she takes the stand, she steals one last glance in his direction and their eyes lock briefly. When his lips curve upwards in a warm smile and he gives her the thumbs up, she wants to scream.

On the stand, as the whole room is watching her, she has a sort of epiphany: she has nothing to worry about, the most important person in her life is there.
For her.
Noah can’t see him because of the bright lights but she can feel his eyes on her. Her speech is very compelling and when she recounts briefly her past with an abusive father and the motivations behind her ambitious awareness project, the crowd is absorbed by her story.
The warm applause that erupts as she finishes talking fills her heart with gratitude. Ella and William stand up first and then all the other guests follow. Moving to get off stage, she sees Nick toasting her and she can't hold back her smile.

Time seems to slow down as she moves towards their table. It's the leisurely movements of his long fingers as he buttons up his tuxedo jacket and the way his head tilts to the side as he welcomes her back that make her insides melt and her legs turn to jelly. 

Noah should be accustomed to the hushed vibe of his voice and that dangerous mix of emotions on Nick’s face. It’s quiet and flirty but also bold and provocative. 

He’s making a very serious effort to act normal and keep his instincts under control but the tightness in his jaw gives him away. When the lights dim and soft jazz music fills the air around them, he moves to stand right behind her. She can feel the warmth of his body radiating between them and she shivers.
Everybody else is already pairing up to dance so she’s confident that their body language can easily blend in. She takes a look around the room just to make sure they’re safe from prying eyes and then steps back, leaning into his touch. Noah hears his sharp intake of breath behind her ear and then Nick’s hand ventures down to her lower back.
“You’re back,” he whispers.
He makes a point to reassure her on how great she was on stage, pointing out the active participation of the crowd.
Words of affirmation is surely one of the many ways he shows her he cares. “I’m proud of you, and you should be, too.”

All the air leaves her lungs at once as his words imprint themselves in her soul like a permanent reminder that she’s finally made it out of her dark place and he's there to spur her on every step of the way.
He really is my biggest supporter, she thinks.
If only she could, she'd crawl into his arms, bury her face in the rook of his neck and beg Nick to be hers forever.

But since it’s not the right time to let everyone know just how intimate they are, he spins her around, taking the lead and starting to dance.
Standing so close to him in a public setting is like walking blindfolded along a slippery slope. One wrong move, even the slightest distraction could expose them. Their demeanor can’t give anything away.

And yet, keeping her hands to herself is easier said than done, she realises, as she’s desperate to wrap them around him, comb her fingers through the soft curls at the nape of his neck and pull hard enough to have him moan. Even more tempting is the thought of letting her hands slide down his sides, reach around to his perfectly rounded ass and shamelessly grope him.
Just like she loves to do when he’s frantically moving inside her, knowing that his body’s response to her needy actions is swift and wild.

Though, given the circumstances, maybe she should concentrate her attention on other parts of his body and delay the dirty thoughts to a time when she has the concrete chance to properly act on them.

They dance for a while, swaying gracefully to the beat, relishing in each other’s closeness.

At some point someone must have realized jazz music was, in fact, a mood-killer for the younger guests and decided to put on a more upbeat playlist, transforming the room into a nightclub. Jenna and Lion decide to meet them in the middle of the dancefloor and the four friends enjoy the rest of the evening dancing and laughing together.

After Noah’s third request for “If U Seek Amy” by Britney Spears - undoubtedly fueled by the couple of Champagne glasses she’s had beforehand - the DJ looks ready to pack his gear and flee. He doesn’t because he knows she’s the guest of honor for the evening and also because he’s been paid a ridiculous amount of money.

Her official social debut as a young entrepreneur has been fun and all, but now, as she watches Nick loosen the bow around his collar and undo the first two buttons of his shirt, all she can think about is taking the celebrations home.
The plan forms in her head just as Nick comes close again. So she puts up her best pouting grimace to good use and sighs excessively.
Nick frowns in return. The way they’re constantly tuned in with each other is astonishing.
“What’s wrong?”
“These shoes,” she whines “I swear, they are devil’s shoes! They must have been designed by a man! They hurt like a bitch!”
She feels like she’s amplifying the whole situation a tad too much, and he might call her bluff. But at the same time, it seems only fair to fight fire with fire since he’s been a major tease all freakin’ night! Stealing glances and light touches, shooting burning glances from the distance. Basically over stimulating her.
It’s her turn now, so she fake-trips and grabs him for leverage, sure he’ll come to her rescue.
He raises his eyebrow and she forces herself to keep her cool and go on with the charade. It’s fun.
The second he mentions Britney Spears Noah feels like she needs to defend a national treasure.
“Do not…” she warns, “leave Britney alone, ok?”
His following remark fuels her reaction and she drops the bait.
“Can’t you just take me home and stop worrying about my music taste?”

Noah crouches down and unfastens the clasps of her heels, smiling triumphantly as she holds the vicious footwear in her hand.
“I guess I’ll go barefoot from now on.”
She’s once again exaggerating her reaction just a bit, but it’s all worth it the moment Nick curses under his breath and unceremoniously lifts her up on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. reaching for the car door. Just before he gently drops her into the seat, he playfully slaps her on the butt, eliciting a startled squeal from her.

When Nick closes her car door, she can almost hear herself scream out loud. I won!
Oh, she played it so well tonight!
Making him believe her shoes were so uncomfortable to prevent her from enjoying the rest of the night at the gala was acting at its finest.
It’s fun to see him all giddy about having the upper hand this time when in reality she’s the one leading the game.

After several days apart, her whole body tingles with anticipation. 
In a short while, they’ll be home where she’ll have him all to herself and she’s gonna enjoy every second of it!

Chapter Text

“Nick?” Noah murmurs, snuggling closer to him.
The dim light from the garden lamps filtering through the cream curtains outline the sharp curve of his jaw and the inviting roundness of his full lips. Nick has one of his arms folded under his head while the other is securely wrapped around her, his hand resting on her hip bone.

She’s lying on her left side, sprawled on him like a blanket, one leg idly resting between his, her right arm draped across his chest. Her ear is right above his heart and its regular thumping echoes through her ear and resonates with all the bones in her body.

One of the things she loves about him is his calming influence. The reassuring effect of his touch, his weight against her, his soothing voice. Whenever she feels agitated or she gets too in her head, she reaches for Nick. Whether it is a phone call, a hug or a kiss, the moment he is within reach, she’s instantly at peace.

“Mmh?!” His voice is soft against her hair and she instantly regrets opening her mouth.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s alright,” he whispers back, groggily. He was just about to doze off, slightly worn out after the eventful night, but he takes a deep breath  forcing himself awake. They both know he can’t stay much longer in her room, anyway. “S’ up?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, yeah.” His fingertips lazily move up and down her side now, along her forearm, drawing imaginary patterns on her soft skin.
He feels her hot breath tickle the side of his neck when she speaks.
“You never told me why you hated me so much when we first met. With time I figured it had to do with your mum leaving but we never talked about it.”

Sometimes late at night, when she’s unable to surrender to a peaceful slumber quickly enough, her mind plays tricks on her, dragging up her past, mulling over insignificant details and what-ifs. Maybe it’s because she’s blamed herself for things that weren’t her fault for so long and she still hasn’t learned how to let go.

Now fully awake, Nick’s eyes flutter open and he steals a glance at her face. She hasn’t moved from her spot, but when he looks down he can see her furrowed brows.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Nick chuckles. “Oh come on, you know I didn’t hate you.”
“Well you surely didn’t like me either.”
“Oh and you did?” Nick laughs, nudging her side with his hip. It’s a sweet laugh, not meant to make fun of her, but more like a visceral reaction to something silly and funny.

“Alright, listen. I know I was an asshole and I’m sorry, okay?” he reaches out, moving a strand of hair behind her ear.

Noah gives him a small nod but she’s biting down on her bottom lip and she’s tense against him. He immediately tunes in with her mood change, coming to a sitting position.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just…want to know. Can you tell me?” She hates her whining tone just as much as she hates having this sudden urge to get an answer.

When it’s clear this particular subject  bothers her, Nick clears his throat and nods.
“Ever since my mom left, big changes have been hard for me to compromise with. Middle school was a literal nightmare and I struggled to get back to a semi-normal routine. High school was even worse. By the time I was 16 I started getting into fights and I even got suspended a couple of times. They didn’t kick me out just because I had very good grades, but the school counselor suggested I pick up boxing classes as a last resort. I think they hoped it would help me blow off steam and learn how to manage my anger in a safe and supervised environment.”

“Did it work?”

“Yeah. For a while at least. It got me through high school.”
“Then what happened?”

“I was learning a lot of techniques but they didn’t let us fight in a proper match, so after a while it wasn’t cutting it anymore. One day I met Lion in his gym and I started fighting in the ring. Real fights. You know…black eyes, sprained wrists and all that. And then…I got my driver’s licence.”
“...and you got into street racing.”

“Exactly.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Every time I sat behind the wheel or stepped on the ring, I was in control.”

Noah turns her head, gauging his reaction. She knows this is a touchy subject and she almost regrets pressing him, but his voice is calm when he goes on.

“So, when my father told me he wanted to marry again and bring two complete strangers into my life, I felt like he was actively ripping the ground from under my feet. I felt powerless. And angry.”
“With him?”
“With him, with my mother…”

“...with me.”
Nick shakes his head, moving closer to her and tightening his grip. “No! Not with you. With the idea of you . Of having a new addition to the family I didn’t ask nor wished for. I had made up my mind to stay as far away from you as I could way before you arrived, actually. I had enough on my hands already, I didn’t need any more trouble in my life.”

“Oh, so I’m trouble.” 

Nick props himself up on his elbows, a soft smile playing on his lips. 

“Yeah,” the pad of his thumb lingers on her bottom lip, then glides along her jaw and down to the side of her neck, drawing small circles on the tender skin there. The touch of his fingertips makes her tingle in all the right ways.
“You’re the kind of trouble I clearly seem to be attracted to like a magnet. You drew me in despite all my efforts to stay away.”

The flirty tone and the way the chocolate brown of his eyes darkens even more is enough to make her heart race and forget all about irrational momentary concern about his past.

“Being awful before the gala while I was kinda trying to play nice with you was your best effort to stay away from me?”

Noah yanks the sheet with a little more energy than necessary, draping it around her chest as she sits on the bed now facing him.

She instantly misses his warmth.

Nick looks down, assessing the situation. The thin fabric is now just barely covering his lap, leaving him almost naked and something tells him she might have done that on purpose.

He exhales deeply through his nose, then looks at her from under his lashes, tilting his head to the side. The angles of his mouth curving up in a mischievous grin.

“ Nice, huh ? Coming down the stairs in that tiny black dress is not what I would call playing nice .” His eyes close for a brief moment as if he’s recalling the memory of that night and reliving it in his mind over and over again.

“Ha!” Noah shoves him playfully. “I knew you liked that dress!”

“I liked you in that dress,” Nick clarifies, pinning her on the spot.

Noah tries her best to keep a straight face, but her insides are burning with excitement.

“And yet, you said it was inappropriate attire .” She speaks the last two words trying to imitate his British accent.

His perfectly posh British accent is yet another of those things that she originally found incredibly irritating and now she’s head over heels in love with.

“I lied.” His voice drops low as he stops just a few inches from her face. His gaze flickers from her eyes to her lips and back again. “To be fair, you looked fucking stunning that night.”

She finds herself leaning into his touch, almost losing her balance, and when she thinks he’s about to kiss her, he nonchalantly backs up, winking at her.

Chin up, she pretends she isn’t affected by his teasing.

“Yeah, well, you made sure to keep me at a safe distance with your bratty attitude.”

When she looks up she’s met with his adorable smile.

“I don’t think it worked. You sneaked in my room as soon as I left the house. Need I remind you that I caught you snooping around in my closet? Trying on my clothes, smelling my cologne…”

“ You kissed me first!” She means to sound shocked, but she can hardly contain her amusement.

“Damn right I did! I can’t stand cheaters, so helping you get your revenge on Dickhead-Dan was a no brainer, really. Plus,” he pauses long enough to give his next words the right emphasis. “I really wanted to kiss you, so when Jenna mentioned the kiss-pic I knew I had the perfect chance.”

“You did huh?”

“Not as satisfying as smashing his nose, but…”

“What?! Nick! I specifically asked you not to hurt him!”
Nick shrugs. “He kept running his damn mouth, end of story.”

She just rolls her eyes, accepting the fact that he’s not going to elaborate on the when and how. And, frankly, it’s not even relevant at this point. Dan is in her past.

“Listen, I don't want to talk about your stupid ex, okay? Especially not when you’re naked in bed with me .”

His confidence is so sexy it’s almost irritating at times and makes her want to wipe that cocky expression from his face so bad. If only she could remember how to properly breathe in that moment.

“I’m not naked,” she gulps down air, tightening the sheet around her.

“Not yet .” Nick hums, his voice no more than a deep whisper but it’s inviting and sends shivers down her spine and right to her core. He reaches out, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him. “C’mere.” 

Noah slowly crawls on the bed and sits on his lap, gripping at his shoulder to steady herself.
“Hey,” she sighs, relishing in the feel of his warm body. 

“Hi.” 

Nick strokes her sides lazily, caressing with the back of his hand on his way up and pressing on her supple skin with his fingers on his way down. It’s a loving, lingering touch. Despite how extremely tempted he is and the heavy teasing going on, he doesn’t go further. He’s not expecting anything more.

After the gala they got home rather late and it won’t be long until their parents come back. It could be risky trying to steal any more time than they already have.

Nevertheless, he can’t avoid his body’s response to having her on top of him.

Feeling he’s hard again underneath the thin sheet separating them, she wonders if it’ll always be like this between them.

All it takes is a mild flirting, a little banter and sparks fly.

They usually cuddle and goof around a lot after sex. Sometimes they talk about cars or music or check out funny cat videos on social media for a while until one of them has to go back to their room. That’s usually Nick. Always the gentleman, he doesn’t want Noah to walk the razor’s edge and get caught sneaking out of his room. Not that the other way around would be easier to explain, but he’s decided he’s not going to worry until it’s necessary.

Other times he’s content with just holding her and watching her fall asleep, that’s how much he cherishes their time alone together.

Noah’s fingers fiddle with his silver necklace, sliding the clasp towards the back and when she’s done her hands move down his broad shoulders, his muscles flexing under her fingers.

“We don’t have much time,” Noah whines, checking the alarm clock on her nightstand.

Nick nuzzles the side of her neck, placing a tender kiss there. “I don’t want to go either.” 

“Will it ever get easier?”

“Probably not. But we’ll make this work. Me and you. At this point I don’t think I have any other choice. You’re the first and last thing on my mind. Sometimes it fucking scares me.”

Noah cups his face with both hands, looking him right in the eyes. “Nick…”

“I’m literally terrified to screw this up!”

“Why?”

Nick breathes out hard through his nose, wetting his bottom lip. “I think you know why.”

He’s in love with her, he has known for a while now, but he’s not the best at expressing his feelings. Not with words anyway.

She could cry!
How can it be that they have the same fear?

From time to time when she was with Dan she felt something similar to this, but not with this intensity. What she feels for Nick is on a totally different level. It’s unrestrainable. 

To keep it simple, she could admit to herself that she fell head over hills for Nick. Even going as far as telling him she loves him could be a reasonable option. The way they kiss, the way they touch, the way their bodies and minds complement each other is well beyond just sex at this point.

Yet, she chickens out every time she’s about to say the words.

If she speaks them out loud, there’s no taking them back. Their relationship will become something concrete.

Tangible, real.
Something that can be destroyed.
Something she can ruin.

Nick stares passionately into her eyes for a long moment, then he takes a deep breath before he speaks again. It’s now-or-never and he goes all in.

“I love you, Noah.”

Those words got stuck in the back of his throat for so long that as he let them out he can finally be free. His tone is deep and unfaltering, like he’s made up his mind about it and nothing is gonna change it.

The urgency to keep her as close as possible manifests in the way his hands come up around her even tighter. One open palm solidly pressed to the small of her back, while the other weaves in her hair and cradles her neck. “Please don’t let me screw this up.”

Something clenches in Noah’s chest, like her heart has no more space to expand into and it’s on the verge of splintering.
His confession sets off an electrifying jolt that sparks from the nape of her neck, runs along her spine and goes down to the tip of her toes, finally settling back in her stomach bursting into thousands little butterflies.

She shakes her head. “You won’t! I promise, you won’t. We won’t!”

From the very beginning, their relationship has been a whirlwind of passion, the insatiable desire to have their bodies pressed together, to find out just how much each of them could take before falling apart.
A constant push and pull.
Then one evening, when they were laying on the couch downstairs - making the most of the couple of hours they had until William and Ella’s return from a dinner party in the city - he had an epiphany of sorts.

Looking at her beautiful face as she fell asleep with her head on his chest, he realized she engraved herself right into his soul. A place where he wouldn’t ever be able to remove her from unless she decided to rip him apart herself.
And he’d gladly let her do it because it meant that he had been granted the chance to fall in love.

To be seen, heard and understood completely.

Nick closes his eyes, touching his forehead to hers. 

They remain like this for a while, then Noah gently nuzzles his nose, placing a kiss on his cheek first and then another small one to the corner of his mouth. When her lips brush lightly against his and she nips gently at his bottom lip, his eyelids flutter open again and she finds herself staring into his eyes, darker with want. When he leans in to properly kiss her, though, she pulls back slightly.

Nick watches her, trying to read her. She looks relaxed, but he can see the wheels turning in her head. Neither of them lower their gaze, a silent challenge between them.
Her eyes are bright and she’s smiling with mirth, so he comes close again, almost capturing her lips.

Once more Noah averts his move by pressing the pad of her thumb to his mouth, tracing his perfectly shaped cupid’s bow.

He’s not sure what game she’s playing exactly, but when the smile on her face grows bigger, he knows she’s messing with him. He places his open palms on her thighs and squeezes.

“Noah,” the amusement in his voice is barely concealing an underlying warning.

“Say that again,” she whispers, shifting her weight just enough to completely remove the fabric from between them and shivering at the skin on skin contact.

One of the things he loves about her is that she knows what she wants.

A loud moan leaves her lips when he hooks his hands in the hollow of her knees and yanks her all the way onto his lap so that she’s straddling him. She feels his hardness, hot and smooth, against her sensitive and dripping core.

Nick leans in enough to place an open mouthed kiss to that spot on the side of her neck that always makes her gasp. He’s always been so good at fulfilling her silent requests and her body’s needs because he remembers everything she likes and, most importantly, how she likes it.

Then his hot breath tickles the shell of her ear.

“I love you.”

A shiver runs along her spine, as his words settle in, making her almost dizzy with happiness.

When it comes to touch, he’s never been shy. It’s no secret he’s a very visceral individual. Lately his touches have become even softer and lingering on her skin. There has been a subtle but steady change in his demeanor and in the way he communicates with her, whenever they’re in the same room, his eyes never break contact. Nick’s also making her part of his daily life even more, talking about his projects and dreams.
But it’s the first time he’s expressing his feelings with words.

Love has not always been a positive feeling for Noah. People in her life that should have loved her unconditionally, ultimately ended up hurting her, physically and emotionally, leaving deep scars in her soul and on her body.

Love shouldn’t hurt. And yet the feelings she’s associated with love up until now are fear, betrayal and insecurity.

Nick’s love is healing her wounds, repairing her damaged heart and elevating her spirit. She can see the light of hope in her future now. And it’s all Nick’s doing.

It sounds so corny to reply back, like one of those sickly sweet romantic comedies. The thought of pouring her heart out is somehow terrifying, but Nick is worth the leap of faith.

And she decides to jump.

“I love you too.”

He crashes her mouth with his right after, one hand coming up to cup her face. The other roaming freely on every inch of skin it can reach. She lets out a needy moan when he flicks her clit with his thumb. She’s already soaking wet and Nick easily slips one long finger inside her, chuckling at Noah’s sharp intake of breath.
Engrossed by the feeling of his skillful fingers, Noah barely registers when he rolls the condom on and angles her hips just enough to thrust inside her in one swift move.

It’s his turn to groan as she sinks down, sheathing him completely in her heat.

There’s hard gripping, loud moaning and lots of cussing involved.

Nick’s generally a well mannered gentleman, but when they’re both so aroused, his foul mouth comes out to play. And it’s a turn on for Noah.

Nick loves dirty talking just as much as Noah likes to tease him until he does.

“Fuck, Noah, you feel good.”

Having her on top of him is so arousing. She’s easily in control for the most part, but his grip on her hips can ultimately affect just how deep and hard he’s driving into her. This position also grants him unlimited access to the soft skin of her neck and breasts that he can kiss, lick and suck on.

It doesn’t take long before their joined bodies are moving together at an increasing pace, chasing their mutual release.

Noah’s hands slide up his chest and around his neck, desperate for something to hold onto. They’re both very sensitive, given their earlier activities, and it doesn’t take long before their movements become erratic. Nick can feel she’s close even before she pleads with him to go faster and harder. 

“Nick…” She’s begging for her release and also urging him to follow along.

“I know, I’ve got you.”
He switches gears, one hand threads in her hair while the other holds down on her hip, allowing him to go even deeper as he mercilessly thrusts upwards.

Once, twice.

“Cum for me.” His command sends her into overdrive, her whole body quivering on top of him as she falls apart. Only then Nick allows himself to finish, burying his face in the crook of her neck and holding her tight as the intense pleasure washes over them in waves.

It was hard and fast and unbelievably good. 

By the time they’ve managed to even out their breaths a little and disentangle their worn out limbs, they hear the faint chatter of Ella and William as they get out of the car in the driveway.

Just in time.

“Holy shit!” Nick huffs softly, still panting. That’s dangerous timing.

Noah scrunches her nose, running a hand through his messy curls. “I’ll take a rain check for the cuddles, I guess.”

They exchange a knowing look, smiling longingly at each other.

Then Nick puts on his boxer briefs, kisses her once last time and quietly slips out of her room.
As soon as he’s gone, Noah flops back down against the mattress and cuddles under the comforter.

As she hugs one of the pillows and takes a steadying breath she finds herself intoxicated by a delicious mix of his expensive cologne, his unique heady scent and the musky fabric conditioner of her bedding. If she closes her eyes she can pretend he’s still beside her.

As usual, she waits for Nick’s text confirming that he’s back in his room, before she goes to sleep. Typically he sends either the snoring emoji, or the kiss emoji.

There’s a soft buzzing sound and Noah immediately grabs her phone smiling as soon as she reads the display. Tonight Nick has sent a proper text message. Short, but meaningful.

<I love you.>

Her new favorite words.

They both know this is not a typical situation and that, at some point, they’ll have to come to terms with the serious implications of their relationship and how that’s gonna affect their family.

But for tonight, they’re just two young people in love and that’s enough.