Page 174 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“I’m glad you guys found your way back to each other. Can I ask you a favor though?” he asks quietly.

He glances up at the house then back to me. His joking demeanor is suddenly serious and it’s making my heart race.

“Sure.”

“Noah can be a bit…intense. Don’t judge him too harshly. He truly does love you, I should know. I’ve only had to hear about it for fifteen years straight,” he laughs, but his laughter is cut short when his eyes land on someone in the doorway.

Noah.

“Hey. I thought you were going to lie down?” I ask as I take a few steps closer to the house with Jeremy following behind me.

I don’t miss the subtle nod Noah gives Jeremy as he walks up to me and wraps me in his arms.

“You’re freezing, Willow.”

“No. I feel fine. I’m only a little cold.”

“Your lips are literally turning blue. Come on. I think we should get some sleep anyway.”

He kisses my lips, and it’s then that I realize he isn’t wrong. I am freezing. Especially compared to his warm touch.

“Sounds good. Oh, Jenna went to pack up her stuff. I think she’s in your room,” Noah says to Jeremy.

“Thanks. I’ll probably take her home then head home myself. You guys have fun.”

He gives Noah a hug before jogging the rest of the way into the house.

“Come on. I want to show you something,” Noah says as he slowly pulls me toward the house.

“What is it?”

He looks me up and down like he wants to devour my soul.

“Now where’s the fun in telling you when I could just show you?”

“Ugh, fine,” I huff, causing him to laugh.

I let him pull me through the house and up the steps. I quickly shout goodbye to Jenna even though all the doors are shut, and I’m not sure which room is Jeremy’s.

“Bye, Willow. I’ll text you later. Love ya,” her voice calls back from near the end of the hall.

“Love ya, too,” I quickly shout back before Noah pulls me up the steps to his bedroom then shuts and locks his door.

It’s a lot warmer up here now. The sweet scent of vanilla and brown sugar fills the air. The bed has rose petals on it, and the lights are dim letting only the setting sun illuminate the room through the skylights. He steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist before resting his head on my shoulder.

“Noah, I thought you were supposed to be sleeping because of your headache?”

“I lied. I just wanted some time to set this up for you.”

“It’s beautiful, but you didn’t have to do this.”

“I know. But I wanted to,” he says as he kisses the side of my neck.

My eyes fall closed as I lean into his embrace and his kisses. Goosebumps spread down my arms sending chills across my body. I can feel my nipples hardening as they brush against the fabric of his shirt I’m wearing. I threw one of his hoodies on before we went outside, but I’m still cold.

“Noah,” I whimper as he sucks on the sensitive spot on my neck just below my ear.

“Fuck, I love hearing you say my name, Willow.”