Page 29 of The Addict

I didn’t really know how I felt about that answer. I could never see myself with another person sexually, if there wasn’t some sort of connection. But then again, I didn’t know the specifics of Noah’s past with Silas, and as much as I wanted to ask him about it, I decided not to. Instead, I pressed the button to turn off the water in the shower. I stood for a moment, the fresh smell lingering, the water droplets falling down my now red skin from the amount I scrubbed.

The sound of Noah rising from his seat filled my ears. He paced across the room to where the towels were laid out for me, bringing it back to the side opening of the walk-in shower. He tilted his chin down as I approached, the towel extended towards me, like an offering.

I took the towel, wrapping it around my body. “Then what is it?” I asked, almost impatiently.

Noah’s eyes collided into mine without warning and locked themselves there. My breath flew from my chest. I was stunned by the intensity of his gaze.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just...” His lips curled up into a little crooked smirk. “...addicted to that type of danger.”

Despite his fierce demeanor, he seemed to be beckoning me in. Was that pure blown lust that flooded his expression? And why did I find it so captivating?

“I don’t want you to go through with it,” I blabbed out by accident.

He raised an eyebrow. “With what?”

My mouth was dry. “Tomorrow. I don’t want you to give yourself to...that man.”

Noah sighed, leaning against the side of the shower with one arm, angling his face closer to my own.

His gaze didn’t waver.

“Delane,” he began, “I know that we’ve just met, but…” he brushed a strand of my damp hair behind my ear. “I like you.”

A steady rhythm of hard pounds beat up into my ears. I briefly wondered if he could hear the deafening clamor of my heart as well I did. The blood rushed into my cheeks and face.

Noah didn’t seem to notice my heightened panic.

“I’m glad that I could save you, and I have no problem accepting Silas’s demands. You should never have had to experience what you did this evening.” He touched my chin with his hand. “So perk up a little. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

The emotions I held in all night were slowly rising to my surface. I wasn’t sure how much longer I was going to be able to hold my shit together. The last thing I wanted was for someone to be hurt in my place. Now, I owed Noah somehow, a man I barely knew. How was it that this person was willing to risk himself for someone like me?

“I feel like...such a burden...” I whispered, mostly to myself.

“You’re not,” his answer was so swift, it caught me by surprise.

I willed myself not to cry in front of him. I would not be showing any more weakness tonight. I couldn’t save myself physically without the help of another, but I needed to spare some of my dignity, if it was the last thing I did tonight.

“How so?”

Noah shrugged. “I think it’s kind of cool, being a hero for once. To help someone else who needs it. That, and I get to have a beautiful woman sleeping in one of my guest bedrooms?”

My mouth dropped and he winked. “See? All is well.”

Noah cocked his head towards the door and extended a hand to help me out of the shower. I grabbed the clothes his mom had laid out for me from the counter.

“Come on, let me show you where you’ll sleep.”

He led me back into the bedroom. The beds were covered over with satin sheets and puffy blankets thick as clouds that I was sure would keep me warm during my rest. The room itself was large and airy, and the enormous windows were draped in a rich colored cloth that hung all the way down to the floor. On either side of the bed were two big lamps with tiny compartments inside. Each piece of furniture had gold finishing.

“This is wonderful, thank you.” I remarked, lost for any other words.

“I’m glad you like it.”

I stepped forward on impulse, laying myself back against the plush covers of the bed. I sighed in contentment. “It’s perfect, honestly.”

Noah laughed, and it was like a warm, golden sound filling my ears.

“Thank you, so much,” I thought out loud. I meant it.