Noah (16 page)

I could still feel butterflies in my stomach, and I didn’t know if my pussy would ever recuperate, not that I wanted it to. Noah being inside of me, giving me that kind of release was something I never wanted to forget, even if he walked out and I never saw him again.

I still hadn’t fully caught my breath, but I knew exactly how to answer him. “How long until we can do it again?”

                 
Shalan

We didn’t leave
the room for the next eighteen hours. Between room service and the sex, we were both too satiated to consider going anywhere.  After an afternoon nap I climbed out of bed and started the shower. Unlike other times, I left the door open to the bathroom, knowing that I was naked and Noah had already seen everything I had.

The water was hot beating down on my face. I closed my eyes and replayed the last night’s events in my head. As excited as I was to perform again, and be able to share my talent with more people, I couldn’t stop thinking about
Noah. Even the mere image of him in my mind got me hot and bothered again.

Then it hit me again; that constant reminder that this was only temporary. I couldn’t keep Noah in a hotel, holding him as some sexual hostage for me during the day, and song partner at night.

It made me sad.

I’d never been lucky, but since meeting him it seemed like everything I’d ever wanted was happening. I’d been able to sing and feel the comforts of luxury, plus reap the benefits of how a real woman should be treated by a man. How could I not fear for the moment when it would all come to a crashing halt?

I didn’t move when I heard the shower curtain pulling to the side. His presence was no secret as strong hands came down over my shoulders. His lips found my ear first. “You ready to perform tonight?”

I turned around and reached up to wrap my arms around his neck. “At the club, or back here in bed?”

He got this sly look of orneriness on his face. “Loaded question.”

“Yeah.” I bit down on my lip. “The answer is yes, to both.”

Our lips met, and once again I was blown away by how sensual it was. He grabbed my chin and pecked my bottom lips before responding. “I know I already said it, but I’m real glad I met you in that bar that night. The past couple of days have been great.”

“Is this where you tell me you’re going to call me and you never do?” I turned my head to the side and let my hands start falling down his chest. I couldn’t keep him, so it wasn’t worth getting upset over, and that’s exactly what was happening.

“You’re not goin’ to get all weird now are you? I mean, this is just two people havin’ a good time, right?”

And there it was…

“Of course. I know that.” I turned quickly and grabbed the bar of soap, for the first time since being intimate feeling completely like a stranger to him. I’d gone ahead and slept with a man that wanted nothing from me. The reality hit me hard, and being naked in the shower with him wasn’t as sexy as it first seemed.

He took the shampoo and started washing my hair. I had my back turned to him and felt the tears welling up. This temporary fix was inevitably going to end.

Noah took his time, washing and rinsing my hair, then washing my body, one area at a time. He paid close attention to certain areas, and made sure he kissed every inch of me as he went. I almost wanted him to stop, on account of loving it so much and knowing it was a temporary high.

I finally turned around and looked at Noah, who was busy washing his own hair. His body, so perfectly sculpted was something that I would never be able to forget, another was the way he touched me. It was impossible to be falling for someone so soon. I knew it had to be an infatuation, based on the fact that I’d never been with anyone even remotely like him.

He climbed out of the shower, pushing the curtain all the way open and lifting me out. My ass hit the cold marble on the vanity as he sat me on it. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my back before kissing me on the tip of the nose. “We need to get dressed and find you something as sexy as last night to wear.”

“I can’t keep buying clothes with what I earn, Noah. I’ve got to save up. God knows I can’t go home. I’ll be sleeping in a cell if I did that.”

He cocked his brow. “Seriously, you think he’d do that?”

I nodded. He didn’t know how crazy my ex could get. Yes, I’d driven his car into a pond, but he could be vindictive. After my actions I was sure he was plotting against me to see how he could destroy what I had left to my name. “Unfortunately, yes. I can’t go back there. I’m just going to save up my money and take a bus somewhere. I’ve got bartender and waitressing skills. I’m sure I can find a job and a cheap motel that rents by the month.”

I watched as his jaw clenched. He took a strand of wet hair and pushed it out of my face. “I don’t like hearin’ you talk that way, Shalan. There’s nobody you can call?”

I shook my head and looked down at the floor. It was embarrassing to admit that I had nothing. “Nobody. Hell, by now my uncle knows I lied. His wife won’t let me go back there. She’s probably furious that I walked out on my job with no notice. I already told you that I don’t talk to my dad, so that’s out of the question.”

“There’s got to be somethin’.”

I shrugged again. “I could always strip.”

“Yeah right. You wouldn’t?” I could tell he seemed offended about it.

“Why not? If it paid the bills, I’d do it. I mean, it’s not like I’d have to sleep with anybody.”

He leaned on the counter and looked down, ignoring the fact that we were both standing in the bathroom naked. I grabbed one of his arms and made him look at me. “Noah, this is my problem. Stop trying to help me with it. Regardless of my meeting you, this would be my fate. We’re just people that met in passing. I never expected to be saved from my life, and I’d never ask it either.”

He stood up and pulled me against his chest. “That’s the problem, Shalan. I was raised better than to turn my back on someone that needs help.”

“Don’t you dare ask me to go with you out of pity. I won’t have you feeling sorry for me, not after last –“

His cell phone started ringing. It rang three times and stopped, but then started right up again. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Noah picked up his phone with his back to me. “Yeah?”

“Dad, I ain’t comin’ home.” He paused, probably listening to what his father was saying. “We discussed this the night I left. I don’t want your life.” Another pause. “How do you know where I am?” I could hear his father yelling from in the other room. His words weren’t clear, but it was very obvious. “Tell Mom I’m fine. I’m sure you’ll
figure somethin’ out when I don’t show up. I’m not a kid! Yeah you too, you ignorant prick.”

He tossed the phone on the bed and sat down. I hopped off the sink and walked over to where he was standing. After running my hands through his wet hair, I pulled it back enough to kiss him on the lips.

Noah pulled away and looked at me in a weird way. His eyes were scary.

Suddenly, he hopped up and shoved me against the wall. His left hand had one of mine pinned above my head, while his right hand grabbed the skin of my pussy and pulled. “I need this.”

I let out a cry, wondering what was going to happen. To be honest, I was pretty freaked out. “Noah, please don’t hurt me.”

He shoved his lips on mine and then his tongue in my mouth. His kisses, once again ravenous with no tempo. Fingers plunged inside of me with force, over and over. His mouth separated from mine, but only to bite down on my collarbone. I cried out and felt my body being thrown onto the bed. Those eyes were the same, more black showing than the green. I crawled from one end of the bed to the other to distance us. He climbed on too. “Don’t fuckin’ run from me, Shalan.”

“You’re making me scared. I don’t want you to hurt me.”

He sighed and held out his hand, gritting his teeth while he spoke. “Come on, woman. You know what I want. Why don’t you get over here and give it to me? Don’t you
want to practice with me, before you start that job dancin’?”

I wasn’t going to take him treating me like that because he was pissed off. I had nothing to do with it. “Why are you acting so mean? I don’t understand. What happened? Did your dad piss you off?”

“My dad won’t control me. Nobody can.”

“It was just a call. Calm down. I’m not sleeping with you right now, not when you’re being ridiculous. We’ve got to get ready.”

“The only fuckin’ thing you need to be ready for is this.” He motioned towards his crotch. “Now bend your ass over and give me what I want, or get the fuck out of my hotel room.” He shook his head and started laughing. “Ain’t this why you’re here? Don’t you want to work for money? It’s why all the women want to be with me, Shalan. Nothin’ changes.” Instead of having me bend over and put my ass in the air, he turned me around so that I was lying on my back. “Let me teach you how they’re goin’ to treat you at the strip club.” He positioned himself to where he could enter me as he continued speaking. I should have said no, but I was feeling so powerless, and utterly shocked that he’d treat me with such disrespect. I covered my breasts with my arms and was prepared to protect my face, need be. Noah was acting as if he could inflict bodily harm and I was petrified. Tears started falling down my cheeks. I didn’t know this man that was on top of me. “I’m going to teach you how to like it rough, woman. Say you like it. Tell me. Tell me you like bein’ told what to do.”

This side of him, this awful side, only showed me how
messed up he was over whatever his father had said. I didn’t know whether I pitied him or was completely upset with him. He was the stranger that I never should have ended up in bed with. I couldn’t hold the pain of this mistake in any longer.

It took one look; one moment to meet my stare, for him to stop. “Shit.” He reached for my hands and pulled me into a sitting position across from him. His head turned as he looked away, disappointed. “God damn it.” When he looked back at me I could see that he was sorry. He pulled me into a hug and held me there, kissing the side of my head every few seconds, but never explaining what the hell had just happened, or the fact th
at he was still holding me. “Look at me, Shalan. Please.”

I refused. “I thought you were going to hit me.”

He kept his hold on me. “I’d never hurt you like that. Don’t even say that.”

“Noah, you practically slammed me into a wall and forced yourself on me. Just get off of me. I’ll pack my things and leave, and then you won’t have to see me ever again, because my life is none of your fucking business.”

He wouldn’t move.

I slapped his arms, trying to free myself. “Let go of me, Noah. I’m not kidding.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“For which part? You’re sorry for scaring me, or for telling me that I’m the same as a common whore?” I was devastated, especially after feeling like something was
developing between us. He was wrong about accusing me of being that kind of woman. I’d never sell my body for money, not to mention that he’d made a comment about me using him like all the other women he’d been with.

“You don’t get it. You never could.” He scrunched up his fa
ce, but still didn’t move from above me. “My dad makes me so mad. It makes me say things I don’t mean. I take my anger out on the people around me. I meant nothin’ by it. I don’t think of you that way, I swear. I’d never hurt a woman, especially you, Shalan. You’ve got to believe me. I don’t want you to leave.” The feeling in the room changed just as fast as it had before, but not soon enough for me to feel any better. In a matter of seconds everything I’d felt for Noah was destroyed. He was just like every other man, and it made me sick.

It took all my might, but I manage
d to push him off of me. I slid off the bed and ran into the bathroom, closing the door before he could get to it. “It’s too late. I’m not into forgiving people. They’ll just end up hurting me again anyway.”

The room suddenly became quiet. I stood on the other side of the door and listened for his reply. After a couple minutes I heard the door to the hall open and close. Quietly I opened the door to find Noah gone.

Without getting dressed I sat down on the edge of the bed and started to bawl. He wasn’t my Prince Charming after all, because there wasn’t such a thing.

Since I didn’t have much to choose from, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a tight top that I’d purchased between the second-hand store and Walmart. Two times I went out into the hallway and looked for Noah. He hadn’t called, not
that I even knew his number anyway.

By the time I heard him come in I’d just finished putting on my makeup. My hair was styled and I was actually ready to walk out the door to go to the gig without him. From the moment I saw his face I could tell he was broken up about what had happened. As much as I wanted to run right into those strong arms, I knew I couldn’t.