loved him all along.
But seeing his reaction—which almost justifies leaving him—causes my second heart to shatter into a million pieces for Noah Winters as a single tear runs down my cheek.
Twenty
Noah
When I open my eyes, it’s dark outside.
My cheek is still on Chloe’s chest, the same way I lay down on her earlier after her confession.
I swallow hard, pushing all thoughts away about what Pandora's box we opened. I still have so many questions I want answered—need answered—but right now, I don’t want to think about any of them. I just want to hold on to Chloe some more. To be with her.
The alarm clock on the nightstand confirms it’s the middle of the night. Chloe must have turned off the light at some point, but since the curtains aren’t drawn, there’s enough moonlight coming through the windows to illuminate the room in a light glow.
It also allows me to see Chloe’s body under me when I slowly raise myself. Her skin shimmers in the silvery light as my eyes move from her stomach to the breast that’s closest to me. Staring at her perfect brown nipple that I want another taste of.
My dick stirs in my boxers, wanting another round. Not having had enough of this woman yet.
After a deep inhale, my gaze wanders and stops in the middle of her chest.
My own chest restricts just like earlier, still incapable of understanding what the fuck happened to her. Unwilling to accept any of it.
But there’s that scar.
When she said anti-rejection drugs earlier, and I put two and two together, I wanted to throw up. I wanted to revert back to being a child, throw my hands over my ears, and pretend none of this was happening.
A new heart. Fuck. Not only have I heard more than enough stories from Daisy about her work at the hospital over the years, but I’ve also attended my fair share of fundraisers and organ donations is always an important topic.
My gaze focuses back on the scar. It’s lighter than most of the surrounding skin, only darker in a few spots. But it’s long, and I have to close my eyes from the images penetrating my mind. Doctors cutting so much of her body open to get out the one piece of her that I once thought of as mine.
Why wasn’t I there for her?
The sense of having failed her is so strong, I have to cover my mouth with my fist to keep myself from choking on these emotions.
All this time I thought she left me for a better life, not wanting me anymore because I wasn’t good enough for her.
But now? Now, I don’t know shit.
My mind keeps spinning, my thoughts buzzing so loud, that the urge returns to hold my ears shut.
Instead, my fingers reach out to touch her chest, to trace the scar with featherlight touches, not wanting to wake her, yet unable to not feel her skin with mine.
A longing to please her, to make her—make both of us—forget about everything that just happened surges through me, literally propelling me forward.
Toward her body. Wanting to reunite with her again.
Because that’s the one thing that’s still right with us right now.
Our bodies. They still unify in a way I’ve never experienced with anyone else. Like we were meant for each other and no one else. The perfect match.
Her scar feels soft in the lighter spots, contrary to the rougher dark ones that still retain some smoothness. Her breast is right in front of my face, her chest still evenly rising and lowering.
My gaze is on her breast, that nipple silently taunting me, begging me. Unable to control myself, I latch on to her nub like it holds the sweetest nectar of them all.
Of course, this doesn’t go unnoticed. Chloe’s breathing hitches, and when I swirl my tongue around her taut peak, her eyes fly open.
Neither one of us says a word as I take my sweet time with one breast before moving over to the other, but not before kissing every single millimeter of her scar from the bottom all the way to the top.
When I reach her collarbone, I get sidetracked by her throat that’s been working almost mechanically, entrancing me with its rhythm. I make my way up one smooth side, to her ear, down the curve of her jaw, until I finally get to her mouth.
I press my lips to the corners of hers and stay there for one solemn moment. Just feeling her, breathing her in,