Nine words off 2000. Nice long chapter and a little spicy sex. :) Love Billie.
Noah let out a groan as he carefully disentangled himself from May’s exhausted form, savoring the sound of her surprised gasp as they separated.Fuck! What the hell had just happened? This night hadn’t meant anymore to him other than a means to get his rocks off. Noah moved off the bed to sit on the side, trying to catch his breath and so he could think.This time he had really muffed up. He would normally have the ‘Talk.’ with his sexual partners. Telling them he wasn’t interested in a girlfriend or, god forbid, a wife. He already had a fucking wife he didn’t want. He didn’t need a woman angling to be the second Mrs Crawford when he hadn’t got rid of the first one, yet. But he told no one about April.Some stupid gossip rag had told everyone years ago he had divorced her. So what? Noah shrugged. He didn’t care; he didn’t even see himself as married. Noah knew William Harrington was in the hospital. The last report he had received it didn’t look like William would be leaving the hospit
April woke to the sound of the shower running. The rhythmic patter of water came from the direction of the bathroom. She had used to clean up last night.The events of the night before replayed in her mind like a vivid dream. Noah’s hands exploring her body, his lips devouring hers, the way he had taken her not once, but twice more after their initial coupling. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the intensity of each encounter, the raw passion that had consumed them both. He had used a condom the other times as well, with no issue. Both of them did not want to risk it.She shifted on the bed, her limbs heavy with satisfaction. She was stiff, but in a good way. Wow, last night. When she had thought Noah wanted her to leave, it had just been the beginning, not the end. Who knew men liked it more than once a night? Her friends didn’t talk about sex. They all had a past, some best forgotten.Thinking about the sex didn’t stop the gnawing anxiety twisting in her chest. She had been lucky,
As the lift doors opened to the lobby. April put her hand over the door’s edge to make sure it didn’t close just yet. Putting her head out, she scanned the lobby, making sure Noah hadn’t somehow got down here first. Not that she thought he would have. She had just been an easy lay for him. Her cheeks heated as she thought about how easy she had been.April didn’t see Noah, so she stepped out of the lift and raced across the lobby of the hotel, not looking at anyone. Relieved there weren’t too many people about at this early hour. It was a total walk of shame.April didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone. She knew she didn’t have anything to feel ashamed about. She had just had sex with her husband. The problem was, he didn’t know she was his wife.It was a relief as she pushed through the front, not giving the door man time to do it for her.“Taxi, Miss?” He called after her as she rushed down the steps.April didn’t look back. Keeping her head down, she called over her shoulder.
Noah left the meeting with the manager at Twister. Dan had promised Noah that the drinks menu would have something for everyone, with affordable options for students and higher priced drinks and wines for the more affluent clientele.Noah had warned his manager he would be keeping an eye on it. His team would be doing spot checks. Having profit share setup with staff sometimes can be a good thing or a bad thing it depended on the person. All his team were profit share. If the company did well, they all got bonuses. But Dan had taken it too far.Noah had a manager last year, that had kept staff levels so low that the hotel team had been exhausted. If someone hated their job, it didn’t matter how much you paid them, they wouldn’t stay. Happy staff was the key.Pay them well and keep them happy. Noah now had a staff satisfaction officer that was responsible for maintaining the engagement levels of his staff. If staff turnover was high, it added another level of cost. Training new staff wa
Noah lifted the glass to his lips as he watched Ryan and Tally on their wedding day. Noah was happy for his friend and Tally was a lovely woman.It made a change for his friend to have to pursue anyone. Usually the women were chasing him. But in Tally’s case, Ryan had had the hots for her long before she had realized her feelings for him. Noah had listened to his friend talk about Tally for the last year. Like she walked on water or something.Ryan had struggled on how he was going to break it to Tally about her cheating ex, but in the end, that had worked itself out. Ryan hadn’t had to do a thing. Tally had walked in on her ex fiance, doing the deed with his boss’s wife. He hadn’t been an ex at the time, but after that he soon had been.Noah had worried that Ryan could be a rebound for her. But looking at her now as she gazed up into Ryan’s eyes. Noah knew there was love there on both sides. He worried that his friend might just have issues keeping his hands to himself at the office.
Noah dialed Hugo’s number. “She just sent me a text. Is there anyway to track it?”Noah heard Hugo sigh. “Boss, like I told you. The phone she is using isn’t registered. There's just no way to track an unregistered phone, regardless of whether it's a message or a phone call. I’m sorry.”“Right.” Total frustration hummed through every line of Noah's body. “I just don't understand why she would need a burner.”“They're easy to pick up at a grocery store or an electronic store. A lot of people just don't register them.” Hugo explained.“What’s our next move?” Why couldn’t they find her?Noah could understand on one hand why it was so hard. She wasn’t a criminal on the run.“Like I told you, they paid cash that night at Twister. They might have started to use a credit card that night had you not picked up the tab.”Noah had really shot himself in the foot on that one, but he hadn't realized that he might want a track May down after. “The university wasn’t any extra help?”“No boss, she gra
April let herself into her brownstone later that night. Exhausted, she dropped her keys into the bowl on the entry table. Then hung up her coat, putting her handbag on the chair. She then dragged her bone weary body into the kitchen.Opening the fridge to grab the open bottle of wine. April had just taken a glass down when the doorbell rang. She placed the glass on the countertop and went to answer the door.Looking through the peephole, April saw her friends. Quickly, she pulled the door open. She said in surprise, not expecting to see them tonight.Sophie, Trent, and Poppy stood on her stoop. “Hey guys.”They didn’t wait to be invited in, just stepped by her. All kissing her on the way past to the kitchen. April closed her front door and followed her friends. They were unpacking Chinese and pulling out plates from her cabinets. They knew their way around her kitchen. They had done this before. Sometimes an all night study session. Not like they would be having one of those again.Pop
‘Fate Decides Who Comes Into Your Life, Your Heart Decides Who Stays.’ Quote by Someone?April could see she didn’t have long with her father. He had stopped eating some of his favorite foods she often brought in for him. At least she had had this last Christmas. But she knew in her heart he would not make Easter. In the weeks since Christmas, he had gotten so much worse. She could see he was hanging on for her. April wanted to tell him to let go. Every time she tried to form the words, she just couldn’t.Her dad had fallen into another heavy sleep and she needed a coffee. So she decided to head to the hospital cafeteria. The coffee was terrible, and the food wasn’t much better. But it was at the hospital that was the main thing. She just didn’t have the energy to find somewhere to eat outside the grounds where the food and coffee would be better.Once April had grabbed what she wanted and paid, she looked around the seating area, seeing them mostly full.She was going to have to ask t
“Fuck.” Noah said aloud as he finished pulling up his pants and buttoning and zipping himself up. He knew by the time he was done, she would be long gone. He wanted to know what the hell she was playing at. She ran hot and cold.If he didn’t fancy her like mad. Plus, it had been the best sex of his life. He would just walk away without a backward glance, like he had done too many times before. But he did want her in a way he hadn’t wanted anyone. It wasn’t just the sex.Pulling his phone out of his pants pocket. Noah dialed Hugo’s number. “Hugo, I ran into May at the hospital when I was visiting Ryan. She had a bandage on her hand. Do you have a contact within the hospital who can look into all ER visits tonight?”“Sure, but boss, if you ran into her, how did she get away?” Hugo was curious enough to ask.Noah could feel the heat rising on his cheeks. How indeed. But he would not be telling Hugo how. That he had been caught with his pants down. “She got away, as I was otherwise occupie
When no negative answer was forthcoming from her. Noah let her hands go from above her head. In short order, he had his belt and zipper undone. Freeing his length. Making her gasp as the heat of him touched her inner thigh.Her legs trembled. She lifted them and wrapped them tightly around his waist as he positioned himself. April’s breath hitched as she felt the head of his erection press against her entrance, the promise of what was to come making her heart pound even harder. But he didn’t push in immediately. Instead, he pulled away, leaving her hanging, aching for more.“Tell me,” he demanded, his voice cutting through the haze of desire. “Tell me what you want, May.”She blinked, dazed and disoriented, her mind struggling to form words. “I... I don’t know,” she stammered, her voice soft and uncertain.Noah let out a dark chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Liar,” he said simply, “You know exactly what you want. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”Her cheeks burned with
‘Most of the problems in life are because of two reasons: we act without thinking or we keep thinking without acting.’ Quote by Unknown.“What is it? What’s wrong?” Noah asked.April shook her head. “Nothing important.” God, she hoped not.“Then can we start again?” Noah asked.April didn’t think that was a good idea. Not only did Noah not know who she was, but he had hurt her every day for the last four years, starting from their wedding day.“I just don’t think that would be good for me.” April wrapped her arms around her waist, watching him. “Look Noah, let’s call it what it was. We both had fun, but we both saw it as a one-night stand.”“And not worth a repeat. If I remember your words correctly.” Noah said, taking another step towards her.April held her hand up as if to stop him from advancing. “I was angry when I wrote that note. But I don’t want you, Noah, for more than we have already shared. Let’s just go our separate ways.”April’s breath caught as Noah’s hand closed around
'Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memery no one can steal.' Quote by Richard PuzNoah couldn’t believe it. The woman that had barreled into his chest as she was leaving the hospital was May.He gripped her arms, holding on, so she wouldn’t vanish again. He could see she wasn’t pleased to see him. She looked tired and her hand was also bandaged. How long had she been in the ER before being treated? “What happened to your hand?”She looked at her hand resting against his chest and blinked at the stark white bandage before saying, “I cut it on some glass. They just put three stitches in.” She didn’t meet his eyes, instead looked at his hands gripping her arms. “Can you let go of me, please? I would like to go home.”Noah’s hands tightened slightly on her arms. He was afraid if he let her go, even for a second, he might never find her again. “May, can we talk? I would like to set the record straight.” He said to the top of her head because she was staring at his ches
April listened to the conversation between her father and Noah. Surprised that her dad was so open about his regret four years ago. Well, at least Noah knew the truth now. She had never tricked him into marriage. She had no part in what her father had done. Even now, she understood why he had done it. Since William’s hospitalization, her uncle and his family had been circling. Luckily, Mr. Harper was more than capable of handling him for now.When Noah left the room with the doctor, April came out from behind the bathroom door. Then shamelessly moved to the door leading out into the hall to listen to their conversation.“William Harrington is my father-in-law.” She heard Noah tell the doctor.“Not for long, sweetheart.” April said under her breath.“That’s ok then. Sorry, Mr. Crawford, we can never be too careful.” The doctor said.“I understand completely. I’m sure my wife will be happy that you are protecting her father.” Noah said a little loudly.April snorted at Noah calling her a
‘We all make mistakes in life. That’s true, some little, some big, some simple and some more complex, some mistakes we regret forever.’ Quote By Rashard Royster.It was only when she returned to her dad’s room that she realized Ryan might be in the same wing in the ICU. Given Ryan’s unstable condition and her father’s impending fate on death row, they were both in the ICU.April impulsively rose from her chair and cracked open the door to take a peek. She timed it perfectly, as Tally entered the ward with Noah by her side. April’s heart raced, and her skin felt flushed. She only saw him for a few moments before he disappeared into the room opposite.April stood there waiting for him to come out. Turning, she looked at her father, who was still asleep. If he woke up, she would leave her peeping and join him. April didn’t even want to think about why she was doing this. Time for thinking wasn’t now.Noah couldn’t believe it. It seemed so surreal, but it was happening. Looking at Ryan lay
‘Fate Decides Who Comes Into Your Life, Your Heart Decides Who Stays.’ Quote by Someone?April could see she didn’t have long with her father. He had stopped eating some of his favorite foods she often brought in for him. At least she had had this last Christmas. But she knew in her heart he would not make Easter. In the weeks since Christmas, he had gotten so much worse. She could see he was hanging on for her. April wanted to tell him to let go. Every time she tried to form the words, she just couldn’t.Her dad had fallen into another heavy sleep and she needed a coffee. So she decided to head to the hospital cafeteria. The coffee was terrible, and the food wasn’t much better. But it was at the hospital that was the main thing. She just didn’t have the energy to find somewhere to eat outside the grounds where the food and coffee would be better.Once April had grabbed what she wanted and paid, she looked around the seating area, seeing them mostly full.She was going to have to ask t
April let herself into her brownstone later that night. Exhausted, she dropped her keys into the bowl on the entry table. Then hung up her coat, putting her handbag on the chair. She then dragged her bone weary body into the kitchen.Opening the fridge to grab the open bottle of wine. April had just taken a glass down when the doorbell rang. She placed the glass on the countertop and went to answer the door.Looking through the peephole, April saw her friends. Quickly, she pulled the door open. She said in surprise, not expecting to see them tonight.Sophie, Trent, and Poppy stood on her stoop. “Hey guys.”They didn’t wait to be invited in, just stepped by her. All kissing her on the way past to the kitchen. April closed her front door and followed her friends. They were unpacking Chinese and pulling out plates from her cabinets. They knew their way around her kitchen. They had done this before. Sometimes an all night study session. Not like they would be having one of those again.Pop
Noah dialed Hugo’s number. “She just sent me a text. Is there anyway to track it?”Noah heard Hugo sigh. “Boss, like I told you. The phone she is using isn’t registered. There's just no way to track an unregistered phone, regardless of whether it's a message or a phone call. I’m sorry.”“Right.” Total frustration hummed through every line of Noah's body. “I just don't understand why she would need a burner.”“They're easy to pick up at a grocery store or an electronic store. A lot of people just don't register them.” Hugo explained.“What’s our next move?” Why couldn’t they find her?Noah could understand on one hand why it was so hard. She wasn’t a criminal on the run.“Like I told you, they paid cash that night at Twister. They might have started to use a credit card that night had you not picked up the tab.”Noah had really shot himself in the foot on that one, but he hadn't realized that he might want a track May down after. “The university wasn’t any extra help?”“No boss, she gra