I grab her hand before she can get too far away. “I have an idea. Go pack an overnight bag while I make a phone call.”
I’m so emotionally exhausted, I don’t know what to do with myself. All I want is a relaxing shower and to go to bed. Noah has other plans. We both have an overnight bag, though I have no clue why. When we get into his SUV, he angles toward me, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a blue tie. I eye him warily and he laughs.
“Can I? I want it to be a surprise.”
“It will be, because I don’t know where we’re going,” I point out and look at the tie like it might attack me at any moment. I want to be able to see, to know what’s coming, to be prepared for whatever’s about to happen. If I’m going to crash and burn, I’d like to see it coming. God, why am I overanalyzing something so simple?
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course,” I immediately answer.
He stares at me with these pleading eyes until I sigh and turn away from him. My eyes close on instinct as the tie is placed over my eyes. He ties a knot and sticks two fingers between it and my head. “That okay?” he asks anyway.
“Yeah.” I carefully turn in my seat.
Noah laughs when I fumble for the seatbelt. “I’ll do it.”
My breath hitches when his fingers brush over my breasts as he pulls the seatbelt over me. He laughs again and I hear the click of the seatbelt. “Do you like being blindfolded?” A heady sensation fills me when I hear his voice so close to my ear, his breath tickling my skin.
“I like my ability to see,” I manage to say.
He laughs as if he doesn’t believe me. I hear the clinking of keys and the engine rumbles to life. Honestly, I’m not sure if I like this whole not-seeing thing. Yes, it ramps up the excitement because I don’t know what’s coming next, but the planner part of me is itching to remove it, so I can assess the situation and know how to proceed.
“We need to go on a date soon, Mere,” Noah says, breaking the silence.
A grin lifts my lips. “Does this mean I get something better than a movie or pizza and the ice rink?” That’s what all of our previous dates consisted of. A movie theater or the local ice rink was the one place our parents would let us go without them. After high school, we were too busy spending time with just the two of us to really go anywhere.
“What’s wrong with a movie or the ice rink?” he says, mock offended. “Does my woman have higher standards now that we’re all grown up?”
I giggle. The tension from earlier leaves as I relax into the seat. “Maybe. Will that be a problem?”
“Nope. You deserve the world, and I’m determined to give it to you.”
I turn my head to the right, away from him, a smile playing on my lips.
His laugh rumbles throughout the car. “Just because you can’t see me doesn’t mean I can’t see you.”
“You shouldn’t be seeing me at all. You’re supposed to be focused on driving. How much longer?” I ask just as the car slows to a stop.
“We’re here. Sit here for a second, okay? And don’t remove the tie.”
I start to feel fidgety, but I nod. The engine quiets as he turns it off and then his door opens and closes before the back door does the same. I assume he’s getting our bags. The silence is deafening. My fingers reach up to the tie, running along the bottom of it. I’m so tempted. I really want to obey Noah so he can do this surprise like he wants to. I’m not sure why this is such a problem for me, especially with Noah. I mean, I already flaked out on him today with my outburst of tears and trip down memory lane.
Slowly, I lower my hand into my lap. An eternity seems to pass before my door opens.
“It’s me,” Noah reassures when I’m startled. The seatbelt is undone and he grabs me by the hips and helps me out of the car. “We’re going to walk for a bit, okay?” I nod as he interlocks his fingers with mine, shuts the door, and I hear the locks click. He begins walking.
I do not like this part. I feel like I’m going to trip at any second. It doesn’t help that Noah seems to be walking so damn fast. Does he normally? “Damn it, Noah,” I curse as I stumble.
“Shit. Sorry, Mere. I forgot to tell you to step up. Here.” His arms move to my back and then hook under my knees as he lifts me into his arms. “I’ll carry you through the dangerous parts.” His tone is teasing, so I laugh instead of freaking out.
Next, I hear what sounds like doors sliding open. There’s noises, but they’re soft and I can’t distinguish them. Is that running water? The sound fades as another pair of doors opens and then closes. Noah sets me down onto my feet, letting my body slide against his. For a moment, I’m distracted by the sensation. My stomach drops a little and I think we’re in an elevator. Did he drive around only to bring me back to his place? It’s quiet aside from the hum, so I think we’re alone.
Noah places an open-mouthed kiss on my neck as he tugs on my hips to pull me flush against him. My entire body relaxes into him. His tongue swirls on my skin, weakening my knees, and my breathy moan is a bit too loud for an elevator. Noah’s chest shakes against my back as he laughs.
“We’re not alone,” he whispers.
My cheeks heat up and it’s then that I hear a throat clear from nearby. “Sorry,” I squeak to whoever else is here with us. Noah is still laughing under his breath, so I jerk my elbow back into his ribs, enjoying the humph that leaves him.