It was like he’d set me off. I threw my head back as my entire body imploded and an explosion of wild, hot, pleasure shot threw me. He kept moving in and out, and all I could feel was friction that kept me flying, drawing my orgasm out until it was wave after wave of exquisite sensation coursing through me.
And he slowed until he stopped. For a moment, we were still with only our breaths heaving in the aftermath of what we'd done.
"Fuck." Noah lifted his head, shaking it as he stepped away. He picked up my towel from the floor and tossed it to me, and then pulled his pants up. The abruptness of his movements and the muttering under his breath told me he wasn't happy.
In the only way that Noah could, he turned something quite spectacular into something bad. I was about to ask him about it when my phone started to ring. He picked it up off the floor and set it on the table next to me. Then he strode off to his room, slamming the door behind him.
I wasn't sure what to think, but I knew it wasn't good. And it was impossible not to take it personally.
Holding the towel tight around me, I picked up the phone, noting it was Kellie. I considered not answering but reminded myself that despite the fact that I was feeling dejected and rejected, I was still here on business, and Kellie, while on maternity leave, was part of the Strong family and possibly calling for Ryan.
I poked the answer button as I made my way back to my own room.
"Hey, Kellie," I said, hoping she couldn't hear the quiver in my voice. If I cried over Noah, I would be really pissed at myself.
"Hey Andi, how's it going there?" Kellie asked.
"Yeah, we heard there's some unrest," Kellie’s sister Natalie’s voice also came over the line.
"There’s a protest or something going on, and the hotel is on lockdown. We’re safe."
"On lockdown? Does that mean you're locked in with Noah?" Natalie asked.
I couldn't get the look of disgust that Noah had on his face after he finished with me on the table. I was a strong woman, but my ego wasn't just bruised, it was hurt. I couldn't stop the tears from coming.
“Are you all right, Andi? Are you crying?" Kellie asked.
I was raw and vulnerable, and while normally I kept my business to myself, I couldn't seem to stop the words from coming. "I just had sex with Noah."
The other end of the line was quiet for a moment, then Natalie said, "For the first time?"
My tears stop short. "Yes. What does that mean?"
Kellie whispered something to her sister, and then said, "It's just that you and Noah have a lot of chemistry and we thought that perhaps you've been sleeping together for a while."
"No." Did they really think that? And if they did, how many others thought that too?
"I guess it doesn't matter when it started, what matters is you’re crying. I'm sorry for that but you know Noah. He's not a relationship guy," Kellie said.
"I know." I was going to have to reflect on what it happened between Noah and I, and why I had let it. Why I had wanted it. And then why was I so upset now. Was it simply his reaction, or had I hoped that maybe he would change?
"I know exactly who Noah is. That's not why I'm upset. He just didn't respond well. He got his rocks off and then he stormed off like I did something wrong."
"Men can be such a baby sometimes," Natalie said.
"I don't think you're helping, Nat," Kellie said.
"Why because I'm telling her the truth. You know Hunter and I had that same situation happen a couple of times. He’d act like he had to have me or die, and then when we were done, he’d be pissed off about it. I'll tell you, it hurts when they do that."
I nodded and then remembered we were on the phone and they couldn’t see me. "Yes, that's it.” I sniffed annoyed at myself for letting Noah get to me. "But what's done is done and I'm over it."
"Good. You're too good for him anyway," Natalie said.
"I'm sorry that Noah hurt you. He really is a good guy, but he seems lost to me,” Kellie, ever the soft heart, said.
"What do you mean?" I asked, wondering what she was talking about. To me, Noah had always just been a slacker living off his family's money while he enjoyed the good life. Granted, while here, he seemed to be taking the job seriously and working hard, but nothing about him would have me describe him as lost.
"I always got the feeling he was searching for something that was outside the family. Like he was seeking meaning or purpose or fulfillment, something he could earn himself. I don't know maybe I'm not making any sense," Kellie said.