Thirty Eight
Andie
I’ve wanted to be a teacher for so long, and eventually, I accomplished it.
I imagined teaching so many concepts and subjects. But never would I have imagined that someone would ask me to teach them how to love.
“Teach me how to love you, baby,” Noah repeats while all I can do is stare at him with eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.
“You want me to teach how to love?” I ask, incredulously as I search his eyes todiscern if he’s jesting.
“I want you to teach me how to loveyou, Andie. Just you,” he specifies, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ve spent my entire life devoid and running away from that emotion. Now, I want to change that. I want to experience all the colors you have filled my life with, my Rainbow. And love is one of them.”
A little smile plays on his lips by the time he’s done speaking.
“Why me?” I can’t help but ask, waiting for his answer with bated breath.
“Whynot you, baby. You’re the only woman who’s ever seen behind the mask I wear like a second skin. The only woman to remind me that the opposite sex exists. The only woman to fill my life with so many new emotions, experiences, and memories, that now I look forward to what you’d do next. I look forward to opening my eyes every morning and seeing that beautiful face of yours,” he lavishes me with praises that make my belly flutter and skin heat. “You’re the only woman who makes me want to breathe, baby, even when you steal it whenever you walk into a room.”
Noah’s brilliant green eyes sear into mine,reflecting the sincerity behind each of his words. His thumb traces my lower lip, parting it.
“I choose you, Andie. Ichooseto love you. I don’t know what it means to love, but for you, Iwantto learn.”
This man is a walking contradiction of his words. He says he doesn’t know how to love, then he goes ahead and says the sweetest thing to make my pulse race.
I’ve never been rendered speechless. But right now, if you’d ask me to recite the alphabet, I might just answer with numbers instead.
“Okay,” I nod and whisper softly. “I will teach you how to love.”
His lips lift into the smallest of smiles, and he extends his pinkie finger, “Promise?”
The flashback of when we first sealed the deal rushes back in at the small action. I wrap my little finger around his and press my thumb to his. “Promise,” I seal the deal with a kiss this time.
Soon, we both drift off to sleep, feeling a little lighter now that I told him how I feel, and happy that even though he didn’t sayI love youback, he didn’t reject me.
I’ll shower him with so much love that he wouldn’t know what to do with it. After all, I haveyears to make up for.
* * *
The next morning, I stumble into the kitchen, rubbing away the sleep from my bleary eyes.
I stop short when I find him milling about in the kitchen in nothing but his underwear, Millie comfortably lying on the couch with my laptop on the table, though I remember leaving it on the table in my room.
My senses suddenly turn sharp, and I rove my eyes over the length of his body in the rare moment of silence.
Now that I know the truth behind his tattoos and scars, he looks even more enticing. Fury builds inside of me at the thought of everything he had to go through alone. Not anymore.
“Will you keep staring at me or give me a morning kiss?” Noah teases, mirth shining in his eyes as he continues to prepare breakfast, jarring me from my thoughts.
Relief washes over me at the playfulness in his tone. I’m glad he’s feeling better now. No use drowning yourself in the horrors of the past. Though it’s clear he’ll need some help.
But that’s a discussion for later. So, I pad overinto the kitchen, rise on my toes, and plant a peck on his lips as he bends down. I was wrong if I thought he’d be satisfied with just a peck.
Grabbing my waist, he picks me up and effortlessly deposits me on the counter. A surprised squeal leaves my lips that he quickly swallows with a deep kiss as my hands find purchase on his broad shoulders.
My skin tingles when his tongue invades my mouth, toes curling as his hands wrap around me, squeezing my breasts. My breath hitches when his thumb flicks my piercing over his t-shirt I’m wearing.
“Now that’s how you give me a morning kiss,” he whispers against my lips. “Looks like I still have to teach you a few things.” The smug smile on his face makes him appear younger. And honestly, I enjoy this playful side of him.