Chapter 31: Maybe I am
I wake up slowly, still caught in the haze of last night, my body heavy with satisfaction and the warmth of Noelle next to me. He stirs, trying to slip out of bed as quietly as possible, but I'm not having it. My arm snakes around his waist, pulling him back against me before he can escape.
"Don't be such an early bird," I mumble into the soft skin of his neck, my lips brushing against his pulse. I breathe him in, the familiar scent of my omega, sweet and comforting, making it impossible to let go.
Noelle chuckles softly, the sound vibrating through me. "I heard you and Grape this morning. It's a routine."
I groan in response, burying my face deeper into his neck. "That fat bird always picks on me," I whine, knowing it sounds ridiculous but feeling like a victim nonetheless. Grape, the little menace, had made a habit of dive-bombing my head every morning.
Noelle's laugh is light, musical. "That's because you spoil him too much," he says, his voice warm with amusement. He tries to wriggle free again, and I tighten my grip, not ready to let him go just yet.
"Do you not love me anymore?" I tease, playing up the dramatics as I pull him closer, pressing myself fully against him.
Noelle sighs but I can hear the smile in his voice. "I'm trying to escape something else," he replies, and then he deliberately pushes his pert little butt against my morning erection.
A low, hoarse chuckle escapes me. He knows exactly what he's doing. I shift, my hand moving down his side, sliding toward the smooth skin of his thigh, but just as I'm about to touch him, Noelle swats my hand away.
"Not today," he says firmly, slipping out of bed before I can protest.
I lie back, sighing dramatically, stretching my limbs out across the bed as if I've been abandoned. No morning sex with my husband today, apparently. The thought of it makes me pout for a moment, but then something else hits me. Husband. The word lingers in my mind, and a slow smile spreads across my face. It's been two weeks since we returned from the temple where we got married, and every time I think about it, warmth floods my chest.
I prop myself up on one elbow, watching Noelle as he moves around the room. His back is to me as he slips on a pair of pants, hiding that perfect body from my view. I can't help but let my gaze travel down the curve of his spine, remembering how my hands felt on him just last night.
But my attention shifts, my eyes naturally drawn to the choker resting around his neck. The star at the center glints in the morning light, catching my eye like it always does. That choker... it's more than just a symbol of our bond. It's a declaration.