Chapter 133: He came back (M)
Noah’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest when he opened the door and saw Ryder standing there. He had half expected Ryder wouldn’t come back, especially after the awkward way he had left earlier. Noah felt a wave of confusion wash over him, but excitement quickly followed. Ryder had returned. Maybe this meant something—maybe this was the moment he’d been waiting for.
But there was something off in Ryder’s expression, a seriousness in his eyes that made Noah’s stomach churn with nerves. His hand tightened around the edge of the door as Ryder stepped inside, his presence heavy, his usual easy smile nowhere in sight. Noah’s breath hitched. He could feel it—the weight of what was about to come.
"I’m here to give you my answer," Ryder said, his voice firm, almost emotionless.
Noah felt his heart race, his fingers trembling where they gripped the door. This is it, he thought, he’s finally going to say it. But why did it feel like the mood had gotten heavier? Why was there a knot in his chest, twisting tighter with each passing second?
Noah nodded slowly, his throat too dry to speak. He could feel his pulse pounding in his ears, his thoughts spinning out of control. What if he says no? The fear surged through him, stronger than he expected. What if Ryder doesn’t feel the same?
But before he could think any further, before he could prepare himself for whatever Ryder was about to say, Ryder’s lips were on his—fast, desperate, and rough. The suddenness of it made Noah’s mind go blank for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. His body reacted instantly, leaning into Ryder’s kiss, his hands instinctively reaching for Ryder’s shoulders as the kiss deepened.
This...this is it, Noah thought, his heart soaring. This is his answer, right? Otherwise why would he come back and kiss me?. The intensity of the kiss, the way Ryder was pulling him closer, it all had to mean something. Noah’s chest tightened in a way that was both painful and euphoric. He could feel Ryder’s need, the desperation behind every touch, every press of lips.
He feels it too, Noah convinced himself. This is Ryder’s way of saying yes.
The kiss was so overwhelming, so consuming, that it was all Noah could focus on. His mind raced with the possibilities—maybe Ryder couldn’t say it out loud, but this kiss...this was his way of showing it. Ryder was finally admitting that what they had was more than just casual sex, more than just a physical connection. He had come back to Noah. He had come back with an answer.
We’re more than friends with benefits, Noah thought, his heart fluttering in his chest. His fingers curled around the fabric of Ryder’s shirt, holding him close as if this kiss were the confirmation he had been waiting for. This kiss means something. It has to.
The way Ryder kissed him—so passionately, so hungrily—it made Noah’s mind spin. He couldn’t think straight. All he knew was that he didn’t want it to stop. He wanted to believe this was real, that this kiss was Ryder’s answer to his confession.