Chapter 38
The evening was a wonderful success for Indie. She danced and laughed and genuinely enjoyed herself but she was saddened that she couldn’t say the same for Poppy who looked completely miserable.
Losing focus on her friend Indie decided to enjoy herself. If Poppy wasn’t in the mood to have a good time after the effort she’d put in to introduce her to new friends then it was on Poppy and not Indie.
Indie’s dancing was slightly crazy when dancing with Naira, Willow and Darla. The triplets seemed to be having a party of their own as they formed their own little circle and held hands. Before long Noah sought Indies company again, the look on his face seemed almost impossible to read but Indie thought he looked relaxed. The most relaxed he had ever been.
He held a lazy smile on his lips and tilted his head to the side, “are you enjoying yourself?” He smiled as he leaned towards her.
“Are you drunk?” Indie replied with a bemused look on her face. She knew Noah was old enough to drink but she hadn’t seen him touch a drop of alcohol all night.
Shaking his head lightly Noah couldn’t help but grin, “drunk? No,” he took Indie by the hand and pulled her close to him, “happy? Yes,” he curled his fingers with hers gently and watched as Indie responded by leaning into him completely.
She didn’t know how it had happened but suddenly Indie was like putty in Noah’s hands. She would have done anything he asked.
“One more dance?” Indie smiled as she pulled Noah in a circle and walked quickly to the dancefloor. Noah was looking far too amorous for her liking.
Hearing a groan escape his lips Indie smiled, she imagined she knew what he was thinking and there was no way she was ready. She didn’t know when she would be ready but tonight was not the night for Noah to have a one tracked mind.
The pair danced and swayed together as the music slowed. Their bodies were pressed together tightly and Noah held on to her so that she couldn’t pull away.
He didn’t know why his early reluctance to get to know Indie was so strong but as he stood there with her in his arms all he wanted was to know her. To run the tips of his fingers across every inch of her body, to know every feature, to feel every curve. He wanted it all. He wanted to learn her deepest wishes and her darkest desires, he wanted to hear stories from her childhood and aspirations for her future and, if he could he wanted to make them come true.
Indie leaned her head against his shoulder and he heard her sigh, “are you sleepy?” he questioned her curiously.
All Indie could do was nod as she felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her as she swayed with Noah to the gentle rhythm. It was wonderfully intoxicating and before she knew it she was being lulled to sleep.
“Let me take you to bed,” Noah grinned as he scooped her up in his arms. The material of her dress proving to be no trouble as he caught it all in his arms before walking towards the door.
There were very few guests left in the room and many had gone on their way already.
Looking down at his prize he grinned as she snuggled into him trying to find comfort. She stilled in his arms as his grip tightened as if to comfort her.
Climbing the stairs to the bedroom Noah somehow managed to get the door open, with one giant stride he crossed the threshold and pushed the door closed with his foot. Hearing a soft click he smiled and looked down at Indie who was by now fast asleep. Her face obscured by his shirt.
Walking towards the bed he lay Indie down and just stared at her a minute. Her hair fell around her face in loose waves, her lips were parted slightly and she was breathing lightly. He marvelled at her beauty and just watched her sleeping a while longer.
Lifting the bottom of her dress slightly he slipped off her high heels and placed them at the foot of the bed. Noah unfolded a blanket that lay across the bottom of the bed a draped it over her slight body to keep her warm.
With a gentle kiss on the forehead Noah disappeared off to the bathroom to change before taking a seat in front of the fireplace. Before long he too slept and dreamed of his dark haired beauty in the burgundy dress.
**
Waking with a start Indie sat bolt upright in bed. Her breathing was deep and somewhat panicked as she stared around her in a daze. Where was she?
Slowly but surely her brain began ticking as her surroundings registered quickly. She was in the room she and Noah were supposed to be sharing but as she glanced to her side she noticed she was alone. Pulling the blanket up she saw that she was still in her dress from the previous evening and as memories flooded back she couldn’t help but smile and blush at it. Noah had made her feel amazingly beautiful and more than a little desired but the last thing she remembered was dancing with Noah.
Had she been so sleep deprived that she couldn’t keep herself awake till the end of the night?
Pulling herself from the warm cushioned comfort of the bed she tip toed to the suitcase Amber had brought in for her the day before. Rummaging around she quickly pulled out one of her few pairs of jeans and a shirt before running off to the bathroom to change. Cleaning her makeup off proved a difficult task but as soon as she succeeded she re-emerged from the bathroom and saw Noah laying lazily on the sofa.
Indie couldn’t help but jump a little at the sight of him. Part of her felt embarrassed but she didn’t know why.
Noah opened his eyes and smiled up at Indie as she recovered from her shock, “Good morning beautiful,” he murmured as he stretched and rubbed his eyes.
Running quickly back to her bag Indie threw her dress into the suitcase before turning back to Noah. “Why did you sleep on the sofa and not the bed?” Indie asked curiously.
She returned to one of the occasional chairs near the fireplace and flung herself down, hanging her legs over the side she watched as Noah pushed the blankets off of his body and when he did Indie couldn’t help but stare and blush.
His top half was naked.
Indie stared open mouthed at him as he stood from where he had been sleeping and stretched again, she saw that he wore sweat pants on his lower half with extremely formal socks. The diamond like pattern drew a smile to Indies lips.
Tearing her gaze from his feet Indie looked up and saw that Noah grinned mischievously, “impressed?” He asked with a wink.
Screwing her nose up playfully Indie shook her head, “Um no. Not impressed at all,” she laughed as Noah raised a curious brow at her.
He frowned and turned away from her momentarily. “I forgot to give this to you last night,” he mumbled quickly. “It was supposed to go with your dress but unfortunately I forgot.” Taking a small box from the far end of the sofa Noah rubbed his hand across the top before handing it to her.
Indie took the wooden box in her hands and rubbed her fingers all over the wooden grain. The box itself was gorgeous. It was held closed by a copper clasp and as Indie flicked it up and opened the lid she didn’t know what she had been expecting but tears sprang to her eyes at the sight of what lay inside.
“You don’t like it?” Noah asked as he knelt before her quickly.
The necklace was a thick gold chain that looked very much like a choker. Five flowers with pastel coloured petals were attached, the pale gemstones they were made of shone softly in the early morning light. The centre of each flower looked like a diamond and as Indie ran the tips of her fingers over her new trinket she looked up and smiled brightly at Noah, “no one’s ever brought me something so nice,” she muttered shyly. “I don’t know what to say.”
It really was beautiful but Indie was scared she’d break it.
Noah stood slowly and took the necklace from its box, stepping around to the side he draped the necklace over Indie and clasped it together behind her neck. Releasing the chain he stepped back around to her and smiled, “You don’t have to say anything,” he couldn’t help but grin as he mentally high five himself for choosing correctly.
It had been a huge gamble for Noah, he still didn’t know what she liked but his choice suited her every day style rather than her formal style.
He stood at her side a moment longer as Indie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, “could you maybe put a shirt on? I’m having trouble believing what I’m seeing is real.” It wasn’t that she thought Noah was completely unreal but his sculpted body and toned torso made her feel wholly inadequate.