Part 52 (1/2)

I decided on, ”I suppose so.”

The arm he had around my waist dropped, he lifted the skirt of the open dress I still wore and cupped one cheek of my bare behind.

”You got something else you wanna do?” he murmured, his eyes on my mouth.

I was in an entirely different universe. There were likely billions of things we could do.

”No,” I answered immediately.

His gaze lifted to mine.

”Then we got a plan,” he stated.

”Yes, Noc,” I replied. ”We have a plan.”

He grinned before he surged up and set me on my feet.

And promptly, he pulled his jeans over his a.r.s.e, bent and kissed the tip of my nose as he yanked the edges of my dress together (a fruitless endeavor, the belt was in the bed) and then he set about putting that plan into action.

Chapter Fourteen.

Ten Times Franka After Noc gave me a dressing gown to put on that the inn supplied (an unusual but lovely amenity), sat me down at the side of the bed and took off my shoes (a tenderness I would not soon forget), he divested me of the beads he'd bestowed on me and guided me to the small room attached to our chamber.

I stood in it with him blinking my eyes against the unnatural brightness.

”Right, basics,” Noc declared, and he sounded like he was about to impart something important, so I attempted to focus on him through the glare.

He was moving to the only chair in the s.p.a.ce, and it didn't look comfortable.

”Toilet,” he stated. ”Self-explanatory,” he went on.

This was not true.

Until he lifted the lid.

By the G.o.ds.

It was a commode.

”Do your thing, use that.” He pointed to something that looked like rolled tissue fastened to the wall. ”When you're done, hit this,” he finished and depressed a lever.

Water noises filled the room and I stared in astonishment as the water in the bowl disappeared while other water whooshed around the sides, undoubtedly making it so anything that was deposited in said bowl vanished without a trace.

Pure brilliance!

”Extraordinary,” I breathed, watching the water swirl.

There was a grin in Noc's voice as he grabbed me about the back of my neck, yanked me into his side and continued, saying, ”Sink,” while taking us to the basin. ”Hot, cold,” he stated, twisting k.n.o.bs that made water flow rather forcefully into the basin without pumping.

”By the G.o.ds,” I whispered, unable to tear my eyes away from this glorious spectacle.

”Left's always hot,” he carried on, turning off the left k.n.o.b.

Always...hot?

But how? I saw no fire.

I didn't get the chance to ask, Noc kept speaking.

”But it doesn't come out that way at first. That said, Frannie, be careful because hot sometimes can get hot. Right's always cold.”

I lifted what I knew were rounded eyes to him.

He looked into them, burst out laughing and turned me fully into him, wrapping both his arms around me.

He then dropped his face so it was close to mine, stopped laughing but continued smiling, his eyes dancing, and he said, ”You look like that over a sink and toilet, beautiful, the next couple of weeks are gonna be a G.o.dd.a.m.ned blast.”

If the little I'd already experienced was any indication, he was far from wrong.

But I wasn't thinking about the commode and basin (or not entirely about them).

”Indeed,” I replied, staring right in his eyes.

He continued smiling as he said, ”Now, I gotta go out for a bit. I didn't expect our reunion to go that way and didn't come prepared. Need to pick up some condoms. Also gonna grab some cold beer. I'll order the pizza, leave some money in case they deliver it before I get back, take off and do that. Fast as I can, I'll be back. But I'll show you how to work the TV before I go so you have something to do.”

I didn't want him to go.

Though I could use a cold beverage.

”What are condoms?” I asked.

”Protection.” At my blank look, he explained further. ”What I put on so I could have you and not give us both somethin' we don't want right now.”

His answer didn't exactly make sense until it dawned on me.

”Oh, the sheath,” I said.

He nodded, pulling his face from mine slightly, but he was still smiling. ”Yeah. The sheath. I need to go get more of those.”

He certainly did.

”I approve of your plan,” I shared.

His smile got bigger and his hold on me got tighter.