Seeing her expression, Noah bit his lower lip and asked uneasily, "Is this still a topic that I should avoid?" He ran his slender fingers through his thick hair and went on, "I thought you might have gotten over the shadow of your childhood but I didn't expect... I'm sorry! I spoke out of turn."Vivienne saw the guilty look in his eyes and she took a deep breath to calm herself as she questioned, "You really didn't expect that I'd still be stuck in the past, right?"Noah didn't dare to look into her clear grey eyes as he replied, "Well, I was hoping that you'd be stronger.""Some wounds are not easily healed. They say time heals everything but I learned that time isn't that helpful. It's not time's job to heal your wounds and it's our own responsibility to heal our own wounds. But we tend to avoid picking at those wounds and consider that once they scabbed, they have just healed. Then one day, someone comes and picks at those scabs and you realize how easy it was for those old wounds
As the sky turned from orange to deep purple, Noah felt a sense of contentment wash over him. The day had been perfect—everything he had hoped for and more. But it wasn't just the activities or the locations that made it special; it was Vivienne. Her presence, her laughter, the way she looked at him—it all felt right.Finally, they made their way to the last stop of the day: a secluded beach. Noah had arranged for a small bonfire to be set up, with blankets and pillows strewn around for comfort. They sat by the fire, the sound of the waves gently lapping at the shore, the stars twinkling above them.Vivienne actually burst out laughing when she saw this scene and couldn't help saying, "Noah Sullivan, who did you learn from to plan a date?"Noah scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I might have taken a page out of my parents' first date."Vivienne touched his fluffy hair and ruffled them making Noah stand there dumbstruck in surprise. "You love the sense of ceremony in everythin
Noah drove Vivienne back home and was planning on not trying his luck. His idea was simple to drop at her doorstep like a proper gentleman before leaving. But he still couldn't help his desire to kiss her. The moment he touched those juicy lips he had been thinking about, he felt a sense of relaxation washing over his senses. He didn't want to share a deep kiss at her doorstep as he believed it'd escalate into something he wouldn't be able to stop. However, the moment he wanted to pull away from her, Vivienne's arm wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer. She responded fervently to his kiss and even parted her lips and stretched out her pink, moist, and hot tongue to hook his tongue along with all his thinking ability.He naturally encircled her thin waist with his strong arms and pressed her soft body against his hard one. As their lips parted, Noah rested his forehead against hers and said in a low and hoarse voice that suppressed his desire, "I should leave now.""Should I c
Vivienne's belly quivered under his intense gaze. That god-damned mesmerizing smile of Noah's was doing things to her. Feeling the urge to do something, Vivienne moved her hands and fingers across his broad shoulders, pressing firmly and sensually making Noah groan long and low. Her fingers seemed skilled as they worked their magic."You like that?" she asked softly, as her fingers slowly slipped under his shirt to rub her hands on his naked chest. "Do you want me to give you a massage?"Noah chuckled lowly as he pulled her up and made her sit in his lap, one hand cradling her butt. She trailed her hands on his toned chest, meeting his eyes. The beautiful blue in his eyes gleamed in the dim lighting."I'd give it a try some other day," answered Noah. "Currently, your hands are only lighting up a fire in my body that only you can fix now."Gazing at Noah, in his strong and dependable arms, Vivienne felt her resolve strengthening. She raised her hand to brush back his hair. "Kiss me," s
The force of his mouth made her breasts jiggle and Vivienne threw her head back, moaning, "Noah..."Noah buried his head within her thighs, pushing her thighs as far apart as they could go. Vivienne felt her orgasm slithering down her hardened nipples seemed to be asking for attention too. This orgasm built up like an undeniable force within her and slowly pooled in her vag*na. Originally, his lips just teased her beautiful pink, dripping petals but then Noah parted her slippery vag*nal lips with his fingers, exposing the pink inside. He dug his long tongue in, sucking the life out of her.This action made Vivienne feel like she was going crazy. She fisted the sheets under her hard to stop her body from trying to move. In fact, she wanted to grab his head instead to make him tongue-fu*k her harder, to make her lose whatever sanity she had left. But she held back the desire to do so, trying hard not to act upon her wild and lustful desires. Her legs were quivering right now because of
"I want more," Vivienne held his face with both her hands and said seriously. "I want you inside of me right now.""F*ck!" Noah cursed under his breath and hurriedly got off her body to take off his clothes completely. Seeing the way her eyes were stuck on his naked body, Noah proudly flexed it. He positioned himself in front of her entrance. He started slow and played his c**k only at her vulva, making her groan and wanting more. His long shaft teased her entrance but did not move forward immediately. He seemed to be purposely moving slowly to get his desired reaction from him. "Noah! What the hell are you doing?! Come in already!"Vivienne's patience was running thin because of his constant slow and teasing movement. Noah chuckled in a soft tone but still followed her desire to start thrusting his shaft more inside, harder and deeper with each thrust. He made sure she could feel every inch that went inside her p**sy.He thrust harder, stroking her G-sport precisely."Ah!"Vivienn
Vivienne had slept exceptionally well last night. It wasn't certain whether it was because of the warmth of Noah's body that was pressed against her or it was because she was too tired yesterday. Whatever the reason, it was good for her as she hadn't been able to sleep this well in a long while. And she was in such deep sleep that even when the sun rose, she didn't get up like she usually did.Noah was the first one to wake and this time, he did not dare to close his eyes again. He hugged her soft curves closer to his body and nuzzled her hair feeling content inside. He played with her curls with a lot of random thoughts but all those thoughts revolved around this woman in his arms.Noah was unable to understand how or why he was so deeply attractive to her. There was no doubt that she was a beautiful woman. And it wasn't just her outer beauty but also her heart that was too beautiful for her own good. Vivienne's lashes trembled slightly before she slowly opened her eyes. She was mom
When Vivienne changed her clothes, she found that Noah had disappeared at some point. She didn't know if he left or... She found Noah's discarded shirt that lay on the chair. As if bewitched, she picked it up and put it close to her nose, it smelled like him—woodsy, warm, with a hint of ocean breeze. As she wanted to rub her face into this comfortable smell, she immediately came back to her senses and threw the shirt away. Shaking her head, she looked around to find Noah. It was obvious that he hadn't left yet since his things were still there. Curiosity piqued, Vivienne slipped out of bed and went downstairs. Padding out into the living area, she followed the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the unmistakable sound of sizzling from the kitchen.There he was, Noah, moving around her kitchen like he owned the place—completely at ease, barefoot, his hair still tousled from sleep. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric of the white t-shirt, and there was a lightness to his movements
"What's wrong with you Dad? Why do you keep staring at me so strangely?" Noah couldn't hold back from asking as the silence between them was prolonged for far too long. It made Noah feel uneasy. So, he had to ask why his father called him aside. "If you have something to say to me, just say it already."Mr. Sullivan turned around to look at his wife who was happily chatting with Vivienne and his eyes were filled with a smile. He eased up his expression and asked, "Didn't you say last time that you had no time for dating?"Noah frowned, wondering why he'd ask this question at this time. "Dad, you wanted me to go on a blind date. Why would I have time for that?" He took a pause and looked at his father suspiciously, "Don't tell me that you are still planning to get me together with your friend's daughter."Mr. Sullivan waved his hand at him saying, "I have no such plans. Last time, it was he who insisted that I should arrange a meeting between our kids and who knows they might be compat
"Can you stop sarcastic for once?" Angelina rolled her eyes at Vivienne, "Sometimes, I can't believe you studied law. How can you be so speechless at times like this? Really, the more you care, the more you can't find the right words. At times like these, you need a friend like me."Only Mr. Sullivan had seemed to notice Angelina's words when she said that Vivienne studied law. Something finally flashed through his mind and the nagging feeling that he had finally became clear now. The image of Vivienne in his mind became clearer and he understood why Vivienne seemed familiar to him all this time. The way he looked at Vivienne changed at this moment and his smile also deepened.On the other hand, Angelina turned to Jeanine and said, "Jean, this is an exquisite piece. Don't you like it?""I just said that I love it," replied Jeanine. "But you know I don't accept expensive gifts.""Just as Vivi said, it's not expensive. At least not to her. It's absolutely free.""Huh?"Jeanine was confu
With the family gathered in the cozy warmth of the living room, Jeanine decided it was time to open her birthday gifts. One by one, she unwrapped each thoughtful present, her smile growing wider with every gift. Each family member had chosen something personal. Some thoughtful trinkets, her favorite books, and cozy items were all meant to show how much they cherished her. Jeanine was never fond of fancy things and valued the thought behind each and every gift rather than its material value.And from the look of it, she could tell that all the relatives had really put their heartfelt feelings into picking gifts for her. She valued this sincerity more than anything. Since the time she had a long battle of life and death with her illness, she had come to understand what really mattered in life. To her, the people around her matter more than anything right now. That's why she didn't throw those fancy and grand parties anymore. She loved to have this cozy time with close friends and relati
Vivienne entered Noah's childhood room which seemed to have frozen in time. It was filled with his memories from high school. He must have moved out after high school and that's why the things inside his bedroom were all from the year when he was eighteen. There were awards that he had won in programming competitions. There was also his favorite basketball lying on the shelf.Surprisingly, there was only one picture in his room and that was a family photo. Vivienne didn't expect it but then again, it also didn't seem as unexpected. He was the kind of a guy who valued family which seemed to have become quite rare in this generation. There was a solid reason why she said he was a little old-fashioned. "I thought your room would be filled with posters of favorite sports players or female celebrities. Why is it so clean? My ex's childhood room was filled with everything a teenage boy would like."Noah glanced at her and sighed, "Not everyone has the same interests. I don't like cluttered
Angelina smiled mischievously as she had knowingly asked that question earlier. She might have a little less understanding of Vivienne after such a long time apart but she had figured out one thing clearly and that was Vivienne's attitude and feelings toward Noah. A lot changed but Vivienne was still wearing her own filter when she looked at Noah even now. She was so predictable.After everyone had finished their dinner and the conversation naturally lulled into a comfortable hum, Jeanine looked across the table at Noah, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Noah,” she said with a knowing smile, “why don’t you show Vivienne your old room? I’m sure she had been wanting to see where you spent your time growing up.”“Oh, nonsense,” Jeanine replied with a playful wave of her hand. “I’ve kept it exactly the way you left it. Vivienne might enjoy seeing it. Besides, it’ll give you both a little break from all the family talk.”Noah stood up, offering his hand to Vivienne. “Alright then, come on.
"Really?"Angelina was speaking with a proud smile on her face and couldn't resist sharing more about Vivienne's accomplishments with the Sullivans. "You know," she began, turning her gaze to Noah's family, "Vivienne's incredible blog is her sacred diary where she chronicles her travels around the world. It's not just your average travel diary, though. She makes it educational, weaving in the history, culture, and unique perspectives of every place she visits. It's like a guided journey that makes you see the world through a whole new lens."Jeanine's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, that sounds fascinating! I've always admired people who can share their experiences in such a vivid way," she said, clearly impressed."And it's not just a blog anymore," Angelina continued, her enthusiasm growing. "Vivi recently landed a deal to turn her blog into a travelogue! Can you believe that? It’ll be a beautifully crafted collection of all her adventures, thoughts, and the stunning views she’s cap
Mr. Sullivan, seated at the head of the table, took a moment to glance at Vivienne again, his curiosity from earlier still lingering. He leaned in slightly, his deep voice cutting through the chatter as he addressed her directly. "So, Vivienne," he began, his tone friendly but probing, "tell me a little about yourself. How did you meet Noah? I imagine there’s quite the story there.”Vivienne paused, feeling the weight of his attention, but she met his gaze with that same calm grace she’d shown before. “It’s not as interesting as you might think,” she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. “We were in high school together. Later, I moved out of the country and recently, we reconnected at Angelina's wedding."Mr. Sullivan’s eyes narrowed in a thoughtful way, though his smile remained. “High school sweethearts, then?” he mused. “That explains why Noah seems... different tonight. A little more alive, perhaps?”"You have got it all wrong, Uncle," Angelina chimed in at this moment. "In hig
As everyone gathered around the grand dining table, the air was filled with the comforting scent of roasted herbs, garlic, and a hint of sweetness that promised an unforgettable dessert. The table was a feast for the eyes. The mood was warm, with light conversation buzzing from all corners of the room. With a proud grin, he placed the cake in the center of the table, its golden layers and perfectly whipped frosting hinting at the culinary skill of the man who seemed to do everything well, from managing a law firm to baking a perfect cake. "I hope it lives up to its reputation," he said with a twinkle in his eye, looking at Jeanine, who gave him an affectionate smile, her eyes full of pride and love.The family exchanged teasing looks. Everyone knew Mr. Sullivan’s love of cooking came out only on the most special occasions. And those occasions only had something to do with his wife. Jeanine smiled fondly at her husband, touched by the thoughtful gesture as always, while Noah, leaning
Mr. Sullivan's eyes swept across the room, his sharp gaze landing on each familiar face with a warm nod until he paused, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. He had spotted Vivienne, the only unfamiliar face in the living room. There was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, the kind of look he reserved for puzzles he hadn't quite figured out yet.Jeanine, catching the subtle shift in her husband's expression, stepped forward with a smile that seemed to brim with a hint of mischief. "What are you looking at? Let me introduce you to Vivienne," she said, gently touching Vivienne's shoulder. "She's Noah's girlfriend."For a split second, Richard's face froze, his eyes widening in surprise. "Girlfriend?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief before a delighted smile slowly stretched across his face. "Well, now, that’s certainly a wonderful surprise."He turned his full attention to Vivienne, his stern demeanor softening as he extended his hand to her. "Vivienne, it's a pleasure to