Changes

Veronica texted Derek back, agreeing to meet him at a fast-food burger joint. Normally she headed straight home after work to grab something to eat, change, and get some things done around the house before heading out to the gym. But today she could skip that. She'd eat with Derek then head home and get ready for the gym.

Changes—she was already making them, and she felt empowered by it: first Nellie, now this. Today was turning out even better than she'd hoped.

As tempted as she was to ask Derek to elaborate more on Noah's "drug trafficking," she didn't want to make this about Noah. She was, after all, doing this in part to break free of what was beginning to feel like a hold Noah had on her.

All in all the dinner went quite well with Derek insisting they should do this more often. Veronica agreed, and Derek said he'd text her again soon. They never did get to the topic of their relationship remaining a friendly one, but she intended to bring it up the second there was any mention of anything romantic. It felt too awkward to bring it up their first dinner out.

She went home, changed, and took off to 5th Street. As was the case lately, she parked on the street because the parking lot was full. She walked through the parking lot, feeling herself tense up with every step. Maybe it was the fact that their evening was cut short and she'd ducked out early that morning, but by the time she reached the gym door, the nerves in her stomach were out of control. It almost felt silly.

Like yesterday, he was in the ring with Abel when she walked in. Her heart literally sped up at the mere sight of him. This was insanity, what she'd considered a good day in her quest to make changes and get a life of her own—a life that didn't revolve around Noah—had just flown out the door. Her body was telling her what her mind had blocked out all day—that through the whole day, this was the part she most looked forward to. Her skipping up the stairs of her porch when she'd gotten home from her dinner and rushing to get ready for the gym should've been her first damn clue.

Noah smiled as she walked by the ring on her way to stretch, then pointed at the office. Veronica knew what that meant. He'd left his phone in there for her to use while she worked out. She waved it away, mouthing the words "not today" and kept walking. No way would she have the willpower to not sneak a peek at his texts and see what he'd responded to Rita. She'd already had one emotional night; she couldn't take another one like it.

After her workout, Noah surprised her by coming over and hugging her. It felt so good she gave into it completely, hugging him back just as hard. He even let out a small moan as he released her. "Why does it feel like I haven't seen you in so long?"

She smiled and lifted a shoulder, pretending not to know, but she did know because, incredibly, she felt the same way. A small part of her gave into the hope that maybe she wasn't so bad off if he was feeling the same way. Maybe it wasn't so bad that she couldn't stop thinking of him lately, that the entire time she had dinner with Derek she kept having to get her head back into the conversation because it kept wandering off to thoughts of Noah. Then she remembered the picture and was back to square one. It was bad, and she needed to snap out of it.

Their evening went as usual: they ate and watched television together, only tonight Veronica didn't ask to use his phone. Then she showered, and when she emerged from the bathroom, wearing only her bathrobe and the towel on her head, Noah was right there, waiting in the hall.

His smile reeked of wicked mischief. He usually waited for her to get dressed then come out and say goodnight. Tonight she'd barely made it to her door when his big body was already up against hers, spiking her heart rate in an instant. Before she could protest, as if she'd have the will to, his lips were on hers.

After the night she'd had last night and an the entire day of convincing herself she had to slow this down, she should've tried to push him off or at least bring her hand between them so he wouldn't be so close. Instead, she kissed him back ravenously, sucking away at his tongue until he groaned in response.

His thigh was pressed against an area that was now on fire. She was sure he'd feel the heat even through her bathrobe. She finally dragged a shred of willpower out from inside her, and she pulled her lips away from his, breathing heavily.

"Noah," she strained to whisper.

"Mmm," he said, continuing to kiss her chin then her neck.

"We have to slow down," she said, squirming at the delicious sensation of his tongue on her neck.

"Okay," he said just before she felt him suck her neck.

How was it possible that she felt that between her legs? Her body arched in reaction. It was magical. Then she remembered and pulled away. "Noah, no hickeys!"

He smirked, licking his lips. "Okay," he murmured as he buried his tongue in her mouth again. By the time she was able to put a stop to the kiss, it was probably one of the longest goodnight ones to date. They'd been standing outside her bedroom door for what was at least a solid twenty minutes, and their kiss goodnight had escalated to his feeling her up completely over her robe, resulting in barely-suppressed moans from her. So much for slowing things down.

She stood inside her room now, her back against her door, still trying to catch her breath. Shaking her head, she walked over to her dresser and stared at the horny disheveled broad she saw in the mirror. She'd even lost the towel on her head in the midst of it all. Then she saw it and frowned. Damn it, he was fast: another hickey. This one was smack in the middle of her neck and just dark enough to be very noticeable if she didn't apply enough make up. No wonder he'd smiled so sinfully when he finally walked away.

This day had turned out just wonderful. She was supposed to have broken some ground on adding a little distance between her and Noah—on gaining her independence. Instead, she stood there, her body still trembling all over and twitching in places that ached desperately for more of him. Even while her inner voice admonished her for doing this tonight, her body was already looking forward to tomorrow night.