Questions With Noah

Cuddling with Noah

Our heart-to-heart put my mind at ease for the time being. We stayed in bed together for most of the morning and the early afternoon following our conversation. He twisted strands of my hair around his fingers. I played with his curls. He peppered my face and shoulders with kisses and I did the same with every one of his freckles.

"I don't understand how you are always so cold," Noah commented.

We were facing each other and cuddling. My head was tucked under his chin and my hands were on his chest. Our legs were intertwined and I managed to tuck my feet under his calves.

"I don't understand how you're always so hot," I replied.

"The secret is a good moisturizer and daily face cleanser." I felt Noah's chest rise and fall as he chuckled.

"You know what I meant," I scoffed. "Body temperature not body appearance."

"Body appearance?" Noah repeated. "Well, that is the result of countless hours in the gym and squats, my dear. Gotta get take care of the booty."

This got a laugh out of me that was difficult to contain.

"What? I don't recall anyone making music about a flat ass," he joked.

Noah!" I shrieked and laughed even harder.

He joined in with me and we both laughed at the ridiculousness of his statement: people with millions of dollars to spend on trainers, nutritionists, and surgeons commenting on the bodies of ordinary people.

When the laughter died down, I felt a tear in the corner of my eye as I tried to catch my breath. "I love your smile," Noah whispered. He had rolled over to his stomach beside me, still propping himself on his elbows and I laid in my back beside me.

I felt his warm hand come up to the side of my face to wipe the tear and a smile threaten to break across my face.

I tried to hold it in.

"Your laugh is infectious," he commented, "but your smile is gorgeous. I love it."

I sharply inhaled. "I—," I tried.

"Sh, sh, shh— don't say it." Noah's finger had begun tracing the curves of my face and my eyes slowly shut. His voice was barely above a whisper. Not only was it soft but also it was low and husky. "I want you to say whatever you feel about me when you're ready and comfortable and when you feel it— not because you think you should or out of obligation for how long we've been together or because I've said something."

I felt Noah's lips touch mine from above. They were soft and familiar and inviting. "Understand me?"

I fluttered my eyes open to find Noah's freckled cheeks, pink lips, and honey-whiskey eyes staring back at me. He looked at me with earnest intent with sincerity coating his every word dripping with vulnerability.

I had never been more attracted to him then I was at that moment.

"Mhmm," I muttered and nodded beneath him.

Noah fell back onto his side beside me, taking me in his arms and pulling me towards him.

I leaned up towards him and took his lips between mine. My body was pressed flat against him with his hand running up and down my back. His hand came up to the base of my neck and I felt it running through my hair as his other hand was in the small of my back.

Noah rolled over again. This time, he ended up on his back and brought me on top of him. I was suddenly self-conscious of my weight. I didn't consider myself skinny or particularly thin but pretty fit and athletic built from years of cheerleading. My hands went up to Noah's shoulders as I fidgeted to position myself in a way where I wouldn't be smothering my boyfriend and stopping his blood flow.

"Wow," Noah sighed softly. "You're perfect."

"Stop," I whined and squirmed between his arms.

"I mean it!" He replied emphatically as he gave me a gentle squeeze. His voice dropped in volume and octave, something I've noticed he does when he wants to be taken seriously. "Don't be mean to yourself. You got to love yourself more than I love you."

"Oh, don't worry I do," I confidently reassured him. "I just feel off right now on this moment. I think it's just a little weird being with you and in this position. And—,"

"It's a defense mechanism?" Noah finished for me. "Your self-deprecation because you're being vulnerable."

I nodded silently.

"It's Ok, Mia. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

"You're not the first one to make that promise," I replied.

"Maybe not," Noah shrugged and looked up at me. "But I'll be the first one to mean it."

I nodded and leaned back down for another quick kiss. I held him briefly for a bit longer before I finally opened my mouth again. "Come on, we've got to get out of bed."

I rose from the bed and to find a robe to slip on over my pajamas. Noah stayed behind in my bed for a few more moments. The blankets were thrown about him. He sat up with his head on my headboard and arm lazily thrown over the top of his head. His chiseled upper body looked tan in the sunlight and his messy, brown curls danced in his forehead.

He was as perfect the morning-after as he was the night before.