‘Be patient,’ Bella replied. ‘Good things come to those who wait.’
‘I’ve never been a patient man,’ Noah murmured.
Bella’s mug of tea paused on the way to her lips as Noah turned his head towards hers. Their eyes locked and she could see the starlight reflected in Noah’s irises. Time seemed to stand still as they regarded each other, caught in an indefinable moment. Bella’s heart, having slowed down now she was sitting, suddenly sped up again.
‘Ouch!’ Noah jolted forward and narrowly missed spilling his tea down the front of his jeans as Monty jumped up alongside him on the wall, knocking into the hand holding his cup. ‘Monty, you bugger!’
A rumbling chirp was all he got in reply from the Bengal, who was now regarding Noah with a look akin to suspicion.
‘Never had you pipped for a stargazer, Monty,’ Bella giggled as the cat strolled unconcernedly over Noah’s legs and propped his front paws up on Bella’s thighs, parking his spotted bottom firmly in the small space between the two sitting humans.
‘He doesn’t give a toss about the stars!’ Noah laughed, slightly nervously. ‘He’s obviously developing a protective streak towards you.’
Bella smiled and reached out a hand to stroke Monty’s long back, then jumped when she realised Noah’s hand was already there.
‘Sorry,’ she said, face flaming. She hastily removed her hand from where it had caught Noah’s, but he flexed his palm and placed it onto the top of Bella’s hand.
‘I’m not complaining,’ he said softly, before adding, ‘and Monty’s here as chaperone, so I’m sure holding your hand is the most I’m going to get away with.’
Bella’s attention was now fixated solely on the warm sensation of Noah’s hand on hers. Monty’s soft fur stroked her palm as she left her hand resting gently on the cat’s back. Seemingly enjoying the attention, the cat started to purr.
‘Do we need a chaperone?’ Bella asked nervously.
‘I’m not sure. It depends if you want to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you.’ Noah locked eyes with her again and she saw him carefully placing his mug on the ground. As if synchronised, she did the same.
‘I do, Noah,’ she said softly. ‘I really, really do. It’s just…’
‘What?’
Bella gestured with her free hand. ‘When you asked me to move in here, it was with no strings attached. If we kiss now, is that going to be a string?’
‘It won’t be as much as a thread, I promise,’ Noah murmured. ‘No pressure, Bella. Kiss me, but if you don’t want to, then I’ll let go of your hand and you, me and Monty can carry on watching the stars and drinking our tea like this never happened.’
Bella smiled. ‘Thank you.’
The blissful moment before their lips met felt as though it could go on forever, and as Bella leaned closer to Noah, their hands still entwined and resting lightly on Monty’s back, she felt a rush of warmth and rightness. His lips were gentle and soft, tentative at first, but as the kiss grew firmer, she removed her hand from Monty and brought it up to the back of Noah’s neck. As their mouths began to explore, Bella sighed into the kiss. This was so unexpected and yet so lovely.
Monty, however, thought otherwise. With an irritated growl, he slithered out from between the two of them, and as Bella opened her eyes a fraction, she saw him stalking down the garden, tail in the air, towards his favourite spot under the plum tree.
43
‘Oops! I think he’s pissed off,’ Bella murmured as she shifted slightly away from Noah.
‘He’s always pissed off,’ Noah replied. They pulled back and shared a smile. The starlight cast everything in a silvered sheen, and Bella was content, for a long moment, to look into Noah’s eyes. The kiss had softened them, and in the low light his pupils were larger, merging into the deep brown of his irises. She ached to run a hand over his cheek and into his silky dark brown hair again, but she paused. This was only a first kiss, and they shared the living space. Was she ready for another kiss, knowing where it might lead?
‘It’s all right,’ Noah said gently. ‘I’m not going to leap on you, I promise.’
Bella smiled. ‘Was the look on my face that obvious?’
‘Let’s just say I’d win hands down if we ever played poker!’
‘Well, are you all right with another kiss?’
In response, Noah moved nearer to her and she felt the gentle caress of his lips once more. This time, she increased the pressure, exploring his mouth and combing her fingers through his hair, feeling him push into her touch as she stroked the back of his neck. Noah’s hand, tentative at first, mirrored the gesture, until the gap that Monty had occupied between them had been well and truly closed.
‘I don’t think we’re going to see any shooting stars if we carry on doing this,’ Noah murmured.
‘I’m seeing plenty,’ Bella teased between kisses. ‘If you’re not, then I’m not doing this right!’
