VAIN - Part Three (The VAIN Series Book 3)

Read VAIN - Part Three (The VAIN Series Book 3) for Free Online Page B

Book: Read VAIN - Part Three (The VAIN Series Book 3) for Free Online
Authors: Deborah Bladon
need to understand what's happened in his life since then, including what's going on with Camilla and the baby.
    "When did you get here?" It's a good starting point.
    "A week ago." He doesn't offer more and there's no indecision in the words. He's been in Manhattan an entire week and hasn't reached out.
    "You got here last week?" I repeat it back. It's not that I expect it will have a different meaning coming from my lips. I just want clear understanding of what his motivations are and why it took him so long to get in touch. "Did you come because of your work?"
    He raises a brow before taking another large sip from the bottle. "I came here for you, Alexa."
    "Why did you wait so long to get in touch?"
    "I saw you the first day I was here." He places the bottle on the night stand before reaching for my hand.
    I shift my body slightly, pulling the sheet around my frame. I don't want to feel completely exposed when we talk about this. I need a barrier between us, and knowing Noah, he isn't about to cover up anything that is already on full display. "Why didn't you say something?"
    His hand bolts to his chest to cover the new tattoo. "I wanted to see how you were. I wanted to see if you were…"
    "If I was happy?" I interrupt. We are actually going to dive right back into the one subject that broke us up. Maybe this reunion was going to be short lived, after all.
    "If you were happy," he parrots back. "You are happy."
    "That depends on how you define happy, I suppose. " My mouth tightens. "I've missed you like crazy, Noah. I've missed you so much."
    "We need to talk about things." He's on his feet now. "I want to know about your life here. I want to know what you're doing. How is teaching?"
    I nod. "We need to talk about all of that."
    He stands in silence, his hands resting on his strong hips. "Let's start with Brighton."
    I curse inwardly. We are actually going to jump back onto the merry-go-round that is Brighton Beck's role in my life? "Why?"
    "He's here." Noah taps his index finger against his hip bone. "Brighton is in New York."

Chapter 10
     
    "I haven't seen him." I pull my gaze back down to the sheets. "I haven't spoken to him in months."
    "He said you called him about what happened that day in my apartment."
    I nod my head. "I did. I wanted to find out why he showed you the pictures, Noah."
    He fidgets from one foot to the other. "I hate that you loved him."
    I smile at the confession. I pull my gaze up to meet his. "I hate that I loved him too," I say the words clearly and slowly so there's no room for misinterpretation between them.
    "I think about it sometimes." His voice cracks slightly. "I think about you being in his arms. How he must have felt when he was inside you."
    I exhale sharply. "I don't even remember it." I'm not lying. Intimacy with Beck was lovely at the time. I know I enjoyed it. I know that it filled an empty need within me that was swallowing me whole back then. I was so lost in Paris. I felt so alone and Brighton was there. He felt like home. I needed that.
    "You don't?" It's a misplaced question on his lips. Noah has never outwardly shown any real jealousy. He may have gotten irritated with Brighton when he realized we were once lovers, but he's always been confident in our connection. I've felt that right from the start.
    "When I was in Paris," I begin before I pat the bed willing him to sit down next to me. He does. "When I was in Paris, I felt very lost."
    "You went there alone, didn't you?" He pulls the sheet over to reveal my leg. "Were you running away from something here?"
    "Someone you mean?" I know Noah well enough to realize that he's asking me if I left home because of a man.
    He nods slowly as his finger traces a path along my calf. "Were you involved with someone before Paris?"
    "No." I shake my head from side-to-side. "I didn't date anyone for long." I steel my breathing. I want to tell him about the girl I used to be. I want him to understand who I was then and who I am now. "I was

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