13. Noah

CHAPTER 13

NOAH

T he penthouse felt empty tonight. Noah had debated inviting Bradley over to celebrate the pregnancy but realized that it was not his to celebrate. Though he knew he would have to tell his friend eventually.

Sophie was pregnant with his child. The news had completely floored him.

But what shocked him more were the things he had said to Sophie. He had promised to go to all her appointments and go shopping with her. He called her his friend. Was it possible to friendzone your pregnant fiancée? Well if it was, Noah had done it.

Everything he said went against their original plan to make work his priority. He didn't regret it but he didn't understand what had prompted him to say it.

Noah was usually very disciplined, especially when it came to love and business. But when Sophie had started to cry, when she'd revealed how scared she was to tell him that she was pregnant, he had been overcome with the need to fix it. To make her feel better.

Even as his heart had gone out to her, Noah had understood the true source of that concern and the answer sickened him.

They were only here for one reason, and that was his job.

Disgust filled him. He wanted the CEO position that badly? Was he really so cruel?

Maybe he was more like his father than he realized. Or maybe he did it to be better than his father, if only slightly.

Noah was determined to be better. He would support Sophie both financially and physically through this pregnancy. And still manage to respect her and uphold the terms of their arrangement.

He just needed to keep his eye on the prize, to treat this like he would any other business deal.

So what would he do after a great meeting with a client? Send a gift.

Noah made a few calls and sent Sophie a bouquet — not of roses, but of daffodils and lilies. The flower shop owner convinced him that they symbolized fertility and new life. He didn't argue and paid over the phone.

When she asked if he wanted to add a note, he laughed. "No note. I'm just trying to do something to thank her. Happy wife, happy life, right?"

The lady seemed charmed and informed him that they would be delivered within the next two hours. Noah paid extra for both her quick work and fast delivery.

After he had finished a simple meal of steak and rice, his phone buzzed.

It was Sophie.

Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful :)

Of course :) he replied.

His phone buzzed again.

Did I miss the wedding?

??

I'm not your wife yet, Birch. Sophie attached a picture of the bouquet and note. It read, ‘Happy wife, happy life, right?'

Noah cringed. There wasn't supposed to be a note. That sneaky old lady.

Soon enough ;) He chastised himself, so much for the business approach.

Sophie hadn't responded by the time he got into bed. He was worried he had played it too flirty, until his phone dinged again.

Haha. Good night, Noah.

Night, Sophie.

As he plugged in his phone, he caught himself smiling. He stopped immediately.

God, what was she doing to him?

Sophie appeared in his dream that night. At first she was smiling and laughing, talking to the receptionist from work. And then she was in his office. She began to strip, peeling off one of those tight dresses she wore so often. Underneath she was wearing dark lacy lingerie. The scene moved suddenly and she was sitting on his desk, naked and begging to be tasted.

She looked so hot. He wanted her, needed her so badly.

Noah walked towards her and she gave him that wickedly seductive giggle. He bent before her, gently stroking her inner thigh with his hand. He replaced his hands with his mouth, kissing his way towards the spot she begged for him to touch.

"Please, Noah, " she breathed.

The sound filled him with a deep ache. Noah could not make her suffer any longer. He could not suffer any longer.

He leaned down to taste her, feel her softness against his tongue—

His arousal pulled him from sleep.

It wasn't real, he realized.

Sophie didn't want him like that. She had gotten her child. They could not have that kind of relationship again.

Disappointment consumed him and he tossed and turned with an aching lust that only she could dampen.

The following week, he called Sophie into his office.

When she entered the room, his brain flashed with the image of her naked on his desk. It was a stupid dream, that's all. It meant nothing.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"Morning. Please, have a seat," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Fine…" Sophie gave him an odd look and sat. "Is everything all right?"

Maybe he was being too formal. "Yes. Everything is fine. I was thinking about what you said on Friday and it got me thinking—"

"Which part?" she interrupted.

"Oh. Sorry." He laughed. "The part about you not being my wife yet."

"And?"

"I think we should move up the wedding."

"I was only joking about the wife thing," Sophie replied.

"I know, but why wait?" Noah cleared his throat, scared that she might take his words the wrong way. "I think it would look best if we got married before you have the child."

He braced for the anger but it did not come.

"Okay," she replied simply.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, I mean it makes sense. My part of the arrangement is being fulfilled so it's only fair. How soon were you thinking?"

He was surprised by how casual she was being. "Okay… well, that's great. I was thinking three or four months? Is that enough time to get a magazine-worthy wedding together?"

"It's definitely pushing it, but I think September is doable," she agreed.

"Great. I'll have my assistant get in touch with the wedding planner and I'll see if they can meet with us later this week."

"Awesome. Just text me," she replied.

After she left, the dream he'd had last week came back to him. He needed to get his lust under control.