Intimate Friends by Claire Matthews Read Free Book Online

her, ready to enter her.
    “What?” She was desperate for him. She sunk her fingernails in the flesh of his ass, urging him on.
    “Please don't go to London.” His eyes were wide and pleading. He sounded so miserable she could hardly stand it.
    “I have to. I'm sorry.” She pulled him to her, kissed his cheek. “I'll miss you. Horribly.” She pulled her knees up against his sides and pushed him harder against her. She might be leaving, but she was damn well going to give him something to remember. He entered her fully, moving in and out with moans of desperation. She met him, thrust for thrust, and soon he was pumping harder, and harder, and then she knew she was going to come, and she couldn't stop, she couldn't hold off to wait for him.
    Emma shuddered and gasped in release, letting out a choked sob, then holding her breath as Noah moaned, long and low, and came inside her in hot, heavy spurts that spread warmth deep inside her. After they both caught their breath, he snuggled beside her, slinging his leg over her hip, his heel hooked loosely behind her kneecaps.
    Emma let her mind wander, trying to imagine herself in London, going to class, immersing herself in culture and literature. She tried to imagine making new friends, going to pubs with classmates, discovering new restaurants and hangouts. She tried to imagine doing all of it alone...without Noah. It filled her with dread, and shame. This whole trip was supposed to be an exercise in self-growth, a salute to her independence and adventurous spirit. Why was she hesitating now, when she was finally so close?She burrowed her face against Noah's damp chest, and he kissed the top of her head.His touch made her heart ache, and the thought of leaving for London next week felt like a death sentence.
    ****
     
    Emma watched the shadows from the tree branches outside the window sway gently against the wall. She shifted a bit, pulling the sheet up tighter under her chin, and fluffing her pillow with her fist. She closed her eyes tightly, and felt the familiar burning, dry sensation under her eyelids. She wasn't going to sleep. Again.
    The insomnia was slowing driving her insane. For days now, she'd walked around like a zombie, running into walls and nodding off at her desk, only to crawl into bed and stare at the ceiling for hours. It was less than a week until she left for London, and she'd never been more scared. She wondered if she'd ever sleep again.
    Emma leaned over and looked at Noah, his breathing deep and even, his face sweet and peaceful. She reached over and touched the pad of his bottom lip gently—a finger kiss—and rolled out of bed quietly, careful not to wake him as she wandered down the hall to the kitchen.
    Should she eat or drink anything? Wouldn't that keep her up even longer? She settled for a glass of water, and was walking to the couch with a book under her arm when Noah wandered in from the hall, scratching his stomach under his t-shirt, squinting against the lamplight in the living room.
    "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to bed."
    "Mmmm," he mumbled, still in sleep mode. "C'mon," he ordered, taking the book from her and setting it on the coffee table.
    "Noah, no…I'll just keep you awake."
    He ignored her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her gently down the hall towards the bedroom. She acquiesced, letting him lead her to the bed. He reached down and pulled off her nightgown slowly, then took off his own t-shirt and slipped it over her head. It was warm and soft, and she looked up at him with an appreciative grin as they climbed under the covers. He drew her back against his chest, his feet beneath hers, his breath on her neck.
    It was the routine they'd haphazardly developed over the last three nights—snuggled in Noah's shirt, tucked warmly against his bare torso, he would tell her stories, or play silly games until she was relaxed enough to drift off to sleep.
    On this night, he began to hum against the skin behind