Chapter 9 Intoxication

Stacey's POV:

We drove for about 20 min before we were finally at Larry's ice cream shop. I remembered it being Chloe's and my favorite stop. We parked and I turned back to see Noah's car behind us.

Was really hoping he might have changed his mind.

"come on, let's go" Chloe excitedly stepped out going into the shop

I walked out behind her as Noah approached me

"So ice cream huh?" He glanced at me with a mischievous smile

"Yeah, Chloe and I love the ice cream here."

We stepped in and found Chloe had already ordered and was in a private booth.

We all sat there for a bit waiting for the ice cream to arrive. The shop was quiet as it was a bit empty.

"Why is the shop empty?" I asked looking around.

"oh yeah, it's closing and relocating to a new branch" Chloe answered and I nearly choked in my ice cream

"Really!? I didn't know,"

"Yeah! I helped them with the paperwork and everything" she added

"So you're like a really good lawyer huh?" Noah finally said

"Well I wouldn't say really good but yeah I'm alright."

"She's trying not to brag, but she's actually a really good lawyer." I interjected.

"That's amazing, having a friend that's a lawyer will definitely come in handy."

"So you could willingly get in trouble and use them as a means to escape huh," Chloe shot him a knowing look and they both smiled mischievously. "looking forward to working with you one day then." She extended her hand and he collected it in a charming way

"can't wait."

For some reason their playful banter made me feel left out but I just shrugged the feeling off.

"So.... Noah."

He looked up, the golden rays from the sunset casting on him like a halo causing his brown eyes to glitter. My throat went dry and my body got hot as I scanned his features

Why was your body always so reactive around Noah? He always seemed to... turn you on.

"Yeah?" he answered passively, ignorant to what he was doing to me.

I hesitated. There was one question buzzing in my head from the courtroom the moment he stepped in like some reckless, unlikely savior of mine.

"How did you know about the divorce hearing?" I asked. " No one was supposed to know but the legal teams, meaning my best friend, lawyers and the families involved."

He exhaled slowly and looked away, as if embarrassed by the answer.

"Well..... I followed her," he admitted.

"You followed Agatha?" Chloe repeated

He nodded once. "Yeah. I was supposed to go home. Dinner with my parents and... " he hesitated, barely hiding his disgust, "discuss my future."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear that statement . He noticed, gave a small, bitter laugh.

"Don't worry, I'm fine . In case that wasn't already obvious."

I didn't smile.

He continued, voice low. "When Agatha pulled me aside and threatened me, it didn't sit right. I knew she was up to no good with that kind of manipulation?" He shook his head. "I needed to know what she was planning. So I skipped dinner and followed her. She didn't notice. She was too busy texting and driving. I allowed her to get to the court first so it won't seem like I followed ."

I stared at him, stunned.

"So you just... figured it out?"

"Put two and two together." He gave a small shrug. "When she said she'd ruin your career unless I gave her something she could use, I hit a record. Instinct, I guess."

Instinct? Your first instinct was to record?? That actually sounds impressive.

"You saved me," I whispered. "That recording... if you hadn't then I would've lost.. "

"You shouldn't have needed saving," he cut in. "You were the only decent person in that whole mess."

I felt a strange warmth in my chest at his words. But it was dangerous. Too dangerous. I folded my arms across my body as if to protect myself from... I didn't even know what.

Chloe's phone buzzed, slicing through the tension which she was watching with amusement

She checked the screen, then turned to me.

"Emergency with a client," she sighed. "I've gotta go. You okay?"

"I'll leave the car and take a cab, here are the keys" she handed the metallic bunch to me.

" Are you sure you're good?" She asked again one last time.

I nodded. "Yeah."

She looked at Noah once, her expression unreadable, then back at me. "I'll call you later."

And then she gave me a slight hug and was gone.

The shop felt even quieter without Chloe's presence. It was just us two now.

I turned back to Noah. He hadn't moved.

"Why?" I asked suddenly. "Why did you really help me?"

He blinked, then slowly moved forward until he was just a few inches away from me, closer than before. I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, something dark and woodsy that made my breath catch without warning.

Fuck... that scent , I've never craved someone's touch this badly before.

Is it bad that you want him to take you on this table right now?

He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

"Because I like you."

Silence..just pure unadulterated silence. But his words cut through the still silence like a sharp knife and caught my feelings open.

My heart stuttered. "You don't know what you're saying."

"I do."

"Noah, I'm way older than you."

He took another step closer, closing the distance between us. "And I don't fucking care."

I should've backed away. I should've reminded him that this wasn't okay. That I was his professor. That the lines were too blurred already and the backlash too real.

But I didn't.

I stayed rooted in place, trapped in the heat of his gaze.

"You think I haven't seen the way you look at me?" he said softly. "Like you're trying so hard not to want to."

My lips parted, but no words came.

"You're not just smart, Stacey. You're kind. You care. You didn't deserve what happened in there and you don't deserve to keep pretending like you're untouchable."

That ought to do it

I stood up but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back down to sit. Before I could stop him, he kissed me.

It wasn't hesitant. It wasn't soft. It was deliberate. Like he'd been holding it back for too long and couldn't anymore it was filled with hunger that only I could satisfy

What are you doing, back away, shove him!.... Stop enjoying it .

Every part of my brain screamed at me to stop.

But I didn't.

My fingers gripped the fabric of his coat. I kissed him back shit! I kissed him like I'd been drowning and he was air. There was a hunger in it I hadn't felt in years, something messy and raw and terrifyingly real, annoyingly amazing .

He pressed me gently against the leather couch as his lips found my neck. Thankfully this booth was secluded , his hand brushing my waist. My breath hitched as his touch moved upward slowly, almost reverent. It wasn't just a kiss anymore. It was something way more .

But then just when I thought I might lose myself completely I caught my reflection in the ice cream window.

My lips on Noah's. My messy hair. The tears I hadn't even realized were still drying on my cheeks.

I wasn't thinking clearly.

Yeah no shit

I wasn't me.

I broke the kiss, breathless.

"Stop," I whispered, stepping back. "I can't."

He looked confused. "Stacey "

"No." I shook my head harder this time. "You're a student. And I'm not some... fantasy. This can't happen."

Finally, but I was sad about breaking the kiss, my lips and entire body was cold again and alone, it all felt new to me and I didn't like it....

Right?

I grabbed my bag from the table , almost stumbling as I turned away.

"I'm sorry," I said, voice cracking. "I just...I need to go. I need to get out of here now "

And I did.

I ran so fast out of the store not attempting to look back .

Down the steps, across the parking lot, I fumbled with the keys until I finally shoved them into the ignition and peeled away from the shop like the building itself was on fire.

Only when I was far away miles from the memory of that kiss did I finally let myself cry.

What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you feeling this way and with your student!?

Fuck!