No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Three

The clock on Norma's nightstand ticked quietly, the soft hum of the house settling around her. She sat on the edge of her bed, brushing out her hair in slow, distracted strokes. Her mind raced, caught between two competing thoughts, the unsettling sight of the car circling the motel and the way Alex had kissed her in the darkened office.
Her fingers paused mid-stroke as she replayed the moment. His hands on her waist, the way his lips moved against hers, how her body had responded so naturally, so completely. A shiver coursed through her, and she shook her head as if that could clear the memory.
The sudden buzz of her phone broke the stillness, startling her. Norma quickly grabbed it, glancing at the wall she and Norman share, as if she could see him through it. She answered in a hushed whisper, "Hello?"
"Hi," Alex's familiar voice came through the line, quiet but steady.
Her heart skipped, and she straightened. "Alex?"
"I'm parked on the side road, next to your house," he said. His tone was calm, but she heard the undercurrent of something else, anticipation, maybe.
Norma didn't hesitate. "I'll be down in a second," she whispered and ended the call, her pulse racing.
She slipped out of her room as quietly as possible, moving through the house like a ghost. Instead of using the front door, she went out the back, stepping lightly as she made her way through the overgrown bushes and bramble at the edge of her property. The chill of the night air kissed her skin, and only when she saw Alex's car parked in the shadows did she realize she hadn't even changed out of her nightgown and robe.
Her cheeks flushed, but she pushed the thought aside as she reached for the passenger door and slid inside.
Alex was waiting for her, his face illuminated by the faint glow of the dashboard lights. His expression softened as he looked at her, and he greeted her with a quiet, "Hi, hon."
Norma didn't respond with words. Instead, she leaned over the console and kissed him, her hands cradling his face as though she couldn't get close enough. The kiss was unrestrained, passionate, and left them both breathless when they finally pulled apart.
"Hi," she whispered, a small, almost shy smile tugging at her lips.
Alex chuckled, low and warm, his eyes searching hers. Norma took his hand and pulled it into her lap, her fingers curling around his.
"How was the rest of your shift?" she asked softly.
He leaned back, his head resting against the seat as his thumb brushed over her knuckles. "Uneventful," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "But, for some reason, I couldn't seem to focus."
Norma arched a brow, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "Oh? And why's that?"
Alex didn't answer right away. Instead, he gave her a look, one so full of meaning that her stomach flipped. A slow blush crept into her cheeks, and she let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
She brings his hand to her lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of it before moving it back to her lap. "I'm sorry," she murmured, though the twinkle in her eyes betrayed the sincerity of the apology.
He let out a low chuckle, his hand tightening ever so slightly in hers. "Don't be," he said, his voice warm and filled with something deeper.
As she continued playing with his hand in her lap, Alex asked, "Do you think Dylan or Emma suspected anything after I left?"
Norma's smile faltered slightly, her brow furrowing as she thought back. "They didn't say anything outright," she began, her tone contemplative. "But Emma... she kept smiling at me, almost like she knew."
Alex let out a soft huff of amusement, shaking his head. "That girl is too smart for her own good."
Norma chuckled, nodding. "She is," she agreed, her free hand reaching over to toy with the ends of his hair absentmindedly. The motion was gentle, almost hypnotic, as her fingers twisted and smoothed the dark strands.
Alex's entire body seemed to relax under her touch, though a familiar buzz spread through him. His voice dropped slightly, quieter but no less sincere. "I missed you today," he admitted, his gaze flicking to her face.
Norma's heart clenched at the confession, her movements in his hair slowing. She gave him a soft, sad smile, her fingers continuing their lazy strokes. "I missed you too," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
The moment seemed to stretch, both of them lost in the quiet intimacy. Alex's hand shifted from her lap to her thigh, his grip firm but comforting. His thumb began tracing slow circles over her skin, the motion sending a shiver up her spine.
Norma's breath hitched, and she stilled for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden heat pooling in her belly. She glanced at him, her lips parting to say something, but the look in his eyes rendered her speechless.
His thumb continued its gentle strokes on her thigh, his movements growing bolder as he trailed his fingers upward. Norma's breath quickened, her cheeks flushing when his hand brushed against the loose tie of her robe.
Without a word, he slipped the knot free, and the fabric fell open, revealing the delicate nightgown beneath.
The soft light from the dashboard illuminated her figure, and Alex's breath hitched. The nightgown clung to her curves, its thin fabric leaving little to the imagination. His eyes roamed over her slowly, as if committing every inch to her memory.
"I-" Norma's voice broke the silence, her tone apologetic. "I didn't even think to change before coming out here-"
"Good," Alex interrupted, his voice rough but quiet, his gaze flicking up to hers as he slid the robe off of her shoulders, the fabric pooling at her waist. His hands slid under the hem of her nightgown, his touch warm and deliberate as he traced her skin.
Norma's head fell back against the seat, her back arching instinctively as his fingers swipe at her wet core. Her hands found his arm, gripping him for stability, but her gaze stayed locked on his, her lips parting as a soft sound escaped her.
The intimacy of the moment grew under his warm gaze, their connection thick in the air as two fingers slid into her. Norma's breathing turned shallow, her hands tightening on his arm as her body responded to his touch instantly. She allowed herself to let out a quiet moan, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before snapping back to his.
Her chest rose and fell with the rhythm of her quickened breath, her nipples visible through the thin fabric, but just as she began to tighten around him, she caught his wrist, stopping him with a shaky exhale.
Alex froze, his dark eyes filled with a mixture of desire and confusion as he searched her expression. Without saying a word, Norma leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips before slipping away from the front seat. She climbed into the back, her movements deliberate and unhurried, her body glowing with a quiet confidence.
He couldn't help but stare after her in stunned silence, his hands flexing at his sides. It only took him a moment to recover before he followed, his movements swift but sure. When he joined her in the backseat, the space between them vanished instantly.
His hands found her shoulders, sliding the delicate straps of the nightgown down until the fabric pooled at her waist, leaving her bare in the dim light. His breath caught in his throat as he took her in, his hands brushing along her breasts and sides as if she were made of glass.
Norma's hands were equally unhurried as she reached for him, working on his belt and the button of his pants with a quiet determination as his lips began venturing down the side of her neck. When their clothes were finally discarded, leaving nothing between them, Alex pulled her onto his lap.
His hands guided her, his touch firm but tender, ensuring she was comfortable before sliding up into her. Their movements were slow, intimate, as if they were studying the feeling of each other. Every touch, every glance, was filled with a quiet reverence as if they both understood that this connection, this moment, was too rare, too fragile to be taken for granted.
They moved as though every second was a promise, unspoken but understood in the way they held onto each other like they might never get this chance again.
Norma's fingers tangled in his hair, her lips brushing his temple, his jaw, anywhere she could reach. He murmured her name against her skin, his voice heavy with emotion as he anchored her to him, their connection as much emotional as it was physical.
The sound of it alone had her tightening around him, a loud moan escaping her lips as her legs press in against his, her hand flying to the roof of the car while her other tightened in his hair. His name falls from her lips, soft and breathless, like a prayer. Her hands found his face, their gaze locking as they reached their pinnacle, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw with a tenderness that made his chest ache.
"You're everything," she whispered, her voice trembling with raw emotion. Her lips found his forehead, then his cheek, and finally his mouth, her movements slow and deliberate, as if she was trying to savor every last second of their time together.
His hands cupped her cheeks, his fingers brushing along her skin as they finally pull apart. Their eyes meet, his expression suddenly unreadable. Norma blinked at him, her heart fluttering in her chest as silence filled the small space between them.
Then, in a rough voice but full of conviction, he said, "I'm so in love with you."
The words landed like a jolt, stunning her into stillness. Her breath caught, her body quivering at the depth of his confession. It was something she'd never expected to hear, and yet it felt so achingly right.
"I love you," he breathed out again, as if the words had been locked inside him for so long that now, unleashed, they were all he could say, all he could think to tell her.
"Alex," she lets out breathlessly, her tone slightly shocked, though her lips slowly stretch into an uncontainable smile as warmth filled her chest.
Her voice trembled slightly with emotion when she spoke again. "I love you, too."
The tension in his shoulders melted as he leaned in to kiss her again, slower this time, their lips pressing together with a quiet certainty.
When they finally parted, he rested his forehead against hers, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You should go get some sleep," he said softly, his tone reluctant but practical.
Norma sighed, her reluctance matching his. "I know," she murmured, her fingers tracing lightly over his jaw. "But I don't want to leave."
He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I'll walk you up," he offered.
She smiled at that, nodding as they both moved to gather their clothes. They dressed quickly, stealing glances at each other in the dim light of the car. Before she reached for the door handle, Alex grabbed his coat from his seat and draped it over her shoulders, wrapping her up in its warmth.
"You'll freeze without it," he said when she opened her mouth to protest.
Norma clutched the coat around her, the scent of him enveloping around her like a second embrace. She didn't say anything, just gave him a small, grateful smile as they stepped out of the car.
As soon as they met at the back of his car, his hand found hers naturally. Their fingers intertwined easily, his thumb brushing over hers in a way that made her heart ache with tenderness.
She led him through the bushes at the edge of her property, her steps careful but determined. Alex chuckled behind her, shaking his head as the bramble snagged at his clothes. "You went through all of this just to meet me?"
Norma glanced over her shoulder, smiling. "It was worth it," she said simply, her voice light and sincere.
They reached the back porch, the house quiet and still. Norma glanced into the dark kitchen through the window before looking back to Alex, his absence already hitting her. Alex seemed to sense her mood shift, because he pulled her close for one last kiss, his lips lingering on hers like he couldn't bear to let her go. When he finally did pull back, his gaze was soft.
Norma slowly slipped his coat from her body and held it out to him, her fingers brushing his as he took it. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with something unspoken.
Alex slung the coat over his arm and smiled at her. "Goodnight, Norma," he murmured.
"Goodnight," she whispered, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and longing as she turned to leave.
He waited until she was safely inside, the door locking shut behind her, before turning to make the trek back to his car. His hand flexed at his side, the emptiness where her hand had been lingering like a phantom ache.