No Strings Attached

Chapter Fifty

Thunder rumbled low and deep, pulling Alex from sleep. It wasn't unusual for him to wake up to a storm, he wasn't a heavy sleeper by any means, but something felt different this time. As he stirred, his hand instinctively reached out, only to find the other side of the bed empty.
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as confusion set in. Blinking into the darkness, he glanced around the room, half expecting to see her standing nearby. But the room was empty, and his pulse quickened.
His gaze caught on the door, slightly ajar, swaying just a little from the draft. He pushed the covers off and stood, moving toward it with a sense of unease. Just as he passed the window, something outside caught his attention.
Squinting through the rain streaked glass, his heart dropped when he saw her. Norma, in her nightgown, descending the front steps of the house.
Panic flooded him as he moved quickly, grabbing a pair of sweats and shoving his feet into his shoes before bolting out the door. The rain hit him hard as he sprinted down the steps, his eyes glued to her as she moved across the motel lot, heading for the road.
His heart stopped when he saw headlights appear down the road, cutting through the darkness, heading straight toward her.
"Norma!" he shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the storm. He pushed his legs harder, sprinting as fast as he could. Just as the car bore down on them, he reached her, yanking her back with enough force to send them both sprawling to the ground.
The car sped past, honking its horn, the sound echoing even after it disappeared into the night. Alex stayed on the ground, his arms still wrapped protectively around her, his heart racing as the rain poured down around them.
Norma was breathing heavily in his arms, her chest rising and falling as the reality of where she was seemed to settle in. At some point, she must have woken up and realized what was happening, and now fear and confusion filled her eyes as she looked back at him.
"You okay?" Alex asked, his own breath still ragged, but his arms never loosened their grip around her.
She could only manage a shaky nod, still too stunned to speak. He took a deep breath, his forehead pressing against hers for a moment as he swept strands of her wet hair from her face, relief washing over him.
"Oh my god," he whispered, pressing a long kiss to her temple, his lips lingering as he let the gravity of what almost happened sink in. He couldn't stop his mind from racing through the endless possibilities, how easily this could have ended differently.
"Let's get inside," he said gently, moving to stand and pulling her with him. But she hissed in pain as soon as she put weight on her feet, immediately falling back to the gravel and reaching down with a wince.
"Shit," she muttered, glancing down at her bare feet.
It was only then that Alex noticed, she'd walked out here barefoot, straight through the gravel. He knelt down in front of her, carefully lifting one of her feet to inspect it. The bottom was a mess of small cuts and dirt smeared across her skin.
"Shit, Norma," he whispered, his stomach twisting at the sight. Without another thought, he scooped her up into his arms, lifting her effortlessly.
She gasped, instinctively clinging to him as he held her close, his grip firm but gentle. He didn't say anything else, just started carrying her back toward the house, his heart still pounding from the fear of what could have happened.
As Alex carried her up the steps, he noticed Norma trembling in his arms. At first, he assumed it was from the cold and the rain soaking through her nightgown, but when he heard a small, choked sniffle, his eyes snapped down to her, his steps faltering.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice exhausted and drained. "I don't know what's happening."
He tightened his hold on her, his jaw clenching as he fought the urge to comfort her right then and there. "We'll figure this out," he assured her, his voice steady as he carried her inside.
Once they were in the living room, he set her down gently on the couch and grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders. He moved quickly to get the first aid kit before sitting down beside her, carefully pulling her feet into his lap.
"Do you dream at all when it happens?" he asked softly, hoping to distract her as he started cleaning the cuts. But he was also genuinely curious, anything that might help him understand.
Norma's brow furrowed, her gaze distant. "I don't remember, really," she said, though flashes of something familiar flickered in her mind, always the same dream.
He offered a small, comforting smile. "We'll have to start locking the door or something," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
But Norma's stomach twisted at the thought, and before she knew it, she blurted out, "Or maybe you could just handcuff me to the bed."
Alex let out a soft chuckle, but when he looked up, her expression was serious. "Norma, I'm not going to chain you to the bed," he said firmly, returning his focus to tending her feet.
"It's the only way to be sure I don't sleepwalk again," she argued, her voice a little sharper than she intended.
"It's not safe, dear. It's metal, and your arm could lose circulation—"
"Well, I don't know what else to do!" she snapped, her frustration boiling over as her eyes filled with tears.
Alex paused, taking a calming breath before he spoke again. "We can try it," he said gently. "One night. But not with my metal cuffs. We'll use rope or something. And I'll tie you to me, so if you try to move, I'll know."
Her shoulders relaxed at his suggestion, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she nodded, leaning back against the couch, comforted by his presence.
As Alex carefully cleaned the last of the cuts on her feet, Norma let out a shaky breath, trying to ground herself in the warmth of his touch. Desperate to push away the lingering fear, she whispered, "Can you keep talking? Just...distract me."
He glanced up at her, his hands gentle as they wrapped a bandage around her foot. "What do you want me to talk about?"
"Anything," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "How was your day?"
He huffed a soft laugh. "Mostly paperwork," he replied.
She raised a brow, giving him a teasing smirk. "No bad guys to catch?"
He grinned, the tension easing from his shoulders. "No," he said, chuckling softly. "But I will be having a stern talk with those rocks in the lot for hurting your precious feet."
Norma rolled her eyes, but a giggle slipped out, lightening the heaviness that had settled over them. "You're ridiculous," she murmured, but there was warmth in her tone.
He finished securing her bandages, his fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary as his gaze softened. "All finished," he said quietly. "You'll need lots of rest, and no more barefoot moonlight walks."
"Yes, doctor," she replied with a crooked smile, pulling her feet from his lap to scoot closer to him. Their legs brushed together, and her hands found his, tracing her fingertips over his knuckles.
His breath hitched almost imperceptibly as she leaned in, her lips dangerously close to his. His hand instinctively moved to her waist, drawing her closer as his thumb traced slow circles against her side.
"Think you'll be able to sleep tonight?" he asked, his voice low and rough, eyes fixed on her lips.
"With you here?" she murmured, giving him a look that sent his pulse racing. "I'm sure I can think of a few ways to wear myself out."
His lips quirked into a smirk, and before he could reply, she leaned in and kissed him, soft and lingering, melting into him as his hand tightened on her waist.
The kiss deepened, slow and hungry, as Alex's hand slid up her side, fingers pressing into her waist. Norma let out a soft, breathless moan against his lips, and that sound shot straight through him, making his restraint hang by a thread. He pulled back just enough to catch his breath, his eyes dark and intense as they searched hers.
Then, in one swift motion, he scooped her up, earning a gasp that melted into a sultry laugh as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn't make it easy for him, pressing hot kisses along his throat, her lips grazing his pulse point, making it hard for him to focus on navigating the stairs.
By the time they made it to her room, his breathing was ragged, and he set her down on the bed with a controlled urgency, his hands lingering at her waist as he leaned over her. Norma arched into him, tugging him closer by his neck and shoulder, her lips finding his again as his hands moved to the tie of her robe, slowly pulling it loose.
His mouth trailed down her neck, pressing open mouthed kisses to her collarbone before moving lower, his lips brushing over the swell of her breast. "God, I love you," he whispered against her skin, his hands cupping her breasts as his thumbs traced slow circles over her hardened nipples. He kissed down the center of her chest, savoring the way she shivered beneath him. "I love your smell...the way you taste," he murmured, his voice rough and low.
A soft gasp escaped her as his thumb flicked over her sensitive peak, her hands finding their way to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair as she pulled him back up to meet her gaze.
"I love you," she whispered, her voice breathless and desperate, like she needed him more than air.
His eyes softened, and he brushed his thumb across her cheek, dipping down to capture her lips in a deep, tender kiss. "I love hearing you say that," he whispered against her mouth before claiming it again, slower this time, pouring everything he felt into the kiss.

They lay tangled together, their bodies worn out and content, as Alex absentmindedly traced patterns along Norma's bare back. She sighed softly against his chest, her fingers idly brushing over his side, savoring the warmth and closeness.
After a while, she shifted slightly, her voice quiet but resolute. "Maybe you should tie me up now."
Alex froze, glancing down at her in surprise. "You're serious about this?"
Norma pushed herself up just enough to look into his eyes, her expression steady and sure. "Yeah," she replied. "I need to be sure I'm not gonna wander off again."
He couldn't help the slight smirk that tugged at his lips. "So you didn't just want me to tie you up?"
She rolled her eyes with a playful scoff. "I do like it when you tie me up."
A soft laugh escaped him, and he leaned over the side of the bed, grabbing her silk robe from the floor and pulling the tie loose. As he shifted back toward her, he caught her wrist gently, giving her a questioning look. When she nodded, he looped the soft fabric around her wrist, then tied it securely to his own, making sure it was snug but not too tight.
She gave it a tentative tug, testing its hold, and seemed satisfied when it didn't give. He smiled, lacing his fingers through hers and pulling her back down to his chest. "Not going anywhere," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Norma snuggled against him, letting out a soft hum of approval as his free hand stroked soothing circles on her hip. For the first time that night, she let herself relax, safe in the knowledge that he wouldn't let her slip away.

This is the final chapter for this story. But I have already started on the sequel called Tied to You. I should have the first chapter posted in the next few days!! And as always, thank you so much for reading!!
xx