Fearing rejection, I slide my hand into his and bring his hand up to my lips for a caress. Shifting in the rocker, I rest his palm against my thigh and keep my fingers entwined with his. The fact that he doesn’t try to pull away gives me the courage to carry on.
“I dated women, recklessly after that night, because what happened terrified me. Andrew’s feelings for me were a lot stronger than mine for him. To me, he was a friend. Yes, I probably did love him but not in the way he wanted or needed…Between the women, I’d be with Andrew. I’m not proud of that. Because of my actions, Andrew thought I’d eventually only need him. He eventually left me alone and started fucking anyone with a dick who offered. The fact that I didn’t get jealous only made him worse. He died in a car accident. Drunk driving. Luckily, he didn’t take anyone else with him. Apparently, his father had discovered his sexual orientation and they’d had a big blowup about it. Brendan had also discovered Andrew’s feelings for me, and I became the one to blame for his drinking and subsequent death.”
I settle into the rocker and close my eyes. Noah hasn’t commented, but he also still has his hand on my thigh.
“That’s the first time I’ve even spoken of Andrew. The first time I’ve trusted anyone with that story.” I need Noah to realize just how much I do trust him, and need him.
Noah clears his throat. “I did wonder whether you’d been together. But, I guess I wasn’t expecting all that…Do you think it’s your involvement with his son that has him gunning for the McKenzies? Could he be causing the trouble on the site because he knows it’s you who’s in charge of that particular site? There’s been no trouble elsewhere, right?”
I nod. “But it’s been so long, I’m not sure why he would start up now.”
Noah nods in agreement before he says, “So now that I know your relationship to his son, it makes sense that he isn’t gunning for the McKenzies, but is gunning for one in particular. We need to pay him a visit and let him know that we’re on to him, and if he wants to keep his business he needs to let the ghosts rests. What he’s doing could end up in criminal charges being filed if someone gets seriously hurt. That needs pointing out to him.”
“I hear you. I’ll go and see him and lay it all out…I’m so damn tired today, all I want is to shower and then curl up in bed with you,” I admit.
“I like that idea. I’ll shower first so that I can read some more of my book while you’re showering.” He smirks. “You take a while.”
I laugh. “Only when I’m thinking of you and need to take the edge off.”
Noah’s grin couldn’t get any wider. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah. I think you need to watch me, but not tonight. I need to touch you, and show you just how much you’re mine. I want you to know that everything between us is different than anything ever before us,” I admit, already feeling my arousal growing.
Noah stands and pulls me up with him. He places his hand on my whisker-covered jaw and slowly presses his lips to mine. The kiss ends before it even begins, but the tenderness behind it isn’t lost on me. This is how I want the rest of my life to be with Noah—tenderness when needed and hard-as-fuck passion in between.
“I need a shower,” he whispers against my lips.
With a slight tug of my hand, he pulls me inside the cabin.
Noah
Lying in bed, I’m reading a book that Carla has read and told me was good…and hot. She had a twinkle in her eyes when she’d said ‘hot’ so of course I swiped it off her once she’d finished it.
I’ve read about three pages and reckon I have about five more minutes before Ramon shows himself. The idea of him jerking off in the shower to take the edge off is on repeat in my head. Sometimes I wish he’d keep his mouth shut so that I don’t have the images inside my head.
Hearing the shower switch off, I continue reading about Morgan DeLuca and Race True in a particularly hot scene, which now has me engrossed.
It’s only when I feel the dip of the bed that I shift the book and watch as a naked Ramon slides up the bed toward me.
“Good book?” he asks, settling next to me.
“I’m not into women, but this is one fucking hot book.” I throw the covers off my lap. “It has me hard-as-fuck.”
Ramon smirks, and pushes my arm into a position that will allow him to read with me.
After a few minutes, he makes a gurgling noise in the back of his throat. “What’s this called?”
“Sinful Intent. My sisters a fan of the author, Chelle Bliss…Why?”
Ramon turns and rubs his erection against my hip. “Because,” he whispers into my ear, sending shards of pleasure to the end of my dick, “I think we need to get the rest of her books.”
With that comment, he removes the book from my hands and settles on top of me. He uses his feet to shove the cover from the bed, and then there’s nothing between us.