Текст книги "Beautiful Storm"
Автор книги: Megan Isaacs
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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 21 страниц)
I withdraw halfway and she mews beneath me, her eyes swirling into a storm of lust. Unable to control myself, I push back in and hitch her leg around my waist as I begin a relentless rhythm. As I hear the heavenly sounds of her getting close, I withdraw and urge her onto her stomach, pull her hips back and raise her perfect arse into the air. I run my hand up and down her spine, trail my finger through her crack, and pause over the puckered rose of her rear entrance. She gasps as I push my finger against it.
Her head whips around and she locks her gaze to mine over her shoulder, and I grab hold of my cock and rub it over her pussy, soaking in her juices. I push slightly into her with small, quick pulses. With one hand I reach forward and grab a fistful of her hair, tight enough to pull but not to hurt. And I place the thumb of my other hand over the entrance of her arse, fingers splayed over her lower back holding her in place, then I thrust in deep. At this angle I know I’m not going to last long, but neither is she, so I pound into her. Beads of sweat form over both of us as I drive in again and again. Harder and harder.
Her walls squeeze me as she reaches climax, my name leaving her lips as a prayer, and it drags me over the precipice with her. My balls tighten, and each pulse of release comes hard and fast. I growl her name and thrust a few more times before we both collapse onto the bed, panting and fighting for breath. Our bodies slick from the intense exertion as I hover over her.
As I roll off of her back and onto my side, I pull her back into me. Her body wrapped up so close into mine is such a foreign feeling, but it’s so right, so natural. She nuzzles back into the crook of my shoulder and lets out a content sigh and I can’t resist smiling at the sound.
I lean forward and place a tender kiss to her forehead. “For the record, next time, I’m making love to you.”
I feel her smile against my chest. “Noah?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
My throat tightens at her words. They’re genuine and so fucking real. Her words have never sounded truer. “I love you, too, angel.” I don’t think she’ll ever know how much.
A bad feeling creeps up inside of me and tugs on my gut. The nervousness creates a million stampeding elephants in my stomach. My real problem lurks in the background, unspoken, and gnaws at my conscience. Will she want me when she knows the truth? When she knows what I am? I shake my head to try and rid the nagging voice, but it remains.
The reality of being in love with someone who knows nothing about the things I’ve done weighs heavily in my thoughts. It didn’t matter before because I lost her, anyway. But now she’s here and she deserves to know what she’s letting herself in for. It’s only fair. But I don’t want fair. I selfishly want her. And I’ll go to any lengths to keep her, and my son.
Even if it means hiding the real me.
NOAH’S HEARTBEAT RACES under my ear. In the past, by now it would have been steady, satisfied, a dull thud lulling me to sleep. His sexual presence is all over my body, like a slow burn over my skin. Sighing, I roll over onto my back. He moves with me, lying on his side with his head propped on one hand. He’s outstanding to look at. Breathtakingly handsome. His dark, chiselled features display an air of contentment, but his racing heart tells me a different story. Something’s wrong with him, and I can’t help but think it’s Kai on his mind.
His fingers dance over my stomach, but they tense slightly. He pushes up off the bed to take a closer look at what I know will be the six-inch, barely-there white scar. His eyes roam where his fingers stroke on my lower abdomen.
“What’s this?” His voice is dangerously low and filled with concern.
The reaction to the small scar makes me smile. He thinks someone’s hurt me. I’m surprised by his reaction, although I know I’ve told him some things which would make him think that way. His hazel eyes turn dark as they flick between my eyes and where his fingers rest.
“That’s my Kai smile.” I’m lucky; a lot of women have issues surrounding their caesarean mark, with misaligned skin and saggy bits. Mine just looks as though someone has drawn a fine line on me with a white marker pen.
A look of confusion crosses his face for a second then his eyes soften as he registers the information. His fingers trail the line over and over again.
“I’ve missed too much.”
The pain in his voice tugs at my heart. I knew keeping Kai from him would hurt him. I just didn’t realise how much. He didn’t seem like he wanted to have children, although we’d never discussed it. I should have known. As an adopted child, he would never turn his back on his own.
His eyes sear into mine. “Tell me about it?”
I brush my fingers across the scruff on his chin. “I’d been in labour for nine hours when they discovered he’d moved. I don’t know if you know, but babies should come out crown first.” I rub my hand on the stubble on his head to show him where I mean. “But Kai was trying to push out forehead first. Babies’ heads don’t compress that way.”
My lips lift into a smile. “He was never coming out with his head at that angle, so he was stuck in the birth canal.” I shrug my shoulders as if what I’m going to say next is no big deal. “I had to have an emergency caesarean.”
With wide eyes, his large hand presses flat against my stomach. The rough pads of his fingers flex against it.
“You should never have had to go through that without me.” He gives a shake of his head and his eyes flare. “I’d bet you were beautiful when you held my baby in here.” His gruff voice is full of emotion as he leans over and touches his lips to my skin, sending tremors across my tummy.
“Oh, sure. I looked like a whale.” It’s an automatic response, but his tenderness is undoing me.
“Whales are beautiful, majestic, and graceful.” His eyes lock onto me, as tears brim and threaten to fall from mine.
“I’m so sorry.” I choke the words out. The emotions he’s inducing in me overpower all my senses. If I said ‘sorry’ every day for the rest of my life, it would still not be enough. It will never ease the guilt I carry.
“Hey.” His thumb rubs over my cheek, sweeping away the tears, which have begun to fall. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re here. You’re safe. If I had to choose between keeping you both safe and my feelings, your safety would win every time. You made the right choice. If you’d told me, I would’ve come for you. No matter what. I understand why you didn’t want that.”
My tears fall harder, trailing down my heated cheeks. I have waited so long for his forgiveness. I’ve tormented myself for years thinking I’d never hear it. That I didn’t deserve it. For him to understand, even if just a fraction, humbles me.
His glowing eyes search my face. “I love you. You’re my fucking everything. Don’t ever forget it.” The conviction in his words reinforces the look in his eyes. Strong arms wrap around me and bring me to rest on his chest.
“This tattoo’s new.” My fingers start to trace the ink covering his left pec.
“Yeah.” His lazy smile graces his lips, and he hardens against my thigh. I sigh against his skin, sending a shockwave of goose bumps across his chest. “Keep that shit up and I’m tying you to the bed, and fucking you to within an inch of your life. As I recall, I promised to make love to you next time, so you better move. Your soft touch is killing me.” His low, gravelly voice rumbles under my ear, accompanied by the thud of his heart.
One of his hands slaps down on my bum cheek causing it to sting in pleasure. “Get that pretty arse up, I’ve got my son to meet.” On the last words, his voice cracks a little.
Raising my head from his chest, I gaze into his eyes. Expecting to find the hurt I’ve seen for the last week or so, my breath catches when I see nothing but pure happiness. The dark hazel glows almost amber with the light that shines in them. I fight to pull my gaze away from his, and slide my body over him to get up.
He relaxes back on his bed, left hand behind his head, and the right resting across his perfect six-pack. One leg raised and one straight. His thick erection is still hard and lies proudly against his lower abdomen, tempting me in a way which has me clenching in anticipation. I force myself to look away to find my underwear as his eyes burn into me.
“What are your plans now?” His husky after-sex lilt is still present in his voice.
I stare back at him, fighting the urge to climb back on top, and slip one leg into my knickers followed by the other. Noah gives me confidence in my body; something only he manages to produce. “What do you mean by plans?”
Turning away from him again, I locate my bra on the floor and bend to pick it up.
“Where are you both going to live?”
“I was planning on staying with Layla for a bit, then I’m going to buy a house.” Straightening up, I pull my arms through the straps and fasten my bra at the back. I hear rustling behind me, and my whole body jumps from sated to hyperaware. His breath washes over my neck as his huge hands rest on my hips and tug me back to him. Every hard inch of him presses up against me. I resist the urge to rub myself against him as heat pools between my thighs.
“Like fuck you are. If you think you’re living anywhere but here, you’re sadly fucking mistaken.” His low-spoken command allows for no argument.
His lips press to my neck and he sucks against it, and I can’t find any words. My body, already enflamed from his previous delicious torture, shudders against him. One of his hands moves from my hip and up across to my breast, where he pinches and rolls the hard nub between his thumb and forefinger. The other dips into my knickers and his large finger lazily strokes against my slickness. I almost convulse on the spot as he sinks into me, my knees giving way as he holds me against him.
“Mmm,” he whispers in my ear, setting fire to my entire being with the vibration. “This hot, wet pussy is mine. You will be in my house, in this bed to fuck, touch, and taste, whenever the fuck I want.” He’s masculine, dominating, and it’s turning me on.
He nips on my earlobe, his hot tongue strokes at the tender spot beneath it. I can’t think straight. Withdrawing his finger from me, he runs the moisture across my lips before spinning me around and branding my mouth with his. A groan emanates from his chest and I know I’ve lost the argument before it’s begun.
Pulling away, he has his cocky half grin on full wattage. “Got that?” The arrogant arse slaps my bottom again and strides off, chuckling, out of the bedroom. Breathless and speechless, all I can do is watch him leave, with a smile on my lips.
Just before the sound of the shower running hits my ears, there’s an electric buzz, and his bedroom is filled with music. Raising my hand to my mouth, I collapse on the bed as I try to choke back the tears. It’s playing Nickelback’s I’d Come for You.
Noah stands with his hed down, hands in his pockets, and his shoulders hunched. We have been standing side by side outside of Boo’s for the last five minutes, while he builds up the courage to meet Kai. I give him a quick once-over. Vulnerable Noah is a sight to behold. Usually oozing with masculine confidence and domineering power, the soft, unsure side is a vast contrast and melts my heart even further.
“What if he doesn’t like me?” The apprehension in his deep voice is astonishing. My great big grizzly man is terrified of a two-year-old. I’d laugh at him for being ridiculous, but I don’t think it’d go down too well at the minute. Instead, I lean into his side and speak softly.
“He’ll love you. I just hope you love him half as much.” Attempting to calm his nervousness, I lay a hand on his arm.
His head whips up and there’s fire in his eyes. “I already do.”
Removing his hands from his pockets, he runs them over his head, making me smile. I take the opportunity to pacify him further. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I gaze up into his beautiful eyes, which look so much like our son’s. He’s so out of his depth, he doesn’t realise the moment he walks through the door every fear he holds will be wiped away.
At least I hope.
Pushing myself up onto my tiptoes, I place a small kiss on his lips and pull away a fraction. One of his hands immediately reaches up and cups the nape of my neck, drawing me closer, while the other flexes against my waist. I surrender to him and let him take what he needs. My senses are engulfed by everything that is him. His musky aftershave and fabric softener combine with the tiniest hint of engine oil on his skin. The frenzied connection slows to tender, then he pulls away. His eyes are molten and I know I’ve achieved my objective, he’s distracted.
I unwrap my arms from around him and take one of his large hands in mine. He looks down at them entwined with each other and then back to my face. His eyes flicker with an emotion I can’t quite place. Then, without any words, he nods his head and walks with me into the house.
When we enter the kitchen, the grip on my hand tightens, and I feel him go rigid. Ted is sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. The voice of Boo playing with a squealing and giggly Kai drifts into the room. I smile at the sound.
As I look back at Noah, his face is set in a murderous rage directed at Ted. When I glance over at Ted, his eyes have widened, but he dips his head in acknowledgement at Noah’s expression. Whatever they have just silently communicated to each other calms Noah’s features, and as he turns to look at me, the cold expression disappears. A soft, nervous smile takes its place and I want to jump into his arms. Instead I place a kiss onto his chin.
“Just give me a minute?”
He hesitates as if he wants to argue with me, but then agrees.
As I stride out of the kitchen, Noah’s voice rumbles as he starts talking to Ted. “You need to explain yourself, mate. And you better make it fucking good.”
I decide I better give him five minutes, at least, so they can sort out whatever’s going on between them.
Walking into the lounge, I’m met with Boo crawling around on hands and knees with Kai attached to her back, as she makes silly dog noises.
I stifle a chuckle. “Hmm, that’s a good look you’ve got going there. You’d better get up before Ted comes in and takes that as an invitation.”
She swings around and Kai almost topples off, laughing his little head off. I bend down and lift him from her back, and he wraps himself around me like a limpet. I give him a kiss as Boo gets up off the floor and wraps us both in a hug.
“Nothing he’s not already had today,” she whispers in my ear. Straightening up, she asks, “You good?”
She pulls back and I give her a shy smile, indicating towards the kitchen with my head. “Yeah, he’s here. Thanks for looking after Kai for me.”
Squealing, she squashes us both in her arms again. “Thank fu– The heavens for that. And it was a pleasure. I’ve missed him.”
I chuckle as she releases us again and starts her barrage of questions. “Where’d you find him? How’d he take it? Did you two make up?”
I interrupt her before she goes where I know she’s going with this line of questioning. “He’s nervous as hell. Do you think you could take Ted out somewhere?” I sigh, feeling guilty. After all, this is her house. “I promise I’ll answer all your questions but… I don’t think he needs an audience for this.”
“Oh, I think I can manage that,” she says with a smile. “But you better tell me everything. I’ve been waiting years for this.”
Kai wiggles in my arms and tugs on my hair. “Mu-mum, ‘ars.”
“Okay, poppet.” I give him another kiss, place him down, and he wanders off to play.
Then I turn my attention back to Boo. “Yeah, so have I.” As I glance at my friend, her eyes fill with tears. “Don’t start, you’ll set me off.”
“It’s just I know you have, hun. I’m so happy for you.”
We’re distracted by raised voices in the kitchen, followed by a crash. We eye each other then burst out laughing. “Better go save them from themselves,” I mutter. Taking a quick glance at Kai to make sure he’s safe, I nod and follow Boo out of the room.
The scene that greets us is not quite what we were expecting. Noah and Ted are hugging. They slap each other on the back and break apart. Ted rubs his jaw with his fingers as Noah smirks at him, and then tries to hide the fact he’s rubbing his own knuckles. They both turn to stare at us, innocent looks gracing their faces.
Guess the guys have made up.
Boo goes and grabs hold of Ted’s hand. “Come on, handsome. You’re taking me down the new wine bar for a drink.” I can see the protest coming in his eyes and his brows pinch, but she cuts him off with a glare. “We can get some ice for that glass jaw of yours, too.” She smirks at him.
“You’ll pay for that.” He dips, grabs her around the waist, and lifts her onto his shoulder.
With Boo squealing and yelling, a chuckling Ted carries her out the door, and I turn around to find Noah missing.
What the hell?
I pace into the hallway but come to a halt when I see him standing in the doorway to the lounge. Tension is evident across his stiff shoulders, and I’m desperate to see his face. With a pounding heart, I will myself forward. Coming up behind him, I place a hand on his arm. His gorgeous head turns and his eyes find mine. The burn in them is something new, something I’ve never seen before, and reserved only for the little boy playing cars on the floor.
“Go on, I’ll wait here.” I manage to croak out the words, my emotions going off the scale. I’ve dreamed of this day so many times over the years, but I never dared hope it would ever happen. In front of me, my dreams are coming true.
He pulls his eyes from mine and takes a deep breath. When he steps into the room, Kai turns to look at him, and a smile so similar to Noah’s lights his face.
“Hey, little man.” Noah’s deep voice, choked with emotion, flows into my ears and I can’t see anything else, as tears run freely down my face. This is all I ever wanted. This is how it always should have been.
L ITTLE MAN…
My heart’s in my throat as I observe my son while he plays cars. I soak in everything about him, from his thick, dark hair to the dimple on his left cheek, so like his mum’s when she smiles. My gaze roams further down to his tiny hands. Chubby fingers grasp onto a die-cast Ducati and a black Mustang.
Fuck.
I turn to Lizzie, as a small but peaceful smile tugs at her full lips. She has introduced fragments of my life into his. The sting at the back of my eyes burns fiercer, as I fight to gain control of my emotions. All along, she wanted me in his life. Blood rushes through my veins and my whole body shakes with apprehension.
She wanted him to know me.
My attention returns to Kai, who’s now on his hands and knees, while he zooms the vehicles across the carpet, then bashes them together. Vrooming and crashing noises accompany the actions like any other little boy. But for my boy to be doing it, tugs at my heart so hard it almost stops.
He looks up from his playthings and stares straight into my eyes, his little dark brown ones lighting up at the prospect of a playmate. I take a few slow steps forward, get down onto my knees, and sit back on my heels. He drops his toys, pushes himself off the floor, and toddles over to me. Little feet nudge my knees as he stops directly in front of me. I can’t help the tears surging down my cheeks, or the stupid smile on my face.
His beauty overwhelms me.
My boy.
Tiny hands touch my face. Then his face breaks out into a toothy grin, and he says, “‘Ars.” He points towards his cars.
“Would you like me to play cars with you, little man?” I ask him.
His easy acceptance of a stranger unnerves me. I make a mental note to talk to Lizzie about it later. I’ve got no right to dictate to her how she should do things, but fuck, that scares the shit out of me.
“Yeash. Wanna p’ay ‘ars wiv me?” He grabs my hand and tugs.
I glance back at the doorway to see Lizzie with tears tracking down her cheeks. The happiest look I’ve ever seen graces her face. She shines like fucking Christmas as she smiles at me, and then retreats away out of sight.
My eyes move back to Kai, who hasn’t let go of my hand, but has continued to tug on it. The trust in his eyes annihilates me. I take a second to try and balance my emotions and wipe my eyes.
“Come on then. Let’s play cars.”
I spend the next half hour zooming and crashing cars and bikes as I try to talk to my son. Even though conversation with a two-year-old is not what I would call easy, I love every minute of it. Lizzie comes in a couple of times and watches us, but doesn’t involve herself.
Finally she says, “Bedtime, poppet.”
He looks her full in the face, with a complete look of disgust on his. “No, ‘ars.”
I try to hide my laugh behind my hands, as she scowls at me to hide her own.
“Daddy will play cars with you again tomorrow.” The tenderness in her voice as she speaks warms me, along with the word tomorrow.
He looks up at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “Da-dad, ‘ars?”
My heart almost explodes. I’ve never wanted to hear those words, never thought of myself worthy enough to deserve them. But fuck, I’d trade everything I own to hear the little boy in front of me say them again.
“Best do as Mummy says, Kai.” I stand up and smile down at him. “We don’t want her getting grumpy.”
Lizzie rolls her eyes at me, as he goes to toddle out of reach. She scoops him up into her arms before he can make a break for freedom.
“Do you want Daddy to give you your milky before bedtime?” His little eyes meet mine before he turns back to his mum.
“Da-dad, ‘ilky.” His little voice talks to my soul.
Lizzie throws a nervous glance my way. “Is that okay?”
Really? She’s asking me that.
“There’s nothing I would rather be doing, but I haven’t got a clue what to do.”
Panic rushes through me. I’m a fucking mechanic; he doesn’t have a cylinder head, brake callipers, or an exhaust. What do I do? With Kai wrapped around her, she takes a few steps towards me, then passes him into my open arms.
“You’ll learn,” she says gently. “Just snuggle down with him on the settee and I’ll fetch his milk.”
A few seconds later I’m sitting on the sofa with Kai on my lap, his head snuggled up on my chest. He’s gone all sleepy and I feel like I’ve won the fucking lottery. I bury my nose in his dark, fuzzy hair and my senses are engulfed by his smell. Something so unique to him, but at the same time so familiar. I could bury my nose in there for fucking days.
When Lizzie walks back in she stops in her tracks, her hand flies to her mouth. A choked sob emits from her chest as she stares wide-eyed at the two of us. I finally realise, in this moment, that it’s all she’s ever wanted. She could tell me until the cows come home that she did, but real emotion can’t be faked, especially not the ones written all over her face. Those grey eyes of hers are soft and filled with pure, unadulterated love, so honest in its simplicity.
She comes over and snuggles up to my side on the sofa. Kai sleepily takes the plastic beaker of milk from her hands and starts sipping it. His weight gets heavier as he relaxes further. The quiet suckling noises he makes lull me into a place of complete peace.
My gaze finds Lizzie’s and I can’t look away. Her mouth is upturned in a fucking gorgeous smile.
She captured my heart years ago, and she can fucking keep it. They can keep it. It belongs to them. I knew I loved her, but her being back? Having Kai? Love seems inadequate to explain what I feel.
She snuggles her head onto my shoulder. Her hand finds mine, our fingers entwine, and my thumb traces over her soft skin.
Home. I’m finally fucking home. I struggle to swallow past the dry lump in my throat.
My head falls back to rest on the soft leather and I stare at the ceiling, just enjoying the closeness and warmth of my family.
After a few minutes, Lizzie shifts away. “His eyes are drooping; it’s time to get him to bed.” She gestures towards Kai, and sure enough he’s fighting to keep them open. A pang of fear runs through me. I don’t want him to go. I don’t want her to go.
She pushes off of the sofa and the fear heightens, constricting my chest.
“You two are moving in with me, tomorrow,” I blurt out, my tone every bit demanding.
It’s not up for discussion, but she’ll tell me straight, regardless of how fucking domineering I am. It’s one of the things I’ve always loved about her. She doesn’t take my shit. She’ll stand up to me regardless. Challenge me. And it’s hot as fucking hell. I just pray now is not one of those moments. I need them to be with me. I can’t let them go now.
Not ever.
Her eyes search my face. I’m not sure what she’s looking for. They flare with heat and then soften. For the first time I can see love clearly in her eyes. It’s unguarded and swirling in the depths. It’s as innocent and pure as the little man in my arms.
She nods her head and sucks in a breath. “Are you sure, Noah?” A sad smile crosses her face. “It’s a lot to take us both on. I know he’s yours, but you haven’t lived this life.”
I can feel the disappointment building. She gets down on her knees in front of me and places a hand on my thigh. “I’m not saying I don’t want to, but I have to think about the two of us. That little boy in your arms can’t be discarded when the going gets tough. Or if he doesn’t fit into the life you want to lead—’’
“I would—” I begin to argue.
“Let me finish. Please.” Her eyes beg with me to be quiet. I give in and nod at her to continue. She can spout whatever bollocks she wants to, it’s not going to change my mind.
“If that’s what you truly want, then there’s nothing more I would like. But please just think about it. You will always be in his life, no matter what you choose. I would never keep him away from you, not now. I just don’t want you to jump into something you’ll regret and he’ll be caught up in the middle. I won’t do it to him, or me.”
She finally shuts the fuck up.
“Stand up.” My voice is hoarse.
She complies, her wary eyes flicking over to mine, and she wraps her arms around herself. It’s a habit of hers when she’s tense. I adjust a now sleeping Kai in my arms to enable me to stand up. With great care, I lay him back on the sofa and turn to Lizzie.
Reaching for her shoulders, I give them a gentle squeeze with each hand before sliding them down around her waist, and pulling her hard against me. Her heartbeat races and I feel each frantic pulse through her clothes.
“I will say this fucking once, so you better listen.”
Her hands tentatively creep up onto my chest, which makes my fucking cock twitch. Gliding one of my hands up her back, I grasp onto the nape of her neck.
“You, and that little boy, are my fucking universe. I don’t give one flying fuck about tough times. And if you think for one fucking minute that my life hasn’t already changed, you’re wrong.”
Her hands come up to cup my face and I fight my body tooth and nail to get out what I need to say, instead of resorting to burying myself in her, and saying it with my dick.
“When I walked away from you, I didn’t live. I existed. The first time I saw you outside the coffee shop, my reason to live returned. Yeah, I’ve been a bastard to you and I’m sorry—”
“Noah—” Her eyes grow wide and hopeful.
“No. I’m sorry. You need to know that you are my fucking life. Whatever life throws at us”—my voice cracks as I move my hands to her face, my thumb tracing her cheek—“I’m prepared to face it head-on. I’m not letting you go again. I’m not going to be a weekend dad, and I’m not having my son not know me.”
The corner of my mouth lifts in a half smile and her eyes glisten at me. “You think the pair of you will make my life difficult? You couldn’t be more fucking wrong. I didn’t have a life before you walked back in it. And I’ll be fucked if I’m letting you go again.”
My eyes bore into hers, willing her to understand what they both mean to me. Her sight shifts to my lips and my hesitance evaporates. My mouth claims hers. Controlling my need to brand her as mine, I take my time. As her lips part, my tongue entwines with hers with gentle strokes. Her taste drives me to the edge as I tug on her bottom lip with my teeth. Hard as stone, I press her against me tighter and a moan escapes her lips. The beckoning pulse in my jeans lets me know I need to pull away. My good intentions of not pushing this further will be extinguished if I don’t.
My breath’s as ragged as hers as we pull apart. Our eyes meet as we pant in unison. I could get lost in her gaze for days. My arms pull her back against me, wrapping her so close she’s part of me. She’s the only part I need.
“We better get Kai to bed.” My breathy whisper sends tremors down her body.
She nods into my chest but doesn’t move.
“Noah?”
“Yeah?”
“I was sold on ‘my fucking universe.’”
A laugh bursts out of me as I hold her away from me. “Do you have any idea how much I fucking love you?”
Her eyes flare and the flecks glint like sunshine on water. “I think I’m beginning to realise.”
Bringing my hand down, it cracks soundly on her arse and her laugh reverberates in my chest.
“Come on, let’s get our little boy comfortable.” My heart swells with the words.
Lifting him up in my arms, his sleepy dead weight falls against my chest, and once again, it overwhelms me. A thought crosses my mind. I’ve never had anything or anyone I feared losing, before, not even my life. But her? Fuck yeah. If I lost her now, I’d lose him. Neither is a risk I’m prepared to take.
We go up the stairs of Layla’s home and place Kai on a bed. Leaning against the wall of the bedroom, my eyes take in everything Lizzie does. Gently undressing Kai, changing his nappy, and dressing him in his pyjamas, all while he sleeps. The reality of how much I have to learn hits hard. When she’s finished, she places a feather-light kiss on his forehead before turning to face me. So much love fills her eyes, it’s humbling.
“May I?” I ask, my voice gruff.
She beams at me. “You don’t have to ask to kiss your own son goodnight.”
Walking over, I grasp her to my side as I lean in to kiss him, the same way she did. Straightening up, I spin her so we are face-to-face.
