Текст книги "Beautiful Storm"

Автор книги: Megan Isaacs

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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

“Can I stay with you tonight?” It’s still early evening, but I want to hold her close. Feel her skin on mine.

Her eyes burn as she nods and leads me to another room. We collapse on the bed and she snuggles up into my side, lifting her head and laying it onto my chest to watch me. Propping my head on my arm, I wrap the other around her, drawing her closer, but unable to get close enough.

“Do you want to order pizza?” she asks, eyes full of humour.

“What? Like we used to?” Memories flood my mind of afternoons spent in bed eating pizza and watching old black and white films. She loves them. I think they’re shit, but I watched the fucking things anyway.

She gives me a slow nod of her head, like she’s unsure.

“Can I choose the film?” I joke, my cheeky grin displayed at full throttle.

She laughs and shakes her head but replies, “Yes, if you want to.”

My lips touch her forehead, and she sighs as she cuddles deeper into me. For me, it can’t get any better. I have everything I need right here. I’ll even let her watch whatever shit film she wants because she’s happy and in my arms.

She pushes up and onto her elbow so she can see my face, scanning me like I’ve watched her do many times. She takes in each feature like it’s the last time she’ll see it. A small smile always plays on her lips when she does it, and I wonder what she’s thinking.

Her body stiffens slightly as she runs a finger down the scar under my right eye. “How’d you get this?”

An assortment of old scars covers my body. She knows them as well as the map to my soul. My head drops and I pull my face away from her hand. What the fuck do I tell her? The truth? Would she believe me? Could she cope with the reality? Fuck no.

“It doesn’t matter.” It’s the only thing I can think to say. Anything else would condemn me.

She pins me with her storm-ridden eyes, and it’s obvious she’s not going to let it go. I know I’m in trouble, and everything I’ve just gained will collapse around my fucking feet.

MY CHEST RISES as I draw in a tense breath. “So, what’s it going to be? Pepperoni, with extra pepperoni, or BBQ meatball melt?” I urge a huge-megawatt smile onto my face in the hope of distracting her with food. My girl always likes to eat.

“Noah?” The finger she ran down my scar moves and rubs across my lips. If she keeps this shit up she’s not going to get pizza. Just me. Every single hard inch.

“Just leave it, please.” I’m begging, but at the minute, I don’t give a fuck. I’m not ready, and I don’t want to lose her, or Kai. “Look, I’ll tell you but just give me some time.”

Like forever.

Her gaze softens and I know I’ve won the battle. For now.

“You promise you’ll tell me?” Grey eyes plead with me for honesty.

My fingers grasp around her wrist and my teeth sink into the soft pads of her fingers before I swirl my tongue around them. “I will.” My mouth goes dry and I struggle to swallow at the words.

I didn’t promise.

Lizzie’s pupils dilate and her gaze whips up into a storm. My free arm wraps around her waist, and I roll us over so my body is cradled in hers. I rock my hips into her sweet spot with slow but deliberate thrusts. Fingers dig into my shoulders and a low moan escapes her lips. Unable to pull my eyes away, I’m caught in her gravity.

I need her.

“Do you remember the promise I made you?” My voice is deep, husky.

Her eyes flutter closed when my pelvis presses harder into hers, showing without a doubt what she does to me. Nodding, her eyes open slightly to watch me, lids at half-mast.

I press my forehead against hers. “Well, I’m making fucking good on it.”

She inhales deeply. The intake of breath is audible, and she shudders beneath me. Our mouths find each other and I’m lost to everything but her. I run my hand along her side, grazing a taut nipple with my thumb on the way down. With a firm grip on her hip, I roll onto my back so she’s straddling me. All the while, I’m probing her mouth, unable to sever the connection.

She pulls away, a wicked smile on her lips. “What about the pizza?”

My abs tighten as I use them to push her up, and I move with her. Straddled across my lap with her chest against mine, I claim her neck with my mouth, sucking against the soft skin. “Pizza can fucking wait.” I know what I’m hungry for and it isn’t fucking food.

She mewls as my hands work her hips against me. Slowly, I inch my hands up onto her T-shirt and yank it up, revealing all her glory to me. I push her arms up and raise the top over her head and glide my hands the full length of her arms. As I fling the shirt across the room, caramel hair falls around her shoulders.

She’s fucking stunning.

I take her head between my hands and study her perfection. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

She gives me a soft smile as her chest rises and falls in quick succession. The rapid pulse in her throat is clearly visible.

“The same as you do to me.” She holds my gaze, as her hands tangle in the bottom of my T-shirt.

She mimics the removal of her top, on me. The heat of her gentle fingers drives me to the limit. No touch on earth compares to hers. My patience fades fast, my cock pleads with me to take her. Too many clothes are in my way. I need to get them off.

Grasping her waist, I roll her off me then jump off the bed. Her gaze widens as I kick off my trainers and shrug down my sweats. My cock stands proud, saluting her presence, and my eyes wander down her sexy curves as she sits up to remove her jeans. Dressed only in a plain black bra and knickers, she lies back onto the pillows, looking like my version of heaven.

“Remove the rest.” I indicate to the offending items.

“You like watching,” she points out.

It’s a statement, not a question. “Fuck yes. Get them off.” I almost growl.

Her hands move at an achingly slow pace as she reaches behind her back. When she unclasps the bra, the fabric falls away to reveal the amazing mounds of flesh underneath. Her nipples are hard nubs, begging to be in my mouth. My cock jerks as she runs a finger across the waistband of her knickers. I watch every movement she makes. Her delicate hands glide inside and she shifts her hips and moves them down her full thighs.

Unable to restrain myself, I reach a hand down and clasp it around my cock, rocking my wrist to relieve some tension. With a flick of her foot, the knickers disappear onto the floor.

“Open your legs. I want to see you.” My words are raspy, deep. I’m struggling to hold back, desperate to touch her. My grip on my shaft tightens.

She shifts and all her bare beauty comes into view. Fuck. Pink swollen lips glisten with her arousal, and I can’t hold back any longer. The need to feel her skin on mine is unbearable.

“I need to be inside you, Lizzie. I want to feel your hot pussy milking my cock. But this isn’t about me”—I stalk towards the bed—“It’s about you.”

My head dips on its own to where my cock needs to be. The thought of her taste on my lips has been driving me mad for days, but I take my time. Kissing and licking the soft skin on her inner thighs, my hands work their way under her arse. She writhes against me, trying to find some pressure. Giving in to her demands, I push her up, bringing her into perfect contact with my tongue.

A gasp leaves her mouth as I lick up her slit in one long, slow movement. My head anchors in place by long legs wrapped around my neck and shoulders. There’s no place in the world I’d rather be than trapped between these thighs. My tongue twirls circles around her clit, over and over, before running down her pussy in long strokes. Repeating the motion, time and time again. I dip my tongue inside, deeper, and her hips fight against my hands for freedom to move against my face. Her breaths come quicker as I work harder, and faster.

I release her from my grasp and run my thumb over the sensitive nub. “Oh, Noah. Please.”

“What are you begging for, angel?” I smile against her swollen lips, enjoying the taste of her arousal.

“You.” She can barely get the words out.

“Hmmm, you’ll have to wait. I’m enjoying you riding my face.” In reality, I’m barely hanging on.

I sink a finger into her heat and she cries out. She’s close. I can feel her tightening around me. Withdrawing my finger, I add another, crossing them before sinking deep again. I twist and pump them as she pushes against me, my greedy girl meeting me thrust for thrust. The need to taste her again is the final straw. I lower my head and make contact with her sweet skin. As my tongue grazes lazily over her clit, she moans my name and convulses around my fingers.

Her legs relax over my shoulders and I lift my head to find her gorgeous eyes gazing back at me. A satisfied smile dances on her lips.

I crawl up her still trembling body, enjoying the way the contact with her skin sends fireworks through my blood. When I’m fully positioned, I claim her mouth with mine, taking everything she has to give me and more.

She’s mine.

As her fingers roam my back, I sink into her as slow as my desperation will allow. I relish her tightness, how she gives way to accept me. All of me.

She doesn’t know all of you.

I pull away from her mouth and bury my head in her neck as I fight the thought away. My hand desperately wraps onto her hair, but my thrusts remain gentle. Sharp nails scratch down my back and it’s almost my undoing. I want to fucking come.

“Keep doing that, angel, and this is going to turn into fucking, real fast,” I murmur against her neck.

“Then fuck me, Noah.” Leaning back, I look down into her eyes. “Hard,” she begs.

She doesn’t need to tell me twice. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to fuck her into oblivion. And hearing the word ‘fuck’ from her mouth heightens my arousal.

Dropping my head to her chest, I take one nipple in my mouth and roll the other in between my fingers. She moans and I can’t contain myself any longer. I thrust in deep, almost savagely. Each push of my hips against hers is like a sledgehammer on stone. Increasing my pace, I drop onto my forearms and watch her as she watches me. Our eyes lock.

Her fingers dig and pull on my back and arse as sweat forms on my brow. I keep rhythm and she rises to meet me. With each clash of skin, I’m driven further to the limit. I’m so close but I need her to come again. Reaching down between us, I pinch on her clit and it sends her over the edge, each delicious clench around my cock dragging me deeper into her. Shivers run down my spine, and I let go with a throaty growl.

“F-uckkk.” My load shoots into her, deep and hard, each pulse bringing me closer to my knees. Out of breath, I collapse onto her. Her skin on mine is the only thing I ever need.

As soon as I catch my breath I roll onto my back, pulling her with me to rest on my chest. One arm snakes around her waist and the other cradles her head against me.

She’s where she fucking belongs. In my arms. And I’ll hold her there for eternity, or at least while I still have the chance. She moulds her body against me, her breath tickling the hairs on my chest, and fingers roaming over my abdomen, as my heart rate begins to even out. No words are needed.

Downstairs there’s a resounding bang as the front door slams shut, and the giggles of what I assume is a very drunken Boo echo around the house.

I arch a brow as I gaze down at Lizzie, her mouth slightly parted, skin flushed. Moving my body away from hers, I slide off the bed and hold my hand out to her. “Time to order the pizza?”

She laughs as she takes my hand, and the sound seeps into every inch of my body.

“You murdered my son, cunt.” A heavy boot kicks me in the ribs and I momentarily flinch. Pain radiates throughout my chest and I cough up blood onto the floor. Bound like a pig roasting on a spit, the only thing I can do is retract as best I can into the foetal position.

The stale stench of dried piss makes me gag as the metallic fluid floods my mouth. How long have I been here? An hour? Two? Maybe a few days? Frustrated I’m unable to remember, I shake my head. In my peripheral, I spot the Sicilian inching closer to me. He flexes his filthy hands.

“You lying son of a whore.” The bastard’s boot connects with my head, jerking it backwards.

Fuck, he’s taken my headshake as denial. He kicks me again. Harder. With the wind knocked out of me I’m unable to speak. Had I the capability, I would tell the motherfucker kicking the shit out of me, ‘Yes. I did kill your fucking son, and it was the greatest fucking pleasure of my life.’ Instead, I spray a mouthful of blood at the bastard.

My heart beats fast and hard with expectation not fear.

I want to die. That’s what I came here for, why I begged for the job. I have nothing to live for anyway.

He crouches down next to me. The glint of a gaudy signet ring flickers in my vision. Thick fingers wrap around my neck as the fucker hoists me up, expecting me to look at him though my swollen eyelids. I don’t have the energy to resist, and I don’t want to. Metal glints in his hand as it nears my right eye, pressing into the flesh of my upper cheek. The sharp-edged knife scours through my flesh and hits bone. I let out a low moan. The pain is excruciating, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream.

Jerking awake, I suck in air like it’s going to be rationed. Bollocks. I’ve not had a nightmare for months. Beads of moisture trickle down my face and a sheen of sweat covers me. Rainy days and sunflowers overtake my sense of smell. My heart rate steadies as I remember where I am. Forcing my eyelids open, I find Lizzie’s concerned eyes studying me. Fuck.

“Noah, are you okay?” Her gentle voice replaces the bastard screaming obscenities in my head as he carves down my face, followed by the cracks of multiple rounds from Beretta PX4 semiautomatics shredding my eardrums.

“Yeah. I’m good.” I run a shaky hand over my face and it’s clear my voice betrays me.

I untangle myself from the comfort of her limbs; it’s a solace I don’t deserve. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I rest my head in my hands. The bed depresses and her warmth envelops me. Her gentle hand runs circles over my bare back, and goose bumps wage war on my body in response. My impulse is to pull away, and I fight to stay in place. I’m not worthy of her.

“You need to tell me.” Her firm words cause my stomach to free fall.

“Lizzie, I…” My voice cracks as I choke out the words. A choice needs to be made, but I don’t know how to tell her.

What the fuck do I say? I killed people, are you okay with that?

I flick a nervous glance in her direction, before returning to stare at the floor.

“If you want us to move in with you, Noah, I need the truth. You’re not telling me something and I need to know what it is.” Worry laces her tone.

She has no fucking idea. My fingers run through the shorn hair on my head.

I can’t do this.

“Is there someone else?”

My gaze whips around. “Fuck no.”

How the fuck did she go there?

Her forehead crinkles. “Well, I just thought…”

“Well, you know what ‘thought’ did, don’t you?” A look of confusion overtakes her face as my nan’s words ring in my ears. “Followed a shit cart and thought it was a wedding.”

Her face breaks into a gentle smile as she chuckles.

“Noah—”

“No. There’s no one else.” I reach out and caress her cheek with my fingers. “You need to trust me.” My gaze burns into hers.

“I do, but—”

“No buts. You either trust me or you don’t. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt either of you. And I would never cheat on you. Fuck, what do you take me for?”

She diverts her gaze away from me, and I have my answer.

“Have I ever cheated on you? Have I ever made you feel less than my whole fucking world?” Anger overtakes me. I may be a fucking whore, but never once have I been near another woman while she’s been in my life.

Pushing off the bed, a laugh reverberates in my chest. I’ve woken from one fucking nightmare straight into another. I begin shrugging on my sweats, with my back to her. I know I’m projecting my own shit onto her but I can’t help it.

My skin prickles as her hands wrap around my stomach and she presses up against my back. I stop dressing, unable to move. I don’t want to lose her touch. My eyelids shutter down as I fight away my demons.

I turn in her arms and leave my soul unguarded as my gaze finds hers.

Can she see it? The truth?

Her innocent eyes search my face. “I’m sorry. I just…” She sighs. “It’s just difficult for me to deal with all the others.”

I’m going to hell anyway, so the question I want to ask will seal the deal. It’s something I have no right to know, and I’m not sure I want the answer.

“Has there been anybody else for you?” The insecurity in my tone is laughable with my history.

“Er, Noah, I…” She drops her gaze to the floor and I have my answer. My insides tighten and the blood flows faster through my veins.

“Alex,” I state.

There’s a loud bang and a piercing cry from the room where Kai’s sleeping. I move quickly, but Lizzie grabs my arm, halting me. She gives me a soft smile, her eyes dancing with amusement.

“He’s learnt how to get out of the cot.”

She grabs my T-shirt and some knickers and dresses at light speed and opens the bedroom door. With Kai in her arms, she returns less than a minute later. I look up from pulling on my socks and Kai’s face lights up.

“Da-dad.” He struggles in Lizzie’s arms when I open mine to him. He comes straight over and snuggles into them. My chest fills with pride.

We made this.

His little hopeful eyes are wide. “‘Ars.”

My face breaks out into a smile as I chuckle at him. “Yeah, in a little while, buddy.”

Grinning, I turn towards Lizzie, some obvious questions in my eyes, along with some not so obvious.

“I’ll answer you later. You need to trust me.”

She used my own words against me. Smart girl. Nodding my head at her, I ask the only thing that matters. “When are you packing?”

“After breakfast?”

“Suits me.” I just hope when I finally grow the balls to tell her the truth, she’ll stay. But I know she won’t. I suck in a breath and turn to our son.

“Come on, little man. Let’s go play cars.”

I’m going to enjoy my family while I still have the chance.

AFTER BREAKFAST I come upstairs to pack up the few things I brought to Boo’s. Everything else stayed with Alex, which I can collect whenever I feel like it. Noah’s playing downstairs with Kai. I can hear their laughter filter upstairs and I can’t help but smile at the sound. Being a family is so comfortable, so easy.

Yet something niggles at me. I can’t put my finger on it, but he’s obviously keeping something from me. His nightmare was traumatic for him, in a way I have never seen before. I blow out a breath and try to work out what could be so bad he can’t tell me. I don’t know how I associated the nightmare with another woman, but what else could have happened to him while I’ve been gone? Another woman seems to be the only answer.

He’s changed a little. Not so much it’s blatant; he’s still a rough diamond. He still has the intense side to him, but it seems darker, harder, but with still so much warmth, which emanates from him, at least with me. He’s always been my safe harbour, even if only in my imagination. I just want to be his. Unable to figure him out, I’m folding the last few things into the large suitcase when Boo walks into the room.

“Hey, hun. You all set?”

Her excitement at the whole situation is contagious, and I beam back at her. “Just finishing off.”

She sits on the bed, with her legs folded under her. Closing the lid on the case, I move and sit beside her. She wraps an arm around my shoulder and draws me against her side in a hug.

“What’s the matter? I can see through that smile, you know. Is Noah rushing you? Is it all too fast?”

“God, no. Of course not.” I laugh. “Well, maybe a little, that’s just him though. You know it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“But?” She’s too perceptive for her own good.

“I don’t know. He’s hiding something from me.”

All she does is nod and waits for me to spill out what I want to say.

“Has Ted ever said anything to you about Noah? Was there someone special in his life?”

She pulls her arm from around my shoulder and looks me square in the face. “You are kidding, right?”

I shake my head and shift my gaze from hers to the window. “I just don’t know what to think. He’s had all these years being filled with other women and I’ve never looked at another man. Although, he thinks I slept with Alex.”

A small smile pulls at my lips when Layla bursts out in laughter. “Seriously? And you let him believe that?”

“I didn’t have the chance to tell him any different. Kai fell out of his cot just after he asked me.” Guilt pulls at my stomach, but the humour written all over her face quells the feeling a little.

“Well, let him believe it, hun. It won’t hurt to keep him on his toes.” She winks at me. “And in answer to your original question, no. According to Ted, there has never been anyone for Noah, except you. Unless you classify a ten-minute screw as a committed relationship.”

I get up off the bed and start fiddling with the case again, agitated by the unreasonable jealousy feeding from my self-doubt.

“Then what’s he hiding?”

“What makes you think he’s hiding anything?”

“He had some sort of nightmare. When he woke up, he looked in pain.” I shake my head. “No, not just pain. He looked in agony. When I asked him about it he said he’d tell me later. When I asked about the new scar on his face I got the same answer.” My mind starts whirring with possibilities.

“Maybe he got glassed by a disgruntled boyfriend, or something? And he’s embarrassed to tell you.”

“Boo, you didn’t see his face, his eyes were almost black. I’ve only ever come close to seeing him look that way twice.”

“Well, what caused it then? Maybe that will give us a clue.”

“Me. It was when I left him, and when he thought I had another guy in my life.”

“Oh.” The confusion clear in her voice does nothing to alleviate the fog in my mind.

Her gaze shifts to the door and without turning I recognise Noah’s presence. My skin burns as I sense his gaze on me and my breath catches in my throat. How much has he heard? My heart races as I slowly pivot to face him. He’s leaning up against the doorway. His sweats hang low on his waist, his Adonis’ belt clearly visible below the T-shirt clinging to every contour of his body. I chance a look into his eyes; the hazel is on fire. He scans me from head to toe, and his lips break into a lazy smile.

“Are you finished here?”

His voice is deep and husky, but the tone is not giving anything away. I have no idea if he heard our conversation or not. I nod my head in acknowledgement. “Yep, almost done. Where’s Kai?”

“I left him pulling on Bear’s nose. He’s safe.” The lazy smile turns into a mischievous grin.

My heart swells at his words. He’s known he’s a dad for only a few days but he has the most natural responses and instincts where Kai is concerned. The fact he hasn’t just walked out of the room and left him playing with matches shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. I didn’t realise he’d take to his new role with such ease.

“I’ll leave you both to it,” Boo states, and flicks her gaze towards Noah. He drops his to the floor and an uneasy feeling clenches my stomach.

Does she know something?

Forcing a smile onto my face, I try hard to shake the feeling off, knowing full well she would never keep anything from me. I walk over and wrap my arms around her. “Thanks for everything.”

She scans my face and smiles. “No worries, hun. And stop acting like you’re leaving again. You’ll only be ten minutes down the road.”

Her voice chokes with emotion and when I pull back, I can see her eyes sparkling. We must look like a pair of hormonal drama queens. When I look over to Noah, he’s gone.

Boo follows my line of sight. “Try not to worry too much. I’m sure if there’s something bothering him, he’ll tell you. He doesn’t come across as the sort of guy to ask someone to move in with him unless he means it.”

I let out a frustrated huff. “Yeah, he’s not. But that’s why whatever he’s hiding unsettles me a little. Noah’s very much what you see is what you get, and to hell with the consequences. He’s an open book.”

“Let me ask you something. Do you doubt he loves you?”

“No,” I answer automatically, before my brain can engage. I have no doubt he loves me—not now. When I think about it, I never really have. I worried he wouldn’t feel the same after all these years when I came back, but the feeling quickly extinguished when I went to the workshop and saw his beautiful face.

“Then whatever it is, it will work out, hun. Stop putting obstacles in the way. You guys have had a hard enough time getting to where you are now. My advice? Let it go,” she offers.

I smile at my friend. She’s always got the simplest advice. If only it were that easy.

“Seriously? This is all the stuff you have?” Noah’s baritone voice carries from the hallway through to his kitchen.

“Yes, that’s everything we have with us at the minute,” I call over my shoulder, busy filling the kettle for a much-needed cup of tea. Turning it on, I grab two mugs from the cupboard.

Noah’s already brought in Kai’s travel cot and booster seat. I’ve strapped the little terror in the booster, and he’s devouring some carrot sticks I brought with us. They help with the last few teeth he’s cutting.

There’s a loud thud as Noah drops the suitcase, and his footfalls get closer. My skin prickles with excitement at his proximity, and I know he’s close. I would be able to tell even if I hadn’t heard him. His heat warms my back as his strong hands grasp my hips, pulling me against him. My hands freeze on the mugs, as he grazes his lips along my neck. Shivers hit all the right places when he nips on my earlobe then runs his tongue around the shell.

“I thought women weren’t meant to travel light.” His gravelly whisper sends a wave of goose bumps down my spine.

I let go of the mugs, turn, and wrap my arms around his neck and gaze up into his heated eyes. “I’m not most women,” I point out.

His hands leave my body as he grips the counter, pinning me between his arms. A cocky half smile tugs at his lips. “Not a fucking truer word spoken.”

“You’re going to have to watch your language a little bit better, Mr. Hamilton.” I divert my gaze to Kai, grateful he’s too interested in cooling his gums to pick up the new word.

“What are you going to do to make me?” he teases. I love the playful tone in his voice. His length swells against me, and I can feel every inch. The man’s insatiable.

“Well, I could restrict access to something you want, until you learn how to control your mouth.” A sly grin passes my lips as I push against him and run my fingers over the fuzz on his head.

A frustrated groan emanates from deep in his chest. “I’ve got unrestricted access to you for the first time in years and you’d deprive me?” He drops his voice and his lips graze my ear once again. “Besides, you love my dirty mouth.”

His mouth moves to my neck, caressing the soft skin beneath my ear. He pulls away, leaving me speechless, and there’s a simmering heat in his eyes. This part has always been so easy. Attraction, desire, but we are so much more. He pushes away from the counter and the lazy smile I love so much graces his lips.

“All in good time, angel.” I have no doubt what he sees reflected in my eyes. “You have unpacking to do. And unless you want me to help, I was going to take Kai to the DIY shop.”

My heart falters a little. I know Kai is safe with Noah, but the only man I have ever left him with is Alex. This is a whole new learning curve for me.

His inquisitive eyes narrow. “Is that okay?”

“Yes, of course it’s okay,” I sigh and drop my gaze. “This is all new for me too.”

He wraps an arm around my waist and reaches his fingers to my chin, making me lift my eyes to his. “We’ll work it out.”

The warmth and understanding in his expression makes me love him more. He’s not pushing me to let go of the role I’ve held single-handedly, he just works with me.

“I wanted to go and get some paint and stuff so I could paint the spare room for him. You know? Make it his. But I bet you want to choose the colour, anyway. It can wait.”

The image of Noah decorating and covered in paint splodges sets my heart racing faster. That he has thought about decorating Kai’s new bedroom without any coercion from me overwhelms me, but in a good way. My emotions are all over the place since returning.

“I love the idea. Just let me unpack and we’ll all go together. As a family,” I add.

His face lights up and he places a soft kiss on my forehead. “Okay, angel.” And he moves away from me and unstraps Kai from his booster seat. Kai wraps himself around his dad, but then struggles a few seconds later to get down. Noah places him on his feet and holds out his large hand to him.

“Hey, buster. Do you want to come explore your new home while Mummy unpacks?”

Kai’s face beams with excitement as his little hand clasps Noah’s and tugs hard. “‘Ome on, Da-dad.”

Noah lets him lead the way, but turns and smiles at me before leaving the room.

“You can’t possibly buy all this stuff,” I argue. I’m standing in the middle of an aisle in the local DIY shop feeling like I’m in the middle of a stand-off. After filling one trolley, Noah added another. Two full trolleys and we’ve only been here thirty minutes.

“Why can’t I?”

“Because it’ll cost a fortune.” Guilt eats at me. This is Noah’s way of making up for lost time. That’s my fault, not his.

“Yeah? So? Don’t worry about it. It’s okay.” He stops his trolley and glares at me, daring me to contradict him.

“That’s not the point.”

Grinning from ear to ear, he leans down and rests his forearms on the trolley’s handle. Every muscle in his arms flexes with the movement, and I struggle to tear my gaze away.

He smiles at a distracted Kai before speaking. “Well, what is the point? Because I’m sure that’s the point you used.” His cocky smile irritates me, and I want to wipe the flipping thing off.

“Stop being exasperating. You know what I meant. Kai really doesn’t need all this stuff.”

Becoming frustrated, I push my trolley past him and he reaches out and grasps my arm, making me look back at him.