by Samantha Bee
I stare at his back now, my mouth slightly agape. What the fuck kind of goodnight was that?
Noah doesn’t even bother to hide his smug smile as he watches me. “Well, goodnight, baby girl.”
“Oh, fuck no,” I growl. I am not going another goddamn night wanting and alone. Not after Noah has toyed with me the entire night. “About time to finish what you started, Handsome.”
He grins as he backs me into the wall, penning me in with his arms. “Feeling a little needy, baby girl?”
I meet his stare defiantly. He should know better. I have no shame when it comes to sex. “You bet your left ball I am and you’re going to fucking fix it.”
I grab his shirt as I crowd into his body, turning this little power play back around on to him. Fuck his games. I duck under his arm, never letting go of my grip of his shirt. It isn’t really all that hard to get him to come with me. It isn’t like this isn’t exactly what he wants as well. Noah just likes the games beforehand. I am past the games tonight.
He follows me with a pep in his step as I drag him into my bedroom and close the door behind us. I don’t even bother to turn the lights on before I’m stripping out of my bottoms. His chuckle dances through the room around, seeping into me and causing shivers to break out through my body. That wasn’t a light chuckle of amusement anymore. Oh, hell no, it was a dark, delicious kind of chuckle that gave away just how turned on he really is.
He’s quick to take off his clothes and follow me down onto the bed. He reaches for my shirt and a moment of panic jolts through me. I really don’t think I could handle him seeing the scars right now. I know he would want to talk about them and I’m just not ready to face that part of my journey yet. I don’t know if I ever will be. One thing is for sure though, if he saw them now, there’s no way I would get laid.
I push up into him and distract him by pouring all of my pent up feelings for him in a kiss. I’ve never been all that good with words, so I slow down the rhythm of my tongue to gentle and soothing strokes. Light and playful, taking my time to explore his mouth. There’s too much need in this kiss to be called lazy though and that pace doesn’t last for long.
I can’t help but pour more and more into him and take every single thing he’s offering right back. My arms tighten tightly around his neck even as his hands slip under my shirt and start to tweak my already hard nipples. I can feel his hard length just barely rubbing between my thighs and I thrust my hips to reach him, but he’s in no hurry to actually get inside of me.
He breaks our kiss, and we are both left panting as he pushes my shirt up once more. I start to protest but he cuts me off as he yanks it over my head. My arms are jerked away from him with the motion, but instead of fully freeing the shirt from my body, he twists it, pushes my arms back and uses the extra fabric to tie them to the headboard.
“You fucker,” I whisper as I tug on them to test the strength. Even I can hear the lust dripping from my voice though. I can’t help but love the way Noah dominates my body. The way he takes control of my pleasure. The entire night has felt like a punishment for leaving, but now? Right now feels like my reward for coming back.
He pulls away and rises onto his knees, looking down at me with complete adoration shining in his eyes. Being under his scrutiny, seeing the desire burning there, fuck. It makes my stomach turn over in a completely new way. One that sends pleasure and anticipation zinging through my body. He lights up every single one of my nerve endings and my heart rate picks up.
He grabs one of my thighs, but he doesn’t settle himself between them like I thought he was going to. He gets a wicked little gleam as he lifts it up and crosses it over my body as far as I can stretch. I’m pretty bendy so it doesn’t hurt but my face scrunches in confusion.
All doubts are cleared though as he slides in on one smooth thrust. Taking me at a completely different angle. He grins as my eyes practically roll into the back of my head. He keeps a steady pace as he pulls all the way out before burying himself back in all the way to the hilt. Over and over again.
The friction is divine as he hits me deeper than he would with my legs spread for him, but the pace is too slow to be truly satisfying. His eyes stay locked on mine as his thumb finds my clit and he starts to tease it with light, barely there touches.
I groan as I try to meet him thrust for thrust, try to pick up the pace even a little bit, but in this position it’s impossible to take any control back from Noah. His decadent chuckle washes over me again and I feel myself tighten around his cock as he hits me deep once more. He shakes his head at me as his free hand wraps around my neck.
I lift my chin up, submitting to him and baring more of my throat to him. His growl of pleasure causes me to clench again and his fingers squeeze tighter as I do. Not tight enough that I can’t breathe, but tight enough to give him leverage as he pushes me further into the mattress.
Breathy moans escape my lips as his full thrusts send pleasure with just an edge of pain swirling through my body. Every stroke feels like he sinks in even deeper. As he begins to pick up the pace on both his thrusts and my clit the best kind of pain starts to build in me. Every piston of his hips grows a little wilder until he’s fucking me into the bed. The only sounds now are of flesh hitting flesh and the cries that come out strangled from his grip on my throat.
Our eyes never break contact even as we both lose ourselves in the passion of each other’s bodies. I can barely think about anything other than the way he feels inside of me. How even as he hits me as deep and as fully as he can, it still doesn’t feel close enough. I don’t think it will ever be close enough when it comes to my men.
His movements become more erratic and I feel myself tumbling over that crest. My eyes start to drift shut as my mouth hangs open. “Don’t fucking close your eyes, Scar.”
His demand makes my eyes fly back open as I meet his blue gaze. The sheer amount of hunger and dominance shining back at me pushes me that much closer to my undoing. He growls. “I want to watch as you come, as you fall apart on my dick. As you remember exactly where it is that you belong.”
His words are it, pushing me over the building of my orgasm as I ride the high. I clench all around him, squeezing him tightly as if I really do want to drag him even further into me. He groans as he comes but doesn’t stop his movements as he eases me through the waves of pleasure that crash through me.
Instead of collapsing next to me as my body relaxes once more, Noah takes his time to lay soothing touches all over my body. He cups my cheeks and kisses my forehead. Strokes my thighs and lays kisses on my knees. He leans over me to untie my wrists. I pull them to my chest, but I don’t fully take off the shirt. Instead, I untangle it and pull it back over my head. If Noah finds it odd, he doesn’t comment on it. He just pulls me into his body, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in my neck.
I relax back into him and he pulls the blanket over us. Giving me one last sweet kiss on my shoulder before slipping his hands under my shirt to rest on my belly. “Goodnight, baby girl. I missed you.”
I smile as the last of my consciousness fades. I fall asleep quicker and more content than I have in months.
Chapter Twenty
"What are you doing?"
Jade leans over to look at my phone as I pull it into my chest and away from her prying eyes. "Nothing," I respond quickly, looking over her shoulder to see if any of the guys have joined us.
"Why the hell are you acting like that?" She laughs, looking around the room as if she's trying to figure out what I'm searching for. She stares at me, confused.
I drop my voice to a whisper as I confirm one more time we are still alone. "Roe started preschool with the boys."
She scrunches her face up, still not sure where I'm going with this. I sigh as I finally relent and tilt my phone towards her, showing her the screen where Roe and the boys are currently sitting in circle time at school.
She watches a minute before raising her brows at me. "Why are you being so secretive
about watching the preschool feeds? You're allowed to. Aren’t you?"
I start to scoff. I didn’t hack into the preschool CCTV. A throaty chuckle from behind me cuts me off though and makes me wince. I knew I wasn't making it through this conversation unscathed. "That would be because she already got in trouble for stalking the school." Declan comes and perches himself on the arm of the couch next to me.
I roll my eyes. "You make it sound like I was being creepy. I was just watching to make sure she was okay."
Jade's eyes bounce back and forth between the two of us and I can see her amusement growing. Before she even has a chance to make fun of me, I add, "What's weird about a mom watching her daughter play? Hmm?"
Declan's laughter fills the room once more. "Pretty girl," he sighs as he shakes his head. "You can't peak over walls at a preschool. It is creepy."
I huff in annoyance but Jade's giggles spill from behind her pursed lips. My eyes dart over to her and I can't really stay mad when I barely ever hear her like this. I can't contain the smile as I watch her laugh. She finally gets it together enough to choke out, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She rolls into another round of laughter. Watching her, I can't help but start laughing too. She's finding this far funnier than it really was. She wipes tears from her eyes as she tries again, wheezing. "I'm just imagining you, with big sunglasses and a trench coat, stalking five year olds." She hiccups as she laughs, barely even getting the words out.
"Alright, settle down," I defend halfheartedly. It's good to see her finally relaxing like this, even if it is at my expense. "I'm not that bad."
Declan just hums as he begins to play with a strand of my hair, wrapping it around his fingers and gently tugging before he relaxes his grip again. It's weirdly soothing and I find myself leaning more into his touch as I bring my phone back up to my face so I can continue to watch the feeds.
Declan leans into my shoulder more as he peers down at the screen. Fucking hypocrite. All the guys are just as obsessive as I am.
Sending Roe to school was such a hard decision. I really want to keep her wrapped up and safe, away from anything that could possibly hurt her. The idea of my demons stalking her haunts me. Who I am could be detrimental to her if she were exposed as my daughter.
Charlene was pushing for it though, and I know that we can't keep her hidden away like a doll forever. The preschool had already been fully vetted and the boys were enrolled there, so at least it was an easy transition.
I know it's the best thing for her. She needs the socialization. She will have to start school eventually. I even know how happy she’s been now that she’s with the boys more. I just can't get over the panic either.
"What's she doing?" he asks as he continues to wrap my hair around his fingers. I hum as even Jade leans in to watch the screen. I move the phone so that all three of us can watch it easily. On the screen, all of the kids in the classroom are playing individually at the different centers. I check the time and know that they’ll be eating lunch in about twenty minutes.
Roe and the boys are all sitting together as they build with blocks. Knowing Roe, it'll probably be a castle of some sort.
"Wait, who's that kid?" Jade asks as some other kid comes up to talk to them. Unfortunately, the videos have no sound so we can't hear the conversation. Hmm, maybe I should plant some mics so we can hear as well.
My mouth parts open in shock as Roe gets off her feet to talk to the kid. Her little fist is clenched by her side and I've never seen her look so upset. My eyes fixate on the screen, getting ready to call the school and demand to know what is pissing my girl off, but I hold back. I want to give her the chance to work through this on her own. I have to learn to trust her and give her the space to grow on her own. Even if I watch obsessively.
Kai is quick to get on his feet and step in front of her. The kid pushes Kai and before any of the boys have a chance to react, my girl rears back her arm and lets her little fist fly, knocking the kid right on his ass. I can't help the shocked laughter that escapes as I look back and forth between Jade and Declan. Did we really just watch Roe lay a kid twice her size out.
The teachers quickly rush to intervene, but I can't help but rewind and watch the entire thing again. I laugh as it plays out. I guess I shouldn't have been worried about sending her to school after all.
"I mean, at least her form is good?" I murmur, not able to keep the pride out of my voice. The other kid definitely started it. Don't fuck with my girl.
My phone starts ringing in my hand and I'm already sighing, assuming it must be the school. "Hello," I answer, ready for the lecture.
"Scar." I sit up a little taller, that's not the school. I do recognize the husky voice though.
"Rachel," I drag out her name slowly. "It's been a while."
"Yes," she says, sharper than I normally hear from her. My guard is instantly up as I wait to hear what she wants. "I was hoping you would have some information about the girl by now." The reprimand is clear, not that she has any authority over me to think she can speak to me that way.
"Ahh," I drawl, dragging it out as I smile. I ensure she can hear my amusement, not wanting her to misconstrue just who has more power here. I have nothing against the woman, but she is coming after one of my own and no one lives if they try to take what is mine. "Here's the thing, Rach," I pause to make sure she is listening really well. "You didn't give me much to work with. Not a name or a history. We don't know who saved those girls. How the hell do you expect me to track her down based on your vague description exactly?"
She sighs, I can practically hear the anger bleeding out of her as something else creeps in. "Look, Scar. I know, but I have nothing else for you."
My eyes meet Jade's blue ones, sparkling with concern and anxiety. I move my hand to gently squeeze her knee and she gives me a small smile. We've already discussed who would want to buy her so desperately, but she has no answers for me either. "See, I don't believe that. I think you know more than you're letting on. Until you're willing to share, I have nothing for you."
I infuse my voice with every ounce of apathy that I can. I have no qualms about claiming Jade as mine. I would go to war for this girl. No hesitation. She's become a part of the family, even if she doesn't wholly realize it yet. Even if I don't wholly realize what that means yet.
It's still safer for her and for Roe if no one knows we have them. We won't be able to hide Jade forever, but we can long enough for me to figure out Rachel's angle.
The line stays silent for several long minutes. I stay quiet, waiting for her to break. I know she's debating with herself because I can still hear the subtle shift in her breath. Finally, she speaks again. I can hear the desperation leak into her voice once more. What is it about Jade that has her so tied up? "What if I told you she isn't for a client but for me. Does that change things?"
I tilt my head as I study Jade again. What could Rachel want her for? From what Jade has told me and what I've found in her background, there should be no one left who cares about her. No one who was looking for her when she went missing. "I mean, you have me curious," I joke lightheartedly. "But unless you have more information about who she actually is, then no. It doesn't change anything."
"Scar, I promise. I don't want to hurt her," she pleads. How interesting. Romano had started assuming we were withholding information from him and now Rachel seems to be thinking the same thing. Does she think I know where Jade is, or does she know I have her?
What an interesting predicament. How to play this?
Hmm, I hum to myself. "I like you, Rachel," I admit. "You're smarter than most of the men in this industry. You're the first person to realize I play a bigger part than what I let on. I have to say, I don't hate how it feels," I pause, laughing a little. "But I think you're overestimating my abilities. Regardless of your intentions, I can't find someone based on their hair and eye color alone."
She huffs, "Doesn't Romano keep meticulous records?"
I feel my brows draw up in surprise. Rachel is ex
ceedingly smart, but she lets her emotions rule her far too much. She's giving away more than she should, but apparently, I have too. Now, the question is, does Rachel have to die?
"You're acting like I have access to those." I keep my voice steady, letting nothing but amusement shine through. She's already putting too many pieces together, making connections that shouldn't be possible for her to see.
She coughs and it's obvious she's trying to regain control of those pesky little emotions she's letting run wild throughout this conversation. "I just don't think," she speaks slowly, weighing every word as it comes out of her mouth. "It's out of the realm of possibility that you're behind the recent exposure of his empire."
I hum a little again. "I can't say that I'm offended by your faith in my abilities. Even if you're off base." I mean she isn’t, but she definitely doesn't need to know that. Oh, little Rachel. You have no idea who you're dancing with. I won't hesitate to clear the board if you so much as hint at being a threat to us.
She sighs. "You're good, Scar. Better than anyone I've met before, including your men," she hesitates, and I preen. I love being better than them, and I love hearing them called mine. Especially since Kade is still being such an asshat. I don't even care if I'm being a cocky shit. I like this feeling of recognition. Maybe it's time to stop hiding in the shadows after all. "I have no idea if I am so far off base, I should fear for my sanity, or if I'm so close to the truth, I should fear for my life."
I smile but say nothing. I'm not giving her any clues, either way. She's better than I expected at reading a situation and people. She laughs, her original ire with me completely dissolved now. I think she's as fascinated with me as I am with her. She really needs to watch the next words out of her mouth, I think I would actually hate to kill her. I'd do it with no regrets, but I don't think I would like it.
"I'm taking a huge risk here, but my gut is telling me to go for it." She takes a deep breath before continuing. "If you're going to war with Romano, you can count me and mine as backup."
