by Blue Saffire
~B~
Bean
I was so happy when I walked into school two days ago. Gary Henderson asked me to be his prom date a month ago. I was stunned and almost told him no thinking it was a joke. I pretty much keep to myself. I didn’t think someone like him would really want to take me to the prom.
I mean I did finally start to fill out, at the end of the school year, but I hadn’t thought anyone noticed. It took me a few days, but I finally agreed to go with him. So imagine my surprise, when I go to his locker to finalize our plans for prom, and he gives me the shock of my life.
“Hey Bean, um,” he rubs the back of his neck. “Uh, listen. I know this is totally fucked up, but Melissa Parker changed her mind and said she would go with me. I’ll still pay for your ticket and you can keep the limo reservation. I…I just think it’s better if I take Melissa.”
I stood there like an idiot trying to make sense of his words. It wasn’t until Melissa herself walked up that I turned and walked away. I hadn’t planned to go to the prom at all in the first place. After being asked, I realized how much I wanted to go, so I was crushed after that crap with Gary.
It was the first time in years that I cried to my dad. He was home when I got in from school, and he was actually completely sober. He let me cry on his shoulder and he promised he would fix it. I didn’t put much stock in his promise. My dad has been promising me shit for years, but it’s been so long since he has come through.
I wasn’t even going to get ready to go to prom, until Dad had Nellie call me and threaten me to go and have a good time. I agreed to go, but a good time is the last thing I think I’m going to have. I’m now the girl that got dumped for Melissa Parker and came to prom by herself.
“Dad, I don’t think I should go,” I say for the millionth time as my mom and dad smile proudly at me.
I’ll even admit that I look really pretty in this dress, all made up. My mom did a great job on my makeup. I still can’t believe she picked this strapless sweetheart plunging neckline. I love the mermaid shape of the bottom of the dress. It really shows off my slim, but curvy frame. Something I never thought I would be able to say about myself.
“You look gorgeous,” my mother beams. “You will have the time of your life.”
“I have a surprise waiting for you. Let’s get you going,” Dad says with a real sober smile.
It warms my heart that he is really trying. I know he hasn’t touched a drop to drink since that day I came home crying. Knowing this is what makes me walk out the door. I open my bag and shift around inside to make sure I have my phone and my ticket. I frown when I find a second ticket in my purse.
I look up getting ready to question my mom and dad about the ticket. I know I only had one and I placed it inside my bag myself. When I look up I see him. He turns towards me at the same exact moment I look up. My mouth falls open as I take him in. It’s my Noah, but not my Noah. I am in utter shock.
Nope, I wasn’t expecting to walk out my front door and find Noah freaking Black waiting for me. Oh, my God, and I was not expecting this Noah Black waiting for me. He is so fucking hot. This is not the Noah that I saw last.
The Noah I saw last didn’t have a man bun or a beard. Noah was clean shaven with short dark curls that just touched his collar in the back. Now, the dark brown man bun and the neatly trimmed beard, just scream sexy on Noah. They seem to set off his golden eyes and long, thick lashes. All of the Blacks have those dark sexy lashes that give them bedroom eyes. Even Braxton and Toby with their copper blonde locks have those dark, long, thick lashes that just tips them all over into pretty, gorgeous.
Noah is bigger than the last time I saw him too. Noah has been a tank since high school, but I can tell he is a chiseled mass beneath the tux he is wearing. Just pure hot perfection. I stand just staring at him not registering what I’m looking at, at first.
When it hits me that Noah is here, in the flesh and he is dressed in a tux. I lose my shit. I squeal, lift my dress and take off running in these three-inch heels. I fling myself into his arms and wrap around him as best I can as my feet dingle and Noah spins me around in his arms.
His face buries into my neck and I giggle at the tickle of his beard. Noah inhales and tightens his hold on me. Oh my God, this feels so good. Too soon, Noah peels away from me and places me on my feet.
When I look up into his face, he has an almost pained look on it. I draw my brows in confusion and take a step back. “Did I hurt you,” I ask, wondering did I kick him or step on his foot or something.
Noah shakes his head. “No, no, I’m fine,” Noah murmurs.
I go to ask him if he’s sure, but everyone comes pouring out of the Black house, including Heather, my Aunt Faith, and Uncle Rob. My mom and dad come to join us with big smiles on their faces. I guess everyone was in on this but me.
“You guys look adorable,” Aunt Faith sings.
“Adorable my ass, where’d those tits come from,” Aunt Cass asks with her mouth hanging open. “Lass, those jogs might put my son in jail tonight. You remember she’s seventeen, Noah. For fuck’s sake, who’s idea was this?”
“Mom,” Noah groans and rolls his eyes.
“Don’t mom me, that is not the wee lass you were reading comics and playing video games with,” Aunt Cass says and places a hand on her hip.
“He has a girlfriend and I could never be his type,” I say and look away when Noah’s head whips in my direction.
Noah snorts. “I have a girlfriend,” Noah’s deep voice rumbles, causing me to look in his direction once again. He opens his mouth to say more, but then he clamps it shut.
“They’ll be fine,” my dad smiles and winks at me. “Noah will make sure my baby girl has a good time and he’ll keep her safe.”
“Only thing she needs to be safe from is him,” Braxton chuckles low, but he is close enough for me to hear.
“Sucks to be you,” Wyatt laughs.
I look up at Noah and he pulls a hand down his beard as his eyes roam over my body from head to toe. He shakes his head and moves forward, holding out his arm. I reach for it and loop my arm with his.
“Yup, he is screwed,” Ryan bursts into laughter as he stands beside his date. “Dude, the corsage.”
Noah blinks, then nods at Wyatt, who hands him a purple rose corsage, dipped in silver sparkles. I bounce on my toes. It is so perfect. Noah lifts the corsage to my wrist as I let go of his arm and hold up my hand. He gently slips it into place without looking at me.
When he does look at me, I see something in his eyes I have never seen before. The look totally confuses me, but before I can get a read on it fully, Noah blinks the look away. Clearing his throat, Noah looks away and runs his hands down the front of his suit.
“I want a few pictures,” my mom chirps.
Noah nods and pulls me towards him. I rest my hand on his chest and turn to face my mom. She snaps a few pictures before she starts barking orders. We switch poses a few times and by the time we are done, my body is on fire. Noah’s simple touch to my waist, my elbow, even wrapping his arms around my waist has my body humming in a way I have never felt. I almost feel lightheaded, by the time Noah places a hand on the small of my bare back.
I think I hear Noah groan when his hand touches my bare skin. “We should get going,” Noah mutters and I nod dumbly.
“Have a good time,” my mother sings.
“Thanks,” I turn and wave, while my mind races.
I’m going to my prom with Noah Black. I smile internally and give myself a mental fist pump. I can’t wait to see Gary and Melissa’s faces.
~B~
Noah
My mother was right. Bean is straight jail bait. We are five years apart and she hasn’t even turned eighteen yet. I keep reminding myself of that fact tonight. Of all the girls here, Rebecca is the most beautiful.
She looks as if she is glowing. I can see why all of the guys here haven’t been able to take their eyes off of her. Hell, I’m one of them. Even now as I hold her in
my arms and dance with her, I have to think of anything but the beautiful girl in my arms. I do my best to see Bean and not this gorgeous vixen that has taken her place.
This is torture. I keep telling my cock there is no way he is getting hard for this kid, but he has a mind of his own. I start to think of gross shit to keep my mind off of how soft she feels in my arms. Everything from dead bodies to Bean’s scabbed up knees when she was little.
“Thanks, Noah,” Rebecca’s sexy voice wrecks my train of thought.
“For,” I ask, pissed that my voice comes out huskily.
“For all of this. You didn’t have to do this. You don’t have to dance with me. I know Jackie wanted you to go camping with her this weekend. You gave that up for me,” Bean explains as she looks up at me through those insanely gorgeous cinnamon brown eyes.
I shrug. Yeah, I had plans with my girlfriend this weekend, but Bean always comes first. “We can go anytime. This was more important to me,” I reply.
Bean bites her lip and turns away. I pinch her chin between my fingertips and turn her head to me. “What,” I ask as my eyes search her face. When she doesn’t respond I ask again. “What, Rebecca?”
A light smile touches her lips. “You’ve been calling me that all night,” she replies avoiding my question.
“It’s your name,” I shrug.
“Yeah, but no one uses it,” she shrugs back.
“Well, you’re not a bean stalk anymore either. I think it is time for a change,” I answer.
“Maybe, but I don’t think I would like it if anyone else called me by my real name. Just you,” she gives me a shy smile that shredded my heart.
“Rebecca, listen,” I start but the song changes and everyone around us goes wild. I close my eyes and think about what I almost said. I must have lost my mind.
I have a girlfriend and Bean is too young for me. I need some fresh air to clear my head. A few girls rush over and drag Bean away. She looks happy. That’s all I ever want. I watch her dance happily for a few minutes before I head out for some fresh air. I need to get my head right.
CHAPTER FIVE
Turmoil
Noah
Seven years later…
I should really have my head examined. I’ve had it bad for Bean for the last seven years. Contrary to what my brothers believe, I haven’t been denying my feelings for Bean because I fear Bean’s rejection. It’s because our timing is pure shit.
After her prom, I returned to my life in Nevada with so much on my mind. It would have been a year before Bean would have been even legal. I was in a relationship already and things were good with me and Jackie.
However, when I came face to face with Jackie something became very apparent to me. Jackie was just an Asian-Latina version of Bean, with long hair, long legs, and big brown eyes. Everything about her screamed Bean. At first, I thought I was losing my fucking mind. Seeing Rebecca all grown up and looking like a woman really messed with my head, but when Wyatt came out for a week with his boy Nick, I knew it wasn’t in my head.
Wyatt laughed his ass off after meeting Jackie for the first time. Like I said, I have a type. I just never realized that it has been Bean all along. When I did come to that realization I decided not to go home that summer. I put off starting at the firm for another year. I just wasn’t ready to face my real feelings for Bean.
That was the biggest mistake of my life, because when I returned home the following summer, Bean had her first boyfriend. She met him in college, during the time I should have been back home. Instead, I was off in New York partying and trying to ignore home and the girl that was too young for me to be lusting after.
Bean stayed in a relationship with that prick for two years before he broke her heart. That shit gutted me to my soul. I was there for her to cry on my shoulder, but I was also in a relationship I had started, six months before. Yeah, don’t even ask, because I will tell you. Renee was a Latin version of Bean from head to toe. They even had the same laugh.
Bean was nineteen and a fucking knock out, but I had a good thing going with Renee. I didn’t know if things with me and Bean could really go anywhere. I refused to engage in any flirting or trying to feel things out with Bean, while I was in a relationship.
I ended up being with Renee for three years. We finally broke up over… guess what, my friendship with Bean. Renee always thought there was more going on. I mean Bean and I do spend a ridiculous amount of time together when we’re not working. It’s just never been more than hanging out.
Bean turned into a party animal once she turned twenty-one and could legally drink. There was no way I was letting her party around the city at all times of the night alone. Her coworkers from the bars she has worked in have never been what I would call responsible.
So you’re fucking right that I’ve been glued to Bean’s hip whenever she goes out. Besides, I love watching Bean enjoy herself. She is still shy and goes out of her way to please everyone, but in those moments when I get to watch her let go. It’s everything to me.
That’s why I hate Bean’s new boyfriend. I fucking loath his ass. I have never really known whether or not I’m even Bean’s type until her last two boyfriends. It’s like she is picking shit poor versions of me, but this motherfucker.
Joshua, who the fuck names their kid Joshua these days. This pussy is possessive, insecure, and a fucking meat head. I know he isn’t treating Bean right; I can just feel it in my bones. She just keeps denying it. I know that’s partly because she knows I’ll beat his ass if I get wind of him so much as making her tear up.
Bean has changed in the last few months. Even before I started having trouble with Aria, I noticed it. Yes, another version of Bean, Aria is Greek-Italian and she parties as much as Bean does. It’s why things have worked out so long between us. Aria is always too busy drinking and having a good time to realize how many of those good times are with Bean.
At least, that was until Aria’s nosy sister came to town for a visit and pointed things out. Aria has been nagging me nonstop for months now, about my relationship with Bean. I swear I am ready to just end things.
When my troubles with Aria first started, I thought the timing was finally right. I was ready to cut my losses and finally see where things with Bean would go. Bean hadn’t told me about Joshua. Now I know why.
As I sit and sip at my beer, I can’t take my eyes off of him. I should be enjoying my time with my brothers, this is our time to unwind and catch up. I’m usually focused on enjoying our time, but I have been watching this asshole since he and Bean arrived.
Joshua pissed me off first by insisting he and Bean sit in a corner away from me and my brothers. Bean came out to hang, not to sit in the corner with him. It’s not even like her. My Bean would have been at this table having drinks and laughs with me and my brothers. Not stuck under that pussy looking miserable.
“Oh God, here she comes again,” Wyatt groans as the redhead that has been pressing him since we walked in, saunters back over to our table.
This is one of the reasons I prefer to be in relationships. Being one of the Black brothers is not always the easiest tasks when it comes to women. They flock to us like bees to honey. Granted, they think twice when it comes to me.
I’m a big guy. Curiosity doesn’t always win out. I like my women long and lean, so the pickings become slimmer for me. The women I like look at me like I might break them and for the most part they are right.
I have destroyed more than a few pussies without much effort. It’s just a hazard of the ride. If you want it, beware, I plan to give it.
Problem is, I love sex, but I’m not into random sex. This is why I usually stay in a relationship. I need to be able to fuck on demand.
I look at the redhead as she slinks up next to my brother, Wyatt. I snort. She has no idea what she is trying to get herself into. I shake my head and turn back in the direction of Bean. For the first time tonight, she looks relieved. When I lock eyes on her asshole boyfriend, I see why.
&n
bsp; The jerk is standing looking like he is about to leave. I see the indecision in his eyes even from this distance. Bean gives him what I know to be a fake smile and says something that I can’t make out as I try to read her lips. A moment ticks by and Joshua’s head turns towards me.
I pretend I’m not looking in their direction, only to focus back on them as he nods at Bean with his own look of relief. When I see Heather and Lucy walk over to their table, I understand his source of relaxation. Like I said, the dude is a pussy and insecure. Bean can never do shit without his ass. I’m surprised he isn’t intimidated by Heather and Lucy.
I actually did see him get a little twitchy around Lucy before. Lucy can be touchy feely after are few drinks. I thought I would piss my pants that night he had his drawers in a bunch because Lucy pulled Bean out on the dance floor. Lucy got a little too close for his liking. Bitch.
“You’re going to stare a hole into him,” Johnathan says quietly, beside me.
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t like him,” I reply.
“Yeah, I get that, but Bean means a lot to you, so you tolerate him,” John shrugs back. “I get it.”
“I just don’t see what she sees in him. She is changing for him and I hate that shit,” I grumble.
“Look at him, Noah. He looks like you in so many ways. Just like every girl you date looks and sometimes even acts like Bean. That’s some sick shit and the two of you need to deal,” John says in his straightforward way.
I turn and look my brother in the eyes. His words play in my head. Do I know that my girlfriends have always resembled Bean? Yes, I do. Do I think something is wrong with that? I’m still trying to get my head around it.
I especially would like to know why Bean has started to date guys that look like me. I mean, I never met her boyfriend in college. I was too pissed off about the guy in the first place. I did everything I could to avoid meeting him. So I really don’t know what he looked like.
