by Blue Saffire
I’m speechless. Dad came over to say that Wyatt wanted to talk to us. He sent Dad a text to ask him to call when we were together. I respect what my big brother is looking to do. I would do the same without question.
“This shit is killing me. I hoped…I just hoped that having Nellie here would have changed things, but she’s not going to make it. I need you guys to get here. I’m going to need you and I’m not getting married without you all by my side,” Wyatt says. I can hear how choked up he is over this.
“Bro, you know I’ll be there. I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” I say sadly. My heart aches for Wyatt and Nellie. “I don’t know how to tell this to Bean. This shit is going to kill all the girls, but I know they’ll want to be there for her.”
“I just pray she can hold on until this weekend. I want to give Nellie this one thing so bad,” Wyatt says in anguish.
“It will work out, Son,” Dad says beside me. “We’ll be there by Saturday and we will stay as long as you need us.”
“Wyatt, man, I just wish there was more I could do,” I say in disbelief.
“Yeah, I know. That’s how I feel. I just finished talking to Nora and getting her blessing about an hour ago. I have to head back to let Steve get back to her. He’s been keeping Nellie distracted while I picked up a few things. I plan to propose tonight, so I’ll text you guys when she says yes,” Wyatt sighs.
My dad and I chuckle at the same time. “When she says yes,” dad says into the phone.
Wyatt sounds relaxed for the first time since we got on this call. “Yeah, when,” Wyatt chuckles. “I love her with everything I’ve got. She knows that.”
“Yeah, Son, she does. We all do, see you soon,” Dad chuckles.
“Thanks Dad, talk to you later, Noah,” Wyatt says and ends the call.
“Wow,” I say to no one in particular and run a hand over my beard.
“Yeah,” Dad says sadly letting the emotions he hid from Wyatt surface. “This is going to be a hard one for the whole family. We’ll need to be there for Wyatt, Nellie, and Steve.”
I nod my head and sigh. “Bean is going to take this hard. Mrs. Nora was like a second mother to her. She felt her loss once already when they moved,” I say as the memories pour in. Bean had been destroyed.
Dad stands and pats me on the shoulder. “I’ve raised some strong men. You will be there for the girls. We’ll all pull through,” Dad reassures me. “Tell Bean I’ll see her on the flight. I’ll get out of your hair for now.”
I stand and pull my dad into a bear hug. I don’t know what I would do without Joe or Cass Black. They are the rocks to this family. Dad pats me on the back and turns to leave.
Damn, I don’t want to tell Bean this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Speak Up
Noah
There is a lot going on around us. Wyatt and Nellie are married and now we have buried Nellie’s mom. My girl is hurting. Nora was more to her than I can put words to and she is hurting for her best friend and uncle.
Steve is a good man. My heart aches for him as well, but there is something else that has my attention, actually, mine and Ryan’s. We are standing in the backyard of Nora and Steve’s house for the repass after the funeral. The same backyard we were just celebrating a wedding in.
Everyone looks somber, but Ry and I have our eyes on something else. Both Toby and John are acting out of character. John has been watching his watch like the sky is going to explode at a time only known to him. Toby on the other hand, has been glued to his phone and looking like a nervous wreck since the wedding.
“I’ve had enough of this,” I grumble with my arms folded over my chest. I narrow my eyes at Toby because this has been going on longer with him.
John, he’ll come to me when he is ready. Although, I already know Ryan is not going to butt out of that one. My gut tells me to focus on Toby for now.
“You handle Toby, I want to talk to John. Missy has been blowing my phone up with text messages, asking if I know where John is. He told me, he told her about the wedding and she didn’t want to come,” Ryan mutters as he focuses on our other brother.
“Yeah, something stinks over there, but I can’t stand her so I haven’t chosen to care,” I snort and shake my head.
“I don’t like her either…honestly, I don’t think John does. She has been holding something over him for a while now, but something has changed. I want to know what,” Ryan speculates.
“Who,” I answer absently.
“What,” Ryan says and turns to me.
“Who…John’s problem is a who,” I reply. “Don’t ask me how I know. I just do.”
“Truthfully, so is Toby’s,” Ryan shrugs. “I haven’t been able to prove it, but I think I know who his who is. That’s why I’m going this way,” Ryan shakes his head and walks off.
I stare off after Ryan. He, Toby, and Braxton are close. It’s what is making Toby’s behavior seem even more bazaar. I’m used to seeing the three together. It hasn’t been that way as much lately.
I shake off Ryan’s words and go to get the information from the source. Toby is pacing in a little corner to himself. I walk over and stop in his path. Toby is a lot leaner than me, but just as tall. I have given Toby and Braxton shit for years about their copper blonde locks, where my other brothers and I have dark brown hair.
I smirk at my brother. He’s still a kid to me. He shouldn’t look so stressed out all the time. I worry about him and I would do anything to help him out. All he needs to do is ask.
“You alright,” I ask as his golden eyes lock on mine. Again, I notice the worry in them.
“Yeah, I’m cool,” Toby nods quickly.
“No you’re not,” I say and narrow my eyes. “Something has been off with you for months. I don’t know what it is but you need to speak up if you need some type of help,” I retort.
“I said I’m good, Noah. I can handle it,” Toby says in frustration.
“Is this about a girl or something,” I ask low as I step in closer to him.
I watch closely as his jaw ticks and he inhales deeply. “No, I just have some shit on my mind,” Toby lies. I know my little brother. He can’t hide shit from me.
I nod my head and fold my arms over my chest. “If that’s how you want to play it fine, but I’m going to tell you like this, if you need help you come to me. Don’t let this shit blow up in your face, Toby.
“You have a family that cares about you and we’ll be there for you when you need. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know it’s something. I won’t dig to find out what, because you are a grown man. My baby brother, but still a grown man. I’m going to respect that, but I promise you, Toby. If some shit comes to Mom’s door and I don’t like it…your ass has a problem,” I warn.
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Toby frowns. “It’s not a problem for anyone. I got it,” Toby frowns and rolls his shoulders.
“Alright,” I pull my brother into a hug. “I love you, you need me, you come to me. No pride, Bro. Black brothers never put their pride before family, you hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear,” Toby pulls away and turns to walk off.
I sigh and shake my head. Toby is so damn stubborn. I just hope it doesn’t burn him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Bleeding Hearts
Bean
Two months later….
I’ve been standing here in the gun range, in the basement of the Black and Lock building, in a daze for an hour now. It has been two months since Nellie and Wyatt’s wedding and the funeral that followed after. Our whole family came together for Nellie and Uncle Steve.
I don’t know who my heart hurts more for. Nellie has been a mess, but Uncle Steve hasn’t really been any better. He loved Nora. I remember the first time he saw her. He kept asking after her. The day he finally talked to her had been planned.
When he overheard Nellie saying her mom was coming to pick her up, he paid me and Heather to take off with Nellie, so Ms. Nora would have to wai
t for her. Uncle Steve is smooth. He had her right from that day. I hate that this has happened to their love.
Noah and I spent some time with my Uncle Steve as he packed up the home he and Nora shared. It only took him a few weeks to decide to move back to Cali with the rest of the family. I hadn’t let go of my apartment yet, so Uncle Steve took it over. It’s only temporary until he finds a new place of his own.
My dad has been spending a lot of time with Uncle Steve which is so good to see. I just hate looking into their sad brown eyes. My dad and his brothers look so much alike. Seeing them wear the same sad face has been tearing at my heart.
Since I graduated high school, my relationship with my father has improved a hundred percent. Dad has been sober for about seven years now. The one thing I can say about all of this is that it is bringing our family closer together.
I wipe at my tears and let off another round. I’ve been down here putting holes in a target to let off steam, for the last two hours. It’s funny really. For someone so non-confrontational, I have been finding comfort in the oddest places.
I just wish I had more control over what has been happening to my friends and family. Nellie still hasn’t returned to work and Wyatt stopped coming into the office as well. I just wish this all didn’t hurt so much.
I place my gun on safety and I put it down in front of me. Dropping my head, I flatten my palms on the countertop before me. I think what hurts most is feeling like this is all my fault somehow. Nellie was my friend; Uncle Steve is my uncle. I allowed her mom and my uncle to meet and fall in love. I feel like I broke my uncle’s heart.
Suddenly, I feel big strong arms wrap around me. “Don’t,” Noah’s voice rambles in my ear. “This needs to stop.”
~B~
Noah
I can’t watch this anymore. Between Nellie and Bean, I have felt helpless. I may not be able to do anything about Nellie, but this shit stops with Rebecca today. I know she is blaming herself and that is just crazy.
Uncle Steve has always been like Bean’s favorite uncle, so I get that she is taking this really hard for him. But come on, Rebecca didn’t make that man fall in love and she didn’t make Nora sick. I won’t watch her do this to herself any longer.
I’ve been watching her for about an hour as she has been lost in thought. That poor target won’t take anymore holes and she hasn’t been with it enough to think to change it. I wait until she puts the safety on her gun and places it down. I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her.
Leaning in I say in her ear. “Don’t,” she stiffens at first, but then relaxes into my hold. “This needs to stop.”
“What, needs to stop,” she says sounding distant.
“This Rebecca. You not responding to me. You blaming yourself for everything going on around us,” I say in frustration.
She turns in my arms and looks up at me. “I just responded to you,” she says with a blank stare.
“Are you kidding me? I don’t mean a reply verbally, Bean,” I growl. I pound on my chest with my fingers as I point to myself. “You don’t respond to me. It’s like I’m not even here or like you’re just gone.”
Her sad brown eyes look up into mine. “What do you want from me, Noah,” she snaps as tears leak from her eyes. “My aunt died. Not just my best friend’s mom, she was my aunt. By marriage, yes, but she was mine. Uncle Steve doesn’t deserve this. Nellie doesn’t deserve this,” she sobs.
I cup her face. “And neither do you,” I say firmly. “This is not how Mrs. Nora would have wanted you to be. Yell at me if you need, Baby, but I’m tired of you blaming this on yourself. You couldn’t do anything about this and it is not your fault.”
“But it feels like it is. My uncle took Nellie and her mom away and my best friend’s mom took all of our hearts away,” Rebecca says through trembling lips.
“She only took a piece, Baby. Nora took a piece of each of us, but we have to be there for each other to hold onto the pieces we have left. I love you so much, Rebecca, it’s tearing me up to see you like this,” I say trying to really get through to her.
Bean nods her head at me and wraps her arms around my neck. “You’re always there for me,” she whispers. “I want to keep you forever, my Noah Bear.”
I chuckle. She hasn’t called me that since she was little. “I’ll always be here for you, Baby. You just need to let me,” I say and kiss her forehead.
Bean pulls back. “Um, Noah,” she says with a mischievous smile on her face.
I smirk and lift a brow. “What,” I reply and cross my arms over my chest.
“Well, it’s kind of been a long time since I sat on my throne for a whole day,” Bean says and wiggles her brows.
I smirk and narrow my eyes at her. “Is that really what you want,” I ask and lift a brow.
“Yes,” she nods vigorously.
Rebecca is right. She’s always so sad lately, I’ve been feeling like a bastard when I’m horny as fuck and want to pounce on her. We’ve done a whole lot of cuddling, unless she initiates things and that isn’t that often.
I throw my head back and laugh. Yeah, we’ll be just fine. Before Rebecca knew it I have her off her feet and perched on the edge of the countertop. I pick up her gun and place it aside, out of my way, never taking my eyes off of her.
Placing my hands on her warm brown thighs, I push her skirt up to her hips. Bean wraps her arms and legs around me and I kiss her sweet lips. I’ve missed her more than she knows, but I plan to show her.
~B~
Bean
I need this. I need Noah. I know he can clear my mind and take me to places I can only dream of without him. I love the feel of his big body between my thighs. I can see in his eyes he is going to take his time.
He has that look that tells me just what Noah I’m about to get. My Nasty Noah. His hands slide to the waistband of my panties and he peels them off slowly. I unhook my legs to allow him free reign. I watch with baited breath as he peels them down my legs.
Noah grins at me as he balls my panties in his big hand and places them in his back pocket. Yeah, I need to go panties shopping. The ones that don’t get shredded to pieces, end up stolen.
Noah squats down in front of me and pulls my ass off the counter and tosses my legs over his shoulders. I grab his hair with one hand and the countertop with the other. Noah balances me on his strong shoulders as he buries his face between my thighs.
I miss the feel of his beard against my thighs. As if knowing exactly what I want Noah moves his head from side to side, as his tongue laps at me. The motion causes just the right amount of friction. I let go of the countertop, trusting Noah to hold me up in the air with his strength.
I grab his hair with both hands and allow him to bounce me up and down on his face. My head falls back and my eyes roll. Noah grips the thin fabric of my skirt around my waist and tugs me in tighter to him.
“Yes, Babe, just like that, Noah,” I cry out.
Noah just groans and continues to eat me up. The fact that right now, anyone could walk in and catch me riding his face as he has me suspended in the air has me ready to explode. I guess Nasty Noah brings out Naughty Bean.
When Noah’s tongue circles my puckered hole, I gush all over his face and it is confirmed. Naughty Bean is out and ready to play. I reach behind me to find the counter again. I unwrap my legs and place my unsteady legs on the floor.
Noah stands and licks his lips. His eyes are blazing with lust, his beard wet with my juices. Noah stalks forward and I reach for the waist of his pants, pulling him to me by it. I unfasten his belt and unzip his pants.
Noah grabs me under my arms and sits me back on the counter. I push his pants down as far as I can, then use the toes of my heels to get them down further. I smile when I see Noah has been going commando again.
Noah swallows my scream as he thrusts into me. His tongue wraps around mine and makes love to my mouth as he pins me to the countertop and rocks me hard. My teeth chatter in my head as he goes deep. Noah g
rips the sides of the booth behind me, as he plows into me.
“Yes, Noah,” I groan loudly against his lips.
“I love being inside you. You feel so good every time,” Noah croons back.
“King of my palace,” I purr in Gaelic. You don’t grow up next door to the Blacks and not put up the language.
Noah chuckles and thrusts harder into me. “Is that right,” he says darkly.
“Yes,” I purr.
Noah looks into my eyes with those golden, intense eyes of his. “Queen of my soul,” he says back in Gaelic.
I grips his ears and hold him to me as I lick his lips and suck the lower one into my mouth. For now, Noah is all I feel, all I know. Just what I needed.
He pulls his lip free to take my lip into his mouth and sucks. His hands slip under my thighs and pulls me off my perch. Noah takes a step back and starts to bounce me up and down his shaft. I dig my heels into his hard ass and he growls, hard and deep. It feels like I can feel his growl rumble from his belly.
My pussy tightens around him and without question, I know. I’m about to fall right off the edge into the belly of bliss. My mouth opens, but my scream is soundless.
I feel my sorrows splinter as Noah’s hot cum fills me. With him I am whole. I’ll let him love me. I’ll let him show me a better way to handle this all, because Noah always makes things right. He always shows me the light.
“We’ll get through this,” Noah murmurs against my temple and kisses my head, only confirming what I know. We will, together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Understand This
Bean
A year and one month later…
My relationship with Noah has taken some hard hits even before we really had a chance to get started. Losing Aunt Nora was hard, then there was the whole mess with Wyatt’s best friend, Nick and his wife, Sephora. Tensions were high once everyone had to be brought into the loop.
I wasn’t happy when Noah was hiding things from me to help our friends. When Ryan asked me to teach Sephora how to use a gun, Noah had no choice but to tell me everything. I’m happy things worked out in the end with few major consequences. I still feel for Sephora’s friends, Mark and Bailey, as well as Gavin.
