Crossing the Line

by Maggie Cole

  The lights of the city are all around us, and the crashing of the waves along the shoreline can faintly be heard. Piper rocks her hips and slides down on me, whimpering and already slightly quivering.

  I groan as her wet heat drowns me in a world of bliss that only exists with her. I reach up and release her bra, pushing the straps down each arm while kissing the curve of her neck.

  Pressed against the glass, she pulls me closer and I suck greedily on each of her breasts, as my shaft ripples through the luxurious warmth of her soft, pulsing, sex.

  “Oh,” she moans, digging her nails into my back and pushing the heel of her stiletto into my thigh.

  Emotions, adrenaline, heat...it’s all surging through me. She is going to be my wife.

  My lips find hers again, and she breathes new life into me, moaning, rocking her hips, and sending my nerves into chaos.

  “Noah,” she cries out as I thrust into her quicker, throbbing harder against her spasms.

  “Oh fuck,” I groan as she unleashes her mayhem on my cock, gripping me so tight, I’m not sure how much longer I can last.

  A beautiful O is shaking on her lips, her face is flushed, and her eyes are blinking fast. Her stiletto digs deeper into my thigh, as her arms and nails burrow into my back muscles. “Oh...oh...oh...” she’s crying out between labored breath.

  Our foreheads are pushed together again, and I stroke her hair with both hands. “You’re beautiful,” I tell her and steal a kiss from her trembling lips.

  “Faster...please, Noah,” she begs me, her chest heaving against mine as she grips and releases my cock.

  She pushes me to the edge of ecstasy, the blood in my veins is bubbling, and my balls are tightening with every thrust into her.

  Her body squeaks on the glass, and the lights of the city blur as she screams out my name and shatters, sending a violent tidal wave of adrenaline through every cell of my body.

  I hold her steady, pressed to the glass. Her limbs are clutching me, and we’re both breathing hard. The heel of her stiletto is still digging into my thigh. My face is buried in her neck.

  Slowly, I step back from the glass and carry her over to the outdoor bed a few feet away. I gently lay her down, then lie next to her and pull her into my arms.

  I kiss her forehead, and she tilts her head up at me. “I’m sorry I don’t have a ring for you yet.”

  She softly laughs and bites her lip. “I don’t care about a ring, Noah.”

  I grin at her. “I do. I’m getting you a huge ring.”

  “I don’t need a huge ring.”

  “Oh yes, you do. Every man in the room is going to know you’re taken, and you’re mine.”

  29

  Piper

  When I wake up, Noah’s face is resting on his elbow, and he’s grinning at me.

  “What are you smiling at?”

  “This is the first time you’ve stayed here and not left while I was sleeping.” Noah trails his finger over my thigh.

  “I did agree to marry you last night, so I guess you’re going to wake up next to me more often.”

  He asked me to marry him, and I said yes. I didn’t even analyze it. I just said yes. I should be freaking out, but I’m not. I never would have thought I would fall for anyone so quickly, but I have. Noah is the one for me, and I know it in my heart.

  His grin gets bigger, and he leans closer to my lips. “Maybe I should show you how good mornings can be around here.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Early enough.”

  I laugh. “I take more than two minutes to get ready.”

  “It’s only six. And work is only an elevator ride.” He inches his finger to the inside of my thigh. My body stirs, and my legs automatically widen.

  A cocky expression forms on his face and his lips are quickly on mine, while his hand moves into my sex.

  I inhale sharply as he glides his fingers into me.

  Noah laughs softly. “I’m going to make you so hot and wet you’re going to beg me to shower,” he whispers in my ear.

  My insides clutch his fingers, and he swipes his thumb across my clit.

  He is licking my cleavage when my phone rings. He groans.

  “Who’s calling at this hour?” I ask.

  “Just ignore it.” Noah continues frolicking on my chest until the phone goes quiet.

  Within a minute, his phone rings. Noah groans again and rolls off me, grabs the device off the table, and furrows his brows. “Charlotte?”

  I sit up in bed. Why is Charlotte calling? I can hear her voice through the phone but don’t know what she is saying.

  “Calm down, Charlotte. Take a deep breath. I can’t understand you,” Noah says and puts it on speaker.

  “Charlotte? What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “Piper,” she cries.

  “Charlotte, what’s wrong?” I repeat as goose bumps pop out on my flesh.

  “There’s so much blood,” she sobs.

  The hairs on my neck stand up, and a cold chill runs through me. “Shh. Breathe, sweetie. Try to calm down so you can tell me what’s happened.”

  “Xander...he...”

  “Xander? What about Xander?” Noah almost shouts out.

  I put my hand on Noah’s arm to try and calm him.

  Charlotte is sobbing again.

  “Charlotte, where are you?”

  “New York.”

  “New York?”

  “I came to surprise Xander for our date,” she manages to get out before she breaks down sobbing again.

  In a very stern voice, Noah says, “Charlotte, where is Xander?”

  “In surgery.”

  “In surgery as in operating on someone?”

  “No. He’s being operated on.”

  Noah stands up. “Charlotte, what’s going on?”

  “So much blood,” she repeats and cries harder.

  “Charlotte, Piper is calling you on her phone now. I’m calling Chase and Jamison.”

  I dial Charlotte.

  “Charlotte, switch the line,” Noah instructs her.

  She answers, and Noah walks into his closet. The next few minutes are chaotic. Charlotte is obviously in shock, and she isn’t able to tell me much. I make her ask the nurse what hospital they are at, and I go into Noah’s closet to tell him. He’s already packing and talking to either Chase or Jamison.

  He hangs up. I go in his closet and wrap my arms around him from behind. “I think Charlotte is in shock. Do you know what’s happening?”

  “Not yet.”

  I turn him around to face me. His face is hardened and cold. “I need to go.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “You can’t. It’s still not safe in New York.”

  “Noah, we have guards. I need to be there for Charlotte.”

  “No.”

  “Yes. And this isn’t work-related, so neither you nor Bennett have a decision in this. I’m going with you. She’s one of my best friends, and I’m not letting you go alone.”

  Noah glances at the ceiling, clenching his jaw.

  I wrap my arms around him again. “Let’s not fight.”

  He sighs and puts his arms around me. “Okay. You’re right.” His phone rings and he answers it. “What did you find out?”

  I step back from him.

  I wait for him to tell me what is going on.

  “Xander and Charlotte were in an accident this morning when he was driving her to the airport. The airbag didn’t go off. He hit his head hard. They are operating now to try and reduce the swelling.” Noah turns away just as tears well up in his eyes.

  I wrap my arms around him as his phone rings again. “Hey,” he quickly answers.

  “She does? Oh my God, I didn’t even think because she called us.”

  My head jerks up at him.

  He runs his hand through his hair. “Shit.” He listens some more. “Okay, I’m on the first flight out of here.” He hangs up and pulls me closer as my gut drops.

  “
We’ll be there soon.” He hangs up.

  “What is going on?” I ask.

  “Charlotte is going into surgery now.”

  “What? We just talked to her,” I say in confusion and hit the button to dial her number.

  “Piper.” Noah takes the phone from my hand as it goes to voice mail.

  My insides are shaking. “What? Tell me.”

  “Chase is at the hospital now. He said they just took her back to set her broken bones.”

  “Her broken bones? What bones?” I blink back tears.

  “He doesn’t know. He’s trying to find out.”

  “Noah, we have to go now,” I tell him and start to walk out of the closet to get my suitcase I left in the bedroom.

  Noah grabs me and pulls me into his chest. “Let me go, Noah.”

  He wraps his arms tighter around me and kisses me on the head. “Call the girls, Piper. I’m going to tell Bennett to get his jet ready. They can come with us.”

  I look up at him through tears and nod.

  “Hey. Everything is going to be okay,” he tries to assure me.

  I cry, and he pulls me into his chest. “Shh.”

  “I’m sorry. Xander is probably worse off than Charlotte,” I cry out.

  “Shh.” He holds me tight, stroking my head until I stop crying so hard.

  “Go pack, Piper. I’ll call Quinn and Vivian.”

  Within an hour, Noah, Quinn, Vivian, and I are at the private airport and boarding Bennett’s jet.

  When we get to New York, Noah’s driver is waiting on the tarmac for us. It’s about a twenty-minute ride, and no one talks much.

  Once we arrive at the hospital, Noah locates Chase and Jamison. He knows his way around the hospital, and is also familiar with several staff members from his paramedic days.

  I’m trying to appear normal, but I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack. Ever since my botched surgery, I can’t stand hospitals, and this is the first time I’ve forced myself to go in one.

  Noah and Vivian are talking to Chase and Jamison. Xander and Charlotte are both still in surgery.

  Quinn pulls me aside and puts her arm around me. “Piper, you okay?”

  “Mm-hmm.” My chest feels tight and panicky. I take a few deep breaths.

  “Piper, you aren’t okay. Let’s go get some air.”

  I shake my head. We just got here. I can’t bail already. I take a few more deep breaths. “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?” She peers at me.

  “Yes. I’m okay.”

  “If you need to go outside, just let me know, and I’ll go with you.”

  I nod.

  Noah approaches us. “Piper, what’s wrong?”

  I try to smile but my heart races faster. “Nothing.”

  Quinn gives Noah a look. Great.

  “Piper, what’s wrong?” he repeats sternly.

  “Nothing. What is the situation with Xander and Charlotte?”

  Noah searches my eyes. “They are both still in surgery. It sounds like it’ll be at least four hours for Charlotte and two more for Xander.”

  “Why is it so long?” I ask, panicky.

  “It’s normal.”

  “That seems like a really long time.”

  He shakes his head. “Totally normal.”

  Chase walks up to us. “I think we should all go get some coffee.”

  “Good idea.” Noah scans my eyes again. He puts his arm around me. “Piper, you’re shaking.”

  I squirm out of his arms. “No, I’m not. I’m fine. Let’s go get coffee.” I go over to where Jamison and Vivian are standing, trying to breathe as my chest continues to tighten.

  Why is the air so thick in here?

  Vivian squints at me. “Piper, you okay?”

  I nod. “Coffee?”

  Jamison scans my face. “Piper, you want to go get some air? Your face is really red.”

  I lie. “I just need coffee.”

  Noah, Quinn, and Chase are standing next to us, and suddenly, I feel as if everyone is staring at me.

  “Let’s go to the coffee shop across the street. They aren’t going to be out of surgery for a while,” Jamison suggests then looks at Noah.

  Two male doctors with gray beards walk down the hall toward us, and my panic increases. My heart is thumping harder, my chest is getting tighter, and suddenly, I’m dizzy.

  Noah grabs me. “Piper, tell me what’s happening right now.”

  “She needs to get out of here,” Quinn declares. I turn to her, but it feels like slow motion.

  The doctors come closer, and my throat goes dry. I start to lean.

  Noah picks me up, and carries me down the hall and outside the hospital. When the air hits my lungs, I take a big gulp of it and realize I’m panting. The rest of our friends all followed us and everyone is staring at me.

  “Put me down, Noah.”

  Noah reluctantly obeys but doesn’t let go of me. “Piper, what just happened.”

  “Nothing. I’m fine.”

  “Stop telling me nothing,” he barks.

  I don’t want to get into this with everyone around. “I’m fine. Let’s go get coffee.”

  “Damn it, Piper. You’re going to be my wife. Tell me what the fuck just happened.”

  “Wife?” Quinn cries out, right as Vivian shrieks, “What?”

  Chase and Jamison both have their eyebrows raised at Noah.

  Noah and I glare at each other.

  After a few minutes pass, Chase says, “Let’s go get coffee. You two come join us when you’re ready.”

  Quinn and Vivian are giving me a “what the fuck” expression, and the guys steer them off to the coffee shop.

  Noah puts his hand on my back and leads me over to a bench. We sit down, and our guards stay close by but give us privacy. “What’s going on, Piper?”

  “I’m sorry. I wasn’t prepared. It won’t happen again.”

  “What do you mean you weren’t prepared?”

  “I don’t do hospitals since...since...” I exhale and turn away.

  Noah scoots closer. “Ah. I understand.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that would happen. The air felt thick, and I couldn’t breathe.”

  “It hasn’t happened before?”

  I swallow hard. “I haven’t been in a hospital since my surgery. I saw those doctors with the gray beards, and they reminded me of him...”

  “The doctor who did your surgery?”

  “Yes.”

  Noah pulls me closer. “You’ve not had a panic attack before?”

  “No. That’s your gig,” I try to joke.

  Noah sighs. “It’s not fun, is it?”

  “No,” I admit quietly.

  “What did it feel like?”

  “My chest felt tight, and I couldn’t breathe. I felt dizzy, and my heart was racing.”

  Noah rubs my arm and nods.

  “Is that what yours feel like?”

  “Mostly. I don’t usually get dizzy, but I have before.”

  “When did you start getting your panic attacks?”

  His leg bobs and he taps his fingers on his thigh. “After my parents died. I was trying to finish up high school, was worried about Nathan, and had to deal with the insurance claims and other financial stuff.”

  “And?” I look at him, knowing there is more.

  “And I was sad and scared, but I never cried or let myself feel anything because I told myself I had to be strong for Nathan.”

  I put my hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

  Noah pulls me closer to him. “It’s not good to hold things in, Piper. You’ll end up having a nervous breakdown.”

  I open my mouth to speak but then shut it, not sure if I should.

  Noah shifts on the bench. “Whatever you want to ask me, ask.”

  “I don’t want to pry or make you feel bad.”

  “Piper, you’re going to be my wife.”

  I smile. “You seem to like reminding me about t
hat.”

  He nods. “Because you’re all I want. And I’ll keep reminding you if I have to.” He gives me a quick kiss. “Now ask me what you want to know.”

  I squeeze his hand. “Why did Bennett have you go to a facility? You said you were spinning out, but what does that mean?”

  “When Bennett came to town, I hardly slept in over a month. Nixon had called him. Kramer hijacked my deal, and I lost it. I couldn’t speak a coherent sentence or stay still. I was a jittery, blubbering crazy man.”

  I try to imagine Noah like that, but I can’t.

  “I could have checked out after a week, but Bennett wanted me to stay and work on my issues. The deal was if I stayed a month and tapped into the therapy, then he would help me take Kramer down. So I stayed. And I’m glad I did.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I learned to grieve, as well as some breathing techniques that can help me when I have anxiety.”

  “Do you know when it’s going to come up?”

  Noah pushes the hair off my face then strokes my hair. “No, but now it only seems to come when it’s about Nathan and this deal.”

  I lean in and kiss him. “Thank you for telling me.”

  He cups my face in his hands. “Piper, don’t hide from me.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You did. If something is wrong, you have to let me in.”

  I bite my lip. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

  “If we go back in there and it’s too much, you have to tell me. Promise me.”

  “Okay, Noah. I promise.”

  He kisses me. “Should we go to the coffee shop now?”

  “Yes. We definitely have some questions to answer.”

  Noah takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I outed us like that. I’m sure you didn’t want them finding out that way.”

  I shrug. “It’s okay. I outed us to the office. You outed us to our friends. We’re even.”

  Noah laughs softly. “I rather enjoyed how you outed us to the office.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” He kisses me then stands up and pulls me off the bench. “Come on, time to face the music.”

  30

  Noah

  When Piper and I arrive at the coffee shop, everyone stops talking. Quinn and Vivian are giving Piper the evil eye, and Chase and Jamison seem a bit amused.