by Brook Wilder
“He’s not going to do it again, is he?” I whispered. “Is he?”
Noah didn’t sound so sure. I shifted up and kissed his chest. Then I kissed his chin.
“No. He tried to make me doubt you and I should’ve been better than that. I let him get inside my head as well. No more.”
Noah looked at me, his expression softening. I could see the tiredness in his eyes.
“No more?” he whispered.
I shook my head.
“No more. Believe me when I say I don’t want to go anywhere. And we need to sort out this trust right now.”
“That I can do.” Noah shifted onto his arm, cupping me against him. His arm was around my waist, stroking my side. He kissed my head. “But it is going to take a while. It’s not an immediate thing.”
“I know. But I’m willing to go the distance.” I leant into him. Tiredness was tugging at my eyes, even as I felt his cock against my belly. “Make up for the two years you weren’t here.”
“I like the sound of that.” Noah’s arm tightened around me and he let out a heavy sigh. “God, I missed you, Liz. Not just when I was inside but when you left me the other day. I missed you a lot.”
I knew how much pride he was having to swallow to say that. Noah wasn’t one to admit to deeper things like this. I prodded him playfully in the chest.
“That’s a lot for you to admit, for a big biker like you.”
“It was.” Noah winced. “Don’t tell anyone I said that.”
I giggled and hugged him.
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
Chapter 50
Liz
Things went from strength to strength between us. I marveled at how much closer Noah and I managed to get. I had thought we were strong before he went inside, but now I could safely say we were solid.
It had an effect on Hunter as much as on me. He was still a little nervous at the start, as if he was scared that one or other of us would disappear again when he wasn’t watching us, but he relaxed after a while. Then he was smiling more, chattering away happily and the bond between him and Noah got even stronger. It was sweet to watch, especially with a big man in biker gear chasing after a two-year-old pest who had no idea what sitting still actually meant.
The next six months seemed to fly by. After two weeks in bed—interrupted only by Hunter jumping on the bed—I had another check-up and I was told my baby was fine, that it would be unaffected by the trauma. That was a major relief and Noah had clearly been racked with guilt until he heard that. The tension leaving him rapidly when he heard was palpable.
I hadn’t enjoyed being pregnant the first time around, mainly because I had hidden it from everyone for so long and I had no one to share it with. Now Noah was here, and everyone was aware of it. His family were brilliant. Harry and Julie would come by every other day to check on me, especially when Noah was dealing with club business, and they would take Hunter out for a couple of hours, allowing me to get some sleep or tidy up the house. Hunter adored them, and he loved being around his older cousins, who were equally enamored with him. The club also helped out, offering to do odd jobs for me and collecting my groceries. It was very strange to see big, brawny men carrying bags of shopping into my house—I did wonder what the neighbors were thinking—but Mason pointed out to me that they looked after their own. And I was considered one of them.
That touched me.
What did surprise me the most was Amy. She had been very much against Noah from the start. But, after Nate and George had attacked her, her opinion had started to change. She was softer with Noah. They had actually called a truce and Amy would happily sit in the lounge talking to Noah for hours while I was doing something with Hunter. I didn’t think I’d ever hear the two of them laughing together over the same thing. Who would have known my man and my sister would have so much in common?
She was a rock, just as I had hoped a sister would be. We were closer as a result. Amy was the first port of call before anyone else, even Cassie, if I needed help. She was always willing to drop everything and come over. I had no worries about who was going to be Hunter’s babysitter. They were sweet as anything.
And Amy marveled over my pregnancy. Now she was getting to see it, she found it fascinating. Even now, sitting in my lounge as we curled up on the couch, watching Hunter play with his wooden bricks on the floor, Amy couldn’t stop putting her hand on my bump.
“Careful! She’s going to be kicking up a storm if she knows she’s getting attention.”
Amy giggled.
“Is she kicking a lot?”
“Quite a bit lately.” I rubbed my bump, feeling my belly hardening and something knock against my palm. I smiled. “It’s like she wants to come out now. Nine weeks to go, sweetie, and then you can come out. Not before.”
When we had found out the baby was going to be a girl, Noah had been over the moon. He was even more excited than I was. Unfortunately, we were still trying to discuss names. I didn’t want an ex-girlfriend of his or someone from the brothel. Khloe’s name, in any shape or form, was out of the question.
Hopefully, we would have one by the end of the pregnancy.
“I can’t believe how much you’re glowing, Liz,” Amy marveled. “Even more so than when you were pregnant with Hunter.”
“It’s amazing what one small thing will do.”
“Dare I ask?”
I gasped. Amy’s eyes glinted, and we burst out laughing.
“Amy! Your mind’s getting dirtier and dirtier.”
“Well, I’m making friends with yours,” Amy pointed out. “Their crude ways are getting to me. Not that I’m complaining, though.”
“I bet it’s giving Mom a coronary, though.”
“Certainly close to it.” Amy paused. “Do you know she actually kicked me out of the house because I dared to mention bikers in her lounge?”
That made me sit up. Gloria would never do that to her favorite daughter, surely?
“She seriously did that?”
“Yep. Now I know they’re decent guys and Noah’s not too bad, I’m softening up to them. But Mom’s still of the assumption that they’re axe murderers.”
That was the one slight blip. Gloria had doubled down on hating Noah and bikers. She refused to have anything to do with him, despite the fact Noah had been the one to get the ambulance for her and organize her care once she was out of hospital. She had healed up well, but she refused anything involving Noah. I didn’t have the heart to tell her the person paying her carer’s bills was the son-in-law she despised.
I did point out to her the last time I visited that, if she didn’t want anything to do with Noah, she would have nothing to do with me and Hunter or the new baby. Gloria had been distraught, and, for a moment, I had thought she actually wanted me around. Then I realized all she wanted was Hunter. She didn’t even care about her new impending granddaughter. So, I had walked out of her life with Hunter in tow. That had been three months ago, and I didn’t regret it.
If someone didn’t want me around, I wasn’t going to hang around and make them change their minds. If Gloria wanted me in her life, all she had to do was pick up the phone.
That hadn’t happened yet. And I knew it wouldn’t. If Noah’s pride was pretty big, Gloria Fisher’s was even bigger. She wouldn’t admit to any wrongdoing. It was her way or no way. I knew she wasn’t letting this go, as I’d had several letters from an attorney I had never heard of, telling me I was being taken to court for custody over Hunter. Child Protective Services had also ended up at my door, claiming someone had called about neglect. But they had taken one look at Hunter and his surroundings and realized it was a false claim. After the third time it happened, they promised to make a note so as not to bother me again.
We all knew who was making the calls. Noah had wanted to go over and teach her a lesson, but I knew that wasn’t going to do anyone any good. Even though it was tempting. All I knew was I didn’t want anything to do with my mother anymore, not after t
he trouble she had caused. She even declared Nate was a good man and a better choice than Noah.
Noah did wonder if she was losing her marbles and I was half-inclined to agree with him.
“It’s like you say,” Amy carried on, “one bad apple doesn’t mean all of them in the barrel are bad. There may be a few bruised ones but that doesn’t mean they’re bad as well.”
“Eh?” I had never heard that before. “When did I ever say that?”
Amy frowned.
“I can’t remember. I’m sure it was you, though.”
“I think you’ll find that was me.” Noah appeared in the doorway, smirking at Amy. “Are you trying to give Liz credit for things I’ve said?”
“Sorry.”
Noah chuckled.
“I’m not offended. I’m flattered you actually remember something I said.”
“It’s a good saying.”
“I know. That’s why I chose it.” Noah sat on the arm of the couch and urged me to lean back against him, stroking my hair. “I take it you’re not speaking to your mother at the moment, then? I heard that much as I came back.”
Amy sighed.
“We’re not talking for now. After what happened six months ago, she’s doubled down on her belief that you lot are the bad guys and she’s done nothing wrong.”
“Except push a cartel contact onto her own daughter and keep pushing despite the daughter’s refusal of said man,” I grunted. “I’m so glad I’ve cut contact with her.”
“It is refreshing not talking to her all the time.” Amy made a face. “Even though she’s kicked me out and I’m refusing to talk to her, Mom still keeps calling me. I refuse to pick up the phone, though.”
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“I thought when someone says I’m not going to talk to you, that meant not ringing as well.”
“Mom never did stick to her rules for very long.” Amy’s cell phone went off and she picked it up, sighing when she saw the caller ID. “Here we go again.”
She hung up and tossed it back on the table with a scowl.
“I just wish I knew which one was hers, so I could not pick up and waste my time.”
“Why don’t you just block her?” Noah asked.
“Because I’m not very technological. I have no idea how to.”
Noah grunted and held out a hand.
“Give it here.”
Amy passed across her phone and Noah started tapping away, his fingers practically flying. For someone who wasn’t a fan of touch-screen phones, he was very good at navigating himself around. After a few minutes, he passed the phone back.
“There you go. Should be a lot quieter now.”
“Thanks.” Amy sat back with a sigh, giggling when she saw the screen. “She’s calling again. But it feels so satisfying not hearing the noise.”
“I wonder what Mom would say if she knew about this,” I grinned. Then I heard some whimpering and shouting for me coming from another part of the house. “Sounds like Hunter’s up.”
Amy surprised me by springing to her feet.
“Why don’t I take him out to that new soft play center they’ve just opened?” she suggested brightly. “Give you two some time alone. God only knows you won’t get much once your daughter’s here.”
Before I could answer, Noah stood and gave Amy a wink.
“Thanks, Amy. We’ll owe you one.”
“A bottle of brandy will work wonders,” Amy giggled and then she left with Noah.
I sat in bewilderment as I heard my sister and my man getting Hunter up and sorted, ready to go out. As they made to leave, I stood and waddled out into the hall. Hunter squealed when he saw me. I kissed him and tweaked his nose.
“You have fun with Auntie Amy, sweetie. And be good.”
“He’s always good.” Amy cuddled Hunter closer. “He’s no trouble for me.”
“You won’t be saying that when he’s bigger.”
Amy laughed. Noah opened the door for her, closing it afterwards. I was still confused with what was going on.
“I didn’t know she drank brandy.”
“Neither did I,” Noah chuckled. “She’s changing.”
“And what was going on between you two?”
Noah sauntered towards me, tucking his arms around me. His hands drifted down my back and clasped my backside.
“I asked her earlier if she could take Hunter out while we had some alone time. And I have a few ideas on how to make the most of it.”
I gasped as he slid his hands under my t-shirt.
“Noah!”
He was really thinking about sex? I could hardly believe it. I was practically a beached whale, not exactly sexy. But Noah couldn’t keep his hands off me. As soon as Hunter went to sleep for a nap and we were alone, he practically dragged me into the bedroom. The positions we had tried were certainly inventive.
“Come on, Liz. I love your body right now.” Noah’s hands slid up under my shirt and clasped my breasts, rubbing my nipples through the cotton of my bra. “I just can’t get enough of it.”
I knew he couldn’t. And I could feel my arousal stirring. The part I loved about the sex were the orgasms. Certainly more intense. And Noah knew it. He played on it.
And I wasn’t about to complain. Not when there was no one to bother us. I stepped back and took his hands.
“Bed, now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Noah allowed me to pull him down the hall into our bedroom. Then he was kissing me, shoving my t-shirt and bra up and cupping my breasts. I whimpered as he aroused my nipples, hardening them to points. My hands were busy as well, pushing his t-shirt up and running my fingers over the hardened muscles in his belly.
I could feel him trying to push me onto the bed, but I pulled away and twisted, getting Noah to sit down on the edge of the mattress. I grinned and beckoned him.
“Strip.”
“With pleasure.”
Noah’s clothes disappeared within seconds, getting tossed across the room. Then Noah shifted up the bed, lying back with his hands behind his head, his erection standing up straight. Seeing it made my mouth water.
I shucked my clothes, kicking them aside. I could feel my juices slicking my thighs. Just the thought of sex nowadays had me wet. And seeing Noah naked with his cock on display made me want it even more. Especially when I saw the hungry look in his eyes as he looked over my body, my larger breasts and my distended belly. He licked his lips.
“Delicious.”
I grinned and managed to crawl onto the bed. Noah grabbed me by the waist and tried to lift me up, but I stopped him, wagging a finger.
“Not that way this time.” I managed to twist around until I had my back to him. “Like this.”
Taking hold of Noah’s cock, hearing him hiss behind me, I lowered myself down slowly. His cock stretched me full, making my pussy tight in a way that made me shudder. I rolled my hips and lifted up again. Noah groaned, his hands clasping onto my hips.
The plan had been to make this slow, making the most of it. But the fire inside me was building up too fast. And Noah was urging me to go faster, to the point that I was bouncing on his cock as he thrust deep into my pussy.
The fire burned even more, and it wasn’t long until it was coiling inside me. Noah tugged me down until I was lying flat on top of him, still thrusting into me. Then his hand was between my legs, flicking my clit.
My orgasm exploded. I shrieked and writhed, but Noah held me tighter, planting his feet on the floor and thrusting harder. I could barely move. I didn’t want to move, even as everything blew up behind my eyes.
When I finally came down, Noah slowing his thrusts. I was feeling dizzy. And sated. Very sated. But I could tell from Noah’s body and his hard cock still inside me that he wasn’t done yet.
“You up for more?”
Noah chuckled and kissed my neck.
“Like I said, I can’t get enough of you.”
Epilogue
Amber
As soon as I heard the shouts and the gunfire downstairs, I dove straight under my bed. It wouldn’t be long before anyone came to search the room, but there was no way out. I didn’t have a fire escape outside the room and the other way out of the house was downstairs. I was stuck.
My stomach rolled. I pressed a hand to my belly. Please, don’t let me lose this. I couldn’t bring myself to think about it. Not again.
They were here. The cartel was here. Ruiz was out for blood, and he didn’t like being told no. I knew we were in trouble as soon as he showed up and I was right. But Khloe hadn’t listened. She thought she knew everything, that I was just a silly little girl who hadn’t seen any of the world yet, so I had no say.
