Pretty Little Birds

Chapter 22 Quade

I pulled up in front of Noa’s house and hopped out before I could even get my car in park.

Something was off. Noa had left most of my messages yesterday on read.

She’d said good morning, told me she was proud of me, and then good night, but other than that?

Silence. I thought maybe she’d had a little too much fun at brunch yesterday, but today, all she’d sent was a picture of the bouquet of sunflowers I’d sent her, saying thank you.

I was trying not to overthink it, but that was exactly what the fuck I was doing.

I’d spent most of the day trying to figure out if I’d done something wrong, but I couldn’t think of anything.

There could be hundreds of reasons she was being distant.

She could be tired. Her lupus could be flaring.

Whatever it was, I was going to get to the bottom of it as soon as she opened this damn door.

Hopefully, the surprise I had for her would calm things down.

I jogged up her steps two at a time. I contemplated using my key, but I decided not to.

I was going to give her a chance to come to the door.

I leaned against the door, listening for movement, and for a split second, my head started filling with all the shit that could be wrong.

I reached into my pocket to retrieve the door key and then heard her wheels moving across her hardwood floors.

I exhaled, and then I heard the lock click.

She opened the door wearing a bonnet and a hoodie. She was trying to smile, but her eyes were puffy, like maybe she’d been crying or hadn’t slept well. I immediately stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

“Baby, what’s going on?”

“I was… um,… just about to text you back,” she said softly, and I gave her a look as I kneeled to examine her.

I’d texted her an hour ago saying I was on my way.

I wanted to call her on her lie. She knew damn well she wasn’t about to respond, but I had more pressing issues. I needed to make sure she was okay.

“You good? You hurting?” I slid my hand under her chin and stared into her eyes.

“I’m fine, Quade.” She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach. “Why didn’t you just use your key?”

“You never told me I could use it for personal reasons.”

“That never stopped you, either.”

“Yeah, well, today is different.” I stood to my full height and walked past her.

“Teagan here?” I questioned, looking around.

“No. She had something at school.”

I nodded. I wanted to check in with Teagan to see if everything was going well with Noa’s health. I was learning some of her warning signs, but there was still so much I couldn’t gauge.

“You sure you are good? You not having a flare? Did you drink too much yesterday?” I turned to look at her, and she just shook her head.

“I’m fine, Quade, just tired.” She sighed. I stood there in silence for a minute. There was something she wasn’t telling me.

“Are you up for an outing?” I finally asked.

She didn’t answer right away, just stared at me. “An outing?”

“Yeah, I was thinking we could go to dinner.”

“Dinner where?” She squinted at me.

“It’s a surprise. Go get dressed.”

She narrowed her eyes at me and sighed. “Quade, I’m not… I can’t… I’m just chilling in the house. I didn’t even brush my teeth today.”

I stepped closer to her, not trying to hear her excuses. I wasn’t about to let her get in her head and decline. I plucked her bonnet off her head. “There you go. Now you halfway ready.”

“Quade!” She laughed, snatching it back and hugging it close to her chest.

“Just put on something comfortable and fine, preferably a skirt,” I said, smirking.

“But… I—”

“I’m not asking again, Noa. You coming.”

“And what if I say no?” She folded her arms.

“Then I guess I’ma be a kidnapper.” I tilted my head, and she shook hers, but she couldn’t stop the corner of her mouth from turning up. “I brought your favorite snack, thin mint cookies, for the car ride.”

“You’re serious right now?” she asked.

“Dead.”

“I’m going, but only because you brought the cookies.” She sighed dramatically, wheeling toward her bedroom.

“Whatever. You know you’re coming for me.” I exhaled, letting the worry I’d been feeling settle. She was in my presence now. Whatever was bothering her, I’d get it out of her tonight.

The ride over was quiet. It was comprised mostly of me shifting my gaze between Noa and the road while she sat on the passenger side eating those nasty ass cookies.

That distance I’d been feeling from her was still there.

It was all over her face, all in her body language.

She looked like she was trying to hold something in.

I wasn’t gonna press her, at least not yet.

I wanted her to see the surprise I had for her first.

“The studio?” she asked, her voice flat as she stared up at the sign on the front of the building. “We eating at the studio?”

“You trust me?” I asked as I parked in front of the building and cut the engine.

“I guess.” She rolled her eyes, but she was already unbuckling her seat belt. I hopped out of the car and popped the trunk to grab her chair. I wasted no time flipping it open and rolling it to her door.

“Come on, baby. I promise there’s food inside,” I said as I opened her door. “I got you.”

“Okay.” She looked up at me, and nervousness was written all over her face. I held the chair steadily and offered her my hand so she could make the transfer. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

“You don’t have to thank me every time. This is what I’m supposed to do.” I crouched down and adjusted the footrest, using this time to shake off my own damn nerves. I’d never done anything like what I was about to do with anyone else, and I just hoped it all went smoothly.

“Alright, we ready.” I stood up and made my way toward the building with Noa right beside me. I opened the door so she could enter first, and then I stepped inside. The lights were low, and all the rooms were empty just like I’d requested.

Noa slowed her stride. “Quade…” Her hands flew to her mouth as we made our way down the candlelit hall. I stayed quiet and just watched her take it all in.

Yesterday, after Money and I laid a few verses, I pulled the studio owner to the side and asked if I could rent out the building tonight.

It’d cost me five bands and a few favors, but he finally agreed to let me set something up.

Ron hooked me up with a decorator he knew, and I told her what I needed, gave her a budget, and she took care of the rest.

“Oh my God!” Noa gasped as we turned the corner into the main studio.

“What?” Noa breathed out, and I placed my hand on her shoulder and eased her into the room.

It was set up with a whole romantic vibe, candles everywhere.

The wildflowers and sunflowers she liked were littered all around the room with petals scattered across the floor and along the soundboard.

A table was off in the corner with two plates and real silverware.

“Quade…” Noa turned her chair a little to look at me. Her eyes were already glassy, like she was trying not to cry. “Nobody’s ever done something like this for me…”

“Well, you ain’t never been mine before.” I walked around and leaned against the soundboard, just staring at her. “Welcome to our first studio date.”

“Studio date?”

“Yeah. You remember that little verse I wrote for you when you were flarin’?” She nodded. “Well, I finished it. Made it a whole song and recorded it.”

“No you didn’t.”

“I did, and I want to play it for you.”

“You lying,” she whispered. I shook my head slowly, crossed over to the board, and hit play. The beat dropped, and then my voice came in.

“She said she don’t need fixin’… Her pain, she holding. You ain’t too much, baby. You perfect. You fly through storms,… broken wings still workin’. I ain’t your cure, but I’m hopin’. Me and you together,… we pretty little birds, out here swervin’.”

This wasn’t the old Quade. I wasn’t bragging or flexing. Nah, I was spilling my heart out. All the things I ain’t know how to say out loud, I put it on this track.

“Fly, pretty little bird, fly. Wings bent, but you still touch the sky.” I rapped along with the lyrics. “Fly, pretty little bird, fly. Dark nights, but your soul still shines. I ain’t here to fix your fight. I’m just here to fly, baby. I’ll just fly with you.”

Noa didn’t say anything. She just sat in her chair with her head bobbing and eyes locked on me with every word I spat.

I could see her resolve loosen. Tears started pouring from the corners of her eyes until she was full-blown sobbing.

I stood from the soundboard and made my way to her.

Kneeling in front of her, I didn’t say shit.

I just let her cry while I held her. She pressed her face to mine.

“Quade, this is too much. I don’t deserve—”

“Nah, you deserve more than this. I never want you speaking about no good shit you don’t deserve.” I pulled back, tipping her chin down to look at me. “You hear me, baby?”

“Yes.” She cried and kissed my lips as the song finished playing.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“It’s perfect.”

“Almost perfect. It’s missing something.” I leaned in, brushed a thumb under her eye, and caught the tears that were falling.

“What?”

“You. Your voice.”

“No,” she said slowly, shaking her head, catching on to what I was insinuating. “Nope, un unh. I don’t sing.”

“I don’t want you to sing,” I said, standing up and heading to the booth. “I just want your voice.” I opened the booth door and turned back to her. “Come on. Just talk. That’s it.”

She stared at me like I was about to grow a second head, but I didn’t budge.

“Fine, but when I ruin your song, don’t say anything.” She rolled into the booth and parked right under the mic.

“You're not going to ruin it.” I adjusted the mic down to her level, then slipped the headphones over her ears.

“I’ma be right out there.” I brushed my thumb over her lips before stepping out of the booth and dropping into the chair at the board. I placed my headphones on as I stared at my baby through the glass. She was cute in the booth, even if she looked terrified to breathe.

“Say something,” I said into the mic.

“Say what?”

“Say whatever.”

“Hi… Hello.” She leaned forward, lips barely near the mic, and I snorted. I laughed so damn hard.

“Hell nah. You sound like you callin’ the doctor’s office or some shit. Say somethin’ else.”

“I don’t… I don’t know what to say.” She rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, you do,” I said. “Just breathe. It’s just me and you. Just talk to me.”

“Just talk to you,” she repeated, inhaling softly. “I don’t think I ever felt this safe with somebody before, and it scares me.”

My hand froze on the buttons. Damn. I wasn’t expecting her to get that deep.

“That’s good, baby. Say somethin’ else. Keep goin’.”

The urge to be right back in her space hit me hard, and I hit the record button again without thinking. Then I shoved the headphones down and walked back into the booth.

“I told you I didn’t know what to say,” she whispered, looking so damn innocent. I didn’t say anything, just kept approaching her. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Nothin’,” I muttered, closing the door behind me. “Keep talkin’ into the mic.”

I crouched in front of her chair and slid my hands up her thighs. I smirked as goosebumps rose on her skin, and her words got caught in her throat.

“I-I…” She tried to speak, but I kept running my hands up her thighs, inching her skirt further up her legs. “I’m… I mean—”

“Mhm.” I pushed her knees open and stared at her pretty pussy in the black, lace panties she had on. Fuck. “Talk to me.”

“Ooh!” She sucked in a breath as I propped one of her legs gently on the arm of her chair. Her eyebrows shot up.

“Quade,… what are you—”

“Helping you get your words right,” I said. She was nervous, and the only way I knew how to make her relax was this. “Is that good?”

“Mmhmm.” She nodded.

“Good. Keep talkin’. You said I make you feel like what?” I hooked a finger in her panties and tugged slowly, making her breath hitch. She was already wet for me.

“This is crazy.” Her fingers gripped her armrest, and she slid her body down some, like she was bracing for impact.

“You got your safe word ready?” I whispered.

“Yes!” she moaned as she pulled her underwear down over her thighs. I could feel the heat rising off her skin begging me to touch her.

“Now…” I looked up at her as I ran my hand between her wet lips. “Talk to me.”

“I… I…” she mumbled, and I leaned in and tasted her. “Quade!” She called my name as I lapped up the juices that were already waiting for me. Her fingers slipped into my hair, and she pulled my face deeper into her center. She wasn’t talking anymore, just breathing heavy and moaning my name.

“I want you to moan on the track. I want to hear you,” I whispered in between flicks of my tongue.

“Ooh!”

“That’s it. Lemme hear how I make you feel so I can loop it under the beat and make the whole song sound like you.”

“Oooh, fuck!” she cried out, and I continued to suck her click. Her head fell back, and a helpless sound escaped her lips. My hand slid to her hip to keep her steady as she quivered.

“Good girl. That’s it. Give it to me.”

“I’m cumming.” She gasped, and her legs clamped around me. “Quade, I’m—”

“I know,” I said into her middle, still holding her legs apart. “I got you, baby. Just let it go.”

Her moan broke open and turned into something raw.

“Tempo!” she cried out, and I froze. “Tempo!” My hands dropped instantly, and I looked up at her, juices dripping from my beard.

“You good?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m okay. I just…” She took a deep breath. “It felt like I was falling. Can we… try something else?”

“We can stop, baby. We ain’t gotta do nothing else.”

“No.” She shook her head, eyes locked on mine, and I could see the want in her eyes. “I wanna ride it.”

My eyebrows lifted. This girl was something else. She’d just used the safe word, and she was still trying to ride this dick.

“You sure?” I asked, half wanting to turn her down, but the way she was looking at me made it damn near impossible to say no.

“Yes.”

I stood, adjusted her legs off the armrest, and helped her shift while she tugged at my waistband. My sweats dropped, and I pulled her close.

“You okay if I pick you up?”

She nodded, and I didn’t hesitate. Kissing her shoulder, I lifted her. She naturally wrapped her arms around my neck as I turned and sat down in her chair with her in my lap, easing her down slowly onto me. She gasped as my dick slid inside her, and we reconnected.

“You know the safe word,” I whispered, watching her face ball up in pleasure.

“I don’t need it.” She gasped. “I’m not stopping you this time.”