Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
“Well, I am happy, and I won’t fret, but it does seem as if the more one gets the more one wants, doesn’t it?” ~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
T he park brimmed with squealing children running across grass still damp from an early morning rainstorm. Sun poked through the gray sky, dissolving it into the soft blue of a sunny September day. Nat and Summer relaxed on the worn wooden bench overlooking the play area. Liam’s happy shouts danced in the soft breeze as he climbed up the big slide at the other side of the playground. Smiling, Noah was two rungs below him. Reaching the top, Liam sat, and Noah scooted in behind him. Noah’s hands were wrapped around Liam’s middle, the little boy’s arms waved in the air, and they both laughed as they slid down. Nat wasn’t sure whose expression of delight was louder—Noah’s or Liam’s.
“He’s so good with him.” Summer nudged Nat’s shoulder.
Nat’s sigh dripped with happy contentment.
“I know it’s early… but have you two discussed kids? You’ve always wanted kids. Does Noah?” Summer’s eyes followed Liam as he and Noah ran to the metal jungle gym near the center of the park.
“He does.” A goofy grin spread across her face.
Oh, my goddess, was she sitting at the park watching Noah play with Liam and daydreaming about the day he ran around the park with their kids? Abso-fucking-lutely!
“You are so ga-ga for that man.” Summer’s laughter came out like a bass drum.
Leaning her head against Summer’s shoulder, she gushed with the fervor of a crush-sick teenager. “I am totally Lady Gaga for that man. I won’t even pretend.”
“Dork,” she snorted. “So, are you two ready to tell your families tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
“You’ve tackled a lot of big talks this week. This one will be a piece of cheesecake. I’m so proud of you and love calling you my best friend.”
“Aw, you love me.” Nat made kissy faces at Summer, who batted her away.
“You ruin all our moments,” she laughed.
“Mom!” Liam’s gleeful yell drew their attention.
They smiled and followed Liam’s finger, which was aimed at Todd as he sauntered toward them, a huge grin on his face. A tail-wagging white huskie trotted beside him on a red leash. Nat and Summer rose and walked toward Liam and Noah, reaching the pair just as Todd did.
“Mom, look.” Liam’s voice reached a new octave of happiness. “She’s so pretty.”
“That she is,” Todd said, his green eyes fixed on Summer.
Nat did not imagine the kiss of pink shading Summer’s cheeks at that.
“What’s her name?” Liam asked.
Todd turned to Liam. “This is Sheba.”
“Why’d you name her that?”
“Because she’s a queen.” He scratched between the Huskie’s ears.
Sheba placed her haunches on the ground. Her chest puffed out like the regal puppy she was.
“Do you want to pet her? She’s very friendly.”
Liam looked at his mom, who smiled. “Go ahead, baby.”
He stroked his little hand along her chest. Both the boy and dog erupted in big smiles.
“I didn’t know you had a dog,” Summer said, stepping beside Liam and joining in the petting fest. “She’s so soft.”
“Todd rescued her two years ago. She was found abandoned at the side of the road with her two brothers and sister. She was the runt of the litter and had some health issues, so she hung out at the shelter for a bit until Todd came along,” Noah explained.
“Is she okay now?” Liam asked, concern shaking his little voice.
“She’s perfect. She can’t hear, but I taught her different signs and touches for commands.” Todd rubbed her ears.
Sheba looked up to her daddy, affection shining in her dark eyes. The same affection sparked in Summer’s brown eyes as she stared at Todd. Nat fought the urge to high-five Todd for breaking through Summer’s hard candy shell. Instead, she and Noah glanced at each other, big knowing expressions on their faces.
“Nat, want to meet her?” Liam tipped his head up to Nat.
“Of course.” Nat crouched, running her hands over Sheba’s silken coat. “Aren’t you lovely?”
Sheba slapped her pink tongue against Nat’s face in a wet doggy kiss. Squeaking, Nat fell back. Only she didn’t fall far. Noah’s legs braced her, keeping her in place.
Peering over her shoulder, she grinned. “Thank you.”
“I’ve got you.” An adoring gaze met her equally adoring gaze.
Yep. We both have it bad.
“Nat, is Noah your boyfriend?” Liam asked.
Both Nat and Noah’s heads jerked to the little boy. His face scrunched as he stared at them. Todd snorted. Summer covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because you two look all goofy at each other like Grandma and Grandpa and Elle and Clayton.”
“The kid is one smart cookie,” Todd boasted, ruffling Liam’s floppy chestnut hair.
“He sure is one perceptive kiddo.” Nat looked to Noah and then back to Liam. “Yes, Noah is my boyfriend.”
Pride filled her. Sure, it was just telling Liam that Noah and she were a couple, but it was the first step. Nat was owning her heart and sharing it with the world. Tomorrow she’d hold his hand and share with the rest of the world that this was her man, and she was his woman. They were each other’s.
“Okay.” Liam shrugged. “Todd, since Noah is Nat’s boyfriend, do you want to be my mom’s boyfriend? Then I can play with Sheba all the time.”
Nat snorted and Noah stifled a laugh.
Summer sputtered and Todd grinned like the cat that got the canary. After Summer explained to Liam that it wasn’t polite to ask people to be his mom’s boyfriend, they headed home.
Nat and Noah left Todd to finish his walk with Sheba. They strolled toward Noah’s house, leaving Nat’s Jeep at the park. Over the last month, anytime she’d go to Noah’s, she’d used the park as her alibi. Today would be the last day of that.
When they got back to Noah’s, he made them lunch. It was her dad’s turn to manage the Saturday clinic, allowing her the park playdate and now the afternoon to spend with Noah before he’d head to the Wine Down and then the brewery.
“Should we meddle with Summer and Todd, or just let it happen?” Nat pondered, spooning up a bite of the vegetarian chili he’d had in the crockpot while they were at the park.
“Let’s wait and see if they need a little push.”
Nat leaned her chin on her hand. “Kind of like what you did for Clayton and Elle?”
Last summer, when Elle came back to town, Noah had a hand in encouraging the relationship. After Elle left to go back to her life in California, Noah worked his magic to get the cautious Clayton to get on a plane to surprise her and declare his love. Clayton had been so scared of losing Elle that he wouldn’t push her to give them a real chance, and it had almost cost him the woman he loved.
“Did I ever tell you that you are adorable when you are modest?” she said in response to his mere shrug about the role he’d played in Elle and Clayton’s romance.
“I think you’re adorable all the time.” He leaned across the table, capturing her lips in a slow, reverent kiss. “Especially when you’re brave. Like yesterday with your mom and today with Liam.”
Nat’s lips quirked up. “I think Dad was the brave one. I can’t believe he said anything.”
“Now who’s being modest?” He cocked an eyebrow.
Rather than copying his shrug, she bowed her head and made a magnanimous hand gesture.
A soft laugh escaped Noah’s lips.
Taking a final bite, she reveled in that truth. She’d been brave. So had Dad. So had Mom. After more tears and talking, they’d called Clayton, who came by their parents’ house after finishing up at the vet clinic for the day. The four of them opened a family album and flipped through each photograph from when they were the “Complete Owens’ Family,” talking, and crying. A long road still lay ahead of them, but as a family, they’d traverse it together.
“I’ve said it before; your dad never ceases to surprise me.”
“I’m still nervous about telling Clayton about us, but I like knowing that Dad will be in our corner tomorrow. I think yesterday showed me that he’s a fighter.”
“He’s scrappy like my girl.” Noah nipped at her lips.
“Perhaps, we cease with the comparison of me to my dad when you are kissing me.”
Noah’s face scrunched in a grimace. “Good call.”
“So, this is our last secret lunch.” Her voice dropped, low and sultry, as she skated her hand up the sleeve of his blue Henley.
“It is.”
“It’s also our last time for super sexy secret sex,” she purred, batting her long lashes.
Noah traced her lips with his index finger. “That it is,” he said as he moved her bowl to the other side.
Heat prickled up her neck. Neediness radiated from her core as Noah stood up, coming to her side of the table. Pulling her into his arms, his mouth met hers. Opening to him, their tongues slowly danced. An insistent pulse thrummed between her legs as his hands traveled down her body to the hem of her T-shirt. Urging her arms upward, he yanked the soft fabric over her head. His hot mouth trailed kisses down her neck to her cleavage.
“Please.” She moaned as his fingers unclasped her bra, freeing her aching breasts. The pink tips were taut and starving for his touch.
Her back arched as he licked down to capture a nipple in his mouth. Pleasure tingled as he rolled the hard peak with his tongue, followed by a long hard suck. Her breath grew ragged as he repeated the action on her other breast.
“My perfect girl.” His husky voice rumbled straight to the growing slickness between her legs.
His praise. His touch. His kiss. No matter how many times she basked in his attention, she never got enough. Just the anticipation of knowing how his hands and mouth felt on her body and the way his words made her feel made her greedy for more. The only thing better than being touched by Noah was touching him.
She moved her hands down his torso, pulling at the hem of his shirt. Always her helper, he tugged it off himself. Their naked top halves met in a firm embrace as their kisses consumed one another. His strong hands gripped her ass, pulling her close to his growing arousal. Lifting her, Nat’s legs wrapped around his middle. Spinning, he placed her on the table and rubbed against her as they kissed. The delicious friction of denim against denim pooled liquid heat at her core.
“Nothing between us,” she panted.
It may have been gibberish, but he seemed to know what she meant. Stepping back, he unbuttoned, unzipped, and then pushed his jeans off. Smirking, he ripped off his socks.
He’s perfect. Nat’s entire body ached for this perfect, thoughtful, and fucking sexy man.
Removing his boxer briefs, he moved to her jeans. “Let’s get these off you.” It was almost a growl.
His hands worked quickly, removing her jeans, then her panties, and lastly her socks. Pushing her back, he spread her wide on the table. “Dessert,” he purred, kneeling between her legs. His hot tongue slid down her center, finding her pulsing clit.
“Oh my…” Words were impossible as his mouth worked. The hard sucks and slow licks caused a tantalizing rigidity to seize every muscle in her body.
Eyes closed, she went between hands flat on the table and then gripping his head as he worked her. Her hips writhed against him, chasing the sweet release of climax. Slipping a finger inside her, he sent a jolt of pleasure cascading across her body.
“Fuck me…Noah!” she cried, allowing the orgasm to wash over her.
“As you wish,” he said, his voice throaty.
Standing, he pulled her trembling body up. Flipping her, he bent her over the table. Spreading her legs wide, she lifted her ass in the air. His hands caressed down her back to her backside, positioning himself at her entrance.
“Ready?” He rasped, both hunger and gentleness colored his tone.
“Yes.” She moaned as he drove into her.
The delicious ache between her legs reached a fever pitch as he moved inside her. At first, his pumps were slow and soft, but soon he sped to deep, hard thrusts as she pushed her backside against him, coaxing him for more. Grasping her right leg, he bent it and lifted it onto the table, allowing himself to deepen his angle inside her.
“Fuck, Noah,” she whimpered, slamming her hand against the smooth surface of the table. Goddess, it was so good. Every nerve in her body wound tight with promised release.
“I know, baby,” he rasped, pulling out of her.
“What? Don’t stop!” Her protest answered with him flipping her around and hoisting her up onto the table.
Settling between her legs, he thrust into her. “I want to see your face when you come for me.” He pumped harder. “I want you to see what you do to me.”
Nat dug her nails into his back, her legs tight around him. His cool ocean-blue eyes became a wildfire, their heat locked on her. Like a rising tide, the release started cresting. Their gazes remained woven. The unbroken eye contact intensified the pleasure coursing through her. She gave herself over to the ecstasy...over to him. A second orgasm ripped loose, rendering her limbs useless.
“Noah!”
“That’s my girl,” he grunted, his breath shallow, heralding his coming release. “Fuck!” The orgasm shuddered through them.
Their eyes remained tethered to each other. Something different crackled in the air. Not just the post-sex glow but something more. Something she’d not let herself think. Not let herself say.
Brushing her sweat-damp hair away from her face, his blazing eyes softened. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, pressing his lips against her temple. “Nat, I lo?—”
“Shit! Sorry!” A deep voice shouted with embarrassment.
Noah’s arms tightened around her back, trying to shield her naked body from the voice behind her. The voice she knew all too well.
“Fuck,” Noah gasped, his eyes darting between Nat and the owner of that voice.
“Dude, I’m sorry. I should have knocked. I didn’t know you—” The words stopped.
Turning her head, she faced that voice, Noah’s arms still wrapped like armor around her.
“Clayton,” she croaked.
Slack-jawed and holding a pizza box in his hands was her brother. His gray eyes widened with pained bewilderment. Noah pulled out of Nat, yanked her up, and shielded her with his body. His arms were protective and almost possessive.
Eyes closed and head shaking, Clayton turned abruptly, causing him to slam hard into the kitchen’s entry archway. The momentum threw him to the ground, the pizza box skidding across the checkered tiled floor.
“Clayton!” Nat shrieked, running to her brother sprawled on the floor.
His hands covered his face. Blood poured from his nose when he removed his hands. His eyes squinted as if in pain.
“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching for him.
Clayton’s eyes went wide as he pushed her away. “You’re naked!”
Nat yelped, stepped back, and crossed her arms over her body. Noah handed her his Henley. He’d tugged on his boxer briefs. She slipped the Henley on. It hung on her like a loose dress, stopping mid-thigh.
“You’re naked,” Clayton repeated as if in a daze. He stood up facing them, blood raining down from his nose. “You…you were fu…fu…fu…fucking.”
“Clayton.” Noah’s tone was quiet as he stepped beside Nat, placing his hand in hers. “We’re?—”
Clayton lifted his hands, stopping Noah’s words. Then, his hands went to his face touching the blood. Pulling them back, he examined the red blots on his hand and then lifted his gaze to Nat. Disappointment swam in his eyes.
Nat’s heart fell to the floor. As if she was a little girl again, caught by her big brother borrowing a toy she had been told not to play with.
Clayton shook his head and walked away.