Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
NOELLE
T he closer he got to me, the more I wanted to feel him against my body. I yearned to be touched in a way I knew he could soothe me. I sensed he wanted to put his hands on me, and I needed to feel my silky skin under his callused fingers.
He didn’t.
“Open it,” he whispered, indicating his gift, a slender box wrapped in paper, covered in silver foil, and tied with a pretty white bow.
I did, allowing my fingers to linger with his for a couple of seconds. Opening the jewelry box, I gasped as soon as I saw the rose gold locket necklace. I had my eyes on it for the past year.
How did he know?
“How did you know?” I asked. “How do you always know what to get me?” I had to finally know the answer to a question plaguing my mind for as long as I could remember.
“Because I know you,” he emphasized, placing his hands over mine, and I jumped from his sudden touch.
I could feel him grinning, knowing he was the cause of the rapid rhythm beating against the palm of his hand. Slowly, he opened the locket with my hands in his, and that warm feeling washed over me. It had the perfect photo of my mom that immediately melted my heart. It was my favorite picture of her.
I had no words.
He rendered me speechless.
All I had were emotions spilling out.
His hand rose to the side of my cheek.
I was feeling so much…
Yet not nearly enough.
I sucked in a breath when he took the locket out of my hands and placed it around my neck.
“There. Now it’s where it’s meant to be.”
It was then that I couldn’t take it any longer.
It was then that it became too much.
It was then that I may have ruined the moment…
NICHOLAS
Her lower lip trembled. “What happens now? You leave, and I don’t see you again for how long? Are you here to say goodbye? How does the rest of this play out?”
There was so much emotion behind her gaze. I knew they mirrored mine. Our eyes spoke for themselves as I took her face between my hands and caressed the sides of her cheeks with my thumbs.
My thoughts.
My words.
They all seemed to be intertwined with one another, pushing and pulling like a game of tug of war.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered, peering into my chest.
I lifted her chin so I could once again look into her beautiful eyes. The pain in her voice was tangible like I could reach out and touch it, obliterate it with my bare hands and replace it with something else—anything else.
“Whatever you have to give me,” I answered simply, wiping away the tears from her cheeks.
Her lips started quivering, unable to form words. I kissed her forehead, resisting the urge to claim every last inch of skin.
One of my biggest regrets in my life was leaving her…
“I can’t lose you again,” I stated the truth.
“You don’t have me now.”
“I forgot how adorable you are when you lie.” I nodded, looking deep into her eyes. “You’re in my arms, so I’ll take you any way I can.”
A frown pinched her face as she pulled away from me, shaking her head. Breaking our connection.
Both our stares darted in the direction it came from.
“Am I interrupting?”
Still, I couldn’t get my gaze to move.
Refocus.
Connect to my brother.
With wide eyes, I stepped back, replying, “We were just leaving.”
He spoke up. “You should go inside and say hello to the family.”
I nodded.
He was right.
But at least this time…
I had her by my side.
A few men in suits were scattered around as we made our way back inside, drinking, watching while scantily-clad women danced around. The only upside for my brother was that he knew I didn’t want to own the power. I was better at getting my hands dirty than I was running behind the scenes.
I nodded at Alfred. “He in there?”
He grinned. “When is he not in? ”
The library was massive, with a black leather couch to the right. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases surrounded the room, and a wet bar stood near the mahogany desk. Everyone stood around, shooting the shit.
I narrowed my eyes, examining my father’s perfect posture while tilting my head.
“Getting started without me?” I asked, trying to break the ice.
I lifted my glass.
He lifted his. “What can I say? It’s the holidays.”
I braced myself for what would come next.
Ready.
Willing.
Eager to get this over with.
To my surprise, my father stated, “I’ve been hearing good things, and I saw the pictures of you last night. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”
“Debatable,” I joked.
“I’m going to use the bathroom,” Noelle informed. “I’ll be back.”
Looking over his shoulder and back at me, Dad added, “She’s a woman you can’t control, no matter how hard you try. She pulls you in and makes you both weak and strong. It could go both ways, Nicholas. You either get the girl with the town or you?—”
“Or I what?”
“For what it’s worth.” He tilted his head. “She’s good for you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “The only time your lies are shit are when they’re about her. And I said what I said. She’s good for you. She always has been.”
“That’s the first you’ve ever mentioned it before.”
“Better late than never. ”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“It’s good to see you home, Nicholas.”
I jerked back.
“Don’t look so surprised. Of course I’m thrilled my son is home.”
“You’re not upset over what grandfather?—”
“No. I’m not.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Why is that?”
“You do remember the last time we were in this room?”
“Yes…” I never expected what he exclaimed next, “And I’ve lived with the regret of it ever since.”