Chapter 30
CHAPTER
THIRTY
CADE
Six months have passed like pages turning in the best kind of novel—one you can’t put down, where every chapter leaves you aching for more.
The life Noah and I have been building together feels both accomplished and exciting, as if the universe or God or whoever had been waiting for me to finally catch up and gifted me with the most perfect partner.
Tonight, my house is brimming with warmth and laughter, light and happiness.
The kitchen smells of garlic, fresh basil, and the citrus heaven of Zennie’s famous lemon bars, cooling on the counter, taunting us all.
Kat’s voice carries from the dining room where she’s arguing with my uncle Geo about the price of a competitor’s listing, while Juliette and my dad canoodle quietly in the corner.
And yes, I’d very much and slightly uncomfortably call it canoodling.
Noah stands at the stove beside me, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, stirring risotto with the focused intensity he usually reserves for my eyes behind closed doors.
I brush past him to grab the olive oil, letting my hand linger at the small of his back.
He leans into me, turning his head to steal a quick kiss.
His lips are warm, tasting faintly of the red wine we’ve been sipping together, sharing one glass.
I love domestic life with him. These casual moments are everything to me now, but once would have sent me spiraling.
Now being with him settles in my chest like sunlight, like something to brag about, to be proud of. An honor.
“Keep that up and dinner’s going to burn,” Noah murmurs against my mouth.
From the doorway, my dad clears his throat with theatrical exaggeration. “You two are sickeningly adorable.”
Kat laughs, appearing behind him with a stack of plates. “Leave them alone. They still look at each other like that after six months of working together, sharing an office and basically living together? I’m proud of you both.”
Zennie pushes into the kitchen, dusting her fingertips along Kat’s shoulders. “Oh that’s so sweet to hear.”
“No,” Kat gasps playfully, clinging to her wife’s shoulders. “Honey! Let me explain!” She dramatically melts against her, and everyone laughs.
“I just need ten minutes here and there to be in my head. You know me. I love you with all of my might but being together non-stop is hard.” And with that, Zennie wraps her arms around my sister’s back.
“I know. You need your price gouging thought time.”
“That’s what I’m saying!” My uncle Geo shouts from the other room, which has Kat storming after him, a grin on her lips.
Zennie stays behind a second. “I love ganging up on her a little at the end of the night.” She makes her eyebrows leap a little. “Makes her feisty in bed.”
I hold up my hand. “Zen–absolutely not.”
She smiles, and follows after her wife, leaving my dad, myself, and Noah.
“Noah,” my dad says, coming into the room, shaking Noah’s hand. “Let’s spend a weekend together. What do you like? What do you want to do?”
“Dad–”
“I like fishing. Do you like fishing?” Noah asks my dad.
Dad breaks out in a grin. From the kitchen, Kat calls. “Oh god, he’ll cry. The child he never had who likes to fish.”
Dad lets out a low sigh and I’m fairly certain Noah is going to regret this offer because whether it matches his outward appearance or not, Ford Mercer fucking loves fishing.
“I love fishing,” Dad says. “Okay, email me your availability, trip’s on me, only rule is Cade can’t come. But you can bring your father, your brother if you have one or multiple or—you get the drill.”
Noah extends his hand to my father again, and they shake again. “Awesome. My dad loves fishing. He’d love a weekend of fishing, and he’d love to meet you.” Noah looks between me and my dad. “And my older brother, Ben, he’d love to come.”
I glance at Noah, who’s watching me with that devastating half-smile, the one that still makes my stomach flip even after sharing an office for so long, and eating every meal together, and spending every moment we possibly can together. Still makes my stomach flip.
We carry the dishes to the table together—risotto creamy and delicious, roasted vegetables, Zennie’s garlic bread still steaming.
The conversation flows easily as we all settle in to our first family dinner.
My dad regales us with stories from his latest bar opening while Juliette clings to his arm and strokes her fingers down the back of his neck.
A couple months ago I would have rolled my eyes at that.
But I get it now.
Kat talks about her upcoming listing, all while shooting Noah appreciative glances when he refills her glass without being asked.
Under the table, Noah’s foot hooks around my ankle, and heat spreads up my leg like wildfire.
I squeeze his knee in response, letting my hand linger.
The touch sends a familiar heat curling low in my belly.
In those private squeezes and unseen touches, we promise each other later, later we will get naked and feast on one another.
Later.
“So,” Zennie says, pointing her fork at us, “rumor has it you two are planning a summer trip. Spill.”
Noah’s eyes light up. He sets down his wine and turns to me, the way he always does when sharing our plans. “We’re thinking Greece. Two weeks. Santorini, maybe Mykonos. Long mornings, afternoons exploring ruins, evenings watching the sunset with a glass of wine.”
“Sounds romantic,” Kat teases.
“It will be. Noah’s been teaching me Greek phrases. Terrible pronunciation, but he’s patient.” We share another glance but then our attentions are divided, and my dad talks to Noah about boats while I get lost in detail about Kat’s new listing.
And time presses on, and before we know it, we’ve gone through several bottles of wine, two trays of Tiramisu, and my dad and Noah two cigars a piece.
The night is rich with healthy conversation and laughter, and even though I’m exhausted when everyone is out the door at midnight, I’m not too tired.
I nudge my glasses up my nose after placing the last stack of plates into the sink. Noah’s arms are around my waist before I even realize he’s locked the front door.
His lips brush my ear and heat melts down my spine like lava. My bare toes curl into the hardwood. “Leave the dishes.”
I nod, warmth already rushing up my throat, settling along my jaw and in my cheeks.
The dishes clank lightly as I let them go and dust my hands along the dish towel.
We work in tandem to turn off the kitchen lights and lock up, hitting the bottom of the stairs at the same time.
He kisses my neck and swats my ass. “Up, go up now.”
I snort. “You’ve turned caveman.”
His hand slides up my shirt and skims my spine, calloused fingers along my warm flesh. My entire body shudders and a second later, we slam into our room and topple onto the bed. His mouth thrashes against mine, teeth and tongue, moaning, both of us hard, grinding together.
Sometimes we take our time, but other times, we’re like this. Hot. Bothered. Been teased by sultry looks across a crowded dinner table all night. Been brushing fingertips all day. He left me aching this morning when I got an emergency call from Kat during a blowjob.
I’ve grown addicted to his mouth.
His hands.
Everything.
But right now, our hands seem to be working just fine. Before I know it, we’ve pulled each other out and we’re fisting one another. He strokes me a little harder than I stroke him, but I cup his balls, and he lets out a groan.
“You looked so handsome tonight. And you did so well hosting everyone,” he says to me, skating his lips up the underside of my chin before crashing to my mouth.
His kiss is tender but deep, urgent but sort of slow, too.
We stroke faster, and desire coils tight in my groin.
I’ve been horny for him since this morning. This won’t take long.
I like that I don’t have to be embarrassed if that’s the case. It’s okay. Sometimes, the reality of being with Noah is just far too exciting, and sometimes it’s the same for him, and he’s just so good at making me feel safe. It’s too much, then we’re working on round two instead of round one.
But that’s okay.
Still, right now, I think we’re both right there on the edge, already, immediately.
His grunts spill down my collar and slide against my skin, slippery and hot.
I bite his bottom lip as I smooth my thumb over his slit, smearing precum down his shaft.
He’s thick and veiny, and I clench my ass when I stroke him, just imaging tomorrow, when we have more time and more energy.
“You were amazing,” I tell him, licking along his jaw as I thrust my hips, our fists colliding as our jerking speeds up. His bicep flexes, and his skin glistens.
“Cade,” he groans, his mouth searching for mine in a panic. Our mouths collide as we topple over the edge, heat splashing between us as we pant and groan, mouths sliding together as we try and catch our breath.
We clean up, and slip into pajamas, falling asleep ten minutes later.
It’s the best night of my life.
The next morning, lying in bed, I ask Noah to move in with me and to get rid of his place. I tell him we’ll put his name on my place, too. And he accepts.
That summer, we go to Greece, and Noah gives me a ring, and we make official plans for forever.
The End.