Chapter Twenty-four
With Thea’s approval, I have all the flowers and props ordered and scheduled in preparation for her wedding in a couple of months.
Time has passed so quickly; I can’t believe it’s almost been a month since Noah offered to help me achieve one of my goals.
Everything has changed since then, and the future now looks entirely different for both of us.
Since the date, we’ve spent every day together; now it’s the Friday before the Gala.
Nerves have had me rattled after I realized it’s our first public event since we became an official couple.
The speculation over the years about our relationship should have me prepared for this, but rumors and facts are two very different things.
No articles have been particularly mean about me and my worth, but I know when they find out we’re now together, tones will change.
I am fully aware that the press is full of sharks, and tabloids love to rip people’s lives apart to dig up secrets and insecurities.
I mean, just look at Thea and her new fiancé; they ripped both of them apart because of it.
Sure, maybe they shouldn’t have been having an affair, but to dig into pasts like that… it’s terrifying.
I closed up shop early today to be able to drop my dress off at the dry cleaners to be prepped for tomorrow, and now, I’m pushing through the doors to a little bistro where I’m meeting my sister for a late lunch.
I haven’t seen her since I told her that me and Noah were going to be trying for a baby, though she has text and called a few times.
I was just short in my replies. Sue me, I close off when my feelings get hurt.
The cool air of the bistro is a relief from the late summer sun now baking the city, removing any evidence of the three days of continuous rain we had. Spotting Luce at a little table toward the back, I beeline for her, almost knocking over a waitress on my way.
With a quick apology, I finally make it to my sister and nephew, the guilt of my silence weighing on me.
“Sid,” she stands up when I get to the table, opening her arms for a hug that I gladly take.
“I’m sorry.” I say.
“No,” she pushes back. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.”
I shake my head, “No, you were right.” I glance at my nephew sleeping peacefully in his stroller and then take a seat. “I am in love with Noah.”
Her eyes, a match to mine, widen, “What?”
“You were right.”
She blinks a few times and then frowns, “Has he hurt you?” She demands.
I’m momentarily shocked at her sudden protectiveness.
“I’m going to kill him. Where is he? At work?”
“Hey woah!” I laugh, “He hasn’t hurt me.”
“So why are you telling me this?”
“Because he loves me too.”
Another slow blink.
“We, uh, we’ve decided to give this a real go.”
“A real—holy shit, are you guys dating!?” She says it so loudly, the tables around us all glance our way and her son stirs a little beneath the hood sheltering him from the worst of the light.
“No need to shout,” I laugh. “Damn.”
“Sidney, I’m so serious right now. Are you two actually dating?”
“Yes,” I swallow.
“Damn it.”
My head snaps back, “Excuse me?”
“You just lost me a hundred bucks.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask but the waitress comes to take our order, halting our conversation for a few minutes.
When we’re finally alone again, she answers.
“Me and mom have had a running bet for years.”
My mouth drops open.
“She called it,” Luce shrugs, “I figured it would be a couple more years yet.”
“You took bets?” I whisper hiss.
“What?” Luce laughs. “I’ve always known you’ve been in love with him; I just thought he would take a few more years to figure it out.”
“You didn’t think he was in love with me?”
“No, I did, but men are weird.” She shrugs. “I wasn’t sure he’d get it together to pull it off. It’s why I was so worried about him hurting you with this whole baby thing. I honestly thought he wouldn’t figure it out.”
I shake my head, “Well, I’m glad you lost money. You shouldn’t be betting on people.”
She laughs and shrugs, “I’m happy for you, Sid.”
I soften, “Thank you.”
“So when’s the wedding?” She grins, sipping her soda.
When the road is clear, I jog across it to Noah’s office building, pushing the large glass doors open into the foyer.
Since my name is down as an approved visitor, they don’t need to call up and instead provide the key for the elevator.
No one pays me much attention as I climb into the cart and hit the button for his floor, the elevator music filling the awkward silence as we travel through the floors.
There’s only two people left in the cart by the time I make it to Noah’s floor, but they don’t get out.
I wave to a few of his employees as I pass their desks, pushing into the area where I know Lauren is seated. Noah’s office is just behind that.
Her eyes flick up, and immediately her lip curls, her eyes dragging down me in distaste. Her dislike of me is really starting to piss me off.
“Hello Lauren,” I greet her. “He in there?”
“In meetings,” I know she’s lying, purely because I already texted him ahead of time, making sure his schedule was clear.
“I’ll let you correct yourself,” I say, keeping my tone calm.
“Well, if you already know, why ask?”
With a shrug, I give her a saccharine smile, “Just wanted to see what you would say.”
She rolls her eyes and slams the lid of her laptop closed just as Noah opens his office door, a frown pulling down his dark brows as gray eyes flick between the two of us. “All okay?”
“Excuse me,” Lauren gets up but keeps her eyes down, all that bitchiness hidden now her boss is present, “I’m going to lunch. Do you need anything, Mr. Calahan?”
I shake the bag. “I’ve got it.”
A flicker of annoyance crosses her face, but she masks it quickly and then disappears, leaving the two of us alone.
“She cannot stand me,” I laugh, entering his office when he widens the door for me.
“What?” The door closes behind him.
“Lauren. She doesn’t like me.”
“Why do you say that?”
I shake my head and dump myself into the large chair in front of his desk. “Don’t worry about it. It’s harmless.”
Anyone with eyes can see the hearts in hers when she looks at Noah.
“Do you need me to have a word?” He settles into the chair behind his desk and pulls the screen of his laptop partially closed.
“No, it’s okay,” I hand him his lunch, and we settle into a conversation while he eats.
“Did you need anything before the gala tomorrow?” He throws his trash into the can beside the desk and swirls his chair a little, opening his arm in an invitation for me to come to him. And I don’t decline. Since this has started, I have jumped at every opportunity to be close to him.
When I step between his legs, he turns the chair back toward the desk, forcing me to move with it, and then he lifts me, sitting me right in front of him.
“I don’t need anything,” My fingers toy with the collar of his shirt, the buttons at the neck popped.
His cell pings on the desk beside my thigh, and his eyes jump to it, reading whatever notification flashes up, but when his eyes return to me, they’re darker than they were before.
“Are you still sure about the whole baby thing?” He leans back in his chair, running his middle finger over his lower lip.
I frown, “Well, yeah?” It comes out as a question. “Why?”
One side of his mouth ticks up. “Don’t tell me you worked out all those important dates and didn’t even set yourself a reminder.”
Realization dawns on me, but he’s right; I hadn’t set any reminders. I usually check my calendar in the morning, but I’d forgotten to do that today.
“Since we’ve covered the three-to-five-day window before,” His hands slide up my thighs, “that leaves the day of.”
I shiver under his touch. “How do you know that?”
“Baby, it’s not just you who wants this. I want it too. I read up on it.”
“Well, we have tonight,” I breathe.
“And right now,” he drags me to the edge of the desk.
“Here!?” I feel my eyes widen, though I have no idea why I’m so shocked by the idea. At this point, we’ve had sex more times outside of the bedroom than in it.
“No one will come in,” he smirks. “And since you brought me lunch, it’s only fair I have dessert too.”
“You’re insatiable,” I laugh.
“Years of pent-up desire will do that.” He leans closer, “Now bring your pretty ass here and kiss me before I lose my mind.”
I don’t miss a beat, leaning forward to plant my mouth on his.
His tongue seeks entrance, and I part for him, letting him in as I thread my fingers into his hair while his hands tug at my shirt, pushing it up until I have to pull away.
He drags it over my head and drops it to the floor, returning his mouth to mine.
His fingers work down the straps of my bra, pushing away the material so he can get to me.
I wasn’t wrong; this man is insatiable. It’s never enough; no number of kisses is enough, no amount of touching.
My skin pebbles with the pass of his hands, my body responding to his touch in a way that I cannot control.
“Lift your hips,” he rasps, his finger bumping against the shorts I’d picked out for today.
I do as I am asked, letting him pop the button and yank off the denim, leaving me entirely exposed.
The cool air of the office skates a chill over my skin, but he’s quick to push that away, his mouth trailing hot kisses from my neck and down my chest. Arousal knots low, spreading an ache down my thighs and between them.
“Fuck, baby,” He groans, “You’re going to need to be quiet for this.”
I nod eagerly, watching as he yanks at his shirt to get it untucked and unbuttons his pants, pulling out his leaking cock a moment later.
“Pull your panties to the side,” His teeth sink into his bottom lip as his chin hits his chest so he can watch himself spread my pussy lips with the crown. It feels so fucking good.
He slips down to my entrance, pushing only an inch inside, but we both startle when a loud, heavy knock sounds at the door. He pulls back abruptly, and I whip my head over my shoulder, waiting for whoever is on the other side to barge in.
“Mr. Calahan!” Lauren’s voice sounds panicked on the other side, “It’s an emergency.”
“Shit,” he hisses. I hop down off the desk, gather my clothes and tuck myself under it, unsure what else I’m meant to do.
He sits down, his pants still undone, leaving his cock, hard and ready.
The opportunity is too good to miss. Pressing up onto my knees, I wrap my hand around the base and lean close, licking the tip. He calls for Lauren to come in, his voice wavering a touch as I taste both him and me there and wrap my lips around the head.
The door opens and I take him further into my mouth.
“Mr. Shaw is on the phone,” Lauren rushes out.
I suck him in deeper, reveling in the way his hand thumps against the table.
“Got it, I’ll grab it in just a moment.” His voice is strained and full of gravel.
“He said it’s urgent,” Lauren continues.
I take him so deep into my mouth, my gag is almost set off, so I pull back and bob, sucking and twisting with my hand, using my tongue to lick at that sensitive spot just beneath the crown.
“Got it,” if I’m not mistaken, that was a squeak in Noah’s voice. I grin around his shaft, keeping my momentum, sucking and licking, feeling him twitch between my lips. “I just need a minute.”
“Is everything okay?” Lauren asks.
“Yep,” Noah rushes out. “If you don’t mind shutting the door on the way out.”
“Right, uh,” Lauren hesitates. “No problem.”
Flicking my eyes to the side, I see the death grip his hand has on the arm of his desk chair, so tight, indents are surely going to be left behind.
“Fuck, Sid,” he groans low. “Don’t stop.”
His pleasure is almost as good as my own orgasm, the sound of that rasp as he moans, the way his muscles twitch and his hips move just a little to slide into my mouth further.
“Just like that,” he praises, releasing one hand to slide it into my hair.
I add a jerking motion with my hand, using it to get the part of his cock that won’t fit in my mouth.
His hand tightens in my hair, adding a sting to my scalp, but I still don’t stop.
Not when I can feel his body practically vibrating and ready to release.
“Shit,” he whimpers, “I’m going to come.”
I keep the pace, wanting him to spill against my tongue, needing it in fact, and when he does, I swallow it all down, licking the tip to get any drops I missed. He slumps back as I sit back onto my heels, wiping the corners of my mouth with my thumb, eyes on his face.
“I shouldn’t have swallowed that,” I tease.
He chuckles lightly, shaking his head, “Gonna fucking kill me, Sid.”
I give a delicate shrug, “Figured I’d repay the favor.”
He chuckles, “I need to pick up this call.”
“Go ahead,” I reach for my shirt and pull it back over my head as he tucks himself away and hits answer on the phone.
“Shaw.” He greets Isaac coldly.
“We’ve had a breach,” Isaac rushes out, “Need your help fixing this shit.”
Noah sits forward abruptly, his eyes flicking to me and then up again, “What kind of breach?”
“They’ve stolen the app data.” Isaac says.
“Shit,” Noah hisses. “I’m on my way.”
The call ends with a beep, and I get to my feet, reaching for my shorts.
“I’ve got to go, baby,” His eyes flick between mine, “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey,” I touch his arm, still only in my panties, “It’s okay. Go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Promise,” I assure him, “I’ll meet you at your place later?”
“Yeah,” he kisses me quickly and then grabs his keys and cell, “I love you.”
“Love you too,” I soften, watching him rush across the room. He only opens the door a touch, so no one sees inside and then closes it again, leaving me to get dressed and head out alone.
I take my time since I have nowhere to be, but eventually I grab my things and head out too.
“I know what you were doing.” Lauren’s bitter tone grates against my nerves.
“What do you want, Lauren?” I sigh, tired of her bullshit.
“I knew you only wanted him for one thing.” She sneers, crossing her arms with her holier than thou attitude. Damn, she’s looking at me like I’m nothing but dirt on the bottom of her shoe.
I roll my eyes, “I don’t need to listen to you, Lauren. You really need to grow up or something; we aren’t in high school fighting over the same boy.”
“All this hanging around, the food, the gifts. You just love it, don’t you? All that money.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline at the accusation. “I’ve known Noah for almost twenty years, Lauren.”
“I see right through you.”
I shake my head, “You see whatever you want to see, but you know the truth.”
“Which is?”
“Noah and I have been friends for a long fucking time. What we share is more than what you can even dream of, and your jealousy stinks. Move on.”
Her lip curls, but I don’t bother saying anything more. It’s unnecessary, and I certainly don’t need to be fighting a battle with someone who has no fucking idea about our story. As I step out of the building, my phone buzzes with a text.
Noah: I’m sorry, cricket. I promise I’ll make
it up to you. I love you.