14. In The Red

Chapter 14

In The Red

Jade

If I ran my business like I ran my love life, I’d be in the red.

I really liked Noah, and that in and of itself was the problem. He was the kind of man who could steal a woman’s heart and never give it back, and that scared the fuck out of me. Between my past relationships and my parents’ conditional love, my heart was already a mess.

I tried to imagine what it would be like to have a mom I could talk to about this kind of stuff. Someone who would listen without judgment and offer wise, caring advice.

Unfortunately, my mother was about as warm and nurturing as a block of ice. She had made it abundantly clear that I was a constant disappointment. I was too assertive, too unconventional, and too unrestrained with my sexuality. Talking to her about my complicated feelings for Noah would be like having a root canal without local anesthesia.

There was always Noelle, who was good with advice, but I already knew she would say to get my head out of my ass and go for it.

I was on my own with this one.

Splashing and laughter from next door caught my attention and pulled me out of my pitiful thoughts. It sounded like Noah was having a great time, while I was alone in my backyard, staring at my pool like it held the answers to all my problems.

There was no one to blame except myself.

“Argh, matey! Walk the plank!” A man’s voice carried over the fence, followed by the delighted squeal of a little girl before there was a splash.

I bet Noah would look hot as a pirate. He already had the roguish charm down pat, and I knew he was great at plundering the treasure between my thighs.

I wanted to march over there and let myself enjoy Noah’s company without overthinking it. But I’d been burned before, and I’d sworn I would never get caught up in a man again.

Why did relationships have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t I just let myself be happy?

I sighed, trying to push thoughts of Noah out of my mind. I’d basically told him I just wanted to be friends with benefits, even though deep down I wanted more. But admitting that felt like opening myself up to a world of hurt.

What I needed was a distraction.

I dove into the pool, hoping the water would give me some clarity. The cool water was refreshing, but it did little to ease my mixed emotions. I didn’t even know why Noah was still pursuing me after all my bullshit.

After a while, I hauled myself out of the pool and settled onto a lounger, determined to relax and soak up some sun.

Just as I was getting comfortable, a long, drawn-out cat’s yowl came from next door, followed by a dog barking.

“Honeybun, no!” a man yelled in a stern voice.

“Captain!”

Oh shit.

I bolted upright, my heart racing. How the hell was my cat getting out of my house?

Without a second thought, or my towel, I jumped up and took off. I raced around the hedge, up Noah’s driveway, and into his backyard, my bare feet stinging as they slapped against the hot concrete.

The scene that greeted me was utter chaos.

A little girl, maybe five or six years old, was crying in the arms of a young woman. From what Noah had told me on our date, I assumed it was his niece and her nanny. Noah, along with two men—all wearing swim shorts and pirate hats—were trying to wrangle a dog away from the play set.

If my cat hadn’t been at risk of being mauled, I would have stopped to admire the three gorgeous bodies on display. Besides Noah, I recognized his brother, Lex, who had hit on me at the gala. The other man, I was unfamiliar with, but I’d hazard a guess it was his other brother.

“I’m so sorry!” I walked around the pool to the grassy area where the play set was. Captain was perched on the platform like he was the captain of a ship, looking down at his deckhands .

The three men turned their heads at the same time to look at me, and I was struck by how they all had matching blue eyes. The genes were strong for the Badden brothers.

“Jade.” Noah’s eyes roamed down my body. “I’m glad you could join us.”

I rolled my eyes and moved past them to where Captain was. “Captain Purrcard, what do you think you’re doing?” He meowed, his tail swishing as he looked at me, far too pleased with himself.

Grabbing him, I held him against me as the dog whined and tried to twist free. For being a medium-sized dog, she was strong. She looked like she wanted to play more than attack.

“Sorry about this. I’ve checked everywhere and can’t figure out how he’s getting outside.” I gave them a small smile and started across the yard, Captain turning his head and placing it on my shoulder to watch the dog.

Was my cat getting out his way of telling me I wasn’t giving him enough attention? I spent time playing and cuddling with him every day, but maybe, with the stress from move, it wasn’t enough.

Noah followed me to the gate. “Let me take a look. Trying to find how he’s getting out of your own house is like looking for sunglasses when they’re on top of your head.”

I glanced back at him as I walked out of his backyard. “Nice hat.”

“What hat?” He took the pirate hat off his head and flung it into his yard as he shut the gate behind him. “The ribs are almost done if you want to come back over after we check the perimeter of your house.”

I bit my lip as we walked down the driveway, his arm brushing against mine. “My cat made your niece cry. I doubt anyone wants me there.”

Jesus, when had I become such a ball of sunshine?

“Even more reason to come over. You can apologize for your unruly pussy.”

I elbowed him but decided not to respond, because I honestly didn’t know if me hanging out with his family was a good idea. That would mean something, wouldn’t it?

Noah sighed as we turned around the end of the hedge to my driveway. “How would you feel about me cutting a hole in the hedge?”

“Is the walk too far for your weak legs?” I looked down at the legs in question. “Chickens have more muscles.”

He gasped and stopped. “I do not have chicken legs!” To prove it to me, he pulled up one of the legs of his shorts and flexed. “Look at these muscles.”

I squinted. “I can’t see anything.”

“Maybe my swim trunks are distracting you.” He put his hands on the waistband and acted like he was going to pull them down.

“Noah!” I looked behind him as a car passed.

His grin was contagious, and I felt my determination to keep him at a distance fading, just as it always did in his presence. If he weren’t my neighbor, and we didn’t have a football game to attend the following weekend, it would have been so much easier to detach from him.

We went into my backyard, and while he looked around, I put Captain inside. When I turned back around, Noah was standing a few feet away, his hands on his hips.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between us, and I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, trying to think of something to say. “Thanks.”

Noah nodded, studying me intently. “Are we okay? You didn’t even answer my invitation.”

“I know.” I suddenly felt very exposed. “I should have responded.”

“A friend would have.” Another beat of silence passed, because what did I say to that? He was absolutely right. “I should take a look around the other side of the house really quick.”

I followed him off the patio and along the walkway, my stomach twisting in knots. I’d been the one to push Noah away, but now it felt like he was the one doing it to me. I didn’t like it.

Fear crept back in. There was a chance he could break me, and I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to survive that kind of heartbreak again.

But what if he didn’t? Keeping everyone at arm’s length was a pretty lonely way to live. Wasn’t the risk worth it?

We got to the door leading into the garage, and Noah stopped, kicking at the doggy door. “This is so glaringly obvious. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked.”

“I have perfect vision. There’s no way for him to get into the garage from the house.”

He rubbed at his jaw. “Let’s make a bet.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, which drew his attention to my boobs. The top was padded, but I knew my nipple rings were still visible through it.

Oh, God. That meant his brothers probably saw them poking out and saying hello to everyone .

“Are you blushing?” Noah mirrored me, crossing his own arms.

“Not at all. The sun is just really hot over here.” I was great at lying; the house was currently blocking the sun. “What kind of bet did you have in mind?”

His eyes darted to my lips. “What are you willing to give me, Jade?” The way his voice lowered as he said my name made my clit throb.

“Anything you want.”

His eyes dilated and he grinned. “Anything I want? Are you sure about that?”

I swallowed hard, my stomach doing a flip. “I’m sure.”

Noah’s face softened. “If I’m right, and there’s a way from the house into the garage, you’re going to come over and join us for ribs.”

I wasn’t expecting him to say something that didn’t involve sex. At the very least, I expected him to want a blow job. “And if you’re wrong?”

“If I’m wrong, I’ll give you an orgasm any way you want it.”

“Oh, really?” My voice came out more breathless than I would have liked. The image of Noah’s hands and mouth on me nearly made me say screw the bet, let’s fuck right now against the door . “Deal.”

His arms fell to his sides, surprise flashing across his face. “Well, that was easy.”

“Are you calling me easy?” I moved toward him and, at the last moment, sidestepped to the door where I entered the code to unlock it.

“Easy on the eyes.” He moved behind me, the heat from his body touching me, even though not one inch of his skin did.

Why did I have the sudden urge to push my ass back into his crotch? “We should check the garage.”

I sucked in a sharp breath as his hand landed on my hip. “Open the door then,” he murmured against my ear.

Despite having opened millions of doors in my lifetime, I fumbled with the knob, finally turning it the right way and opening the door. Stuffy warmth hit me as I stepped inside, Noah still right behind me with his hand on my hip.

My garage was a bit of a disaster. There were boxes with holiday decor stacked up against the wall in front of my car and empty boxes thrown in the space on the other side.

“This is quite the pile.” He let go of my hip and kicked a box across the garage.

I went to the door leading into the house and gestured to it like I was Vanna White. “Unless there’s an invisible pet door, there’s no way my cat is getting out.”

Noah walked to the boxes and stopped to the side of them. “These aren’t all the way against the wall.”

“Yeah, I know. I didn’t want any spiders or creatures setting up shop back there.” I crossed my arms and watched curiously as he started moving boxes, the muscles in his forearms flexing as he moved each one.

“Well, well, well.” He stood back. “Come look.”

No way was there a pet door in the wall. The other side was my kitchen.

I moved next to him and peered behind the boxes. “What the hell is that? A door for a Smurf?”

He laughed and pushed the small door closed, which didn’t sound like it latched shut. “It’s to unload your groceries easier. I have one leading into my pantry too. Do you keep your pantry door in the house open?”

“Enough for Captain to go in for food and water.” I couldn’t believe I’d completely missed the small door. Then again, it didn’t look like it was open.

Noah shimmied behind the stack and fiddled with it. “The door handle is faulty and doesn’t latch. He’s probably able to push it open from inside, then to get back in, he uses his paw on the handle. It opens and shuts easily.” He moved out from behind the boxes and stalked toward me. “I’m a little disappointed I lost the bet.”

“What do you mean? You’re getting exactly what you want. Me feasting on your ribs.” I backed up as he came closer.

“I think I want an appetizer.” His eyes devoured me, and I gasped as I ran into the door of my car.

“Wouldn’t it be considered dessert?” My hands went to his chest as he stepped into my space. I wasn’t about to stop him, and I trailed my fingers down his abdomen to the waistband of his shorts.

“I guess I’m just a man who likes to enjoy things out of order.” He cupped my cheek, and our lips came together in a needy kiss.

It was easy to want to push him away but so damn hard to do it.

“Is this good enough for an appetizer?” I asked against his lips.

He nipped my bottom lip before kissing his way to my ear. “It’s not the appetizer I had in mind.” His fingers ran down my side to my bikini bottoms.

My heart raced as he knelt in front of me, his eyes locked on mine. I swallowed hard, my body trembling with anticipation as he slowly pulled down my bikini, leaving me bare. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my inner thigh before lifting my leg onto his shoulder. His tongue traced a path from my knee to my hip, causing goose bumps to spread across my skin despite the warmth in the garage.

I moaned, leaning back against my car for support. Noah’s breath was hot against my skin as he continued to taste everywhere except where he was supposed to.

His fingers moved up my inner thigh, leaving trails of fire in their wake. He paused at the apex of my thighs and looked up at me with hooded eyes.

“Aren’t you going to…” My voice trailed off, my body aching from his teasing.

A teasing smile played on his lips. “Am I missing something? Maybe if you tell me what you want.”

“You know what I want.”

“You’re right. I know what your greedy little pussy wants.” Like a snake striking, he flicked my clit ring with his tongue.

I grabbed hold of his hair as he flicked the ring over and over. “Yes! Noah!”

He pushed two fingers into me unexpectedly, causing me to cry out. My head fell back against the car door as pleasure coursed through me.

His free hand left where he was gripping my hip and reached down to pull out his cock. I watched him, my breath catching, as he began to stroke his length. The sight of him pleasuring himself while pleasuring me sent a new wave of arousal rushing through me.

He curled his fingers, hitting the spot that made me see stars. Pausing his torture on my clit for a moment, he licked his lips. “Is this what you wanted?”

I could only whimper in response as his mouth descended once again, sucking on my oversensitive clit.

“Let go for me, Jade.” His voice vibrated against my heated skin.

The order sent me crashing over the edge a moment later with a loud cry that echoed in the garage. I clenched around his fingers, wishing it were his cock.

“Oh, God!” My body shook almost violently as he continued to stroke my G-spot.

His growl vibrated against me, his own pleasure clear in the way his hand moved frantically along his length until he came.

My chest heaved as his fingers slowed, and he pulled away with a grin. “Best appetizer I’ve ever tasted.”

I shoved his head playfully as his fingers slipped from my wetness. “You’re infuriating.”

“And yet you still love me.” He paused as he pulled my bikini back into place before shaking his head like he couldn’t believe he’d just said that.

Something twisted inside me. Disappointment? Excitement?

There was an awkward silence as he stood, his cheeks flushed pink. I couldn’t tell if it was from the temperature in the garage, his orgasm, or because things between us were still a big fat question mark.

“I should go put on something thicker.” I gestured to my bikini top. “I’ll be over in a few.”

When I moved to step past him, he caught my hand and threaded our fingers together.

His eyes searched mine for a moment. “My brother suggested that I give you space, but I’m not sure if that’s what you want.”

“Noah…” I didn’t know how he could read me so well so soon, but he was right.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” He lifted our linked hands and pressed a kiss to the back of mine.

“You’re not wrong,” I whispered, tears springing to my eyes. “You scare me.”

“Because of your ex?” His jaw ticked when I nodded. “Give me his name. I might have chicken legs, but I can still kick his ass.”

I laughed. “He’s not worth it, trust me.”

He looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but instead, pulled me into a hug. “Then letting him play a part in your life isn’t worth it, either.”

Even though it had been a year, the pain of his infidelity still stung like it had happened yesterday. It wasn’t even that I still loved the asshole. I didn’t. But knowing I’d been so vulnerable and had opened myself up to being hurt... that was what I couldn’t forget.

I pulled out of Noah’s embrace and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I’ll be over in a few minutes, okay?”

His face lit up with a smile that I never wanted to see disappear.