Chapter 26

twenty-six

Rose

I blink, my mouth parting in shock at Noah’s words.

When I got the call from my advisor while at the diner, I was petrified; my only thought was how I would keep working two jobs before I burned out. Getting that degree was the only thing helping Diego and me out of this small apartment because I refuse to accept handouts from Noah and my dad.

I was already emotionally drained because my dad texted, begging me to talk to Alejandro because he’s apparently struggling with his guilt, and him and Vanessa are having problems. Then my advisor, Jean, mentioned Noah was the reason I’d been pulled off the program, and she can’t change the board’s decision, which means I’ve just wasted two years trying to get a degree.

All those hours, wasted.

Lack of sleep, time away from Diego, down the stupid drain….

I shake my head. “Noah, I-I can’t afford that course, and my scholarship can’t be changed.”

He half smiles and nods. “I know, which is why it is paid off in full.” I suck in a breath. He grins wide, gently rubbing his thumb along my jaw. “I know you want to reject it, I know you don’t want help, but Rose, you’re already starting to trust me with your heart; if you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be moving me in, testing me to see if I can like living here, to see if I’m still the same old boy who said he’d live in a cardboard box as long as it’s with you.”

My tears fall, but I shake my head. "I can’t let you do this, Noah….”

I know he has money now. I also know, through Barn and Cam, that he’s barely spent any of it, other than on his Mustang, house, and the ring, but that doesn’t mean I want a cent of it. Because I don’t.

He smirks. “It’s already done, and I didn’t pay for the whole thing alone.”

I hear his insinuation and instantly refuse, " No. I know I’m starting to forgive my father, that I’m letting him be a grandfather, but he kicked me out, Noah. He gave me an ultimatum: school or Diego. I don’t want anything from?—”

He butts in, “And you made the right choice, and he knows this. He loves you, Rose, and he loves our son. He knows he made a mistake, but he’s also proud of you because you never gave up. You became this strong, independent woman he and your mother always wanted you to be, not relying on his name or his money for your future. Let him do the right thing now, Petal. Let him help his daughter achieve her dreams. You’re not happy in the business program; you hate business, you always have, even when your father tried to force it on you, you refused. Animals, they are your calling, they always have been.”

My heart hammers, my breathing shallow. The only reason my father agreed to pay what the scholarship didn’t cover two years ago was because I was graduating a year early. Before that, he refused, thinking my career choice what ridiculous.

Biting my bottom lip, I admit one of my fears, “And what happens when I complete the nonpractical work online and have to go onsite for the practical, Noah?”

His eyes gaze into mine, his brows furrowed in confusion, before it clicks, and his eyes widen a little.

A smile graces his handsome face, and he rasps, “Is that what you're worried about, baby? Me touring while you’re doing what you love?”

I look down, not wanting to admit it, especially when, yes, I’ve slowly started moving him in to test him, but the trust isn’t fully there.

What if I’m stuck here, and he goes on tour, remembers how much more fun it is without me around, and leaves me again?

Pathetic, right?

Noah gently forces me to look up, and our eyes connect, and he whispers, “If that’s the case, then I’ll just have to ensure your practical is during our tour breaks. Where you go, I go. The boys agree. I won’t leave you again, Rose; I love you too much.”

I instantly refuse, “I can’t let you do that, Noah.”

He presses his lips against mine, and I melt. We’ve kissed a few times in the past month, but not enough, and I know we need to take things slow, but a little more kissing would be nice.

He pulls back just a touch, and asks against my lips, “Tell me something, Petal. If I did that, if I ensured our tours are not when you’re doing practical so you and Diego are right there with us, would that strengthen your trust in me again?”

I squeeze my eyes shut. I hate it, but it most likely will, because it means his career isn’t as important to him as me and our son.

I nod, and he sighs. “Then there is no reason to argue over it, Petal. I won’t lose you, and won’t have you working toward a degree you don’t even want. You’ve spent two years putting our son first, and your wants, your feelings were pushed to the back burner. Fuck, you even went days without food just so he could eat. And, as of today, that stops.” He kisses me gently again, then whispers, “Now, I have missed my girl shit loads….”

I snort at his words before pressing my lips against his, wrapping my arms around his neck, not thinking, just feeling.

He groans and bends a little, his hands gripping my thighs before he lifts me, and instantly, I wrap my legs around his waist.

I feel us move, but I don’t stop the kiss; instead, I deepen it.

I moan when I feel his tongue bar glide against my tongue before suddenly, he lets go of my thighs, and I drop my legs as he breaks the kiss.

Both breathing hard, we make eye contact as he grabs the hem of my uniform, and slowly lifts it. I don’t stop him; instead, I lift my arms, and he takes the fabric off, throwing it across the room. Without breaking eye contact, he steps forward, pressing our bodies together as his hand goes behind me, unclipping my bra. It falls to the floor.

He takes a step back, his eyes taking in my body, and a small part of me wants to cover myself, but I fight against it.

Noah unbuckles his belt, and then unbuttons his jeans, before removing them and his boxers simultaneously, his eyes not leaving my body.

I bite my bottom lip.

The man is a work of art. His narrow hips, slim waist, six-pack, and pecks are covered in tattoos. A very large rose over his left peck makes my heart melt.

This man loves me, he loves me so much he fears his own feelings. I understand that, I do, but it doesn’t mean he’s forgiven just yet, though a few orgasms may help….

Sucking his lip ring into his mouth, he squeezes his member and walks over to me, grabbing my neck.

Noah slams his mouth against mine in a quick, searing kiss, before rasping, “Suck me Rose….”

My clit throbs at the thought, lust hitting me hard, and without a thought, I kneel. I smack his hand away from his extremely hard member, the head already turning purple with the need to come.

Looks like my man is not going to last long….

Ignoring my crazy mind, I smirk and grip his girth hard at the base and twist, causing him to groan, which soon turns into a moan as I lick the tip, the pre-cum instantly hitting my taste buds—musky and salty….

Moaning, I take him into my mouth, right down to my hand, where I’m squeezing and twisting as I suck hard.

“Fuck, Rose, yes…” Noah croaks, gripping my hair, but he doesn’t take control, giving me the opportunity to give him pleasure.

My head bobs up and down, my tongue moving underneath his member as I suck while twisting my hand, giving him all the pleasure.

“Rose…. It’s been over a month, baby; I-I’m going to come,” Noah stutters, his hand gripping my hair tighter.

I suck harder as I bring my other hand up and grip his balls, squeezing and rolling them in my hand. And that does it. Noah tries to pull out, but I grip his butt, keeping him in place as I suck, taking him into the back of my throat as he comes.

His taste overtakes me, and I moan around him as he shouts, “Fuck yes, Rose!”

I continue sucking until I feel his member soften. I pull back and lick the tip for good measure, before Noah pulls back and grabs me underneath my arms, and throws me on the mattress. I squeak then giggle as he jumps on me. I moan as his lips hit mine, his tongue tangling with my own, tasting himself.

Noah gently rubs his semi-hard member against my pantie-covered entrance as he breaks the kiss, and moves his lips to my jaw, down my neck, and then takes a nipple into his mouth.

I grasp his hair and moan as he works me up, my hips rubbing against him harder, needing a release.

I feel him smirk against my skin as he kisses my stomach and rasps, “I think I need to return the favor, huh, Petal?”

Before I can answer him, his lips find my clit through my panties, and he sucks hard, causing my back to arch.

Yeah, returning the favor definitely sounds good right about now….

Hours later, I slowly trace Noah’s tattoos from where I’m lying on top of him.

After he made me come twice with his tongue, he made love to me, then screwed me hard and fast before making me ride him, and I haven’t moved since we both came.

I’m not sure what time it is, but I have already decided to call in sick tomorrow. I want to spend time as a family, and I don’t think that makes me an idiot—not anymore, at least. We’ve both faced so much hurt, and I want to try and put it behind us, now if only my brother would just leave me be, then everything would be alright, or at least I hope will.

“What you thinking about, Petal?” he asks as his fingers gently trace my spine.

I hum and admit, “My dad texted today. Al is apparently struggling with guilt, and he’s asked me if I’d meet him to hear him out.”

Noah sighs. “And what did you decide?”

I shrug. “I haven’t. Vanessa slapped me, and he said I was dead. He was my protector but didn’t protect me when I needed him most. Plus, there is a lot more where Vanessa is concerned, and I’m not sure if he was in on it or not.”

Noah nods and says, “I’ll stand by whatever you decide, Petal.”

I smile a little. “But you think I should meet with him?”

I look up at him, resting my chin against his chest, and he chuckles. “You know me well, huh?”

I nod and whisper, “Of course, I do. You’ve been the love of my life since I was thirteen years old.”

He grins and pulls me up, pressing his lips against mine before holding me tightly to him.

“I think you need the closure, just like we both needed to get the hurt and pain from the past out in the open to move forward. Now, I’m not saying speak to him and then forgive him; he hurt you in ways a brother never should, but I do think you need to get everything off your chest. You need to give him your truth, and your pain, not the other way round, for your sanity and for you to let go and move on with life, either with him a part of it or not. Whatever route you choose, I’ll back you one hundred percent.”

I sniffle. “I love you, Noah Scott. Over the years, that’s the one thing that has always been constant, and I think that’s why I was so angry. My love never died.”

He nods, gently running his fingers through my hair. “We’re going to be okay because I love you too, and sometimes, love can be enough. In our case, it’s what pulled us back together again.”

Tears fall, but I ignore them and press my lips against his, our tongues instantly tangling as he rolls us so I’m on my back.

I hear a rustling, and then suddenly, in one thrust, he’s inside me, where he stays for the rest of the night and into early hours of the morning.

I don’t know what the future holds, I just hope that I don’t crash and burn.