Everyone’s eyes go wide, and Ciarán’s mouth parts into a shocked expression before schooling his features. He nods in acknowledgement while looking around, avoiding eye contact like he’s uncomfortable with Aiden being pleasant.
Theo rolls his lips between his teeth, trying to contain a smile. He leans in and whispers something in Ciarán’s ear, and whatever it was gets him a swift elbow to the gut. Theo grunts before walking outside, tears of laughter streaming down his cheeks.
I walk out beside Aiden while Gabe and Ciarán lag behind, still debating something about upcoming events the store could take part in. Theo is across the road, talking to Abbie while smoking a joint, leaning against his bike.
“You good?” I ask my friend.
“Yeah. Of course,” he responds absentmindedly. “Anyway. Gotta go, man, this little lady is due a nap.”
He calls goodbye to everyone as Rose waves and shouts, “Bye-bye, Kee!”
Gabe and I split from the rest and walk back to the store hand in hand. He opens the door and flicks on the lights. I linger for a moment, just watching him.
He turns and catches me looking again.
“What?” he asks. That shy smile I love so much making an appearance.
“Nothing,” I say, heart fuller than it's ever been. I bump his shoulder with mine. “Just... you.”
His smile grows. He gives me a little hip check.
“Yeah. Just… you too.” He chuckles before leaning in and pressing his lips to mine.
The start of a whole life is growing here. One I want more than anything. And I’m the lucky bastard who gets a front-row seat to Gabe Shaw shining brightly.
41
GABE
Noah’s lips are warm against mine, his tongue moving in passionate strokes as he holds me close, pushed up against the glass panel of the store door for everyone in Willowrun to see. I couldn’t care who sees when he feels this good against me.
He pulls back to press a kiss against my cheek, then the other. His mouth finds a path down my throat as a needy sound escapes me. He drags a wet kiss across my Adam’s apple and groans, “Why do I have to go again?”
I laugh. “Work.”
He makes an irritated noise. “Fuck work. I want to stay right here and worship your body all day.”
He sucks lightly on my throat, making me shiver. My head feels foggy, and his idea definitely has merit,so much merit, but I come to my senses long enough to whisper, “Tonight.”
When he pulls back, his eyes find mine, and all I see is warmth and love. Neither of us has said it, but it’s in his eyes, in his touch. I want to tell him, I’m planning to tonight. I’ve waited long enough, worried something will go wrong, that Noah will tire of me. But I don’t see that happening. He’s all in. He’sproven it over and over, in every whispered conversation and every gentle touch. I think the only reason he hasn’t said it is because he’s worried he’d scare me off, or maybe he thinks I don’t feel the same. I hope that’s not the case.
It’s been a couple of weeks since we made love. I can’t call it fucking because it was more than that. We’ve had sex a few times since then, and every time, it’s the same. I feel such an intense connection with him that only grows. This rightness inside me, like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’ll never find this kind of connection with another soul. Noah Richards owns my heart, and I know it’s safe with him. He’ll treasure it and guard it—treat it more kindly than anyone else ever could.
I thought I knew love before, but I know now, that was never love. Noah has taught me the beauty of being cherished, every day, in a thousand small ways.
I brush my hands along his sides, running my thumbs over his ribs. I kiss his cheek, then the other, like he’d done to me. The smile he gives me feels like sunshine on my face, warm rays breaking through every dark day I’ve had.
“Tonight,” he agrees, and I have to fight the urge to squirm when thoughts of what we might do tonight come to mind. Then he brings his lips back to my neck, leaving another trail of open-mouth kisses, making me grin.
“Noah,” I chide playfully.
He pulls away, groaning like he's in pain. “Fuck, you’re too tempting, but yeah, I better go, I told Aiden I’d grab us coffees on the way.”
I wrinkle my nose at the thought of coffee. Noah chuckles, kissing me again while muttering, “Tea snob.”
I wrap my arms around his shoulders and squeeze him to me, breathing him in before letting go. “I was thinking we could do something this weekend, maybe have everyone over for dinner?”
He pulls back and kisses the tip of my nose. “Sounds perfect.”
