by Blue Saffire
She and TJ bob their heads as they giggle together. I look over to my left where Heather was standing, but she’s gone. I wrinkle my brows, but shrug it off and sit on the little bench seat at the entrance of the Black house.
I tug the paper from the bag and then remove the box. Lulu climbs onto the seat next to me and settles at my side. TJ must have gotten bored and taken off. Beans in his little get up, comes and settles at my feet.
I open the box and a tablet is nestled inside. It looks brand new. I recognize the handwriting on the Post-it right away. It’s Noah’s chicken scratch. The note is simple.
Turn Me On.
I pull the note off the screen and push the button to bring the tablet to life. I gasp when the screen comes to life and then my brows furrow. It looks like the cover to my comic book, but it’s not. My comic has the hero and the heroin on the front cover.
This one has a pic of just the hero and it has been changed a bit. A laugh bursts from my lips. I fashioned my characters to look like myself and Noah. I didn’t do it intentionally. It just came out that way.
However, to now see a replica of my comic book cover with a Noah lookalike on it, although unlike my character, shirtless, makes me laugh. The hero is not only shirtless, but he has the same compass tattoo on his chest that Noah has, only it is magnified.
I swipe the screen to flip the page and it opens to more drawings. I am floored. Tears start to roll down my cheeks. For weeks, Noah has sat and watched me work on my comic, in the software from the classes I’ve been taking.
I never thought much of it when he asked me questions about what I was doing or how to do this or that. I just thought he was trying to take an interest in what was important to me. I was excited to share with him what I’d learned and when he asked me questions I didn’t know, I was eager to figure them out so that I could share with him.
Now looking down at this tablet, I realize how amazing my man is. Not only did he learn to manipulate my original images, he listened enough to make some of his own. Shit, Noah, this is amazing.
The images are of two little kids. A boy and a girl. More tears spill over as I realize he recreated the day he taught me to ride my bike with the training wheels. I flip the page again and it is an image of when he took my training wheels off and taught me to ride without them. When I flip to the next image, I burst into laughter with my tears.
It is an image of my fight with Tommy Henry. Only in the image before me, I’m wearing a cape. I’m astonished by how great the images are. My heart fills with pride and love.
I keep turning pages as I read through our story. This is our story, a story neither of us realized was a love story for much too long. When I flip to the last page, my lips tremble. It is an image of Noah holding me in his arms, one hand cupping my face, as he looks down at me lovingly. He has a cape on that is flapping in the wind and his hair is blowing about as well. I giggle because it is a great rendering. I am dressed in a wedding gown that looks so much like my high school prom dress, only in white and the veil on my head is flapping in the wind, much like Noah’s cape.
At the bottom of the page, this is the beginning, is written in Comic San script. I wipe at my eyes and look up from the tablet. Lulu is still sitting beside me cheesing up at me.
“Come on, Uncle Noah said to bring you when you get to this page, come on,” Lulu sings.
I laugh and take her hand to follow her, clutching the tablet to my chest. Lulu rushes forward on her little legs. I laugh and follow her as best I can in my heels. I gasp when we reach the backyard and I see all of our family and friends crowded around in front of a stage. Nellie, Rage and Crush are on a raised stage and Nellie begins to sing Chrisette Michele’s, Couple of Forevers.
I stand in awe as I look around at all the smiling faces. They’re all holding a single white rose. My parents and the Blacks never closed off our yards from each other so the number of people spanning both yards has even more tears rolling down my cheeks.
I mean everyone is here. The whole Black family, the Mairetties, Donatis, Briggs, Nick and Sephora, my mouth falls open when I see Brooklyn smiling back at me. I am speechless as I look around for Noah.
I don’t see him as our friends and family start to move forward to hand me rose after rose, as they hug me and kiss my wet cheeks. My mom and Cass each take a side while holding a basket each. I start to place the roses in the baskets, mom takes the tablet from my hand. I smile while searching the crowd for Noah. The Black brothers are the last to line up and hand me a rose each.
Nellie sings her final note and a new song starts and Ryan hands me his rose. On stage, Rage begins to sing a new song and I recognize it after a few notes. It’s, Marry Me, by Train.
I’m done for. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn. Noah is standing behind me with a dozen more white roses. He looks just like my very own super hero. His hair is loose, and he has on a white dress shirt and black slacks. He has trimmed his beard low once again, not the longer beard he had been wearing for a year now.
As cute as I think he is, Brock O’Hurn has nothing on my Noah. His golden eyes are lit up and misted with tears as he looks down at me. I don’t know how I ever missed how much he loves me. Not just as a friend, but so much more.
I take the roses and Noah drops to his knee. I start to cry so hard, I can’t see. Noah grabs my waist and pulls me to him, burying his face in my belly. I can feel him shudder against me. I run the fingers of my free hand through his hair. Noah kisses my belly and looks up at me with moist, long lashes.
“Come on, Baby. Stop crying, I need to get through this,” Noah says hoarsely.
“Sorry,” I sob and laugh.
“I love you so much, Rebecca Bean. I’m just sorry it took me so long to tell you. I lied to myself and everyone else for so long. I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to marry you. Even before I got my shit together to tell you how I felt.
“You were born to be Mrs. Black. You were made for me, Baby. We’ve been through so much and you are still by my side because that’s where you belong. My Rebecca, will you marry me?” Noah has a pleading look in his eyes, as if I would ever say no.
I place the roses in one of the baskets so I can cup his face. I press my lips to his. “I’ve dreamed of marrying you since I was a little girl. Yes, Noah Black, I will marry you,” I say against his lips.
Noah captures my lips in a blazing kiss, wrapping his arms around my thighs as he stands to his full height with me in his arms. I yelp and wrap my arms around his neck as he holds me up in the air.
Everyone around us claps and cheers. It is only then that I remember them all. Noah places his forehead to mine, not lowering me from the air.
“I love you,” he says with a huge smile on his face.
“I love you too. I can’t believe you did all this for me. Those renderings were amazing, Noah. You did so good,” I gush.
His cheeks pink. “I may have watched a few YouTube videos,” he chuckles.
“You did awesome, Babe, we may have to work together sometime,” I giggle.
“I told you we’d take over the world,” Noah groans and pecks my lips.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Daddy Drama
Bean
Five months later…
Noah’s proposal turned into a big engagement party. I am still shocked at all the people that were there and everything Noah did to pull off the best proposal ever. I think I look at that tablet, at least three times a day, to read or personal love story comic.
I am still in awe of Noah’s work. The time and effort he put into it gets me every time. Each time I look at it, I notice details I didn’t notice the first time. Like, the fact that he painted in my favorite purple sneakers in the training wheel bike picture, or the baby stroller in the background of the final picture.
Everything about that day was perfect. Noah loved my dress after all and my hair made him smile. I wish I could place that day in a snow globe and watch it take place over and over ag
ain.
I honestly need to remember that day these days. Mom and Cass have been driving me crazy with wedding plans. I know we’ve only had six months to plan a wedding most people take a year to plan, but they have been relentless.
I’m not even sure if I’m the one that decided to get married in Ireland or not. Those two hurl so many things at me, I agree to most of them just to keep my sanity. I really don’t care as long as I get to be Mrs. Noah Black, I’m golden.
What I’m having a hard time with is my parents acting all strange lately. My dad is avoiding me, actually they both are. Like really, dodging me. It’s pissing me off big time. In the last week, mom has made up some of the dumbest reasons for me not to come by or reasons to cancel our plans.
Truthfully, I’m annoyed with them both. Mom has been attached at my hip for the last five months. Now my wedding is in a matter of weeks and they are acting all weird. Mom has been putting things off on Aunt Cass.
I’m still getting used to the idea of calling Aunt Cass, Cass as she keeps telling me to do. I’m grateful that she is picking up my mom’s slack, but I know something is going on.
“What’s wrong,” Noah whispers in my ear as he walks up behind me in the kitchen. He places his warm hand on my hip and nuzzles my neck. I wiggle away as his whiskers tickle my skin.
I have been chopping our chicken for dinner to death, as I fume about my parents. “Nothing,” I mutter.
Noah snorts. “Really,” he pulls the knife from my hand and turns me. “It doesn’t look like nothing. What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
“It’s Mom and Dad. They are being weird. It’s like they are avoiding me or something. I swear, Noah, if he has started drinking again… Why now? Why do this shit right before my wedding,” I fume.
“Baby, let’s not jump to conclusions. We don’t know that he is drinking,” Noah replies and kisses my forehead.
“We don’t know that he isn’t either. I swear, Noah. If he fucks up my wedding, I’ll never talk to him again,” I huff.
Noah chuckles and pulls me into his chest. “Baby, relax. I’ll go have a talk with your dad and make sure everything is alright. Everyone has a lot on their plates. With the wedding being in Ireland, everyone has been moving things around to be there. I’m sure they are just working things out like everyone else,” Noah tries to reassure me.
“Bullshit,” I pout.
Noah gives a full belly laugh and pecks my lips. “I promise I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Noah chuckles. “Stop stressing. You’ve been forgetting things and scattered lately. Maybe you are doing too much.”
“No, I’m not doing too much,” I feign thinking innocently, while tapping my chin. “I think it is more of a lack of sex. I think I’m suffering from lack of dickitus,” I say with a straight face.
Noah’s eyes darken as he looks at me hard. He bursts into laughter, but scoops me up and plops me on the counter. With one hand he swipes everything into the sink beside us.
“Hey, that was our dinner,” I fuss.
“Baby, you killed that chicken. It was not going to be edible. I already fired up the grill to make us some steaks,” Noah chuckles.
I bite my lip and laugh. “Yeah, I kind of screwed that up, didn’t I,” I admit.
“Fucked it up royally,” Noah snorts.
“Let me make it up to you,” I purr.
“When I finished devouring this pussy I might,” Noah grins as he reached for my shorts and starts to tug them off.
I place my hands on the kitchen counter and lift my ass up to allow him to pull my shorts all the way off. Noah looks so hot as he bites his lower lip, while he keeps his eyes on his task. His lids are hooded and I swear if it’s even possible, I can see him salivating as his eyes look at my wet center.
“Noah, this is torture,” I grumble as he takes too long to get to the task at hand.
“Since when have you become so impatient,” Noah teases and slows down some more.
He slowly peels my tank top up over my head. I lift my arms to help along as he inches the shirt up so slowly, making sure his fingertips graze my skin. He reaches for my ankles and slowly runs his hands up my calves to my thighs. I bite my own lip because the slightest touch feels so electrifying. Noah places one hand on my belly and pushes my back flat onto the island top.
Noah bends my legs at the knees and places my feet flat on the island top. He then proceeds to tease me by running the back of his finger down my right thigh. He licks his lips. “Stay just like this,” he commands.
I nod my head in anticipation, not moving an inch for fear that he will make me wait longer. Noah moves to the refrigerator, removing the caramel sauce. He then gets the ice cream from the freezer. I furrow my brows. “Um, Noah, I thought you were going down on me, not making a sundae,” I burst out laughing.
“Whatever,” he snorts and saunters back over. He reaches in the drawer for a spoon, then begins issuing commands. “Hands over your head,” he smirks.
I lift my hands over my head, obeying his command, once again. Noah reaches in another drawer for some twine. “Um, we’re trussing chickens now,” I smirk.
“That smart mouth is going to get you in a whole lot of trouble, Baby,” Noah mumbles as he looks me over.
He reaches to tie my hands together. A shiver runs through me as the bulge in his pants grazes my folds. I hiss and buck off the counter. Once my hands are secure, Noah drags his palms down my arms to my breasts. He cups them in his hands and kneads them, before rolling my nipples in his fingertips.
Noah licks his lips and dips his head to kiss the side of each of my breasts. I moan and writhe beneath him. Noah chuckles and continues to kiss his way down my belly.
He lifts to his full height again and reaches for the ice cream. I pant with my mouth open as I watch him. He scoops out a heap of vanilla ice cream, but he doesn’t place it on my stomach like I thought he would. He drops it right onto my mound.
I gasp from the cool cream against my flesh. Noah groans as he watches it drip down between my open legs. He trades the ice cream for the caramel sauce. He begins to pour the sticky sauce over the ice cream and some into my belly button.
When he is satisfied, he places the sauce aside. Noah reaches for my folds and parts them with his thumbs. I can feel the ice cream and sauce drip down to my crack.
“You look delicious,” Noah murmurs, then dives in.
I lace my fingers together and arch up towards the ceiling. Noah is a pussy eating master. Seriously, I think he lives for it. My toes curl against the counter as he devours the ice cream, caramel, and me.
I am screaming his name in no time as his tongue dives into me and he slurps at my pussy and the melting ice cream. My eyes squeeze shut as I lift my hips, riding his face. Noah pushes two fingers inside me and I am done for. I try to reach for the edge of the counter above my head as I come hard, but my sweaty fingertips slip.
Noah locks his arms around my thighs and pins me down. This man never leaves well enough alone. He is going to eat this pussy until he has had his fill. My belly quivers as I try to blink and settle my racing heart for the next round.
“Feeling good,” Noah chuckles into my core.
“Yes, baby,” I purr.
“That’s all I want,” he smiles into me.
I scoff. My man knows how to distract me with no question. I smile at the thought and let him have his way. I love this man.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Haunted Past
Noah
We get married in a little less than four weeks. I can’t have Rebecca stressing about her father. It’s time he and I have a little chat. I really hope he is not drinking again. That shit is going to piss me off.
I ring the bell to Bean’s parents’ home and wait. Chase Lockhart cracks the door open and sighs when he sees me. He opens the door wider and lets me in.
“I figured you’d be here soon enough. Bean send you?” He asks as he turns and walks into the sitting room.
I shrug and fo
llow him. “She’s pissed and wants to know what’s going on over here. I don’t want a pissed bride, so I’m here,” I reply.
Chase nods and takes a seat. “Yeah,” Chase runs a hand down the front of his face. “We have a big problem, Noah. We don’t want to alarm Bean, so Jennifer and I need to keep our distance,” he pauses and looks at his palms.
“What’s that supposed to mean,” I grumble.
“Noah, I never do anything without a purpose. I’m going to share something with you. You have always loved Rebecca. Everyone knew it except for you two. When I asked you to take her to the prom, it was because I needed you to see her as the young woman she was becoming. I knew the rest would fall into place with time.
“I just wanted to see my baby happy. She didn’t deserve the shit Jennifer and I had to put her through. We thought once we cleared things up, we would be able to make it all better for her,” Chase stops and shakes his head. “It took a lot longer than we initially thought.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like where you’re going with this,” I grunt.
“You’re not and I’m not going to sugar coat it. I think my Bean is in danger. Bean’s life has been threatened and in order to keep my baby safe, I need to find out if this has something to do with my past.”
“Wait, what did you just say,” I cut him off.
“It’s a long story,” Chase sighs and runs a hand down his face.
“Well, I suggest you start talking,” I growl.
“Listen, kid. If you didn’t come to me, I was going to come to you. She is my baby. I’m taking this as seriously as you are, so hear me out before you decide you want to lock horns with me. We’re on the same team,” Chase says and twists his lips.
I just narrow my eyes at him and wait. I only want to hear one thing. Who the fuck am I about to kill?
“I had lived in my brothers’ shadows for years. I was young and cocky and wanted to make a name of my own. When I got a call to go on a special mission with a different team, I thought it was my chance to make a name for myself. To show I could do things without my brothers. It was stupid. I didn’t know those guys and I didn’t know the commanding officer. The call was odd in the first place, but I had something to prove.