Noah's Journey (Sawyer Brothers #3)

by C. A. Harms

  I hung up with Bernie and immediately dialed Stacey’s number. After two rings, she answered. “Hi.”

  “Hey.” I took a deep breath before continuing. “So Bernie called.”

  “I assumed he would. I never should have pulled that stunt yesterday, and I’m sorry.” I immediately picked up the pain in her voice. “I want him to know you, Noah. I want him to have his father in his life. This may not be the situation I was hoping for, but keeping him from you is only taking away something he needs. I won’t be that kind of mother, not anymore. I’ve made too many mistakes. It’s time I start making some right choices.”

  “Thank you,” I replied. “You don’t understand how much this mean to me.”

  “I think I do, because I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. You did nothing wrong, Noah. I made those choices on my own, and like I said, it’s time to change my ways.”

  “I’ll have him back to you by noon. We stayed up a little late watching movies. He’s still crashed out in my bed,” I explained, and she laughed softly.

  “Okay, sounds good. I should be home. If not, my mother will be.”

  We said our good-byes, and for the first time since Stacey and Austin arrived back in Livingston, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

  ***

  After I dropped Austin off to his grandma, I drove straight for Sassy Ladies. I was still riding high with the news Bernie had given me and feeling like a little bit of a celebration was in order.

  When I approached the front doors and saw Alena through the windows, my heart raced even more. Taking no time to talk myself down, I pushed through the doors and walked straight for her.

  Her eyes grew wide as I stepped behind the counter and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her body flush against mine. A small squeal of surprise escaped her just before I covered her mouth with my own. She wrapped her arms around my neck tightly, and I traced her lips with my tongue as she prodded my mouth with her own.

  I’d begun backing her toward the countertop behind her just as a loud hoot broke through my lustful state.

  When I pulled back and looked down at her, she appeared just as turned on as I was. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were red and swollen from our kiss.

  “Damn, brother, you know how to make an entrance.” I turned to find Jackson and Bailey staring at us with huge smiles covering their lips. “Makes me wanna take my woman home and get a little bit of my own,” he added as he stepped up behind Bailey and made some obscene gesture with his hips.

  She swatted at him and tried to pull away, but you could see she loved his attention. The two of them spent more time naked than doing anything else. Most of us refused to go by their place without calling first, because you never knew what you would be witnessing if you arrived unannounced.

  I turned back to Alena, deciding to just tune out my perverted brother and his eager girl. She lifted her head, and our eyes met once more. “Not that I didn’t truly enjoy this little display of excitement, but is there a reason behind your happiness?”

  “One, I honestly have wanted to do that since the moment you left the ranch last night.” I winked when she bit her lower lip. “And two, I have just been given shared custody of my son.”

  Her eyes widened as she placed her palm against my chest. “Really?”

  “Yeah, so I would say we have a few things to celebrate tonight.” I smirked, thinking about the things I wanted to do to her the moment I got her alone. “You up for a little celebration?”

  “What did you have in mind?” she cooed, and I could tell she was intrigued.

  “Dinner at my place,” I said as I placed my hand over hers, which was still resting against my chest. “Followed by dessert,” I whispered. I wrapped my hand around hers, lifted it to my lips, and kissed the palm. “And just in case you are wondering, you, Alena, would be dessert.”

  A soft sigh escaped her as she stared up at me in awe.

  “Holy hell, this is like watching soft porn,” Bailey whispered. I looked over to find her staring at Alena and me with a bright smile.

  I cocked an eyebrow at her, and she shrugged. “Oh, don’t even pretend you haven’t watched it too.”

  Jackson had truly landed him a wild one. Bailey had no problem with saying whatever was on her mind. She didn’t care who heard it.

  “What time?” Alena asked, bringing my attention back to her.

  “I’ll be waiting outside when you get done here. We’ll go over to your place and grab your things, but honestly clothes are optional, so I’ll leave that up to you.” She blushed once more, knowing Bailey and Jackson were still witnessing our exchange. “But tomorrow being Sunday, you are closed. And I don’t have to be at the station until two, so I plan to use every bit of that time celebrating immensely.”

  I gave her one last kiss before I stepped back and turned toward the door. Just as I placed my hands against the handle and gave a gentle push, I looked back over my shoulder. “I hope you got a good night’s sleep last night, sweetheart, because you ain’t getting much rest tonight.”

  When her cheeks reddened once again, I chuckled. I loved the effect just a few little words had on her. I left her standing in her shop with Bailey and Jackson both howling out obscenities. I had never met two people more alike than those two.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alena

  I had butterflies in my stomach from the moment Noah walked out of my shop five hours ago, and my mind raced with the dirty thoughts he had put there. Closing time felt like it would never arrive. I had my keys in my hand, ready to lock the front doors at 4:45. I was giddy and a whole lot turned on. I mean, how could I not be after the visit he had given me earlier? Noah was a man that knew exactly how to leave an impression and give a girl a whole lot to look forward to.

  As I locked the front doors and turned toward the bakery and my apartment just above it, I smiled wide. There leaning against the corner of the building was Noah, with a knowing gleam written all over his face.

  As I crossed the road, he pushed off the building and placed his hands in his front pockets, never taking his eyes off me. If at any point in time I thought it was impossible to get turned on by just a look, I had just been proven wrong. Noah was looking at me like I was a meal he had been waiting days to receive.

  “Good evening, sweetheart,” he said with a smirk.

  “Yes, it sure is,” I replied with a matching smile.

  As I stepped up in front of him, he encircled my waist with his arm and pulled me close. “And it’s about to get a whole lot better,” he whispered before his mouth covered mine.

  In that moment, I probably would have done just about anything, but in the center of town, on full display for curious eyes, was not the best place.

  When he pulled back, we were both breathless.

  “Maybe we should skip the trip upstairs to your apartment,” he said, still staring at my lips hungrily.

  “Why?” I asked

  He chuckled. “Because if I follow you upstairs, I’m pretty sure we won’t be leaving.”

  I cocked an eyebrow at him, and he pointed down toward his waist. I followed his gesture with my eyes and immediately noticed an impressive erection pressing against his jeans.

  “Maybe I should go up alone. Give you a little time to gain some control.” I bit my lip to fight my laughter.

  “Yeah,” he groaned as he placed his hand over his cock and pressed down. “That’s probably the best way to handle this.”

  “I would have to agree,” I said, my voice laced with desire. I stepped around him, keeping a safe distance and began backing myself down the alley toward the back entrance to the bakery. My goal was to move as quickly as possible, gather my stuff, and get back downstairs. I wanted to move things along just as bad as he did, if not a little more.

  ***

  The sweet aroma that hit me the moment I stepped past Noah and into his home was mouthwatering. It was sweet and tangy all mixed together,
making my stomach growl with yearning.

  “Wow, that smells amazing.” I moaned in delight.

  As I felt Noah step up behind me, my entire body came alive. “Thank you, but the only amazing thing I smell is you,” he whispered only inches from my ear, and chills immediately covered my neck, rushing down my back and arms. He skimmed his lips over my ear before he placed a soft kiss against my neck. “The way you smell, that sweet vanilla scent, does things to me.”

  I stood frozen in place while I concentrated on the feel of Noah’s lips and their sensual assault.

  “I’m sorry about how tense things have been lately,” he said in a strained voice.

  I turned at his words and faced him. “There’s no reason to apologize. I know it’s been stressful for you with not knowing what would happen with Austin from one day to the next. Yeah, things got a little strange for a while, but I understand.”

  He placed one hand on each side of my face and tilted my face upward. Our eyes locked. “You are incredible,” he said in a whisper before he placed his lips against mine. “Now that things are more secure, I hope that means I can take this thing between us to the next level.”

  “Well, I have to admit, that sounds perfect to me,” I confessed, and the smile he now wore was the kind that made a girl do things without thinking twice about them.

  I rose up on tiptoes, placed my lips against his, and wrapped my arms around his neck. Within seconds, he spun me around with my back against the door and hooked one of my legs over his hip as he ground his hardness against me. I moaned into the kiss when he hit the spot where I needed him most.

  “Can dinner wait?” I asked before pressing my lips to his once more. I lowered my hands to the waistband of his jeans before he could answer and began unbuttoning his jeans.

  Noah was fit—not overly bulky, but solid. He was strong and dominating, and in his hold I felt so fragile and delicate. And with each touch, he treated me as if I was a treasure, the perfect gift given to him to savor.

  “Dinner can definitely wait, sweetheart,” he said in a husky tone.

  I knelt before him as I slid my hands inside his jeans and lowered them down his thighs. I peered up at him through my eyelashes, giving him an innocent look. I couldn’t help biting my lip to stifle a moan. The look in his eyes gave me chills. He was so turned on, and that fueled my desire. I wanted to please him. I wanted to hear him moan and know I was the one person who could make him feel so damn good.

  The moment I encircled his cock with my fingers, he thrust his hips just enough to urge me to continue. Wasting no time, I held him firmly as I lowered my lips to his erection. Ever so slowly, I began sliding my lips over him as I took him in farther and farther.

  “Damn,” he moaned as he braced his hand on the doorframe above my head, his eyes locked on my lips. I continued to slide him in and out of my mouth, watching him as he focused on my movements. The hunger in his eyes was a huge turn-on. I allowed my eyes to close as I focused solely on giving him pleasure.

  “Alena,” he whispered.

  My eyes opened, and I looked up to find him squeezing his eyes shut so tightly, he looked as if he may be in pain.

  I let his cock fall from my mouth. “Are you okay?”

  He shook his head and took in a deep breath. “We need to move this to the next room.” He took a step back, his eyes now half-open as he reached for me. “Come on, sweet girl.”

  Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his and allowed him to lead me to his bedroom as I hummed with need.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Noah

  I slipped from bed long enough to turn the oven on warm. As I slid back beneath the comfort of the cool sheet, I curled around Alena’s naked and oh-so-inviting beauty. Contentment washed over me when she wiggled and snuggled back against me. A satisfied sigh left her when she found the warmth she was seeking. Her hair slightly tickled my nose before I carefully gathered it and laid it above us over the pillow, giving me an unobscured view of her face.

  After spending over an hour devouring one another slowly, she dozed off, spent from our lovemaking. I no longer cared about dinner or the dessert I had picked up from Amber at the bakery. Now all I cared about was this moment, this closeness with Alena. The sun had begun to set, and it cast a soft glow over the lake. The light shined through the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the back wall of my bedroom.

  I lay next to her, just taking her in, etching every freckle, every dip and curve of her body into my memory. She was without a doubt the most alluring woman I had ever met, and she had that sweet innocence I loved. Yes, being the man I was, I had dreams of corrupting that innocence, but who could blame me? She was breathtaking.

  I jumped in surprise when my phone rang from the floor beside the bed. In our rush to get our clothes off, I was surprised we hadn’t broken it. Hanging half off the bed, I retrieved it from my jeans pocket and answered the call, hoping to not wake Alena in the process.

  “Hello?” I said as I righted myself and rolled over to face Alena, where I found her watching me with a gleam in her eye. I followed her line of vision and found that the sheet had slipped below my waist and left me completely exposed. I smiled and looked up to find she was now looking directly at me, biting her lower lip.

  “Noah.” A soft voice came from the phone pressed to my ear, and I remembered I had a phone call.

  “Uh, yeah,” I said before clearing my throat to try to take my focus off my growing erection. “It’s me.”

  “Hey,” Stacey said, sounding timid. “I hate to bother you, but I think Austin left his blanket at your house. I tried to convince him that he could go one night without it, but he won’t budge. He’s got a severe attachment to it.”

  I scanned the room and saw the familiar piece of green material dotted with a firetruck pattern. “Yeah, it’s here. Do you want me to run it into town?”

  “No, actually, if it’s okay, I was already in my car on the way over. I was hoping to save time by just calling you from the road. He’s exhausted and kind of turning into a little grizzly bear.” She laughed.

  “Yeah, sure. See you soon.” I ended the call and turned to face Alena.

  “Stacey is on her way over,” I said. Alena cocked an eyebrow in question, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. She was fucking adorable. “Austin forgot his blanket and he needs it.”

  Alena’s hard look softened at the mention of my son needing something, and that warmed my heart.

  “What do you say we get up, get dressed, and maybe have dinner? Maybe meet back here in a couple hours for a repeat of earlier?” I wagged my eyebrows suggestively, and she smiled brightly. Her smile did shit to me, made me weak and willing to give her whatever she asked for.

  “I think that sounds perfect.” She leaned over me and kissed me, gently nipping at my lower lip. “Especially the part about the repeat.” Now she was the one wagging her eyebrows.

  I watched in awe as she crawled over me and strutted off toward my bathroom, gathering her clothes on the way. Fucking hell, I was in trouble with this one.

  ***

  I slipped on my clothes and quickly made my way to the living room, where I stood by the front door, watching through the small window at the side, hoping to make the exchange before Alena emerged from the bedroom.

  The moment I felt her arms slip around my waist and her palms sneak beneath the hem of my shirt, I shivered. Closing my eyes, I focused on controlling the urge to turn around and take her against the wall. Her touch lit me on fire like no woman’s ever had before.

  A soft knock made me jerk in surprise, and Alena buried her face against my back, laughing softly. I could only shake my head at her. She obviously knew she could get my mind racing—and my body.

  Her laughter stopped, and she pressed her lips to the center of my back, between my shoulder blades. “I’ll just go get dinner ready for us,” she said as she stepped back and moved toward the kitchen.

  Most women would have stayed right there, hoping
to prove a point, stake a claim, or whatever the hell you want to call it. But Alena left without another word, not even a glance over her shoulder as she disappeared around the corner.

  I opened the front door to find Stacey wrapped in what looked like a robe. She had on pajama pants, a pair of fuzzy boots, and a beanie. Not the look I was accustomed to when it came to her.

  “Hey,” she said as she looked down at her appearance and rocked back on the heels of her boots. “Forgive the attire. It’s movie night, and I didn’t see the point in changing.”

  “I’m all for comfort,” I replied as I held out Austin’s blanket.

  “Thanks. This will make tonight go a whole lot smoother.” She offered me another smile as she took the blanket and stepped back. “Again, I’m really sorry if I interrupted your night.”

  “No such thing as an interruption when it comes to something my son needs,” I assured her, and I could tell she felt the same way.

  “Well, enjoy the rest of your night,” she added as she turned and began walking back down the steps toward her running car.

  “You too,” I hollered after her. “Drive safe.”

  She waved over her shoulder as she crawled inside her little red car.

  I closed the front door as she began backing down the drive. When I turned, I found Alena rounding the corner with plates and silverware in hand. She offered me a wink as she began setting the table.

  I just stood there in the doorway, thinking about how drastically my life had changed over the course of the last month. I couldn’t be happier than I was right then.

  “You gonna come over here and eat? Or do you plan on just standing there staring for the rest of the night?” As Alena sassed me, I knew things were gonna be just fine between her and me.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Alena