"I don’t understand how I didn’t know this was here the other night."
"It was pretty dark and your eyes were pretty much glued to the sky." He shrugs and claps his hands together. "Now wait here while I go back to the car to get something."
He starts walking back the way we came from.
"You're not gonna leave me here are you? Cause I'm pretty sure I don’t know the way back home." The guy seriously doesn’t think I can get anywhere alone.
He turns back to me and shoots a wide grin my way which makes my tummy somersault.
"I'd never leave you, Liv. Ever."
My heart misses a beat and I can't help thinking his statement is referring to more than him leaving me in this field.
He turns to walk away, he really does have a fine ass on him. I laugh to myself at how quick my thought change.
No more than five minutes later, Noah comes strolling towards me, a picnic basket in one hand and gray and red checked blanket in the other. His green eyes are shining with satisfaction. I'm sure the doofus is quite proud that he managed to keep this part under wraps. He's definitely more than just a pretty face.
He lies the blanket on the ground and sits on it, stretching and crossing his legs. Nobody can be this hot and it's not until he grabs my hand to pull me down to the ground that I realize I've been shamelessly staring at him. I can feel the blush creep up my cheeks. Christ, I didn’t even know I still had it in me to blush about shit. Well they say you should learn something new about yourself everyday, seems that I'm not as unaffected by shit as I originally thought.
I pop open the lid to the picnic basket, peering in as my stomach grumbles in complaint that it still hasn’t had any breakfast. Inside the basket is bottled water and a bunch of containers containing different foods. I pull the top one out that contains strawberries. Yummy.
"Here, let me." Noah says taking the container and pulling the lid of.
He takes a strawberry and holds it toward my mouth, his eyes never leaving mine. I take a bite and his pupils dilate at my action. I feel a surge of pride go through me that I can affect this hunk so much. The juice from the strawberry dribbles down my chin as I duck my head and wipe it on my arm, giggling like some over-excitable schoolgirl. Shit, when did I turn into one of those dimwitted twits I despise so much. Here I am, letting a guy who can have any girl he wants charm me. Nuh uh, get it together, Liv.
I've completely lost a handle of this situation and I don’t like it, not one fucking bit. I'm not sure when Noah was able to get the upper hand but I need to nip this in the bud asap. I do what I do best, play to the best of my abilities. I stick what I'm sure and I damn well hope is a sultry expression on my face as I take a strawberry and bring it to Noah's lush lips, licking my own as I do so. Just as I expect, his eyes stare at my lips as I nudge his mouth open with the fruit. He sucks it into his mouth before taking a chunk out of it with his teeth. Ok, that shit was a bad idea, now I'm even more of a mess.
I take a deep breath and turn away, not willing to meet his eyes. I'm already pretty much a wet mess on the floor, I need to pull myself together. No matter how I feel, I can't be getting into this stuff.
Noah puts his finger under my chin, bringing my face back round to meet his gaze.
"Don’t hide, not from me." His voice is a sexy low rumble.
I clear my throat.
"Okay more questions." I'm pretty sure that came out in one word. I give Noah a weak smile that he can probably see right through. Let's just say, I don’t have a future on Broadway with my acting skills. "What college are you planning on going to?"
Ah that’s much better. That should keep any kinky thoughts away for the time being. Noah visibly tenses though, as he rubs the back of his neck.
"I'm not planning on going to college."
"What are you gonna do then? Football?"
"I'm gonna be a cop." The smile that lights up his face reminds me of a child's when they think Santa's coming. This is obviously his dream.
"Wow." I give him an encouraging smile. "Wait, I've heard your Mom talk about you going to college. And Dickw-, I mean Brady."
He holds a blade of grass between his forefinger and thumb, pulling it apart.
"They kinda don’t know. You're actually the first person I've told."
Does it make me a complete loser if that sends my heart soaring? The answer would be yes.
"Why haven't you told anybody? Are you afraid your Mom's not gonna be happy? Cause I think it's great that you wanna join the police."
"Not at all. My Mom'll be psyched that I'm not leaving to go to college. She thinks I don’t know that she's all nervous about it. Brady, hes so damn excited though, thinking we're going out into the world as brothers. We've been planning this since we were kids, going to college and partying up a storm. I just don’t see the point in wasting four years to get some degree that I'm never gonna use when I can straight off do what I want when I'm done with High School."
I clutch onto Noah's hand, hoping it gives him a little support. I regret bringing it up since it's got him all down but I'm happy he confided in me. He squeezes my hand as its encased in his much larger one and we sit there silently like this for a while. He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear, cupping my face afterwards.
"Why does this feel like a date?" I whisper, though not feeling any panic.
I'm slowly starting to realize that I've been completely hoodwinked. The picnic should have been a clue with those fucking strawberries, not to mention the getting to know eachother shit. I'm not as bothered by it as I should be though, if anything I feel touched that he's gone to all this trouble. Even if he felt the need to do it in the fucking early hours of the morning.
"That’s because it is." Noah's boyish grin near enough makes me melt on the spot.
"So you said we have a full day of plans." I state, hoping whatever else he has planned is in public to quell my raging hormones.
"Shit I almost forgot. I'm in the habit of doing that when your around." Well someone's smooth. He starts packing the containers away and stands up, grabbing my hand and pulling me up with him. After picking up the picnic blanket and shaking it out, he resumes holding my hand and we make our way back to the car. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. I'm soon being bundled into the car while Mr Crazy even tries to belt me in. That’s where I draw the fucking line and I'm soon snatching that shit out of his hand and glaring at him. It only seems to get a chuckle and head shake out of him though. Fucking men, give them an inch and they try to take a mile.
He plants his ass in the drivers seat, shooting me a smirk and a wink that turns my insides to goo. I'm mentally scolding myself for being such a damn prissy bitch. If I wouldn’t look like a total nutcase id slap some sense into myself.
"You know, I still don’t have a clue where we're actually going now."
Ass has the nerve to tap his nose and grin, earning an eye roll from me.
"Aaaah Liv, I don’t think I've ever met someone who rolls their eyes as much as you." He says, obviously tongue in cheek.
"If I didn’t live in a world with so many fuckwits who do fuckwitted crap, I wouldn’t feel the need to roll my eyes so much." I smile sweetly at him.
We cruise right past the 'Your now leaving Franklin' sign and my confusion continues to grow. Noah turns on the radio and Taylor Swift blares through the speakers, earning another eye roll from me.
"What? Don’t like a little Tay-Swizzle?" The jerk wiggles his eyebrows up and down as she sings about knowing some jerkass was trouble or something.
"Nope." I say making a popping sound,
Noahs grin grows as the jerkass starts to sing along. I put my head in my hands, where the hell did this guy come from? I've always been under the impression that guys listen the crap like Rap or that stuff that isn't even music, just vibrations of the speakers.
"Turn that shit off or I swear I'm getting out this car, moving or not. I've already listened to that song too much for one lifetime."
"You honk that horn, I'll castrate your ass." I say, raising my eyebrows. That earns me a wink and before I know it hes beeping the damn horn. I'm about ready to slap him up his head before the signs removed and some pot bellied forty year old guy with a red Colonel Sanders mustache winks and lifts his Black Sabbath T shirt, showing off his hairy beer belly.
I laugh my ass off as Noah pales.
"Holy shit, I need to bleach my eyes out."
I hold my sides as he shakes his head as if trying to erase the image from his mind. Well if that’s not shit backfiring, I don’t know what is.
***
We drive past a black and gold sign that says 'The city of Savannah welcomes you' and I can just imagine the muddled look on my face. What the hell are we doing here?
"Noah-"
"Uh uh don’t say a word. All will be revealed soon."
I consider sassing him but decide against it. He navigates the car through the streets as I take in his unbelievable handsomeness. His face is perfectly sculpted, he really is a fine looking man. I realize that I feel completely care free, not a worry in the world. Noah seems to bring that out in me, complete happiness. Its hard to believe I only arrived in Franklin ten days ago. Yeah sure its still a shitty little town without a Starbucks but it definitely feels lighter there. None of the negativity that seemed to cling to me in Atlanta. My relationship with my Dad has vastly improved in just ten days, an easy back and forth has ensued, what with how much of a doofus he can be. Pams a sweetheart even if she makes me a little uneasy sometimes, only due to the fact I'm not used to living with a woman that’s not a crazy bitch. Chase, the little knucklehead, isn't any trouble, though the same can't be said for his annoying ass friends. I'm not even gonna mention Sylvester, Dr Evil's cat. And then there's Noah, ruggedly handsome, ridiculously protective, dreamy Noah. This guy just has me spinning in circles and I'm not even sure if I want it to stop anymore.
I'm much too busy checking out hot stuff next to me, that I don’t even notice that we've come to a stop. I take a quick glance out the window, I don’t know what I was expecting to see but I barely hold in an excitable scream. I look at the green and white goddess logo and just know that I'm grinning from ear to ear. Now some people probably think getting excited over a coffee shops silly but I say that those people are fucktards. You see, I've always lived a couple of blocks away from Starbucks and anyone that says that shit isnt addictive, they don’t have a clue what they're talking about. I've pretty much been living off Soda and that swill Pam claims is coffee for nearly two weeks now and I'm sure the sweats and shakes are gonna be coming soon. Before I even have the chance to work out my own thought process, I'm throwing my arms around Noah's neck. I don’t know what on earth I was thinking doing that, the guy is just a solid chunk of muscle, all hard ridges and manliness. I'm not just a little emotional because I'm finally gonna get my fix, I know I've mumbled and grumbled about the whole coffee situation all week and Noah actually listened to me, he's driven nearly an hour out of town on a Saturday to get me something that I want and need. I don’t think anyone's ever gone to that sort of effort for me before, sad but true.
"Thank you." I give Noah a wide smile before jumping out the car, not even waiting for him to be gentlemanly this time. The first thing I do when entering the building is take a big breath in, inhaling the scent of coffee. I walk over to the large wicker baskets near the counter that are nearly as big as me and start piling boxes of the branded instant coffee and a few packets of coffee beans in my arms. I'm gonna have to get more online, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before. Noah walks in, takes one look at my overpacked arms, shakes his head and goes over to the basket and grabs a few more things. That’s my boy!
After paying we sit down in one of the cozy enclosed booths staring at each other over our cups.
"I don’t think I've ever seen someone get so excited over coffee. Maybe I should have taken you to a support group or something cause you take caffeine lover to the next level." I roll my eyes, maybe he's right, I do seem to do that a lot. Ah, it's only because he brings it out in me.
"That’s because your not used to real coffee. That poor excuse for it they serve at Annabelles would be laughed outta Atlanta."
"You miss Atlanta?" He asks while taking a sip
"Not really." I shrug. "I miss my best friend Trina and her family but that’s about it."
"You sound like your close with them."
"Yeah, I practically grew up with them, they were really good to me."
"What about your Mom?" I can feel my body go rigid at the mention of the Bitch. Although Noah knows that me and the woman who birthed me don’t get along, he doesn’t know any details. Nobody really knows the full fucked up details of Dana Preston's mothering skills. I'd like to keep it that way.
I'm sure he gets the hint since I don’t answer and he doesn’t push, though I know that from my reaction, his interest has been piqued. You'd think after so many years with my I-don’t-give-a-fuck mask in place, I wouldn’t let it slip, but Noah just knocks my defenses right down. I'm still contemplating whether that a good or bad thing. One thing is for sure, I'm not totally comfortable with being so vulnerable with someone, especially a guy.
I throw my shoulders back and pull myself together. After such a perfect morning I'm sure as hell not gonna let the Bitch worm her way into my head and ruin it now.
"You ever been? To Atlanta I mean?" I say before blowing and then taking a sip of my Espresso. I let out a sigh of contentment.
That cocky half a smirk is on his face, the one that makes him look even more insanely hot than he already is, if that’s even possible.
"No, I've never been. The nearest city to Franklin is Savannah." He waves his hand in the air, gesturing around us. "I just usually come here. What can I say, I'm a country boy, big cities don’t do it for me."
"Me neither. Don’t get me wrong, I like having a decent coffee in the morning and in Franklin, that doesn’t seem to be happening. Everything else about the town I love though. Don’t go telling my Dad that though, he'll start thinking he's won me round."
"Fancy a walk along River Street?"
"As if we could come to Savannah and not."
Noah stands up and shuffles out of the booth as I neck the rest of my coffee, ignoring the burn in my throat. No way am I wasting the good stuff. He does a little bow and holds a hand out for me before pulling me out the booth and out the door, not letting go of my hand for a second. I still feel those same sparks when he touches me, I was sure they would have stopped by now.
We walk alongside the Savannah River, the breeze whipping into our faces and I notice that just about every romantic moment I've had in my life, every amazing moment that has taken my breath away, has been with Noah in the last ten days. Maybe that’s what brings down that last wall, but right now all I can think about is that the only thing scarier than being in a relationship with this guy is never being in relationship with him.
"What're you thinking?" I don’t even realize that I'm staring at him as he gives me a puzzled smile.
"That you're just about perfect." I say before resting my palm on his cheek.
His smile lights up his face and I know that after this kiss, I'm not gonna run again. I lean up into him as I take his lips in a slow sensuous kiss. My fingers of my left hand run through his soft hair. His hands are on my waist pulling me into him as we get completely lost in the moment. This kiss definitely reigns supreme and I pour everything into it, every fear, every emotion, every memory. I pour my entire heart and soul into one neverending kiss. I pull away smiling into his bright
green eyes as I look down to my feet and let out a shy giggle.
"Wow, if that’s what good coffee can do I think we're gonna have to make this jaunt a regular thing." I roll my eyes at his dramatics.
I move to walk forward, a spring ready in my step, before he spins me back into him, his lips taking mine, his tongue exploring my mouth with his hands on either side of my face. Well hello there! This kiss is pure animalistic, all the pent up sexual tension being released.
The kiss comes to end and we're both gasping for air. Wow that boy sure can kiss.
Chapter 10
Noah
My hard on is near enough bursting out of my fucking zipper and I'm really starting to regret wearing jeans. That shit hurts. The minute she kissed me, it was like all my birthdays, Christmas' and Thanksgiving's rolled into one. Speaking of Thanksgiving, I know what I'll be thankful for this year, hell yeah! I never knew beforehand but the minute she instigated the kissing, shit got real. She's irrevocably mine now, I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks or says, including her. It was one thing when I was doing all the pushing but forget treading carefully now. I'd be lying if I said that when I planned this day out, I wasn’t hoping for this to happen because I totally fucking did. I wasn’t prepared for the shit that went through my mind when her lips were on mine though and as soon as she turned to carry on walking, I just had to pull her back to me.
We continue walking along the River, me stealing kisses what seems like every five seconds. What can I say, I'm addicted. Every now and then I'll notice a look pass over face, I don’t know what the hell it is but she'll either look towards me or at our entwined hands and it's gone. I know that despite her being completely badass in other aspects of life, relationships are not my girls fortay. I don’t know what made her that way, especially since every girl I've ever met or known has been so hung up on lovey dovey shit. I definitely think something happened to her though, just a feeling I get. Maybe some guy was a dick to her. Shit, I better bury that thought way way down since it just about has me seeing red.
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