I take a huge sip of the sugary drink, letting it fizz down my throat.
I let my eyes go over all the people, searching for Noah, and then I spot him. He’s standing with a crowd, laughing and a girl is hanging from his arm. She’s standing so close to him, she can be considered one of his body parts.
I start to walk in their direction. The girl takes hold of Noah’s face and pulls him down, offering her mouth to him.
I stop in the middle of the beer garden, not sure why I’m feeling jealous. I watch Noah’s head starting to lower to hers and suddenly that blinding headache is back, stabbing at my skull.
Someone bumps into me and I drop my coke to the floor, letting it splash at my feet. I grab my head as a memory of Noah assaults me.
It’s dark as I watch Noah walk towards me, naked.
I can see him clearly, but nothing else. My heart starts to race and I’m not sure why.
A heavy arm falls around me and the stench of beer wafts over me.
I try to pull away when a deep voice slurs near my ear, “Aww … come on, baby, don’t be like that.”
I shove as hard as I can at the man and hiss, “Let go!”
“Am I not good enough for the likes of you?” he growls, pulling me closer to him.
The pounding in my head gets worse and it’s making it hard to fight the man off.
“Let go,” someone hisses, and when I look up I’m relieved to see it’s Noah. He takes hold of my arm and pulls me toward him, and I’m so glad to see him. “She’s with me!” he snaps at the man and I don’t even look behind me to see if the man leaves. My eyes are on Noah and remembering the memory of him being naked makes me flush red.
“I’m just…” I point behind me, feeling flustered. “I’m gonna go. This was a bad idea.”
I turn and walk away as fast as I can, but Noah catches up and says, “He didn’t hurt you, did he? Cause I’ll kick his ass!”
I shake my head, walking faster. “I’m fine.”
Noah grabs hold of my arm, pulling me to a stop. “Hey, you don’t look fine. Talk to me.”
I glance up at him from under my lashes and I can feel my cheeks are on fire. “I just remembered something, and I don’t know…” I suck in a deep breath and then just blurt it out, “did we have sex?”
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Noah~
I’m not sure I heard right. “Say what?”
“Did we sleep together?” she whispers and her whole face flushes red. I’ve never seen Amy blush and it makes a warmth I’ve never felt around her, spread through my chest.
Then I remember her question and my eyebrows shoot up. “No, why would you ask that?”
She pulls her arm free and starts to walk again, looking a little flustered. I jog after her, catching up fast.
When she notices that I’m not leaving it, she waves her hand lamely in the air. “I had a memory of you being naked, and I…” she trails off, her face a rare crimson sight at the moment.
I actually like this new blushing side of her and I can’t resist teasing her. “So you thought we had sex?” She shoots me a dark scowl, the one I’ve missed seeing, and it makes the warmth in my chest spread through my body. Fuck I missed that look. I want to see it again, so I ask loudly, “So you think I look good naked?”
“Hush, Noah!” she tries to quiet me, grabs my hand and pulls me towards the pier where there are less people. She turns on me, her eyes flaming, and I can’t help but smile. “People will hear!” she snaps at me.
Our eyes lock, mine laughing and her eyes flashing with embarrassment. I take a step closer to her, lift my hands to her face, cupping her cheeks. Time comes to a screeching halt as I lean in.
I watch her breathing speed up, her eyes widen and her lips part. An unfamiliar feeling uncurls in my chest and I lean closer, not sure what I’m doing.
Just as our lips are about to touch she pulls away. She turns her face to the side and bites her bottom lip. For a moment I’m tempted to throw caution to the wind and to just kiss her, but I step back, letting my hands fall to my sides.
“Yeah,” I say, searching for anything to lighten the mood. Just then my stomach growls and I start to turn back to the fair. “I’m hungry, let’s go grab some food.”
As we walk back to where the food stalls are, I try to figure out what the hell was wrong with me, that I’d even want to kiss her.
I kept stealing glances at her face, suddenly not able to pay attention to anything else.
When did things change between us? When did I start seeing her as a woman and no longer my cousin?
I better stop this shit, cause Uncle Garrett will cut off my nuts if I go after Amy.
She grabs my arm and points to a stall. “Can we have ice cream?” She doesn’t wait for my answer and pulls me toward the stand.
“That’s hardly the kind of food I had in mind. Let’s grab a hotdog and then we can come back for dessert.”
She lets go of my arm and walking backwards she keeps her eyes on mine, smiling brightly. “I want my dessert first, then I’ll have a hotdog.”
I pull a face. “You’ve got that the wrong way around, just so you know.”
“Life’s too short to live by rules, Noah. I want ice cream. I’m going to have some.”
She turns to the stall and orders a vanilla cone with strawberry sauce. I join her and order chocolate mint. I pay for us and then follow Amy as she walks from stall to stall. My eyes are glued to her mouth as she licks the ice cream.
“You know,” I say before taking a bite of my cone, “you’re not half bad when you’re being civil.”
She stops walking and looks up at me. She picks nervously at her cone and then blurts, “Was I that bad?”
Was she really that bad? I smile down at her and shake my head. “No, I wouldn’t say you were bad,” I throw my arm around her shoulder and we start to walk again, “more like a pain in the ass.”
She elbows me and tries to hide a smile behind the cone.
This afternoon is actually turning out to be fun. Who would have thought I’d ever have fun with Amy?
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Amy~
I’m so stuffed! I shouldn’t have had that second ice cream.
The music starts to fade as we walk home. There’s a peaceful silence hanging between us. Smiling couples pass us by as they make their way to the fair for some late night entertainment.
Instead of walking towards the beach house, Noah walks in the direction of the beach. I follow, trailing slightly behind him. When we reach the sand I stop and slip off my boots. The sand is still warm under my feet as we walk along the shoreline.
The waves pull back just before they touch our feet. I step a bit closer so the next wave can wash over my feet. The water is cool and really nice after the hot day.
I glance at Noah, his face way too serious for my liking. When the next wave comes I kick as much water as I can at him.
As the water sprays over him, he looks shocked, but only for a moment. He tilts his head and glares at me, but the smile around his lips soften the look. “Did you just splash me?”
I nod, struggling to hold back my own smile.
“Oh,” he takes a step towards me and I take one backwards to counter him, “you’re gonna pay for that, Princess!” He lunges at me and before I can turn around, his arm goes around my waist and then my feet leave the ground. He throws me over his shoulder and starts to walk into the water, not caring that his jeans are getting wet.
I cling to the back of his shirt, expecting to be tossed into the water any moment. He surprises me by not throwing me in, but by lowering me against his body.
I grab hold of his shoulders to balance myself. Our eyes meet and all we hear is the ocean. My heartbeat speeds up and just like earlier I start to make excuses for why this can’t happen. I don’t know who I am! How can I start something with him if I can’t even offer him me?
He lowers me all t
he way, my body sliding against his and our eyes keeping contact. His breath skims over my face as I slide down and then his mouth crashes into mine.
The kiss is not what I expected. It’s hard and greedy, not what I’m feeling at all.
Noah’s hands tighten on my hips, his lips bruising mine. I place my hands against his chest and try to push him back, but he’s too strong.
I try to suck in a breath of air, but all I get is Noah.
A sudden wave of panic washes over me and then it feels like I’m drowning. I can’t suck in any air and it only makes the panic flare hotter through me.
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Noah~
Amy’s nails dig into my chest and I groan. Fuck, she tastes so good! Feeling her body slide down mine, sent me over the edge. I’ve never kissed anyone like this, and I don’t want to stop.
Amy whimpers and I take that as a good sign, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her tightly to me. A strangled sound cuts through my passion induced haze. Amy pushes hard against me and that’s when I realize, she’s not wild with passion! She’s fighting me.
I pull back and her hand connects hard with my neck, leaving the skin stinging. Her face is etched in fear as she pulls free from me. She makes another strangled sound. Fuck, she can’t breathe! I try to grab for her but she ducks and stumbles through the crashing waves and then she’s running.
I’m not sure what just happened! I run after her as she sprints full out towards the beach house. When we get close I see Uncle Garrett stand up, a worried frown on his face.
“Daddy!” the word is a raw sound, torn from Amy as she runs towards her father. “He’s going to hurt me! Daddy!” her cries are so raw they bring me to a stumbling halt.
I shove my hands through my hair and then lock my hands behind my neck, taking deep breaths.
Amy remembers.
I watch her throw herself at Uncle Garrett. Her whole body jerks with the cries ripping through her. A flash of relief softens the worry from Uncle Garrett’s features.
“Angel,” Uncle Garrett rasps, his voice thick with emotion.
Amy clings to her dad, the same way she was holding onto me yesterday. “He told Brad to wait. I heard it. He said he wanted to be the one to kill me.”
Luckily Uncle Garrett and Dad know about that call, or I’d have some serious explaining to do.
“Do you remember everything,” Aunt Kris asks, tears flowing down her face. “Do you remember us?”
Uncle Garrett picks Amy up and starts to carry her back to the house, when I hear Amy sob, “I remember … but I want to forget.” Her cries are so raw they’re chafing at my skin, crawling in and stabbing at my heart.
Amy remembers it all. The Amy I got to see the past few weeks is gone and I’m left with the old one, the one that hates me … only this time round she has reason to hate me.
~*~
Chapter Thirty
Amy~
‘We’re going to play a game. If you can guess what I’m writing on your back, I’ll let you go.’
I wake up gasping for air, my screams still ringing in my ears. I throw the blanket back and rush to switch on the light. I yank the dress over my head and turn my back to the mirror as I remove the bandage. The gauze sticks to my skin, and I’m careful not to hurt myself more as I peel it slowly off.
I see the first cut, and then another. A sob bubbles up my throat. Mom rushes into the room. “Oh, Angel, no!”
Daddy also comes in and then Noah follows, stopping by the door. Anger quickly replaces the sorrow and I throw my dress in his direction. I don’t care that I’m half naked, only wearing underwear and a bra.
“What is he still doing here?” I shriek, pointing at Noah.
“Now, Amy, he didn’t know what Brad was up to,” Mom says, defending him!
Bitter laughter slips over my lips. “Is that what he told you?” My eyes dart between Mom and Daddy’s. “Did he tell you I told him? Did he tell you that I told him!?” I scream. “He told me I better watch my back, that payback’s a bitch!” I stalk to where Noah is standing and hate that I’m shorter than him, but it doesn’t stop me. I punch him as hard as I can, and satisfaction fills me as his head whips to the side. “I have your name carved into my skin. You might be able to fool them but I promise you, I will make you pay! You better watch your back, cause payback’s a bitch and that bitch is me!”
Daddy takes hold of my shoulders, pulling me back. I yank free and step away from them. “If he’s staying here then I’m moving. I’m not living under the same roof as him.”
“Amy, let’s talk this out,” Daddy says. “You’re suffering from shock. You’ve just remembered it all and you need some time to get over the initial shock.”
I shake my head glaring at Daddy. “A man tries to kill me,” I suck in a harsh breath and it makes my voice thicker, “a man carved me up and then suffocated me. That man is his,” I point at Noah and then shout, “fucking best friend! There is nothing in this world that will make me calm down!”
“Amy,” my name sounds strangled as it slips from Noah’s lips, “I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.” It actually sounds like he’s begging, but I know better. Noah is incapable of feeling remorse! “I’m sorry,” he whispers.
I walk back to him and lift myself as high as I can, so I’m not that short. “Your pathetic sorry means nothing to me,” I hiss. “I use to hate you, Noah, now you’re nothing to me. You’re dead to me.”
“Oh, Angel,” Mom gasps. “It’s all still so raw! Don’t say things you’ll regret later on.”
I stalk over to the cupboard, yank a bag out and start to shove clothes into it. Mid-way through I stop to pull a random dress over my head, and then I go on packing as quick as I can.
“Amy, you need to be with family. Let us help you through this,” Mom begs.
“Really, Mom? I need to be with family?” I keep shoving clothes into the bag. “I can’t even begin to process this. I’m going back to the city.” I get up, pulling the bag over my shoulder and give Noah the coldest stare I can muster when I say, “He’s not family. He’s never been family and he never will be.”
I shove by Noah as I leave and I hear him whisper, “Princess.”
I stop and glare at Noah. “Just because you stuck your tongue into my mouth, it doesn’t change a thing. You started this war and I’ll finish it.”
I rush down the passage, needing to get away from Noah as fast as I can.
“Wait!” Dad calls after me. “You can’t go in the middle of the night. It’s not safe.”
I stop by the stairs and glare at them. “You think I’m safe here? With that man here?” On my way out I say, “I’d rather take my chances out there.”
~*~
Chapter Thirty-One
Noah~
Now that’s what I call a shit storm.
Amy’s gone and I really don’t think she’ll ever forgive me.
I’m on my way back to my apartment. I figured it would be better to just go back to work.
I keep replaying the night over in my head. The one minute Amy is actually happy and the next she’s hysterical, not that I blame her. In her mind it all just happened. I wonder if she remembers the past few weeks and that we actually got along.
I wonder if I’ll ever see that warmth in her eyes again.
I’m confused so I can only imagine how she must feel.
When I walk into the apartment, I go straight to the kitchen and grab a beer. Fuck this! I take the six pack and go sit with it. I drink one beer after the other, trying to think of a way to fix it all.
~*~
It’s been a week since the night Amy got her memory back. She’s not answering her phone. Yes, even I tried to phone. She’s not talking to anyone.
Aunt Kris phoned me earlier, asking to go check if Amy is okay with Sharon. I’ve never been to Sharon’s house, so this is a first for me.
I knock on the door and take
a step back, tucking my hands deep into the pockets of my jeans.
The door opens and when Sharon sees it’s me, she frowns. “What are you doing here?” Well, she’s not exactly overcome with joy to see me.
“I’m looking for Amy,” I get right to the point.
She looks surprised. “She’s not here, maybe try her folks. I haven’t spoken with her in a while.”
I frown, caught off guard. I really thought Amy was here. “She didn’t come here a week ago?”
Sharon shakes her head. “Like I said, we haven’t spoken in a while. She’s not taking my calls.”
I don’t even bother greeting. I run to my car, wracking my mind. Where the hell is Amy?
I’ll phone Uncle Garrett if I don’t find her, no use getting them all worried as well.
I sit in my car for a few breathless seconds and think. Where would she be?
If I was Amy where would I go?
~*~
Chapter Thirty-Two
Amy~
I’ve been hiding out in Daddy’s apartment. I threw my phone on the kitchen counter and haven’t even bothered to charge it.
I don’t want to see anyone. I just want to be left alone.
I’m lying in the middle of the bed, the covers pulled over my head.
I’m angry. I’m confused.
I can still taste the fear of when Brad had me. I can still feel the pain of each cut. I can still feel the hopelessness that’s threatening to drag me under.
But, I also remember what happened after I was found, waking at the hospital and then going to the beach house. I remember what it felt like to be safe with Noah, the person who has been my biggest threat.
I remember our time at the fair. He was actually nice to me. And the kiss, well, before it all went to hell.
I’m so damn confused. Half of me hates Noah, and wants to make him pay – the other half remembers the kind side of him, and wants to forgive him.
~*~
Cruel Boundaries Page 6