Noah

  She smiled lifting her delectably exposed shoulder. “Thanks to you I was able to go shopping.”

  He took a few steps toward her, inhaling the smell of her citrusy perfume with a touch of her fruity breath—watermelon maybe? “It’s not just the clothes, Roni. It’s you. You’re beautiful.”

  She stared at him for a moment, the smile she wore just a second earlier withered down to a somewhat staggered expression. Then her eyes were on his lips. “Thank you, Noah. You look good, too.”

  Even though the smile was gone, Noah noticed her breathing picked up a notch. She wanted his lips on her as much as he wanted her. He leaned into her and she didn’t move, instead she stared at him. Her eyes spoke a thousand words. He wasn’t alone in this struggle. She was struggling just as much as he was to hold back.

  The kitchen door swung open and Hector walked in with a guy Noah didn’t recognize. Holding in the primal growl that nearly escaped him this time, Noah turned and glared at them. Just then Abel walked in behind them. “Hector, who the fuck are all these people coming in? Didn’t I tell you not say anything about this at your school?”

  “High school kids?” Roni asked.

  Knowing what she was probably thinking, that this was turning out to be a backyard party full of kids, Noah hated to but he walked away from Roni and toward the kitchen window. The backyard was half-full but filling up fast.

  “They’re not from my school. Someone at the gym heard about the party and since you and Noah are going to be fighting in the coming weeks there’s a dance crew that was hoping maybe they can get some time in the ring to show off their moves before or even after the fights. So they decided to come here tonight. Sort of audition for you guys and I guess they spread the word but I didn’t say shit.” He tapped the guy next to him. “This is Little Robo. His older brother is head of the dance crew. He wanted to come in here and ask for permission to do a three minute show a little later.”

  Noah turned back to look at the guy in all black except for his red beanie and matching shoes. “Little Robo?”

  The guy’s arms fell flat against his side then came up slowly and stopped sharply as his entire body went into a robotic motion then he froze pointing at Noah. “My brother is Robo.” His hand snaked back toward him again in a vibrating motion. “He taught me everything I know.”

  Before Noah could respond, Roni’s voice practically chirped. “That is so cool. And you guys are gonna do a show here tonight?”

  The guy smiled big and satisfied. “Yeah, if that’s okay with you. Are you Roni?”

  “Who wants to know?” Noah barked.

  The guy looked at Hector then back at Noah cautiously. “Well, he said the owner of the house was Roni and we’d have to double check with her.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine with it.” Her eyes met Noah’s. “That shouldn’t be a problem right?”

  Noah frowned and exchanged glances with Abel. “How many people are out there?”

  “A lot,” was Abel’s only response, but he seemed as unsure about this as Noah did.

  “I don’t want things getting out of hand.” Noah walked to the back door and opened it. “A crowd this big can get rowdy, Roni.”

  “We’ve danced for bigger crowds and we’ve never had issues,” Little Robo said. “And once we’re done we have a couple other places to dance at so anyone that came with us will leave with us.”

  “What about the guys that look like thugs? Abel asked. “With the bandanas and shit?”

  Little Robo shook his head lifting his hands in front of him. “I don’t know about them. They’re not part of our crew.”

  “What guys?” Noah began to ask then stopped. “Never mind I see them.” He counted quickly—five. He turned back to Hector. “You know them?”

  “I’ve seen one of them around school but I think the rest are older.”

  “Well, they can stay for the show but once it’s over they better leave or they’ll be asked to leave.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Abel said walking past Noah and out the door.

  Noah told the dancer to get his crew together and get the performance going as soon as he could. They all walked out and as expected Roni turned heads immediately. Noah slipped his hand in hers as they walked by the five thugs. She glanced at him but didn’t protest or pull her hand away.

  Noah had seen the likes of these types of guys many times. They thought nothing of crashing parties where they knew no one and drinking up whatever free booze they could get their hands on. He made a point to stare them down, one by one calling them out if they dared. But as expected, just like the cowards most of these thugs usually turned out to be, none of them took the bait.

  The dance crew took forever to get their shit together but when they finally did and put on their show Noah had to admit they were badass. The crowd went wild. Even Roni cheered loudly. They even did a short encore dance for the chanting crowd. The entertainment added a cool element to the party but Noah was still relieved when he saw the crowd begin to thin out as the dance crew made their exit.

  As fun as that had been Noah had been to too many backyard parties in East LA to know that all it took was one dumb drunk for things to go sour real fast. The fewer number of strangers at this party the better. This wasn’t what he’d had in mind when he decided to ask Roni about having New Year’s here.

  Abel who stood at the driveway looking a little concerned motioned for Noah to come over. Gio was already with him. Noah hesitated for just a second then turned to Roni. “I’ll be back.” He glanced at Gio’s sisters and their friends. “Just stick with them until we can get everyone we don’t know out of here okay?”

  He hurried toward Abel but not before glancing back at the thugs who still stood in the same corner they’d been standing the whole night. The biggest guy was about Noah’s size and he smirked. Noah was certain the liquor was making him brave now because earlier when Noah had stared him down he’d looked away. This time not only did he smirk, he very obviously turned to look at Roni and said something to the guy next to him who laughed. Noah stopped in his tracks, his insides lighting up immediately.

  “Noah!”

  Still busy glaring at the idiot who was laughing obnoxiously now, Noah ignored Abel.

  “C’mon dude,” Gio tugged at his arm. “Those fuckers are next. But we gotta clear out the front before someone calls the cops.” Noah forced himself to stop looking at the guy whose face he’d soon be in. “These kids are stopping in all your neighbor’s yards just hanging out. We gotta make them leave unless we want our party shut down early.”

  Noah started down the driveway with Gio and Abel at either side. Hector caught up to them and offered to help. They made their way around the neighboring houses telling all the small groups of partygoers they had to leave. When they finally cleared it up they walked back up the driveway toward the backyard again.

  The group of thugs was still there minus the asshole who’d been ogling Roni. Roni wasn’t with Gio’s sisters either. Noah scanned the backyard quickly and stopped cold when he saw Roni by the back door. The asshole thug was there with his hand on the door. Roni’s defensive stance made Noah nearly jump as he rushed toward them.

  “So what am I supposed to do, piss in your bushes?” The guy said to Roni with a stupid laugh. “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll just be in and out… unless you’d like me to hang around in there with you.”

  Roni’s eyes met Noah’s. His hands were already fisted and ready beat the shit out of the guy when Roni’s eyes opened wide and she began to yell something. Something hit him on the side of the face with so much force, before he even had a chance to lift his arm in defense everything went black.

  ~*~

  Seeing Noah blindsided and knocked unconscious was probably one of the most horrific images Veronica had ever witnessed. Everything that followed was a blur. All she could think of even as Abel beat the guy who did it to a pulp and the rest of the guys brawled it out with his friends, was getting Noah in the house and ou
t of harm’s way.

  She knew enough from taking first aid and CPR classes at the college to turn him on his side so that he wouldn’t choke on his own tongue. He’d come to fairly quickly but he was totally out of it. She managed to get some of the guys that were there with the sound crew to help her lift him and walk him to his bed.

  Veronica didn’t even realize how unnerved she was until she tried running her fingers through his hair and her hand shook uncontrollably. The minutes that passed as Noah slipped in and out of consciousness were the worst. She kept wondering if she should call 911. But each time she was about to he’d come to.

  The guys came in after they’d cleared all the troublemakers out of her yard.

  “How you feeling?” Gio asked Noah, handing him a couple of aspirins.

  Veronica frowned she hadn’t even thought of bringing him any painkillers. She lifted the bag of ice away from his face. Noah sat himself up on his elbow grimacing as he brought a hand to the lump on the side of his face. “What happened?”

  “That asshole’s friend sucker punched you,” Abel muttered. “I was right behind you and I didn’t even see it coming.”

  “I saw it,” Veronica added. Her throat ached as she felt a warm tear run down her cheek. “But not soon enough.”

  Abel touched her shoulder gently. “The guy knew what he was doing, Roni. He wasn’t about to give anyone a chance to warn Noah. Fucking coward.”

  Noah reached his hand out for Veronica and she held it. “Do you wanna go to the hospital?”

  He shook his head and squinted. “Nah, I’m good. I just hope these aspirins kick in soon.” He tried to sit up but he immediately looked woozy.

  “Don’t get up, dude.” Gio said. “You need to just rest.” He turned to Veronica. “We can wrap it up if you want, Roni. The night’s pretty much shot anyway.”

  “No.” Roni shook her head. She tried to pull her hand away but Noah held it. “You guys can stay.” She turned to Noah who was staring at her. “But I think Noah’s had it.”

  “Yeah, you’re done for the night. I wouldn’t even try to get up unless you have to.” Abel said. “Don’t worry man. That asshole is in a lot more pain than you are right now. I made sure of that.”

  Abel wasn’t kidding; the last look Veronica got of the guy, she couldn’t even make out his facial features he was so bloody. And his coward friends had left him to fend for himself when they saw what they were up against.

  Noah thanked them and one by one his friends left the room. Veronica began to rise from where she sat on the edge of the bed but Noah tugged at her hand. “Stay with me… please?”

  She smiled touching his face gently. The lump on his head was still very warm but she’d checked his temperature already and knew he wasn’t running a fever. “I was just gonna close the door. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Noah let got of her hand and she stood up to close the door.

  “Will you turn the light off, too? It hurts my eyes. The lamp would be better.”

  Veronica turned the small lamp first before turning the light switch off. She came back and sat next to him. He scooted over and patted the mattress next to him. Her heart had sped up from the moment he’d asked her to stay. This made it beat a little wilder. She was only comforting him. The blow he took was horrendous and she could only imagine the pain he must be in so she lay down next to him resting her head on his pillow facing him. “I was so worried,” she whispered.

  He reached over and touched her hair, twirling a ringlet of hair around his finger and smiled but said nothing.

  “Are you still going to be able to fight in two weeks?”

  He nodded staring at her but not like he’d done in the past. There was no lust in his eyes, no yearning like she’d seen earlier in the kitchen. What she saw in his eyes now was pure honesty. Whatever he’d hidden in those eyes all this time was no longer hiding. It was as if he’d suddenly made up his mind and he was putting it out there. Putting out what she’d suspected for weeks. He’d fallen for her. “I know I said it earlier but I have to say it again. You’re beautiful, Roni.”

  Just like earlier, something deep inside her warned that she should stop this. Stop him before he said something that would forever put them in a different place than they were now and there’d be no turning back. But just like earlier she was helpless to do so. She felt lost in his eyes but it felt so good she didn’t want to stop him.

  Instead of stopping him, she leaned over and kissed the lump on the side of his face. She felt him inhale deeply as her hair brushed against his face, then his hand was on her face and she turned her face just enough so that their lips were less than an inch apart.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as his eyes dropped down to her lips and he kissed them softly.

  Her head screamed that this was a mistake as he kissed her again only longer and deeper, but her heart argued otherwise.

  She rested her hand on his hard shoulder and squeezed a little as she allowed herself to do what she’d been dreaming of doing since day one and sucked his bottom lip. He let out a soft groan reminding her she should slow this down. She laid her head back on the pillow as he lifted himself onto his elbow and stopped to gaze in her eyes. “I’m fucking crazy about you, Roni.”

  Stop him!

  Based simply on the way he kissed her with such unabashed emotion, she knew where this might be going and if it did, it would ruin everything. Deciding selfishly the best way to get him to stop talking was to kiss him again she brought her hand around the back of his neck and he dove in. His tongue was magical. It was almost funny now how she actually thought his age would make him less experienced than some of the older men she’d been with. But no man’s kisses had ever made her feel quite like this.

  He didn’t try for anything else and she was glad about this because one touch in the right place would let Noah know just how badly her body wanted him. She was hot and damp in places she’d only been lately when she thought of him.

  His mouth moved from hers and his lips traced her chin kissing it all the way down to the soft spot just under her chin and down to her neck. He sucked softly at first and then a little harder as his breathing became accelerated. She knew it was probably hard enough to leave a mark but she didn’t care it felt so damn good—too good.

  “Noah,” her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears and she knew there was no way he could miss the longing in her words.

  This only made him suck harder making her tingly in the most private of places. Her back arched instinctively as his hands finally made their way down under her cardigan.

  His touch was so gentle and slow it drove her insane. She wanted to tell him to stop, she knew she should but the feel of his hand against the burning flesh of her abdomen made it impossible.

  “My,” he whispered in between sucking her neck and she shushed him before he’d begin to talking again. “My Roni.” The words were gasped and he went at her neck even harder now.

  She gulped hard trying not to put too much thought into what he’d just said. Her entire body was on fire now feeling his lips and tongue sucking her neck. He brought his mouth back to her lips and kissed her so deep she was drowning in his taste and she loved it.

  His body slid over hers. There was no hiding how badly he wanted her too. This only made her heart beat even harder. The only shred of hope that Veronica clung to now that this wouldn’t go any further was the fact that they were still fully dressed and the door wasn’t locked. Surely, he wouldn’t take the chance of someone walking in on them.

  Those were the only things she could count on at this point, because the feel of his hard body against hers, the taste of his mouth, the smell of his masculinity mixed with the cologne that nearly did her in when she smelled it on him earlier made it impossible for her to put two words together much less come up with any reason why she shouldn’t beg him to do to her what she’d been dreaming about for months now. Her hands roamed his big strong back wildly. She was drunk with the a
nticipation of feeling him inside her.

  He slowed his kisses and pulled away to look at her as the DJ outside began the countdown to the New Year over the mic. When they got down to one and heard the cheers, Noah smiled and Veronica smiled back still barely able to catch her breath. She couldn’t think of a more perfect way to ring in the New Year.

  “Happy New Year,” he whispered and without giving her time to respond he kissed Veronica very slowly prolonging it as it got deeper and deeper driving her absolutely crazy. Then he stopped to gaze at her for a moment. “I love you.”

  Those three words paralyzed her instantly, and she prayed he didn’t feel the erratic change of pace her heart suddenly took. Okay maybe she could think of a reason why they shouldn’t do this. The same reason she’d had all along. Nothing but heartache could come of this. But for the longest time she’d been worried about her own heartache not his. Unbelievably she was even more sure now that this would be a huge mistake.

  CHAPTER 19

  Noah actually heard Roni gulp and felt his own gut tighten. Fuck! Too soon! Maybe it was too soon but there was no way he could hold it in anymore. He had to tell her.

  “Noah,” she placed her open palm against his chest and for the first time since they’d begun kissing he felt her pull away. “I think maybe you’re confusing things.”

  Now it was Noah who pulled away. “What?”

  “I’m feeling things, too,” she said sitting up slightly. “But we have to be realistic and I don’t want you confusing the feelings you have for me as your good friend for anything more. I’m sorry,” she said adding insult to injury as she began to move off the bed.

  “Hold on.” He reached out and held her arm, feeling the pounding in his head start up again. “First of all don’t be sorry about anything and whatever you do do not take back what just happened here between us.”

  “I’m not taking it back. I’m just saying maybe you’re confusing this—”