Page 25 of Taboo

I help her under the covers and before I have the chance to leave the room she surprises me with a whisper, “Stay with me, Noah.”

“Kali, I can’t.”

“Please.” I stand over her as she dozes off and then opens her eyes again, searching for me. “Noah. Please.” Even though this isn’t how I pictured the two of us in bed together for the first time, I slide in beside her. She moves against me and I hold her against me. Both of us fully clothed and at least one of us having a heart slamming moment, realizing what’s been missing in life.

Chapter Sixteen

Kali

I wake up wrapped in Noah’s arms, feeling more guilt than I thought possible. What have I done? My thoughts try to wrap around the possibility that Levi saw us and what I’d say to him.

Sliding out of bed slowly is easier than staying quiet while I gather my things. I have to get out of this house. I’m suffocating myself with these two men and I don’t know how to allow myself a chance to breathe.

I open the front door with my bags draped over my shoulders knowing I can’t come back here again. It’s best for all of us. The way I’m handling things right now isn’t healthy for me or either of them for that matter.

The neighborhood is quiet so it’s easy to hear the door open behind me. It’s a fifty-fifty guess as to who it is, but I don’t turn around to look. I can’t face either of them right now.

“Kali.” Noah’s deep grumble slides over my skin like it always does.

“Noah, don’t try to stop me. Tell Levi I’ll return his truck as soon as I can get a loaner.”

“Tell him yourself. I’m not wasting possibly my last few seconds with you talking about him or his things.” I face the door to the truck; it’s better if I don’t look at him. He’s already tormenting me enough. Whatever he’s about to say will only make what I’m going through worse.

He holds the door closed with his palm over my head like he always seems to do. “We need to talk.”

“We’ve said enough. I need to think and I can’t do that with the two of you suffocating me.”

“Where will you be?” His voice is louder this time as he leans closer.

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll text you both and let you know.” He slides his hand down my side, forcing my eyes closed while I take in what he’s doing to me.

“How will I know you’re safe?” He drops his hands to his side and takes a step back.

“I’m not your worry, Noah. I can handle myself.” I open the door and throw the last bag into the seat before I turn around.

“I never said you couldn’t, but that won’t stop me from worrying about you being safe from that psychotic neighbor of yours.”

“Thank you for allowing me to stay at your house.” Before he has a chance to stop me or say anything to make me change my mind, I slide in and close the door. He watches me leave and I make myself stop looking in the rear-view mirror as I pull away, hoping I don’t regret this one day.

Noah

She’s out of her fucking mind if she thinks I’m just going to let her leave without saying what I need to say. I turn to follow her only to find my truck is still at the golf course, leaving me with only this cart to chase her down with.

Call me crazy, but I’m not thinking that would be the best way to make my point and win her over.

I drive the cart back to Mike and get my truck before I go back to the house to take a shower. The water washes over me and all I can think of is how she felt against me in bed last night. How her smile and the sound of her laughter made the entire night perfect.

I’m pulling a shirt over my head when Levi passes my doorway. “Where’s Kali?”

“She’s gone.”

“What do you mean she’s gone? What the fuck did you do?” His first thought is to blame me, just like it should be.

“She said she needed space and she’d return your truck as soon as she could.” He’s pulling out his phone before I can say anything further and I don’t stop him. If he can convince her to come back, then that’ll make it easier on me to have the chance to talk to her.

Levi

I get her voicemail. I feel like dog shit because I drank so much last night. This hangover isn’t helping me think about what I’m going to say when she answers, but it doesn’t stop me from obsessively calling her over and over again.

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