Page 27 of Taboo

“Yes. I’ll be there.” It makes me oddly at ease knowing I’ll get to see her tonight. I walk out, leaving her to think and giving myself a chance to see what Noah has been up to.

Chapter Seventeen

Noah

“We need to fucking talk.” Levi slams his hand on the patio table, rattling my coffee cup and everything else in the process.

“What’s your problem?” The sun shines around his body, so I can’t see his expression, but I know this is about Kali. Levi doesn’t generally let anything bother him. I guess that’s changed now.

“My problem is your ass needs to figure out what you’re doing. The rest of the world isn’t going to sit back and wait while you decide when you’ll allow Kali into your life or not. I’m fucking done seeing her hurt, so if that’s what you have as a grand plan, change it now.” He sits in the chair opposite me and glares with an anger I’m not used to seeing in him.

“Who says I haven’t figured it out?”

“We’ll see. But just know I’ll kick your ass if you lead her on only to throw her out again.” He cares about her. It’s written all over his face.

“Holy shit. You’re not just playing around with her, are you? You’re falling for Kali.” He stands abruptly, not looking at me again as he walks toward the sliding door.

“All you need to know is if you fuck up, I’ll be there ready to sweep in and save her while I kick your ass.” He leaves me sitting by myself outside and I wonder what she said to him exactly.

It seems like she broke it off with him to see what could come between us. I take the last sip of my coffee and slide inside, hoping to see her again. This couldn’t have worked out better for me this morning.

Kali

I’m still staring at the door to my new room when I hear a quick knock and see Noah peek in. “So you decided to stay.” He opens the door, proudly walking in with his head held high like he just won a competition.

“For a few days.”

“Good. It’ll give us time.” He sits on the edge of my bed and falls back, watching me as I move around the room.

“No, it’ll give me time. Just like I told Levi, I need to do some soul searching and you two are the reason I left in such a hurry this morning. I can’t breathe while you give me whiplash and Levi does everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“You can’t be serious about Levi.” I turn quickly, flashing him a stern look that shuts him up quickly.

“He’s been amazing and I won’t let you talk shit about him.” He sits up, raising his hands in defeat.

“Fine. He’s a great guy. Now let’s talk about me.” He’s so damn conceited that I want to choke him. How do I let him get to me like he does?

“You’re an ass. You’ve made that very clear over the years and you haven’t pulled back the past week either.” He stands and stalks toward me, slowly watching me take a step back with each one he takes forward.

“Just remember, you came to me. You’ve creeped into my bedroom more than once now, so don’t get pissed at me for this little predicament.” His breath hits my cheek as he finishes his sentence. His mouth is dangerously close to mine as he continues. “And now look where we are. Back to where we were the first night in my bedroom with your back against the wall and your eyes begging me to rip your clothes off so I can fuck you.”

“My eyes aren’t begging for anything.” I step around him, leaving him standing by the door alone.

“You forget that I’ve known you most of your life.”

“You forget that you haven’t been around me the last few years and you don’t know me like you used to.” He rubs his chin and leans against the door frame, imitating someone pondering one of life’s great mysteries.

“You’re right. It looks like I’ll need to change that in the next few days. Get a shower and change. I’m taking you somewhere.” He swings the door open quickly and leaves like a man on a mission.

“I have to work tonight.”

“I’ll have you there in time. No excuses Kali, get ready.” His voice gets further away before he finishes.

He has no boundaries. He’s established that many times, but the way he’s ordering me to get dressed on command, reminds me of the old Noah. The one that I fell for years ago.

~~~~~~

“Get in. I’m taking you to one of my favorite thinking places. Something tells me you’ll find it just as relaxing as I do.” He has the passenger window down when I step outside.

---