Page 62 of Noah

"Love," Kyle said. "How long have you been in love?"

Noah's attention snapped away from me and he turned to Kyle. "We're not in love, Kyle. We really like each other, though. Brody is my boyfriend."

Kyle's brow wrinkled and he stared at Noah then went back to reading his book.

I felt my shoulders slump. I knew it was too early to be in love, but Kyle had seen the inklings of it in our expressions. We'd gone from moving slowly to streaking forward.

Noah was mine. I knew it deep down, but Noah had been quick to deny where our feelings were taking us. Too quick. Noah reached out and held my hand.

His touch soothed me—somewhat.

"I think we should go for a walk," Noah said, motioning toward the door.

I nodded my agreement and we both clambered to our feet. We said goodbye to Kyle, but he was too immersed in his book to reply to us.

Noah led me down the hall into an empty classroom.

I thought we'd come there to kiss. Instead of pinning me to the wall and plundering me, he spoke. "You were upset back there. When I told Kyle we aren't in love."

I looked at the floor. "It's all right. We aren't."

Noah lifted my chin until I was captured by his gaze. "I really like you, Brody. That’s why I asked you to be my boyfriend."

"I really like you too."

"Then let's leave it at that, all right?"

Noah was right. We were nowhere near being in love. What Kyle had seen was affection and desire. I cupped Noah's face in my hands as I performed an absolute freefall into the depths of his eyes, and then kissed him. Slow and passionate as if he were the oxygen I needed to survive.

It was the most beautiful feeling knowing this man wanted me as much as I wanted him. And not just the body parts. Not the wrapping. The gooey centres that heated when we looked at each other. The respect and admiration. Everything I had never exposed before to anyone.

Chapter Thirteen | Noah

I waved my hands in the air to get everyone to talk quieter. The meeting of the Salish Sea Society had erupted into chaos, and I was afraid our loud voices were spilling into the rest of the pub. Liam had inferred that being a bottom was a needy position and Owen and Ethan had endeavoured to rip him a new asshole that Liam would never in a million years agree to have penetrated.

"Just take it down a notch," I said.

"I get it, Liam" Ethan carried on. "You're the only top here and you refuse to partake in the joys of bottoming. But that's on you and your prejudice. You see your bottom's faces. Hear the sounds they're making. Maybe you're jealous and deep down you want to know what it feels like."

"I'm done with this," Liam replied. "I'm sorry I said anything."

"See," Owen said. "Evasive manoeuvre. He refuses to talk about it."

"Let's talk about Noah," Liam said. "He gave Brody a blow job in the office."

I smacked Liam's arm. "You weren't supposed to tell everyone."

"You went into crisis mode when Brody told you he wasn't coming for wings the next night. I think we need to explore that as a group."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I thought I scared him off. I was freaking out."

"How much do you like this guy?" Owen asked.

"Too much, apparently," I replied. "I asked him to be my boyfriend."

A collective eruption of teasing but appreciative sounds filled the small space.

"When was the last time you had a boyfriend?" Ethan asked. "Like six years ago at least."

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