Page 74 of Noah

Brody's breathing changed. I'd woken him by moving.

"You all right?" he asked.

"More than all right." I smiled even though he couldn't see it. He kissed the back of my neck. His lips there felt as amazing as I had imagined they would feel.

He hummed against my skin.

God, I loved that sound.

I rolled to face him, ran my hand through his curls, and kissed him. I couldn't understand how I had been so lucky as to have this incredible man wander into my pub.

I pressed my forehead to his. "Why do you put up with me?"

Brody's eyebrows wrinkled against mine. "What do you mean?"

"So far, I've been a shit boyfriend. Upsetting you at the centre. Putting my work first until you set me straight, and practically tricking you into attending my parents' obscene gala."

Brody sighed and traced his fingers through my hair around the curl of my ear.

"You have no idea how perfect you are, do you?"

"Don't say that … I'm far from perfect."

"Not to me." His lips met mine. "To me, you're pure perfection."

I decided not to argue with him. Being in his warm and gentle arms, inhaling each of his exhalations—so close … this moment here. This was perfection.

"I don't think I like your parents."

I laughed. Always so honest. "You're not the first to feel that way, trust me."

"Did you have a happy childhood?"

"I had a comfortable one."

Brody exhaled hard across my lips as he searched my eyes. "You deserved better than that."

"I was lucky to have Frances and Sean. Still am."

"I like them. And Cheryl and Henry."

I smiled. "Me too. And they liked you."

"I barely said anything."

"You didn't need to. The way you look at me told them everything they need to know about you. They know how happy you want to make me."

"I wanted to say more but I find it hard to jump in on conversations. I always say things at the wrong time. Say things that come off sounding robotic."

I ran my fingers over his lips.

My sweet, sweet Brody.

"I don't see it. When you say things, you've thought them through. There's emotion behind your words even though most people can't see it. You feel things deeply. That's what I see."

Pain interrupted Brody's soft gaze. "Ricky shredded my heart."

I placed my hand on his chest above his heart. "You're so beautiful in here. I can feel it. What Ricky did to you was not your fault. You deserve as much love as you can hold."

---