Page 102 of Under the Lies

Noah reaches out, fingers grasp my chin. “You’re shivering.”

“A-a-am I?” I hear myself ask, teeth rattling with the wind.

“Yes,” he growls like he’s personally offended. He rips the beanie off his head and puts it on mine, pulling it down until it touches my eyebrows.

God. Why’d he have to do that, now his hair has the perfect tousled look going on. I love how that’s the only part of himself he ever allows to be wild.

We’re still so close, my breath mingling with his, and he smells so nice. Feels so warm.

He starts to lean into me, and I lean into him. His hands slide along my cold cheeks when I pull back.

That’s not why I came up here.

I spin away before I do something stupid and try to kiss him on the rooftop, under the twinkling lights and fading stars and rising sun.

Instead, I move toward Helga’s bodega, walking down memory lane in the process.

Yes. It’s still here.

My granddad’s record player. I gave it to Helga after he passed.

“I would come here when I’d fight with my parents. Granddad would come and pick me up whenever I called him.” I glance over my shoulder and find him collapsing onto a deck chair. “He was always there when I needed someone. He’d never ask me any questions, either. Just showed up and took me back to his place. I’d come up here and just listen to music.” Dropping to my knees, I pull out a box, flip through to my favorite vinyl and pop it on the record player.

I wonder if Helga comes up and still uses it, or if any other of Granddad’s friends do, it’s still in great condition.

The music filters out and fills the roof deck.

I sway to the beat, feeling more grounded than I have in a long time.

This. Being here. This is what I’ve been searching for. This is like coming home.

And it’s because of Noah. Because he decided to bring me here. When I woke up to his body wrapped around mine, I almost didn’t want to get up. I didn’t want to let go of the feeling of him, but even with that feeling, I felt like I was drowning with no one around to see.

But I forgot. No matter how much of an ass he is, Noah sees all.

Like right now.

When I turn around to face him, he’s wearing the same expression he does when he’s buried deep inside me. Hungry. Desperate for more. Shifting in his seat, his hungry gaze taking their fill as I walk toward him—slowly.

“Sayer,” he growls, low and warning. Yet he doesn’t protest as I run my hands up his legs, tracing the edge of his waistline. “This isn’t why I brought you here.”

This isn’t why I came here, but here we are.

His legs spread out and his knuckles grip the armrest on the chair.

“I don’t care.” I straddle his lap. Arms wrapped around his neck. “Thank you for this.”

He nods, his signature broody expression in place, but he hauls me closer and nips playfully at my chin. I almost jerk back. What is happening? Who is this man? So different from the guarded one I know.

He’s like a new, illustrious creature and I don’t want to scare him off.

So instead I bring my lips to his and kiss him, showing my thanks in a way words can never achieve. For this. For taking me home.

We make out as the sun starts to rise, painting the sky in vibrant hues, but something just as colorful is happening inside me.

I’m falling harder for Noah Kincaid than I ever thought possible and I’m scared I’m not going to survive the heartbreak to follow.

Yesterday changed something. Within me, with Noah. Going back to my granddad’s unlocked secrets I’ve kept away, truths I’ve hidden from myself.

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