Page 35 of Sire: On Your Knees

I tensed up and moved closer to the door. "Who are you?"

"The niggas who just saved your life!" the one in the front seat yelled with a wild look.

"Loyal, chill. She's scared." The caramel one next to me spoke in a softer voice when he looked at me. "I'm Kalias, and that's Loyal. We're CCB and Sire's closest friends."

Hearing the acronym for Sire's motorcycle club eased my mind a little. "Did Sire send y'all here?"

He winced. "Not necessarily. We've been tracking down your friend for a while, but his father's people made a move first. We only had time to get you out of there. If they would've seen you, you would've been dead too."

I flopped backward in the seat, trying to steady my breathing. Thinking of Sire had me thinking of the locket. I began to panic when I realized it was gone.

"Oh, here. You dropped this." I sighed in relief when Kalias handed me the locket.

"Thank you. This is the whole reason I came here."

He nodded. "You're good for my boy."

I scoffed, unsure if Sire really felt the same way, but I knew I was going to find out. Losing Ria so abruptly made me realize how short life was. I didn't want to waste it by denying what I felt.

"I think so too. Ernesto, can you take me back to the penthouse?" I requested.

Iwas a nervous wreck when we arrived at The Mallory. When I left home, I grabbed some personal things before deciding if things didn't work out with Sire, I would buy a flight to God knows where to start over. I brought the bag of money with me. It was entirely too much to give to me. He had to know that.

Walking toward Sire's private elevator, I tried to think about what I was going to say when I saw him. It'd only been a few hours, so my emotions were still fresh. I wouldn't be able to move forward without doing this or without knowing how he truly felt.

Because of the access he'd granted me a while back, I was able to step on and ride it all the way to his penthouse. When the elevator doors slid open, I stepped off, searching for him. The terrace, living room, and kitchen were all empty. Heading toward the back, I smiled, passing the guest bedroom I'd come to know and love. I didn't think I'd be back so soon, yet my feet carried me further down the hall.

My heart plummeted like a drop zone when his deep voice spoke from behind me. “Novi, what are you doing here?”

My chest began to heave up and down as I tried to find my words. I spun around and collided with his solid chest. There was sweat dripping down the sides of his face indicating he’djust finished a workout. I tried not to let my attraction to him embarrass me by licking every drop but it was hard. My body was still very much in tune with Sire and the things he could do.

Without a word I lifted my closed hand. Turning it over I opened it up, revealing the locket he’d purchased for his sister. “Novi… How did you get this?”

He stood there in shock. It was obvious he thought he’d never see the locket again. “Ria left a letter for me at my apartment. I went and asked her for it.”

“You did what?” His voice became serious as his eyes shot to my face. “Do you know how many people are looking for them? You could’ve been killed.”

I gulped down my guilt. “I almost was. If it wasn’t for your friends your father’s people would’ve gotten me too. They killed her.” I stared blankly at the locket I was still holding. I placed it in Sire’s hands.

My touch awakened something in him as he stuffed it in the pocket of his sweats then snatched me to his chest. His arms securing me in place made everything right in the world. I lost my ability to breathe when he looked at me with genuine awe and admiration. His lips crashing into mine rocked me back on my toes, but he pulled me closer. Allowing me to fall from his grasp wasn’t even an option.

When he released me, he laid his forehead on mine. “You don’t know how much I missed you. I was on my way to find you after I took a shower. I need you, Knovah.”

"Ican't tell."

I exhaled heavily. "I know, and that's because I'm a fucking idiot. I don't know how to do this, Knovah. I've never opened my heart to a woman before. Hell, I didn't even open it to you. You barged into my life and stole it." Her breathing started to slow, so I kept talking. "I've been scared as fuck to let you in because I didn't feel like I deserved you or your thoughtfulness... gentleness... or genuine love. You've made me feel things I've protected myself from since I lost my sister. That alone makes you different from anybody else I've had dealings with. I might've given her access to my body, but you are the only woman to have access to my heart, and that's on me."

This time, when Noonie turned to look at me, there was less fire in her eyes. It was quickly being replaced by something else... her love for me. "Do you mean that?"

I nodded and held out my hand for her to take. She looked at it hesitantly but eventually gave in. I pushed her against the wall. "I do. More than you know because I've been afraid to share it with you. I don't want to fight the truth anymore. I love you, Knovah Anderson. I want to do life with you,onlyyou."

Tears welled in her eyes, further breaking me down. She knew I hated it when she cried. "Why'd you let me go then?"

I pressed closer to her body. "Because it was the right thing to do. I had to know if this was real or not, but seeing you leave nearly killed me. That's all the proof I need that not only is this real, but I can't fucking live without you." Lifting her hands to my lips, I began to plead, and didn't feel any shame about it. "Please, don't make me do life without you, Novi."

Noonie was silent, too fucking silent, but since she wasn't running away, I took it as a good sign. I used my finger to trace a line across her cheek. I swiped away the tear that slipped out a second later. I got ready to say more when she finally responded.

"I was at home trying to pack up my things, but I couldn't get you off my mind. I didn't want to leave you earlier, but I thought it was what you wanted."

---