Page 30 of Saving Noah

Chapter 8

Nearly two hours passed since Zach lost his balls, heart, and soul to Noah St. Claire. The sneaky bastard had stolen all three, and if Zach was honest, he’d have to admit he didn’t want them back. The kid could own him for as long as he could put up with Zach’s bullshit.

Was he nervous about what just happened? Fuck, yeah, he was. Terrified, actually. Noah was too good for him; too innocent. From what he’d just witnessed with Noah’s lap action, he would guess there was a pretty good chance Noah had been a virgin. If not a virgin, almost a virgin; there was no doubting that. He had no business being in the same room with someone so pure, much less having his cock buried as deep as it would fit.

He walked a fine line, with total fuckup on one side and break the kid’s heart on the other. There was no winning; he would eventually destroy Noah’s goodness. No matter how hard he tried to pretend like he was something other than the piece of shit his father raised, he would always bethatperson. Noah deserved better.

But, just like his father, he didn’t care what Noah deserved. He wanted him, so he was taking him. He hated himself for it, tried to convince himself they were just having some fun between the sheets, but he knew better. He wasn’t a complete idiot; he’d seen the look in Noah’s eyes as they’d fucked.

He should pretend like he’d kept ignoring Noah during their elevator rides or visits to the gym. Heshouldwalk away…but he wouldn’t. It’d been a long time since he’d felt this alive, since he’d wanted anybody the way he wanted Noah. Everything about the young man checked a box on his my-favorite-things list. Since walking away was an impossibility, he prayed he wouldn’t do something to screw up Noah’s life even more.

He rolled to his side so he could get a better look at his bed partner. If he had his way, he and Noah would be snuggled against each other right now, his cock spooning Noah’s ass. Apparently, he wouldn’t get his way. The cutie was on his belly, arms and legs sprawled in every direction, and his cheek resting flat against the mattress. Zach smiled. Someone had grown very accustomed to sleeping alone.

Zach vowed to change that. He’d always been a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of guy, never bringing anybody home to his bed and never sleeping over in another person’s private domain. It helped keep a barrier and distance, just the way he liked it. After one night in Noah’s bed, he suspected he’d never again want to sleep anywhere else, even if a knee to his stomach impeded his desire to spoon.

Noah’s long lashes rested lazily against his cheeks and his full lips formed a satisfied smile. The dark smudges beneath his eyes earlier that morning had faded to barely noticeable. The sheet Zach had tossed over them after he’d cleaned them both up had worked its way down enough to reward Zach with a glimpse of Noah’s ass—just a peek, but quite an enjoyable peek. Several love bites marred the extra-pale flesh of Noah’s shoulders and neck. He hadn’t been able to help himself. The urge to mark Noah as his had been too much to deny.

His eyes strayed back down to the top curve of the perfectly shaped ass next to him. Noah would most definitely be sore, probably too sore for another round. Disappointing, but Zach could be patient. As long as he got to have him again, he could suffer through waiting for Noah’s ass to recover. Fuck, the kid had practically been a virgin. While he’d been a perfect lover, his inexperience was obvious. Zach grinned; he’d be more than happy to teach him everything he needed to know.

Noah had been snoring softly for the past two hours, so when an exceptionally loud snore tumbled from his sexy lips, Zach’s eyes darted back up to his lover’s face. Just as he’d expected; the snore woke him. Sleepy eyes blinked open slowly, and when they finally focused on Zach, sheer terror clouded the blue orbs. Zach’s heart plummeted.

When Noah gasped, Zach pulled him close until they were eye to eye. “Easy, babe. It’s just me,” he urged softly. “Zach. Your neighbor. You remember, right? Don’t panic; make your mind calm down and remember. It’s okay. Everything’s okay.” He made his voice as soothing as possible. His hold on Noah was strong, but he hoped it wasn’t intimidating or scary. He should have thought of this—should have remembered Noah told him the meds clouded his memory.

Another panic attack would devastate Noah. Unsure of what to do, he wrapped his arms around Noah and stroked his back, whispering reassuring words against his ear. Noah’s body remained tense, poised in a fight or flight mode.

“Try to remember, babe. We had a misunderstanding and you locked me out of your apartment. Connor tricked you into letting me back in. We talked. We…uh…fucked.” It’d been so much more than fucking, but Zach wasn’t prepared to admit to it out loud. “It was good. We had fun. Afterward, you needed a nap. Everything’s fine. You’re safe. We’re in your apartment. It’s your safe place.”

Noah’s body relaxed, inch by inch, slowly but surely, but Zach kept talking, kept rubbing his back. Noah hadn’t been touched in a long time. He needed touching, a lot of touching.

Finally, Noah pushed against him as he said, “Ughh, you’re a human heater. Give me some space. I’m about to have heat stroke.”

Mr. Sassy Pants returned. Zach smiled and eased away from the young man who made him feel things he had no business feeling. “Do you remember? Is everything okay?”

Noah blushed. “Yeah, yeah. I remember. Sorry about that. It happens. I’m used to it, but it has to look somewhat shocking to a sane person.” He grinned, but Zach could see the embarrassment etched all over his beautiful face. “Waking up next to crazy is pretty exhausting, eh? You should’ve seen the look on your face. I don’t know which one of us was more scared.” He laughed nervously.

Zach’s irritation flared instantly at Noah’s words. He’d warned him about the negative comments. Oh well, it was bound to happen. Zach wasn’t at all surprised it turned out to be sooner rather than later. He patted Noah’s cheek and disentangled himself from their embrace. Reaching behind him, he stacked up several pillows so he was able to comfortably prop up against the headboard. Perfect.

When his eyes returned to Noah, his lover sported a confused expression. “I said something wrong again, didn’t I?” he asked quietly.

Zach grinned. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you damned near broke your back to get away from me. We were all touchy-feely mode one second, and then, the next thing I know, you’re propped up and ready for…what? Breakfast in bed? Television? Or, wait, I know; you hated to leave me alone, but didn’t want to touch me anymore.” Noah turned away from him. “I bet that’s it,” he muttered.

“No, no, and no. You’re wrong on all three accounts, babe.” He set a finger under Noah’s chin to turn his face back toward him before tucking Noah’s hair behind his ear. Bedhead looked good on Noah, all that inky black silkiness stuck out in every direction. “What did I tell you would happen to you if you made another derogatory comment?” he asked. “Do you remember?”

Noah sat up in the bed, cross-legged, and stared at him like he’d grown a third head. “Ha! You said you would punish me. Ha, ha. I’m sorry, Zach. It’s a habit that’s going to be hard to break. I own my craz—” He grimaced. “Oops, I did it again.”

“I heard you,” Zach answered. “I think that makes eight times. I realize you think you’re being funny, Noah. You’re wrong. It isn’t funny. You aren’t crazy, nor are the other people who suffer from phobias. Your comments are rude and unacceptable.”

For the first time, Noah looked ashamed. “Hell, Zach, I didn’t mean anybody else, just me. I wouldn’t say that shit about another person.”

“That’s nine.”

“What’s nine?”

“You were referring to the crazy comments and you said ‘just me.’ That’s nine unacceptable comments I owe you discipline for,” Zach explained slowly, like he was teaching a first-grader their ABCs.

“You’re funny,” Noah said. “But, hey, I’m game. What’s the discipline going to be? Do I get a time-out? Take my computer or television away?” He clapped excitedly. “Oh, I’ve got one; how about you ground me? Let’s say I can’t leave my apartment building.”

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