Page 42 of Saving Noah

Noah, still in shock, slowly sat up, stood, and then straddled Zach’s lap, not worrying at all that his flimsy white towel barely covered what it needed to cover with him in that position. If somebody walked in on them, fuck ’em. He was well adjusted to being gossip fodder. He raised his hands to hold the sides of Zach’s face, keeping his lover steady as he gazed into his eyes. “Would you do that for me? Really?”

Zach tried to glance away, but Noah wouldn’t allow it. When he accepted he couldn’t dodge looking him in the eye, Zach met him head on and answered, “This is going to sound stupid, Noah, but I’m finding I would doanythingfor you. I’m not relationship material. I’ve got issues with my past keeping me from being…acceptable. I know this, but with you, I struggle to remind myself I’m not what you need. You deserve so much more than what I’ll ever be able to offer, but I can’t stop wanting you. I want to give youeverything, but I know I’ll never be able to give you what you need the most.”

Noah loved some of those words, but disliked others a whole lot. Zach wasn’t relationship material? Was this his way of saying the infamousit’s me, not youbullshit? Noah didn’t think so. That wasn’t the vibe he picked up from Zach. The muscled mountain of a man truly believed he wasn’t worthy. That very thought was preposterous to Noah. Zach was wrong and he’d prove it to him.

No, he wasn’t foolish enough to believe a forever relationship with Zach was on the horizon, but he damned well intended to prove Zach’s worth to the other man. Little by little, he would help Zach see what an awesome catch he was and then Noah would step away and let his lover fly. Yes, it would break his heart, but it wouldn’t be the first or last time his heart had been broken. He’d survive.

“Wanna go upstairs and let me show my appreciation for your offer?” Noah asked with a grind of his hips against Zach’s hardening erection. “I can’t fucking believe you would do a photoshoot with me. If you aren’t careful, I’m gonna fall in love with you.” Noah couldn’t believe he’d said the words out loud. He wanted to yank them back and stuff them back down his throat the minute they’d escaped. He was already more than halfway in love with Zachary Meadows, but the man he straddled couldn’t and wouldn’t ever return the sentiment. Humiliation and terror swept through him.

“Don’t do that, Noah,” Zach whispered harshly. “Don’t even think you can fall in love with me. I’m not worth it and not capable of it.”

Noah’s heart withered, but he refused to allow Zach to see what his words did to him. If Zach had any idea the direction Noah’s heart traveled, he’d pull over and put said heart out on the side of the road. Schooling his features and modulating the tone of his voice, he said, “Don’t panic, big guy. I’m not looking for a proposal, just a lick and fuck. You’re capable of that, aren’t you?” The words tasted like bile in his mouth.

The pain flickering in Zach’s eyes didn’t match his words. “I’m definitely the man to call for a lick and fuck, babe. Call on me anytime.” He kissed Noah, but the passion from earlier had wilted along with Noah’s heart. “Hey, I’ll probably have to wear some sort of mask or something to hide my identity for the shoot. That won’t be a problem, will it?” he asked with a grimace. “The hospital might frown on that shit.”

“They love masks in that world,” Noah answered as he climbed off Zach’s lap and unsuccessfully tried to arrange the white towel to hide his erection. That was a waste of time. There was no hiding that bad boy. He was pathetic. How could he still be aroused after being shot down so blatantly?

Zach nodded to Noah’s tented towel with a smirk. “You need me to take care of that before we step back out into the real world?”

“Ha-ha,” Noah said. “We’ve already been in here too long. I think I’d smother from the steam if youtook care of thatin here.” He grabbed Zach’s hand. “Let’s skip the showers and head straight to my apartment.”

Zach grinned. “I like you bossy.”

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