Page 55 of Numbers Boy
“Exactly.” Stu nods. “I think not-so-deep down, you’re still hurting from everything Adam did to you. You’re dating this great guy, but you’re holding back. Stevie, at some point, you gotta be like the itsy-bitsy spider.”
“Meaning what?” I ask, sure that this is going to be good. Or incredibly bad. Or so bad that it’s good.
“You gotta climb up that spout again! The spout being a metaphor for relationships, not Noah’s dick. Although…” Stu trails off suggestively, waggling his eyebrows, and I let out a burst of laughter at his ridiculous analogy and shake my head. Stu grins, then softens his smile, squeezing my hand gently. “Hiding who you are isn’t like the Stevie I grew up with. Take back that final piece of you, and just go for it with this guy.”
I squeeze Stu’s hand back, nose prickling slightly. I sniffle a bit, then stand taller as I mentally prepare myself for whatever comes next. “Fuck, you’re the best, Stu. And I know you’re right. I just let the doubts creep in. Thanks for helping me talk things out.”
“Anytime, dude. Now I’m going to head out and spend some time with my favorite fur niece, so you can enjoy the rest of the night with your man.” He pulls me in for a tight hug, then drops his voice to a whisper right next to my ear. “Who, by the way, is looking at you like he can’t believe you’re real. The way hiseyes lit up when you started laughing? He’s fucking gone for you, Stevie.”
With that, Stu sends a wave over my shoulder, presumably to Noah, and walks off. I spin around, and sure enough, Noah is standing a few feet away. He’s slightly sweaty and looking at me like I’m all he can see.
“You were amazing up there,” I tell him, a little breathless, even though all he’s done is look at me. He takes the last few steps closer and slips his strong arms around my waist.
“Thank you for coming,” he says, placing a sweet kiss to my lips. “It means a lot, Stevie.”
“Of course. Want a drink or straight back to your place?”
“Let’s head out. I’ve missed snuggles with you. Blake’s great and all, but you’re cozier.”
Lips stretching into a wide smile, I nod. Noah holds out a hand, which I take eagerly, and we head out into the cool night air. The walk to Noah’s car is short, neither of us breaking the easy silence. At his car, he opens my door for me, causing my heart to flutter.
“Such a gentleman,” I tease, slipping into my seat.
“Anything for you,” he tosses back, then closes the door before rounding the vehicle to get in the driver’s seat. He’s said that multiple times now, and each time, it sticks in my brain. Each time, it gets a little bit easier to believe.
We head to Noah and Blake’s apartment, chatting about Noah’s set, work, and whatever else pops into our minds. Like every other time, it’s nice. Easy. I want to do this with him for years to come. And in order to do that, I have to let him in the rest of the way. Before I can say anything though, we’re parking.
When we get up to his place, Noah immediately pulls me onto the couch, tucking me close against his body. We fit perfectly, and it’s another thing I want to do for years to come. I pull in a deep breath and look into Noah’s eyes. The warm, lightbrown irises instantly set me more at ease, the affection I find there assuring me that this is the right step.
He saidanything for me. Surely this falls under that umbrella. He has never shown me anything but sweetness and acceptance. It’s time to climb up the spout again, as Stu said, and give my whole heart.
“Come to my show?”
Noah’s eyes shine, a slow smile growing on his perfect mouth. “I would love to, Princess.”
His answer is so quick, so sure, that he must have been ready with it. Just waiting for me to be ready to ask it.
Heart beating fast, I pull him in for a kiss. It’s soft and smooth, our lips moving perfectly in sync. Neither of us pushes for more, content to just feel the other. I do my best to pour all of my gratitude and excitement into the embrace. To show Noah without words just how much I appreciate him not only inviting me into all of the aspects of his life, but for wanting to be involved in all the facets of mine.
We stay like that, kissing as if it’s a language all our own, for countless minutes. Eventually, the long night catches up with me. My eyelids, heavy from the drugging effect of Noah’s touch, struggle to raise when I pull back. Fluttering them open as best I can, I see contented sleepiness mirrored in Noah’s gaze. He presses one more chaste kiss to the corner of my mouth, right where I know sits one of my darker freckles, and then shifts on the couch until I’m cradled perfectly in his arms.
“Snuggle with me, Princess?” he asks, voice low and rumbly. It warms me as well as any blanket, and I rest my head against his broad chest.
“Always,” comes my reply. It’s muffled slightly, both from tiredness and my face being pressed against him, but I know he hears me. A quiet hum vibrates beneath me, and we drift off to sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Noah
THE BRIGHT MORNINGsunlight wakes me, streaming in from a different angle than I’m used to and causing me to blink confusedly for a few seconds before I register where I am. When I do, I smile. I’m curled up with Steve on the couch. We must have passed out fairly soon after we got back. But not before Steve asked me to go to his show. My heart thumps at that thought, and I tighten my hold around him, feathering soft kisses to his hair and cheek.
The motion causes Steve to stir, gorgeous green eyes blinking up at me, sleep giving way to awareness, followed quickly by happiness. That happiness hits me like a punch to the gut, knowing I put that look there. For some reason, it feels like we got closer after only cuddling last night. Yes, having sex with Steve is amazing. Yes, I want to find all of the ways to make him squirm in pleasure before he melts into bliss. But it was just as special to hold him close and feel his solid warmth against me as we slept. To know he was with me, safe in my arms. From the look in his eyes and the smile on his face, I think Steve feels the same way.
“He’s getting married! That absolute ass wipe is getting married!” Blake storms into the apartment, startling us.
I swivel my head toward the doorway to see Blake waving a piece of paper around, looking the maddest I’ve ever seen him.He slams the door closed and drops the rest of the mail on the floor at his feet. My mind scrambles to catch up, heart sinking as his words register.
“Kyle?” I ask hesitantly, almost dreading the answer, even as I know I’m right. There’s really only one person who could cause this big of a reaction from Blake.
