Page 26 of Rock the Cradle of Love
“You’re cute together,” says a woman Noah thinks is Huck’s girlfriend.
“We are, aren’t we,” says Taylor, grinning. And just like that, they’re out to the team. Well, half the team.
“Well, shit,” says Prez, also grinning. “I wouldn’t have guessed it of either of you, but, hey, whatever floats your boat.” He holds out his beer and Taylor and Noah both clank their own bottles against it, and Noah feels Taylor relax at the responses. Hummel’s still looking out of sorts, but nods at Noah. Noah nods back. Chatter resumes and Noah remembers what had precipitated the detour and why. He looks around, but doesn’t see Emma anywhere outside. He doesn’t hear any crying and several of his teammates have kids, so there are mothers in the house who can handle her. Someone will find him if she needs him. He takes a swig of his beer, quits worrying about Emma, and joins the conversation.
They talk some more about last season, the playoff games fixin’ to start, and everyone’s summer plans by the time he finally hears a cry, and he startles at the sound.
A hand lands on his knee. “I’ll go find her, Puck Daddy,” says Taylor with a wink and heads inside. He returns a few minutes later with Emma, a receiving blanket, and a bottle.
Emma’s grin when she sees Noah is huge and lights him up from the inside out.
“Hey, baby girl,” Noah says softly, accepting her slide into his arms. She pats at his face and burbles. “Were you having fun?” he asks. Emma clenches her fingers around his nose and he winces. Her little fingernails are sharp. He kisses her nose, and hears a faint clicking sound.
Noah looks up to see several cell phones pointed his way, including Taylor’s. Taylor’s got soft eyes and a soft smile, and something inside Noah shifts. He can’t look away. This feeling of physical longing is new. It’s not sexual. His dick isn’t showing any signs of arousal. Noah doesn’t want to drag Taylor off to bed or anything, but he does want to be closer all of a sudden; he wants to touch Taylor.
Taylor’s eyebrows go up as if he senses a rift in the space/time continuum. He settles into the seat beside Noah again, right arm resting along the back. Noah debates for half a second before scooting into the slot, his left shoulder resting against the right side of Taylor’s chest. Taylor’s murmured “Noah” makes him warm inside, and he’s never been more content in his life. They sit there together as Emma drinks her bottle and falls asleep in his arms.
“Wanna go home?” Taylor murmurs in his ear.
He drops his head to Taylor’s shoulder as his stomach swoops. That’s new, and he likes it. It’s progress, this reaction to Taylor. “I wouldn’t mind that actually, but we can’t…we haven’t eaten yet. It’d be rude.” Noah sniffs the air. Burgers, beans, baked potatoes. “By the smells, I’m guessing it’s almost time to eat. Why do you ask?”
“Because you look fuckin’ hot with a sleeping baby in your arms, and I want to ravish you.”
Noah laughs, and Emma startles in his arms but settles back into slumber immediately. He moves his mouth toward Taylor’s ear and lowers his voice. “How about we put Emma in her carrier and stash her someplace quiet and steal a kiss or two or three somewhere equally quiet? Will that hold you over until we can go home?”
“It’ll do, I guess.” Taylor harrumphs, but he’s smiling, so Noah knows he’s fine. “I’ll get the carrier.”
Noah follows Taylor. “Linda, is there someplace quiet we can put Emma so she can sleep?”
Linda grabs a kitchen towel and dries her hands. “Sure, hon; let me show you Paul’s office. No one will bother her in there.” She leads them out of the kitchen and around the corner into a back corner of the house.
S’more’s office is all dark wood. A desk with a laptop and bookshelves full of books. Framed photos of his kids cover one wall. Kid-drawn images litter another. Dark blinds cover the window that looks into the backyard.
Noah places Emma into her carrier and tucks the blanket around her. He hates to leave her, but she’s asleep and she’ll be fine.
Linda pulls the door shut and pats his shoulder. “She’s precious, Noah. Congrats. Paul and I bought her a little something.”
“Oh, wow. You didn’t have to do that. But thank you.”
Back in the kitchen, Linda hands him a purple gift bag with sparkly cupcakes on it. Darker purple tissue paper sticks out of the top. He pulls the whole thing from the bag and unwraps a white sun hat with a frilly edging and the Rotors logo on one of the panels. He laughs. “I love it. Thanks. Let me just go put this in her bag.”
Taylor follows him back to S’more’s office and waits in the hall. The air whooshes from Noah’s lungs when Taylor pins him to the wall and kisses the breath out of him. He floats on a cloud of contentment and happiness. How is this his life now?
Taylor’s hard in his shorts, but doesn’t do anything but kiss Noah. “Are you sure we can’t sneak out of here?” he asks.
“I’m sure,” Noah whispers, instigating another deep kiss. He relishes the warmth and closeness.
“You two get lost?” asks Huck, smirking as if he knows something, when they emerge from the hallway. Someone must have spread the word.
He’s pulling a sheet of twice-baked potatoes from the oven and the scent makes Noah’s mouth water.
Linda smiles at them, a knowing twinkle in her green eyes. “Go tell everyone ten minutes till dinner, all right?”
Twining his fingers through Noah’s, Taylor nods and they return to the crowd out back.
* * *
It takes another hour to get through dinner and make their excuses. More sly looks and amused smiles follow them into the house than Taylor wants to think about, but Noah’s oblivious. Everyone probably thinks they’re rushing home to fuck. And, well, they aren’t wrong. The thought of that pleases Taylor so much, he feels dizzy with it.
