He holds up one of the cups in his hand. “I brought your favorite.”
“I have perfectly good coffee in here.” I arch a brow, challenging him, and visions of homicide creep into my mind when he laughs.
Well, at least one of us finds this amusing.
“Just take it, Kady. You really going to let it go to waste?”
Damn him.
Why does he have to know me so damn well? After growing up in group homes and foster care, I’m cheap as hell and can’t stand to let anything go to waste and he knows that. I rip the cup from his hand and take a sip, using all my energy to not give away just how good it tastes. Jack lets out a low growl from behind me and Noah turns to him.
“Cute dog.”
I glance over my shoulder as Jack lifts his head from his pillow and casts a disapproving glance at the door.
“Can I pet him?”
I purse my lips. “I would say yes but I don’t want him to catch anything. Rabies and Parvo are really contagious, you know.”
“You saying I’m a dog?” he asks, laying his hand on his heart. “That hurts, baby.”
“You’ll get over it.”
“I have an idea,” he murmurs as he steps closer to me and I back up. “Why don’t you stop beating around the bush and say what you really want to say to me?”
“What makes you think I have anything to say to you?”
He takes another step. My back presses against the open door as it hits the wall. “Because I can see the rage in your eyes every time you look at me and it’s not like you to hold back.”
“Yes, well, I’m a lady now.”
“What a shame,” he whispers, closing the distance between us and pressing his body against mine. “Who are you trying to fool? I want my Kady back. Why don’t you let her out to play for a little bit?”
I grit my teeth. “Your Kady died seven years ago.”
“Baby…” he breathes, taking a few steps back as his eyes widen and I grip the door as I move forward, forcing him back over the threshold.
“I think it’s time for you to go.”
I almost get the door shut when his hand shoots out, hitting the wood with a deafening crash, preventing me. Jack bolts to his feet, growling louder now, his gaze fixed on the man in front of me.
“No, Jack.” I turn back to Noah. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’ll call the police,” I threaten and he smiles, pushing the door open again as he takes a step toward me.
“No, you won’t. I can’t seem to figure out why yet but I know you don’t want the attention the police would bring.”
Fuck.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Noah studies me for a second before nodding. “Okay, tell you what… either call the cops or let me in so we can talk.”
“We have nothing…”
He raises a hand, cutting me off. “Stop with that shit. We have a hell of a lot to talk about and you know it. I’m getting real tired of these fucking games you’re playing, Kady.”
“Then, leave.”
“No.”
We stare at each other, neither one of us willing to back down and my mind races. Both options are bad but out of the two, calling the cops is the worst. It would bring far more attention to me than simply letting him in to talk. I chew on my lip and he grins.
“Fine. Come in but I’ve told you, there’s nothing to talk about.”
He lets out a sardonic laugh as I turn away from him and he follows me into the house. “The bullshit coming out of your mouth is just amazing.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I call over my shoulder and he grips my arm, whipping me around to face him. I gasp as he pushes me up against the wall and presses his body into mine. His cock digs into my hip and I remember how good it feels to have him touching me as I fight back a moan.
“Enough lying, baby,” he orders softly, dragging the back of his fingers down my cheek. My skin tingles in the wake of his touch and I fight to keep my eyes open. “Tell me what happened to you seven years ago.”
I shake my head, meeting his gaze. “No.”
“Yes,” he shoots back, gritting his teeth. I lean up on my tiptoes, letting my lips just barely brush over his before I smile.
“No.”
His eyes search mine frantically and slowly heat, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I can say anything else or stop him, his lips crash down on mine. Goose bumps race across my skin and I moan softly as I melt into him. He grips my hips, pulling me closer and for the first time in years, it feels like I’m home. I don’t have to think because my body remembers him like he never left and my heart pounds in my ears as I give over to it.
Fuck.
It was stupid to think that I had moved on with my life. In this moment, I know that, for me, there is no getting over Noah LeBlanc.
He owns me.
“Kady,” he groans against my lips and it snaps me out of my daze. I press my hands against his chest and shove him back. Stumbling away from me, he meets my gaze as we both gasp for air. My hands shake uncontrollably as I lean back against the wall and release a breath.
“You need to leave.”
He shakes his head, looking bewildered as he closes the distance between us again. “Tell me you love me.”
“No,” I shoot back with a shaky laugh, feeling far less confident than I was a moment ago. He slowly reaches up and cups my cheek.
“I know you do, Kady. Tell me you love me.”
I turn away from his touch. “I don’t love you anymore.”
“Bullshit,” he growls and my gaze flicks back to his. “You and I are destined, baby doll. Written in the fucking stars and that’s the kind of shit that never fucking dies.”
“It’s been seven years, Noah. You don’t love me anymore. You don’t even know me.”
He reaches up and cradles my cheek again as a soft smile stretches across his face. “It could be a hundred damn years, Kady, and I’d still love you just as much now as I did the day I got locked up. You own me, baby.” He takes my hand and places it on his chest, over his heart. “You always have and you always will.”
“Please, stop,” I whisper, tears burning my eyes as he echoes my thoughts. “You can’t say things like that to me.”
“Why not?”
I shake my head and grip his t-shirt in my fist as I drop my head, the reason we can’t be together ever again ringing in my head like a beacon. It doesn’t matter how much I love him or that when I’m with him, I’m almost whole again. When he got locked up, things changed forever and there is no way to unring the bell.
“I can see the pain in your eyes, baby,” he says, forcing my gaze back to his with a finger under my chin. His green eyes beg me for answers. “Tell me what happened while I was locked up.”
“No,” I force out through clenched teeth as a tear falls down my cheek and I push him away from me. “Stop coming around, stop kissing me, and stop leaving shit on my doorstep. We are over and done, end of story.”
He frowns. “What did I leave on your doorstep?”