Just then her phone rings and she hurries to answer it. “Daddy?”
She listens for a moment, and then she begins to sob heartbreakingly.
No. No. No.
My blurring eyes are locked on her, and when she ends the call, she buries her face against Jase. “They think they’ve found him, but he seems to be unconscious. They’re working on getting to them.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and then Noah’s chest presses against my back. He wraps his arms around the front of me and rests his chin on my head. Bringing my hands up, I grip hold of his forearms as I try to draw strength from him.
The air is tense and filled with worry. My stomach begins to burn from all the concern eating away at me.
When Hunter and Jade arrive, it feels like a grim shroud of death is dropped over all of us. We gather together in the living room, and as Noah sits down, he again pulls me onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my cheek against his shoulder. My gaze keeps drifting from Hana to Fallon and Kao, to Jase and Mila, to Hunter and Jade.
Fallon’s phone begins to ring, and it has us all jerking from the sudden sound.
“Daddy?” Again she listens, and then her eyes drift closed, and a breath shudders from her. “Okay… okay… love you.”
Before she can tell us what Uncle Falcon said, Hunter’s phone rings.
“Aria!” Hunter darts up. “Are you okay?” He lifts a hand to his brow, and then he slumps back on the couch. “But you’re okay?” He shuts his eyes and sucks in a deep breath. “I’m sure he’ll be okay. I love you.”
Jase’s phone beeps, and then mine. I hurry to check the message.
Dad: Talking with Uncle Falcon. They’ve found Forest and Aria. Aria’s fine. Forest has been rushed to the hospital, but he seems stable. Will call in a couple of minutes.
“They’ve found them,” Jase says, and a collective sigh escapes around the room. “Forest has been taken to the hospital. He’s stable, though. We’ll know more soon.”
We’re all overwhelmed with relief, and I bury my face against Noah’s neck as the emotions wash over me.
When we finally get the news that Forest has a broken arm and four broken ribs but that he’s okay, I’m exhausted to my core.
It’s as if the worry burned through all my energy.
“You should all stay the night,” Kao says. “Grab a guest room or a couch. I’ll put out some pillows and blankets.”
Everyone leaves to find a spot to rest, then Noah says, “Want to crash here?”
I nod. “I’m good with anywhere.” I get up and say, “I’m just going to get a glass of water. Do you want some?”
Noah shakes his head as he kicks off his shoes before stretching out on the couch.
When I come back from drinking water, I sit down on the other couch, and when I’ve taken off my sneakers, Noah murmurs, “Come over here.”
I move to where Noah’s lying, and he tugs at my hand, so I’ll lie down. I crawl over him and positioning half my body over his, I rest my hand and cheek on his chest.
“Thank you, Noah.”
He places a hand against my cheek, and then I feel him press a kiss to my hair. “Try to get some sleep.”
I nod, and listening to his heartbeat, it doesn’t take me long to drift off.
NOAH
It’s been a rough week for everyone, but Forest and Aria are finally back home. Forest has some healing to do, but at least they survived the disaster.
Walking into the living room, I see Carla’s lying on one of the couches, watching Shrek with Forest and Aria. I drop down on the other open couch, and just as I get into the movie, Carla’s face suddenly hovers above mine. She almost gives me a damn heart attack because she snuck up on me.
Then she impersonates Donkey, “I hate it when you’ve got somebody in your face, you trying to give them a hint, and they won’t leave. Then there’s that big awkward silence… you know…”
I struggle not to laugh as I stare up at her. She’s so damn cute when she mimics an animation.
“Can I lie with you?” She even pulls an adorable face.
Teasing her, I grumble, “Nope.”
Carla pouts down at me, and it fills me with the urge to kiss her. “Can I lie with you… Please.”
“Fuck,” I mutter because I can’t kiss her right now. I continue teasing her, “You’re not going to stop, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Fine,” I huff.
Carla comes to lie down half over me and rests her head on my chest. She lets out a happy sigh. “Not so bad, is it?”
I shake my head. “You’re not the one being used for a pillow.”
Then she snuggles into me. “My favorite pillow.”
The now-familiar emotions ripple through me before I turn my gaze back to the TV.
I rest my arm over Carla and begin to brush my fingers over her arm, taking in the feel of her soft skin. We’re not even halfway through the movie before she falls asleep with her fingers curled into my shirt.
I’m overly conscious of her body pressing against mine, and it makes need ripple through my abdomen. It’s getting hard to take things slow with her. Then again, we’ve technically been dating a week. Not that we’ve done much dating with what happened to Forest and Aria.
When Shrek is almost done, I close my eyes and pretend I’ve fallen asleep as well. I listen as Forest and Aria turn off the TV and lights before they head toward the hallway. I wait a couple minutes longer, then I open my eyes again.
Now that we’re alone, I shift a bit down, so I’m more comfortable and wrapping both my arms around Carla, I let out a contented sigh and drift off to sleep.
I feel the heat from her body as she lies half over me. My hand keeps trailing up and down her arm, her skin as soft as silk beneath my fingers.
Carla glances up at me, and seeing the desire in her eyes, my self-control is non-existent. Taking hold of her jaw, I crush my mouth to hers. Her moan reverberates into me as her hand moves from my chest, slipping under my sweatpants. Her fingers wrap around my cock, and she begins to stroke me, making my body go up in flames with need for her.
“Noah,” she moans…
I wake up with one hell of a start, my heart pounding in my chest. It takes me a moment to realize I’m lying on the couch with Carla, and it was only a dream. Instantly disappointment wells in my chest because it felt so real… so good.
Carla stirs, pressing her body against mine, and her arm tightens around me.
My cock hardens to the point where it’s bordering on painful. I have no doubt it would take only a matter of seconds for me to come if Carla were to wrap her fingers around my cock.
She pushes her body closer and moves her leg over mine, and it makes her thigh push against my cock. A burst of pleasure shoots through me, making my body jerk.
You want to take it slow with her.
You want to take it slow with her.
You want to…
Carla moves her thigh higher until she covers my cock, and it ceases all brain activity for me. She glances up at me, and she must see the desire on my face because she pushes herself up. When she straddles me and her pussy presses down on my cock, I grab hold of her hips.