“I thought that’s what you wanted and was trying to be supportive. I was jealous as fuck, but as long as you were happy, I’d get over it. The truth is, I never moved on and couldn’t. Knowing Gabe had the woman of my dreams and was purposely taking you for granted made my blood boil. If you were mine, I would’ve given you the world. I would’ve been home with you when you were dealing with pregnancy sickness. It fucked me up knowing he was cheating on you.” I brush a hand through my hair, frustrated that I let so many years pass before saying anything. Shaking my head, I blow out a breath. “I should've just told you.”
Katie takes two steps forward, closing the gap between us. I tuck loose hair strands behind her ear as we gaze at each other. When she leans into my touch, I slowly inch forward and wait. Emotions soar through me as her lips seek mine, and our tongues tangle together.
I know it's wrong, but at this moment, it feels so damn right to be kissing the woman I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember.
Chapter Thirteen
KATIE
Our lips crash together, and teenage me is screaming inside. Having him like this shouldn’t feel so safe, so right, or so natural, but it does. It feels perfect.
I’m burning from the inside out as I moan and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. I’m being greedy and desperate, but I don’t give a damn. One kiss broke down barriers that have kept us apart since we were teenagers.
Noah’s hand lowers, then grips my ass. I shouldn't like this. I shouldn't enjoy tasting his lips this much. I need him more than air, but I can’t deny how the confusion hits me like a punch to the gut. I fight an internal battle with my head and my heart.
His hardness presses against my stomach, and my body wants to lose control. This time, I know the feelings are mutual. There’s no denying it.
“Fuck,” his soft lips whisper against mine. I swipe my tongue against his, deepening the kiss because he feels like home.
“Noah,” I moan when he squeezes my breast. No man has kissed me with such intensity in…well, ever. Not even Gabe, and the fact that I’m comparing the two disgusts me.
What the hell am I doing right now?
His mouth trails to my ear, and I arch my back, pushing away all the lingering thoughts in my mind.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he whispers, causing electricity to shoot down my spine. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long.”
“Me too,” I groan as he fuses our lips back together. Noah cups my face and tilts my chin up, twisting his tongue in deeper as I fist the fabric of his shirt. His fingers thread through my hair, and I release a throaty moan at how good it feels to be touched by him. My breathing increases, and though I don’t know where this is leading, I don’t care.
That is until I hear a car door slam outside.
I pull away, anxiousness and panic soaring through me. “Fuck.” I step back, putting space between us. “That's Loretta and Owen.”
Noah's eyes widen as I adjust my messy ponytail. Adrenaline spikes through me at how reckless I’ve been. “You have to hide right now,” I tell him eagerly.
It won’t matter if he’s here or not because my lips are swollen and my face is flushed. My body’s going to give it away before I even get a word out. This can’t be how Loretta finds out Noah is here. Hell, she can never know.
Seconds later, Noah shuts himself in a hallway closet full of old lighting fixtures and spider webs. I feel awful that he has to hide away like an unwanted stray cat after everything he's been through. If it wasn’t for her own judgments and her impact on my son’s life, I wouldn’t give two shits what she thought. However, it’d hurt Owen more than anything.
I pick up my coffee cup, hoping to seem normal as the door swings open. Loretta enters with a wide grin, and Owen follows her. I put on the act of my life as the floodgate of guilt opens. Devastated wouldn’t even begin to describe her reaction if she knew what I was just doing and with who, and I already know there’s zero chance she’d approve of our relationship.
There’s a lot of hostility in the Reid family. My heart races, and turmoil twists inside me as my thoughts circle in a tangled web. I'm torn between my loyalty to Gabe’s family and the way I've always secretly felt about Noah. When she comes closer, I try to ignore my beating heart. Loretta looks me over from head to toe, and I hope my face doesn’t give me away. I take another sip of coffee.