The Truth About Lennon

Wrapping his fingers around my wrist, he pulls my hand to the star over his heart.

“This one is for Nova. I want to add to it. Maybe when I get married, or have more children, it’ll be a cluster.”

“It’ll be beautiful.” Maybe someday there will be a star there for me. “What’s the dove for?”

“Kim.”

I look up.

“She’s the mother of my child. She hurt me, but I hope she found

peace.” The kindness in his voice says volumes about the man he is.

“You gave her wings.”

“Someone had to. Now, no more words, baby. I need you.”

Before I can reach for Noah’s pants, he nudges me toward the bed, and I crawl under the soft, warm covers, watching as he moves across the room, flicks the lock on his door, and pulls off his pants and boxers.

My mouth waters at the sight of his gorgeous body, and I hold the covers up for him to come join me.

Noah crawls into bed beside me, not on top of me as I had hoped. He studies me momentarily and then captures my lips in a slow, gentle kiss.

“We need to talk.”

Uh-oh. No conversation that starts with those four words can be good.

“Okay,” I say. “About what?” My mind flashes back to when I left him standing on the soccer field with Kalyn, and my heart rate kicks up. “Does it have to do with Kalyn?”

Crinkling his nose, Noah shakes his head. “Not at all.” He pulls back a couple of inches so he can get a good look at me. “Is that what you think?”

The tightness around my chest relaxes. “No, but I wasn’t sure, and—”

Capturing my lips again, Noah cuts me off. He kisses me once, twice, and a third time before releasing my mouth. “I told Kalyn about us.”

My eyes bounce between his. “What exactly did you tell her?”

“Well,” he says, wrapping a corded arm around my waist, “that’s the part I wanted to talk to you about.”

“You have my attention.”

“That’s good.” Noah runs his fingers along the side of my face, brushing my hair back. “Your attention is a start, but I want everything else.”

The look on his face reveals far more than his words. He needs me just as much as I need him, but it’s more than that. It’s affection and vulnerability and that spark of something I saw when I first walked up.

“What do you want?” I want to hear him say it. I want the words.

“You, Lennon.”

A swarm of butterflies takes flight in my stomach. “You already have me.”

Noah shakes his head. “It’s not enough. I want what we represent. I want it all.” He takes a deep breath. “When I told Kalyn about us, it felt good. Better than I ever thought it would. And do you know why it felt good?”

I shake my head.

“Because this feels right. I want this, Lennon.” Noah hauls my body in close. “I want every single part of you. I’m ready for it. I didn’t think I was ready for someone like you, but I am.”

My heart stops.