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  I followed her into the room. Her wedding planner and bridesmaid snatched her away as soon as we entered. The group milled around the room; dinner was over. I couldn't find Noah, but Preston's brothers stood at the front of the room with a microphone in hand.

  "Okay. Before our beautiful couple part ways to enjoy their last night of freedom." He had a remote in his hand. "Preston, Paxton and I discovered something. Who knew this connection was destiny."

  He tapped the remote and a shaky image projected on the empty wall. The image went from blue sky to the back of Preston walking across a college campus.

  "I can't believe I agreed to let you do this," Preston said on camera.

  "Come on," Peter's voice said from behind the camera. "I promised Mom she'd get to see your first day of school. Besides. It's good practice."

  "Practice for what?" Preston asked.

  "For when you have your own reality show."

  The crowd laughed.

  Kate reached out for Preston's hand. He took it, kissed it, and wrapped her in his arms.

  "We are heading to my first class. Freshman English." Preston walked into a huge auditorium with three hundred other students. Some stopped talking to stare at him. He was the number one recruit in the nation and even as a freshman, everyone knew him. The screen cut to a few more shots of Preston walking through the quad, sitting in another class, walking to the practice facility.

  I tensed. His presence sent a chill down my spine. I knew it was Noah. I knew my man. He didn't touch me, but stood so close, I felt him everywhere. I turned my head, but an image on the screen caught my attention.

  "This right here is my roommate and the coolest white boy I know, Noah Patrick." On screen Preston pointed.

  The camera scanned and stopped on Noah at nineteen years old. His hair was long, covered in a hat with a stiff bill. He wore an oversized t-shirt and gym shorts.

  He and Preston shook hands and laughed as they walked into the building.

  The camera followed them a few feet more, and focused on Noah. He looked so young and so innocent. He had none of the intensity I had come to know. He was a kid.

  When did his edge make its first appearance?

  I stepped back a half step and leaned into Noah's chest. He grabbed my hips and hesitated before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me back into him.

  We sighed.

  I tilted my head as Noah kissed the side of my neck.

  Our attention went back to the screen.

  "What are your goals for the year, Bro?" Peter asked. "Academic."

  "Ah," Preston rubbed his head. "3.0."

  "3.5."Peter said.

  "What? You going to do my work for me?" Preston threw something at his brother behind the camera.

  "Nope. Football goals."

  "Average 150 yards and 12 touchdowns for the year."

  "If you took some of that ambition on the football field to your academics, you'd be fine," Peter said.

  Preston spouted out a few more statistics.

  "What did he end up with?" I turned in Noah's arms. I stared up at him. He leaned in and nuzzled my neck. I shivered and held him tight.

  "3.4." Noah said as he kissed me. His soft lips slide back and forth over my skin. I knew we should talk about what happened before. I should have told him about my conversation with Garret, but all of that slipped out of my mind when Noah grabbed my face and stared into my eyes. His eyes danced as they took me in. I loved the way he looked at me. His eyes gave me security, confirmed to me what I knew about Noah. He was sweet, compassionate, caring, and loyal. He loved me, but he didn't always know how to show it when he didn’t adore me.

  Maybe he was afraid of scaring me away.

  We both turned towards the screen.

  "Okay, ten years from now, you have Pro Bowls, NFL MVP, Super Bowl Champion."

  "Twice," Paxton yelled at the screen and the crowd laughed again.

  Preston sat at his desk in his dorm room. Music played low in the background. He tapped his pencil on the desk as he listened to the voice behind the camera.

  "What does life look like?" Peter asked.

  "Oh man," Preston rubbed his head on screen and in real life. "Mom and Dad are sitting in a nice house with a bank account big enough that they won't have to ask me for every little thing and they won't have to work another day in their lives." He pointed at the camera. "All my brothers are educated, working, and not living off of me."

  "Thank God for that," Paxton said.

  "Married, and two kids," Preston said.

  "Describe your perfect wife."

  "I got two words for you Bro." Preston stood up and grinned. "Kate Stone." Preston reached for the camera and pushed it away. You could hear people in the room laughing before the picture went black.

  Peter turned towards the stunned couple.

  "See, it was destiny."

  Kate wiped tears out of her eyes and Preston held her face and laid a soft peck on her cheek. He whispered something to her and she nodded.

  She stared up, licked her lips and smiled.

  The dinner broke up soon after the video. High from the love and laughter, Noah and I wandered into the bar.

  "You want a drink?" He asked as he pulled the bar stool out for me.

  "I have had enough to drink today." I shook my head as I sat at the bar. Noah stood next to me, his arm draped over my shoulder. We had a little time to kill before the guys headed off for their bachelor night debauchery. Kate insisted I join her, her friends and bridesmaids for a slumber party.

  "Where did you go during dinner?" Noah asked.

  I turned to face him.

  "A little bar across the street."

  "You got some bartender counseling."

  The bartender sat a glass of water in front of me, a beer in front of Noah.

  "Something like that." I sipped my water.

  "Are we okay?"

  "I don't know. Noah." I sighed. "You tell me. What's going on with you?"

  Noah smirked.

  "What?" I asked.

  "I was going to ask you the same question." He sipped his beer. "I just want us to have a good time. No stress."

  "I'm not stressing." I clinked my glass with his bottle. "I mean, it's not like we're the ones getting married."

  Eleven

  Noah

  I narrowed my eyes as her last statement. Before I could ask her what she meant, I heard my name.

  "It's time to go, Noah," Paxton yelled into the bar. "Bus rolls out in two minutes." He held up two fingers.

  Callie had scooted off the barstool.

  What is her damn hurry?

  "Have a good time tonight." She placed her hands on my chest. "Wake me up when you get back."

  She licked her lips and gave me her sexy grin.

  I didn't want to go.

  "If that was the case, then why ain't I married to Hallie Berry right now?" One of the other groomsmen stood at the front of the same little motor coach and poured drinks as we entered.

  "If you ended up with Hallie Berry it wouldn't be destiny," Preston said. He scooted over to make room for me.

  "What would it be?"

  "Punishment," Paxton said. "For her."

  "Shut up, Paxton."

  I chuckled and leaned back.

  "You and Callie make up," Chad yelled from across the bus.

  "We're fine, no thanks to you."

  "Dude, I didn't know that was your girl," he said with a cocky grin.

  "You didn't ask either," I said. Chad and I never got along. It may have had something to do with me fucking a girl he was seeing in college. Who could remember these things? We were supposed to be grown-ups now. Yeah, ironic, I know.

  Chad moved on to another subject.

  Preston leaned over, I followed suit. It was his signal he wanted to talk. Maybe it was the wedding, the fact our lives and our relationship was about to change forever. He was in a reflective mood.

  Instead of talking, he rubbed his head and
shook it. He rubbed his hands together.

  "What's up?" I shook his shoulder. "You getting cold feet."

  He looked back at me.

  "Not even a little bit."

  "So, why are you on edge?" I asked.

  "You think maybe you're projecting."

  The guy took one psychology class in school.

  "What are you trying to ask me?" I held my hands up.

  "I've been watching you." He sat back. "Something is happening with you and it's throwing me for a loop and I can't get married until you figure it out."

  I stared at him, waiting for the punch line. It didn't come, but I laughed anyway.

  "What do you think Kate would say about that?" I leaned back.

  "She'd support me. That's what she does, man. That's what a good woman does. She supports her man. And when you find that in a woman, you know what you do?"

  "No, but I guess you're going to tell me." I looked out the window.

  "You do everything in your power not to disappoint her." He punched the side of my knee. "I'm not disappointing my woman for you so get this shit figured out."

  I sighed and rubbed my face.

  "Is it Callie?"

  "No. Callie is great."

  "You love her?"

  "Yes."

  "Good. That's good." He shook his head. "Is it football? The team? Coach? You know I'll call him up and tell him to lay off."

  "Yeah, I'm sure he'd love that." I chuckled. "Noah, you're not a baby, you're a man." I mimicked Coach's gruff cadence.

  "Act like a man." We both said in unison and laughed. It was coach's favorite speech.

  I looked up and notice the guys laughing and joking. They were all celebrating our friend’s big day. Everyone looked happy to be a part of it and I was the one that brought it down for Preston. I had to change my attitude. Fake it if I had too. I couldn't ruin this for him. I'd never forgive myself.

  "Preston." I nudged him with my knee and he turned back to look. "You remember the Tennessee game after my mother died and you told me to go out there, play the game for her.

  "I recall you laughing at me for being corny."

  "But, what did I do." I held my hand out.

  "You went out there and hung one hundred and eighty-yards and two touchdowns on them." He slapped my hand.

  "You know what I learned from that game." I grinned.

  "That I was right," he said.

  "No." I shook my head. "I didn't do it for her. Or even for myself. I did it for you," I pointed at Chad and my teammates. “I did it for you guys because I give it all for the people who depend on me. I'm not going to disappoint Callie or you." I stood up and reached for the nearest bottle.

  "Gentleman, as the best guy of this wedding, it's my duty," I looked around at the guys and then at Preston. "My honor to congratulate Preston Carter on getting it done, in everything he does. Not just in football, and marrying a Oscar award-winning actress. Those accomplishments pale in comparison to his most important accomplishment."

  On cue, Paxton yelled. "What's that?"

  "Being our friend."

  The guys hooped and hollered. I took a swig of the bottle of whiskey and handed it to Preston. He stood and grinned as he punched me in the arm. He took a sip before passing it to the next guy. We shook hands and hugged. He stared at me again with a sideways glance.

  We pulled up to the lounge a few minutes later. Kate's prediction wasn't far off. I rented out a cigar lounge for the night. I had tasteful, yet attractive woman serving us brandy and cigars and we sat around in a circle telling stories, laughing and joking about Preston in high school, college and now in the NFL. While the conversation bordered on an R rating, our activity was a presentable PG-13.

  As the party winded down, a few of the guys, including Paxton took off for a club. One of the guys headed out with one of the waitresses. Preston, Peter, and I headed back to the hotel.

  "You guys come upstairs with me. I want to show you something," Preston said as we entered the elevator.

  We rode it to the top floor and walked to the room at the end of the hall. He opened the door and the giggling stopped.

  "Baby," Kate said. She squealed and ran over to her man, leaped in his arms, and kissed him. I spotted Callie's red hair as she turned. Her focus wasn't on the excited couple who didn't care about the spectacle they were making, but on me.

  God, how am I going to keep my promise?

  Twelve

  Callie

  I can't breathe.

  I reached for my neck and gripped Noah's forearm.

  He took that as an invitation to cuddle and tightened his grip. I turned away from him and slid out of bed. He grabbed my pillow and squeezed it to his chest instead.

  I wiped his hair away from his eyes and kissed him on his forehead. His hot skin felt good on my lips.

  When they had arrived last night, Kate and Preston disappeared in a room and the party broke up soon after. Noah and I rode down to our room in silence. He squeezed my hand as he held it tight.

  When we reached the room, again with no words, Noah lead me into the bedroom.

  “How was your night?” I asked.

  “Hmm.” Noah unzipped my dress and pushed it off my shoulders.

  It floated to the ground. He ran the back of his hand down the center of my chest and over my abs. His fingers tickled the edge of my panties.

  He lean over and licked my shoulder.

  A chill ran down my body. I shivered. My nipples hardened.

  “That good.”

  “You are that good,” Noah said and nodded. “I missed you.”

  Noah unhooked my bra, pulled down the straps and it landed on the ground.

  I reached for him, but he stepped back.

  “I’m right here.” I placed a hand over my heart.

  Noah rubbed his face and looked around.

  “Noah.” I whispered his name.

  He shook his head.

  “No—.” I didn’t have the chance to say anything else. Noah dove on my lips. He kissed me with urgency, but no less passion and care. That’s how it was with Noah, he loves me fiercely, but carefully. It was a fine line he walked.

  As he kissed me, he placed his hands in my panties and ran his fingers through my slick folds.

  I grabbed his forearms as he led me back towards the bed.

  He rubbed my clit while his fingers explored my entrance.

  He sat me down on the bed, peeled my panties down my leg, and spread my legs.

  He tilted his head up. He lifted my left leg and placed on his shoulder as he kissed the inside of my thigh. He laid small kisses down my thigh toward my pussy. His fingers slid in and out of me and continued when his tongue flicked against my clit.

  I squirmed.

  Noah held me in place as he teased and tasted me.

  I gripped the comforter and fell back on the bed. I arched my back as the orgasm hit.

  I expected Noah to stop, but, he didn’t. He continued to lick and suck until another orgasm, more powerful than the last hit me.

  I sat up unable to catch my breath.

  “Noah.” I drew my knees up to my chest. “Stop. I can’t …”

  Noah stood up and pulled his jacket and shirt off. I placed my feet on the ground and reached for him.

  “No.” He stepped back and continued to undress. I crossed my legs and placed my chin in my hand and watched. His body was precise. All his muscles had these beautiful lines chiseled out of his flesh.

  His slacks dropped to the floor. His boxer briefs did little to hide how turned on he was, too.

  He approached me, stood in front of me.

  He held out his hand. I placed my hand in his.

  He held me up and hugged me to him. His embrace warmed me all over. Our hearts thumped in rhythm spurred on by his hardness pressing against my stomach. Noah picked me up, turned around and sat on the bed. He had me straddle him. I grinded against his cock. Noah pulled himself out and I grinded flesh on flesh.


  I groaned.

  Noah leaned back and watched me rub myself with abandonment. I had come twice already and eagerly sought another release.

  Noah watched me.

  Not satisfied with the surface, I lifted up and sat down on Noah. It pulled a groan from Noah’s throat.

  I bounced on his lap, my movements erratic and out of control. I rode him like that, until he stopped me with a firm hand on my hips. His hand slid around my waist. He laid back and pulled me down with him.

  “Slow down.” He whispered. “What’s the rush?” He kissed me, probed my mouth with his tongue. I fell in the kiss, moaned and whimpered as he rocked his hips. He pushed in and out of me, a slow and steady rhythm. The energy coiled around my core and orgasm number three was inevitable.

  As it hit, Noah’s stilled inside of me. I pulsed around him and squeezed an orgasm out of him. He grunted and rode it out with me.

  Orgasms usually made me giggle, the euphoric release made me giddy. What Noah drew out of me tonight, hurt, physically and emotionally. Noah held me tight as the pain dissipated and I drifted into a deep sleep. Neither of us were in a rush for it to be over, once we had finished, then we would have to talk.

  Noah didn’t talk.

  The clock alarm went off.

  "Baby. Time to get up," I whispered in his ear.

  The guys had a tee time at nine thirty. I wouldn't see him again until the reception.

  He turned and looked up. His head fell back down as he shifted on his back and reached for me.

  I crawled on the bed and laid my head on his chest. His strong heartbeat pounded in my ear. The thump vibrated through my body. A whimper rang out from the other room. We both lifted our heads.

  "I better take him for a walk." I pushed off.

  "Not yet." Noah grabbed my face. His stare made my insides flip. "I love you. You know that, right?"

  I stared back for a few seconds. My gaze scanned his face for doubt.

  "I know." I crawled onto his lap and held him close. "I love you too."

  Neither of us were saying what needed to be said.

  He sighed and wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulling me even closer. He kissed my neck and my cheek and laid a quick kiss on my lips. His moist eyes cracked my heart.