Cruel Boundaries (2 page)

Chapter Two

Amy~

I watch as Noah snags the last of the apple pie, and I glare at him. Everyone knows I love Mom’s apple pie. He’s just being a dick.

“Amy, are you listening?” Dad says.

I quickly wipe the scowl from my face before smiling sweetly at Dad. “Sorry, Daddy, I got lost in food heaven for a minute.” I make sure to give Mom a sweet smile, too, before flashing a glare at Noah.

“I’m asking if you’re ready for your big move?”

Oh great…yay…not! I’m so not ready to share an apartment with Noah. Before I can try to formulate a polite way to tell Daddy that I want my own place, Noah says, “I’m so excited to have Amy with me. I won’t get as homesick then.” He smiles brightly at me but I can see the challenge in his eyes.

I plaster a smile to my face and take hold of Dad’s hand. “Daddy, don’t you think it would be better if I stayed in your apartment? I really don’t want to intrude on Noah. He’s still new at his job and I’m sure he has a social life of his own … and I just don’t want to intrude on that. I’ll be fine in your apartment. It’s not that much farther from NYC.” I use my puppy eyes to try and sway Dad some more.

He laughs and then shakes his head and it makes all my hope fade away. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Angel,” Dad says with a more sober look, “I don’t trust the people out there with my only daughter. Noah will make sure you’re safe.”

I want to scream and cry. I want to tell them how wrong they are about Noah, and that he’s the one I need protection from, but instead I nod. “Yes, Daddy.”

~*~

Chapter Three

Noah~

I watch as Amy drags her luggage up the stairs. I should help her, that bag is bigger than she is, but that would mean I’d have to be kind to her. I can’t have her thinking I’m going soft on her.

I lean against the wall by the front door and cross my arms. I make sure my face shows nothing of what I’m feeling when she finally reaches the top of the stairs.

She stops for a minute and then gathers her long blonde hair, and lifts it away from her neck. She looks all flustered from struggling with her luggage and the late afternoon heat. She has this whole hippie-bohemian style going and it actually suits her. I love how it makes her look more fragile than I know she is, but I’ll never tell her.

She finally notices me, and I see the shock in her eyes and then they drop to my chest. Her cheeks flush a glowing red before she scowls at me. “Don’t you own a shirt?” she snaps and then yanks hard on her luggage.

“Just because you have the hots for me, you don’t need to take your sexual frustration out on the poor bag,” I taunt her and my words hit just the right spot.

She swings back to me. “You … you,” she’s so flustered she can’t even get the words out and it makes me laugh. “You’re an asshole,” she nods, as if she’s finally made up her mind about me. “Yeah, definitely the world’s biggest asshole.”

She swings back and misjudges her step, kicking the bag and we both watch it tumble down the stairs. It busts open on the way down and clothes fly all over the place.

“No!” Amy groans and then starts down the stairs.

I can’t watch her struggle all the way up again and with a sigh I follow her down. I pick up clothes on my way down. I crouch by the bag and turn it the right way up before shoving the clothes in. I reach for the clothes around me, just shoving them into the bag.

When I grab another piece of clothing, Amy shrieks like a fucking banshee. “Don’t touch that!” I look down at the item I’m holding and then grin. It’s a pale pink lace bra.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

I hold it up and pretend to inspect it some more. Amy drops the clothes in her arms and lunges at me. She grabs the bra from my hand, and crumples it into a small ball before shoving it into the bag.

“Never took you for the delicate lace type,” I say as I reach for the matching panty. I hold it between us and again she snatches it from me.

“Don’t touch my stuff!” She blows some hair out of her face, but doesn’t look at me.

“You look like a whip and cuffs type of girl, you know the kind that likes it rough.” I watch her body go still, and when she looks at me her face has lost all its color. Maybe that was taking it a bit far. It’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize when that familiar dark scowl comes over her face.

“Don’t project your perverted desires onto me, Noah. Just because you like to fuck whores and beat the shit out of them, it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is into that. Please, keep your kinky shit to yourself. I’m about to lose my lunch here.”

She grabs the bag and starts to drag it up the stairs again. I know what I said is wrong but she just took this fight to a whole ‘nother level. Constantly throwing it in my face that I’m adopted is one thing, I’ve learned to handle it. But saying that I like to beat women is just the ultimate low blow.

I shove by her on my way up and the bag goes tumbling down the stairs again. “Noah!” she shrieks, but I keep going. She can pick up her own shit.

~*~

Chapter Four

Amy~

I can’t believe he just shoved me! I stomp down the stairs and start to gather all my clothes again. I’m just shoving in the last item when a shadow falls over me. I scowl up, ready to let Noah have it, but the words get stuck in my throat just in time.

“Woah there,” the guy says, smiling brightly at me. “you look like you’re about to kill someone. I’d hate to be the person who upset you.”

I shrug, not in the mood to get into it with a stranger. The guy doesn’t move and I glance up at him again. “Can I help you?” I ask as I try to close the bag right by his feet. I finally get the clips in place and curse myself for getting this bag, just because it had a vintage look. I need to get myself something sensible with a zipper, so this whole episode doesn’t happen again. As I get up I glare at the guy again, wondering why he’s hovering around.

“No, but it sure looks like I can help you. Let me carry that for you,” he says, reaching for the bag. I’m too tired and hot to say no. I let him take the bag and then he holds his other hand out to me. “I’m Brad.”

I shake his hand and I’m about to introduce myself when Noah calls out, “Bad Brad, it’s about time man. I see you’ve met my bitchy cousin.”

I put on my sweetest smile for Brad and hold his hand even longer. “I’m Amy, it’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

I know how I’m going to get back at Noah, I’m going to make his friend fall in love with me and that way he’ll have to listen to this Brad guy singing all my wonderful praises.

Revenge is going to be oh so sweet.

I let go of Brad’s hand and climb the stairs with him. “I’m new here.” I point to my bag and continue, “going to stay with my dear old cousin.” I ignore Noah as we walk by him.

Brad gives Noah one of those guy hugs, and then follows me into the apartment. I’ve never been here before.

It’s one of those open plan apartments, where the kitchen and lounge is basically one. I notice three doors, one is open and I can see it’s the bathroom. One of the other two doors is my bedroom, then. I turn to Noah. “Which one is mine?”

Noah points to the one on the left side of the bathroom. I turn back to Brad and smile sweetly again. “Would you mind putting it in my room?” I bite into my bottom lip, knowing men love that kind of thing.

It works, because Brad smiles at me and takes the bag to my room. I follow him and before I go into the room I glance at Noah from over my shoulder, and I make a face at him like a toddler that just got the last lollipop.

~*~

Chapter Five

Noah~

It’s taking everything I have not to slam my fist into the wall. “Do you work with Noah?” I hear Amy ask Brad.

I know what she’s doing. She’s coming onto my best friend and that shit is just not going to happen. She’ll eat poor Brad alive and spit out the leftovers for me to clean up, all just to get to me.

I stalk to her room and slam a flat hand against the door. Amy jumps with fright and it brings a smile to my face. “Let’s go, Brad. We’re going to be late.”

“Great meeting you,” Brad says to Amy as he follows me out of the apartment. He throws his arm around my neck and gives it a slight squeeze, pretending to choke me. “You never mentioned her before.”

“She’s not worth mentioning,” I snap. “She’s the biggest pain in my ass.”

“Woah, things that bad between you?” Brad asks. He’s such a good buddy. I don’t know why I never told him about Amy.

I shrug, “We just never got along. No love lost there. We kinda have this hate relationship going on, seeing who can piss the other off more. Watch out for her, she will try to use you to get to me.”

“Sure thing, man.” Brad punches me playfully.

Are you ready to kick some ass?” I ask, done talking about Amy and ready to go give the other team a beating. The engineering firm I work for has a family day once a month, where we are split into two teams. While the women prepare the food, the men play baseball. It’s just a nice fun day to unwind with your co-workers.

~*~

Chapter Six

Amy~

I stare at all my clothes. Everything that was in the big bag is dirty from falling on the ground, and needs to be washed. I don’t know if Noah has any detergent, not that I’d want to use any of his shit.

I hold up my favorite ivory, embroidered Boho dress. I’m livid with Noah! There’s a huge boot print right in the middle of the dress. “Stupid big feet stomping all over my clothes! Asshole!”

I gather the clothes and throw it in a laundry bag. I’ll get detergent tomorrow and then get it all washed.

I unpack the rest of my stuff and by the time I put the finishing touch to my room by hanging my dreamcatchers from the curtain railing so they can rustle when there’s a breeze, I’m tired and hungry.

I grab a clean babydoll shirt and a pair of cut-off shorts, and then head to the bathroom. A nice relaxing bath is all I need, then I’ll go get some food and call it a night.

I let my body soak, just unwinding in the warm water.

When I hear voices, my peaceful bubble pops. Noah is back! Ugh. I let the water out, dry myself and rub on some body lotion. I love the vanilla scent. It reminds me of lazy days on the beach.

When I’m dressed I quickly gather all my stuff and go back to my room. I make a point of not looking anywhere. I’m so not in the mood for a fight with Noah.

I grab my favorite boots and pull them on. While brushing my hair I decide to braid it to the side, so it will hang over my shoulder. It’s not like I’m actually going out.

I grab my bag and pull the strap across my shoulder and chest, and then head out. I don’t make it halfway through the apartment, when Noah says, “Where are you going?”

I glare at him where he’s standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter while drinking a beer with Brad. It’s none of his damn business where I’m going!

I start to walk again and he pushes his body away from the counter. “Amy, if you’re leaving I want to know where you’re going.” His voice is stiff, as if he’s fighting his temper.

I prop a hand on my hip. “I’m forced to live here, Noah, but that doesn’t mean I report to you. What I do and where I go is my business, and certainly none of yours.”

He fishes his phone from his pocket and holds it out to me. “If your dad phones and you’re missing in action, it’s my ass on the line. If you won’t tell me, then tell him. You’re living here so you won’t get into any shit. I’m now responsible for you, whether you like it or not.

My temper flares hot and my mouth drops open. “As fucking if! You’re not the boss of me and never will be. I don’t give two fucks what you tell my dad. If he’s looking for me, he can phone me.” I stalk to the door, pissed beyond belief. I yank the door open and don’t even bother closing it behind me.

I stomp down the stairs when I hear Noah behind me, “You’re a fucking pain in my ass! You weren’t born in a damn cave, shut the door behind yourself!” and then the door slams closed.

I make a half growling, screaming sound in my throat. He’s a pain in
my
ass and he can go fuck himself. This is one fight I won’t back down from!

~*~

Chapter Seven

Noah~

I can punch a hole through the door right now! I don’t know how I’m going to survive with her living here.

I turn to face Brad while taking a huge gulp of beer. “I’m going to kill her. I swear, one of these days I’m going to strangle the shit out her!”

Brad stares at me for a silent minute, a peculiar look on his face I haven’t seen before.

“I’ve got your back,” he chuckles into his beer bottle and then continues, “I’ll even help you bury the body.”

I scowl, not even sure if he’s joking when he starts to laugh, relieving the tension Amy left in her wake. Brad finishes his beer with a deep drag and then walks over to the fridge where he retrieves two more beers. “You want me to phone the guys and we’ll hang out? Lighten your mood a bit?”

A smile spreads over my face. “That’s a great idea. Let’s give Amy a welcome she’ll never forget.”

He nods and we both start to phone our contacts. There will be no sleep for the princess tonight.

~*~

Half of the people have arrived and the apartment is filling up quickly. Josh and Maggie made sure to bring kegs so there will be plenty of beer. They are always the life of the party. Josh is also always in charge of the music, while Maggie’s friend, Sheryl, is my entertainment. The woman is a nympho and good in bed. She has a gift to make you forget about everything.

I have Sheryl on my lap, rubbing my cock with her ass, when the door opens and Amy steps into the crowded room. Her eyes widen and she slowly looks around the room, and then that familiar dark look shadows her face. Her eyes find mine and I can feel the heat from her blazing anger, from right across the room

She raises her chin, and with one last look that could easily send me to hell with a one way ticket, she storms to her room.

If I thought that’s the last of her, I’m sorely mistaken. Not even ten minutes later she comes back out, walks over to a keg and grabs one of the red solo cups. She fills it with beer and easily downs half before I get to move Sheryl from my lap. I get up and stalk over to her, and before she can down the other half, I take the cup from her hand.

“This party is for adults. Kids should be in bed.” She gives me a long, hard look and for a moment we’re caught in a stare-off. “You’re underage, Princess. You’re not getting arrested while you’re my problem.”

She presses her lips into a thin line and I wouldn’t be surprised if she hit me right now, but instead she fills another cup and before I realize what she’s up to, she turns the cup over on my head. The beer runs down my face and I force my lips to curve into a smile. I won’t show her any emotion, she lives for attention.

I look over Amy’s head to where Sheryl’s standing and call out, “Come babe, time for us to shower.”

“Asshole!” Amy growls under her breath as I pass by her.

My attention is immediately taken by Sheryl as she presses her body against mine and licks some beer from my cheek. I throw my arm around her and give Brad a chin lift. He knows to keep an eye on everyone when I get busy.

I take Sheryl to the bathroom. Nothing like a good fuck to help with the stress of dealing with Amy.

~*~