Rock the Heart (12 page)

 “Like I had a lot of bragging room.” I smile at him while I try to push thoughts of the past out of my mind. 

He props himself up on his elbow and twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. “I’ve been wondering something, but I don’t want you to get angry with me.”

I run my fingers along the stubble on his chin. “I won’t get angry with you, Noel. I promise. You can ask me anything.”

“Have you been with anyone else other than me? I know four years is a long time and I suspect you have been, but I was just curious. It doesn’t matter to me if you were.”

 I wish I’d never been with Cory, the only boyfriend I’ve had since Noel. He’s the worst thing about my past. He almost made me never want to trust men again. 

Noel’s thumb runs over my cheek. “What are you thinking?” He kisses my shoulder. “Tell me, please. If something is bothering you, I want you to talk to me about it.”

 I turn my head and stare into his blue eyes. It would kill me if things didn’t work out. Cory nearly ruined me. A relationship is built on trust, and he has to know everything about my past. Honesty is the one thing I discovered is a necessity for something to work between two people. “I’ve only been with one person since you.”

He raises his eyebrows in surprise. “One? That’s it?”

I smack his arm. “Why would you expect more? You know I’m not that way.” I look away from him. “And I regret that one to tell you the truth.”

Noel rolls onto his back and stares up at the ceiling. “I knew you were too fucking good for me, Lane.”

This time I roll over and stare down at him. “Don’t say that. If anything you are too good for me.”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m really not. You’re perfect and sweet. A good girl. I’m just going to taint you.”

“You’re not.” I try to reassure him and grab his face. I stare into his eyes. “If anyone tainted me, it was my ex. You’ll never treat me the way he did. I know you wouldn’t. Don’t ever think that you’re too good for me. Ever.”

He frowns. “What did he do to you?”

I glance away. The pain from my memory still cuts deep. It is the ultimate betrayal. “I walked in on him having sex with another girl in his dorm room.”

Noel’s eyes soften and he sits up. His arms wrap around me. “I’m so sorry, Lane. Were you with him long?”

I nod while Noel strokes the bare skin on my back. “A little over two years. He was my first real college friend, and it turned into more. I thought I knew him. I never dreamed he was screwing every girl he could get his hands on behind my back.”

“Want me to kick his ass?” 

I laugh. “I’d prefer to never talk about him again. It’s in the past.”

Noel smiles. “That’s fine with me. I’ll never do you wrong, Lane. You know that, right? No matter what you hear about me, just know there isn’t another girl that could ever compare to you. You’re all that I want. Don’t believe anything other than that.”

I think about all the pictures I’ve seen on the internet—Noel with a different woman in each one. “Are you telling me you don’t get around? I saw you with the two blonde bimbos myself, remember?”

He frowns. “I’m not saying there weren’t other women. There were some, but like in my sick, twisted mind they were all you. I’ve never stopped loving you, Lane. I didn’t think I ever had another shot with you. You left me, remember? I tried to get over you, but I couldn’t.”

My heart flops in my chest. It doesn’t matter how many women he’s slept with since we were apart. All that matters now is that he’s mine, and he only wants me. I can see it in his eyes. He means what he’s telling me. 

Noel pushes my hair back and cups my face. “I love you, Lane. I always have.”

That’s all I need to hear. I melt into his touch. “I love you, too.”

His lips crush mine and he pushes me down on the bed. Noel settles his body on top of mine and I can feel his erection slide up against me. I smile against his lips before we make love one more time.

After finishing up the final touches for dinner, I help bring the food out with Mom. I set the bowl holding the potato salad on the table, out on the back deck and she brings out the salad. I glance over at Noel, who stands watch over the grill, and smile. He’s grinning while he stares at the steaks, and I wonder if he’s thinking about the incredible sex we just had in my room.

The kissing rule didn’t last very long, but I’m not one bit upset over it. 

“Honey.” Mom touches my arm. “I didn’t think you two were back together.”

I shrug and bit my lip. “Things change.”

Mom nods and her eyes light up at the conformation. “I thought so. That boy is still crazy over you.”

A fierce blush creeps up my neck and floods my cheeks. “Yeah, well, I know exactly how he feels.”

The doorbell rings before she can dig for any additional details and I’m grateful. It’s hard to explain a relationship status I’m even unsure about.  

Muffled conversation comes from inside the house, and Noel turns away from the grill. He grins when his mother steps outside. Instantly he’s in front of her, wrapping her up in a big bear-hug. Warmth spreads all over me, and I choke back a tear. I’m glad I made this happen.

“Noel, honey, it’s so good to see you.” His mom, Irene, pats him on the back while still in his embrace. 

His smile causes his eyes to twinkle. “You too, Mom. I’ve missed you so much. I can’t believe it’s been so long.”

Irene pulls back and touches her son’s cheek. “Let’s not wait another four years, okay.” She glances in my direction with tears streaming down her face. “Lanie, get over here and give me a hug.” 

She wraps her slender arms around me and whispers in my ear, “Thank you for bringing me back my boy.”

When she decides to let go, she flips her dark hair over her shoulder and I can’t help but smile at how many features Noel takes from his mom. The hair color, the ocean-clear blue eyes, and a heart warming smile. 

Noel grabs the steaks off the grill while the rest of us find a seat. He sits between me and Irene and fills us in about life on the road.

“I’ve been curious, Noel. How did you meet your other band-mates? I’ve seen pictures of all you boys, and I don’t remember any of them from around here,” my mom says.

Noel swallows down the steak he is chewing and glances quickly at Irene. “On the road. After high school, I traveled for a while.”

I frown knowing that isn’t exactly what happened, but I know he’s trying to keep Irene from having to explain why her husband exiled his own son. Noel knows no matter what I did, Mom would never cut me out of her life like that. The problems between him and his father were always something I kept from her, so she wouldn’t understand the underlying tension in their relationship. 

Mom lifts her brow. “Really? Irene, I don’t know how you and Frank kept sane. Jim and I would’ve been out of our minds worried about Lanie if she took off like that being so young.”

Irene’s lips twist, like she’s fighting back a sob. “It wasn’t really up to me.”

Noel grabs her hand in his. “It’s okay, Mom. I know it wasn’t your fault.”

She can’t stop herself this time. Irene buries her face into a napkin and lets out a soft sob. “Yes, it is. I should’ve stopped your father from kicking you out. It wasn’t right. Just because you refused to go to college like he wanted, didn’t give him the right to take you away from me,” Irene sighs. “He misses you, you know. I told him you were here, and he wants to see you.” 

He pulls his lips into a tight line, but doesn’t answer.

Irene waits on Noel’s response, but I can tell by the look on his face he doesn’t like the turn of this conversation.

“Jesus. Mom…we’ve been through this. I don’t want—”

She pulls her cell phone from her purse. “Let me call him, tell him you’re going to come over and talk.”

Noel’s jaw muscle works under his skin. “No! I went through hell when he threw me out. He knew what I was going through when Lane dumped me, and he told me to leave anyway. He didn’t care if I had a place to stay or food to eat. Why the hell should I care about his feelings now?”

“Noel Anthony Falcon,” his mom scolds him. “You should give your father a chance. He’s sorry.”

He rolls his eyes and then stands up abruptly. 

“Noel?” his mother questions his action with a little panic in her voice. 

He leans down and kisses her on the top of her head. “It was good to see you, Mother.”

He leaves without another word or without looking back. I hear the Escalade start in the driveway and then tear down the road. 

Mom hugs Irene as she sobs. “He just needs some time. Give him that. He’ll come around.”

My heart aches both for the pain that I know Noel is going through and for his parents. It’s apparent there is still a lot of love there, but both father and son are too damn prideful to be the first to start their reconnection. 

An hour rolls past, and Noel still hasn’t returned. Mom is out of comforting things to tell Irene at this point and she’s still a crying mess. I send a quick text checking on him and it’s almost immediately answered. 

Back at the bus. Sorry I didn’t come back. Just couldn’t deal.

I sigh and stuff my phone back in my pocket. “He’s back in Dallas.”

Irene peers at me through blood shot eyes. “You have to go to him, Lane, and convince him to forgive his father.”

“Mrs. Falcon, I don’t think it’s my—”

“You have to. It’s tearing us apart. I can’t lose my only son.”

She looks miserable, and I hurt for her. 

I notice Mom’s face. Her head tilted slightly to the right and her face scrunches. It’s the same look I’ve seen countless times since Dad passed away. It’s hard to lose a loved one. I’ve learned just how difficult it can be, and I don’t want something to happen to his father while this huge rift is between them. I know it would kill him.

For Noel’s own sake, I need to try and at least get him to talk to his dad.

I rub my forehead. I have no clue how I’m going to get him to agree to this. “Okay. I’ll do my best. No promises.”

His mother reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “Thank you.”

****

The bus is oddly quiet when I return to Dallas. I open the bedroom door and find Noel lying on the bed. His arm drapes over his beautiful face while taking in deep, sleeping breaths. I set my bag on the floor and then crawl in bed beside him. I wrap my arms around his stomach and rest my chin on his chest.

He removes his arm from his face and smiles sheepishly. “Hi. You’re not pissed at me?”

I shake my head. “Why would I be mad at you? I understand why you left.”

He traces the bare skin on my arm with his fingers. “You do?”

“Your mom shouldn’t force you to talk to Frank. I know you’ll do it when you’re ready.”

He closes his eyes. “That’s just it. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that.”

“Why? I’m sure you two can find a way to forgive each other.”

Noel’s eyes narrow. “Forgive me? I didn’t do a damn thing to that man.”

The anger, clear to see on his face, startles me. I sit up and sit Indian style. “I didn’t say you did. I just know sometimes saying sorry, even if it’s not your fault, goes a long way in smoothing out a fight.”

He leans up on both elbows. “I will never tell that man sorry. You don’t know the cruel things he said to me the night he kicked me out.”

Noel throws both of his legs over the bed and sits with his back to me. Just when I think he’s going to let me into that brain of his, he shuts me out.

I frown. “What did he say?”

Both shoulders slump, and he takes a deep breath. “He said…”—he clears his throat—“he said I was one huge mistake. That all I’ve ever been is a disappointment to him.”

His shoulders shake, and I know he’s crying. 

I slide beside him and wrap my arms around him. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. 

He wipes his eyes with the palm of his hands and sniffs. “I don’t know why I’m being such a fucking baby about this.”

I kiss his cheek. “Don’t be ashamed to share your feelings with me.”

He turns his head and rests his forehead against mine. The scent of him surrounds me and I can’t help to think about earlier in the day, when we had amazing sex in my bedroom. I inhale deeply and close my eyes. Noel leans in, and brushes his mouth against mine and then works his way down my jaw line. I can tell he’s thinking about this afternoon as well. 

I stifle a moan as his tongue traces the sensitive skin over my pulse point. I run my fingers into his hair as I feel the arousal between my legs build.

“Lane…I need you.” Suddenly his mouth is on mine, and his hands tug at the button on my shorts. He slips his tongue in my mouth, and a low groan emits from the back of his throat. The taste of him shoots a thrill through me, and I push his shirt up before shoving him back on the bed. I kiss every inch of his abs before he sits up and helps me out of my shirt. He unclasps my bra and tugs it down so my breasts spring free. 

Noel wraps his lips around my protruding nipple and the moan I held back earlier, escapes me. Every inch of me burns with an intense fire for him. Eager hands tear at my shorts after he pulls his shirt over his broad shoulders. 

We roll over and he pins my arms above my head. His lips attack mine in a hot frenzy. He pulls back, stands up and seizes my hips toward him, sliding me across the bed. I lift my hips as he grips the waistband of my shorts and panties and removes them from my body. I sit up and slip my hands inside his jeans and shove them down, revealing his perfect ass.

A lazy grin spreads across his face as he steps out of his pants and climbs on top of me. 

 “I want you to be mine,” he says in a husky voice as he glides his fingers against my slick folds. 

An ache fills me. I need this man. I need him in my heart and inside my body. No matter the tension or the job. I want to be his. 

“I’m yours,” I say against his lips.

I cry out as he dips a finger inside me. Pleasure rolls through every nerve and inner muscles ripple then clench around him. Every stroke of his finger fans the fire within. When his thumb encircles my clit, I toss my head back in ecstasy as I explode around him. 

“God, you’re so fucking hot when you come.” His tongue flicks against my nipple.

He kisses my lips and sinks his hips between my thighs. His pressing cock teases my moist heat and causes me to squirm. Both of my arms encircle his body, and my hands run down the rigid muscles in his back. 

One swift thrust and he’s inside me. A shudder rips through me as he growls. The steady grinding of his hips causes the ache to build in my core again. Each penetration seems slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring making me his. 

His blue eyes stare into mine and I run my fingers along his jaw. He leans into my palm and closes his eyes as he pumps his hips faster. The mattress moves with every thrus,t and I lift my bottom up off to meet his hips, allowing him to fill me further. 

A second orgasm rips through me. “Oh, God.”

This only excites him, and he increases the rhythm. Sweat beads across his face and he bites his lip. “You feel so fucking good.”

He’s holding back, I can see it in his face. “Let go for me.”

He shakes his head. “I want to make this last. I don’t want it to end.”

I bring his mouth down to mine and kiss him deeply. “I’m not going anywhere. Let go.”

As soon as the last word leaves my mouth, he cries out in pure pleasure. “Lane. Oh fuck.”

Warmth feels me as I let go one last time with him. Noel erupts inside me, filling me with his hot seed after one final thrust. His entire body shivers, and he collapses on top of me. Soft kisses cover both of my cheeks and then finally my lips.