Marked. Part II: Becoming Noah Baxter (20 page)

Noah tilts he heads down to whisper in my ear, “Save a slice for later when you come over to my
hotel room.”

I hide my flushed face by taking a sip of water, ready to leave
right now
. 

Noah smugly smirks, knowing exactly what images he'd brought forth.

My dad, Jill, and the boys leave shortly after we finish dessert. My brothers are already talking about how they are going to start working out to get muscles like Noah, and are ecstatic when Noah offers to show them what to do.

When my dad hugs me goodbye, I quietly request, “Give him a chance. He may not look the part like Will did, but nobody is a better match for me than Noah.”

He kisses my forehead, “I know. It's just hard for a father to see his baby girl find the person he knows she'll spend forever with.”

Geesh. I wipe my eyes. How many times can I almost cry tonight?

Jill hugs me next, “I think he's sexy, way to go.” I laugh, thankful for her lighthearted response. “I also love the way he looks at you. There is no denying how much he loves you.”

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Jill?

“You like ribs?” Naomi asks as though this is a challenge, slapping Noah on the back as she and Stevie make their way outside.

“
Yeah,” he answers matter-of-factly.

“
Sunday, join Lily for my family's barbecue,” and with that she heads towards Stevie's Jeep.

Both Stevie and I are stunned, our jaws about to hit the pavement.

“Nice, I love ribs,” Noah says so low and calm, having no clue this is a monumental moment. He notices my still-shocked expression, “What?”

A smile slowly creeps up my face, “You're in.”

Stevie's smiling too, and we exchange a knowing eye twinkle.

“
Still not following.”

Stevie responds while still smiling at me, “Nobody but family comes to those barbecues.”

“But I'm not family,” Noah states, confused.

“
Family doesn't have to be blood,” Stevie points out.

Noah finally gets it and a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

“She's tough to crack, well done. Pretty much hates everyone,” Stevie directs her thumb at me. “Lily being the exception; she's adored her from the start.”

“
That's because Lily's special.”

Stevie throws her arms around an awkward looking Noah, “I think I'm really going to like you.”

“She's a hugger,” I inform him. “You better get used to it.”

Stevie pulls away from the hug I'm sure Noah wished was over ten seconds ago (it only lasted about five).

She hugs me and goes to her car, yelling over her shoulder, “See you Sunday!”

Noah takes my hand and we go back inside, “So, what are these barbecues like?”

“Kickass food, drunk bikers, at least one verbal smackdown by a woman to her man after he tries to get all macho-jerk on her, and a really awesome time.”

“
And you do this every Sunday?”

“
The first Sunday of every month since I was twelve.”

“
I could live with that.”

We do the dishes together, laughing and talking about what ever comes to mind.

As I'm putting the leftovers in the fridge, Noah twirls a towel around in his hand, making it twist.

“
You wouldn't dare,” I protest, backing away. He would, I can tell by the gleam in his eye and his evil side-smirk.

He snaps it out in front of him, purposely missing me.

I still yelp and he laughs, enjoying the suspense and torture he's causing.

I go for the towel, grabbing it in my hands to try and tug it away, somehow having forgotten that Noah's made of pure steel.

He laughs, tugging it towards him and bringing me with it, smacking me right into his chest. His arms cage me in. His lips move to my neck. I stop wiggling to get free, anticipating where his lips will travel. They brush along the side, sending a shiver down my spine. Then he surprises me with one loud raspberry.

I stop mid-giggle when I can feel his warm breath against my ear,
“Remember the last time I did that?” Goosebumps trail down my body and all I can do is nod, my nails digging into his biceps, trying to control my raging desire to strip him naked on the floor of my family's kitchen. “You tasted so amazingly delicious.” His nose brushes along my jaw towards my chin. He has to help hold me up from going weak in the knees.

How does he still manage to do this to me? It's insane.

His lips graze my skin, light as a feather. I whimper and feel his smile on my skin, enjoying tormenting me. “I want to taste you like that again, Lily.”

Oh, god yes, please! Is what I shout in my head, but my outward response is barely a nod of agreement.

He grazes my lips and the other side of my jaw to my ear, “Will you let me taste you like that again?”

I lick my lips and let out a breathless, “Yes.”

“And then when I've licked you senseless...” I hold tighter to his biceps, thinking any minute now my legs will give out, “...I want you to watch my face as I come inside your pussy.”

My eyes widen, growing ten times their size.

Noah silently starts laughing, his shoulders moving up and down before he goes into full blown hysterics. He lets go of me to clutch his side from laughing so hard.

What the hell's so funny?

He's laughing so hard he has to bend over and rest a hand on his knee, the other still clutching his side.

“
Wow, babe,” he manges to get out between laughs, “I wanted to see what would happen if I used that word. I didn't expect that look on your face.” He regains enough self-control to stand straight, a smile cracking his face, still twitching with laughter.

“
I'm glad I amuse you,” I huff, not thinking it's all that funny.

He tugs my arm into him and brings his mouth to rest just above my ear, ruffling the strands of my hair as he speaks, “I can't wait to teach you the art of dirty talk. You're going to love it.”

My mom clears her throat and I'm nearly dropped to the ground as Noah quickly retreats back to dish cleaning, trying to play it off as though he wasn't trying to get in my pants. It makes me feel like we are in high school, trying to get away with things we aren't supposed to; but then again, this is all new territory for him.

“
I found Lily's old tapes. You interested in watching them tonight?” My mom asks, trying to hide how excited she is.

I should have known my mom wouldn't have forgotten when Noah asked her about them at dinner.

Noah whips around, a huge smile on his face, “Fu–yes!”

I would protest if he didn't look so adorable, eager to watch. I can't tell if it's because he wants to make fun of me or if he truly wants to see them. In this instance, I fear it's both.

“Please keep in mind I was in high school and nobody tried out for these things, so you pretty much got what ever role you wanted.”

Noah pulls me to his side, leading us to the living room, “Are you trying to warn me that this is going to suck?”

“Yes.”

“
Perfect, I can hardly wait!”

I groan.

We take a seat on the couch, me in the middle. When my mom presses play and I make my first appearance, Noah beams, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, “Aw, babe, look how young you look! You were so cute!” He kisses the top of my head, eyes glued to the screen.

My mom nudges me and I look over at her. She points to Noah then places a hand over her heart, loving his reaction to my play. He's leaning forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, taking it all in. I become immersed in watching Noah and how captivated he is, the faint smiles he gives every time I have a line, the twinkle that remains in his eyes. He looks proud and in love.

I know he feels he doesn't deserve me, but what woman wouldn't want to be loved like this?

I cuddle close to him, eventually falling asleep while Noah and my mom continue watching my old plays and talking about how cute I was.

Chapter 31

Sunday, April 6

4:19pm

Noah stops the car right outside Noami's parents house, killing the engine and wiping his palms on the top of his jeans.

“Why are you on edge?”

He looks straight ahead, “Bikers typically don't like me.”

“That's ridiculous.”

“
It's the scars,” he scrubs them on his face, “and my size. They think I'm trouble. Put a few drinks in 'em and usually one of them will try to start a fight.”

Hmm, I see his point. Noami's family has an overabundance of testosterone.

He lets out a long exhale, “Trying to control myself is getting exhausting.”

“
So don't. Be yourself. If they don't like you, we leave.”

“
I'm not taking you from your family.”

“
You're
my family.”

“
That's cheesy.”

“
It's true.”

Noah tries to hide it, but a smile wants to form.

I take my finger to the edge of his mouth and pull it up to form a flimsy smile, “You can smile at my cheesiness, it's okay. Nobody's in the car but us.” I drop my finger. The side I held up stays in place and the other joins it. 

The rocking of his car and a loud pounding on my window startles us both.

Seth and Cody's faces are smashed to the window.

“
Quit being all lovey-dovey and join the party,” Seth says with his tongue and mouth plastered to the glass, causing the words to come out jumbled and hard to understand.

Cody nods his head in agreement.

They extract their faces, leaving behind smudged oil and saliva streaks.

Seth gives a tap to the glass, “You should really clean your car once in a while, Noah; you've got shit covering your window.”

Noah chuckles, “I'm a little worried for mankind when he becomes an adult.”

I think we all are.

I open my door and join Noah on the sidewalk, our hands automatically finding each other.

Noah holds up my plate of brownies, “You forgot the food.”

“No, I didn't. What's the point of having a big, strong man if he can't carry the heavy loads?”

Noah grumbles something about being whipped.

We walk through the open gate at the side of the house and step into the backyard that's already loud with music and people. We set the platter down with the other food before making our way to the rest of the bunch.

Noah takes it all in, features hardening the more he looks around. He slides an arm around my waist, tucking my side into him.

“You don't need to protect me here. I grew up around these guys,” I whisper under my breath.

“
Get used to it. I'm never going to walk into a situation with this many beefed out, tattooed men in leather, and not feel the need to let them know you're mine and nobody better touch you.”

I can live with that.

I have never felt awkward at one of these parties until now. Conversations have stopped and eyeballs are following us as we walk further into the yard.

A few men stand, eyes narrowing on Noah.

Shit, he wasn't lying. Biker dudes really don't like him. I quickly scan for Naomi or her parents. I spot her beer-bellied dad coming through the slider with raw meat on a platter.

“
Jim Bob!” I call over to him, taking longer strides to reach him.

“
Lilith!” He bellows, setting the platter next to the BBQ. He scoops me up into a big bear hug, jiggling me in his arms. He drops me down but keeps an arm around my shoulder, smiling down at me before lifting his eyes. They take in Noah and the smile vanishes from his face, “You the boy Naomi said was coming?”

Noah extends his hand, “Yeah, Noah Baxter.”

Jim Bob ignores his hand, “You dating our Lilith?”

Noah takes back his hand and swipes his head. I know I'm the only one who noticed the brief hurt that flashed across his pupils, “Yeah.”

Jim Bob looks him up and down. “Her first boyfriend turned out gay – not a fact that bothers me,” he adds, turning to wink at his daughter, who is cuddled close to Stevie. They both smile back at him. “She tell you about her last one?”

The muscles in Noah's jaw clench and his body tenses, hands fisting, “Yeah.” He
hates
being compared to Will, and for good reason. I half expect to see storm clouds brewing over our heads from the shift in his mood and demeanor, the protector in Noah coming out to defend me. Jim Bob is stirring up shit he shouldn't be.

“
This girl's like a daughter to me,” Jim Bob warns, tone emanating hostility. “I love her, but she doesn't know how to pick a man.”

I push away, irritated that he's basing Noah on his looks and my previous boyfriends, “Jim Bob–”

Noah lifts a hand to silence me, “I get where he's coming from. I
could
bring up that if you love her so much, how did that shit happen in the first place...” he explains, looking Jim Bob straight in the eyes.

Jim Bob stiffens and steps forward.

Great, what the hell is Noah doing?

“
Or
I could judge you based on,” Noah uses his hand to make the motions of Jim Bob's peppered goatee and ponytail. Jim Bob takes another step forward, as do the other men at the party who have started to form a circle around us. “But that would be the same as you judging me for these,” he points to his facial scars. “Or these,” he lifts up his shirt and a few gasps can be heard as the people around us see all of his past wounds.

My brothers let out an “awesome!”

Noah grabs me and pulls me back into his side, “That being said, nobody knows more than I do that she deserves better than me, but for some crazy reason she chose me anyway, and I'd be an idiot to fuck that up. I'm not saying I won't ever be an ass, but let me be clear,” Jay Lincoln surfaces, stepping forward, towering over Jim Bob, who almost cowers back. “These hands,” he lifts one up, “will only give her pleasure, got it?”

Jim Bob crosses his arms, not backing down, “You the reason she wouldn't talk to my daughter for almost a month?”

Noah scratches his scruff, “I think so.”

“
You also the reason she's been so feisty lately?”

He shakes his head, “Nope.”

This answer doesn't sit well with Jim Bob and he steps closer, their chests almost hitting.

“
That's all her,” Noah continues before Jim Bob can start. “She has a fire inside her, she just had to ignite it.”

“
The silent treatment she gave my daughter tore her apart,” Jim Bob informs Noah.

“
It'd do the same to me.”

“
Been trying to get my baby girl to bring down her walls and give her love for Stevie a chance,” Jim Bobs takes a few steps back. “The only thing that got through to her was our sweet, loving Lilith flipping out on her. So let me ask this again, you the reason Lilith has gained the confidence to speak her mind?”

“
I think I might be,” Noah reflectively responds.

Jim Bob gives a small nod of approval, turns to the grill, and hollers out, “Somebody get this boy a beer and a shot of tequila.”

I pat Noah's back, relief loosening the knots that had formed, “Welcome to the family.”

He blows out a puff of air, “Shit, woman. Getting acceptance from the people who love you is going to be the death of me.”

I start dragging him over to meet the rest of the bunch, “Quit being so dramatic.”

The next couple of hours consist of everyone scrutinizing Noah and handing him shots of tequila. He doesn't talk much and deflects all questions back to the other person, avoiding having to really share anything about himself. Nobody seems to notice, all commenting how laid back he is. It's hard not to laugh. Nobody would have said that about Jay.

I catch his eyes roaming the yard in search of something. They land on me with a peaceful, content smile forming on his face. He lifts his beer up to me and I wave before continuing my conversation with Naomi and Stevie.

Noami notices and signals for him to join us.

He slightly stumbles on his way over, happily wrapping an arm around me.

“
Noah, come meet my brother and his friends,” Naomi says, leading us over to a group of guys, one of them being Nate.

This should be interesting. I just pray this isn't Naomi stirring up trouble.

“Be nice,” I warn Noah, not sure how his reaction will be to meeting them (really, a particular someone).

He puts a palm to his chest, pretending to be offended, “When have I ever not been?”

He keeps me tucked to his side as we join the group.

Naomi introduces everyone to Noah, who she clearly states is my boyfriend. Stevie and I give each other excited looks of triumph, knowing this is her way of declaring her acceptance and approval. When she starts informing them about our soon-to-be business and how excited she is for us, I know this is
also
her way of apologizing for interfering before.

All the guys become excited, asking Noah a thousand questions about drifting, eager to learn; especially when he informs them it's popular on motorcycles too.

I give Noami an appreciative smile. She winks at me and continues finding ways to win Noah over with the guys, creating him a fan club.

An all too familiar voice shouts behind us, “
Come take a shot with me, Noah!”

I have to break away from Noah to make sure the voice I heard was correct. Sure enough, my dad is sitting at a table holding up two shot glasses. Dad never drinks. A glass or two of beer or wine and that's it. I don't think I have ever seen him drink hard liquor, unless you count margaritas on the enchilada night he does about once a month (I don't; he puts about half a shot in each drink). My eyes go wide and they dart to Jill, who shrugs and gives me a “just go with it” look.

Noah smashes his lips to mine for one hard kiss before making his way to my dad. I notice a drunken sway to his step and it makes me smile gleefully. I know it's weird to be happy your boyfriend's drunk, but for Noah to feel comfortable enough to let loose and relax is huge.

“
Babe!” Noah calls out, waving me over, “Get over here.”

My walk has a spring to it from the overwhelming sense of happiness I feel. I reach him at the same time Jim Bob and Rick, my mom's long time boyfriend, come over. Noah wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses the top of my head.

My dad pours shots for Jim Bob and Rick. I dart another wide-eyed glance to my mom, who also shrugs before continuing her conversation with Jill.

All four men hold up their shot glasses as my dad proclaims, “To Lily and Noah!”

In the background I hear my brothers shout out in unison, “Noah's the shit!”

Both my mom and Jill give them The Mom Glare. They snap their mouths shut and continue talking to some of Noami's cousins. I catch Cody shyly smiling at a girl who looks just as nervous around him while my other brother continues being the center of attention.

My heart has just quadrupled in size from all the people that matter most to me accepting Noah as a part of our lives, but more importantly, accepting Noah as a person and a friend.