“Don’t be. Kratz didn’t know what happened. Nobody in school did and after she aborted I was so pissed and let down I didn’t bother going back to school. I took my GED and kept working. I was done with all the f**king high school drama. But he knew the truth about the drug trafficking bullshit.” Noah’s eyes were hard again. “He could’ve explained that to you.”

He explained to her about the girl who’d broken his heart and how he spiraled out of control for a while there. How it was the only time he’d done weed in his life and that was only to numb the pain.

“I shared a locker with Abel and Gio because mine was in a suck ass temp building. I let the guy that sold me the weed use the locker I wasn’t using. I didn’t think he’d be stupid enough to stash his shit in it. Every few months they did a raid. Brought in the dogs and everything and found his stash. Since the locker was in my name, my ass got hauled in but everyone knew I never used that locker.” He shook his head. “I’d been in so much trouble leading up to that, Kratz wasn’t buying anything I said anymore. But in the end they had enough people vouching for who actually used the damn locker and they never got enough evidence to make the charges stick. So my name was cleared. He knew this.”

His expression changed suddenly and his eyes were now full of concern. “Roni, I don’t think I could deal with you being friends with this guy. I hated him so much back then and now I have even more reason to hate him.”

Veronica touched his lips with her finger. “I don’t wanna be his friend anymore. You’re right. I need loyalty and friends I can count on, but most importantly I don’t want anyone in my life that doesn’t believe in us. And obviously he doesn’t.”

“Us?”

She smiled nodding. “I’m ready for us. I love you, Noah and I want the whole world to know it.”

The glimmer in his eye at that moment was something she hadn’t seen before. He’d been so emotional earlier but this, this took her breath away. He kissed her so soft and so tenderly she sighed against his lips. Noah was exactly what she needed in her life. She wasn’t afraid to admit it anymore. Who wouldn’t need what she was feeling right that moment? And it had nothing to do with being afraid to be alone. She could easily have Derek’s company if she wanted to and Nellie was definitely going to be around more now.

Veronica realized one thing earlier, the terrifying moment it hit her that maybe Noah wouldn’t be coming back tonight. She was in love with him and she wasn’t afraid of being alone, she was afraid of being without him.

Noah’s kiss grew heavier and deeper and just when she thought she couldn’t feel any more content than how she was feeling at that moment he nearly growled then whispered in that same strained voice she’d heard that morning, “I wanna taste you.”

When he said it that morning she hadn’t been entirely sure what he meant but she’d had a feeling and it’d been enough to get her heart pumping. It was something she’d only read about and could only imagine what it must feel like. Now that not only did she know exactly what he meant but what she’d be in for, her legs nearly gave out on her.

“I want to now,” he added as he sucked her bottom lip.

“Here?” she gasped pulling away.

The blaze in his lit eyes was all the answer she needed. “Wait here.”

He hurried away to the front door leaving her standing wobbly as he locked doors. She watched him walk to where the stretching mats were stacked up by the wall and take one. He grabbed some towels, his eyes locked on hers, a slim smile on his face.

Her body had already begun to shudder in anticipation. The tingling that had started that morning when he’d kissed her breast began going insane the moment she heard his scandalous request.

Trying hard to calm her breathing as he neared her she watched him throw the mat into the boxing ring behind her along with the towel then he reached for her and in one swoop she was in his arms again as he kissed her madly.

In the next second his hands were on her behind and he squeezed as he picked her up. Never had she known she could even feel this level of arousal but she felt as wild as an untamed animal cradling his face in her hands as she kissed and sucked those beautiful lips of his.

The moment he set her on the edge of the boxing ring she climbed under the ropes and was in the ring. They toppled over as he jumped in behind her and came over her continuing their frantic kissing as he pressed her to the mat. She thought maybe he’d work his way down like he had that morning but instead his hands went right to her pants and pulled them down the side of her hips. Her panties went down with them and before she knew it she was naked from the waist down.

Unlike that morning Noah wasn’t taking his time. His fingers were already in her making her moan loudly. That only aroused him further and he groaned in her mouth then pulled away. “I can’t wait any longer.”

He moved down, spreading her legs. Veronica brought her trembling hand to her mouth and fisted it, right before she felt it his hot mouth on her, sucking, his tongue teasing. The sensation was so amazing she could hardly stand it.

Like that morning he went slow now driving her insane as the pleasure built quicker this time. She squirmed as his tongue went deeper moving faster in such a perfect motion her entire body quivered in response. Her hips lifted of their own accord and incredibly she felt his tongue go even deeper.

What he did with his tongue so perfectly, driving her slowly then faster into a complete frenzy was like nothing she could ever imagine. It was beyond pleasure. Her eyes rolled back as she swallowed hard, arching her back in response to his swirling tongue.