Tame: Carter Kids #3 (4 page)

"That was insane!" I exclaimed when Noah and I had finally made it through the throngs of fans that had been waiting outside the MFA headquarters building, all desperately vying to get an autograph or a photo taken with my boyfriend. I was quickly learning that Noah's world was a constant paparazzi filled party.

Noah smirked. "I know."

Maneuvering the Lexus convertible that had miraculously appeared at the back of the building, Noah drove hard and fast. The beast of a car ate up the miles and we were soon several blocks away.

"You're such a badass," I teased, twisting sideways to look at him. "Blowing off your boss like that." Clearing my throat, I added,
"Talk to my manager,"
in a deep voice. "Totally badass."

Noah threw his head back and laughed.

"She's not my boss, Thorn." Reaching across the console, Noah took my hand in his and raised it to his mouth. "You are," he purred before pressing a hot kiss to the back of my hand.

"You are so full of shit," I shot back, a little breathless, because let's face it, Noah Messina just called me his boss. "So, what did Tommy say to you?"

Noah's body tensed. "Nothing important."

"Are you sure?" I asked, but Noah didn't respond. Choosing to move on quickly, I asked, "So, where are we going?"

"Wherever you want, Thorn. My schedule is free for the next two weeks." Shrugging, Noah dropped his hand to his lap, keeping ahold of mine. "Actually, I could eat something." He tugged on my hand and I had no choice but to shimmy closer – not that I was complaining. "You hungry?"

"Starving," I replied. "I feel like I haven't eaten in days."

"We could check out this place in – " His phone rang, and he paused mid-sentence before letting out a heavy sigh. 

"Who is it?" I asked, curious, as I watched him dig inside his pants pocket for his phone.

"Tommy," he replied rather dejectedly, before swiping the screen and putting the phone to his ear. "What?" was the first word Noah spoke. "If this is about earlier…"

I listened intently, trying and failing to hear what Tommy was saying to Noah down the line.

I suspected that whatever news Tommy had for Noah wasn't good because the sudden tension in his body was both obvious and unnerving.

Shifting closer to him, I leaned forward and pretended to adjust my sock when in truth I was just trying to eavesdrop.

Noah glanced back at me briefly and shook his head reprovingly.

Busted…

Sheepishly, I sat back and crossed my arms. 

"Whoop-Dee-Fucking-Doo, I can make that back in three fights," Noah argued down the line, voice rising. "Just get it done, T."

With those final words, Noah tossed his phone down, unaffected when the expensive piece of technology clattered against the floor. 

I managed to remain quiet for all of three seconds before asking, "What was that about?"

"He was calling about that damn video," Noah shot back, clearly fuming. "It's everywhere, Thorn. T said that it's on so many sites that it would take months to clear them all."

"Okay," I said calmly, wondering why the hell I wasn't freaking out right now. Noah was obviously thinking the same because when I caught him glancing at me, his face was set in a deep frown. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm wondering who the hell is sitting in my car right now," Noah shot back. Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his hair. "I was sort of expecting you to freak about ten minutes ago."

"What's the point?" I said. "Everyone in the Hub saw us having sex when it leaked seven years ago. What's another couple of million viewers?" Shrugging, I clasped my hands together. "We can't change it, and we can't make it go away."

"So what should we do?" Noah asked, clearly confused.

"We should download that sucker and have a good time with it."

Noah's jaw fell open. "You little perv."

"I happen to believe I looked damn good at seventeen," I shot back, not missing a beat. "And I want to see what all the fuss is about."

"You want to watch porn together?" he choked out, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "And you looked better than good at seventeen," he added. "You looked fucking ethereal." Smirking, he added, "You're like a fine wine, Thorn."

"Ugh. Please," I said, holding up my hand, stopping him from saying one of the cheesiest one liners of all time. "But yeah, why shouldn't we watch it?"

Noah's brows furrowed together. "Why watch it when we can just do the real thing?"

"Why not watch it while we're doing the real thing?" I offered smoothly.

His brows shot up. "Yeah, I'm sold," he said with a thick voice. "Download the damn video."

I watched him like a hawk as he shifted around on the seat, clearly uncomfortable, and pulled at the collar of his black shirt.

"By the way, I'm off the hook with the disciplinary board."

"You are?" I squealed in delight. "So what does this mean for your career?"

"Tommy said I'm on a probation for three months," he replied, a little less tense. "But I'm free to fight."

"We should book into a motel somewhere." Pulling myself onto my knees, I leaned over and whispered into his ear. "So we can celebrate all day – with the video."

"Fuck yeah!" Twisting his neck from side to side, he pulled at his collar and let out a groan. "You're not screwing with me, are you, Thorn?" Turning his face, he looked at me with a puppy dog expression. "You're not going to shatter my dream and tell me you're joking?"

"Your dream?" I grimaced. "For all of five seconds."

"Five fantastic fucking seconds," he shot back with a smirk.

"You'll see," I replied.

There would be no seeing about it. I could barely suppress the urge to rip the man's clothes off.

I would be on my back the moment that man gave me the nod, but he didn't need to know that.

Chuckling under his breath, Noah reached forward and switched on the stereo.

Ironically, Selena Gomez's
Hands to Myself
blasted through the speakers.

Smiling to myself, I pulled my hair out of its makeshift bun and knotted my hands in my messy blonde hair, wiggling my body suggestively, moving to the sexy beat of the song.

I was on a major high after blowing off Noah's bosses. I was feeling empowered and recklessly in love with the man beside me.

In all honesty, I couldn't believe how much I lucked out with this man. Being here with him now, after all the shit and the trouble?

Well, it was sort of mind blowing. 

"Look at the trouble you're causing me," Noah groaned, glancing up at me before looking back at the road.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied sweetly, feigning innocence.

"My dick, Thorn," Noah evaluated, adjusting the very noticeable bulge in his jeans. "I've pitched a fucking tent, baby."

"Oh my god," I laughed, flopping back down to a sitting position. "What are you, twelve?"

"Turned on, Thorn. I'm fucking turned on," he countered unapologetically, clamping one strong hand on my thigh. "You're the one shaking your ass in my face."

"Pull the car over and my ass could be yours right now," I teased, waggling my brows, forcing myself not to laugh as I nudged his arm with my elbow. "And everything else…" I added suggestively.

Glancing sideways at me, Noah bit down hard on his lip and growled.

"Keep laughing," he warned, smirking cockily. "You're the one who's not gonna be able to walk straight after I get you into a bed."  

A shiver of carnal promise jolted through me and my clit throbbing in anticipation.

I silently debated with myself for a few minutes, torn on whether or not to continue tormenting my boyfriend. I knew full well Noah wasn't joking around when he said I wouldn't be walking straight tonight.

The man was a freaking machine…

"Okay, let's play a game!" I blurted out, dragging my mind out of the gutter.

Noah cocked a brow. "What kind of game?"

"A 'getting to know each other better' game."

Reaching under my seat, I rummaged around in my purse, grinning when I retrieved my faithful iPod. "Let's play songs that remind us of each other."

Syncing it with the car stereo, I flicked through dozens of songs until…bingo!

Taylor Swift's
Out of the Woods
blasted from the car stereo and I blurted out, "Leave it on." Cradling my iPod to my chest, I smiled sweetly at him. "Please?"

I knew this wasn't Noah's choice of song, not by a long shot, but it was mine and I grinned in victory when his fingers paused over the on/off button before choosing to turn up the volume.

"You're a pain in my ass," he grumbled in defeat and reclaimed my hand, smoothing soft circles over my fingers with his thumb. "A fucking thorn in my side."

"It reminds me of you," I told him. "And that's the name of the game."

"Really?" he husked, confusion written all over his face. "This one?"

"Yes, really." It was the truth.

This song had always reminded me of us and I felt each word right down to my bones.

Kicking off my dollar-store flip-flops, I rested my bare feet against the dashboard, and closed my eyes.

"Of us," I whispered, reveling in Noah's touch – in the feel of his hand on mine.

Tipping my head back, I let myself enjoy the feel of the wind in my hair. I couldn't stop smiling. I didn't care how goofy I looked.

I felt… happy.

When the song was over he snatched my iPod from my hand.

"My turn," he announced, his attention flickering between the road and the little screen of my iPod before finally settling on a song.

The lyrics of Ron Pope's
In my Bones
filled my ears.

Immediately, tears filled my eyes.

"This one reminds me of you," Noah said quietly.

The haunting, melancholy melody enveloped us like a blanket of angst and painful memories, causing my heart to hammer against my ribcage.

A heavy pain settled over my chest, a pressure of sorts…a feeling of regret.

"This is a shitty game," I muttered when Noah offered me the iPod after the song had ended. "I don't want to play anymore."

"Come on, Teagan," he said with a smirk. "You wanted to play…"

"Let it go, Noah."

"Let what go?" he laughed humorlessly. He shook his head, clearly agitated. "You're the one throwing a hissy fit over a fucking song."

"Because you aimed that song at me like a loaded gun, Noah."

He knew this was about more than a song.

"And you shot me through the heart," I tossed out, red-faced. "Congratulations, you hit a bullseye. Mission accomplished."

"Thorn…"

"No," I snapped. Grabbing the stupid fucking piece of metal, I tossed it back in my purse before crossing my hands over my chest. "I'm not playing."

"
I'm not playing
," he mimicked my voice and laughed. "You're such a fucking baby."

"That hurt, Noah. I don't even think you realize how much, but it hurt."

I immediately felt like a girl, but I couldn't help it.

My emotions were all over the place.

It was like I was riding a freaking rollercoaster and I had no control over what happened next.

"I don't want to sound like a baby," I added. "But the way you're speaking to me right now… well, it makes me feel like you hate me a little more than you love me."

"I don't hate you," he was quick to say, tone gruff. "You know I love you, right?"

I opened my mouth to respond but Noah swerved the car into a nearby pullout and slammed on the brakes so hard all train of thought faded out of my mind.

Killing the engine, he threw his car door open and got out.

Stalking around to my side of the car, he jerked my door open and pulled me roughly out of the car.

Slamming my back against the car, he towered over me, looking terrifyingly beautiful.

"Words, Thorn." Winding his fist in my hair, Noah tugged hard, causing my face to lift upwards. "They're just words from a song." His eyes were dark as coal, blazing with heat and fire, and scorching me. Drawing me closer. Literally closer. "If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't do it with a fucking song."

"But it did hurt," I whispered.

My body moved towards him, an automatic reaction to his heated gaze.

He was snaring me, one blink at a time.

I wanted him badly, and he knew it.

"Because I know you haven't forgiven me." My words were little more than a breathless pant. "And I'm scared you never will."

"I'm in love with you," he replied heatedly. Taking my hand in his, he pressed my palm against his chest. "Feel that?"