Cam and Noah's quiet voices are the first thing I hear when I wake up. I'm firmly tucked in, with blankets pressed under my sides so I'm wrapped like a burrito, and there are actual pillows under my head. From a bed.
I squint at the sunlight that's seeping into the room from the open curtains.
"You should have seen her tits, man-"
"Your sister is right there, you whore. Shut the fuck up."
"She's asleep," Cam says, followed by a thump and a small yelp. "I won't be called a whore by possibly the biggest prude on the planet, thanks."
He didn't seem very prudish when he was telling me he wanted to bend me over this sofa, but whatever Cam wants to believe.
I do wonder how many people Noah has slept with though. I wonder if he went through a bit of a wild phase, like I did during university. I wonder who he lost his virginity to, and when he had his first kiss. I bet he was young - boys that look like that always lose it young.
I open one eye to peek at them, backs to me at the counter in the kitchen. A spoon clatters against a bowl as they continue chatting casually.
Cam continues gracelessly talking about his conquest from last night, so I try to tune out their words. Instead, I stare at the bunched muscles in Noah's back and think about how restrained he had been last night.
No self-control, my ass.
Last night was the most control I had ever seen in a human being.
If I close my eyes, I can still see him staring back at me, looming above me. Watching me get off with hooded eyes and a clenched jaw. I should've run my hands through his hair - I've wanted to do it for ages. It looks soft and bouncy, like my fingers would get tangled into the curls, making it easy for me to pull his face down to mine.
"She even tried to . . . in the restaurant," Cam is saying.
I roll my eyes.
"Man," Noah sighs. "I know you think I live vicariously though you but I really don't, so please stop talking."
They both laugh.
I love Noah's laugh.
Fuck, i'm a bloody schoolgirl with an obsessional crush already.
I still want him to touch me right now, desperately so. Part of me even wants him to tell Cam to fuck off so he can jump on me, wake me up by diving between my legs-
"Yeah, but since I left you with my sister, I thought I would throw you a bone."
Excuse me?
"I don't mind being left with your sister," Noah replies. I watch him shrug, and then casually adds, as if testing the waters, "she's sweet."
"She's bloody annoying."
Oh, ha-ha.
Cam thinks he's so hilarious.
Noah is cute though. He thinks I'm sweet. He thinks I'm perfect. He very obviously wants to fuck me, and with the way that he talks to me when he's turned on, I assume he's very good at it too.
I want him. I want him to tower over me looking all intimidating, even though I know he's a sweetheart. I want him to hold me up against a wall like I weigh nothing and have his way with me. I want to hear how fucked he thinks he is again because he can't keep his hands to himself-
"Hey, you're up!"
I smile back at Cam, but my eyes flit to Noah as he turns around in his seat. We share a look before he turns away again, probably for the best.
"How was your night?" I ask. I highly doubt he'll give me the same detail he tried to give Noah, however.
"It was alright," he shrugs, but the smirk that appears on his face reveals more than he probably means to. "Do you have any plans today?"
"Im gonna ask Isobel if she wants to start Christmas shopping with me," I shrug. "We might go see a movie too, I don't know."
He stares at me, waiting. An old tactic from high school that I recognised immediately.
"You're welcome to join us," I tell him.
He claps, nodding, and smacks Noah in the back as he passes. I hope that means Noah is coming with us too. Even though being around Cam's best friend after last night does nothing but get me hot and heavy under my clothes.
Cam had always stared whenever he wanted something in high school. If I'd made myself a cup of tea, he'd stare at it until I got up and made him one as well.
He did it to mum as well. If she got me anything - even tampons - he wanted something too.
'To keep it equal, mum.'
He'd stare until she handed him a gift of equal value. It was both annoying but endearing.
Maybe I should stare at him until he shares Noah with me.
I leave them alone and shower to try and take my thoughts away. To cool down my mind that is still burning with the same desire that it was last night.
Before I step under the water, I text Isobel and ask if she wants to hang out for the day - she'd said she wasn't doing anything when we were at work yesterday, so I'm not surprised when I get out of the shower and see her reply stating that she'll be over in an hour.
Even though we'll be with Cam all day, I still want to look my best. My guilt of fancying his best mate has long been overshadowed by my throbbing pussy, and I choose to listen to what she wants instead.
So, I dress cute; in tights, a summer dress, and an oversized cardigan. Even if the cold bites at my legs, I can only hope that Noah will do the same.
I put on a touch of makeup and blow out my hair, taming the frizz with a bit of hair serum just as a knock sounds at the front door.
"I'll get it!" I yell, taking the stairs two at a time and swinging open the front door to greet Isobel. She's blocked Noah in with her car again, and stands in front of me with the biggest eyeliner wing I've ever seen her wearing.
She looks me up and down, and then breaks into a suspiciously large grin.
"You look nice," she sings, stepping past me to take off her winter coat.
"Cam's home," I warn quietly, knowing she'll start making jokes about Noah and I as soon as she sees even a smudge of opportunity for one. She holds up her hands in mock defense, and follows me into the kitchen.
Greeting both the boys, she makes herself at home and pours a glass of water for us both as I scrounge through my various bags for my boots. Noah and Cam must've got dressed whilst I was getting ready, because they both look more presentable now.
As Cam and Isobel catch up with small talk, I drink in Noah's look for the day. Finally, when I reach his face, I notice he's done the same to me.
I think about his hand around my throat as he visibly swallows.
"Kenz?"
I hum, stepping forwards, towards Isobel's inquisitive stare.
"Water."
She holds out the glass over the island. I take a stance next to Noah, leaning over the counter to take it from her. As I take a small sip, I feel his hand on the back of my thigh, stroking ever so softly along my tights.
"Who do you need to buy presents for?" Cam asks us, drinking his own glass of water.
Noah continues stroking me gently, with his free hand leant against the counter, scrolling through his phone. He's looking at car parts on some auto website, oblivious to the world around him.
"Mum and Jack," I start. "Isobel and I usually pick out our own stuff and pay for each other. You. secret santa for work. Nan and grandad." I start ticking them off on my fingers. Isobel nods along with me and then adds some people from her family.
Noah's fingers still graze over my leg, innocently, mindlessly, without a care of the other two seeing us.
I lean back, further into the side of his body, and eye Cam who is as clueless as ever. Isobel, however, wiggles her eyebrows at me.
"Noah's driving," Cam tells us. "You can keep your car in the driveway if you want."
Noah looks up and shrugs at Isobel, hand sliding around the front of my thigh, pulling me further towards him.
He seems to realise what he's doing then, quickly shooting a nervous look at Cam before dropping his touch all together.
Isobel and Noah swap the cars around as Cam and I discuss what to get our family for Christmas - joint presents as usual, so we can split the costs. Also because Cam wouldn't have a fucking clue what to buy anyone, but i kindly let him pretend that fact isn't true. Even though I love being a passenger seat Princess, I let Cam call shotgun when we meet the others outside. I lock the front door and wrap my cardigan around my arms as I walk over to the car, hazards already on since he's blocking the road.
I sit next to Isobel in the back, behind Cam, and am immediately engulfed in the warm air blowing from the dash.
We sing along to songs on the radio as we drive to the shopping center. Luckily, I don't have time to think about Noah, because Isobel spends the entire drive complaining about how disgusting boys on tinder are.
"Maybe we should get you on tinder," she suggests. The glint in her eye tells me everything I need to know about her intentions. It works too, because Noah glances back at us both before turning back to the road. "It's been ages since she had a boyfriend."
With wide eyes, I hit her leg with the back of my hand.
Cam laughs.
Thankfully the boys don't entertain the idea, so Isobel lets it go too. She just continues complaining about slimy men, instead.
We drive around the car park for a while once we've reached the shopping center, before Noah finally finds a space that he pulls into. We walk as a group towards the building, and then enter into the bustling noise of other shoppers.
A manic looking woman with a pram steams towards us, no children in sight, so Noah pulls Isobel and me closer to them both. Cam loops an arm through my own and pulls us towards a sports clothing store.
"We're here to shop for other people," I remind him.
"You need to get me a present though, so I think I should get to look."
I roll my eyes but follow him in.
Eventually cam becomes annoying enough that Isobel and I break away and do our own shopping bits. As soon as we tell the boys, and get out of earshot, she leans towards my ear. A crazed look dancing around her iris'.
"So. . . Noah, huh?"
"Let it go, Iz."
"I'm not sure. He's being awfully quiet today- unusually so, even for him."
"He's always quiet," I blush.
"I have the eyes of a hawk, Kenz. remember that." she states.
She pulls me into a jewelry store before I can begin to ask what that could possibly mean. As I pick out some cufflinks for Jack, I wonder why I don't want to tell her about last night yet. She wouldn't tell Cam or anyone at the office, but it still feels like betraying Noah's trust somehow.
It's nice to keep it to myself.
And technically, he didn't touch me. Nor did I touch him.
For now it'll be our little secret. A dirty secret - one that could get us both into a lot of trouble with my brother. My mum would definitely get involved too; Cam always loved convincing her to join his side of our arguments.
"What about these earrings for your mum?" Isobel asks, holding a pair of diamond studs that have a small flower on.
We continue shopping. She goes into further detail about her tinder trouble, and a one-night-stand she planned to have on Friday night but ghosted him last minute.
With a plethora of bags on our arms, we finally decide to go to the food court for lunch. I text both Cam and Noah to join us, sending my live location to each of them. One of them is bound to be bored of shopping by now, playing an old game they forgot about on their phone.
Noah responds immediately.
Noah: On our way x
I solemnly swear that I will not overthink that.
Definitely a lie.
Isobel offers to buy our food, so I find a table big enough for the four of us that's clear of litter. It's next to a group of teenage girls that are gossiping about their school classes, but it'll do.
I scroll through social media while I wait for them, but after only a few minutes, I feel eyes on me. Nervously, I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, glancing in every direction to confirm my suspicion.
At first, there are too many people to notice anyone in particular, but then i spot a table of three guys a few feet away. They look to be in their early twenties, and each one of them instantly looks away from me as soon as I spot their table.
I look back at my phone, experimentally looking back at them a few seconds later only for the exact same response as before.
They laugh and push each other around, and then one of them stands up.
"Fuck," I sigh.
I burn a hole through my phone screen with my eyes, hoping they aren't coming over here. A chair scrapes away from the table, and the guy sits opposite me.
He's okay-looking. Very boyish. It's strange that I can't look at anybody not covered in tattoos anymore and be attracted to them. Noah Romano has become my type in men. Which is dangerous, because Noah looks like a fucking Greek God - those are very few and far between.
"Hi," he says, leaning back into the chair. My phone is still open to twitter in my hand. "Are you on your own?" I open my mouth to answer, but he continues before I can. "You can sit with my friends and me if you want?"
"I'm okay," I respond, trying for a smile. "Thanks."
His mouth scrunches. He smiles like I'm playing a game with him.
"What's your name?"
"I'm just waiting for my friend," I say. I peer behind me, to a food counter where Isobel is standing in line. She's looking at me though, and holds up her hand in a phone gesture. I shake my head because I'm sure he's harmless enough.
"You can both join us," he shrugs. "Or I could just get your number?"
My eyebrows raise at his brashness. A nervous laugh falls from my mouth, and I look around for support once more.
The tension in my shoulders immediately releases when I see Noah walking towards the table. The teenage girls on the table one over start giggling to each other as they notice him.
Tall and beautiful - a little intimidating but totally gorgeous..
"It's James, by the way."
Oh God, not another James.
Thankfully, before he can say anything else, Noah pulls out the flimsy chair next to me and sits down, stretching his legs out across the floor. James looks between the two of us, avoiding Noah's disinterested eyes, and then back to his friends.
"Your friend?" he asks.
I don't know where to look. At him, at Noah, who is on his phone now; back to Isobel to beg her to come and save me. I just nod slightly, shrugging.
His smile is immediate and disorientating. It's as if he doesn't even see Noah there anymore.
"Come meet my friends," he suggests.
"Fuck off," Noah grumbles, eyes not lifting from his phone. He reaches down to the chair I'm sitting on, grabs one of the metal legs, and pulls it towards his own chair. The same arm then snakes around my waist, and I'm pulled in one swift motion onto his lap.
James very quickly runs away. He then makes his friends leave the food court all together, not to be seen again.
Goodbye, James.
I slink back to my own chair when his arm loosens, shifting to readjust my dress.
"Did you get much shopping done?" he asks, as if nothing even happened.
I ramble.
I list everything we bought, where we bought it and who it's for. I explain in detail why I got the green wrapping paper instead of the red, and he listens intently, as if it's at all interesting.
Isobel sitting down opposite me is the only reason I stop talking.
Apparently, being alone with Noah makes me a bit nervous now. The teenage girls at the table next to us still giggle with each other, glancing at him every so often, and I feel like giggling with them because that's how he makes me feel too.
Instead, I pick at the mac and cheese in front of me.
Cam joins us eventually, putting a tray of food between himself and Noah. I then have to re-hash what I've bought for everyone and who we still have to buy for in the future, which I'm sure Cam will forget anyway.
We chatter casually, eventually abandoning the rest of our food to go back to the car.
As soon as that sleek BMW comes into view, I spin around to face Cam and Noah.
"Shotgun!"
"Oh, fuck off, Kenzie!" Cam immediately begins his hissy fit.
Noah's reaction is much nicer. He winks at me, grinning, which makes my knees weak and my body hot. Isobel laughs too and talks Cam out of physically fighting me for the front seat.
He can do nothing as Noah opens the passenger side food for me, hand brushing my arm as I drop into the empty seat.
He still signifies his protests with hand gestures and dirty looks once he gets into the back seat behind me, but i ignore him to eye-fuck his best friend instead.
A few minutes into the drive, my phone buzzes with a message.
Isobel: your brother is oblivious but it is ENTIRELY obvious that something has happened and I NEED details!
I smile into my lap, shaking my head.
Isobel: you cannot fuck Noah without telling me!
I can try.