I look up when I hear the front door opening, a reluctant smile lifting the edges of my lips up. I rise to my feet when I hear her footsteps heading my way. Amara rounds the corner, her eyes finding mine, and I freeze when a tear drops down her cheek. She sniffs and bites down on her lip, trying her best to keep from falling apart, but I see the pain in those beautiful blue eyes of hers.
“I’m so sorry,” she says, her voice breaking. She chokes back a sob, and I rush up to her, taking her into my arms. “I’m sorry, Noah. This… it’s… it’s all my fault.”
I hold her tightly, my hand running over her back soothingly. “I’ve been trying to think of a way to tell you, but I guess you’ve already heard the news.”
She nods, her grip on me tightening. I inhale deeply as I drop my forehead to hers. “Don’t cry, baby,” I whisper. “My heart can’t take it. You’re killing me.”
She sniffs and looks up at me through her tears. “I did this,” she murmurs. “I did this to you.”
I cup her cheeks and swipe at her tears with my thumbs. “I’m a grown man, Amara. I knew what I was getting into when I showed up at your lab after you so vehemently pushed me away, trying to do the right thing. I could’ve let you walk away then, but I didn’t. Being with you is worth anything. It’s worth risking everything. Besides… I’m a doctor, baby. I’ll be okay. I’ll find something. It may take a while, but I’ll be okay. It was just a job.”
She shakes her head, her eyes falling closed. “It’s not that simple, Noah. My grandpa… he won’t let you find another job.”
I lean in and press a lingering kiss to her forehead, my eyes falling closed as my heart fills with love for the woman in front of me. She’s more hurt than I am. To have someone hurting on my behalf the way she does… it’s something I didn’t think I’d ever experience outside of my family.
“Baby, your grandfather isn’t all-powerful. I found you an investor, didn’t I? I can find myself a job. Everything is going to be okay.”
She nods, her eyes filled with hope. The sooner I find something, the better. I can tell this is going to be hard on Amara. She’s going to keep blaming herself until I find something new. It’ll hurt her more than it’ll ever hurt me.
I grab her chin and tilt her face toward mine, leaning in for a kiss. Amara sighs when my lips meet hers, and I smile against her lips, right before deepening the kiss. She opens up for me, her tongue brushing against mine. The way she kisses me is different tonight. Her touch is filled with desperation, with sadness.
I lift her into my arms and carry her to the staircase, pausing when I notice the bags in the hallway. I glance at her, and the look in her eyes has my heart working overtime.
“I left,” she tells me. “I’m done being a pawn in my grandfather’s games. I warned him that if he did this to you… he’d lose me. I meant it.”
I carry her up the stairs quietly, unsure what to say, what to feel. Amara’s eyes are filled with insecurity by the time I place her down on my bed. “Amara,” I murmur, settling on top of her, my forehead against hers. “I don’t want to be the reason you lose your family. I’ll be okay. I promise you, I’ll be fine. Don’t ruin your relationship with your grandfather because of me. I have no family other than Aria, baby. Your grandfather may have his flaws, but he loves you. He’s only trying to protect you, in his own twisted way. He wants what’s best for you, and I can’t fault him for thinking you can do better than me… because you can.”
“No,” she snaps. “I hate that you can’t see yourself through my eyes. Noah, you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met. You’re the best person I know, and I’m honored I get to be with you. I wish you could see that. I wish you could see how amazing you are, how lucky I am to be with you.”
I smile at her and thread my hand through her hair, my eyes on hers. “I love you, Amara. I really do. But so does your grandfather. Don’t alienate your family over me. I’d give the world to have a family of my own, so don’t walk away from yours so easily.”
She looks at me, her eyes brimming with sincerity. “I’m your family now, Noah. And if my grandfather wants to, he can be part of our family too — as soon as he accepts us being together. This isn’t just about you, babe. It’s about me too. It’s about me choosing my own path and pursuing my own happiness. I’ve had enough, Noah. He can either support the road I’ve chosen, or he’ll have to get out of my way. I’m done trying to please my family at the expense of my happiness. I won’t sacrifice you.”
I stare at her, my heart overflowing with happiness, gratitude and love, all blended into what can only be described as pure bliss. I never thought I’d experience this… someone putting me first the way Amara does. “I love you,” I tell her. “You’re everything, Amara. Everything I’ve ever wished for, and then some.”
She smiles at me, and that look in her eyes just makes me fall even deeper. “You’re more,” she whispers. “More than I ever hoped for. More than I deserve.”
I lean in and kiss her, taking my time with her, kissing away her every worry, every hint of sorrow, until I’m all she can think about.
“Noah,” she whispers, and her voice sends a thrill down my spine the way it did the first time I met her.
I lean in, my lips brushing over hers. “I love you,” I whisper before kissing her. Amara moans against my lips and threads her hand through my hair. The way she moves underneath me drives me insane. No one can do this to me but her. She’s the only person that can make my mood shift from worry and sadness to pure bliss within seconds.
My hands roam over her body, teasing her, stroking her. I love the way she moans for me, the way she looks at me with lust-filled eyes. “I want you,” she whispers. “I need you close, Noah.”
I slip my hand between her thighs, not surprised to find her wet already. I watch her as her lips fall open when I run my index finger over her, teasing her, staying away from where she wants me. “Please,” she whispers, and I give her what she wants. I’ve got her close within minutes, but she shakes her head. “I want to come with you inside me, babe. I want you.”
I smile as I pull away to undress. Amara leans back and watches me as I unbutton my shirt, dropping it to the floor. She smirks and pulls her dress over her head when I reach for my belt. Before long, we’re both naked, and I grin as I lean over her.
Amara’s hands run over my body, and she looks up at me impatiently. I can’t help but chuckle. “I fucking adore you,” I whisper as I push the tip of my cock into her, loving the way her lips fall open. “You aren’t leaving my bed tonight, baby. From now on, all your nights are mine.”
I push all the way into her, and the way she moans my name is music to my ears. I pull back only to thrust into her again, slowly, deeply, over and over again. I take my time with her, driving her crazy, fucking her at that angle she loves.
It doesn’t take long before her breathing turns shallow and her cheeks flush, her eyes filled with lust. She’s close, and I watch her as I push her over the edge. Her muscles contract around my cock, and just that is enough to make me come right along with her.
My eyes fall closed, and I drop my forehead to hers. “I’m crazy about you,” I whisper.
Amara wraps her arms around me, her grip tight. “I love you,” she whispers. “You and I… we’ll be okay.”
I nod and press a kiss to her forehead. We will be. So long as I’ve got her, I’ll be fine.
