Chapter 202
Noah
By Friday night, I was shaking so hard I couldn’t even tie my damn shoelaces. Five days to the wedding. Five days until my whole life crashed into a wall. And somehow, in the middle of all of that…
I was about to see my man.
I hadn’t let myself think of his name all day. Every time I did, my chest tightened until I couldn’t breathe. But now, standing in front of the mirror in my room, there was no avoiding it. My face looked flushed, hopeful, stupid, terrified. Like I was about to jump off a cliff and couldn’t decide if the fall would kill me or save me.
I tugged at my shirt for the tenth time.
Black button-down, sleeves rolled once, fitted but not obvious. Dark jeans, clean boots—not that anyone there was gonna see any of that… I’d shaved. Styled my hair. Even put on the cologne Aiden liked—the one he once leaned into my neck to smell and whispered “good boy” like he couldn’t help himself.
My stomach flipped just remembering it.
A soft knock sounded at my door.
“Noah?” Lexie’s voice.
“Yeah—come in.”
She stepped inside wearing a dark emerald dress, hair pinned to one side, makeup soft but perfect. For a second, I forgot how much shit she’d been carrying for my sake. She looked amazing. Classy. Strong.
“Wow! You look incredible!” I smiled, and I really meant it. She was really a beautiful girl.
Her whole face softened and, for a moment, I was pretty sure she was blushing. “Well, you've no idea what I'm wearing underneath… I got all the updates on the club’s dress code from Micah…”
Just then, I was the one who turned red at the thought of my own outfit. “Oh God, wait till you see what I am wearing under this…”
“No way! Seriously?” She laughed. “Well, on top of whatever that is, you look really hot already.”
I scratched the back of my neck. “Thanks. I’m gonna pass out.”
She smiled and walked closer, smoothing the collar of my shirt like a sister fixing her brother before prom. “Nervous?”
“Uh—yeah,” I laughed breathlessly. “Kinda hard not to be.”
There was something tender in the way she looked at me. Something that hurt.
“I’m really happy for you,” she said, voice quiet. “Even if it… you know. Stings a little.”
I swallowed. “Lex… I’m sorry. I know this has to be awful for you. I hate that I’m putting you through this.”
She shrugged, eyes shining but steady. “It hurts, sure. I’m not going to lie. But it also hurts seeing you fall apart every day. If taking you to him gives you even a few hours of peace, then that’s worth something to me.” She paused. “Maybe worth everything.”
My throat tightened.
“Thank you,” I murmured. “Really.”
She took a breath, letting the moment settle before we switched to a lighter tone.
“So,” I said, scratching the back of my neck, “uh… what exactly is the plan for you while I’m… you know…”
Her eyebrows shot up immediately with a teasing grin. “While you’re screwing around with Aiden?”
“Oh my God, Lexie…” I groaned, face burning.
“What?” she laughed. “There better be some screwing if we’re going through all of this to give you time alone—”
“Please stop before I die.”
She snorted. “Fine. But to answer your question—I’m hanging out awkwardly with Micah. Half naked, in that club.”
That actually made me laugh. “Oh God. You’re babysitting Micah?”
“Apparently, some guy named Hale had offered to babysit the both of us,” she corrected. “I guess his… Master, he said…? Refuses to ‘abandon us to the wolves’ while you two… reconnect.”
I rolled my eyes. “They’re so dramatic.”
“He also asked if there would be snacks for afterwards.”
“Of course he did.”
She grinned, then her smile faded as she looked at me more closely.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” she asked.
I stared at her like she’d grown another head. “Me? Lexie, I’ve been there a few times. You’re the one walking into a BDSM club for the first time.”
She shrugged, way too confidently. “Please. I can handle anything.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even know what you’re handling.”
“A little bondage isn’t going to kill me,” she said, tossing her hair like that settled it. “I’m a big girl.”
“Lexie…” I rubbed my forehead. “It’s not little anything. Dominion can be… intense. And Hale is intense. And Micah—God help you—is intense.”
She snorted. “And you think I’m the one who needs protecting?”
“Yes,” I deadpanned. “A hundred percent. Listen—if you walk in and you feel weird or freaked out or… anything—tell someone. Tell Hale. Tell Micah. Tell literally the first dude in leather you see—just don’t pretend you’re fine.”
She rolled her eyes. “Relax. I said I can handle it.”
“I know,” I said softly, “but still. Please. If you feel uncomfortable for even a second, tell someone.”
She met my gaze then—really met it—and the bravado cracked just a little.
“Okay,” she said quietly. “I promise.”
I nodded, feeling the tension in my shoulders loosen just enough to breathe.
Her expression softened into something warm and supportive. “Now,” she said, squeezing my arm, “let’s go give my father the performance of his life.”
I grabbed my jacket, heart thundering in my chest, and followed her out.
One last night of freedom.
One last chance to see him.
One last moment before everything blew up in our faces.
I wasn’t ready. I was terrified. But I’d never wanted anything more.
Lexie’s parents were already waiting in the foyer when we walked in, both dressed like they were about to walk the red carpet instead of sit in a velvet chair and pretend to like opera.
Her mother lit up the second she saw us. “Oh, look at you two!” she gushed. “You look perfect. Absolutely perfect. Noah, that shirt—my goodness, you clean up well.”
I forced a smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Her father—William—barely glanced at my outfit. His eyes went straight to Lexie like he was checking for cracks in the presentation.
“Are you sure you two don’t want to join us for the premiere?” he asked, adjusting his cufflinks. “It’s not every day we host a production of La Traviata this size. The mayor will be there.”
Lexie beamed at him with the fakest excitement I’d ever seen. “Oh wow, Dad, La Traviata? How thrilling. The tragic opera about death and tuberculosis?” She clasped her hands dramatically. “I’m just heartbroken to miss it.”
I bit the inside of my cheek so I wouldn’t burst out laughing.
Her mother laughed softly, but William looked at me as if making sure I was okay not attending.”
“We’re… going to have to pass,” I said, trying to stay composed. “We thought we’d, uh—take a night to ourselves.”
Lexie nodded sweetly, tucking her arm into mine. “Just a date, Dad. You remember those, right?”
His gaze chilled half a degree with something that almost resembled a smile. "Funny…”
“You both look very nice,” her mother said rolling her eyes at her husband, like she always did. “Really. You look like a proper couple.”
Great. If only she knew.
William cleared his throat. “Well. Your mother and I will be at the opera until late. We won’t be reachable during the performance—no phones, no interruptions.” His focus sharpened on Lexie. “Are you sure you don’t want the chauffeur to take you? It would be safer.”
Lexie raised a brow. “Dad. It’s a date. I think we can handle driving ourselves.”
“You’ll be unprotected and you’re both public figures,” he reminded her. “I’d feel better—”
“Dad,” she interrupted, sharper this time. “In a week, I’ll be a married woman. You’re going to have to get used to letting me go sometime.”
There was a tiny pause—just long enough for the temperature to drop.
Then William gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh sweetheart,” he said casually, “I wouldn’t count on that happening. Ever.”
We nearly froze at the i,plications of that, well convinced that he was dead serious.
Her mother blinked and laughed nervously. “He’s joking!” she insisted, patting his arm. “Of course he’s joking.”
He wasn’t joking.
At all. But we smiled anyway, because we had to.
We slid into her Audi, doors shutting like a seal snapping closed.
I looked around, my pulse kicking so hard my vision blurred. Out there, less than an hour away, my Aiden was waiting. We were really doing this—we were free, and no one was watching—not the guards, not the driver, not the private eyes, not her fucking father.
Or so we thought…