Chapter 810 Chapter 810
Noah looked toward the bushes. Jake taking off for a run right now was weird, especially how tired he looked. He shook his head. Everything Jake did was weird.
Putting the nozzle back, he shut off the pump and put the gas cap on. Whenever he did return, his truck was fueled and ready to go. Jake would have to lead. Noah still didn’t know his way around here well enough to lose a van permanently.
“Noah.”
He spun around and watched Emersyn walk toward him. His heart still beat harder every time he looked at her. He had been home for a while now while all the team leaders figured out the next moves, but with her, it always felt like he hadn’t seen her in a long time. That excitement was there. She smiled, and his mouth returned it without hesitation. He never thought he’d have this. Peace. She was his peace. She was his everything. And Aspyn, she was even more.
When she reached him, he pulled against his chest and buried his nose in her hair. He stiffened. Her scent. It was different. His cat tensed. He knew why.
“What’s wrong?” She leaned back and looked at him.
“Your cycle is coming.”
She blinked and gave him a wide-eyed look.
He wasn’t ready for that.
“Oh.” She played with the edges of his jacket. “I’ve been feeling a little off the last few days. I thought it was the up-and-down weather.”
He shook his head.
“Okay.” She bit her lip and held his look. “What do we do about that?”
“I don’t—I’m not—” He sucked in air and then blew it out. “Are we—are we ready for that?” This time with her since Christmas had given them the chance to grow closer. To work through their fear of intimacy, mostly his fear of it. Gradually, they’d worked their way up to making love. Noah thought he was having a heart attack during it. It was so—he didn’t have a word to describe it. Emersyn enjoyed it. He did, too; he just didn’t know if it was like that every time. He really wanted to discuss it with Blair, but that kind of talk always ended up being awkward.
“I can talk to some of the women and see how it’s best dealt with.”
He could feel how nervous she was. Despite his fears, he couldn’t handle her feeling anything but good feelings. Leaning down, he kissed her mouth softly. “We’ll handle it.” He offered a half smile. “We’ve managed everything else.”
She rested her forehead against his chest. “Except for the nightmares.” She whispered.
“Hey.” He lifted her chin gently. “They don’t happen as often, do they?”
She shook her head, her eyes searching his. “I don’t think I’m ready for a baby yet, Noah.” She rubbed her hand over his chest. “Soon, but not now.”
Noah tensed. Baby. Of course, he knew the reason women had their cycles, but he’d blocked it out of his mind. “There’s still a lot to do…”
She put her hand over his mouth. “I know. And I know you’ll be going to help, and it’s okay.”
He heaved a ragged breath and nodded. “I want to help clear out all the North American sites, and then—then,” he hugged her against him again. Would he ever be ready to stay in one place all the time?
“One step at a time, Noah.” She leaned back and then reached and took his face in her hands. Stretching up, she kissed him.
All his fears and anxiety melted away. He kissed her back, taking her flavor inside of him. It soothed his cat. If there was such a thing as a taste of home, this was it. She was home.
“Break it up, you two.”
Noah turned to see Jake coming toward them. He looked more messed up than Noah felt, and he wondered what that was about. Noah sighed and released Emersyn. “We shouldn’t be long,” he said.
She nodded and hugged her waist. “Be careful.”
“I just have to talk to Gage. Where is he?”
Noah shrugged. “He went to the shop but said something about tracking down Ed, who may be at Bruce’s, but he’s not sure.”
Jake turned and walked toward the van. “I’ll call him. Let’s go.”
Noah watched Emersyn return to the house. It was good that she was here for Rory. If anyone could help a person through trauma, it was her.