Page 115 of His Greatest Muse

Anticipation fills my belly at Noah’s delayed response, and one look at him confirms that he’s understood my brother’s attempt at comedy and isn’t about to bury him beneath insults like everyone else assumes he might. He’s too calm, with his mouth tugged ever so slightly in a coy smirk.

I set my new gloves gently back inside the gift box and place it on the end of the bed before snuggling back into Noah’s side. Everyone watches me curiously, and a sweep of my stare across the room reveals that out of every person here, Oakley’s the one that isn’t tense at all. He’s calm as he watches me and his son on the tiny hospital bed, completely disregarding the tension coming from those around us.

It’s a small win, but one I tuck close to my chest.

“Ah, so that’s what happened. You sent the women your sister shooed away from me on a kill mission to take me out of the picture. Once they cut me up into ribbons, you’d be their second option. It was a valiant effort, Easton,” Noah says.

Dad clears his throat in an attempt to hide his laugh. Easton’s eyes flare with something hot and daring before Mom’s voice snuffs out the flames with her words.

“If we ever left you two boys alone, you’d burn someone’s house down.”

“Just the house? I’m thinking the entire neighbourhood,” Oakley adds.

I turn my face into Noah’s side and smile. The black shirt he’s put on smells like him and helps hide the scent of hospital that continues to linger in the room. It’s been a long day, and I feel the weight of exhaustion creeping in.

“Do you want cake now?” he asks me, ignoring the conversation that continues to move around us.

I smooth atotallyinnocent hand down his thigh and flare my fingers to cup his knee. “Would it be rude of me to say that I don’t?” He stops breathing, his muscles locking up. “Maybe we could have it later? Just you and me?”

“Just you and me,” he echoes, the words strained.

I hum. “I want to thank you for all of this. But I think it would be better if I did that without everyone watching.”

“Tell them to go.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Before I do it.”

That would be a terrible idea. Everyone would leave here scarred for life.

I wait for the current conversation to trickle off before saying, “I really appreciate all of this, but Noah’s exhausted. I don’t want to push him too much so soon.”

A rare laugh escapes him at the excuse I come up with. It makes my stomach flutter uncontrollably.

With a shared understanding filling the room, everyone begins rushing around to say goodbye and happy birthday. It takes a long few minutes before the majority of everyone has cleared out with promises to come back tomorrow and lingering hugs. Noah’s parents are last to leave after Ava kisses Noah’s cheeks and orders him to text her before he goes to sleep. Oakley didn’t try to hug Noah, but he didn’t need to. The emotion in his expression was more than enough to portray that he wanted to but wouldn’t push.

Later, I’ll ask Noah about what happened with his father while I was gone, but the minute the door closes, leaving us alone for the first time in hours, that conversation is the last thing on my mind.

With two dark brown eyes hooked on me, I move down the bed and straddle his thighs one leg at a time. They’re rock solid beneath my body, so strained and tight. I find his gaze and hold it, letting the desire he’s feeling pool low in my belly, mixing with mine.

“You didn’t have to do all of this for me,” I whisper.

Setting my hands on his shoulders, I lean forward, touching our foreheads together. He butts his nose against mine and nips at my mouth. The sting warms my blood, making it sing.

“Wanted to. You deserve this.”

“How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?”

Hands falling to my waist, he drags me up his lap. “No.”

“None at all?”

His cock is hard between us, and with a cautious rock of my hips, I drag my centre along the length of it. The breath that tears from his lips is far from pained. The pleasured sound of it has me soaking my panties, so completely gone for this man.

“You know where I ache, Tinsley. I haven’t felt my side all day.”

I shudder, grinding over him a second time. The pressure on my clit makes my head spin. He puffs an exhale across my mouth.

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