Keeping You: KJ Elite Inc. (5 page)

“Fine.” He said, right before shocking the hell out of me.

Sauntering over to the bed, he dropped the pillow out of my reach and then stripped out of his worn t-shirt. It landed right on what I was certain was my “Say wha?” face. Sweet Jesus, he was completely covered in tattoos under his shirt and ripped doesn’t begin to explain the man’s upper body.

“Nighty night, sug.” He sang, strolling out of the room, breaking me from my stupor.

Smug bastard.

I couldn’t help it – I sniffed. A woman’s gotta breathe, right?

Damnit, his shirt smelled amazing, just like him.

I waited until I heard the squeak of his bed this time before I did the naughtiest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life; I pulled off my pajamas in a flash and dove into his t-shirt. It was huge on me and so soft; like sleeping rolled up in clouds.

Mmm.

Chapter 3

My sleep wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t bad either. The house was pretty quiet still and a quick glance at the alarm clock told me it was nearly four in the evening.

Jeez, I can’t believe I slept so long. Tonight was going to suck, trying to sleep.

A soft humming noise had me investigating. In all my years and everything I had been through, I really should know not to snoop. I just couldn’t help it, though.

Maybe I should have tried. The noise was the sound of the shower where my eyes settled on a very naked Noah. A gloriously wet, perfectly built, sexy as sin, Noah stood rinsing shampoo out of his hair.

He hadn’t noticed me until Diesel barked from behind me, giving me away. I was really starting to get on board with this whole, “Diesel’s a traitor” thing. We were going to have a talk later, me and Diesel.

Diesel and I…whatever.

Noah turned around so wickedly fast, I thought he might break something. He didn’t reach for the water handles, a towel or even move to cover himself. Noah just looked angry and stared back at me in shock and challenge. Apparently he didn’t like being seen naked. Every molecule in my body went to war as I fought to turn around and leave him; it wasn’t what my very female parts wanted to do.

I was coming to terms with the knowledge I already had, somewhere in my mind; not all men were disgusting, deceitful, abusive, horrific monsters. Noah certainly wasn’t, not that I felt so far but really my judge of character speaks for itself. His family seemed very tame and only fierce with their love. I never knew what real love was like, though I’d read about it and seen it, I’d never experienced it myself; not even with my parents.

Noah seemed to really want to help and I was free to go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted – I was not being kept against my will. Taylor had told me that as long as I lived, I was a part of this family now and they would all protect me, loyally, to their last breath. Of course I hope it never comes to that.

There was still so much that I needed to deal with but I also needed to listen to my body; never had I felt these kind of feelings for anyone. Honestly, I had to wonder if I was gay because I didn’t get those butterflies for a guy, even as a teenager with raging hormones, but I didn’t feel excited by girls either.

Noah though?

Wow.

I felt safe with him from the very second he picked me up off the ground and cradled me into his warm, capable arms. No matter the time of day, who is around or what I’m doing, just the mere thought of Noah Kane has all my lady parts lighting on fire, begging to be hosed down by the one and only.

My luck, he thinks of me as some damaged little sister project.

What would a man like him see in me, anyways? I’ve got scars, inside and out, massive self-esteem issues, fears out the wazoo and, good God the man looks like he deserves his own statue of remembrance. It would be titled, “Oh perfect one.”

As I settle myself back under the covers, mortified of having been caught gawking at his upper body, he comes barreling into my room with a pair of pajama bottoms on and fluffy moccasin house shoes, smoke practically billowing out of his ears.

Normally, I’d be cowering in the corner now, but I’m still certain he won’t hurt me. Yelling is way different than punching, this I know all too well.

“What the fuck, Jamie?” His arms are in the air, flailing.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in the shower. Please, forgive me.” The natural reaction my body has in these types of situations is to bow my head and avoid eye contact – so I do.

Noah doesn’t like that.

“Look at me.”

I chance a peek and hurriedly look back down.

He’s really upset.

“Jamie, I’m sorry. Look at me.”

I look back up and his shoulders have deflated, he’s moving closer to me, slowly, like testing the waters.

“If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t see everything. The towel hanging on the door handle of the shower blocked your…gifts and down.”

He stopped at that and took a deep breath.

“Gifts?” His eyebrows raise.

“Well, what else do you suppose I call them?” If this conversation goes much farther, I very well may die from embarrassment myself and I wasn’t even the naked one.

“Well, I suppose gifts are pretty accurate.” Noah’s face lights up with a huge, cocky smirk.

Men.

“Sugar, if you wanted to see my gifts, all you had to do was ask.”

I knew he was joking and teasing me, but the thought thrilled me down to my toes.

Something inside me decided it was time to release the flood gates holding it all in.

Mischief glittered my face and twinkled in my eyes.

“Do you have a microscope and tweezers?” I fought to control myself at the stunned look on his face; I’d picked that insulting comeback up from a girl I shot with in Russia. They think girls from the ghetto are tough, they should sit down with a Russian girl. Yowza.

“Well, look at you, going hard on me.” He chuckled after somewhat composing himself.

“That’s what she said.” I shot back.

This was fun. No man ever let me talk to him or with him like this; not without calling me a bitch and storming out. Noah’s stormy mood seemed to clear up, too.

“I really am sorry.”

“It’s alright, sugar. I just... I didn’t want to scare you.”

I sat there silent, half hiding behind my blanket. I wasn’t sure if this was meant sexually, physically, mentally, emotionally or all of the above.

“You don’t scare me, Noah.” I told him, quietly. It didn’t lack the confidence or surety, just the volume. No matter how quiet it was though, I had no doubt his dog-like ears could hear it.

“Music to my ears, Jamie.” His lids closed and face transformed with some emotion I wasn’t able to place.

I was spared having to reply when there was a knock at my door and Taylor strolled in, not waiting for me to answer her.

“What’s shakin’ bacon?” She asked, chipper as ever, flopping onto my bed.

“Um...”

Noah laughed causing Taylor to sit up like she’d been electrocuted, whipping her head in his direction, taking him in for the first time.

“Oh…” She blushed and winked at Noah. “Did I interrupt something?”

I shouted, “No!” while he purred a seductive, “Yes.”

“You better not try and take advantage of her, or I’ll chop your balls off.”

Tay pointed her perfectly manicured, tiny finger at him.

“If I don’t beat you to it.” A rough, deep voice interjected from the doorway. The expression on his handsome face was one of intrigue and humor.

Tommy.

He nodded in my direction and added, “Mornin’, James.”

My answering nod is about all I am capable of. Thought and any form of speech has eluded me. Just my luck; I’m on a roll with insults when we get interrupted and I can’t even remember how to say, “Hi.”

“Shouldn’t you two be off on your honeymoon? Y’know, since you’ve just gotten married and all?” Noah says, smirking knowingly in their direction. Something else he knows that I’ve not got a clue about; story of my life though, I’m always the last to know anything.

“I knew it!” Taylor hollered at him, jumping up.

Tommy scowled, Taylor turned beet red, fuming and I sat there completely out of the loop while Noah laughed a hearty belly laugh. Nodding his head and trying hard not to cry from his voracious laughter, Noah replied, “I was there."

“You what?” Taylor choked, nearly plowing into him.

Tommy stepped forward also, looking ferocious. I’m also pretty sure he growled.

“Drunk as fuck, too. Good thing I saw yall there, because it sobered me up real quick. I left Cindy May sitting there. Still hasn’t spoken a word to me, to this day. Well, if you don’t count the profanities she hurls at me.” His laughter began to dissipate but the grin he wore was ear to ear.

“Wait, you actually know someone named Cindy May?” I asked, in complete disbelief. “Who hates their own kid that much?”

“It’s different in the country, Jamie.” Taylor answered, still clinging to Noah’s shoulders.

“Coming from the one with Sue as her middle name?” Noah laughed, eyebrow hitched.

“You wanna get cut?” Taylor defended me, slitting her eyes at him, knee raised in preparation of launch.

“Alright, down tiger.” Tommy said, pulling Taylor back.

“You know what? That’s okay. I got somethin’ for you.” She pointed her finger at him again, and turned to face me.

“Are you hungry?”

As if my stomach had ears of its own, it chose that moment to growl incredibly loudly, answering her question.

“Um…” I laughed lightly. “Yes.”

“I can feed her. You two go disappear somewhere.” Noah said.

“Taylor doesn’t want to leave.” Tommy told him.

She bit her lip and looked guiltily up at me. I knew that look. It’s how she looked at me when I had an attack and she was afraid to leave me.

“Taylor. Don’t. This is your honeymoon time and there is nothing I would love more than for you to go. Tommy planned something so beautiful for you. Please, go!” I used my hands to shoo her.

Taylor glanced from me to Noah, and then to Tommy, coming back to me.

“I…”

“No. Tommy, I do not want to see her for at least a week.” I demanded, using my diva tone. It was a tone of voice I perfected early on in my career; it’s why people also called me “Mega Bitch”. With all my phobias and need to be in control of myself, especially my career decisions, it just seemed easier for me if people wanted to avoid me. When people think you’re made of honey, they want to stick on, but if you’re made of vinegar, they stay far away never to mingle. Being Mega Bitch helped me to maintain space and control; though I never treated one person with disrespect, I was cold and calculating. My first few years my foster mother “managed me” while I was still a teenager. Then came along Taylor who brought Matt. Matty had never managed or represented a model before, though when I mentioned how I was without one, he jumped right on and put or rather kept me on a path to success.

“Seriously Annie O. Unless you’re ready to hide his cold, dead body and come see how a real man operates, take this major pain in my ass outta here. You’re doing us all a favor. One I’ll be sure to pay back later.” Noah nodded his head at her suggestively which was received by a sharp-tongued devil named Tommy who was having none of their on-going flirting.

Apparently they had been doing it for years just to irk him. Needless to say, it worked then and it works now.

“I’ll deal with you later.” She looked back to me and asked, “Matt can come stay with you?”

“I’ll be fine with Noah.” I answered her, not hesitating to answer.

All of their eyes opened marginally, staring at me.

“Go.” I point to the door.

She leaps over to me, jumping on the bed and wraps her arms around me.

“I love you like chocolate, James.” She says, same as always when she’s over the moon with me.

“I love you like french-toast, Tay.” I answer her, kissing her cheek and squeezing back.

She’s my best friend; as she says, she’s my sister from another mister…and misses.

Tommy comes over and grabs Taylor gently, throwing her over his shoulder like she’s a bag of air. “Call if you need anything. He might be my brother, but I’ll kill him if he does anything to make you uncomfortable or hurts you.” The look they exchanged conveys the message directly to Noah and he nods.

“Thanks, Tommy. Have fun.”

“Oh, I will.” He wiggles his brows at me comically and leaves.

“Is it just me or does Tay spend more time over his shoulder than she does with her feet on the ground?”

“I think you’re right, but it is sweet how much he loves her. A woman would do anything for a man that devoted and perfect.” A man who wouldn’t beat her senseless and pimp her out. I know I’d do anything for one of those men.

“You should have seen them when we were all younger. We all knew they were made for each other, despite Taylor’s vehement arguing. Even then, she was always hitching a ride on his back. They were ‘cute’ as women like to call it, at every age and stage of their relationship. We joked he was afraid to upset her but truthfully, they’ve always been on the same wavelength so what one thought, the other felt or agreed with. They never fought and the only time they were separated was when Tay left. Even slept together growing up.”