Kicked The Place Down

18: Kicked The Place Down

Noah carried Lara back to his bed. He placed her carefully on the mattress, then stared at her face as she slept. It was already late. She tired herself to sleep from all the crying she did when they talked.

He didn't want to disturb and wake her up, so he covered her body with a blanket before walking out of the bedroom to get himself another glass of alcohol to drink.

He needed it to sleep. He's taking the couch tonight 'coz the woman making him lose control was sleeping on his bed, alone and vulnerable, so he will not lie with her. He'd be happy to, but it'll be dangerous if he stayed. He wouldn't be able to stop. If he loses control of himself, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

He knew there will be a time for that, but tonight wasn't one of them.

Noah looked outside his window and redirected his attention into his drink. He didn't expect Lara to show up in his penthouse hours after they had the accident in the elevator.

He already guessed Stefani was the one who gave her the address to his home; no one knows where he lives except for Stefani, of course. And her motives for giving his important information to his mate were because she wanted them to sort things out.

On his way home, Noah thought he had enough time to prepare for the upcoming confrontation in the office the next morning. Instead, she was the one to come to him and tried to rescue him the moment he was suffering from the heat- which was, in fact, a bad time for her to appear. He was really going to pounce on her if she didn't listen to his advice.

Suddenly, a loud ringing coming from his phone disturbed his thoughts. He looked at the caller ID and Stefani's name flashed on the screen.

Noah took it and answered; "She's not hurt if that's what you want to ask..." he said, cutting her off before she hurls sermons at him. He already knew why she called.

"Oh," Stefani was waiting for Lara's distress call but nothing came in, so she called. Relief flooded her when she heard her luna was safe. "That's good. I would have kicked the place down if you hurt her. Anyway, is everything okay?"

Noah looked at his reflection in the glass window illuminated by the city lights outside. "For now, yes. She knows were mates."

"That's great! When are you going to introduce us formally?"

"Tomorrow... Also, I almost marked her."

There silence on the other line. "What?"

"I almost marked her, Stef."

Noah can already see her face crumbled into a single frown. "You didn't force her, did you?"

"I didn't force her to do anything. I could control myself before things got worse."

"That's good. That's good..." Silence. Noah can hear her thinking. "So, you're in heat."

"Yes."

"You can't hold it in for 9 more days. It's going to take a toll on you."

Noah already knew that. And he still would not change his decision. "That's better than forcing her to do something she doesn't want."

"... If she was a werewolf, this would've been easier on you."

Noah chuckled. "Life's difficult that way, Stef."

"Damn right..."

"Just think of it as a challenge instead. What's important is that she's close."

"Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, I called 'coz I got worried. Lara promised to call me and she forgot. Clearly, she got occupied with other things so I'm happy you guys got to sort things out."

"Thank you."

"Awe. You're welcome, your doucheness. Don't mess this up."

Noah chuckled. "I know."

"See you both tomorrow then."

***

The next morning...

Lara woke up with the smell of bacon and eggs hitting her nostrils. She rubbed her eyes and groaned, looking around the unfamiliar yet masculine room. She already knew where she was so she didn't panic. Also, the memory from last was very clear inside her mind. Someone was cooking in the kitchen since she can still smell the bacon and the eggs from where she stood.

Lara rose from the bed and stretched her arms and legs before walking out. There, she saw a topless back cooking in the kitchen. It was a muscular back, wide shoulders and narrow hips; skin sun-kissed bronze and she can smell the aroma of soap oozing out of him. He obviously came out of the showers. Yum! Lara bit the inside of her lips as she took a seat on one stool from the kitchen counter.

"You hungry?" Noah asked without looking at her and she smiled.

"Very."

He felt her presence the moment she entered the kitchen, so he let her watch him as he prepared breakfast for them both. He placed the newly cooked bacon and eggs on an empty plate, then took some wheat loaves from the side.

"Coffee or milk?" he then asked, making himself a cup of black coffee.

"Uh, how about juice?"

He grinned. "Yeah, I have that."

Lara smiled as she watch him move around the kitchen with ease. It was clear he was used to taking care of his own meals in the morning.

"Orange?"

"Orange is good."

He gave her a look, "I can sense a but there somewhere..."

Lara chuckled, "Yeah, pineapple's my favourite though..."

"Ah, I see." he smiled then took out a pitcher of orange juice from the fridge, "I'll tell my housekeeper to buy me a box of that then." he winked then poured her a glass before sliding it to her side.

Lara giggled. Noah was being awfully playful this morning. It was cute. "Thank you." she accepted the glass and took a sip before asking; "... You have a housekeeper?"

Noah made himself a sandwich while nodding, "It's Stefani. She made it her duty to buy me groceries. I didn't like other people coming here, so I let her be." He placed the sandwich on a plate and slid it beside her juice.

Lara smirked, "And since I'm replacing her, is being your housekeeper a part of my job description as well?" she joked.

Noah paused, giving it a thought.

Lara's eyes widened. "I was joking!"

And he laughed at the semi-panic in her voice. "I was really considering that. Eat." He gestured for the sandwich he made her and she ate it, hiding a smiled on her face.

The rest of the breakfast was good. Lara wanted to go home since she had no change of clothes there, but Noah told her she can take a shower first and he'll take care of the rest. When she finished taking a shower, she saw a paper bag by the bed. She went to it and saw a note there.

"Wear this." she read.

Wondering what was inside, Lara gasped when she took out a lovely, V-Neck Layered White Two-piece. She took the note again and noticed the familiar handwriting.

"Miss Stefani..."

No wonder Noah said he'll take care of it.