Page 11 of Noah (Pecan Pines #4)

Chapter 11

Jackson

I collapsed onto the bed in my assigned room, mentally drained.

The day had been a whirlwind of back-to-back meetings with my father, each one more taxing than the last.

In the end, he hadn’t been pleased about the incident in the dining hall with Adrian’s wolves, but surprisingly, he hadn’t chewed Beck and me out.

His disappointment had been clear, though, and the weight of his unspoken expectations hung heavily over me.

After a quick shower, I flopped back onto the bed, letting the day’s events wash over me. My thoughts drifted to Noah.

I had promised to attend another one of his band’s performances, but in the end, I never made it.

Responsibilities had tethered me, dragging me away from something I knew was important to him—and to me.

When I crossed paths with Noah earlier today, I brought it up, hoping to make amends. He had shrugged it off, brushing aside my apology with a polite smile.

But I could see right through him.

The hurt lingered just beneath the surface, his expression betraying more than he probably realized.

That polite smile hadn’t masked the disappointment in his eyes, and the guilt gnawed at me.

I hated myself for it. Balancing my duties as part of the pack and my personal desires had never felt more like a cruel joke.

My wolf stirred restlessly, agitated by the sense of failure.

He urged me to fix it, to make things right with Noah.

Determination solidified within me. I wasn’t going to let him down again. No matter what it took, I’d make sure Noah knew how much he mattered.

Instead of wasting the night away in this room, I dressed and headed out.

The bar was alive with energy as I stepped inside. Griffin’s place was packed, and I scanned the room until my eyes landed on the small stage.

My heart thudded in my chest as I spotted Noah, his guitar slung over his shoulder, his head bent as he adjusted the mic.

He looked confident, handsome and completely in his element.

The first chords of the song filled the room, and I was immediately mesmerized. His voice, smooth and rich, carried over the crowd, drawing them in.

But I barely noticed anyone else. My gaze was locked on him, every note, every strum of his guitar pulling me deeper under his spell.

My wolf stirred again, emotions rushing to the surface—admiration, longing, and a fierce protectiveness.

The song ended, the final note hanging in the air before the crowd erupted into applause. The sound of cheering filled the room, but I couldn’t bring myself to clap.

My hands remained motionless at my sides. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings I couldn’t fully comprehend.

As the show wound down, I lingered near the bar, nursing a drink and stealing glances at Noah.

His energy on stage had been captivating, his presence magnetic, drawing everyone in, including me.

I wanted to approach him, to say something—anything—that would bridge the gap between us.

But the words wouldn’t come, and the longer I waited, the more hesitant I became.

Before I could summon the courage to speak, Griffin left the bar and approached me, his expression unreadable.

He looked calm, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that made me stand a little straighter.

Without a word, he gestured for me to follow him to a quieter corner of the room, away from the noise and the lingering crowd.

“I see the way you look at him, Jackson,” Griffin said.

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

“Just remember, Noah’s important to me, to my entire pack and if something happened to him…” Griffin trailed off.

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Griffin was acting like any big brother should. He silently assessed me and I wondered what he saw.

I decided to be honest with him.

“I care about him,” I said. “I’d never hurt him, not in a million years.”

Griffin’s eyes softened, just a fraction, but the caution remained. He was being protective and I couldn’t fault him for that.

“Just make sure of that,” he replied. “He doesn’t need any more heartache.”

The tension between us crackled like a live wire, but I respected Griffin too much to dismiss his concerns. He was right to be cautious.

Up until this summit, I haven’t seen or spoken to Noah since we were kids. Griffin had every right to be worried I didn’t have the best intentions towards Noah.

“I won’t,” I promised. “I swear, Griffin, I won’t hurt him.”

Griffin studied me for a moment longer before nodding.

“Good,” he said simply. “Because if you do, you’ll have me to answer to.”

With that, Griffin turned and walked away, leaving me standing there feeling relieved.

His warning was clear, but Noah mattered to me more than I had allowed myself to admit.

Outside the bar, the cool night air was a welcome relief from the stifling tension inside. I found Noah leaning against a lamppost, his guitar case at his feet.

His face lit up when he saw me, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

“You made it,” he said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“I wouldn’t miss it again,” I replied, stepping closer. “You were incredible.”

Noah’s smile was shy, but it didn’t hide the pleasure in his eyes.

“Thanks. It felt good tonight,” he said.

We fell into an easy conversation. The laughter came naturally, and for a while, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

The chemistry between us crackled, each shared glance and accidental touch sending sparks through me.

I could see it in Noah’s eyes too—the connection, the mutual pull we couldn’t deny.

As the night stretched on, the idea struck me, and before I could overthink it, I voiced it. “How about we grab a bite? There’s a diner a few blocks from here.”

Noah hesitated only for a moment before nodding. “Sure. Why not?”

We walked through Pecan Pines’ quiet street. The diner was nearly empty, the perfect setting for an impromptu date. We slid into a booth and continued our talk.

I loved listening to him. There was an intimacy in the simplicity of our conversation, a closeness that neither of us had expected but both craved.

As we left the diner, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Noah. He smiled at me and my heart gave a little hopeless flutter.

I offered to walk him to his car, an excuse to extend our time together just a little longer.

He didn’t hesitate to say yes, and we made our way to his car parked a few blocks away.

The drive was quiet, filled with a comfortable silence that spoke louder than words.

Every so often, I stole a glance at him, the way his fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road but softened by something unspoken.

My wolf stirred restlessly, sensing the tension that simmered just beneath the surface. I was drawn to him, more than I had ever been to anyone before.

When we pulled up in front of his apartment building, I stepped out, offering to walk him to his door.

He nodded, a shy smile tugging at his lips as we climbed the steps together.

The air between us was charged, the unspoken words hanging heavy as we reached his front door.

Noah turned to face me, his keys jingling softly in his hand.

“Thanks for walking me up,” he said, his voice soft, almost hesitant.

“Of course,” I replied, my voice lower than usual.

My heart was pounding, each beat echoing in my ears. I couldn’t let the moment slip away. Leaning in, I brushed my lips against his, testing the waters.

The kiss was soft, tentative at first, but when he didn’t pull away, I deepened it, my hands finding their way to his waist, pulling him closer.

His breath hitched, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

It was just the two of us, lost in a world where nothing else mattered. When we finally pulled apart, his eyes were wide, his cheeks flushed.

“Goodnight, Noah,” I whispered, stepping back reluctantly.

He bit his lip, glancing down at his keys before looking back up at me.

“Do you want to come inside?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, but the invitation was clear.

I was momentarily stunned, my mind racing. But the answer was obvious.

“Yeah,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “I’d like that.”

He unlocked the door, and I followed him inside, the warmth of his apartment enveloping us.

The door clicked shut behind me, and for a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other, the tension thick in the air.

Noah took a step closer, his fingers brushing against my chest, tentative but determined.

I met him halfway, capturing his lips again in a kiss that was hungrier, more urgent. His hands slid up my arms, around my neck, pulling me closer.

I could feel the rapid beat of his heart against my chest, matching my own. I guided him gently toward the couch, our movements fluid, synchronized.

I tangled my fingers into his hair, and trailed kisses down his jaw, to the sensitive spot just beneath his ear.

Noah shivered beneath my touch, his breath coming in soft gasps.

I loved the way he responded to me, and silently marvelled at the way his body fit so perfectly against mine.

Noah pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine.

“Jackson,” he whispered, his voice laced with both desire and vulnerability.

I cupped his face in my hands, brushing a thumb over his cheek.

“Noah,” I said, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. “Tell me if we’re going too fast.”

“No, we’re not. Please continue.”

I slid my hands down his chest, tugging at his shirt. I worked on the buttons of his shirt, sliding it off his shoulders and revealing the smooth, warm skin beneath.

I let my gaze roam over his gorgeous body, taking in every inch. All mine, I thought and my wolf agreed.

A growl slipped from my lips but Noah didn’t seem to mind the sound. Noah returned the favour, peeling my shirt off my body.

We stood there for a moment, drinking each other in, before I leaned down, capturing his lips once more.

Our kisses grew more passionate, more insistent. I lifted him effortlessly, carrying him toward the bedroom.

He wrapped his legs around my waist, his arms tightening around my neck, and I could feel the heat of his body against mine.

The way he clung to me as if afraid to let go.

In his room, I laid him down gently on the bed, hovering over him. His hands explored my back, his touch igniting a fire beneath my skin.

I kissed him deeply, my lips trailing down his neck, his collarbone, the faint taste of salt on my tongue as I explored every inch of him.

His fingers found their way to the waistband of my jeans, fumbling slightly, and I smiled against his skin, helping him along the way.

We undressed each other slowly, savoring every moment, every touch, every whispered word.

It wasn’t just about the physical connection—it was something deeper, something that resonated in my very soul.

The way he looked at me, the way he touched me, it was as if he saw every part of me and accepted it all.

I kissed my way down his body, eliciting soft moans and gasps that sent shivers down my spine.

He arched beneath me, his hands gripping the sheets as I worshipped him, my lips and hands exploring every curve, every hollow.

When I reached Noah’s thickening member, he groaned. I sucked on his tip slowly, before licking the rest of him.

Not wanting him to come too soon, I made my way upwards again, kissing his chest, the tempting curve between his neck and shoulder.

The perfect spot where I’ll eventually place my mating mark. When I finally returned to his lips, he pulled me close, his breath hot against my ear.

“Jackson,” he whispered. “I want this. I want you.”

“I’m yours,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Only yours.”

“Condom and lube is in the first drawer,” Noah said, nodding to the dresser next to the bed.

I got off him and pulled out the items from the drawer. Then I returned to him, straddling him, lifting his legs over my shoulders.

After putting the condom on, I picked up the lube and applied it inside his asshole. Noah moaned, clutching at the sheets above him as I widened him for access.

Deeming him ready, I nudged my member inside him. Noah gasped as I took my time, slowly entering him. Eventually, I was buried deep inside him.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Keep going,” he answered, a little breathless.

I started with slow and steady strokes, picking up speed when he asked me to.

Soon enough, we began moving together, our bodies slicked with sweat. We soon lost ourselves in each other, and the pressure inside me began to build.

My balls drew in tight against my body. At my next push, Noah came, painting my stomach with his need.

It didn’t take me long to come. Several thrusts later, I hit climax. My mind blanked, the room fell away from my line of sight. All that mattered was us.

We took a shower, and later, we finally lay tangled together in Noah’s bed, our breathing slow and steady.

I held him close, pressing a kiss to his temple. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my chest, and I felt a peace I hadn’t known I needed.

“I’m glad you stayed,” Noah whispered, his voice soft, his eyes heavy with sleep.

“Me too,” I replied, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “I’m not going anywhere, Noah.”