Sinclair on fire as Mayhem win!
Noah scanned the article. It was filled with game notes, all focused on Alec and his play. Her lips curled up as she continued to read, and pride swelled through her body. This was her man. They were writing about her man.
Well, not technically.
Not in reality.
They had yet to talk about the sex they were having that was definitely not a requirement for this fake relationship bullshit. They had yet to talk about the way they shared a bed or the way they looked at each other or touched each other. Hell, even the way Alec said her name was better than anyone else saying it.
And Noah didn’t want to say anything. She didn’t want to ruin it because once it was labeled, then what? Then he was dragged into her drama. He was responsible for her. And Noah didn’t want that. As much as she wanted Alec, as much as she wanted everything to be real and to be known that it was real, she couldn’t force it. She couldn’t bring him into her world because she would not put him in a position where his career was jeopardized.
Noah was crazy about Alec, but she knew Aaron. Alec had hit Aaron. What if he had broken a finger? What if Aaron retaliated? He had a friend who was a sports journalist. What if Pat Zummo wrote nothing but awful things about Alec that would subsequently ruin Alec’s career, turn the public against him, force Seraphina Hanson to fire him?
“Good luck,” she said, offering him a small smile.
Disappointment flashed in his green eyes, but she blinked, and then it was gone. For a moment, Noah wasn’t even sure what she saw had actually occurred.
“Thanks.” He nodded his head and headed for the door to the bedroom. When he reached it, he bent to pick up his hockey bag, and turned one more time so he could look at her again. “You know, if you need me, for any reason, for anything, you can call me, and I’ll be there, right?”
Noah swallowed. She did know that. Alec didn’t even have to tell her that, and she knew he would be there for her with every fiber of her being. And yet, even knowing this, she refused to ask him to stay. She wouldn’t tell him that she was afraid of him leaving, not because she didn’t trust him or because she was going to miss him – which she would – but because she worried that Aaron would get to her once he was gone. This road trip wasn’t about her. It was about him and his team, and the last thing she wanted to do was make it about her.
Because she knew Alec would stay if she asked. Because she knew Alec worried about her, Alec cared about her. And she refused to be that girl.
“Wait,” she called. She threw her legs off the bed and strode over to him. He waited, a curious frown on his face.
Noah had no idea what she was even doing. She and Alec were supposed to be pretending to be together. They weren’t actually together. Not in the scope of reality. And yet, Noah couldn’t help but want to be together. Maybe she was projecting. Maybe she saw Alec as some white knight, ready to save her from her pathetic little life. Maybe what she felt for him wasn’t real.
But God, did it feel real. She never felt like this with Aaron, not even in the beginning. She couldn’t keep her eyes off of him, and whenever she looked at Alec, pride filled her chest almost painfully. She loved him. She was crazy about him. She wanted him all to herself.
Even so, she knew that she brought so much baggage with her, it wouldn’t be realistic to expect him to want her in the same way she wanted him. Alec liked having sex with her because Alec liked having sex, period. She wasn’t special, just someone doing him a favor, helping out his career, and engaging in sex. That was it. Feelings weren’t involved.
When she finally reached him, she stood on her toes, placing her hands on his chest, and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Just because she knew this wasn’t real, just because she knew there was no way in hell Alec would ever want to be with her, didn’t mean she had to stop herself from showing him how she felt. She didn’t expect him to return the sentiment. But she wasn’t going to deny what she wanted any longer. She had spent the last three years doing that with Aaron. Being away from him, realizing she could have a life that didn’t include him was liberating, and she wasn’t going to waste it being afraid of her own desires. Maybe she would tell Alec how she felt, but not right now. He had his own stuff he needed to worry about. They could always talk when he got back.
Alec returned the kiss, cupping the back of her head with his hand and placing a possessive hand on her hip. He tilted her head to the side so he could slide his tongue in her mouth and go deeper. Noah had no intention of turning the gentle kiss into something more, but she also wasn’t going to stop Alec from doing so. It felt so good to feel him kiss her in such a way. It gave her goose bumps and warmed her insides all at the same time.
When he pulled away, he unexpectedly placed a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes, leaning into it. She hadn’t expected Alec to be so tender. She hadn’t expected a lot from Alec. But she was glad to see this side of him. She was glad to know a part of him no one else knew.
“Miss me when I’m gone?” he asked, pulling his lips away
