Page 71 of The King Contract
Noah sits up. “I’m sorry about your aunt.”
“Thanks.” My heart tugs at the thought of her, and I close my eyes. “I stayed on the island for a bit to save money and moved back to help Ellis. Everything spiralled quickly after that.”
Noah shuffles closer to me and I open my eyes to two whirlpools of earnest green in front of me. “I obviously didn’t know her, but she’d be proud of you. So would your parents.”
“I know,” I agree, tears threatening. “And all three of them would curse me for signing a contract with a guy I went to school with to help improve his reputation. Even if it is to help the store and clear a heap of debt.”
Noah grins. “I reckon I would’ve won them over. Especially, Donna.”
“She was a shrewd woman,” I argue. “She would’ve seen right through you. She saw through every man I ever introduced her to.”
“Maybe you kept bringing the wrong guys home?” Noah suggests.
“And you’d be the right guy?”
Noah holds his arms out, like that question is superfluous. “I might have a bad image right now, but I swear I’m a good boyfriend.”
“Would Sofia back that up?”
Noah hesitates. “I hope so.”
I hold his gaze. “What happened with Sofia?”
“We drifted.” Noah’s lips twist, as though he’s wondering how to explain. “It was great in the beginning, but we had crazy schedules, and it was hard to make time for each other. In the last six months we were together, I spent more and more time going to exclusive events in LA, instead of spending time with her or my family. When we split at the start of this year, we were living separate lives. We lashed out at each other at the end, but I can hand-on-heart say I didn’t mean any of it. Sofia’s a good person.”
Even though we’re talking about a woman he undoubtedly loved for a long time, I don’t feel any animosity towards her. I like how he talks about her respectfully and that he’s owning his mistakes.
“I like to think she’d say I was a good boyfriend for the most part,” he adds. “At the very least, she’d say I’m an excellent lover.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, because that’s the most important thing.”
Noah leans back to rest his head on a pillow, his hands behind his head. I follow the contorting of muscles in his arms. “Would you say you’re an excellent lover?”
My entire body heats, and I do my best to school my expression. “I said I wouldn’t discuss my sex life with you.”
Noah’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline, his mouth twisted in a smirk. “We’re way past pleasantries. Our whole group discussed our sex lives last night. We’re talking about it.”
I groan. “Noah.”
“At least tell me you were getting some before we signed this contract.”
“Noah.”
He laughs. “Oh, come on. We’re friends and friends share details.”
I glare at him. “Really? So, should we talk about how oftenyou’regetting some?”
“I obviously haven’t since we started this,” he replies with a shrug. “But before that, I had my regulars. Didn’t you?”
I stare down at my hands. “No.” Noah is silent, so I grab a pillow and throw it at his head. “Stop judging me.”
He snorts as he catches it. “I’m not judging! I’m surprised. Surely, the best part of not being down for a relationship is you can get the perks from people who feel the same as you do. Like orgasms.”
I might be loosening up talking about sex with Noah, but the burning in my cheeks says otherwise. “Can wenottalk about this?”
“No way.” Noah sits up, practically bouncing on his knees. “We’re talking about this. When did you last have sex?”
I grunt with disapproval, crossing my arms across my chest. “Six months ago.”
