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We sat there for a long while, his arms around me, not saying anything. It was getting late.

"Noah... do you think I could stay here for tonight?" I asked softly and the man frowned.

"Of course." He said and I glanced up at him. His mahogany eyes locked with mine and I couldn't look away.

"Amelia I--" Noah began but his voice trailed off and he just continued to look at me. His eyes glanced at my lips and he met my eyes again. He opened his mouth to say something again, but faltered once more.

"I wish you were my mate." He sighed before leaning in and the surprise of his words left me frozen.

He placed a gentle kiss to my mouth and my eyes drooped.

"Noah." I gasped as he kissed my neck and my eyes closed while I hummed at the feel of his lips.

"I want you tonight. All of you. I'll show that asshole what it feels like to lose what should be yours to someone else." Noah said and I looked at him in shock as he pulled away to give me a little more space.

His eyes held fiery determination and passion. They searched mine for an answer.

"Noah..." I couldn't think of anything to say.

"Let me love you tonight." He said softly and his lips brushed mine before he kissed me.

I groaned as Noah pushed me down against the couch and climbed on top of me. His hands slid against my sides and I moaned as he ground his body against mine.

"Up you go." He said and picked me up before carrying me into his room.

"Noa--" I gasped. Why can I only think to say his name?

"Shh." He cut me off and laid me on his bed before leaning in for a deep, long kiss. My heart pounded as he slipped a hand between my thighs and effortlessly parted my legs. I groaned as he fit himself in and and ground his hips against mine again.

He suddenly stopped and with a low growl pushed himself off of me.

"Sorry, wolf took over." He said with a small grin.

"I know you don't want to have sex, we won't, but I'll make sure he sees my point. Take off your shirt." Noah growled and after a pause I wriggled out of my top. He looked at me with dark eyes and his fingers trailed my bra before pulling it off. His gaze traveled my exposed upper half and a deep growl rumbled from his chest before he lurched forward and began kissing my skin.

My toes curled as his tongue flicked against my breasts before sliding across my collarbone. I bit the inside of my cheek as he sucked and nipped on my skin.

"Oh my..." I moaned as he kissed and sucked on my chest and stomach. My fingers ran through his hair and Noah groaned in approval. I let out a small cry as he bit down into my skin multiple times. Suddenly he stopped and I let out a whine of protest.

"Shh I'm trying to calm him down." Noah said softly. Calm who? Oh, his wolf.

"Okay." I sighed.

"I'm good." He finally sighed and kissed my lips softly.

"Leave him." Noah whispered in my ear.

"Noah please." I said as he grabbed my hand.

"I've been this way for a year now Amelia. I've done my research and I know that mates don't always work out. Fate may put them together but fate doesn't have to make them stay. Amelia stay with me, I'll show you what a real man, mate or not, can be." Noah said and squeezed my hand softly as he locked our fingers.

"Noah somewhere your mate is out there." I sighed. I couldn't do it. I'd be ruining someone else's chance.

"I don't want her. She doesn't want me. I've met her already and let me tell you this... Nothing will get in the way of my feelings for you. Amelia I lo-" Noah said a gurgle in his voice of emotion.

"No, don't say that." I said and suddenly I was thinking about Axel. Love had killed him. His love... for me.

I wrenched my arm from Noah's grasp and began to hurry away, but he caught me and hugged me to him. My heart pounded and my face grew hot.

"Why?" He asked softly and turned me to face him. His dark eyes met mine.

"I love you." He said and I looked at the ground.

"Tell me." Noah said and I glanced up at him confused.

"Tell you what?" I breathed and he brushed some hair from my eyes.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't feel something for me. Tell me that you're going to leave me and stay with Kaden. Tell me you're so in love with him that you won't even give us a try." Noah said and his eyes bore into mine.

I opened my mouth to say it but all that came out was a choking sound. After a moment Noah's eyes brightened. A gleam of hope bathed his irises.

"You can't say it." He sighed.

His hands slipped down my sides and I felt heat creep up my neck and my stomach churned and flipped. I shook my head as he reeled my body in closer to his and his bodily warmth radiated against my skin.

"Noah... No." I said and the man let out a tiny groan and laid his head against my shoulder which caused an odd calm to run through me partnered with an amazing thrill.

"But I love you." Noah said and his warm breath tickled my neck and made a smile tug at my lips. Without thinking I leaned more into him.

"It seems like too many people have loved me." I said aloud and he hugged me against him.

"What do you mean?" He asked sounding almost like a wondrous child.

"You, Kaden... Axel... It just seems like too much." I said softly.

Noah sighed and pulled me toward the edge of the bed before setting me down beside him. He laid his head back on my shoulder and I sighed. His arm wrapped loosely around my waist. I held in a gasp as his hand stroked through my hair and he placed a soft kiss to my skin.

"Axel's dead. Kaden's... Kaden. And I love you; that's not too much." Noah grunted and pulled me closer. I didn't object as he pulled my face to his and gently kissed my cheek. My heart fluttered as he backed off a bit and his alluring brown eyes locked with mine. I saw him smile shyly and before I could make myself hesitate with my overthinking I was gripping his shoulders and hauling myself into his lap. My legs went over his waist as I effectively straddled him.

"You're pushing it Lia." Noah said in a straining voice and I leaned closer. Noah didn't hesitate in swooping forward and pressing his lips to mine.

"Noah." I moaned running my fingers through his hair. He kissed my neck, his teeth grazing my skin, before moving hungrily back to my lips and giving me a bone-jolting kiss full of fervor.

"Mine." He sighed hugging me to him and deepening the kiss. Soon we were laying on his bed and my head spun as he trailed his kisses down my body.

"Noah... Oh Goddess." I moaned as he kissed below my belly button. The man chuckled heartily before coming back up to kiss my neck.

"You'll be mine soon enough." He added with a smirk and pulled me close to him as he settled beside me. His eyes watched me as he got up and grabbed a shirt of his before handing it to me and laying back down.

"I've got my own shirt, ya know?" I said glancing to where it had fallen on the floor. Noah scoffed and waved his hand.

It had been one of Kaden's shirts actually...

"Mine's better." Noah said and I glanced back to him. A smirk was on his face, but I was unsure if he knew the measure of his words. Did he know the shirt was Kaden's? Was he trying to fold in some sort of double meaning? The sparkle in his eyes pointed to yes.

"Okay." I said and slipped it on. Instantly I was enveloped by Noah's scent and I tilted my head as he stared at me.

"What?" I asked softly and he shrugged before motioning me to lay down beside him.

I snuggled up next to him and he pulled the covers over us then tugged my body against his. I felt my eyes drooping as he kissed my forehead tenderly.

"Goodnight." He whispered tiredly and I hummed in content as I drifted to a sound sleep.