"I never really thought about my lyrics helping someone like that." Noah frowned into his beer. He glanced at me. His eyes were soft, almost unfocused. "Do you still feel that way? About me? About my lyrics?"

I thought for a moment.

"The man who wrote those lyrics doesn't always feel like the man I've gotten to know. But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Everyone uses art to express themselves. You put something of yourself in everything you write, even if you don't think you do. I think you're sort of amazing, actually."

He was silent for a moment before snorting. "I write words and I sing them. That's it. I'm not some god."

"I know."

"Do you? Sometimes, the way you look at me..." he trailed off.

"How do I look at you?" I whispered.

He shifted in his seat, leaning close to me. "Like I'm the only person on earth."

"When you sing, it's like you are."

Noah stared at me, his eyes zeroing in on my lips. I wet them unconsciously.

"You're so fucking tempting," he murmured.

He put his hand on my upper thigh, thumb mere inches away from my panties. My heartbeat sped up, heat pooling between my legs.

"We're in the middle of a bar," I protested weakly.

"There's always the back room." He narrowed his eyes at me.

I let out a shaky breath as I seriously contemplated it.

A cheer went up somewhere near the pool table, jotting me out of my haze. I ducked my head, pulling away. "As hot as it was, I don't think I want to do a repeat performance."

"I suppose you're right. I need a bed to fuck you properly." He brought his beer to his smirking lips and took another swig.

"Don't get too drunk," I warned him.

"Why?"

"If you're drunk we can't have sex later. I don't want to take advantage of someone who can't give their consent."

He snorted. "I'm fucking you so I can write songs. Who's taking advantage of whom?"

My heart clenched in my chest. Was that really all we were, after all this time? My face threatened to crumble. I needed a minute alone before Noah noticed.

"I'm going to the restroom."

Blinking back tears, I made my way to the back of the bar.

I should have known there was nothing real between us. I thought Noah had started to open up to me. To let me in. I'd been wrong. It was just sex to him.

I splashed cold water on my face to cool myself. My eyes were rimmed with red from holding back tears. I leaned against the sink for long moment, taking deep breaths in and out.

Okay. So Noah didn't have any real feelings for me. I'd known going into this whole thing that it was only ever going to be sex. Noah Hart didn't do romance. I had to keep reminding myself of that. I couldn't get my hopes up. If it was just sex to him, then I'd have to make sure to remind myself that it was just sex for me as well.

I finally got a grip on myself and made my way back to the bar.

When I got there, I found Noah staring down into his beer. I took a seat next to him gingerly.

"I misspoke earlier," he said, not looking at me.

I continued to breathe in and out slowly. I didn't want to let him know I was upset. "Misspoke about what?"

He stared at me for long moments. He brought a hand to my cheek, brushing my bottom lip with his thumb.

"I don't want you thinking I only have sex with you so I can write music."

My heart swelled, the ache in my chest easing. I gave him a soft smile. "Noah..."

His other handed wandered to the swell of my ass. "I have sex with you because you're hot as hell."

I choked out a snort of disbelief. He removed his hands, turning serious again.

"It's like I said before. You're talented. I-" he paused, looking almost embarrassed. He met my eyes. "I need you."

He said the words so softly I almost didn't catch them. When they finally registered, relief and elation filled my chest.

I knew how hard it was for Noah to rely on people. Even harder for him to admit it out loud. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I'll help you in any way I can."

"Any way?"

I pulled back to find his eyes were dark and heated. My inner muscles pulsed and throbbed.

"You want to get out of here?" I asked.

"Fuck yes."

Chapter Fifteen.

Noah dragged me back to his apartment, paying the taxi cab extra to speed and get us there faster. He immediately brought me to his bedroom and threw me on the bed.

His kisses were heated and fervent, his movements eager as he began stripping me of my clothes. I unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off his shoulders, running my hands over his chest, exploring his tattoos. He shuddered under my hands.

"Fuck. Jen." He kicked off his pants, leaving him naked and hard.

I met his eyes. They were still glassy and bright. He fisted my hair in his hands and pulled me in for another kiss.

"Wait." I put a hand on his chest.

He pulled back. "What?"

"You're drunk."

"And?"

"I don't want to sleep with you if you're inebriated."

He stared into my eyes, uncomprehending. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Yes."

He groaned and rolled over, flopping next to me on the bed.

"You've had a lot to drink," I said. "I told you. I don't want to take advantage of you."

He sighed deeply and ran his hands over his face. "Dammit."

"We should both drink some water," I told him.

"Don't get up." He heaved himself off the bed. He was still hard. "I'll get it."

The moment Noah left the room his phone on the nightstand pinged and flashed. I didn't mean to snoop, but I automatically responded to any text message or phone call with the urge to check it. It was a quick glance but I caught the name flashing with a missed call.

A girl's name.

Lily.

My heart froze in my chest.

I stared at the name for god knows how long, my thoughts racing. Who was Lily? Just a friend?

Noah didn't have any friends.

Someone from work? Why wouldn't they just email? Unless it was an emergency. If it was a real emergency wouldn't one of the guys call him?

I couldn't get ahead of myself. Surely there was an explanation. An explanation that didn't involve Noah sleeping with another girl at the same time he was sleeping with me.

I snapped my head forward as I heard the fridge door close. I tugged the sheets to my chest, sitting in the middle of the bed and trying not to have a meltdown.

He wobbled into the bedroom with two glasses of water. His eyes were still glassy and unfocused.

"Here."

He thrust the water into my hand and climbed back into bed. He paid close attention to the glass in his hand, trying not to spill water all over the sheets.

"Who's Lily?" I blurted out. I immediately chided myself for even asking.

Noah froze in the middle of take a sip. He lowered the glass. "How do you know that name?" His voice was almost slurred from the alcohol he'd consumed.

I nodded to the phone. "I wasn't snooping." I tried to keep my voice from shaking. "You had a missed call and I checked it without thinking."

He leaned over me to scoop up his phone. He glanced at me, eyes still unfocused as he pressed the phone to his ear, listening to the message. It was definitely a girl's voice I heard through the tinny speaker.

With every second Noah's expression changed. The tension between his brows eased, his eyes brightening. A hint of a smile crossed his face. He huffed out a short laugh as he hung up. I'd never seen him so open. Almost cheery.

He kept the phone in his hand and stared at me, a considering look on his face. I pressed my lips together, clenching my fists in the sheets. I wasn't going to ask again.

After several moments he sighed deeply and shifted back to recline against the headboard.

"Lily's my sister," he said.

Relief crashed over me, making me breathless. All the tension in my shoulders left, my hands relaxing their grip on the sheets.

I should have remembered. There were rumors Noah had a little sister. That rumor was old though. I hadn't heard the name Lily spoken in years.

"You thought it was another girl?" The words should have sounded accusatory, but he only sounded curious.

"I didn't want to pry."

"It's okay to want to know if I'm sleeping with other girls."

I debated asking, not turning to look at him. "Are you?" I asked in a small voice.

"No."

I let out a slow breath. I shifted back to recline next to him. "Okay. Neither am I."

"Good to know you aren't sleeping with other girls."

I nudged his arm. "You know what I mean."

There was an odd expression on his face as he looked at the phone in his hand.

"You okay? Is something wrong with your sister?" She had called so late at night. Maybe it had been an emergency.

"Nothing's wrong."

"You looked worried."

Noah was silent for several long moments. I was beginning to think he wasn't going to answer when he finally spoke.