"We're going to play a game of strip Go Fish," either Ian or Damon told us. "You in?"

I choked trying to hold back a laugh. "Strip Go Fish? What? Please explain."

"We used to play strip poker but someone," Ian gave Noah a pointed stare, "always kept winning, the cheat."

"I don't cheat," Noah shot back. "I'm just that good."

"So we play strip Go Fish instead," the twin continued, ignoring Noah. "Since it's a game of chance there's no real way to cheat."

"Damian loves to bet away all their money," Noah explained, using their portmanteau name. I wondered if the twins ever got tired of being treated like one person. From the way they acted on stage, it seemed like they reveled in it. I supposed if everyone else used a single name for both of them, I could use it, too, as weird as it felt.

"How does strip Go Fish even work?" I asked.

"It's like normal Go Fish but every time you have to pick up a card, you lose a piece of clothing. You guys in?"

Noah looked to me. "Your choice."

"I don't think so," I told the both of them. "I'm only wearing boyshorts and a dress with a built in bra. I'd be naked in no time."

"We're fine with that," Damian said with a wicked grin.

"Maybe some other time."

"I'll hold you to that."

As he left to go join the game Noah took my hand in his.

"I could use some sleep. Want to come back to my place?"

"Just to sleep?"

"Yes, just to sleep, for once. It's been a long day."

"In the morning can we work on the song some more?" I asked anxiously.

"Are you still worried about that?"

"Of course I'm worried," I said. "We're still not done. They're going to want to see something soon."

"It's fine. We'll get it done and it'll be awesome."

"How can you be so sure?"

Noah eyed me silently for a few moments, long enough that I began to get nervous. It was in that curious way he'd been doing since the beginning.

"Why are you giving me that look?"

"What look?"

"That look you always give me. Like I'm a puzzle to be solved."

"It's odd," he mused. "You play multiple instruments. You've composed professional pieces. Your professors all recommend you. And yet you're still filled with all these doubts." He tilted his head, giving me a penetrating stare. "It makes me wonder."

"Wonder what?"

"Why you don't have a big ego. Anyone else would have one. Hell, every person Naomi hired to work with me before had one."

I fidgeted with the beer bottle cap, turning it around in my hands. "You make me sound much better than I am."

"You were chosen to work with someone you look up to as a musical genius. You were chosen out of hundreds of applicants. You were considered worthy enough to work with Noah Fucking Hart. How can you doubt yourself after all that?"

"I don't know." I shifted uncomfortably. "I guess I've just got a good head on my shoulders. Come on. Let's go."

I stood from the table and grabbed my purse before he could continue. I didn't need Noah probing me.

I didn't need him picking at old wounds that had barely scabbed over.

Chapter Twenty-Five.

"What's up?"

I turned to face Noah as I lowered the phone from my ear. I'd finally received the phone call I'd been dreading for weeks. My breathing quickened in a near panic.

"Naomi called," I said numbly.

"Why do you sound so..." Noah's brow furrowed. "What's wrong? You look upset."

"She wants to hear our song."

"Did you tell her we're not done?"

"I tried. She said we've been working on it long enough." I buried my hands in my face. "I'm going to get fired."

"No you won't."

"We've been working on this new song for weeks, Noah! And we still don't even have a finished draft, let alone something ready to show other people."

"We'll need to work harder."

"Harder how?" I exploded. "I know I told you we need to put the real you into the song, but I don't think I know how. I thought I could do it, but I can't."

"Yes you can. You were the one at the beginning who encouraged me. Now I'm going to encourage you. You're talented, Jen. I know we can do it."

"I'm not a genius. I'm not a prodigy. I struggle with every note, with every bar." Tears sprang to my eyes. "None of this comes easy to me. I have to work so hard."

"Good."

I sniffled. "Good?"

Noah's eyes burned into me. Not like they usually did when he was getting ready to pounce on me. They burned in a way I'd only ever seen on stage, when he was lost in the music. Dark and fiery, scorching me from the inside out.

"Writing music, real music that comes from within, should feel like you're slicing open your veins. It should feel like you're letting every last drop soak into the page."

He cupped my cheeks with his hands. It wasn't a gentle touch. He forced my head up with a jerk, making me look him in the eyes.

"You work until you're exhausted. You work until you're near collapse. You work until you have nothing left to give."

Those hands stroked down my cheeks, down my neck, finger tapping at the pulse pointed on my throat.

"You should put everything into your music."

One hand slid down my chest, pressing against the swell of my breasts. My breath caught in my throat.

"Your heart."

His hand trailed lower, tracing a line from my belly button to the apex of my thighs. My inner muscles clenched and throbbed at the touch.

"Your body."

He tipped my face up with his other hand and bent to touch his lips to mine, whispering against them.

"Your soul."

He captured my mouth in a bruising kiss, firm, fervent, and full of passion. Our lips locked together, his tongue darting into my mouth. I arched my back, moaning into the kiss, allowing him to deepen it. With one touch, one kiss, he made me forget all about my worries. The only thing that mattered was the feeling of his skin beneath my fingers, his mouth on mine.

His cock stirred against my hip. I clutched at his t-shirt, pulling him closer to me. I wanted him to take me then and there. Wanted him to fuck me until I was a sobbing mess. I wanted him to erase every bad thought and replace it only with pleasure.

Noah broke our kiss. I started to protest when he picked me up, hauling me over his shoulder, my ass in the air.

"You doing the caveman routine?" I asked breathlessly.

He slapped my ass. I yelped, then moaned as his warm hand stroked me, soothing the ache. We reached the bedroom and he threw me on the bed.

He took a moment to pull off his shirt and climbed on the bed, looming over me. The inked skin of his chest and torso made my fingers twitch.

"What do these mean?" I asked softly.

"Hm?"

I met his eyes. "Your tattoos. They look like random patterns and shapes to me. They must mean something to you."

He looked pained for a brief second, before his face softened. "They're Lily's designs."

"Your sister?"

"She's an artist. She designed all my tattoos."

"They're lovely."

I ran my fingertips along his chest, tracing the peaks and valleys of his abs. The soft, smooth skin combined with the hard, taut muscles sent heat flooding throughout my body.

Noah let me explore his skin, kissing me softly. Long before I had my fill he shifted down the bed until his head was at my feet. He started by pressing kisses to my ankle, sliding his lips along my leg, up my inner thigh, placing sucking kisses on the hollow of my hips. Heat pooled in my belly.

He tossed my dress over my head and sent my bra flying after it. He pressed soft kisses on my breasts before taking a nipple into his mouth. I moaned as he sucked and licked one, then switched to the other.

"So goddamn beautiful," he murmured against my skin. The cool air of his breath combined with the loving words, made me shiver. He ran his hands up and down my sides, my thighs, my legs, caressing and stroking. He shifted again, kissing another trail back down my body until his head was between my legs.

My heartbeat sped up when his fingers traced the elastic of my panties. He slid them off with one smooth motion, leaving me bare. He breathed hot air over me. My pussy clenched in anticipation.

"You want me to beg?" I asked breathlessly.

"No. Not this time. I already know how much you want me. Now I'm going to show you how much I want you."

I nearly jumped at the first touch. He gave me a long, heated lick between my folds, up to my clit. He sucked for a brief moment, making me whine and moan, then licked back down again.

I tugged on his hair, urging him on. He took his time, flicking his tongue here, licking in slow circles there. My legs began shuddering. My breath hitched. God but he was good at this. I was getting close.

He sensed it and intensified his work. His warm mouth built me up. His lithe tongue drove me over the edge. My pussy pulsed and throbbed as I came. He continued licking me through it, humming with pleasure as I fluttered around his tongue.

I was still shivering with aftershocks of pleasure when I heard him undo his belt buckle. I lifted my head up to watch him unzip his pants and remove them with haste. He started to roll on protection.

"Wait."

He paused, condom still in hand, and gave me a questioning look.

"I'm on birth control," I said, flushing and hoping he understood what I meant.

His eyes burned brighter. "Do you mean-?"

I nodded. "Are you...?"

"I'm clean. Just got tested."

"I want to feel you," I said. "I want you to feel you come inside me. I want you to fill me properly."

Noah closed his eyes for a brief moment, looking almost pained, as his cock twitched in his hand.

"You keep saying shit like that and I'm going to fucking come right now."

"Then you better get inside me," I said with a coy look.