“That ass**le’s friend sucker punched you,” Abel muttered. “I was right behind you and I didn’t even see it coming.”

“I saw it,” Veronica added. Her throat ached as she felt a warm tear run down her cheek. “But not soon enough.”

Abel touched her shoulder gently. “The guy knew what he was doing, Roni. He wasn’t about to give anyone a chance to warn Noah. Fucking coward.”

Noah reached his hand out for Veronica and she held it. “Do you wanna go to the hospital?”

He shook his head and squinted. “Nah, I’m good. I just hope these aspirins kick in soon.” He tried to sit up but he immediately looked woozy.

“Don’t get up, dude.” Gio said. “You need to just rest.” He turned to Veronica. “We can wrap it up if you want, Roni. The night’s pretty much shot anyway.”

“No.” Roni shook her head. She tried to pull her hand away but Noah held it. “You guys can stay.” She turned to Noah who was staring at her. “But I think Noah’s had it.”

“Yeah, you’re done for the night. I wouldn’t even try to get up unless you have to.” Abel said. “Don’t worry man. That ass**le is in a lot more pain than you are right now. I made sure of that.”

Abel wasn’t kidding; the last look Veronica got of the guy, she couldn’t even make out his facial features he was so bloody. And his coward friends had left him to fend for himself when they saw what they were up against.

Noah thanked them and one by one his friends left the room. Veronica began to rise from where she sat on the edge of the bed but Noah tugged at her hand. “Stay with me… please?”

She smiled touching his face gently. The lump on his head was still very warm but she’d checked his temperature already and knew he wasn’t running a fever. “I was just gonna close the door. I’m not going anywhere.”

Noah let got of her hand and she stood up to close the door.

“Will you turn the light off, too? It hurts my eyes. The lamp would be better.”

Veronica turned the small lamp first before turning the light switch off. She came back and sat next to him. He scooted over and patted the mattress next to him. Her heart had sped up from the moment he’d asked her to stay. This made it beat a little wilder. She was only comforting him. The blow he took was horrendous and she could only imagine the pain he must be in so she lay down next to him resting her head on his pillow facing him. “I was so worried,” she whispered.

He reached over and touched her hair, twirling a ringlet of hair around his finger and smiled but said nothing.

“Are you still going to be able to fight in two weeks?”

He nodded staring at her but not like he’d done in the past. There was no lust in his eyes, no yearning like she’d seen earlier in the kitchen. What she saw in his eyes now was pure honesty. Whatever he’d hidden in those eyes all this time was no longer hiding. It was as if he’d suddenly made up his mind and he was putting it out there. Putting out what she’d suspected for weeks. He’d fallen for her. “I know I said it earlier but I have to say it again. You’re beautiful, Roni.”

Just like earlier, something deep inside her warned that she should stop this. Stop him before he said something that would forever put them in a different place than they were now and there’d be no turning back. But just like earlier she was helpless to do so. She felt lost in his eyes but it felt so good she didn’t want to stop him.

Instead of stopping him, she leaned over and kissed the lump on the side of his face. She felt him inhale deeply as her hair brushed against his face, then his hand was on her face and she turned her face just enough so that their lips were less than an inch apart.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as his eyes dropped down to her lips and he kissed them softly.

Her head screamed that this was a mistake as he kissed her again only longer and deeper, but her heart argued otherwise.

She rested her hand on his hard shoulder and squeezed a little as she allowed herself to do what she’d been dreaming of doing since day one and sucked his bottom lip. He let out a soft groan reminding her she should slow this down. She laid her head back on the pillow as he lifted himself onto his elbow and stopped to gaze in her eyes. “I’m f**king crazy about you, Roni.”

Stop him!

Based simply on the way he kissed her with such unabashed emotion, she knew where this might be going and if it did, it would ruin everything. Deciding selfishly the best way to get him to stop talking was to kiss him again she brought her hand around the back of his neck and he dove in. His tongue was magical. It was almost funny now how she actually thought his age would make him less experienced than some of the older men she’d been with. But no man’s kisses had ever made her feel quite like this.

He didn’t try for anything else and she was glad about this because one touch in the right place would let Noah know just how badly her body wanted him. She was hot and damp in places she’d only been lately when she thought of him.

His mouth moved from hers and his lips traced her chin kissing it all the way down to the soft spot just under her chin and down to her neck. He sucked softly at first and then a little harder as his breathing became accelerated. She knew it was probably hard enough to leave a mark but she didn’t care it felt so damn good—too good.

“Noah,” her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears and she knew there was no way he could miss the longing in her words.