DISCLAIMER: ALL HUSH HUSH CHARACTERS BELONG TO BECCA FITZPATRICK

THIS CHAPTER: NORA GOES HOME, ***LEMON***, A WELCOME HOME PARTY...ENTER TRISTAN MILLER

I know that some of you are frustrated with Nora's oblivious nature since waking up, keep in mind she just 'woke up' she is on heavy doses of pain medication...doesn't make her the most observant or clear thinking person, just keep it in mind. She's getting better though so hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter.. read and review!

CHAPTER 25

WELCOME HOME

"Good morning, Angel." Patch gave me a slow and sexy smile. "I'm going to let the nurse know you're awake so they can get those uncomfortable looking casts off you while I complete your papers. then I can help you get cleaned up, dressed and we can spring this cell. Sound good to you?"

"Sounds perfect." Nora smiled back at Patch whose eyes were dancing with excitement.

Before leaving the room in search of a nurse he placed a kiss on both of Nora's cheeks, eyelids, forehead, nose and the chaste of kisses, like a butterfly's touch to her lips.

"I love you, Angel." Patch whispered with his eyes close, and with that he was gone. God may move in mysterious ways, but Patch had just moved like lightning, he was there and gone in a flash before Nora had time to process what he had just said.

Patch had always let her know he loved her, but to directly say it wasn't his style. Ever. They had a secret language of their own, certain things they would say at certain times that were almost as good as the three little words themselves. Almost. When they were intimate together and he wanted to say it and couldn't, when she wanted to say I love you and couldn't they said 'hi', it wasn't adequate, it wasn't romantic, it wasn't a lot of things, but it was right for them in that moment and both knew what the other couldn't express. That was so unlike Patch, to say he loved her like that, Nora thought maybe it was her pain medication, she was still on a lot of it and things had probably been passing by her unnoticed or without her full understanding. It happens when you've been in a coma and you're all drugged up, but she was almost sure he had said those three little words that held all the power in the world. Then again, maybe not, he was there than gone so fast it was hard to tell. She didn't have time to replay it or decipher it before the nurse was there getting ready to remove her casts and chatting away with her. No sooner had the chatty nurse removed her casts and Patch was back from filling out papers and ready to help Nora with her shower. It was still hard for her to have him see her this way, and now with the casts removed her skin looked a little funny and she had lost some muscle tone under where they had been.

Even with her IV out and casts off Patch was careful and gentle with Nora, helping her in the shower and to clean up. It killed him to see the bruises that were left, mostly faded they were still a painful reminder of how close he had come to losing her, but he fought hard to not let her see his internal struggle. When she was finished he gave her her favorite comfy outfit: black yoga pants, a form-fitting lilac V-neck t-shirt and a zip up hoodie that she left open since it was warm outside. God Patch loved that outfit, not only did it look great on her, showing off her curves, but it wasn't a hospital gown and as sexy as she'd always look to him that outfit spelled 'we are going home' and that was the best news they'd had in two months. The expression on Nora's face was relaxed but excited, she looked so much better than she had the first few weeks, part of that she owed to having stayed in shape through regular exercise. They still liked to go out dancing together, he liked those nights, feeling her wrapped all over his body like he had taught her all those years ago. He couldn't wait to make more of those memories with her.

As adults who were both fully in command of their own sexuality and who knew each others body and spirit so fully, they moved with a fluid grace together that had people noticing and clearing the floor to observe them. They were beautiful together, Nora was graceful like a swan and Patch moved with the power, agility and predatory sleekness of a black panther...they were art in motion. They had even been offered positions to teach dance which would make them laugh, they weren't instructors they were connoisseurs of dance, they enjoyed the dressing up, going out, having time together. Nora looked forward to time away from school, homework and her job to have a night out of fun with Patch and Patch loved showing Nora off, though it was a full-time job keeping other men away. They enjoyed all forms of dance so they would go to different locations, not the same club every time. Sometimes it was nice to waltz or dance salsa, other times they were in the mood for pounding beats, flashing lights and lyrics that encouraged grinding bodies and roving hands. No matter where they went or what they were doing the two of them had enough sexual tension to set any room on fire and even the blind would be able to see it. It had started with the salsa competition and hadn't stopped yet.

"Are you ready?" Patch asked once everything was packed and she was situated with new pain medication in her for the ride home.

"Yes I am." She smiled at him...until an orderly wheeled in a wheelchair.

"You have got to be kidding me." She muttered. "I can walk, I'll just need to take rest breaks."

"Hospital policy, ma'am." The orderly told her.

She grumbled the whole way out of the hospital, now that was the feisty girl that Patch knew and loved. He had teased her along the way about having the orderly leave the wheelchair for her to use at home. She hadn't found that funny, she'd punched him in the leg as he walked beside her since she couldn't reach his arm. To appease her he offered to carry her the whole way bridal style with a naughty look on his face as he winked at her. Nora had shown her age and maturity at that point by respectfully sticking out her tongue making him and the man wheeling her wheelchair laugh.

"Any excuse to get your hands on my body." Nora rolled her eyes.

"I can think of other things I'd like to do to your body with my hands than carry it." Came his wicked response that had her blushing ten shades of red to match the natural highlights in her hair.

Nora's pain medication was making her head really foggy, but they had enjoyed each others company, even fighting over the music until she realized they weren't heading back towards the loft, instead they were getting deeper into the ritziest part of the city.

"Why are we here? I thought we were going home." She asked.

Patch said the first thing that came to mind and given her anxieties in the first half of the week what he said was one of the worst things he could have. He had wanted it to be a surprise...well she was surprised alright.

"Oh, we are, there's just someone I want you to meet before we go to the loft. I hope you don't mind, you're not too tired or in pain are you?" He glanced over at her, but Nora was staring out the window trying to focus on anything but what was going through her head and heart or looking at him.

Shit, shit, shit, she thought. Here it is, her biggest fear coming true and the asshole hadn't even let her go home and adjusted before dropping a bomb on her like this?! She was still healing, she was fuzzy in her head from the Dilauded they had given her and she was moving slowly and painfully when up and walking about. Her anger boiled inside, but being the best friend she plastered on a smile a two second smile she flashed him and went right back to gazing out the window before he could see she was anything but happy.

When they had arrived at their destination the doorman and security greeted him by his name. Isn't that just great, he must have spent a lot of time here to be on a first name basis with the staff. She thought bitterly. When though? He was always with her or at work, unless he had lied to her. Nora narrowed her eyes at him, he hadn't left her side in two months so when had he been here? Before she could think anything more Patch scooped her up in his arms, caring her bridal style through the doors as the valet parked and through the grand foyer to the elevators. She knew she shouldn't but she couldn't help it, curled tightly in his arms she nuzzled his neck, soaking up the scent that was pure Patch that she loved so much. Idly she wondered if this was a countdown to her feeling his muscular body around hers, the way his abs, pecs, biceps and forearms rippled their appreciation along with his back in their moments of passion for the last time. He really did have the body of a God, one she had fully appreciated on countless occasions. He had endless amounts of stamina and yet she was the one woman who could wear him out until he crashed and fell asleep in her arms. Were those days over? Nora was trying hard to not show her distress.

Patch could feel the tension rolling off Nora's small body, the rigidity of her muscles, he didn't understand what was behind her reaction. Men can be so blind and ignorant sometimes. Finally the elevator stopped and he walked over the threshold.

"Welcome to our new home, Angel." Nora's head snapped up and she looked wide-eyed in disbelief into his penetrating gaze. He bent and gave her a soft kiss.

"We didn't know if you would need a wheelchair or crutches and the loft wasn't set up for either. If you don't like it we can change it." He added nervously.

Nora's jaw dropped slightly as she looked around as best she could from where she was still cradled in his arms in the entry. Nora was speechless, the place was beyond beautiful. Patch grew restless at her silence with worry he had done the wrong thing.

There hadn't been another person there, no other woman for her to meet! Instead there was a gorgeous new home...for them, together. Nora's heart swelled with new hope, hope for them that things could be starting to change. Better to not get your hopes up, Nora. You've lived with him before, this is nothing that new, she admonished herself. Still, grandma had told her that he had changed and that he had a special lady in his life that he was ready to start building a life with so if it wasn't her why would he build this place for them? She was having trouble thinking clearly so she put aside for the time and kissed his cheek and neck and demanded a tour. When she'd seen every room she cried. It was perfect. It had been professionally decorated but she could see the 'them' written all over it. Her sister had framed and matted all of her favorite pictures of them together and with their friends and siblings. Everywhere she looked where wonderful reminders of their times together and smiling faces. Niagara Falls, the Redwood Forest, Rome Italy, Mexico...all of their many family vacations together, the ones that their parents had been to busy for them, spending their time golfing and socializing, but they had had fun together, the five of them; Patch and Nora, Rixon and Vee, and of course grandma.

Her favorite couch and chairs were there along with the biggest plasma TV they made with its built-in surround sound stereo. No expense had been spared. She had no idea how he had managed to do it all, but it even had a perfect replica of the bed she loved, the bed she had so many great memories in with him, not of only sex, but of their quiet times together, the times they held each other and talked in hushed voices into the wee hours of the morning. When he showed her the in-suit bathroom she had thought she'd gone to heaven. Only Patch would know enough about her to design her perfect dream home. The only thing he didn't know about her she thought to herself, is how in love with him she really was.

"I'm going to make something for you to eat. Would you like to rest or sit on the couch?"

Nora chose the couch, she loved to watch him cook and the smells made her feel loved, comforted by the fact she connected them with his presence. She felt at home here, it felt so right.

Nora was a little worried about being able to sleep at night, she had her IV for pain management through the night at the hospital, here at home she wouldn't. She would however, have Patch next to her and he always made everything okay. She would focus on that.

"Would you like to lay down now or do something?" Patch asked her after they finished their meal.

"I'd like to watch a movie and then maybe take a bath before bed." As tired and uncomfortable as she was she was sick of being stuck in bed. Nora wanted to curl up with him, watch a movie and then try out that huge tub she'd been dying to get in since she laid eyes on it, hopefully he would join her. Seeing him naked would be a real treat after all those weeks without.

"What would you like to watch?" They had a virtual library of movies to choose from. Nora really didn't care, it wasn't about the movie it was about time with him.

"You choose." She smiled.

"Are you sure?" The mischievous look in his eyes didn't go unnoticed. She narrowed her eyes at him, what kind of trouble could there be from a movie?

"Alright then." He smirked and put in a movie she couldn't read the title of from where she sat.

When she was settled on the couch against him in the best position for her still sore body he turned on the movie, waiting for her reaction. It was meant to be a joke and he had to keep from chuckling when the title popped up.

50 Shades Of Grey. The brand new release.

Nora didn't know whether to hit him, laugh, or do both. She blushed at the thought of how tortuous that movie could be on them. It wasn't that they were really into the whole BDSM lifestyle, no judgments on those who were, but they had dabbled in handcuffs and blindfolds with a few new positions when they had read the books together.

Nora studied him from the corner of her eye, she knew he was waiting to see what kind of reactions she would have even though his expression gave nothing away, aside from his near constant smirk. She had been shocked, she'd give him that, wait...no she wouldn't, she decided the best reaction would be no reaction at all. See how he liked that.

Patch waited for Nora to get embarrassed, to put up a fight or hit him but she did nothing. In the end he had hurt himself by putting it in as much or more than he had her. He could have taken it back out, watched something more appropriate since it had really just been to tease her after the fun they had had with the book, but he was too proud to have done that so by the end of the movie his zipper had embedded itself in his body thanks to the memories it conjured up and the feel of Nora next to him and after going without for so long without. He really hadn't thought that through he wanted to groan.

Patch clicked off the TV and went to run Nora her bath. This was just what he needed after a movie like that...Nora naked. He adjusted the jets on the tub and added vanilla and chamomile bath oils and bubbles to the bath before turning the jets off so they wouldn't beat against her. Would it be too much too soon to just join her in the tub the way he wanted to, he wondered. It was plenty big enough, they wouldn't even have to touch. In the end he decided to leave that up to Nora. Before he wouldn't have given it a thought, he would have just joined her, but he was trying to show that he wanted to do better for her so that meant putting himself aside and letting her lead. When it was all ready he went back to the living room and carefully picked her up, feeling her cuddle close to him made his heart skip a beat. God he had missed that. In the bathroom he sat her on the bench and helped her get undressed. She had looked back and forth from him to the tub. He mistook her nervousness for a safety concern and assured her he would lift her in and out so she wouldn't fall. That wasn't what she was thinking, she was trying to get her courage back, it was hard to feel as desirable and sexy as she had before the accident when she wasn't in the healthy shape she had been in. She would get it back, it was all just going to take some time. Sucking it up she grabbed the bull by the horns and put on her best puppy dog face, the one he could never say no to and batted her long eyelashes at him. He groaned.

"I know you want to ask me something when you get that look on your face, it also tells me that whatever you want you want really bad so just spill it." Patch eyed her. She knew how to work him over, he'd lost the battle as soon as she looked at him like that. The word WHIPPED came to mind, he would never admit that, but that didn't make it untrue.

"I was thinking that the tub might be more comfortable if I had something nice to lean against...something like you." She intensified the longing in her face.

Patch part groaned part growled. That was exactly what he wanted, he wanted that more than anything, but could they be trusted?

"I won't deny you, but are you sure you're up to that? This naked body is a lot to handle." He smirked, better to play off his anxiety with humor.

Nora's eyes lit up at the mention of him being naked and she smiled while nodding her head. Patch chuckled at her enthusiasm and started to get undressed. Nora couldn't take her eyes off him, it was like seeing him for the very first time.

"See something you like?" Patch teased her when he caught her staring, studying him from head to toe before meeting his raised eyebrow and smirk.

"Yeah...everything." She swallowed hard, did somebody turn up the heat in the room? Patch laughed and Nora blushed before he helped her into the tub so that she was leaning back against him.

The temperature of the water was perfect as she leaned her head on Patch's chest. After wetting down Nora's hair, Patch picked up her bottle of shampoo and proceeded to massage it through her hair slowly and methodically until she was sighing. After rinsing it he repeated the process with her conditioner, letting it sit. This was exactly what she had needed. Patch took a fluffy wash cloth and lathered it with her favorite soap and gently washed her from the tip of her toe to the top of her head without hurting her. Nora wanted to wash him too but she didn't think she was up to the bending and twisting yet so she did the other thing she really wanted, she put his hand down on her velvety core, begging him for a release that she had gone so long without. If she was too sore she would take a pill later, it was almost time for bed anyhow.

"I don't want to hurt you, Angel" Patch whispered, his eyes closing at the feel of her under his fingers.

"Please." She whimpered. "If I have to I'll take a pill later. Please."

"God Angel, you're so wet already." His fingers easily playing her body as if it were his own. He didn't even have to think, he knew exactly where and how to touch her to make her body sing for him. Patch quickly lost himself in the feel of her under him, she was his heaven, no one else could do for him what Nora did. He was more gentle than he had ever been besides her first time. He wanted to bring her to that nirvana, to make it earth shattering but he didn't want to hurt her. After more reassurance from Nora and her thrusting into his hand he relaxed. Tenderly he wound her tighter and tighter, playing with her bundle of nerves until it was swollen and engorged, throbbing beneath his ministrations. His fingers were stroking along the valley of her passion slick lips before plunging inside of her to stroke her g-spot as he flicked her clit. Nora began moving her hips in shallow thrusts, setting the rhythm for him her body was aching for. She thrust as his fingers filled her and the fire in the peak of her sex was stoked she moaned. Patch felt her clamp down on his fingers, her walls rippling their pleasure and gratification, he continued to tease her pulsating flesh and with a hard thrust directly into the spongy tissue of her g-spot and his thumb and index finger pinching down and rolling her clit in the same moment she let loose with a cry.

"Patch! Yes, yes, yes. Please don't stop. Oh god that feels good." She groaned.

Patch continued to lathe that area with attention until the last of her bodies orgasmic tremors receded and she lay completely satiated in his arms enjoying her post orgasmic bliss. The water had cooled so he helped her out and wrapped her in one of the new ruby-red towels from the warming rack.

Needing to take care of his own body after her loving hers he decided a shower was in order.

"I need to wash your girlie scent from me so I'm going to take a shower. Are you going to sit on the bench and keep me company or would you like to lie down."

"I want to watch you wash my feminine scent off of your body." She smirked, knowing full well what area he wanted to wash the scent from. Patch smirked at her before adjusting the water temperature and stepping into the hot spray. She had just made this a game and a one woman peep show. At least that hadn't changed he chuckled silently, liking the fact she found him sexy enough to be worthy of watching, not that he'd ever had doubts about his body or his performance.

Nora watched, entranced by the way his muscles moved when he washed his hair, his inky black locks dripping water that filled the air with his Obsession for Men shampoo and body soap. She wanted to trace the water droplets sliding down his body with her tongue as she followed the movement of his hand circling lower and lower as he washed himself until he reached one of her favorite parts. Nora could see he was already hard, probably from the knowledge she was watching him as he took one soapy hand and started to very slowly stroke himself. His eyes closed as he found his familiar rhythm squeezing and stroking from base to head where he would run the pad of his thumb over the weeping slit, collecting the pre-cum to keep him lubricated. She knew that beat from all of their times together, knew how fast and how slow he needed to go, how much pressure and where to squeeze to bring a hard release. They were both picturing her mouth wrapped around his cock, sucking it in, rolling her tongue around his shaft. His free hand slid down to grasp his balls, massaging them in time with his other hand knowing full well on the other side of the glass Nora was watching him and it would drive her as crazy as she had driven him. Touching her had made him painfully hard. Slowly but surely he worked himself up making all the little noises he knew she loved to hear, the growls rumbling free from him when he hit his sweet spot. Soon instinct took over and he thrust into his hand, working his cock harder and faster, chasing his own orgasm. He was so close, so so close, his eyes squeezed tightly shut and then he heard her and that was it, that final piece.

"That's it baby, come for me Patch." He heard her say quietly in a voice thick with seduction and desire.

The pressure build up had been so intense he growled and came with a shout of her name followed by chanting it as he continued to pump himself, spraying cum all over his hand and the walls in thick long rivers, his mind-set on the memory of being in her body as he shook. Nora continued to encourage him, captivated by the sight of him lost in pleasure. God he was beautiful. It was easily the most erotic thing she had ever seen and all she wanted to do was join him and watch him come apart like that inside of her.

"Feel better?" Her voice sounded gravely.

"Much." He smirked in a husky voice as he dried off.

When he was finished he gave her her nighttime medication and situated her in bed before crawling in next to her under the covers, holding her firmly but tenderly against his body, letting the heat from his skin warm her.

"Good night Patch." He kissed her softly on the lips and the top of her head as her butt fit against the front of him.

"Sweet dream under the angels wings." Patch listened to her breathing even out before softly whispering his love to her. He needed to get used to saying it, it still caused his heart to lurch in fear, not from loving her, but from having his heart so thoroughly shattered before. Had he known on that faithful day all those years ago that the girl he had danced with had given him her heart, that it hadn't only been a dream or a school girl crush, that she hadn't friend-zoned him, that she was ready, willing, and able to handle the love he would have given her, had he known what kind of person Dabria was when he met her, that her age alone wasn't enough to choose her over love with Nora he would have chosen differently. He would have followed his own heart. Dabria had tried to use him for money and social power, but deep inside he was now starting to admit he had used her as a substitute for what he felt he didn't, wouldn't or couldn't have with Nora. The strength of his feelings for his younger best friend had confused and scared him, Dabria had been a way out of that fear, but it had cost him dearly. Never again would he allow another soul to come between them. Never, not a single person.

~~~~P&N~~~~

Two days later Saturday had arrived. Party day. Nora hated parties like this, parties she was the focus of. Vee was the social sister, the one who had the long guest list, to Nora they were pointless, she would have been happy with her sister, Bella and Shadow with the guys hanging out. Instead here she was putting on a smile trying to enjoy a party because it made her friends and sister feel good and she appreciated their efforts and love.

Patch had taken her out for breakfast as the gang decorated the penthouse. Of course Shadow had invited everybody they knew. At one point Nora thought she saw the clerk from the grocery store they shopped at wave at her from across their living room. She shook her head and smiled, it was just like Shadow to go over board with her party planning and enthusiasm and Vee was there to encourage her with her own brand of loving neurotism.

Nora frowned though when she realized her parents were in attendance, they would just try to find a way to blame Patch for something the way they always did, especially after he had limited their access to her and then she had denied their visits at the hospital.

The rest of her memories, minus the accident itself, had come back to her fully in the last days at the hospital and first days at home. Nora could no longer stand to be in the room with them. Things had changed in her too it seemed. She was no longer their hurt little girl who was dying for her parents approval that would never come. She had beaten death and survived her injuries in one piece, she wasn't going to waste one more precious moment of her life on anyone who didn't love and respect her, regardless of her flaws or choices in her love life. Nora had always been a perfect student, she excelled at everything her parents found to enroll her in, they had no right to treat her the way they did or feel the way they did about her. They certainly had no rights to tell her who to marry just so they would benefit. Why should she care how they felt when they never asked or cared how she had felt in all those years. They chose to turn on her, forcing her to choose between them and Patch. When she had made her choice without hesitation and refused to turn away from that decision throughout the years they had begun to act as if they hated her more and more. Frankly, Nora didn't give a damn anymore. Patch took care of her, provided for her emotionally, physically and financially. They hadn't asked anyone once since she was released from the hospital how she was. When that was brought to her attention at the party she had sought privacy in the comfort of her own room to shed the last tears she ever would over parents who from then on would be dead to her. Patch had followed her, he wasn't going to leave her alone anywhere in case her heartless parents struck.

Clista hadn't told anyone that she had invited Tristan, her plan was to catch him when he first arrived and have a heart to heart with him about her granddaughter. If that didn't work she would send him to Patch to get the point across as she was sure Patch would make things more than clear, especially now.

When Tristan arrived it was Clista who had answered the door as she had self-designated herself as door greeter purposely to catch him and hopefully send him on his way before anyone saw him and without having to send him to Patch as her last resort. Clista had asked him to follow her into the privacy of the den to speak with him. The young man in front of her, Tristan Miller, would give her granddaughter everything she wanted in life. She knew it, she could see it in his eyes and it was written all over his face when he had spied Nora's back on her way to her bedroom when she answered the door. Tristan had lost his heart just like her granddaughter had lost hers as a child. The difference was that he didn't love her with a love like Nora loved Patch; he didn't love her like this sixty-nine year old lady had loved her late husband.

"You're wasting your time here, son." Clista met Tristan's eyes. "You're hoping for things that will never be."

"What do you mean, Mrs. Grey?"

"You're after my granddaughter's heart, she gave that away a long long time ago."

"I don't see a ring around her finger, Mrs. Grey." Tristan straightened his back. "As long as there isn't a ring, her heart is for the taking."

"It's not the ring around the finger that counts the most young man, it's the ring around the heart that matters." Clista let her gray eyes bore into his green ones. "And let me tell you, her heart was stronger than the ring around Patch's fiance's finger."

"What happened?"

"Blythe tried to separate them. She talked the Cipriano's into setting up a marriage between Dabria and Patch." Clista's eyes shifted over to where Blythe was standing by the door. "She just didn't count on Nora."

"I think Nora feels a lot more strongly about Patch than Patch does about her." Tristan raised his shoulders, his look filled with sorrow for her grand-baby. "She's pining after a man that she can't have."

"First of all, don't you dare think that you know Patch or that Patch doesn't love her as much as she loves him." Clista pointed her finger in his face. "Second, I'm sick of people saying that she's a pathetic love-sick girl. Nora knows what she wants, and she doesn't settle for any other man because she knows it won't be enough for her, why put yourself or someone else into a marriage your heart isn't into, she'd be robbing both them and herself of the love they deserve. I think that makes her a strong woman, not some weak girl you all take her for. It takes a pillar to stand tall and firm, anyone can bend in the breeze to others whims."

"Why live with a girl, sleep with her and spend all your time with her if you're not going to marry her?" Tristan sighed and shrugged. "He's giving her false hope. Patch is giving her just enough to keep her satisfied, but she deserves more."

"Ever since they were kids, Patch has been whatever Nora has needed him to be. When she needed a friend, he was a friend; when she needed a brother, he was her brother; when she needed a father, he was her father. This is what she needs now and he knows it. Yes, he gives her just enough to keep her with him because he needs her." Clista took a deep breath, placing a hand over her heart. "But for some reason what he gives her makes her happier than what you, I or anyone else for that matter every could give her. So I suggest you get that white picket fence dream of yours out of your head, because those before you that have tried to separate them failed, and you'll fail too. Blythe has tried for the past six years and she almost succeeded. She thought if she gave Nora enough attention for a few months that she'd have her on her side, but when the time came to choose, Nora remembered all the time her mother wasn't there and all the times Patch was. Because let's face it, three months of expensive gifts and a few spa treatments don't outweigh over ten years of absolute loyalty, devotion and friendship."

"I understand, that it must have been hard for Nora to choose between her family and her friend."

"No, it was never a choice for her. She knew where her place was; she's known it all along." Clista cleared her throat, fixing her gaze again with Tristan's. "Nora fell in love with him when she was five years old, and she fought those feelings a very long time. When she almost lost him to someone else, she finally stopped hiding them, and once she started showing how much she loved him, it became clear to everyone that no one else could ever love him more than Nora does."

"She's a good girl. I'm not going to give up on her that easily."

"Okay, let's experiment with this." Clista got a mischievous grin on her wrinkled face. "Go into that bedroom and for ten minutes I will make sure you have Patch alone. You think he doesn't love her the way she loves him, but I'll prove you wrong."

"What do you hope to gain by this?" Tristan frowned. "Throwing me in a cage with Patch?"

"I'll have made my point clear. He'll tell you to stay the hell away from his girl."

Nora and Patch were wrapped around each other, reminiscing about her first time since the accident: That moment still lived vividly in her mind; one of his arms draped tightly over her waist, the other tucked under his head, having functioned as her pillow that night. Her bare breasts pressed into his firm chest, her thigh draped over his hip, his length prodding into her flesh every time she moved; it had been since the moment she'd woken up. Legs entangled, bodies flush against one another, hard abs pressing into soft curves; just like they had been all night. Desperate to touch every pore on each others body, determine to set every nerve on fire, sweat drops mingling between their moving figures, absorbed by the other one's skin, seeping into their flesh; like their hearts had wanted to melt into one another. Fingers curled together, mouths connected, noses rubbing, his hands gripping hers like he'd die if he let her go. There had been no boundaries between them; he was a free man on a mission to give her everything of himself, making her realize how much he'd been holding back, how much he could really give her. She had been eager to receive it. It was as if the green-eyed monster inside of her was set loose that night, wrapping its arms around him, possessing him as he possessed her; she had claimed him, making a silent promise that he'd never be anyone's again but hers.

They hadn't spoken about the accident, they never would specifically, but he did want to talk to her about what had happened.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you where I was."

"Don't you dare think you'll get off that easily." He lifted his head, black eyes shimmering, smirk present. "First, you're going to tell me all about that night. Then, I'm going to spank you, and if you scream loud enough, I might consider forgiving you."

"Can't I just give you a blow job like usual?"

"Sure." He smirked devilishly, holding his hand out for her to take. "After I spank you."

She rolled her eyes and took his hand, letting him pull her between his legs and bury his head against her stomach, his arms wrapping around her waist while her fingers ran through his raven hair, enjoying the thick silky texture. She moved her hands to his shoulders and let them travel over his arms, finding his wrists behind her back to untangle herself. She crawled on top of him, her knees squeezing his waist, guiding his hands to her hips, wrapping her own arms around his neck to pull him tight against her. His body slacked against hers, the weight he'd been carrying falling off his shoulders now that he had her in his arms again. The tension left his body as she gently placed her lips against the crook of his neck, nibbling softly and feeling his head cock to the side to grant her better access. Slowly pecking her way up, she felt his hold on her hips become stronger, his breathing heavier, as she lingered on the spot on his neck that she knew drove him crazy, her tongue making slow sensual circles on his skin. He surrendered with a growl and smashed his lips into hers, pulling her down with him on the bed, her hands landing next to his head against the mattress to hold herself up over his body. His hand clasped around her neck and pulled her deeper into their kiss, feverishly, hungrily, like he'd never have enough. He reclaimed her, making her mouth his own again after it had been kissed by another man, reinstating his ownership over her body after it had been loved by someone else. When she tried to pull away for air, he resisted and held her mouth against his for two seconds longer, as if telling her it was his and that he'd decide when, where and how long it would be kissed.

"How was he?"

"He was okay, I guess." Nora panted against his open mouth. "It wasn't anything like it is with you and me."

"Of course it wasn't." Patch rolled his eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Did you have at least one orgasm?"

"Patch..." Nora blushed ten shades of red from the valley of her breasts to her hairline.

"Did you?"

"No."

"I didn't think you did." He pecked her mouth, softly biting her bottom lip. "He doesn't know your body like I do."

A shiver ran down her spine as his teeth scraped the inside of her lip, knowing the right place to make her moan out loud, just like how he'd found every single spot on her body that made her go crazy, like he'd been made for her pleasure only. It was a thought that scared her; he was perfection for her, setting the standard for other men, making every man who tried to get close to her seem even less than they already were. Until that night he'd been the only man to love her, the only one to bare his body to her, share it with her like it belong as much to her as to him. His body was her heaven, paradise on earth for her; she'd loved it too many times and was loved by it too many time to think that it could have been different; that someone else body could make her skin tingle like his could, Tristan's didn't fit into her curves like his did, it didn't move with hers at the same pace, Tristan's didn't feel like one missed day would lead to spontaneous combustion. But then there was a second man and his body didn't fit hers; it seemed like it had been made on another planet, one where bodies didn't melt into one another, where they didn't make each other scream in pleasure, it had something that in her mind had seemed impossible. Because she had found the other half of her body, she'd touched it, loved it; it had been the only male body she'd ever seen, setting the standard for any other body that followed.

"Can I tell you something?" She pushed herself up and rolled off him, staring at the ceiling. "Just don't tell anyone, okay?"

"This is bound to be interesting knowing you..." He rolled on his side and pushed himself up on his elbow, noticing her glare. "Okay, I won't tell anyone."

"His penis was like..." She pulled her nose up, frowning. "...I didn't like it, it didn't look right, it looked...funny."

"I'm circumcised." Patch fought the smile threatening to show and stared down at her cute little face. This is why he loved her, she was both extremely intelligent and confident when needed, but she was adorably innocent as well. It was with him she let her guard down. "He's probably not and that's why Tristan Jr. looks different."

"Little Tristan." She locked her eyes with his, black on gray. "I slept with Tristan Miller." She looked sick.

"Your mom would be so proud, Nora." He chuckled, running his fingers through her hair. "Isn't he here?"

"Oh god I hope not, I didn't invite him and no one else knows him except grandma so I don't think so."

"I was sure I saw him here, but maybe I was mistaken."

They returned to their previous conversation about their first time:

"You were right." Nora squeezed his fingers with hers. "When Rixon called you he knew it was mainly him hoping you'd save me from Dante, when I called you it was because I wanted you to come back, you were right. I wanted it to be you."

"It's okay, I wanted it to be me too." He whispered against her ear, making shivers race down her spine. "The first time you asked me I said no because I thought it was wrong; but then when it was actually going to happen, I didn't want it to be anyone else."

"Why did you think it was wrong?"

"Because you saw me as your brother and some sort of father-figure at the time."

"If I had seen you as my brother or father, I'd never have asked you." Nora pointed out.

"That's what I figured out later." He stroked a strand of her hair away from her face. "I thought to myself: one day you might not be the only man in her life. Maybe she'll go to someone else for advice, maybe she'll trust someone else; what if she trusts the wrong person?"

"There's never going to be anyone else but you. Dabria was just a bump in the road."

"Yeah, it took me a while to figure out it was a plastic one." His eyebrows knitted together, his lips forming a soft pout. "I'm just saying that I was only a few weeks away from walking down the aisle. I thought maybe one day you'd actually make it to the altar."

"Even if you had made it to the altar, you wouldn't have married her." Nora turned around in his embrace, locking their gazes. "Because I had a damn good speech prepared and you would have never gotten to the vows if I had given it to you."

"What did it say?"

"If that idiotic head of yours ever thinks to fall in love again and puts itself in front of an altar with a person that's not me." She gave him a stern look. "Then I'll give it to you."

Nora leaned over him, finding his eyes boring into hers. With a sigh, she let her lips fall down on his, pushing softly against his mouth, enjoying their satiny touch. A moan escaped her lips right before the bedroom door opened. She snapped her head around as Patch pushed himself up on his elbows and found Tristan looking at them like they had committed a crime. For some reason Nora felt like she had committed a crime, guilt and shame rushed through her veins and she wanted to sink through the floor. Her legs wobbled as she stood up, and Patch draped an arm protectively around her waist as he followed her movements. Tristan approached them, clearing his throat.

"Tristan Miller." He extended his hand in Patch's direction, green meeting onyx. "I don't believe we've ever been formally introduced."

"Yes, of course, the one with the funny looking penis." Patch grabbed his hand, shaking it. "Patch Cipriano, I've heard... things about you."

"Tristan, I'm so..."

"Nora." Clista stood in the door, eyeing them. "People are starting to wonder where you are, dear, I'd rather not explain to them that you're up here having sex with Patch or having a threesome or whatever you kids are doing in here."

"I have to go, I'm sorry." Nora smiled tightly, glancing at Patch. "Are you coming?"

"Clista needs you." He gave her a push, smirking. "Just go."

"Patch..."

"I promise not to kill him." He rolled his eyes, cocking his head towards Tristan. "I'm just going to give him the big brother speech."

"Be nice, Stud." Clista winked at him.

Clista took Nora's arm and helped her out the door, closing it behind them. Patch's eyes roamed over the boy before him, imagining his hands on Nora's skin, her body writhing beneath him, her fingers running through his hair. Tristan stared back at him, no doubt taking the same inventory of him, with the same images in his head, the same thoughts running through his mind.

"Nora's a nice girl so she won't give it to you straight." Patch broke the lingering silence. "She's not interested."

"How would you know?" Tristan narrowed his eyes.

"Because she hasn't been interested in anyone..." He pretended to look for the word, rolling his eyes. "Ever."

"Anyone besides you." Tristan put his hands in his pockets, staring straight into Patch's eyes. "And you're just playing with her feelings."

"The situation between me and Nora has been complicated." He crossed his arms over his chest. "We've lived together, but we dated other people, so don't read something into that night that isn't there. She's not interested in any further encounters with you."

"That's your worst fear, isn't it?" Tristan's eyes narrowed more. "That she might be interested in someone besides you."

"Nora is free to do as she pleases." He lifted his shoulders. "I'm not her boyfriend. I'm just here to keep her safe and satisfied." Not wanting to give anymore of his intentions away before he told Nora himself. He didn't need her hearing his feelings for her from anyone else, especially from Tristan Miller.

"Let me tell you something, Patch." Tristan took a step forward, his face only inches away. "You're not giving me the big brother speech. You're giving me the jealous boyfriend speech because you feel threatened."

"Stay away from my girl!" Patch's eyes turned dead as night, shooting daggers into the other man. No one and nothing intimidated Patch Cipriano and this was about Nora, he wouldn't think twice about taking care of the 'problem'.

"She deserves a hell of a lot better than you."

"I've told her that every day." He started walking to the door, grabbing the handle. "She refused to listen, what happens between Nora and me is none of your business. Stay away from her."

Tristan's next words died behind the door as Patch slammed it shut.

"Patch? What was that all about, he left in a hurry." Nora wasn't concerned with Tristan, she was worried by the look on Patch's face.

"Nora, we need to talk when the party is over about something very important." Patch sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He wasn't convinced this was a conversation she was ready to have or how she would react. She was still on medication, still healing, just coming to terms with not wanting to have a relationship with her parents anymore, the move...so many changes, but hiding things from her, this from her was killing him and he knew she could tell he was holding something back. Tristan challenging him had made it clear that he couldn't and shouldn't wait any longer. It was time to tell Nora how he felt...

Next up...telling Nora. What did you guys think? Read and review please!