Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(117)

But it’s only a matter of time before I take that decision into my own hands. She’ll just have to deal with it.

I spin around, walk down the path and out of the gate before I cross the street. I dig my keys from my pocket and unlock my door.

Once I’m inside, I flip on the lights, toss my keys on the table in the hallway, kick off my shoes and stride into the living room. Sirius, who’s sprawled on a pillow on the sofa, lifts his head. As if he considers me not worthy of any welcome, he drops his white head back on the pillow and shuts his eyes.

I head to my room and change into a pair of training pants and nothing else, and then leave and climb down the stairs to my basement which is also my gym room. I stalk to the punching bag, curl my hands into fists and work on getting the stress out of my body. Ten minutes later, I’m far from cooling down. I bound up the stairs and out the front door barefoot. Seconds later I’m knocking on Nor’s door. The moment she opens it, her eyes widen slightly, tracking the rivulets of sweat down my chest. I pounce forward, slip my arm under her knees and throw her over my shoulder, before whirling around to stalk back to my house, my back absorbing the blows from her tiny fists.

I’ve officially gone insane.

I toss her on the couch, and take a step back, my chest heaving.

“Are you insane, Cole? You can’t just haul me from my doorstep and drag me here without my permission, you. . .you big savage.”

Sirius sits up all of a sudden, stretches his body. He blinks a few times, then hops onto Nor’s lap. I scowl down at him as he settles in, rubbing his stupid head on her chest. I clench my jaw, flex my hands.

Fucking hell. I’m jealous of a cat.





COLE IS BEING STUPID AGAIN. And just to show him how much his foolishness is going to cost him, I wait until Nor settles nicely on the couch then I hop onto her lap. I curl up in her lap, tucking my legs under me and purr, my eyes falling shut. Seriously, I would live here if I could. Marry a kitty and have a few kittens. Not only does she smell like catnip, her fingers are magic. Cole is missing out on this big time.

I force one eye open and peek at Cole. He’s scowling at me, his gaze moving from Nor’s captivating fingers stroking my fur, and back to me. He probably wishes he was me. I’ve never seen him this affected by a woman since he adopted and took me home with him from the animal shelter five years ago.

Tough shit. A cat has to be selfish sometimes. Cole left the house huffing and sweating, a scowl on his face. He came back a few minutes ago with Nor over his shoulder. He tossed her on the couch then stood back and glared at her.

Nor is right. My master is a savage. My savage. It doesn’t stop me from showing him what he is missing.

I climb to my paws and knead Nor’s lap, but I’m completely side tracked when she starts to rub the back of my ears distractedly. My purring motor picks up when she strokes my chin and I forget all about teaching Cole a lesson.

This shit is dope. Yeah, we’re keeping this girl.





“I JUST HAVE A FEW questions. Did you have fun tonight?” I ask, She stares at me incredulously, shakes her head. Nods.

“Did you want me to kiss you tonight?”

She licks her lips and nods again.

“Are you scared of what people will say? Does it really mean that much to you? If it does, I’m willing to give you time.”

She stops breathing. “Give me time for what?”

“To accept this. You and I are going to happen. Josh was right. He gave me a push in the right direction. You and I never stopped happening. Just because a wedge was forced between us to stop the momentum doesn’t mean we stopped.”

Her chest expands as she inhales, her fingers rubbing Sirius’ neck. “Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“We are happening. Did you have to drag me all the way here to make a point?”

I tug my hair with my fingers and shake my head. “You are as frustrating as you are beautiful.”

She rolls her eyes, trying to hide the smile fighting to break free. “Can I go home now? I kind of need to get some sleep. I have an early delivery tomorrow morning.”

I nod, glance down at her bare feet. Reaching down to her lap, I pick Sirius up and put him back on the couch. I take Nor’s hands in mine, pull her up and scoop her in my arms. Her lips part and I feel air brush my cheek. The urge to kiss the living shit out of her kicks in, but I know if I do, I won’t stop.

I pick her up in my arms, stride across the street and set her down on her door step. She stares up at me, searching my face. She lifts a hand, cups my face and I lean into her palm. I kiss the soft skin of her inner wrist, deeply inhaling her scent. Fighting the need to grasp her by the nape of her neck and kiss the shit out of that perfect mouth of hers.

“Good night, Nor,” I sign.

“Night, Cole,” she says.

Then she drops her hand and steps back. She opens her door, steps inside the house and closes the door without a backward glance.





IT’S FRIDAY EVENING AND MEGS and I were supposed to hang out tonight, but she was called in to work because one of her colleagues fell ill. We haven’t spent a lot of time together since Josh’s death. Everything seems to be happening too fast, plus her crazy shifts at work don’t make things easier.

Cora and Joce are playing upstairs. They spent most of the afternoon on the terrace, helping Cole finish building the play house. Then he ordered me to sit on the couch and put my feet up. He made dinner for us, which consisted of burgers and fries. He left afterwards to visit with his parents.