"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."
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 lips 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."
"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.
