What the hell?
“I know it’s insane to ask this but if you can go along with me for five minutes, I will personally plow and plant your fields whenever you want it. Okay?”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Not when those words went in one ear and landed right between my legs.
“Just follow my lead,” he whispered. “Please.”
I had no idea what was happening but Noah was so close and he was holding me so tight that it didn’t matter. And thatpleasehad rumbled over his lips in the very best way, like an apology begged a moment before sinning.
Still, I was too stunned to form words. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had taken me into their arms like this. But more importantly, I didn’t remember it ever feeling so divine. There was a whole marching band performing on the other side of the complex, a kid dancing and twirling around me, and several hundred people nearby, though the only thing I could focus on was the hand gripping my waist.
Jaime was going toI told you somy ass off.
But then I heard “Hello there! Helloooo! Noah! Over here!” and I froze. I recognized that voice. The incessantness of it.
“Just go with me on this”—his words were urgent on my cheek—“and I’ll do anything you ask of me. Anything at all. You name it, it’s yours.”
I bobbed my head as Christiane came into view, two young kids trailing behind her. Noah let out a breath and brushed his lips over my cheek. The only thing I could feel was heat, everywhere, all at once.
When was the last time someone had kissed my cheek? When was the last time I’d feltit deep in my belly? And when was the last time a kiss had been anything more than an obligation, a box ticked off in the basic affection column?
Christiane reached us with a full, glossy smile. “Noah!” she chirped. “I called last week. Did you get my message? About a playdate at the swim club? I thought I’d hear back from you. Where have you been hiding yourself these days?”
“Christiane,” he replied.
Her gaze shifted toward me and with it, her smile dimmed. “And my dear new friend! I didn’t catch your name.” She glanced back at Noah, saying, “We met in the little girls’ room. Just now.”
His fingers flexed on my waist, his beard bristly as it passed over the shell of my ear. “It doesn’t sound like you met if you don’t know her name.”
Well, shit. I mean,holy shit. I couldn’t dissect that sentence down to its aggregate parts or explain a single reason why it worked as well as it did for me. All I knew was there hadn’t been a single sexual thought in my mind for months but that tide was turning fast.
“You know how I can get carried away.” She waved a hand at us. “How do you two know each other?”
“We go way back. High school sweethearts.”
He shifted, hooking his thumb in my belt loop and sliding his hand into my pocket. He splayed his fingers over my belly roll and thigh crease. The only things between us were the thin lining of my pocket and some bikini briefs, and everyone for twenty feet around had to be aware of that. It was all over my face and projected above my head like a cartoon thought bubble. There was nothing covert about that move of his. I wasn’t sure if neck biting would be next and, honestly, I wasn’t opposed to it.
“Oh, really?” She turned a critical eye toward me. “That’s so funny since I don’t remember you ever mentioning a significant other. Not even once. Not one time.” Her gaze turned into a frowny smile, the kind of expression people used when they wanted to meet a threshold of basic manners while also communicating that they rejected everything about the situation. “I just don’t remember hearing anything about thatat all.”
“Didn’t see how it was any of your concern,” he said, the words closer to a growl than anything else.
But it wasn’tjusta growl. It was predatory, almost possessive. And I knew it was ridiculous to say that because this whole moment was ridiculous but he was drawing circles on my belly roll while not so politely telling this woman he wanted none of what she was offering. If this wasn’t the outer banks of possessive, I didn’t know what was.
Bite my neck, honey. Just do it. Don’t make me wait.
He dragged his fingers over my cheek, tucked some hair behind my ear. “Have you decided what you want to eat?” he asked, low, grumbly, perfect. I didn’t know when the grumbly had transformed from mildly amusing to fully arousing but I was here now and not interested in leaving. “Hmm? I want to get you fed, sweetheart.”
I wasn’t proud of it but it felt like my nipples were probably visible from space.
“Not yet,” I murmured.
“Then we’re doing that now.” He scooped up Gennie, settling her on his hip. “See you later, Christiane.”
Noah steered us toward the food trucks, his hand still deep in my pocket. I was floating and melting and also buzzing with electricity.
And Noah Barden was the cause of it.
chaptereight
