But then I see her.Her. Honor, in all her insanely beautiful and surprisingly fragile glory. This morning she’s my old fantasy come to life, dressed to kill as if she’s about to sit back on that ITV sofa and devour a politician for breakfast. She saw she had the eyes of every guy in that hallway and she lapped it up. That little performance was perfection.
But I’ve also known her lying naked in my arms, the walls she builds around herself destroyed, and those, her most vulnerable moments, awaken the strongest emotions in me. That’s when I find her mostcaptivating.
Who am I kidding? She’s captivating every. Single. Moment. And no matter how much celebrity bullshit surrounds her, I’m already incapable of walking away. What she sees in me is anyone’s guess. I’m particularly unsure after a couple of days observing Jackson James by the pool in all his Action Man glory. I keep myself in decent shape, but I can’t begin to compete with Jackson on that front.
No, Honor wants—needs, even—something else from me, and I’m walking a tightrope that’s going to grow narrower the further I let myself get involved. Adoration, yes. I promised to adore her and tend to her when I made my initial “pitch”. I’m pretty sure it’s my obvious appetite for her that’s allowed her to relax and succumb to me so easily.
But I have the sense that I can’t allow our dynamic to get too one-sided. Honor has people crawling all over her, all the time. Everyone wants a piece of her. The last thing she needs is another fawning minion.
When I took control that night by the pool, she was putty in my hands. I was adoring, yes, but I also took charge, and it seemed to me she submitted gladly. Perhaps she’s sick of running the show. Perhaps she likes it when I take over and bring her along for the ride.
So, while I may feel like falling at her feet and worshipping this heaven-sent woman like a lovesick idiot, lovesick idiots are ten-a-penny in Honor Chapman’s world. I’m better off holding myself back, however I can, and keeping her interested. Restoring the power balance. And, as an extra benefit, protecting my heart.
CHAPTER 23
Honor
Ileave Mum with promises to visit again tomorrow. I feel guilty to be leaving so early when I don’t have a work commitment until lunchtime, but Ally is on her way. And I have to see Noah. Alone.
I put my head around his office door. His back is to me, facing his laptop with his head in his hands.
‘Hey.’ I knock lightly.
He’s up out of his chair in an instant, pulling me in and slamming the door closed behind me before pushing me up against it. His mouth is on mine immediately; he relieves me of my Birkin and drops it to the floor before his hands fill themselves up with me. One of them twists around my neck and fists my hair, and the other moves slickly over my dress before cupping my arse, hard.
The force of his kiss opens my mouth, and I gasp as his tongue enters me. Finding mine and claiming his territory. This is no polite greeting; he’s kissing me like a starving man, like he can’t help himself, like he’s hardly aware of what he’s doing. And he’s hard. He grinds against me, pushing me intothe door, and I moan at the heavenly feeling of being surrounded by him, consumed by him.
I claw at his gorgeous hair and tilt my head and draw him in as close as I can. I try to slide one leg up his calf, but the pencil skirt on this dress is too tight.
His hands move. They caress my arse and dip into my waist and graze over my breasts and fondle the zip at the back of my dress.
‘This dress.’ His voice is hoarse, and he pushes his erection harder against me. ‘Are you trying to kill me? It’s so fucking sexy, I can’t even…’ He groans and drops his face to the crook of my neck. Begins to kiss and lick it, and I roll my head back in ecstasy.
‘I wore it for you,’ I say breathlessly. ‘I give you Honor Chapman, TV presenter.’
‘Fuck.’ He groans again. His hands bracket my hips. ‘Can I take it off?’
‘Noah. I am not having sex with you in this broom-cupboard of an office, surrounded by people who aredying. Even though a horrifyingly large part of me wants to.’
He lets out an anguished laugh. ‘Fair enough, gorgeous. Can I drag you to my flat? Or can I just have a sneak peek? Just a little unzip… I need to know what you’ve got on under that dress. Ineedto undo it.’
He’s breathing heavily into my shoulder, and he rolls his hips against me again. Jesus Christ. I run my hands down over the crisp cotton of his shirt and clamp my hands on his arse. The lustrous wool of his suit trousers drapes over it in a manner that’s sheer perfection. I really need to get this man naked. I really need him to get me naked. I need to be on a bed with him, with zero barriers between us.
I push him away with difficulty. His lips are swollen and his eyes are hooded. He’s heaven. ‘How far away do you live?’
‘Ten minutes. Ledbury Road.’ He fondles a piece of myhair and grins a heart-stopping grin. ‘I’ve even got scrubs there.’
My heart comes to life again. ‘Stethoscope?’
He’s still grinning. ‘Definitely, Madam.’
Oh God. ‘I like the suit.’ I finger the tie. ‘Junior doctor is sexy, but suited-up consultant is sexier. But dig out the stethoscope.’ I lean forward and purr into his ear. ‘I’m going to need alotof help, Doctor.’
CHAPTER 24
Honor
Di drives me to Ledbury Road, and Noah goes ahead on his bike. He’ll get there more quickly on two wheels. Di’s grinning from ear to ear in the rear-view mirror.
