He was staring at her with an expression AJ had never seen, his brow furrowed, his jaw tense, and something warm swooped in the pit of AJ’s stomach. Lower.
She felt herself blush, but she didn’t look away.
Noah’s gaze fell to her lips, the color rising in his cheeks. His throat bobbed. They were pulling toward each other now. His head bent low, his bangs sweeping forward in this way that was so unexpectedly vulnerable it hurt, but AJ couldn’t take her eyes off him.
They’d been skirting this line for so long, she couldn’t fathom what had changed, but there was something about the dark, something about tonight.
AJ wasn’t breathing as his lips brushed hers, so featherlight she trembled.Oh.Her eyelids dipped, and she kissed him tenderly, her heart beatingIt’s you, it’s you.
For an instant, time stopped.
Then AJ pulled back, her eyes wide. Her first kiss. And it was Noah.
The look he gave her in return was almost broken by joy.
“Age,” he murmured.You too?
AJ smiled shyly, then his thumb was at her jaw, drawing her close.
This kiss was rougher, fuller. He bit down on her lower lip, enveloping her chest in solid warmth as he slowly, hungrily rolled his hips into hers.Fuck,that felt good. AJ gasped, shimmering with need, suddenly aware of the glowing ache between them.
Then his hands were in her hair, his thumbs at her cheekbones, tilting her head back, deepening the kiss.God.His sweetness and his strength—AJ sighed, her lips parting under his. As Noah tasted her, a low, impatient noise escaped his throat, and now AJ’s knees were gone.
She clutched at his belt, too eager to care if she was a mess. Noah grasped her waist, then her shoulder blades, holding her fast against him until AJ felt his entire body shake.Holy shit.She was melting, she was melting, and she could not have loved him more.
As the house erupted into applause, AJ broke the kiss. For a split second Noah followed her, like he wasn’t finished yet.
Then the wing beside them rustled as the panelists trooped off.
Noah was breathing hard, his eyes raw. “Hi.”
“Hi,” said AJ.Holy shit.
“Well, how was I?”
AJ jumped as Eudora joined them in the second wing.
“You were—”
“Marvelous,” said Noah.
They rushed forward to hug her, then Eudora swept back out for a curtain call. She bowed, sequins glittering in the stage lights. AJ tried to settle herself, but as she and Noah traded dazed smiles, she knew nothing would ever be the same.
Though Eudora marched off muttering “Damn Nauticals” under her breath, she was beaming.
They emerged from the backstage area to find the main hall swarming with fans hoping to get Glimmette’s autograph.
“Do not crowd, please give the lady some space,” said Mike, reappearing from nowhere to offer Eudora his hand. “Nice job, Glimmette.”
Eudora shook it. “Thanks, Dungeon Master,” she said, and Mike’s friends cheered.
“She just made his life,” AJ whispered to Noah. She looked up to find him watching her as though from a great height. He took a shallow breath. “What’s up?” asked AJ, startled.
Noah cleared his throat. “Inter-franchise harmony just really gets me.”
AJ snorted, but continued to eye him until Mike poked her arm. “I’m gonna stay over tonight. A few of the guys got a hotel room, so…”
“Ugh, please don’t do anything disgusting,” said AJ.
