“I’m sorry,” she repeated to Em once she was safely beside Noah.
Em looked livid, his arched eyebrows raised in disdain. He sat motionless, surrounded by his lavish furnishings, and AJ knew as they left that they had angered a wrathful god.
Walking from the house,Noah’s hand found hers. He didn’t let go until they’d arrived at her room. Once they stopped in front of her door, AJ understood why. She was shaking uncontrollably. Noah lifted the rattling keys from her fingers and let them inside.
AJ flipped on the light and wished instantly that she hadn’t left every T-shirt she brought to California strewn on the bed. As she gathered up her clothing, she heard Noah close the door behind them. The music from the party thumped metallic in the distance.
Holy shit.
“I think we might have just fucked ourselves,” she said, hugging her clothes.
“I don’t care,” said Noah.
And neither did AJ. All that mattered was that Noah had come for her, and that they were finally alone. She felt his hand touch her arm. Gently, he pried the laundry from her grip.
“You should sit,” he said, and AJ sank onto the bed as he tossed the clothes into her closet. He walked into her bathroom and returned a moment later with a glass of water.
He lowered himself beside her as AJ gulped it down. She could feel the rolling aftershocks of his anger as he took the empty cup from her hand and placed it on the nightstand.
Their eyes connected; his were full of concern. AJ tried to smile reassuringly. “I suppose I should say ‘you were right.’ ” Her voice sounded thinner than usual.
Noah shook his head in exasperation. “Are you okay? Did he—”
AJ shook her head. “Your timing was impeccable,” she said. She caught a trace of something noxious and floral on his shirt—residue of Anjalee. “I’m surprised you knew where I was. You had your hands pretty full.”
Noah looked at her like she was an idiot. “I always know where you are,” he said, and AJ felt electricity surge between them. Her heart began to pound. This was it. He was going to touch her.
But he didn’t. Instead, he stood, taking a few steps toward the door. “We’ve got an early call tomorrow. If you’re good, I should head back to my room.”
Confusion doused AJ like snowmelt. The channel between them was still wide open; Noah absolutely did not want to head back to his room.
“No,” she said quietly. “You should stay.”
Noah looked at her then immediately away. “This can’t happen,” he said at length. “I’m sorry.”
AJ didn’t understand. “Noah—”
His eyes were opaque, resigned. “I only want what’s best for you. Please trust me.”
The air was getting thin now. She could hardly take it in. “Trust you?”
The warring parts of AJ that had lain down in their desire for him violently awoke at his refusal.
First humiliation, stinging her cheeks, her throat, her eyes.
Then anger, ballooning out like an airbag, filling the room, pushing him away.
“Youcan go fuck yourself,” she said, trying to wrench off the valve between them.
Noah hated that. “Age—” he said, stepping back into the room despite himself.
AJ was on her feet now, all the hurt she’d buried trying to express itself at once. “Trustyou?”
“It’s late,” he said gently, his expression pained. “You’ve been drin—”
“Youleft.” She gasped as the sounds tore from her throat. “You wereeverythingto me and you fucking left.”
The words struck Noah like a blow. AJ felt a lick of heat peel off that dark mass inside him. “I was protecting you,” he said, a warning light in his eye.
