by Paige Tyler
“Thanks for helping me with the fight scene,” she said.
He smiled. “Sure.”
Peyton caught her bottom lip between her teeth as she nodded. Then she hesitated, as if she was thinking about saying something else, but didn’t.
“I…um…I’ll be out in the living room,” he said.
Allowing his gaze to linger once more on those luscious lips of hers, Noah turned and left the room. He walked into the kitchen on autopilot, opening the fridge and staring at the contents as if he’d find something to distract himself from thoughts of Peyton and what nearly happened. Unfortunately, a few bottles of beer and the usual collection of condiments weren’t interesting enough to manage that, so he guessed he was screwed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
AFTER SPENDING THIRTY minutes on the phone assuring a frantic Laurissa that she and Noah were fine and she was staying at his place, Peyton sent a text to Gwen letting her know where she could find her if she wanted to stop by the next day, then stripped off her dress and stepped into Noah’s shower. She turned on the water and waited for it to warm up, thinking about the scene she just wrote. Truthfully, she was surprised she’d gotten any writing done at all. Not after how turned on she got from that little role-playing game on the floor.
She couldn’t believe how close she’d come to wrapping her arms and legs around Noah and dragging him down for a kiss. It was only the thought of how embarrassed she’d be if Noah rejected her that stopped her. He might have gotten as aroused as she had during their pretend tussle—because there’d been no mistaking the hard-on pressing against her—but from how hesitant he’d been to get on the floor with her in the first place—not to mention how fast he wanted to get away from her afterward—it was obvious he didn’t want their relationship going any further.
To say she was hurt and disappointed was the understatement of a lifetime. Which was probably insane. She had no business even thinking they had a chance, not with all the crap stacked against them. With his job as a SEAL and her schedule as a writer, there was no way this could work. They both knew it.
But if that was the case, why did she feel so crappy about it?
Once the water was at the perfect temperature, Peyton opened the bottle of shower gel and squeezed some of it into her hand. The scent of pineapples and coconut filled her nose as she ran the fragrant suds over her arms and down her legs.
Being on the floor with Noah earlier had been the closest she’d been to having sex in a while. Her desire had only intensified when he’d rolled over and pinned her hands to the floor. She’d never been one for kinky stuff in the bedroom, but that subtle show of dominance had gotten her seriously hot and bothered. Even now, she was getting tingly in all the right places merely thinking about it.
And if the bulge in his pants offered any indication, Noah had been as aroused as she was.
She rinsed off the soap, letting her hands linger on her breasts for a moment before gliding down to the juncture of her thighs. She was about half a second away from pleasuring herself when she remembered that she wasn’t in her bathroom at home and that Noah was down the hall in the living room.
Stifling a moan at the thought of Noah knowing she was touching herself, Peyton shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. The towel made her already sensitive nipples ache even more and she couldn’t resist giving them a squeeze as she dried off. Letting down her hair, she ran a brush through it, wrapped the towel around her body, then slipped stealthily into the hallway and the bedroom beyond. She changed into her usual shorts and tank top, then went out to say goodnight to Noah.
The TV was on ESPN, but the volume was turned down to almost nothing and Noah seemed more interested in the phone in his hands than SportsCenter. He must have caught sight of her, because he looked up, and Peyton was keenly aware of his gaze as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the nearest cabinet. She messed with the controls on the front of the fridge, getting crushed ice, then filling the rest of the glass with water. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him watching her, his attention making her suddenly warm all over.
Peyton stopped at the archway between kitchen and living room, leaning her shoulder there and gazing at Noah with a casualness she didn’t really feel. Hadn’t she come out to say good night? Why was she standing here practically blushing from the heat of Noah’s smolder?
“Did the writing go well?” he asked, leaning forward to place his cell phone on the coffee table. He was still wearing his shirt and dress slacks and Peyton couldn’t remember when she’d ever seen a man look so sexy.
Peyton nodded, not interested in talking about her book. Not when there were other things—much better things—to discuss.
“Did you want something to eat?” he asked, his expression betraying his confusion at her silence. “I know it’s late, but I have some frozen pizza if you want to pop it in oven.”
She took a sip of water before answering. “No, I’m good. If I tried to eat anything this late, I’d never fall asleep.”
He nodded and silence filled the space around them again. But it was a comfortable silence, at least for her. She could stand there looking at him for hours and not feel the need to say anything.
But that would only be a waste of both of their times, wouldn’t it?
Noah had told her he wanted to see if they could be more. Then he’d told her the last thing he wanted to do was let her get hurt by falling for him when she wasn’t ready for what it meant to be with a man like him. He’d been the one brave enough to put it out there for her. He’d only started pulling back when it seemed like she wasn’t going to reciprocate with the same level of bravery. Like she wasn’t willing to take a chance.
If she wanted to see where this could go with Noah, she was going to tell him that. And she needed to do it now.
“I want to give us a chance,” she said softly, then hurried on, hoping the right words would find a way to come out. “I’m scared of falling for you and then finding out that I’m not strong enough to deal with everything that comes with that. But I’m even more terrified of letting this slip away and then spending the rest of my life regretting it. So, if you’re willing to give it a shot, then so am I.”
Noah didn’t say anything, and for one horrifying moment, Peyton was sure she’d read the entire situation wrong. That Noah had backed off because he wasn’t interested in her. That she’d embarrassed herself and ruined everything.
Then her big SEAL bodyguard stood, closing the distance between them in a blur. She expected him to stop a few feet away, to look her deep in the eyes and say he was ready to take a chance, too. But he didn’t stop, and he didn’t speak. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until a moan of pleasure found its way up from deep in her chest.
Peyton guessed that was Noah’s way of saying yes.
* * * * *
Peyton had read more than a few romance books that included lines about the heroine being kissed until she felt breathless and dizzy. Having never experienced anything like that herself, she took it for nothing more than romantic prose and avoided it in her own stories. But by the time Noah stepped back to look down at her, his eyes smoldering with heat, she was definitely out of breath and lightheaded, leaving her with the amazing realization that sometimes romance books got it right.
“Where do we go from here?” Noah asked softly, resting his forehead on hers, his arms around her.
She smiled up at him. “How about your bedroom?”
He continued to gaze down at her. “Are you sure? We don’t need to rush anything. Now that I know you’re in this with me, I can wait forever if I have to.”
Peyton went up on tiptoe and silenced whatever else he might be about to say with a kiss. Then she put her arms around his neck, in case he got any ideas about pulling away again. He didn’t even try. Instead, he slid one hand into her hair and settled the other on the small of her back, tugging her close.
She moaned against his mouth, letting his t
ongue take possession of hers and teasing her mercilessly. Desire spiraled through her, making her tingle. Maybe it was everything that happened tonight—the way he’d risked himself to save her life, the fact that they were really committing to something long-term—but right then, Peyton wanted Noah more than she’d ever wanted anyone.
She slid her hands down his chest, the muscles there reminding her of how built he was underneath his dress shirt. “Take me to bed,” she said softly.
He pulled back to gaze down at her for one long moment, then swung her up in his arms without another word and headed down the hall. She hooked her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. There was definitely something to be said for being with a big, strong guy.
When they got to his room, Noah carried her over to the bed and gently lowered her feet to the floor. Peyton immediately reached up and undid his tie, before using the ends to pull him close for another kiss. As their lips continued to move hungrily against each other, she worked her way down his shirt, fumbling a little with the buttons in her eagerness, but finally getting them undone.
Peyton took a few seconds to enjoy the feel of all those muscles under her hands as she pushed the dress shirt off his shoulders and down his arms. Then she ran her fingers slowly across his bare chest, pausing to appreciate every perfectly sculpted muscle along the way. There were some scrapes and bruises along the outside of one shoulder and down his back from where he’d hit the ground after jumping out of the van with her in his arms, but the wounds didn’t seem to bother him at all.
She moved lower, lightly tracing his six-pack until she got to his belt. He caught her hands before she could tug it open. Peyton looked up at him in confusion.
Noah flashed her a sexy grin. “My turn.”
Peyton arched an eyebrow, certainly not planning to protest as Noah reached down to grab the hem of her tank top and slowly pulled it up and over her head. Dropping her top casually to the floor, he stood there, his eyes worshiping every inch of bare skin, his gaze slowing as it slid over her breasts. He locked on the rosy tips, the heat in his eyes making her burn hot all over as he moved closer and caught his fingers in the waistband of her shorts. Lips edging up at the corner, he nudged them down over her hips, letting them fall to the floor and leaving her standing there naked.
“You’re so beautiful,” Noah said as he cupped her breasts, his thumbs teasing her nipples and making her gasp.
Peyton grasped his shoulders, afraid she might fall if she didn’t. A moment later, she was glad she had because Noah bent and closed his mouth around one sensitive peak. She caught her breath. Oh yeah, if she weren’t holding onto something right then, she would have definitely floated away—or melted into a puddle on the floor.
He suckled on her breasts, going back and forth from one to the other until she could barely think straight. She didn’t know if it was possible to orgasm from what he was doing, but she definitely wouldn’t mind finding out.
But Noah stopped before she could.
Peyton opened her eyes to find him regarding her, a smile tugging at his lips.
“I could do that all night,” he said. “But if I did, then I wouldn’t get to taste the rest of your gorgeous body.”
Before she could reply, his mouth covered hers and he was urging her back onto the bed, until her knees hit the edge and she tumbled onto the mattress. Then Noah was standing there at the side of the bed, gazing down at her completely naked body.
He never broke eye contact with her as he dropped to his knees by the bed. Then he grabbed her legs and pulled her closer to the edge of the mattress, getting her perfectly positioned. Peyton’s breath hitched. Gaze locked with hers, he slowly ran his hands up the inside of her thighs before leaning forward and carefully spreading her legs. Then he leaned forward a little more and kissed the inside of her leg.
He moved down slowly, nibbling and kissing one millimeter at a time, teasing her until she thought she would go crazy. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her pussy long before his mouth ever actually touched her there.
But when he finally did, she was sure she would explode. She didn’t, but she did moan and squirm around like a woman possessed. Noah wrapped his arms firmly around her thighs, holding her tightly as he teased her to the point of insanity.
She tried to get her fingers in his hair, so she could steer him where she needed him, but his hair was too dang short to get a grip on, and she was reduced to little more than unintelligible moans and demands, which he completely ignored.
Just when Peyton was sure she couldn’t take the teasing even one more second, Noah moved his mouth up to her clit and flicked it with the tip of his tongue. Her response was immediate and intense.
She screamed, arched her back, and came.
The waves of her climax were so powerful it felt like every muscle in her body was spasming at the same time. She’d never experienced anything like it and wasn’t completely sure she’d survive even this first time.
She did, bucking and jerking as Noah tugged every trace of pleasure from her body. By the time he was done, Peyton was panting for breath. She should have been exhausted after coming so hard—and for so long—but she wasn’t. If anything, she felt more alive than she’d ever been.
When Noah got to his feet, Peyton gave him a smile and rolled onto her knees. “Okay, now it’s my turn.”
Noah didn’t need any more encouragement. She waited impatiently for him to unbuckle his belt and take off his dress pants, but when he finally shoved down his boxer briefs, the reveal was worth it. His cock was as beautiful as the rest of him—long, thick, and hard. She leaned forward and took him into her mouth, teasing with her tongue and sighing how delicious he tasted.
He slipped his hand in her long hair, urging her to take more of him, but also controlling her movements at the same time. She alternated between teasing licks and deeper swallows until Noah pulled back with a husky groan. Peyton didn’t complain. As much as she’d like to make him come this way, she needed him inside her even more. There would be time for other games later.
Giving her a sexy grin, Noah opened the drawer of the nightstand and took out a condom. She watched as he rolled it on, then slid higher up on the bed, settling himself between her legs. He was so big and strong above her and she loved watching his muscles flex as he braced himself on one arm while slowly slipping inside her. Then all she could focus on was how amazing he felt. He filled her completely and as they moved together, her legs came up and wrapped around him, squeezing him tight and never wanting to let him go.
Noah pumped his hips slowly at first, his mouth coming down to cover hers with kisses that took her breath away. But soon, he began to move faster, his thrusts becoming more forceful. She tightened her arms and legs around him, urging him on even more, loving the feel of him moving inside her like this.
When she came, it was as mind-blowing as the first time, but this one felt even more special because Noah came with her, grunting as he buried his face in the curve of her neck and nipped her deliciously.
He thrust hard, plunging deep inside her and emptying himself completely. Then he flipped her over to rest comfortably on his chest. Being with him like this felt more right than anything in her life ever had.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
NOAH WOKE UP to the jarring sound of his phone ringing somewhere nearby. He rolled out of bed before his sleep-deprived mind got around to remembering his cell was out in the living room where he’d left it last night before carrying Peyton to bed.
He glanced over his shoulder at the amazing woman who’d totally flipped his world upside down last night. The sight of Peyton lying there with the sheet and blanket draped over her naked body, one hand reaching as if trying to recapture the warmth of his presence, took his breath away.
His phone rang again and he reluctantly dragged his gaze away from her and headed out of the bedroom. Noah wasn’t sure how many times they’d made love last night. At least three, not counting the
time they spent simply kissing. He’d never experienced a night like it before. But as amazing as the lovemaking had been, it was entirely possible it had been the quiet moments of conversation in between that were the most memorable for him.
They’d talked about stuff both silly and serious, with topics ranging from books she hoped to write one day to exotic countries he wanted to take her to. Then he’d told Peyton about his work on the SEAL team. Nothing specific or classified, but he’d opened up and shared stories of some of the places he’d been and things he’d seen. The fact that he was able to talk to her about that part of his life—even if it was in a heavily censored kind of way—meant everything to him. It made him think that maybe this thing between them could work.
Noah found his phone on the coffee table where he’d left it, picking it up but not recognizing the number. He thumbed the button to answer it anyway. Too many people had his number to ignore the call.
“Bradley,” he said quietly, not wanting to wake Peyton.
“Noah, it’s Dwayne,” came the rumble of a deep voice. “Sorry to call you so early, especially after the night you had, but I thought you’d want to know that we caught the other kidnapper from last night. Uniform officers are bringing him to the Central Division station as we speak.”
That was the one part of last night he’d happily forget if he could. Just thinking about those assholes dragging Peyton into that van made his heart thump like a racehorse. Which was kind of crazy, considering all the near-death experiences he’d been through.
“How’d you catch the guy so fast?” he asked.
There was a chuckle from the other end of the phone. “Turns out our kidnapping suspect isn’t the brightest bulb in the box. We found the van in a parking lot in Encanto. One of our K9 teams tracked the man right to his apartment complex less than four blocks away. We took him into custody without any problems as soon as he opened the door.”
