by S. K. Ervin
"Start her up." Noah urged, when they were buckled in.
Starting the car, she felt the engine purr beneath her and closed her eyes in ecstasy. It was orgasmic. Truly. She opened her eyes and looked at Noah. His eyes were crinkled with amusement and something else she couldn't name.
"Shall we?" He asked when the garage door was fully opened.
Seatbelts on, mirrors and seats adjusted, Alexis eased the car out slowly onto the driveway and then the street.
"You can take her up as much as you want. This road’s straight for about 5 miles or so and there are hardly any police out at this time."
She didn't need to be told twice. Stepping on the gas, the car jetted out hitting 100, in seconds and kept climbing! She felt as if she was flying through space, the outside a dark blur. She hit 125 and shouted with the rush of adrenaline. Never in her life had she gone past 80mph and here she was now doing 140! She kept up to that speed for what seemed like hours. Alexis was so lost in the feeling, that time escaped her. And maybe a bit of her frustration.
"Ok, you can slow down now. A curve’s coming up." She heard Noah grunt.
She slowed the car down to the speed limit of 55mph and peeped under her lashes at Noah. His knuckles were white where he was still grasping the seat. For some odd reason, that made her feel immensely better. She knew one of his secrets. He wasn’t fearless, after all.
Alexis just parked the car at the front of her condo, leaving it running for him and was about to get out when he reached over and grabbed her hand.
“Alexis.”
She looked over at him.
His blue eyes shining with something that looked like concern, "Are we okay?"
The look in his eyes chipped the hurt away and she gave him a small smile, "Yes, Noah. We’re fine."
And with that, she got out and didn't protest when he walked her to the door.
"I’ll see you tomorrow, Alexis." And he kissed her cheek, lingering, savoring the feeling, before stepping away.
If she was shocked that he would continue to see her for his massage, she didn't show it. Nodding, she unlocked her door and stepped in, closing it without a backwards glance.
If she would've looked back, she would've been tempted to bypass their new 'friendship'.
With a long sigh, Alexis prepared herself for bed and thought about the torture she was sure to face for the next two weeks.
The torture of seeing a half-naked Noah draped across her massage table. Being so close and touching him, without actually 'touching' him in the way that she yearned was going to be torture to her mind and body.
Oh well, something was better than nothing. Right?
And with that thought, she smirked, a plan formed in her mind.
If it was a challenge he wanted... a challenge he would get.
A battle of lust vs. will power.
She wanted him more than anything...and she knew he wanted her too. She would find out why he held himself back and she would fix it.
She wouldn't give up without a fight.
With her plan cemented, Alexis fell into a deep sleep with a smile on her face.
Chapter Seven
"Your 7pm appointment has arrived!" Katie squeaked the excited whisper, nodding over to the man leaning again the wall with one foot hooked across the other.
Noah was looking out the window as he finished his phone call.
Alexis grinned. And so it begins.
"Good evening, Noah. It’s nice to see you again." She greeted him, smiling.
He smiled as he turned toward her and stopped dead in his tracks, the smile dropping from his face as his eyes traveled hungrily down her body, eye-fucking her without mercy.
Today she wore her red knee length skirt and cream corset that cradled her luscious curves. Curves he definitely noticed, a heated spark flashing through his eyes.
Her smile sweetened and her voice filled with pure innocence, "I’m ready when you are."
Noah closed his eyes, desperately summoning patience, then looked at her warily, studying her face for any sign of mischief. When he found none, he nodded, following her to the massage room.
"You know the drill. Clothes off, face up..." She instructed.
He cleared his throat, "Just my back and shoulders today."
She nodded, "No problem."
Heading out the door, Alexis allowed herself a quick breath of courage. She could do this. She would do this. There was no other choice. Noah Kane came hurling into her life at full force and she wanted him. Badly. Not for his money, not for his looks, though they sure as hell didn't hurt...but, there was a deeper part of him that connected with her, a part that called out to her. And she was going answer that call. For both of their sakes. He needed her to save him from himself, whether he acknowledged it or not.
She allowed a few minutes to pass, before knocking and stepping inside.
Noah was lying flat on his stomach, face cradled in the open, oval headrest.
"I'll begin." Alexis told him, rubbing the oil in her hands, warming it in the process.
When she touched his shoulders, he noticeably tensed up.
"Relax..." She whispered in his ear and proceeded to give him a mind-blowing, groan-inducing massage.
Alexis knew her touch affected him, but she hoped it would be enough to break the out layer of his fortified stubbornness.
When she finished his shoulders, she slid her hands slowly down his broad back to his narrow waist, ending at the top curve of his taut butt and then sliding down to the side of his hips, inching under, just barely.
He groaned deep in his throat, the muscles in his back bulged as his butt flexed.
That sound did unspeakable things to her insides, scorching her like the fires of hell would a sinner. Wanting to hear that oh-so-sexy sound again, she slid her hands back up and repeated the slow massage down his toned back, to the top of his butt and around his hips, inching under even further...
"Alexis..." He growled in warning.
The little red devil on her left shoulder clapped his hands with glee and urged her to do it again. Keeping her gloating inner goddess contained, she stopped and innocently asked, "Did I hit a sore spot?"
He was silent for an excruciatingly long minute before muttering, "Continue."
Now smirking openly, only because he couldn't see it, she continued her groan-inducing massage, her fingers worked its magic, kneading, coercing him to give in.
After 20 minutes, Alexis thought he was asleep, his breathing deep and rhythmic.
"Noah...” She whispered softly when she was finished.
He grunted his replied.
"I'll leave you now. Please take your time getting dressed. I’ll be waiting outside the door."
Alexis turned to leave, and was surprised when he grabbed her wrist, pulling her slightly toward him.
"I know what you are doing, Alexis." He accused harshly, swiftly sitting, the sheets falling low around his hips. His eyes were blazing with a heady mix of lust and anger. "It won't work."
Applying an irreproachable look on her face to cover the hurt she felt, Alexis pulled her wrist free and lifting her chin defiantly, "I don't know what you mean, Mr. Kane," she announced, saying his name slowly just to piss him off.
It worked.
She stared at the ticking muscles in his jaw in fascination.
Yup, he was definitely pissed.
Looking back up, into his eyes, she told him in her most professional manner, "I'll be outside the door." And turned to leave.
Alexis could feel the heat of his gaze on her. Looking back over her shoulders impishly, she bantered nonchalantly, "And please do hurry, I have another client after you."
She flicked her thick curls over her shoulders, and left him glaring after her, with a wide grin on her face.
I get under his skin. Good. Let the torture continue.
It wasn't professional to tell him to hurry, but he seemed to bring out her mischievous side. She really did have another cl
ient, though it was Katie. He didn't need to know all of that, she thought, smiling deviously to herself, as she poured cold water into a cup and waited for him to dress.
A split second later, Noah came out of the room, all arrogant, self-righteous and brooding. He’d left the top two buttons of his shirt unbuttoned, teasingly flaunting the top of his bronzed chest…just the way she liked.
She handed him the cup of cool water with shaky fingers and watched as he lifted it to his perfectly sculpted lips.
Alexis watched him through her long lashes, as he drank the cool water.
She hoped he couldn't tell the affect he had over her when she watched his throat convulse as he drank. She swallowed, her pulse picking up speed and her breathing escalated.
How can a man make drinking water, out of a paper cup, look so fucking sexy!
Dear lord he made her want to throw herself at him and say 'screw friendship, one night's enough!' But she stopped herself just in time.
She watched Noah crush the cup in his hands and throw it in the trash next to him, his eye's never leaving hers.
His stare was intense, unnerving and almost unbearable. The tension between them thickened the air, making it hard for her to breathe. She felt the power he held back, it emanated from him, reaching to her, circling her in its dark swirls, sinking into her nerve-wrecked body.
Tearing his gaze from hers, he turned to walk away.
Looking back over his shoulder at her, his steely blue gaze ensnared her. "Have fun with your next client."
The red little devil on her shoulder made her say, "Oh, I will."
She saw his eyes narrow and his jaw clench, before he turned and left.
Alexis walked into Eden with her head held high and her best friend on her arm. Cadence received another invite from Harper earlier that morning, this time from himself with a bouquet of Cadence's favorite flowers: orchids. Exotic ghost orchids.
Cadence accepted and afterward had pounded on Alexis's door and dragged her dress shopping. They spent nearly two hours searching for the perfect dresses.
Looking down at herself now and Alexis couldn't regret it.
The dress she had on, encompassed anything she’d ever owned in her entire life! And was probably the most expensive thing she would ever own. Damn Cadence’s expensive tastes in clothes!
Harper spotted them almost immediately and walked right over to them, his eyes divesting Cadence of her newly acquired dress. She looked at her best friend and nodded in approval. Cadence was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, especially in that dress that looked enchanting on her, her creamy brown skin resonated with perfection.
Alexis looked around and when she didn't see Noah, her heart plummeted.
Did he know she was going to be there and decided not to show up?
Cadence turned and saw her searching the through the crowd of people. "He's here, Lexi."
Nodding, Alexis excused herself and started to walk around.
A short, impeccably dressed blonde man with dark eyes intercepted her with a drink, "Would you care for a drink, Miss?"
Before she could decline, a silky deep voice interrupted, "No, she wouldn't."
The blonde man nodded, "Very well." And then he left.
Alexis slowly turned around to see who the man was that came to her rescue and had to bite the inside of her cheek.
It was Mateo, her dark angel. Her Lucifer.
Dear lord, he was even more handsome than she remembered.
But Noah’s more handsome, the devil on her shoulder whispered.
Shut up!
She smiled, "Hi, Mateo."
He bowed and offered her his arm. “Ms. Monroe.”
Alexis hesitated. Oh, what the hell! Then laughed. She was with Lucifer...in Eden...making references of hell.
"What's so funny?" He smiled at her, his dark eyes crinkling merrily in the corners, when she took his arm.
"I was just thinking about that drink, it looked delicious with the fruit in it." She evaded easily. Well, it did look delicious.
He chuckled, "That was a "Sin"tini, the signature drink of Eden. And if I were you, I would stay away from those."
"Why?" She asked curiously as they continued to walk.
He looked down at her, the smile turning devilish, "There are apple slices in it."
"And...?" She asked completely confused.
"And...If you accept and take a bite of the apple offered, you are giving your consent to 'sin'." He explained, wagging his eyebrows.
"What?!"
A few people turned their way and she blushed furiously.
"It’s one of the rules of Eden. It’s a safeguard so that everyone will know what’s being offered and what isn’t. If a person doesn’t take the bite, then they aren’t interested. If they do…" Mateo shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid.
Excitement dripped down Alexis’s spine. "That’s a bit different. Noah doesn’t do ordinary, does he?"
Obviously! The little devil on her shoulder muttered.
Mateo's eye's trapped her, the dark depths entrancing, seeking and she couldn't look away, "This..." he slowly waved a muscled arm around"...is a place where the wildest of fantasies come true, a place to fulfill anyone’s sensual desires…a place for sinning."
Alexis swallowed hard. She didn't know what to say. Her mind worked overtime to come up with some excuse to leave. She shouldn't be here. Especially with Lucifer. No...He wasn't Lucifer...he was Mateo. Taking a deep breath to calm her thrumming pulse, Alexis broke free of his hypnotic gaze.
"Noah didn't mention that." She confided.
Damn. Was that her voice sounding so weak? Mateo made her nervous. He was too damned sexy, for anyone’s good. In a bad way. He was the type of man that women lost their minds over. She didn’t want to be that woman. She wanted someone who was just as sexy and intense...but with less perfection maybe. Didn’t want a Mr. Perfect-in-every-way. She wanted someone… perfectly imperfect.
Like Noah, her little red devil whispered.
"I bet he didn't," Mateo laughed, “It’s the responsibility of the person who invited you, to go over the rules. Sometimes, things become a bit tangled in the webs we weave.”
Alexis thought about that statement, as Mateo guided her toward the dance floor. "Would you care to dance with me?"
Looking around to find someone she knew, so she could have an excuse to turn him down, politely of course, she saw no one. Turning back toward the irresistible, soul-snatching dark eyes of Mateo's, she nodded, "Sure."
A new song started playing, she didn't know who was singing but, the melody mixed with the sensual voice made it a heady and erotic song to dance to.
And dance they did! Mateo could dance his boxers off, but he kept it decent for her sake. He twirled her around again and that was when she saw him.
Surrounded by girls lying around him, in his lap, reaching inside his opened shirt, touching parts she felt should only be touched by her.
And they were feeding him...from their mouths!
Alexis stopped dancing, fury bouncing off of her like she never felt before.
"What's wrong?" Mateo questioned and then followed her gaze.
With a deep sigh, he gently touched her elbow. "Alexis...”
She heard him, but, ignored him. Noah must've felt her electric eyes, because he suddenly looked up, directly at her and froze. Fiery currents blazed off of her, bouncing off the walls and the room suddenly seemed to quiet down looking on with interest.
Noah brushed away the apple he’d been nibbling on and stood. As Noah walked their way, she heard Mateo whistle.
"Someone's not happy." He murmured cheerfully.
Noah stopped right in front of her, blocking out everyone except Mateo, who stood next to her.
"What are you doing here?" His voice chillingly soft as he scowled down at her.
Not allowing him to intimidate her, she scowled back, "Ask your cousin." And she turned to leave. He grabbed her arm, gripping it tight.
"Let go of me." She hissed back at him, trying to release her arm from his steely grip.
"Noah." Mateo warned. "Not here."
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, ignoring Mateo.
"Away from you and who knows, maybe I'll accept some Sintini's and bite some damn apples while I'm at it!" She leveled on him a scorching frown that could singe the hairs off a bear.
Noah inhaled sharply, clearly trying to calm himself and she took advantage and yanked her arm away, flung her long hair over her shoulders as she turned on her heels, heading toward the bar. She was there no more than a minute when she heard Mateo sit down next to her, chuckling in that sexy way of his.
"You really should do something about your temper sweetheart. It's sent Noah into a rage." He winked, still laughing.
"I don't care what he does." She lied, still fuming.
Mateo grinned, "Yes, it seems that you do." He waved over the bartender and ordered them two shots each.
Handing one to her, he held his up, "To new friends with fiery tempers!"
They clinked their glasses and downed the brown liquid.
It was smooth. Too smooth. The kind that would knock you on your ass without you realizing it.
Mateo handed her another, "And to the mighty who have fallen."
Whatever that means.
They clinked and drank.
Mmm, this one was even better.
Four more shots later, Mateo called a halt, "Ok, love, you've had enough for the night."
She nodded, the room moving in slow motion.
"Mateo...?" Her voice slurred.
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something...personal?" She whispered in a hushed voice, her eyes squinting so she could focus on him.
Dear Lord there are two of him! She couldn't handle two of him. One was hard enough!
Shaking her head to clear it, she regretted that movement and groaned as the room began to spin.
Alexis heard Mateo order her a glass of water and helped her to drink it.
