by Ali Parker
A loud moan tore out of me as my hands flew to his head. My fingers twisted into his hair, pulling and tugging as he licked me until my very DNA strands were threatening to come apart.
My orgasm started as a giant explosion deep inside me, radiating from my belly button down to my clit. Toes curling, it was like a volcanic eruption of pleasure coursing through me and melting me. I lost track of time and sense, and I forgot my own name as I screamed the only word I could remember. “Noah!”
When I finally felt myself coming down, I expected Noah to stop. He didn’t.
“Noah.” I panted, my back arching and my hands blindly groping his neck and shoulders. “You have to stop. I can’t—”
“Yes, you can. Come on, Mags. Give me one more. You taste so fucking good. I need more. One more, baby.”
It turned out he was right. I could.
Using his mouth and his hands, he had me screaming his name again within a matter of minutes. My second orgasm sent me hurtling toward the stars and flying around the Milky Way before it finally subsided.
“Seriously, your orgasms are the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever experienced.” Noah grinned once I had blinked the white spots from my vision. “Think you got one more in there?”
I shook my head, my limbs numb and useless. He smirked as he reached for a condom. He rolled it on while I tried to catch my breath.
“I’m sure I can do something about that,” he said.
Now that I was a little more lucid again, I noticed how strained his voice was. His forehead was dotted with beads of sweat, and his cock jumped when I looked down at it.
An unexpected surge of desire spread through me, proving that I was becoming a sex-crazed fiend with Noah, if I felt something like that just after the two most amazing orgasms of my life.
Propping myself up on my elbow, I beckoned to him and opened my legs as far as they would go. “You might be right, but let me take care of you first, Noah.”
He looked like he was about to argue but then lowered his body over mine and lined himself up with my entrance. “Only if you come with me, baby. Please come with me?”
I nodded because sex-crazed fiend that I now was, my clit pulsed at the feel of him so close to her. Jeez, girl.
Noah gritted his teeth when he sank into me, burying himself to the hilt. “Oh. Fuck. Maggie.”
My hands clung to his back, my hips moving of their own accord. Sealing his lips over mine, he kissed me deeply as he began to thrust.
I tasted myself on his lips, but I was so lost in him that I didn’t even mind. Noah didn’t stop kissing me as he worked us both closer and closer to release. The orgasm brewing in my belly felt like it was going to be the mother of them all.
And when it finally hit, that was exactly what it was. My body trembled, and I pulsed around him, clenching him with my inner walls.
Noah still didn’t stop kissing me but released a low groan into my mouth as his thrusts became more erratic. I felt his muscles tense, and then he was following me over the edge.
We collapsed in a pile of limbs after, breathing heavily. Neither of us said anything for a couple of long minutes. As we lay there and waited for our heartrates to slow and our breathing to normalize, we just looked into each other’s eyes.
“Fully realizing that there are other words that exist in the English language, I’m going to say this one again anyway. Wow. Just wow.” I pressed a kiss to Noah’s chest and smiled at him.
He stroked my back with gentle brushes of his fingertips. The corner of his mouth pulled into a lopsided grin. “Maybe we shouldn’t go to the gala. I’d much rather spend the weekend in bed with you.”
Giving his side a light shove, I laughed and sat up. “Nope. We’re going. Come on. Get your lazy butt out of bed. We need to get dressed.”
“Are you sure I can’t convince you that it’s much more fun to stay here?” I shivered when his hand fell to my thigh and started a slow ascent.
Firmly pressing my hand down on his to stop him, I shot him a look as I shook my head. “Nope. I’ve never been to a gala before. I’m excited to get to see how the other half lives, and I’m excited to be going somewhere with you, so we’re going.”
A mock exasperated sigh parted his lips, but he finally sat up too. “When you put it like that, how can I say no?”
“Easy.” I laughed and hopped off the bed, looking at him over my shoulder as I walked to my suitcase. “You can’t. Now get up and get ready to be wowed. I didn’t pack my best party dress for nothing.”
Chapter 23
Noah
“Have I mentioned that you look absolutely ravishing tonight?” I murmured into Maggie’s ear, placing my hand over hers in the crook of my arm.
Maggie had disappeared into the bathroom after we’d finally gotten out of bed. I’d been very tempted to stay right there, but she wouldn’t have it. Also, my public-relations team would have had a collective coronary episode if I hadn’t showed up to this event.
Eventually, I’d managed to convince myself to join her in the bathroom, hoping I might still catch her in the shower. I hadn’t.
She’d graciously allowed me to get cleaned up before she booted me out again. It had felt surprisingly natural and comfortable to take a shower while she stood in front of the mirror in her robe, fiddling with her hair and applying her makeup.
After my shower, I’d smacked a kiss to her lips and grinned like a madman when she told me to get out. I’d whistled my way through getting ready, and when she’d finally stepped out of the bathroom, I’d come this close to tearing my tux off again.
In a figure-hugging black dress, sky-high heels that offered a peep of her cute toes, and carefully done hair and makeup, Maggie looked incredible. Her dress came to her ankles, but it clung to her in a way that perfectly accentuated every curve.
The neckline was low enough to show off the swell of her breasts without being inappropriate. Right above her cleavage hung an ornate silver locket studded with small diamonds, a matching bracelet surrounding one delicate wrist.
She’d braided her hair in some intricate way, and the thick golden-brown rope hung over one shoulder. Coal lined those emerald eyes and made them look huge and bright.
They looked up into my eyes now, a soft smile playing on her glossy lips. “Told you to get ready to be wowed.”
We stepped past a suited host manning the entrance to the gala after showing him our invitation, and Maggie released a low whistle as her eyes swept across the ballroom. “This is really something.”
I nodded my agreement. “Yes, it is.”
The vast ballroom was done up in the maroon and gold colors of the Commerce Club, with a long bar spanning one wall of the space and a large dance floor in the center. Round tables with heavy linen table clothes were placed around the dance floor, heavy golden candlesticks decorating each one.
There was a stage with a podium against the wall across from the bar, but I knew that wouldn’t be used much tonight. Someone would probably say a few words to welcome the guests, but there were no presentations until tomorrow.
To my surprise, I’d received a call asking me to make a presentation too. Apparently, there was interest in the water filtration system, but the esteemed members of the Commerce Club wanted to hear about it from me personally.
I’d nearly rolled my eyes at the pretentiousness of the request, but then I’d remembered that being asked to speak at Commerce Club events was not only an honor, but one that could do wonders for my reputation.
As we walked into the ballroom, Maggie let go of my arm to accept a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. I took one too, then placed my free hand on the small of Maggie’s back.
I planned on keeping her close tonight. Not just because all the other men were here with their wives, but because I felt comfortable with her on my arm. Considering the way she shifted and curled slightly into me, I was willing to venture a guess that she felt the same with me.
“Noah Sims,” an older
man with silver hair and a hooked nose said as he approached us. His thin lips curved into a watery smile and his hand came out to meet mine. “Carter Wild, president of the Commerce Club. Thank you for joining us this evening.”
He swept a hand out to the elegant older lady following close behind him. “This is my wife, Marguerite.”
She held out a dainty hand, and I pressed a kiss to the back of it after shaking with her husband. “Thank you for the invitation. May I present Maggie Hampton, light of my life?”
Maggie looked stunned but held her own throughout the introductions. When Carter and Marguerite moved on to greet the next arriving guests, she arched an eyebrow. “What was that all about?”
“It’s the truth.” I shrugged, guiding her to the bar with my hand on her back again.
She looked like she was about to say something when another couple approached us. Another round of introductions later, we finally got our drinks.
Couple after couple came over to introduce themselves, staying with us for a few minutes before moving on. Maggie took a sip of her wine when the latest couple left us alone. “These people aren’t as unpleasant or stuffy as I was expecting them to be.”
“Give them time,” I said. “They might exceed your expectations once you really start getting to know them.” I winked. “You’re right, though. So far, so good.”
Glass clinking from the podium drew our attention to Carter standing behind it with a crystal glass in hand. He waited for everyone to quieten down before clearing his throat and making a drawn-out welcome speech.
There was a polite smattering of applause when he was done, and waiters started ushering us to our tables for dinner to be served. I linked arms with Maggie and gave hers a squeeze. “Still think they’re not stuffy? He just went on about the Club’s history for fifteen minutes.”
She chuckled. “True, but it is their event, so I suppose it was to be expected.”
“Exactly, it’s their event. Don’t you think they’re all aware of its history?”
“Good point.” She sat down in the chair I pulled out for her when we reached our table. We exchanged a surprised look when we realized we were seated with Carter and several other high-ranking members of the club.
Carter jumped right in as soon as the appetizers were served, ignoring the Salmon Rillettes on the tiny plate in front of him. “So, Noah, I believe your product is really breaking into the Asian markets. I’ve been watching its performance, and I must say, I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.” Glancing longingly down at my food, I set my cutlery down and turned my focus on Carter and the vice president of the Club sitting beside him.
I managed only a few more bites in between their questions before our plates were taken away. Maggie chatted to the woman sitting beside her, whose name I couldn’t remember for the life of me, but her hand rested on my thigh, and her fingers were absently stroking the inside of it.
She was really making me wish we’d stayed in the room, but somehow, I wasn’t so distracted that it would be obvious what she was doing. I didn’t think she was trying to distract me, but having her hand so close to my—
“We’d be interested in hearing more about your vision for the company going forward and any possible expansion plans you have,” Carter said, dragging me back into the conversation. “After dinner, let’s have a drink out on the balcony.”
It wasn’t a question or a suggestion. It was a statement. I didn’t want to leave Maggie alone, but I could hardly discuss it with her in front of them all.
Feeling a reassuring squeeze of her hand, I nodded. “Sure, we can do that.”
“Excellent.” Carter grinned and slung his arm over the back of Marguerite’s chair. “Let’s stop boring the ladies with all this business talk. Tell us, Noah. How long have you and Maggie been together?”
“It feels like forever,” I said honestly. “We met when we were kids, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Maggie shot me a look but then smiled sweetly at the older couples. “Of course, it took Noah years to finally admit he had a crush on me, and we only rekindled our relationship recently.”
Both facts were true, but the admission of my crush and the rekindling of our relationship had more than a decade between them. Maggie didn’t explain. She just kept smiling and answering questions from the wives.
Given that I’d only told her earlier that we had to make it look like we were in a relationship, she really hadn’t had much time to prepare. She was handling the wives like a boss, though. No one would think when they got up from this table that we hadn’t even had the talk about what was going on between us yet.
Marguerite hung on her every word but kept commenting about how lovely it was that she would never have to worry about money and how our children would have financial security. Maggie looked surprised but nodded and smiled and talked about knowing how difficult it was to struggle with making ends meet.
“We were once young and in love just like you,” Marguerite said before shifting in her seat to place a gentle hand on Carter’s cheek and leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his lips. “Now we’re just old and in love. It’s been quite a ride, but it’s definitely been worth all the late nights that Carter’s worked and all the weekends he couldn’t be at home.”
If Carter was offended or surprised by what his wife was saying, he didn’t show it. He sat with a wide, indulgent grin on his face and nodded along with his wife, even as he spoke quietly to his second in command.
Dinner was served, thankfully interrupting the awkward direction the conversation had been headed in. The food was delicious, the chicken not even a little bit dry. Conversation around the table was mostly made by the Club members, catching up on each other’s latest acquisitions, investments, and, occasionally, families.
After dinner, Carter had barely put his cutlery down when he stood up. “Gentlemen, shall we retire to the balcony? We have a bit of a break before dessert is served.”
Maggie and I had joined hands before dinner started, and although eating had been a challenge at times, we’d kept them there. When she released my hand, I knew it was her discreet way of telling me to go.
“Let’s go.” I planted a soft, lingering kiss on Maggie’s lips, once again getting so caught up in her that I almost forget there were eight people watching us.
She broke the kiss first, giggled, and pushed me away, mouthing, “Go, I’m fine.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few,” I said softly enough that only she could hear me. Then I straightened up.
The other men walked ahead of us, but Carter waited for me, and we walked to the balcony together. He let out a wistful sigh, tossing a look at the table over his shoulder before it was out of sight. “You know, son, you should keep that girl close. Even if she is with you for your money, there’s no hiding that she cares about you, too. It’s difficult for men like us to find that in a woman.”
I didn’t even know what to say to that. Instead of answering him, I also looked back at our table. Maggie caught my eye and smiled but was already talking to the woman beside her again.
Feeling a frown settle between my eyebrows, I thought back to dinner and how she had replied to Marguerite’s comments. I hadn’t thought anything about it at the time, but now?
Fuck. Have I been wrong about her? Is she really one of those girls?
I didn’t want to think that she was, but there had to be a reason Carter would say something like that. I just had to figure out what it was.
Chapter 24
Maggie
“You bagged a good one, dear,” Marguerite said as the men left the table. She twirled a string of pearls around her index finger and smiled when her husband looked back at us. “His net worth is going to be more than even my Carter’s, if his company continues on its current trajectory. They think it will, you know? That’s why they invited him, to bring him into the fold early.”
Sighing internally as I tried to think of any way to respond to
that without offending the woman and ruining everything for Noah, I looked away from her. My eyes landed on Noah’s. He was looking at the table with a strange frown on his face as he walked away with her husband.
A smile curved on my lips when my eyes met his. I couldn’t help it. Being here with him, just being with him actually, was making me lose control of my motor functions. My lips acted on their own, unable to keep from lifting whenever I saw him—which was all the time for this weekend.
I was half afraid I looked like a lovestruck fool, but when I glanced back at Marguerite, she didn’t even seem to realize that she’d lost me for a second. “If he plays his cards right this weekend, I think you’ll see positive growth in his worth as early as next week. You must be thrilled.”
“I will be very happy for him.” I chose my words carefully. “His company is very important to him, and they do great charitable work as well.”
She waved her hand with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “Everyone has to be socially responsible these days. There’s so much pressure on the big companies to donate and give back. Thankfully, Carter hasn’t had to compromise on our lifestyle because of it. I’m sure Noah won’t either.”
Jesus. This woman was all about her husband’s money. It didn’t matter where I tried to steer the conversation to. It always came back to that.
“I’m not worried about that, to be honest.” Words were coming to me more freely now. I was still being careful, but I couldn’t let her walk away from this table believing that I was interested in Noah for his money.
This event was important to him, and I understood why. We had to present a united front, one in which they got to see the real Noah and not the playboy bachelor he was sometimes made out to be.
“I’m really proud of the charitable work Noah’s company does.” I might only have found out about it earlier today, but I couldn’t deny there had been a surge of warmth through me when I realized that I really had been so wrong about him when we’d first had coffee. “I’m not with him for his money. He can do with it whatever he wants to. In fact, on our first date, he paid for dinner with quarters he fished out of his ashtray.”
