Between Marriage and Merger

by Karen Booth

  “Touch me, Lily. Please.”

  Noah raised his hips off the couch as she teased his boxers past his hips and down his legs. She wasted no time taking him in her hand and stroking firmly, then wrapping her lips around him gently, sucking and grazing his taut skin with her tongue. Noah dug both hands into her hair, softly massaging her head, gathering the strands in a handful at the nape of her neck. He piled her hair on top of her head, holding it in place as he moaned with every pass. She felt so damn sexy and wanted right now, she wasn’t sure which way was up.

  “Come here, Lil. I need to kiss you.”

  She released the grip of her lips and stood before him. He sat forward and wrapped his hands around her waist, kissing her belly, then slipping his fingers into the waistband of her panties and shimmying them past her hips.

  She gazed down into Noah’s gorgeous green eyes and knew she was with exactly the right guy. “Make love to me, Noah. I want you. I need you.”

  He stood and took her hand. “Not here. The bedroom.” They rushed down the hall and Noah ducked into the bathroom, returning quickly with a condom.

  “Come here. I’ll put it on.” Lily was standing next to the bed, waiting for him.

  He walked up to her and they fell into another deep kiss as she took his length in her hands and took care of him. He reached behind her and finally unhooked her bra, taking her breasts into both hands and nearly sending her into oblivion with flicks of his tongue against her nipples. Heat rushed to the surface of her skin. Her center ached for him. She stretched out on the bed, wearing only her stockings.

  “I’d say that the ensemble is super sexy, but in reality, it’s you.” He took her foot and planted it in the center of his chest, trailing his fingers from her ankle to her knee. He bent her leg and kept going with his hand, down the inside of her thigh, making her need for him that much more pronounced. When he reached her center, she thought she might burst into flames. He remained standing, towering over her, caressing her apex with teasing, delicate circles. With every pass, she was closer to her climax, but that restless need for him wouldn’t go away.

  “Don’t make me wait any longer, Noah. It’s not nice.”

  He smiled and put his knee on the bed, spreading her legs wider with his hands. He positioned himself at her entrance and drove inside so slowly she thought she might pass out. Lily’s mind swirled with the pleasure, especially when she heard the primal moan that came from Noah’s sexy lips. He felt so perfect inside her, she didn’t want it to end. But the peak was already bearing down on her, just like Noah’s body weight against the ideal spot to send her over the edge. Every thrust he made was purposeful and strong. His breaths were hard and fast now, and his actions matched them.

  Her peak was coming at her so quick, she could almost see it in her mind. The pressure coiled inside her, it fought to wind in on itself further. She thought she couldn’t take it anymore right when the pleasure slammed into her and Noah followed almost immediately. He let his full weight rest on her as they kissed, their bodies damp with perspiration. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, pulling him closer when there was nowhere else for him to go, all while his body gave her relentless pulses of beautiful bliss.

  They collapsed on the bed together in a lovely, breathless tangle. The beauty of that moment didn’t fade, it only created an imagined glow around them. “That was amazing,” Lily muttered into Noah’s chest.

  “Amazing, yes, but I can do better. Give me ten minutes and a drink of water and I’m ready for more.”

  “Better?” Lily could hardly speak, let alone open her eyes. She instead breathed in Noah’s masculine scent and reveled in having made her way into his actual bed. Next, she’d have to focus on working her way into his heart. “I don’t know how you can possibly top that.”

  “You have no idea, darling.” He skimmed his fingers from her knee to her thigh, past her hip and up to her breast. He cupped it with his hand and pressed a hot, wet kiss against it.

  Lily arched her back. Everything Noah did when he touched her was exquisite. “I think you’re trying to unduly influence me.”

  “Absolutely. I intend to do nothing else all night.”

  Twelve

  Noah wasn’t sure he’d ever been so happy to wake up with a woman in his bed. He never wanted Lily to leave it, ever. He never wanted either of them to bother with clothes again, or work for that matter. He wondered if Sawyer would be okay with it if they both called in sick for the next month or two.

  Lily rolled over and opened one eye. “What time is it?”

  Noah stroked her arm gently. “A little after six. We have time to sleep if you want.” Touching her bare skin was bringing every nerve ending in his body to life. “Or we could do something else to spend the time.”

  A smile rolled across her lips. She’d closed her one open eye. “You’re a terrible influence on me. You realize that if we start, we’re going to have an awfully difficult time stopping, which will only end up making us late to work. As my boss, I would think that would be the last thing you would want.”

  He scooted closer until his naked skin was touching hers. The blood began to rush through his body, spreading heat, narrowing his ability to think about anything more than sex. “As the boss, I think I can approve any activity I deem appropriate, regardless of whether or not it makes us late to work.”

  “What if we can have the best of both worlds?” Her voice was still sleepy and sexy.

  “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

  “Well, we both need to take a shower, right?”

  Bingo. Noah was ready to launch himself out of bed. “I’ll start the water.”

  Lily laughed and threw his pillow across the room.

  Even after a long stay in the shower and a quick breakfast, Lily and Noah were only five minutes late for work. It felt a bit like they were conspiring when they stepped off the elevator, especially when they ran square into Sawyer.

  “Good morning,” he said, but there was nothing good-sounding about it.

  “What’s wrong?” Noah asked. Whatever it was, it couldn’t bring him down. His brother could hurl one hundred problems at him today and it wouldn’t matter. Noah reached for the door to their office.

  “No. Noah. Out here. We can’t talk in there.”

  “What the hell? Why not?”

  Sawyer ushered Noah and Lily to the far corner of the hall, next to an empty office. “Dad called me about an hour ago. He knows about the Hannafort deal. He knows the details of the term sheet and everything. He knows that we lied to Lyle about your engagement and he’s threatening to out us unless we meet his demands.”

  “Demands? What demands? He can’t do this. It’s blackmail.”

  “He wants the Grand Legacy back. I think this is what all of this BS has been about. He just couldn’t get over the fact that I inherited the hotel and not him.”

  “He can’t do this. It’s blackmail. We should call the police.”

  “And tell them what, exactly? He made the threat over a phone call. It’s not like I had a tape recorder going. And I dislike him as much as you do, but he’s our father. I don’t want him in jail.”

  I do. Noah forced himself to take deep breaths. There was a war being waged inside of him right now. He was furious with his father, but not just for what he was doing and what he was after. He was mad because he’d gone to Sawyer first. Everything always boiled down to Sawyer. “Why didn’t you call me the minute this happened?”

  “Have you even looked at your phone, Noah? I left you a voice mail.”

  Noah dug it out of his pocket. Sure enough, there was a notification for a missed call from his brother. “We have to call that security company. The one that specializes in corporate espionage.”

  “Already done. They’ll be here any minute.”

  Of course. Sawyer had everything under co
ntrol, as he always did. “What can we do in the meantime?”

  “Nothing. They told us to touch nothing. They don’t even want us going into the office.”

  The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. A handful of men and women wearing black pants and matching black shirts, all carrying armfuls of equipment stepped into the hall. Sawyer rushed over and introduced himself to one of the women, then waved over Noah.

  “We’ll do a full sweep of the office for listening devices and cameras,” the woman said. “We’ll also run diagnostics on every computer, looking for spyware.” She glanced down at Noah’s hand. “Is that a work laptop?”

  “Yes.”

  She reached down and took it from him. “I’ll need that, too.”

  “How long will this take?” Sawyer asked. At least he had enough sense to ask the question. Noah was still reeling. Lily was standing over in the corner, seeming equally confused.

  “Not long for an office of your size. A few hours. I’d go get a cup of coffee or something.”

  The woman opened the door to their office and her team followed her inside.

  “As if today couldn’t get any crazier, I’m supposed to meet Kendall at the obstetrician’s office in a half hour. You two should find some way to keep yourselves busy.”

  Now you tell me. Noah would’ve much preferred to be at home with Lily, back in the shower. “Okay.”

  “Call me if you find out anything. I hope to be back before they’re done.” Sawyer jabbed the button for the elevator. “Then we start strategizing on what to do about Dad.” He stepped on board and the doors closed behind him.

  Noah ran his hands through his hair as Lily approached him. “This is so weird.”

  She took his hand. “I’m sure it’ll all be fine. You and Sawyer have faced bigger challenges.”

  “Aren’t you the least bit worried about this? Your nest egg is on the line if the Hannafort deal falls through.”

  She nodded. “I know. I just don’t want to get all stressed out about something that might end up being nothing.” She popped up onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Now come on. Let’s go get that cup of coffee.”

  They took the stairs and strolled a block down to a corner coffee shop that had killer pastries. After ordering two lattes, a lemon poppy seed muffin and an almond scone, they grabbed one of the café tables in front of the window. “Are you worried?” Lily asked. “I don’t want you to be worried. You’re too handsome to worry.”

  Noah laughed, but it was born of exasperation. When would everything go right at once? He and Lily had made a big breakthrough last night, one that he’d never thought he would ever make. He’d never professed his feelings to any other woman. He’d not only never wanted to, he’d never had the feelings he had for Lily.

  “How are you so together right now?”

  She looked down at her coffee and gave it a stir. “You need me right now. I don’t know how else to be. I guess that’s what makes me a good employee.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “It’s also what makes you an amazing friend.” And what makes me love you. The words were right there in his head, but they were as foreign as a language he could neither read nor speak. He wanted to say them to her, but he was as unsure right now as he’d ever been. He knew he couldn’t take them back if he’d said them only out of weakness and ultimately couldn’t live up to them. Lily deserved better.

  She rubbed her thumb back and forth across the back of his hand. “You’re an amazing friend, too. And my favorite person to take a shower with.”

  He smiled and raised her hand. Her engagement ring hit his lips when he kissed her fingers. Could that ring ultimately end up meaning something? “I feel the same way.”

  Several moments of silence played out between them as they sipped coffee, ate and watched the other patrons in the café. Still, neither let go of the other’s hand. Once again, they were in this together. In so many ways, Lily was more important to their surviving this ordeal. Just like his mom had been the glue that kept the family together, Lily was the glue of the business. It all started and ended with her. And Noah was starting to think the same thing about his life. He couldn’t fathom the idea of not having Lily around.

  “We should probably head back, don’t you think?” he asked.

  “Feeling antsy?” Lily got up and put on her coat.

  “I want this resolved. That’s all. I’m tired of the turmoil.”

  “You and me both.”

  * * *

  The office looked like a war zone when Lily and Noah returned. The security team had taken everything apart, even going so far as to cut holes in walls, looking for listening devices. It was like something out of a spy movie. Sawyer was already back, and called Noah into his office.

  A burly, bearded man from the security team cornered Lily. “I’m going to need you to stay right here.” He pointed to one of the chairs in the reception area.

  “But I have work to do.”

  “I understand, but we’re still sorting things out. I can’t allow you to touch your computer or answer the phones, either.”

  Lily plopped down into the seat. What in the world was going on? She racked her brain, wondering if she somehow knew the source of the leak. A member of the cleaning crew? The guy who came in to fix the copier? At least she knew it wasn’t her, even if she had a very stern man fifteen feet away from her, staring her down, that made her feel as though she might have been responsible.

  The entire premise of Sawyer and Noah’s father having an inside source was so ridiculous to begin with. How could a parent go around purposely sabotaging his own children? Because of professional jealousy? Because they demanded their independence? It was terrible.

  Sawyer’s office door opened. “Lily. We need you to come in now.”

  She stood, but with every step, her heart beat a little more fiercely. It was hard not to feel like this was a walk to the gallows.

  “Please, Lily. Sit down,” Sawyer said when she’d stepped inside.

  She did as instructed, which meant she was sitting right next to Noah. He turned and looked at her, his expression inexplicable. “Please tell me you didn’t do it.”

  “Noah. Stop.” Sawyer’s tone made Lily jump.

  “No, Sawyer. I can’t. I can’t even stomach what you’re about to say to her.”

  “We have our evidence. We have to move forward.”

  “Does somebody want to tell me what’s going on?” Lily asked, wishing it was appropriate for her to hold hands with Noah. She needed him right now.

  Sawyer looked right at her. “We need you to be completely honest with everything we’re about to ask you. If you can’t be forthcoming with the facts, we’ll have no choice but to press charges and talk to the police.”

  “The police?” It felt as if the ground beneath her had cracked open and she was plummeting through space. “Whatever it is that you’re about to ask me, I will of course tell you everything I know. I would never hide anything from either of you.”

  “I told you, Sawyer. Lily would never do what you’re about to accuse her of.” The desperation in Noah’s voice only made Lily feel worse.

  “Will you let me get through this?” Sawyer asked. “Lily, we need you to tell us everything about your involvement with our father.”

  “I don’t understand. I don’t even know him.”

  A dismissive breath left Noah’s lips. “Sawyer. This is absurd.” Noah turned to her and the look in his eyes was full of remorse. Lily had never seen that expression. He was too laid-back to get worked up about much, which was part of why the entire morning had been so hard to deal with. “Your computer is the source of the leak.”

  “What? No. How is that possible?”

  “Every night, the contents of your email folders are uploaded to a server owned by one of our dad’s businesses
. That’s how he’s been one step ahead of us this whole time, going all the way back to the renovation of the Grand Legacy.”

  Lily didn’t know what to say. She was in shock. “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. I would never do that. You have to believe me.”

  Sawyer crossed his arms over his chest and sat back in his chair. “Well, I don’t know what to say. Until we straighten this out, you’re on leave. I can’t even allow you to look at your computer or touch anything before you leave the office. Noah will walk you out.”

  Lily stood and did as she was told, but she was on autopilot. As soon as they were out of Sawyer’s office, she grabbed Noah’s arm. “Please. You have to believe me. Do you honestly think I could do such a thing?”

  “I do believe you, but this is an impossible situation right now. All evidence points to you. Sawyer seems convinced.”

  All she could think about was everything that had happened in the office for the last two years. She’d feared that things would end badly if she got involved with Noah, and that had come to fruition, but not in the way she’d thought it would. “Doesn’t everything I’ve done for Locke and Locke count for anything?”

  “Of course it does. But it also incriminates you. The transmissions started the week you began working here. And you made yourself indispensable, which put you right in the thick of some very high-level meetings.”

  Lily’s brain was working double time to find some bit of information that could exonerate her. “If I was working for your dad, why would I have agreed to move in with you to save the deal? I could’ve let the Hannafort deal fall apart right then and there.”

  “But that’s not his true motive. He doesn’t want the story to come out. He wants the Grand Legacy. He always has. He tried to make our lives miserable through that project in the hopes that we would abandon it.”