Her chest rose on an inhale and her whole body went soft, including her gaze as she lifted a hand to trace his jaw. “And you steal mine, Noah, especially when you say such sweet thing while looking at me like I’m more important than air.”
Holding her gaze, he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. “You are.”
Her fingers trembled against his skin. “I’m glad you finally realized it.” A smile tugged her lips. “Only took you twelve years.”
Her candor and honesty and humor was damn refreshing.
He laughed and rolled on top of her, his body tightening in response to her soft curves. “Better late than never.”
Then he proceeded to make up for some of those years.
***
Layla was having the best week of her life. After giving herself permission to let her guard down and explore the attraction sizzling between her and Noah, she discovered a whole new incredible world of intense feelings and immense satisfaction. He was a generous man, both in and out of bed. And talented. God, was he talented. The man didn’t seem satisfied unless he satisfied her several times before finally seeking his own release.
She was one lucky woman.
Noah no longer slept on her doorstep. Now, the hot handsome man occupied her bed when he wasn’t at the station. And when he was, he asked her to stay at his place for his peace of mind. He didn’t want her alone at night in her apartment if he wasn’t around. His concern touched something very deep inside, warming her from the inside out and it was strange, she felt like she was walking around on a cloud.
Except when he was at the station. Then her heart tended to be in her throat until he walked in his door.
And then there was Rescue. Yawning, she scratched the cat behind his ears and kissed his head. He adored Noah almost as much as Layla. “Guess we should get ready for work, too.” She released him to fill his dish with food.
He rubbed against her leg and licked her foot as a show of thanks before settling in to eat.
She’d already had her breakfast in bed today—Noah.
He just left to get ready for drill weekend, needing to report to the National Guard armory in a half hour. It was his first drill with his new unit, which was technically his former unit, a fact he seemed somewhat happy about, even though she got the sense he missed Nico and Jeremy and the others up north. Hopefully he’d have a chance to reunite with some of his old guard buddies, like his high school friend Tuck who a firefighter with Station 12.
That was the last thought she had when he knocked and walked into her apartment, dressed in his ACUs. Heat rushed through her body in a swift wave that knocked her knees with shocking intensity. Holy smokes! And here she thought he couldn’t look any hotter than in his turnout gear.
She was wrong.
Dead wrong.
The army combat uniform fit his fine form, emphasizing the width of his shoulders, broad chest, and conveying a commanding presence that surprisingly turned her on. Despite the warm smile that reached his eyes, Noah appeared tough, lethal, and powerful. And holy panty-meltings, her whole body quivered in response. She gripped the counter as her legs slackened like her jaw.
“Jesus, Layla, you have to stop looking at me like that.” He sucked in a breath, which only emphasized his fine physique.
Her body took over. She crossed the floor, stalking toward him.
Noah straightened, his gaze darkening as she neared. “Layla…”
Backing him up against the door, she plastered herself to that very fine physique, from chest to thigh…and everything in between—on a one-woman mission to taste her national guardsman. “You look so hot,” she said, rubbing up against him.
“Yeah?” His hands gripped her hips then slid around to slip under the nightshirt she’d tossed on her naked body when he left. He groaned and cupped her bare ass. “So do you.”
She trailed her hands up over his shoulders to grasp his head and pull his mouth down on hers for a hot, hungry, demanding kiss. The need coursing through her called the shots, making her bold and aggressive, and he didn’t seem to mind one bit.
A second later, he lifted her up and flipped them around, and she wasted no time wrapping her legs around his hips while he pressed her against the door. The man was pure bliss. He lifted her shirt up over her chest and released her mouth to devour her breasts with an intensity that had her calling out his name and reaching for his zipper. Shocked at how much she craved Noah who, thirty minutes earlier had her clinging to his back while she came with him in a fierce release, Layla embraced the need rippling through her and freed his thick erection.
“Back pocket,” he uttered against her throat while he slid a finger between her legs and stole what little breath she had left.
Somehow managing to find and cover him with the condom, Layla positioned him at her center then cried out in a low, throaty moan when he pushed all the way in.
“Damn, Layla…so good. Always so damn good.” He drove into her with quick, spot-on thrusts that had her there with little effort.
She pulled his mouth to hers and slid her tongue inside and he immediately matched the thrusting of their bodies. The sensation of her naked breasts scraping the crisp uniform covering his hard chest coupled with the thumb he brushed over her center set her off. Layla climaxed so strong the whole world faded, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see, could only feel ripples of pleasure spreading through her body as he grasped her hips and shoved in hard, following her over the edge with his own fierce release.
Somehow he held them upright, slumping against her, breathing hard against the crook of her neck while she drew air into her lungs.
When she recovered enough to find her mind, she kissed his temple. “Sorry. I only meant to take a kiss.”
He chuckled and drew back to grin down at her. “Sweetheart, you can kiss me any time you like.”
She laughed and brushed her thumb across his chin, a little sorry to note his overnight stubble was gone, but considering what just happened, she was inclined to forgive him for shaving before drill. “Good to know.”
He groaned. “You’re killing me.” Then he kissed her as he pulled out, catching her groan of protest at her loss. “I’ll be back in time for dinner tonight,” he said against her lips.
“Make sure you wear this because I want to take it off you.” She caressed his jaw, delighting in the fire that flashed through his eyes.
“Yes, ma’am.” He released her to disappear into her bathroom, then reappeared a minute later, his steps quick and purposeful. “I need to run. Someone’s got me late.”
With a wink and an all too quick kiss, he was gone.
Like her bones.
She was still slumped against the wall where he’d left her. Drawing on what little energy she amassed, Layla pushed from the wall and swiped a banana from the counter on the way to her bathroom for a quick shower to start her day.
Thirty-two minutes later, she set Rescue down in the cat room, noting Jade and Kelly had to be there since the regulars were already lounging around with fresh food and water in their bowls. Layla sat down on the floor and picked up one of the brushes. Without needing to say a word, Mango lumbered over and assumed the position, absolutely loving to get his fluffy body brushed. Before long, Puddin inched her way in, possibly loving the feel of the brush more than her buddy.
“You’d swear I never brushed them,” Kelly said, entering with two coffees, handing one to her as she lowered next to her on the floor.
“Thanks.” Layla sipped her coffee while continuing to brush Puddin thick gray fur. “They know a good thing. Who wouldn’t want to feel good all the time?”
She was living proof. Her body concurred with an unexpected shiver. She was more than happy to take all the good things Noah offered.
Did that make her a Noah whore? Yep.
Did she care? Nope.
“I hear ya.” Kelly nodded, picking up the other brush to work on Mango, who acted as if he hadn’t already had a brushing. “Alt
hough, there are some people who aren’t sure what they want. Kind of gets frustrating. You know?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I kind of was like that with Noah.”
“And since you made your decision?” The blonde’s blue eyes regarded her closely.
“I could kick myself in the butt for not realizing sooner.” She gave a half-shake of her head before sipping her coffee. No sense in crying over the past. “Sometimes it takes people longer. But, I’d like to think it’s worth the wait.”
For some reason she got the impression the younger woman needed reassurance over someone being cautious like Layla had been.
Kelly nodded as Jade and Tanya walked in.
“Oh, party in the cat room.” Her business partner grinned. “Looks like we’re in time to join in on the fun, Jade.”
The brunette smiled and sat cross-legged on the floor by Layla as Tanya plopped down by Kelly.
“We were just discussing Layla’s reluctance to give Noah a chance and how happy she is now that she did,” Kelly said, as she continued to brush a purring Mango.
Not really thrilled to stay on the subject of her stupidity, Layla shrugged. “It’s all good now.”
“Just good?” Tanya’s brow rose, amusement lighting her blue eyes. “One does not walk around with doe eyes, flush to her cheeks, and a perpetual grin on her face if things are just good, my friend.”
“Okay, extremely great,” Layla amended, with one of those grins curving her lips.
Tanya snorted as she lifted her coffee. “You’re a bitch, you know that?”
“Ah, hang in there.” She laughed. “I’m sure Noah has a buddy I can hook you up with, you know, to make up for all those blind dates you and my sister have subjected me to over the past few years.”
“See? You’re not only a bitch. You’re an ungrateful one.”
Kelly and Jade chuckled into their coffees as Layla laughed outright.
“Hey, you can’t call me ungrateful without seeing the guy I have Noah hook you up with. Guardsman or firefighter, you can’t go wrong.”
Tanya lifted a shoulder as her gaze grew thoughtful. “True. Okay, I’ll reserve that remark until you set me up.”
Layla reeled back. “So you’re willing?”
“Sure. Why not? I’m not doing so great on my own,” Tanya said. “The last guy I dated took me to play bingo with his mother.”
All four of them winced.
“Yeah, I think Noah can do better.” She nodded.
And if he found anyone close to comparing to him, then her friend was in for a treat. A guy who was fantastic in bed, was kind, liked cats, and best of all—lived by a moral code.
That was so damn rare and one of the main reasons Layla considered herself so lucky.
Chapter Seven
By mid-week, Noah’s frustration over not finding Layla’s admirer gripped tight. The threats had stopped for nearly a week, but this morning before he came in to start his rotation, he spotted Layla tossing another note in the trash.
His gut gripped tight. God, how many had she received and thrown away without him seeing? She insisted it was the only one.
“For someone finally getting his head out of his ass and hooking up with an amazing woman, you don’t look so happy, bro. What gives?” Robert asked as they were finishing their inspection of the SCBA gear for the incoming shift.
He shrugged. “I don’t think she’s taking those notes seriously.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah.” He put the last tank away and ran a hand through his hair. “Makes these rotations all the tougher.”
His brother blew out a breath. “Do you have a guard buddy who can keep an eye on the apartment?”
“Already done. Tuck hunkered down in the hall last night, and I had her stay at my place, too, just in case.” Still, he should be there. He should be the one to protect her.
“Tuck McAlister from Station 12?”
“Yeah.” Like him, the guardsman was also a firefighter, just for a different station. Tuck, and Noah had gone through high school, boot camp, college, C-PAT—Candidate Physical Ability Test to get into the Dallas Fire Department, then the required 468 hours of training by the Texas Commission on Fire Prevention. He trusted Tuck with his life.
A hand slapped his back. “Well, you left her in good hands,” Robert said. “And now you only have a few more minutes.”
He nodded to his brother. “Yeah. I need to see Cap on the way out.”
“So are you ready for Mom and Dad’s barbeque this weekend?”
“Yeah.” He laughed. His parents tended to average a barbeque a weekend until the weather turned in mid-November, so another one after their next rotation wasn’t a shock. “What’s it for this time?”
“Halloween, you idiot. I hope you have a costume. You know what a stickler mom is for her favorite holiday.”
Noah chuckled. “Yeah. Layla said she was going to take care of it.”
“Oh shit, Noah.” Robert frowned. “You’re screwed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Girls are romantic. She’s probably got you a frilly Mr. Darby costume, or that Gray guy.”
“You’re looking at it all wrong, Robert.” He shoulder-checked his brother on the way through the station. “I’m happy to dress in whatever Layla wants because she will more than likely have plans for me.”
The memory of her peeling his guard uniform off him before she ravished his body would live in his mind forever.
“Are we talking Halloween costumes?” Tory asked, falling into step with them along with Jax as they crossed the bay floor.
“Yeah.” He nodded.
Jax smiled. “Noah’s right. Always let the girl dress you.”
Robert stopped. “Shit. I never thought of that. Why the hell didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
Noah chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll make do. Christie worships you.”
“And vice versa.” His brother grinned. “Well, I can hardly wait until this weekend to see what Layla fantasizes about.”
Now Noah stopped. Shit. He was more than happy to roleplay anything his woman wanted, but he wasn’t thrilled with others knowing their business.
Too late now. He swallowed a curse and knocked on Captain Stewart’s door.
“Enter.”
He twisted the knob and stepped inside before shutting the door behind him. “Cap.”
“Donovan. What’s on your mind?” The man stiffened. “Did something happen with Layla?”
“No, other than I caught her tossing a note away yesterday morning.”
As expected, the older man’s gaze filled with alarm. “Why am I just hearing this now?”
“Because, sir, if we push her, she’s liable to shut us both out.”
Stewart rubbed his chin. “True.”
On the rotation that had followed the best damn night of his life, Noah had confessed his involvement with Layla to her godfather who had shocked the shit out of him with a smile and a handshake, telling him it was about damn time.
Apparently watching over Layla hadn’t been the older man’s only agenda.
Thrilled to have one less worry on his shoulders, he longed to do the same with Layla, so he stepped up to the desk and peered down at his boss. “I need to come clean with her, sir. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep seeing her without telling her what I’ve been doing.”
The captain rose and walked around the desk to set a hand on his shoulder. “What have you been doing that she doesn’t already know, son? You’re watching over her. She knows that.”
“Yeah, but she didn’t know that was why I had returned.”
“Like you said, she’s stubborn and I can’t help but feel she’ll shut us both out if she finds this out before we catch the guy. I’m just not willing to risk her safety over the deceit. Are you?”
Noah blew out a breath. When he put it that way… “No.”
“Just hang in there. If you have to, set a camera up in the hall. I’ll put in a ca
ll to the landlord and let you know when he gives us the okay.”
Relief edged some of the tightness from his shoulders. “Okay. You and your wife coming to my parent’s barbeque this weekend, sir?”
“You bet. Should be interesting trying to play horseshoes wearing a kilt.” The older man blanched. “The wife’s been watching too much of that damn highland show.”
Noah grinned as he exited the office and it was still curving his lips as he entered the apartment building with his duffle bag slung over his shoulders, smacking off his back as he took the stairs two at a time.
As soon as he crested the top, Tuck shoved to his feet, his sleeping bag already rolled up next to his small duffle. Of course, next to the tall cowboy most things appeared small. “Quiet night.”
Noah nodded and shook his buddy’s hand. “Thanks. I appreciate you bunking here.”
“No problem. You owe me one.” Tuck grinned, amusement sparking in his blue eyes.
Damn. He could only imagine what the guy will have him doing. Noah sensed mucking out the twelve horse stalls at the guy’s ranch in his future.
For keeping Layla safe? Well worth it.
“You got it.” He nodded and watched his buddy disappear down the stairs before he pulled out his key and quietly unlocked his door in case Layla was still sleeping.
God, he couldn’t wait to slip between the sheets with her.
***
When Layla left work on Friday evening she was met by Rescue…in the stairwell.
“What the heck?” She scooped the bugger up and headed to her apartment to find her door wide open. Alarm mingled with curiosity and frustration as she knocked on Noah’s door, knowing he would not be pleased if she ventured into her open apartment. And she wasn’t ready to call the police.
“Hey.” His voice was hoarse with sleep and his eyes were only half open as he yawned. “You done with work?”
“Yes, and I found Rescue on the stairs and that.” She moved aside to point to her open door.
He stiffened and his fatigue instantly disappeared as he pulled her into his apartment. “Stay here.” He grabbed an aluminum bat he kept by his door and strode down the hall to her place.
Dallas Fire & Rescue_Whine and Rescue Page 7
