“What about Alexis?” Noah asked.
Liv and Mack shared a pitying glance.
“What?” Noah growled.
“She’s driving herself,” Mack said.
* * *
* * *
“You gonna be grumpy like this all weekend?”
Mack had the audacity to sound annoyed when he asked Noah the question two hours later. Once again, Noah found himself stuffed uncomfortably in the middle seat of a back seat as a chauffeur who picked them up from the airport drove them to the spa.
“Probably,” Noah admitted. “You could have warned me that Alexis wasn’t taking the plane with the rest of us.”
Mack shrugged. “I assumed you knew.”
The car slowed and pulled into the parking lot of a brick building. A sign near the driveway read OASIS DAY SPA. The woman at the reception desk blinked and swallowed hard when they walked in.
“Can I help you?”
Mack greeted her with one of his signature grins. “We have reservations under the name Mack. Bachelor party.”
The woman blinked again. “When I saw on the schedule that we had a bachelor party coming in today, I figured it was a mistake and someone just left off the -ette part.”
“Men need pampering too.”
She winked. “Saving the strip clubs for later, huh?”
Mack stiffened. “No strip clubs. I don’t like the idea of using my impending wedding as an excuse to sexually objectify women as if this is my last gasp of freedom.”
The woman cleared her throat. “Of course. My apologies.” She looked back down at her computer. “It says here you are each scheduled for a massage and a facial. Would anyone like to add a third treatment for a small upcharge?”
The Russian nodded. “I would like pedicure.”
Noah slapped his hand over the Russian’s mouth. “Nope. We’re all good.”
The Russian pouted. “My feet take beating in ice skates.”
“No one gets paid enough to touch your feet, dude.”
The woman stared unblinkingly for a moment before finding her voice again. “Right. Okay. Well, you gentlemen are all set. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to our changing room and lounge, where you can wait for your massage therapists.”
They followed her down a dark hallway covered in deep red wallpaper and lined with potted palms. Plush carpet absorbed their footfalls. The hallway formed a T at the end, where a table displayed a single orchid next to a bubbling tabletop fountain. The woman turned left, and they once again followed in a single-file line.
She paused outside a door on the left and spoke in a soft voice. “You can use any open locker,” she explained. “Clean towels and robes are folded on the bench in front of the lockers. When you’re ready, you can exit through the opposite door to the lounge. Help yourself to refreshments. Your therapist will meet you there.”
With one last skeptical look at the Russian, she turned and disappeared. Probably to warn whoever was unlucky enough to draw the short stick.
The locker room was only slightly more lit than the hallway and boasted the same dark red wallpaper. Incense burned on a sink-lined counter, and Noah’s nose immediately began to drip. Great.
The guys all jostled for a locker, and then, at the same time, grew quiet.
“Wait,” Colton said. “Are we supposed to shower first?”
“I don’t think so,” Mack said, but he sounded unsure.
“Haven’t you ever gotten a massage before?” Noah asked him.
“No.” He stared at the towel and robe in front of his locker.
“I feel like we should shower first,” his brother, Liam, said.
Noah shook his head. “Didn’t you guys shower this morning?”
“Yeah, but that was hours ago, and . . .” Mack gnawed his lip. “They’re going to be touching us.”
“Maybe someone should go ask that woman if we’re supposed to shower,” Del offered.
“No,” Mack hissed. “We’ll look like idiots.”
“We already look like idiots,” Noah said.
Mack looked around. “Seriously? None of us have ever done this before?”
Malcolm shrugged. “My massages have all been by athletic trainers.”
Del and Gavin nodded in agreement. “Same,” Gavin said.
Noah sat down on the bench in front of his locker. “Look, she didn’t say anything about showering, so I’m not showering.” He whipped his shirt over his head.
“Wait,” Colton breathed. “Shit. Are we supposed to be naked?”
“I . . . I don’t know,” Noah said. “I think so.”
“Like, bare-ass naked?”
“Wait,” Gavin said. “Thea gets massages a lot. Let me text her.”
The guys all waited as Gavin hammered out a text to his wife. A moment passed before he looked up. “She sent a laughing face emoji.”
“Does that mean of course you’re supposed to shower, dumbass, or . . .”
“I don’t know.” Gavin texted again, and, again, they waited for a response. He looked up. “She said no to a shower, unless you’re stinky.”
The Russian stuck out his bottom lip and grabbed a towel. “I will shower.”
“What about the naked part?”
Gavin texted the question. Then, “She said you can leave your underwear on if you want but most people get naked.”
Colton winced. “I sort of feel like the Russian shouldn’t be naked.”
Del looked panicked. “So we, like, just lie there with our balls in the wind?”
“I think they’ll put a blanket over us,” Noah said.
Now Gavin looked panicked. “What if we fart?”
Noah swallowed hard. “Does that happen?”
“She’s gonna be pushing on things,” Gavin said. “It could shake something loose.”
Del snorted. “That’s stupid. Do you accidentally fart during sex?”
There was a mixed chorus of nos and at least two yeses.
“Who the fuck said yes?” Mack demanded.
No one owned up to it.
“Oh shit,” Colton breathed.
They swiveled to look at him. He’d paled three shades.
“What?” Noah demanded.
He gulped. “What if we get wood?”
The silence in the room was tense and heavy.
“Does—” Noah swallowed. “Does that happen?”
Colton made an Are you kidding? face. “We’re going to be naked, and a woman is going to be touching us.”
“But it’s not that kind of touching.”
“Tell that to your dick,” Colton said.
Gavin hugged his torso. “I’d rather fart.”
“This is a mistake,” Del said. “Maybe we should be getting pedicures.”
“It’s too late now!” Mack said.
The Russian emerged from the shower with a towel twined atop his head. His robe was at least three sizes too small and barely covered him in front. One misstep, and they’d all be getting an eyeful of his balls.
He sniffed his arm. “I smell like flowers.”
“We’re going to be late,” Mack groaned. “Just get changed.”
Everyone began to shed their clothes and stuff them in their lockers. Noah debated a full five seconds before pulling his boxer briefs off. Fuck it. He was going full Monty. He donned the robe, tied it around his waist, and followed the guys into the lounge. The Russian made a beeline for the refreshments table. He grabbed two cucumbers from a tray, trudged to a recliner, kicked back, and set the cucumbers on his closed eyes.
Noah looked at Colton. “Are we supposed to do that?”
Colton shrugged. “If we were supposed to eat them, wouldn’t there be dip or something? Who just eats a slice of cucumber without, like, ranch dr
essing or something?”
“There are carrots, too, though,” Del said. “Where the hell are we supposed to put those?”
Noah dropped into a chair by the fireplace. A moment passed, and then Malcolm joined him.
“You okay?”
Noah stared into the flames. “Great.”
Malcolm clasped his hands between his knees and stared into the fire. “You figure anything out this week?”
“Yeah,” Noah laughed with no amount of joy. “I can’t live without her.”
“Is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
Malcolm paused before answering. “I guess you’ll find out, won’t you?”
For once, Noah was not reassured.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“You look amazing.”
Alexis turned one more time to look in the full-length mirror in her hotel room as Liv peered around the corner. This dress was the reason she’d driven herself. Because she needed to do some shopping, and even though Alexis had to admit that she looked pretty damn good in her new dress, she hesitated about actually wearing it.
“You’re sure it’s not too much?” She smoothed the red formfitting skirt and turned to stare at her butt. A deep V-neck exposed most of her back. She paired it with some new leopard-print pumps. It was so outside of her ordinary style that she was afraid Noah wouldn’t even recognize her.
Alexis puffed out her cheeks and let the air seep out. Nerves turned her stomach to a turnstile.
“It’s perfect.” Liv squeezed her shoulders from behind. “And hopefully you won’t be wearing it very long.”
Alexis elbowed Liv, who jumped back with a laugh.
Liv’s phone buzzed, and Alexis held her breath as she watched her friend check the screen. Liv looked up with a coy smile. “Showtime.”
Adrenaline made Alexis’s knees weak. “This plan seems sort of childish in hindsight.”
Liv shrugged. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
“But stealing his shoes just to keep him in the room?”
“We’re all fools in love.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind us missing dinner?” Us, assuming Noah was receptive to her groveling.
“If either one of you show up at dinner, I’ll kill you both.”
“But this is your big weekend and—”
Liv slapped a hand over Alexis’s mouth. “This big weekend is about celebrating with our friends, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than you and Noah finally getting together.”
“What if he says no?”
Liv snorted. “He won’t.”
“What if he turns me away?”
“In that dress?”
“What if—”
“What if an hour from now you’re collapsing naked on his chest?”
Heat shot up Alexis’s cheeks. Liv laughed. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Alexis bit her lip. “You’re sure Mack didn’t tell anyone about our plan?”
“I’m sure. As far as anyone will know, you have food poisoning from some bad sushi, and Noah lost his shoes.”
“I can’t believe I’m resorting to lies and subterfuge.”
Liv laughed and kissed Alexis’s cheek. “Good luck. Text me all the deets.”
Liv walked out with a giggle, leaving a trail of perfume behind her. As soon as the door clicked shut, Alexis walked to her bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. She pressed a hand to her stomach. She could do this. All she had to do was go knock on Noah’s door and tell him—
A quick, efficient knock brought her back to her feet. Liv must have forgotten something. “I’m coming. Hang on.”
Alexis opened the door. “Did you forget something?”
Her voice died on the last note. It wasn’t Liv. It was a man. “I’m sorry. You must have the wrong room.”
But then her brain caught up with the details. He wore a dark suit with no tie. He was looking at the floor. His hair was pulled back in a bun, and his feet were bare.
Noah lifted his face. “I can’t find my shoes, but I was afraid you’d head down to dinner before I could talk to you. And I can’t go one more second without talking to you.”
She had an entire speech planned for when she saw him, but now that he stood before her, she forgot every word. “This wasn’t the plan. I was supposed to come to your room.”
“Lexa,” he rasped.
She took a single step forward, and in an instant, Noah did the rest. He wove his fingers into her hair and tugged her into the hallway. She went willingly, eagerly. And when his mouth found hers, she wrapped her arms around his neck where his hair tickled the hot, exposed skin of her wrists.
He lifted his lips just enough to moan, “God, Lexa. I’ve missed you so much.”
Then he kissed her again, hands in her hair, mouth wide over hers. Their kiss before had been a mere flirtation compared to this. With one strong arm, he hauled her firmly against his chest and then backed her against the hallway wall. He devoured her mouth like he could get drunk from her, and she gave as good as she got, tangling her fingers in his hair, slanting her head so he could go deeper. It was a no-holds-barred kiss. Openmouthed and soul-searching.
His hands suddenly cradled her face, forcing her to step back and look up at him. His gaze scorched her from the inside out. “I need you to listen to me. Don’t talk. Just listen.”
“O-Okay.”
“I should have said this that night, and I’ve done a shitty job of trying to say it ever since then.”
“Say what?” Her voice was as breathless as a Taylor Swift ballad.
“Do not ever think I regret what happened between us that night.” His thumbs caressed her cheeks as he swallowed. “There are a million things in my life I regret, but kissing you will never be one of them.”
Alexis leaned into him, pressed her lips against his. But then a quiet click made her suck in a breath.
His mouth hovered an inch above hers. “Your door just shut.”
“My key is in there.”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Then come to my room.”
She held his gaze. “And do what?”
“Whatever you’re ready for.”
She dug her fingers into his arms. “I made the first move before and look what happened. Tell me what you want. Please.”
His brow rested on hers. “Then let me spell it out for you like I should have done a long time ago.” Noah palmed the back of her head. With gentle pressure, he urged her face up toward his. They traded breaths, lips hovering over lips. “I want you. All of you.”
A thousand words hung in the space between them. A shared, unspoken recognition that this would change everything once again, but that this was always where they’d been heading, before either of them had even been willing to admit it. That this was the turning point from which they could never return. A bridge connecting two worlds—the world of friendship and the world of lovers.
“Let’s go to your room.”
He kissed her. Hard. Fast. But then he slipped his hand into hers and began to pull her down the hallway. His free hand dug into the pocket of his pants to withdraw the key card to his room. His fingers trembled as he pressed it against the key reader. When it flashed green, he yanked the handle and pushed open the door.
They barely made it inside before Noah turned to her.
“Come here,” he rasped. He opened his arms to her. She fell into them, and it felt like coming home after a long trip. Home to a place she belonged, where she was safe and desired and cared about.
It felt like the first time, this kiss. It was slow and deep and . . . decisive. The word was an abstract thought, drudged up from the haze of desire and longing, but that’s what it was. It was as if Noah had made some crucial decision and was communicating it the on
ly way he could. Deeper and deeper, he feasted on her mouth as if kissing alone could satisfy his hunger. But every thrust of his tongue sent her closer and closer to the edge of an almost painful precipice. She wanted to fall. Fast. Fully. Without fear.
She settled a hand in the middle of his chest. He pulled back enough to peer down at her. “Are you okay?”
Alexis leaned against the wall behind her and held his gaze. “I have a confession.”
He raised an eyebrow, the gesture both amused and uncertain.
“I know where your shoes are.”
His mouth curled up in a smile. “You do?”
“Liv asked Mack to steal them so you’d be stuck in the hotel looking for them.”
He puffed out a laugh. “Is that what you meant by the plan?”
“So I could come to you and get you alone and tell you that I’m sorry.”
His smile faded into anguish. “For what?”
“I didn’t give you a chance to explain.”
“I should have tried harder.”
“I should have listened harder.”
Noah made a noise low in his throat and lowered his brow to hers. She felt something burst in her chest. Something that felt like joy.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered.
“I missed you too. You have no idea how much.” And then he hugged her. Hugged her. Tightened his arms around her, buried his face in her neck, and held her. It was so simple but so achingly romantic that Alexis feared she would cry.
She let him plunder her mouth again, but she finally grasped his head and held him steady. “I don’t want this to change anything.”
He cocked a grin. “Really? I hope it changes everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hope this means I get to spend the night instead of leaving you.” He kissed her throat. “I hope it means we get to take long showers together.” He nibbled her ear. “I hope it means lazy kissing in the car.”
She began to pant. “Okay, fine. I guess those things can change.”
He laughed, and his mouth found its way back to hers. Noah rubbed his lips back and forth across hers, more caress than kiss.
Crazy Stupid Bromance Page 17