by S. K. Ervin
"Easy love." He murmured soothingly. After she finished the glass, he asked, "Better?"
She nodded slowly, glad the movement didn't cause her too much trouble.
"Good. Now what's this question of yours?" He moved to help her to a booth seat all the way in the back.
She peered at him, "Are you Lucifer? Did you fall from the skies with your beautiful wings cut off?"
He looked astonished and somewhat amused, "Good Lord, Alexis, what did they put in your drink? Why would you think that?"
She giggled, tilting her head to look at him, "Because you are sinfully gorgeous, impossible beautiful and an amazingly sensual dancer. It's a sin. Has to be, you know." She said, nodding to prove she was right.
Mateo burst out laughing, "Well love, thank you for the compliment. But, I assure you I’m human, made from flesh and bone as you are."
With a dash of sweet sin and a sprinkle of pure sex extract. Hmm…sextract.
He laughed openly, shaking his head at her and she realized she thought that aloud. Blushing clear to her toes, she muttered a half-apology.
"Sorry, I'm drunk, not blind."
"No, it's fine." He grinned. "But I can't help but notice that you are not as interested in me, as you are with Noah."
Her head snapped up, "How can you tell?"
She sounded disgruntled, even to her own ears.
He just smiled, "Give him time."
"Time? Why?" she quizzed immediately.
Mateo peered at her for a moment and then answered, "Because he's the best damn man I know and he deserves a woman like you, to smooth his demons away. He just doesn't know it yet."
Chapter Eight
The first two weeks since her business opened, went extremely fast for Alexis. She was kept mercilessly busy during the day and even busier during the night. Cadence was falling hard for Harper and that handsome stud spoiled and lavished Cadence with everything. Alexis knew she shouldn't envy Cadence and should be glad for her, but, she was jealous damn it! She hadn't gotten any closer to Noah. Instead the distance between them were growing.
At least for her.
Oh, he would show up for his daily massage, but that was all she got...a moment of touching his hot, sexy skin and that's it. And the last two days, he just requested a cranial massage. No skin! Though his hair was deliciously sexy on its own, Alexis's frustration was growing out of control. And everyone around her were starting to notice, even sweet Katie who took on more than she should, just to lighten Alexis's load. She was grateful for Katie; her assistant was a heaven send.
But what really ground on her nerves was when Cadence dragged her to Eden every night. They would walk over to the table where Harper, Mateo, Gabriel, Elijah and Noah were sitting. The handsome men would greet them and scoot over for them to sit. Cadence would sit in between Harper and Elijah. And she would sit between Mateo and Noah. When she sat down, Noah squirmed in his seat pressing tightly against Gabriel on his other side, so that he didn't touch her. Finally, when he obviously couldn't stand her presence any longer, he would excuse himself and she wouldn't see him for the rest of the night until he left.
But that wasn't the worst part.
The worst of it all, was that he never left alone.
Well, lucky for him, she didn't care. Or at least that's what she portrayed to everyone else.
But the truth was, it hurt like hell. She felt like she died inside each time he left with this leggy blonde or that curvy brunette.
Maybe he just didn’t like her and didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
Finally, tonight after his last massage, she’d told him that tonight would be her last night at Eden and that she was tired of the 'sin mini-city', and that it wasn't for her.
He just nodded and had the audacity to smile.
He smiled!
She left him to get dressed and headed straight home, allowing Katie to lock up. She didn't want to continue looking at his happy face. The face that was only happy at not having to see her again after tonight.
Alexis decided to leave Eden with a bang. Tonight was dress to impress night and so she had no qualms about what she was going to wear. There was a special guest coming tonight and she wanted to catch his eye.
See how Noah likes that!
Dressed in her long, elegantly laced evening gown, Alexis had to admit that she looked dazzling. The semi see-through dress hugged every curve. The sweetheart neckline invited eyes to stare at her luscious breast and the deep V in the back, left her flawless back completely out, tempting hands to touch...well she only wanted one set of hands to touch, but she wouldn’t think of that. The split in the dress ran all the way up her left thigh giving eyes a reason to feast upon her shapely legs. She had always worn her silken hair up, but tonight, she decided to let it loose, cascading past her shoulders in riots of sinful curls. Her brown eyes sparkled back at her.
Yes...this would do, the little red devil on her shoulder snickered and clapped with glee, as Alexis left.
Looking at the beautiful vixen staring back at her in the rearview mirror, she could barely recognize herself. This bold, ethereal creature was so much different than the work-hard, no-play business owner. It was like she was two different people. One good, one naughty.
And tonight…she was going to play up her naughty side.
With a devil may care attitude, Alexis entered Eden with Cadence.
“That’s my girl, show him what he’s missing Lexi,” Cadence whispered the encouragement, as they passed through the door.
Cadence was always the ‘glass is half full’ type of girl. And Alexis loved that about her dear friend, it gave her a more positive outlook when she was in a particularly negative mood. Like now.
They smiled at each other and proceeded forward.
Immediately, Harper was there to greet Cadence with an elegant bow, his eyes openly feasting on her, before turning to greet Alexis.
His eyes widened, then he whistled a low long whistle. "Noah’s going to have heart palpitations when he sees you."
Alexis rolled her eyes, but deep down, she was happy to hear that.
Mateo walked over to them and took one look at Alexis and his eyebrows shot up. "Oh, I don't want to be anywhere near you when Noah gets here. You look ravishing Alexis." He kissed her hands softly, smiling when she blushed.
He turned to Cadence, "And you, Cadence love, must have fallen from the sky. My heart aches with your beauty." And he kissed her hand too, lingering a bit more and giving her his most seductive look.
When Cadence gave him a devastating smile, he pretended to faint.
"Enough of your flirting, Mateo." Harper said with a smile, but anyone who knew him would know it was warning.
Throwing his hands up in mock defeat, he offered his arm to Alexis and headed toward their table. It was still a little early and so they had time to order drinks before and chat.
"So who’s the special guest? Will they be performing?" Cadence asked Harper.
Harper shook his head. "We only have a performance once a month. This guest tonight is an old friend of Noah's."
"An old friend?" Alexis asked nonchalantly.
Alexis hoped it wasn't a female. She didn't think she could stomach the sight of Noah being friendly with another female. Not tonight. Her last night.
Harper scowled, "One of his dear old friends from college. No one special."
Alexis frowned at Harper. He was being a bit sour tonight. She wondered what was wrong with him.
"Just wait and see!" Gabriel grinned, coming to sit next Cadence and wagging his eyebrows, "You two look quite delectable!"
Elijah was next to arrive, saying his hello's to everyone as he slid in next to Gabriel.
Alexis started to get nervous. Noah was the only one who wasn't there yet. What if he isn’t coming?
"Stop fidgeting. You're making me nervous." Mateo whispered to her, so soft the others couldn't hear.
She had a smart retort about to come out of her mouth when Ca
dence gasped.
"Oh my God, is that..." she began.
Looking over, Alexis found who she was staring at.
"Lucas Somerland," Alexis finished for her friend in a whisper. He truly was magnificent. The legendary actor of one of her and Cadence’s favorite TV show, was right there, in the flesh!
Harper scowled and replied. "He's a man, not a god, Cadence."
Alexis continued to stare at the man before realizing that Noah was right next to him. They were heading over to their table.
Lucas laughed at something Noah said and then turned in her direction and stared for a second longer before nodding to Noah.
They reached the table and introductions were made.
When Noah introduced Cadence, the heartthrob actor gave her a breath-taking smile and kissed her cheek. He grinned at Harper who scowled at him, "Settle down Harpy, she's so beautiful, I couldn't help myself."
Obviously, those two had underlying issues that weren’t settled.
Finally, Noah introduced Alexis to Lucas, as his eyes destroyed the gown that hugged her body. Then he looked away, plastering a cool mask of indifference on his face.
"I finally get to meet the stunning Ms. Alexis Monroe. What a pleasure." Lucas’s silky smooth voice announced as he grasped her hand, pulling her up into an embrace. "I feel like I've known you forever."
Alexis smiled brilliantly into his eyes. "I feel the same." And it was true, though for an absolutely different reason than him. She’d watched every episode of his TV show and developed an infatuation…of the non-stalkerish variety.
She didn’t spare Noah a glance and gave herself a mental pat on the back for it. She would give him a dose of his own medicine.
Lucas slid into the booth and she slid in beside him on the edge. There was enough room in between herself and Lucas for her to scoot over and allow Noah to sit, but, she didn’t.
He could stand for all I care.
But Noah wouldn't be denied.
He sat at the very edge beside her and used his body to scoot her further into the booth until he was fully seated.
“There’s plenty of room on the other side, Noah.”
“But, I want to sit here…right next to you.”
Alexis gave him a withering look.
Sighing happily, Noah made a comment about the football game the night before and before she knew it, the whole table erupted in sports chatter as drinks were passed around. They talked about sports, Ian's acting career, their businesses, the stock market and about Cadence's hot yoga studio. Lucas even asked Alexis whether she liked running her own business. Then they continued to talk more about sports.
After a few moments, Alexis excused herself, forcing Noah to get up, to let her out.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Cadence called out to her.
Shaking her head, "No, I'm fine." And she turned towards the ladies room. She hadn't drank much, but, she still felt a bit tipsy.
She turned around to make sure they didn't catch her wobbling to the ladies room. None of them were looking, thank goodness, not even Ian. She didn't want to look like a lightweight.
Wait...something wasn't right...
She scanned their table again and an invisible fist wacked her in the stomach, expelling a rush of air from her lungs.
Noah was gone!
This was her last day at Eden and he knew it!
He didn't even say goodbye to her...he just left. Probably with one of the women here.
Well, I don’t need him anyway!
Picking her heart up off the floor, where it was savagely ripped out of her chest, Alexis straightened her shoulders and walked quickly to the ladies room, before she lost her composure in front of everyone. She rounded the corner and bumped into a guy coming out of the men’s room, his bulky frame knocking her off balance. There was nothing to hold on to, nothing to grab to stop her fall; she was going down. The bulky man was so drunk, she didn't even think he noticed.
Right when she was about to hit the floor, steely arms caught her against a rock hard chest.
She turned and stared at her rescuer and her breath caught. Why him?!
Noah Kane. He turned to one of the security guards and nodded toward the drunk guy and then looked back down at her.
"Why am I always catching you when you fall?" He asked softly. Too softly for her peace of mind, causing her to stare at those sculpted lips that uttered those words.
"I’ve asked myself that same question." She whispered back with a mixture of emotions. Her fingers ached to reach up and touch his lips, to soothe his clinched jaw, to caress his thick, midnight hair.
Alexis inclined her head, meeting his eyes and saw the raw lust in his gaze, passion darkening his eyes and in that instant, she knew she was lost, powerless. The man could turn her mind into mush just by looking at her.
The intensity of his eyes made her tremble and quake deep inside with unfulfilled desire.
"I thought you left." Her voice sounding hurt, even to her own ears.
"I should have." He voiced, barely above a whisper.
And before she knew it, his mouth settled possessively on hers, effectively stopping her smart retort. He groaned deep in his throat.
It was a conflicted groan. A tormented sound that seemed like it was unwantedly ripped from his soul.
And her tormented soul answered, giving and taking as much as he did.
Desire such as she never felt before traveled through every portion of her body, leaving her nerve endings frazzled, begging for his touch, needing his hands on her.
"Noah, please..." She moaned, rubbing against him.
His mouth never leaving hers, Noah grabbed her ass firmly in his large hands and in one swift motion, lifted her, crushing her against him as his tongue savagely pillaged her mouth.
Alexis tore her mouth away, to drag some much needed air into her lungs, feeling his hard, hot mouth kissing down her jaw...her neck. His tongue laved at her pulse beating frantically, before coming back up to claim another soul-shattering kiss.
His hardness ground into her, like he was trying to break through the fabric.
He let her slide down his body so she could feel just how aroused he was. One hand reached up to caress her aching breast and she felt her nipples harden as he circled one with his thumb.
Alexis wrapped her hands around his neck, clinging to the very heat of him. Drowning in his kisses. Wanting to be anywhere but here. Alone with him.
Suddenly Noah wrenched himself away from her like she was on fire and had just burned the living hell out of him.
His breathing was coming hard, labored. And his glare was fierce enough to send a demon running back to hell.
Why was he so angry?
"You make me forget who I am when I’m around you." His voice harsh, accusing.
Alexis didn't know what to say, her pulse was still beating rapidly, and she could still feel him touching her. Could feel the kisses he burned into her neck and on her lips. Then anger set in.
How dare he kiss her and then get angry at her for his actions!
"It won't happen again." She heard him say.
And she let her anger out.
"If you don't want to be around me, then don't! If the sight of me distresses you so much..."
He slammed both palms on the wall behind her, effectively blocking her in between them and hissed through clenched teeth, "Does this…,” He grabbed her hand roughly and shoved it down his body until she reached that long, thick and throbbing part of him. “…feel like I don't want to be around you?"
She moaned and squeezed him through his pants and watched his eyes close and jaw clench in sweet agony, as he flexed his hips against her hand.
"Then give in, Noah." She encouraged, passion written clearly on her face, coating every word.
He opened his eyes and stared down at her. The battle of his want and his will, playing havoc in his eyes. His will dominated.
"You should leave..."
Those words
tore at her heart, shredding it. Again. Her hands dropped to her sides. Maybe he just didn't like her enough. Maybe any woman could bring out his beast. Maybe…she wasn’t that special after all.
"...while I still have the decency to let you. You tempt me beyond anything I've ever known, Alexis. And I don't like it. I don't like feeling powerless…" He explained, hoping that would smooth away the hurt he saw in her eyes. “…and that’s how you make me feel.”
Alexis exhaled, like a gust of wind blowing through a sail.
"I don't understand..." The words rushed from her lips before she could stop them.
They were nose to nose now, his masculine scent teased her, beckoned her closer, and obliterated every thought her mind created.
"I want to devour every part of your delectable body. To taste, tease, urge and squeeze every last drop of your essence out until you feel your world split apart...
My God I need this man! Her breath quickened and her legs wanted to spread wide for him, right there. To let him do what he just confessed.
Yes! She wanted that. She needed him to split her world apart. She needed him. Just him.
"...But I can't have you. I can't have anyone like that."
And he walked away, leaving her aroused, weak and humiliated.
Chapter Nine
Alexis played that night in her head over and over again, whenever she had time to think. It had been five days since she last saw Noah. He didn't stop by the spa or call to check to see how the business was going. And Cadence, who’d been to Eden every night, told her that Noah didn't even show up since her last night there, five days ago!
"Even his cousins and Mateo are worried about him." Cadence had told her the day before at breakfast.
Alexis thought it was probably that he didn't want to risk seeing her again.
And if he felt anywhere near what she felt when she’d seen him, Alexis couldn't blame the man. Each time she saw Noah, her heart felt as if it was going to thump right out of her chest.
She didn't know what he meant when he said 'I can't have you. I can't have anyone like that."
But she wanted to find out -- needed to find out. The man plagued her every waking moment and taunted her endlessly, in her dreams. She needed to do something about it and knew just the person to call.