by S. K. Ervin
She could only imagine how Noah felt thinking he was his mother’s murderer. Her heart ached for him and she didn’t know how in the hell she was going to help him. But she would try.
Her phone rang, bringing her back to reality.
Walking to her desk, she picked up the phone. It was from the front desk.
“Ms. Monroe, we have a Mr. Rosenberg for you. He said you were expecting him?” Katie asked.
Mr. Rosenberg?
Did I forget I had a client?
Alexis looked at her calendar on her desktop. Nope. No meeting with anyone by that name, only Mr. Kearns, Noah’s accountant that he’d arranged for her business finances.
Maybe he’s filling in for Mr. Kearns.
“Send him back, Katie.” Alexis told her assistant.
A moment later, a knocked sounded on her door.
“Come in.” Alexis ordered, as she sat behind her desk. She was getting ready to call Mr. Kearns to see if he had an assistant fill in for him when a tall, lanky man stalked in. He looked to be in his early 40’s.
Alexis had never seen him before, but, his demeanor bespoke of a guy who was friendly and carefree. His black eyes sparkled with merriment.
“Ms. Monroe, you don’t know me, but, I am hoping I can have a quick moment of your time, please. I am Sebastian Rosenberg.” He smiled, twin dimples in his cheeks, making him look handsome…despite his age and build.
Oh…kay.
She nodded to him, sitting her phone down and motioning him to take a seat.
“How may I help you Mr. Rosenberg? I have but a moment of free time.”
“Oh, great! Well, I just need some advice. I know you just opened your business and I am looking to do the same around this area. No worries, it’s not spa or anything like that.” He chuckled.
“Well, sure, what would you like to know?” She smiled, folding her hands together and waited for his questions. She didn’t want to turn him away with nothing. Alexis knew how hard it was to gain good advice about opening a business.
He smiled again, “I’d like to know which bank you did business with for a loan and if you think they are flexible with their payment plan. You see, I am very new to this area. I just moved here from New York. And I noticed your business was up and running very quickly, so I wanted to see if I could follow that same path, so to speak. I hope I am not being too forward.”
“I see. And no problem. I consulted with Kane Enterprise’s for a business loan and I think they are very flexible and lenient. If you have a solid business plan, I would recommend doing business with them.” Alexis informed.
Mr. Rosenberg grinned, “Kane Enterprise, you say?”
Alexis peered across her desk at Mr. Sebastian Rosenberg. There was a hard glint in his smiling eyes that she was sure she would’ve missed if she blinked, because a moment later, it was gone.
“Yes, do you know about Kane Enterprise?” She questioned slowly.
His smile widened, “Of course! Who doesn’t? The owner, Noah Kane, he’s the one who goes over the business plans? I was told he sees all of his clientele who are potential business owners.”
Alexis nodded, “Yes, he does.”
“Good. Well, Ms. Monroe, thank you for your precious time and I look forward to seeing you soon. I do love your business skills.” He said and stood to leave.
“Oh, and nice decorations in the lobby. Spooky!” He laughed and walked out.
Alexis sat in her chair for a moment, frowning. She didn’t know why, but something about Sebastian Rosenberg didn’t seem to sit right with her. She’d have to ask Ryan about him, later.
But now, she had a meeting with her financial accountant who just knocked on her door.
Ugh, it’s going to be a long day!
Chapter Twelve
Reaching for her door handle, Alexis noticed a gift bag hanging from it.
"Who doesn't love random gifts?" She murmured to herself as she unlocked her door and stepped inside bringing the gift with her.
Alexis kicked her shoes off and plopped down on the couch, a bit bummed. She didn't get to react with her clients as much today, since she had schedules and meetings, supply orders and such to go over with her staff. It filled her entire day. Now she was home and was finally able to take a breath and relax. Leaning back, she kicked her feet up on her couch and just stared at the ceiling as all her thoughts scurried through her mind. Her first thought was of her, on this couch...with Noah. His appetite was voracious last night. She blushed and smiled to herself. He was sinfully carnal. And he enjoyed her too, his groans told her so. Noah was too sensuous and deep down inside, she knew he would be just as passionate with her in other areas. He had a good heart no matter what he thought.
Too good of a heart to kill his own mother? The little red devil questioned, his pitchfork tail swinging with abandon.
Alexis shook her head and sat up. He didn't know, he was only five years old. And who was this "daddy" person?
Sighing, she reached over, grabbed her gift and opened it.
She found a card, a ticket and a new mask. She read the card aloud.
Ms. Alexis Monroe
You’re invited!
Please join me for a night full of sinful excitement & seductive pleasures at Club Eden.
N. K.
Excitement filled every cell of her body.
He invited me, finally!
Grinning, Alexis slipped on her shoes and went out to find a dress that would entice him like no other. Tonight, was going to be a night that he wouldn’t forget, she vowed.
At 9:50p.m., Alexis pulled up outside of Eden. Walking the short distance, she nodded at the guard and he nodded back at her. She didn't have her best friend with her tonight, but, she would probably find her inside already. She had told Cadence that she didn’t want to come back to Eden again. Ever again. And Cadence accepted, though not without a few choice words about how ‘screwed up’ Noah was.
Alexis sighed as she came up to the guard and was about to pull her card out.
"Ms. Monroe." He said, before she had the chance to show him her ticket, then, opened the door for her.
Wait...
"How do you know my name?" She asked, perplexed and reached up to make sure her mask was in place. It was a brand new black one with lace and a dark red feather that matched her lipstick.
The guard stared straight again, but, his lips quirked, "It’s my job, ma'am."
"You work with..." Should she say his name? What if he didn’t know who Noah was? Then his cover would be blown. But he saved her dilemma.
"I am Mr. Kane's personal guard, ma'am. He informed me to let you in. Please." He gestured her inside.
Oh now I remember! Alexis saw him that one night she went to Noah’s home. He was one of the guards at the door.
"Ah, thank you Mr..."
"Mackintosh or Mack’s fine, ma’am. No Mister."
Alexis smiled at him, "Well thank you, Mack. You may call me Alexis."
“Very well, Ms. Alexis.” He bowed to her with a secret smile and she went inside.
The nightclub felt different. The atmosphere was alive and bubbly, everyone was chatting and enjoying themselves. Alexis spotted Cadence and Harper almost immediately and went to walk to them…but a voice waylaid her.
"You look like sparkling diamonds in a sea of silk." The rich, deep voice caressed her ear.
Smiling she turned around to face her beau and had to nod in appreciation.
He wore all black tonight, even his starched shirt was black, worn with no tie and the top two buttons opened...just how she liked it.
Hair matching his dark suit, fell in irresistible thick waves.
His dark blue gaze looked intense behind his mask. It melted away any shyness she felt after the night he’d given her.
Which led her to his lips. Ah! Those magnificent tools made for pure pleasure, caused her hot spot to clench in remembrance of every detour his mouth made last night.
Her tongue slowly licked he
r top lip as she looked back up at him and greeted him breathlessly, "Noah."
His knowing eyes undressed her, leaving no doubt of what he was thinking. She almost combusted on the spot. How can this man look at her like this and make her whole world fall away? He shouldn't have that much power over her, yet, he did…and she was powerless to fight it.
"Shall we join the others...or would you prefer something more...private?" He asked mischievously, eyes gleaming, drowning her in its seductive currents.
Whew!
Alexis mentally waved a hand in front of her face to cool her lust-filled body.
She knew she couldn't just leave with him before she said hi to everyone. It was rude.
Yes, but it would be satisfying, the little red devil urged.
Anything the little red devil told her, meant it was trouble. But, deliciously satisfying.
"Let's join the others," She rushed, before her she could change her own mind in a moment of temptation. Alexis took the arm he offered, but not before she saw the flash of disappointment cross his handsome face.
"Lets." And he guided her toward their normal booth.
Everyone greeted her with smiles and the girls that were lounging with Mateo and Gabriel, stabbed her with curious gazes.
They were probably thinking, 'who the hell was she?’ Another one lounging there looked at Alexis with an outright snarl and then pouted at Noah.
Alexis didn't pay her no mind. Cadence got up to hug her and whispered ‘I’m so glad you could make it. Seems like someone couldn’t stay away from you. Make sure you rock his socks, Lexi.’ The two of them shared a grin. After everyone greeted, they sat just as Mateo called to her, "Lexi, come sit next me."
"The hell she will. And don't call her Lexi," Noah growled.
Mateo grinned, "Just for a moment, we have something to discuss, and I’ll call her whatever she wishes me to."
Alexis smiled at Mateo and walked over to sit next to him. Noah was just sitting down across from Mateo, when Mateo pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. Surprised, she giggled like a freshman schoolgirl. She chanced a peek at Noah and saw him tense up, murder written across his face.
She looked back at Mateo and found him grinning at Noah, "You're purposefully getting him angry." She whispered to Mateo. But Alexis didn’t mind. She and Mateo had become great friends and knew he would never cross those boundaries, not even if she begged him. He was honorable and loyal; the best of friends anyone could ever ask for.
"Yes, it's what I do." He told her without an ounce of shame. He looked back at her and some of his laughter fell away.
"How are you?" He whispered, so that only she could hear. It wasn't hard to do, given their proximity and the music playing.
"I'm great, Mateo. Should I be worried?"
He nodded and said in a louder voice, "I like you, Alexis. You remind me of someone I used to know." His dark eyes meeting Noah's across the table and they shared a look, before Noah turned his full attention to her.
Nervous, she licked the corner of her mouth and his sensuous gaze followed.
Noah shifted in his seat as he brought his gaze back up to her eyes.
Alexis blushed under his stare. Lust was clearly written on his face for everyone to see. And they surely saw that he wanted to devour her.
“We’ll be right back.” Harper cleared his throat and took Cadence’s hand.
Her friend winked at her and followed Harper.
“Yes, us too!” Gabriel and Elijah announced, scooting out of the booth, going to mingle with the crowd. The two brothers were inseparable.
“I’m staying here.” Mateo said, grinning as a gorgeous dark-skinned woman walked his way. She was the same one that had sat with Mateo at the Dark Muse concert. Alexis wondered if Mateo tempted the woman, like Noah tempted her.
“Come.” Noah stood, offering his hand to her.
Alexis took his hand and he led her toward the dance floor.
“Dance with me.” He added silkily, pulling her in between the crowd.
“Yes.” Though she knew he wasn’t asking her.
He never took no for an answer.
A slow tempo song with heady vocals that scandalized each word, played. And Noah, having no qualms about his seduction, pulled her against him tightly. Alexis felt every indention, every hard curve of his body against hers. She looked up into his eyes and fell into its dark depths, the crowd falling away. It was just the two of them, their bodies grinding together in perfect sync, urging the other to claim, to take what was offered. Their mouths mingled so closely, that their breath intertwined as one.
“What do you do to me?” Noah whispered to Alexis, his blue eyes earnestly seeking an answer.
“I could ask you the same thing.” She whispered back, her expressive brown eyes glittering with unrelenting passion.
The song ended and they still embraced each other, until a server passed by them. Noah reached over and plucked a drink from the tray and led Alexis to a private corner of Eden.
“Would you care for a Sintini?” His eyes burning into her with a force of pure want, as he offered the drink to her lips.
Staring at him, Alexis sipped the cool drank and closed her eyes as the deliciously cool liquid slid down her throat. It tasted heavenly.
“Mmm…what a drink,” She told him and licked the corner of her mouth.
Noah nodded, “It is…a very sinful drink.”
He took the sliced green apple off of the rim and dipped it inside the drink, swirling it rhythmically, soaking up the flavor and the brought it to her lips.
“Suck it.” He ordered, his eyes dared her.
Opening her mouth, Alexis closed her lips around the slice and sucked deeply, drawing the exotic flavors into her mouth and swallowing.
“Good girl.” Noah praised, his voice dropping a few octaves, clearly aroused by her lips closing around the apple slice. He dipped the apple slice once more and brought it back to her lips.
“Bite.”
Alexis’s eyes bore into his as she took the apple into her mouth and bit into it, juice trickling down the side of her lips.
Noah’s head dropped, his tongue traced the escaped nectar back to her lips and growled, “You’re mine now. All mine.”
Dear Lord, Mateo wasn’t Lucifer…Noah was.
That last thought flashed through her head before Noah’s mouth consumed all thought.
Chapter Thirteen
One hour later, they stepped inside Noah’s home. Alexis was nervous, but, she had no doubt about what was going to happen tonight.
I’m more than ready for this…for him.
She could no longer deny the attraction she felt for Noah, no more than she could deny her own blood. He tempted her to the ends of earth and back.
No more waiting.
Noah hadn't moved an inch since closing the doors. He stood behind her, not touching her, but she could feel his heat… so close to her, waiting.
"Alexis," His warm breath caressed the back of her neck, sending delicious shivers down her spine.
She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the feeling and allowing it to sink in, then whispered, "Yes, Noah?"
She sensed him, more than heard him take a deep breath.
"This is your last chance...once we start there will be no turning back. Are you sure you want this? Want me?" His was voice gruff, stern.
Oh I want this. "Yes, I'm sure."
A millisecond after she uttered those words, Alexis felt his hands grip her shoulders tightly, turning her around slowly to face him and tilted her chin up with his fingers, so that she was staring into his eyes.
"Then I am at your mercy. Take what you want and leave nothing behind." Noah’s baritone voice vibrated to the deepest parts of her. His blue eyes staring into the depths of her wide brown ones, compelling her to do his bidding.
Alexis shuddered at those erotic words and did exactly what he told her.
She reached out, sliding her hands up both of his arms
, enjoying the way his muscles flexed beneath them, as she continued around the base of his neck, gripping his hair firmly and pulled him down.
Alexis rubbed her mouth softly against his, once, twice and then the third time was enough for him to take over.
He stole her breath away, pulling her against him and kissed her as if his life depended on it. It was a kiss that could scorch the bowels of hell. A kiss that ripped a soul-igniting moan from Alexis's throat.
Her moan was like an aphrodisiac that made the blood boil in Noah’s veins. Deepening the kiss, his hands slid down her back, seeking the tight round orbs of her ass, gripping them and lifting her off the ground, until her womanly alcove cuddled his hard, throbbing length.
He walked them over to the couch and let her slide down until her feet touched the floor. His tongue thrust deeply, dueling with hers, her moans setting fire to his insides. Noah pulled back, and smirked when he heard her reluctantly groan.
"Oh, there's much more to come." He grinned, his eyes vowing all kinds of erotic promises, stripping the innocence from her flesh.
Alexis suddenly found her back against his chest, his teeth grazed her ear, down to the frantic pulse of her neck, as his long fingers traced a heated path down the other side of her neck to her breast. He took her puckered nipple between his fingers, rolling the bud until she whimpered for more. A strangled moan escaped her lips and she pushed back against him, rubbing against his hardness, causing him to groan against her neck.
Oh dear lord, please don't let me die. I need this, I need him too much.
Noah feasted on the delicate skin of her shoulders, releasing one of her tortured nipples to run his fingers down her stomach and further down her leg until he found the slit in her dress.
I have to let him know…
“Noah, I need to let you know that I’m a…”
“I know, Alexis.” He murmured in her ear, his strong hands fevering the smooth flesh of the inside of her thigh.