by S. K. Ervin
Hmm…I like this.
“Think you’re going somewhere, do you?” He queried, as his free hand traveled from her hips upward, paving a scorching path to her breast. He took her left nipple between his fingers and pinched it. Hard.
“Ah!” She cried out.
“Oh Ms. Monroe. You are such a delight, I couldn’t deny myself a morning treat.” And his head descended, licking her left nipple, soothing it before he took it completely into his mouth.
Mmm…a hot jolt of desire spread throughout her body. She wanted this man. Body and soul.
Freeing one of her hands, Alexis reached up, she tugged on his hair, bringing his head down and kissed him, drinking from him like he was a cold glass of water on a hot summer day. She thrust her tongue inside, dueling with his and could tell he was surprised by his groan.
Yes, you like that don’t you, Noah?
He let her have her way for a little while and then he took over, dominating her once more. Drugging her with his kisses.
“Noah…please.” She begged on a moan.
She felt his rigid cock nudge her swollen entrance.
Yes! That’s what I want. Give it to me.
“Oh I will,” He growled.
And she realized that she spoke aloud. Again. I need to get that in check, ASAP! Can’t have him knowing my thoughts.
Without preamble, he thrust deep inside her, shoving the breath from her lungs with the powerful thrust.
Oh yes! Take me!
And he took her. Hard. Like he was trying to crawl inside her soul. His rhythm quickened and she tilted up meeting him thrust for thrust, sending him even deeper.
“Fuck, Alexis,” He groaned.
And that sexy sound of her name on his lips sent her bursting into a million pieces, climaxing in strong waves. She was partially aware of Noah pulling out, feeling his hot cum spurt over her stomach.
Alexis felt sated, almost as if she was floating on clouds after a fulfilling meal.
Noah grunted, as he rolled over and off of the bed. He headed toward the bathroom and came back out with a washcloth and wiped her stomach, cleansing the evidence of his passion away.
For a moment, he just stared at her with an inscrutable face and she wondered what he was thinking.
Alexis sat up, abandoning the fact that she was totally naked in front of him. “What?”
He grumbled, “I’m going to shower. Feel free to use the other bathroom down the hall. I’ll be out soon.”
And without a backward glance, he left.
She frowned, not liking how he was already distancing himself.
Well not if I can help it!
Waking up with Alexis in his arms felt amazing, but, fucking her was divine. Noah liked it way too much. And again, he lost control. He didn’t expect to want her this morning, but, lust slammed his insides when her leg rubbed against his cock, while she was asleep. He wanted to devour her while she slept. And that was something that had never happened to him before. He’d never woken up craving any woman the way he craved Ms. Alexis Monroe. Damn her. She was a tempting morsel that he found hard to stay away from. Hell, just thinking about her ignited a powerful lust and he instantly hardened. That scared him more than anything. That wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to like her this much. He wasn’t supposed to want her this much. Fuck!
I can’t keep her. It’s not fair to her. I’m emotionally ruined. And I can’t ruin her too. I won’t!
Taking a deep breath, Noah resolved to remind her of the one night only pact and turned on the shower to wash away her scent from his body. And a sexy scent it was. All woman and honeysuckle. Noah stood under the cool water, allowing it to refresh his mind and body, when he felt a cool breeze. Before he was able to react, he felt a pair of plump breast rub against his back and soft hands sliding down his stomach.
Noah closed his eyes as lust and need slammed into him, causing every muscle in his body to ripple.
Alexis! My God…this woman’s insatiable. Bold. And so fucking sexy.
He turned around and knew the look on his face was one of pure hunger. Frightening. Lethal. But, so was hers and he knew that he had to have her again. Knew that only she could slay the beast inside him.
Damn, she’s going to be the death of me, he thought before spinning her around, and pushing her against the shower wall. He didn’t give her a moment. No. He took her fast. Just like she liked it. She wouldn’t allow him to go slow. She needed it rough. And that’s exactly how he gave it her. With no mercy.
He fucked her with a blazing fury that left them both panting like wild animals in heat. He fucked her, feeding the crazed and impossible hunger he felt for her. He fucked her until he heard her sob his name in pleasure. And then he pulled out, finding his groan-inducing, jaw-clenching orgasm in between her ass cheeks.
Yes, she’s definitely trying to kill me. And I would welcome it at this point.
It took him a moment to find his voice and a second longer to be able to move.
“Well, Ms. Monroe, you’ve certainly showed me you know how to make the best of one night.”
Her back stiffened and she slowly turned, the scowl on her face made him want to take a step back.
What did I say? I gave her a compliment!
“You’re such an ass, Kane.” She said before she pushed past him to shower, leaving him in the back flabbergasted…and cold.
At least I have a great view.
Alexis hurried and showered because she needed to get the hell away from Noah fucking Kane, before she slapped the shit out of him.
How dare he talk to her like that!
And he had the audacity to look genuinely confused when he saw how upset she was!
She finished up and turned to leave when he grabbed her arm.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. I meant it as a compliment,” He swore, a look of disgust on his face.
“At least look like you mean it Kane.” She scowled, yanking her arm away and grabbed a towel on the way out.
Alexis paused as she remembered that she only had her dress to wear. It was laid out neatly across the back of a chair, her heels at the foot of it. Hmpf…he should have something for me to wear...
She rummaged through his drawers and found a crisp white t-shirt, boxer briefs and sweatpants. Alexis slipped them on, ignoring that they were all Armani.
Does he wipe his ass with gold trimmed toilet tissue too? The little red devil on her shoulder asked out of nowhere.
And she smirked at the thought. Probably. Alexis folded her dress neatly and put on her heels. She headed to the kitchen and was pouring herself a glass of grapefruit juice when he walked out with a towel around his waist and water still clinging to his skin.
He looked her up and down, noticing she was wearing his clothes and a small smile appeared, before he noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Her nipples responded to his smoky look and she let out a quick breath. He affected her to no end. She folded her arms across her chest, blocking his view.
His eyes darkened for a moment and then forced them to meet hers.
He was aroused and pissed. A heady combination.
“What’s your problem?” He demanded, in frustration. “You knew we had an agreement. One night only. Why are you so upset?”
“I’m not upset at our agreement, Kane. I just didn’t like the way you phrased our night. You made it seem like I was some cheap whore who gave you a good fucking for your buck.”
He growled low in his throat, “Don’t assume shit, Alexis. I say exactly what I mean and if I thought you were a whore, you would never have caught my attention or stepped a foot anywhere near my home, let alone in it. You know I like you. I respect you. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
“But why does it have to be this way, Noah?” she needled moodily.
His groan displayed his frustration, and Alexis watched the beautifully virile man begin to pace. He was agitated. Again. Like a wild, caged lion who was just
captured.
“Alexis, we went over this. I just can’t. Nothing you say or do will change that. It’s just how it is. It’s how it has to be.” His voice harsh and unbending.
Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “But why? Does this have to do with your childhood? Your mother?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. And the look he turned on her made her mouth dry and heart stop.
Oh! Dear lord, save me!
Noah stilled, turning into complete stone.
He couldn’t have heard what he thought he heard. There was no way. No one knew about that. A brief darkness closed in around him, suffocating him, taking him back to that night.
“Mommy, mommy wake up. Mommy you’re getting cold. I will warm you up.”
Fuck!
Clawing his way out of the darkness, as a cold sweat broke out on his skin, he suddenly felt sick.
And then he looked at her.
How in the fuck does she know? What does she know?
Noah stalked toward her and she backed up. She was scared or maybe nervous. And that made him frown even more. Why would she be scared or nervous? What was she hiding?
“Don’t run from me, Alexis.” His voice low. Cold. Deadly.
She looked over her shoulder to the door and he could tell she was thinking about bolting.
“You wouldn’t make it, you know that.” He told her, a perverse smirk on his face. She’s always testing me.
Alexis took her chance anyway and he swiftly closed the distance between them, grabbing her up.
“Ah! Noah, you’re hurting me.” She said when he caught her around the waist and dragged her to the bar stool, where she left her drink. He dumped her unceremoniously on the seat and placed a hand on either side of her on the bar, his face inches from hers, intimidating her.
“What do you know about my childhood and my mother?” His voice calm, but chilling.
Her wide brown eyes kept his stare, chin lifted defiantly. Oh, how brave Ms. Monroe.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. Everyone knows that you were adopted by your aunt. I just assumed your troubles were before that...with your parents.” She spouted.
Lies! Noah could tell because her right eyelid was twitching and her hands were clutched tightly in her lap, nails digging into her palms. He reached out instinctively pulling her fingers loose. He didn’t like that she was hurting herself and he let his thumb run along the red, half-moon crescents her nails made on the inside of her palms.
“Let’s try this again, Alexis. I’m only giving you one more chance to tell me the truth.”
She swallowed hard, confused by the gentleness of his thumbs stroking her soft skin and taken aback by his harsh tone.
Good! Let her feel confused. He would never harm her, but, she didn’t know that and he needed her to be honest with him, right now.
When she remained silent, Noah moved closer until he was nose to nose with her and grabbed both of her hands, his eyes boring into hers.
“Alexis, I need to know what you know. How did you find out? Is it that agent friend of yours? Ray? Reynold? Ryan?”
“No!”
She denied too quickly, jerking her hands out of his much larger ones.
Noah could see the rising panic in her eyes.
“Ryan had nothing to do with this. I found everything out on my own. I wanted to know more about you.”
Another lie. He knew she was covering for her friend.
Well at least she’s loyal. But not to me.
“I will have a chat with your friend and it won’t be good for him. If he’s lucky, I won’t press charges and see him put underneath the fucking jail cell.” He scowled mercilessly. I’m fucking pissed! I’ve never been this fucking angry before and I back away because I don’t trust myself this close to her.
“Wait! Noah, please! Don’t do this.” She begged rushing after him. “Please, I’ll tell you all I know. I’ll do anything, just don’t blame Ryan. It was my fault, all mine. If you want to send me to jail, then so be it, but, please leave Ryan out of it. He didn’t want to do it. I begged him to.”
Noah stared angrily at her, “Why? Why would you do something like this? Is it so you can blackmail me for money?” That’s what most women try to do! Look for something on me. That’s why I never bring them to my house. This is what I get for letting my guard down! She’s just like the rest.
Tears formed in her eyes before she looked down and for a brief second, Noah was horrified.
No, no, no! I hate tears. I don’t like seeing them. On anyone. It reminds me of her. The way she cried when dad had died. And suddenly, he felt drained, his voice raw.
“Just tell me why you would look into my background, Alexis. Are you an undercover agent? Are you in some trouble? Do you need money? What? Whatever it is, I’ll give it to you.”
Her head snapped up, “What?! No!”
Noah stared a hole into her, deciding on whether she was telling the truth and was relieved when he saw that she was.
So there is a God. He nodded, “Tell me your purpose of snooping into my locked and sealed classified files then. Why are you trying to bring my past to the present?”
She took a deep breath and then stared him in the eyes, tears clinging to her lashes as she uttered softly, “I wanted to prove your innocence. I wanted to free you, Noah.”
Chapter Fifteen
Damn it!
Her confession slammed into him, taking his breath away and the anger along with it.
Noah stared in shock at the woman in front of him. How she had managed to deactivate his temper with her simple confession, he would never understand.
“What do you mean by proving my innocence? You had to have heard the recorded tape that was enclosed with the file.” He spoke quietly, his eyes searching hers.
I’ve had this conversation with myself too many times to count. There was no way out, I was as guilty as they come.
Of course he had been very young and didn’t remember much. The little bits and pieces he did remember weren’t enough for him to go on. And then there was the fact that he was diagnosed with PTSD since the death of his father. Noah’s shrink told him it was possible he reacted on the loss of his father by blaming his mother; that he was broken inside. And that’s what he believed. But deep down inside, he’d never truly felt that way. Somewhere in a locked vault in his brain that he couldn’t access, knew the truth. He didn’t think he blamed her, but he wasn’t sure. He knew he adored her. He cherished her. He loved her.
And I killed her.
Noah’s heart constricted and he struggled to get air into his lungs, the world darkening around him again. No words could explain the pain he felt every time he acknowledged that sin.
My sin. And I own it with a devastating clarity that tortures and drowns my soul over and over again, refusing to allow it to reach the surface for air or light.
Alexis reached out for him, but, he threw his hands up, warding her off, “Please don’t.”
I don’t deserve your pity or your sympathy. Can’t you see that? I am unworthy. I am less than nothing. I am darkness itself that surrounds and suffocates everything that’s good.
Her hands fell to her sides as he tried to calm himself, forcing himself back to his own personal hell on earth. His poisoned soul was stuck inside his empty shell of a body.
“Noah, I knew you were innocent before I listened to the recorded confession. And I believe you know that too. You were just a five -years -old, you didn’t know what you were doing.”
Noah looked at her in earnest and let her see his torment, the walls he built around his heart came crashing down.
“Didn’t I?” He asked, broken. An anguished question that even he didn’t know the answer to.
“Oh, Noah.”
She reached out to him and he didn’t push her away. Her arms wrapped around his waist and she held him.
He couldn’t remember when a person simply just hu
gged him. He never allowed his aunt to hug him. He didn’t accept her love, or anyone’s, no matter how much he craved it.
Because he didn’t deserve it.
And I still don’t.
Noah gently pried Alexis’s arms from him and walked to the front door calling Mack, his security guard through the speaker.
“I won’t send Ryan to jail. But I will have a talk with him.” He told her quietly.
Noah glanced back at her, standing in his clothing and his chest constricted painfully. A wave of possessiveness filled him, screamed at him to make her stay. But he knew she deserved better.
Mack appeared suddenly. “Sir?”
“Please see Ms. Monroe home, safely.” Noah told him and turned to her, the woman that stole his breath away. Her breathing came in short bursts and tears welled in her eyes again. Out the corner of his eye, Noah saw Mack walk quietly out the door, leaving them in peace.
He couldn’t help himself. Noah walked to her, drawn like a magnet and reached up catching a fallen tear with his thumb. “Please don’t cry.” The anguish in his voice was apparent.
She looked away, biting her lip and when she looked back at him, he knew that her eyes would haunt him for the rest of his desolate life. He let his hand fall and it accidentally brushed against her nipple. She inhaled swiftly and jerked as if he physically shocked her. Noah closed his eyes and prayed for control. But, damn she responded perfectly to his touch. He braced for the sudden wave of desire that rocked his body.
God save me! For I’ve never responded like this to anyone.
And he had more than his fair share of beautiful women. But he knew it was more than Alexis’s beauty that he found so overwhelming. So irresistible. It was all of her. Her mind, her thoughtfulness, her individual personality.
Looking at her delicious breast once more, he gritted his teeth and headed to his bedroom. “Wait here.”
Noah found what he was looking for, walked out and handed it to her.
“It’s a little cool outside.”