by Krista Lakes
With one last pinch, Noah's hand ran down my stomach and to my inner thigh. He pushed my legs open, settling the pad of his thumb directly on the button to my pleasure center and began making small circles. I dampened instantly. First one finger, then two glided in and out on that wetness as he continued to nibble on my tender nipple. I arched my hips into his hand. He started slow, but was soon using the strength of his arm to slam into me.
I cried out as he bit down again, sending a jolt of electric heat deep into my stomach. His five o'clock shadow was rubbing the pale skin of my breast raw, but I loved it. It gave me one more sensation to lose myself to.
His hand was moving hard and fast, whipping me toward climax. I wanted rough. I wanted him to use my body and make me forget my problems. His hand was certainly making me forget. I was climbing toward an intense orgasm. I was going to come, and I was going to come hard.
My body started to shake as the first wave hit me and Noah somehow increased the intensity of his fingers. The sensation of falling, of spiraling out of control overtook me and I lost my thoughts to sensation. Pleasure consumed me.
Oblivion didn't last as long as I wanted it to, and I was back to panting for more. I needed to forget. I needed Noah inside of me to do that.
I sat up on the couch, grinning wickedly at the surprised look on Noah's face at my quick recovery. With a smooth motion, I left the couch and straddled his hips, pushing back on his shoulders so he that he’d lay down. He resisted slightly but then let me have my way. His erection was already trying to enter me, even with his boxers still in the way.
I opened the fly of his boxers, letting his rock-hard cock emerge. He seemed to try to stop me, but he didn't have much of a choice. Before he had a chance to protest, I began to slide my body down onto him. As he penetrated me, my hands went to my hair, and I moaned as I threw my head back. When I looked down, I saw his eyes seem to roll back in his head as he let out a low, masculine groan. I liked it. I liked having this kind of power over such an alpha man. It was powerful and heady to know I could have that affect on him.
I began rocking my hips, undulating like a snake. His nipples tightened further, and his hands went to my hips. I took one of them in my hands and brought it to my lips, putting his thumb in my mouth and sucking. His eyes opened, and he stared up at me with heated, dark eyes. Those blue eyes were coals of burning desire. I grazed my teeth across the pad of his thumb before placing his hand squarely on my breast. He grinned and began to knead it with his fingers.
I started to bounce up and down, slamming his length deeper and deeper inside of me. The hand not on my breast when to my front, finding my swollen nub. He pinched it, rolling it between his fingers and then flicking it. I wasn't ready for that kind of sensation and my whole body suddenly seized. Instead of climbing the mountain of pleasure slowly like I usually did, I was helicoptered to the top and pushed off the edge. My whole body rocked and spasmed, every nerve on fire with pure ecstasy.
I collapsed in a boneless slump against his chest, gasping for breath and shaking.
"You're not done yet," he growled, pushing me up and sliding out from under me.
I rose to my hands and knees, still dizzy with pleasure. He positioned himself behind me, his hands firmly on my hips. I screamed his name as he pushed into me. The new position felt deeper. He could pound into me with more strength, and I willingly welcomed him.
His hand went to my hair, balling it into his fist and pulling back hard. I arched my back and cried out. He was in complete control. I struggled slightly, fighting against the dull ache in my scalp, but he just tightened his grip.
Smack!
A delicious tingle of pain shattered my world as his hand came down on my bare ass. The pain was like the bitter in chocolate to bring out the sweet. He brought his hand down again with another ear-splitting smack that made me arch my back further and cry out. I hoped there would be a red hand print later to bear testimony to the wonders he was working on my body.
The skin tingled as he gently traced his fingers across the offending area. My nerves were made of fire now. Even the gentle caress of his fingers was heightened almost to pain. I loved it and craved more. I could barely remember my own name, let alone what had happened.
Behind me, Noah’s hand tightened in my hair as his rhythm increased. My body was responding to his. It was primal and full of need. I was going to crest again. I had never experienced anything like this before, but I wasn't about to complain. I wasn't sure if it was the spankings, the hair-pulling, or the sheer primal need radiating off of Noah in waves that was doing me in, but I loved it.
Together, we rose and shattered, his groans and my cries mingling into a song of shared desire and release. We were lost to everything but each other. Nothing else mattered but the way Noah's body filled mine. The way his breath came ragged and hard, his legs taut and thighs pressed into mine. The way his fingers dug into my hip and pulled at my hair. That was all that was mattered.
After a moment, he sagged against my back, releasing his iron grip on my hair. I gasped for breath and dropped to my elbows.
“Sorry,” he gasped, as he pulled back. His voice was strained and rough.
“For what?” I asked, rolling onto my back to look up at him. My mind was a delicious haze, and looking at him only made it better.
“No condom.” He ran his fingers through his hair and frowned. I sat up and kissed the smooth skin of his sternum.
“I'm on the pill. Besides, I didn't give you much of a choice,” I said, smiling. His face relaxed into a self-satisfied grin and I lay back onto the floor. “That was amazing.”
“Who said I was done?”
My stomach tightened with heat and need. I looked up at his smirking mouth and raised eyebrows.
“What else do you have in mind?” I asked. I was already heating at the possibilities.
“I intend to make you forget everything but my name,” he whispered, a wicked smile curled on his face. His eyes were dark coals again, and my body trembled in excited response.
Who needed to remember anything but his name? I thought. I certainly didn't.
Chapter 19
Noah's dark hair caught the edge of the morning sun and gleamed. I stared at it, watching as the light slowly illuminated his sleeping face like he was an angel. He was snoring gently, and his face was soft and peaceful. I couldn't get over how handsome he was. Or that I was in his bed. I had a gorgeous, charming, and amazing man who wanted to give me gifts and would hold me and let me cry. Not only was he attractive, but he was kind and sweet too. I was the luckiest girl in the world.
Except for the fact that the Grove was going to be destroyed. I sighed and relaxed my head back into the pillow. I kept watching Noah's serene sleep. He had been so generous and kind the night before. It was only because of him that I had slept. The ache in my heart at the loss of the Grove was still fresh, but at least the immediacy of the shock had worn off. In the light of day, I could deal with it. I still had a future. I still had Noah. Things would work out. I was stronger than this little setback.
My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since lunch the day before. Careful not to wake Noah, I slipped out of bed. I found one of his t-shirts in a drawer and put it on. It smelled like his soap. I was wrapped in Noah, and it made me smile. Before heading to the kitchen, I tucked the curtain closed so that he could continue sleeping.
The fridge was unfortunately empty. A bottle of mustard, two pickles, and something I hoped wasn't a lab experiment in penicillin were all I could find. I closed the door and opened it again, hoping the contents had changed. They hadn't.
A thought struck me, and I grinned. Adele's was open. I could go get breakfast from her, and bring it back for Noah. It would be a nice surprise and a great way to say thank you for taking care of me. It was perfect. I could already see his smile as I gave him her cinnamon roll French toast with a side of banana crepes.
With quiet steps, I sneaked back into th
e bedroom and grabbed my clothes. Reluctantly, I took off his shirt and carefully folded it back into the drawer. I would put it on again when I returned, but it was way too big for me to wear out. Noah sighed contentedly in his sleep and turned onto his side. I beamed good dream thoughts his way for a moment and then hurried out to go get breakfast.
Outside, the birds were singing in the sunshine. The world smelled of fresh rain and clean soil. The storm had washed the world. Everything was bright and new. Like my future. There were other possibilities I could explore now. At least, that was what I told myself as I walked.
I came to the turn in the path to get to the restaurant and made the mistake of looking at the beach where our sandcastle had been. I couldn't stop my feet from heading toward the water. The castle was gone. Destroyed. All that remained was a mound of white sand. Even the shells had been scattered by the rain, wind, and waves. My chest ached with the loss.
I bent down to touch the sand, feeling the fine grit between my fingertips. Maybe today Noah and I could come back and rebuild it. Make an even better one. I smiled at the thought. It was just what I needed. To rebuild something and make it even better. If I could do it with a sandcastle, then I could do it with my research. I could start again.
I dusted off my hands and stood, feeling hopeful for the first time in hours. With a smart turn, I ran headlong into the reporter whom Noah had been trying to avoid. I stumbled back, apologizing and feeling suddenly off kilter.
The woman was beautiful up close. She was thin, but with curves in all the right places. Her khaki shorts showed off firm, strong legs, and her bright blue v-neck shirt gave just enough hint at cleavage to draw the eye. She wore sensible, but pretty, sandals today instead of spiky heels. Dark hair spilled attractively around her shoulders in soft waves. I could see how she had gotten exclusive interviews with powerful men. It was hard not to look at her and be impressed.
She smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes. They were shark eyes. Predatory. And I was now the fish she had set her sights on.
“No hiding from me this time,” she said. Even her voice was sexy. “You care to make a statement, Isabel?”
“How do you know my name?” I asked, thrown completely off balance. I smoothed my shirt self-consciously. It was an old shirt that smelled like sunscreen. Normally, that didn't bother me since that was the best thing to wear out on the boat, but standing next to this perfect, model-like woman, I felt incredibly inadequate.
“It's a small island. I asked around.” She shrugged and tossed a lock of silky hair behind her shoulder. “Contrary to your boyfriend's opinion, Danica Lewis is actually pretty good at her job.”
So she was one of those types of people who referred to herself in the third person. Awesome. She definitely had confidence in spades.
“No comment.” Isn't that what all the people in the movies said? I didn't want to talk to her, so I side-stepped her and returned to the path.
“No comment?” She made an incredulous noise. “The man you're sleeping with goes and buys your nature preserve out from under you, and you have no comment?”
I froze in my tracks. “What?”
The woman sashayed over so she could face me. She raised perfectly groomed eyebrows in mock innocence. “Oh, you didn't know?”
“What are you saying?” I asked. The world was threatening to spin out of control again. I couldn't handle another life-changing shock this soon. I wanted her to be lying. I wanted to walk away and not hear what she had to say, but my feet didn't move.
“Noah Black, owner of Diamond Hotels, just bought the property that you and your scientist friends wanted to turn into a nature preserve.” She smiled smugly.
“I'm afraid you have my Noah confused with someone else,” I said, forcing my feet to take a step forward. She blocked my way.
“There's no confusing Noah Black with anyone but Noah Black.” She smiled with her perfect lips. She had a bone, and she wasn't going to lose it. “You do know he's going to build timeshares on the property, right? I can't imagine you'd be too happy to see the flux of people coming in and out of those. I hear that's hard on the local ecology.”
I didn't want to talk to her. I didn't want it to be true. I hadn't eaten yet, and I wasn't ready to deal with another giant problem until I at least had a cup of coffee. I started walking, bumping her with my shoulder when she didn't move out of my way. It couldn't be true.
“He didn't tell you who he was, did he?” She called out. I tried my best to ignore her, but her voice cut through me like butter. “He's charming, isn't he? Makes you laugh. Feel comfortable. You trust him instinctively. Enough that you didn't even feel the need to figure out what he did for a living.”
I stopped. I didn't want to believe her words, but the little voice in my head was listening. She hadn't said a single thing that wasn't true yet. But she hasn't said anything that she couldn't have guessed, I argued with myself. She walked slowly to my side again.
“Did he tell you about the trial?” she asked, her tone seductive. “Or did he say he didn't want to talk about it because he liked the way you looked at him?”
Her words hit their target. I swallowed hard. That was almost exactly what he had said.
“Don't feel bad. He's done it before. The land-stealing part. That's actually what the trial was about.” She shrugged as if it meant nothing. I stayed quiet, and she took it as her cue to continue. “It was a couple of years ago, but the parallels to this are interesting. Basically, he found out, through a lovely girl like yourself, that some prime real estate was up for auction. The girl wanted to turn it into a bird refuge and was getting donations to do so.”
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear Danica. She had to be mistaken or lying, and yet her story rang true.
“Anyway, he bought it out from under her. There were some issues with zoning, but the man's made of money and just bought everyone off.” She moved so she could look at me better. Her lipstick was perfect and made her mouth lovely to watch, much the way a cobra is beautiful before it strikes. “Sounds familiar, doesn't it?”
She waited for me to say something, but I remained silent. This couldn't be true. It couldn't.
“There was some question as to the legality of what he had done. The girl sued him, and their case went to trial.” She brushed a windblown strand of dark hair off her cheek. “I was there for the whole thing. I'm actually surprised you didn't recognize him. It was all over the news for weeks. Such a scandal.”
I faintly remembered seeing something about a hotel land-buying scandal on the news, but I hadn't paid any attention to it. It was one of those news stories that was always on at the oil-change place. I had watched it more because there was nothing else to do for thirty minutes besides read old magazines about cars. Could that really have been my Noah? Could the man who had comforted me, let me cry on his shoulder, and held me like a child been the one to do this? There was a small voice in the back of my mind, the one that always thought the worst of everything, that whispered yes.
“He didn't win the lawsuit, by the way.” Her eyes watched my expression like a hawk. I knew my face was betraying my every thought, but I tried my best to mask them. Her lips turned up in a sinister smile. “He settled. Which means, he knew he was guilty. He knew. Just like he knew he was buying your property.”
I cringed like she had punched me in the gut. Anger started to swell. I didn't have to listen to her lies. She just wanted a news story. A nice quote to go above her byline. I knew my Noah. I knew he wouldn't have intentionally hurt me. It had to be a different Noah. It had to be.
“I don't have to talk to you,” I said crossly, forcing my feet to move forward. She stepped back and held out a business card.
“You're right, you don't. But here's my card in case you change your mind,” she said, voice smooth as honey. She moved out of my path, and I didn't take her card. “But, I know more about Noah Black than anyone else. He's not what he appears to be. I thought you should k
now.”
“Thank you for your concern,” I replied, sarcasm dripping from every word as I walked faster. If I got to Adele's, I would be safe. I could think there without her bothering me. Adele would make sure I was okay.
I hurried into the restaurant and took a deep breath, inhaling the soothing scent of baking sugar and butter. It was still early, but Adele's was starting to get busy. Danica had followed me up the path, but she wasn't coming in the restaurant. I had a moment to think.
“Hey, honey,” Adele greeted me, setting a carafe of coffee on an empty table and coming over to give me a tight squeeze. “I heard about the sale.”
I sighed. The news was out. “Did you hear who bought it? Doc didn't have much information last night.”
Adele's sweet face smiled gently, her eyes full of pity. She patted my cheek before turning and picking up the morning paper from a recently vacated table. I had to read the headline twice.
Diamond Hotels Buys Island Property. Next to the article was a picture of Noah, smiling and dressed in a trendy business suit with Beth in the background. My heart sank. It was my Noah.
I scanned the article, feeling tears form behind my eyes. The lump in my throat threatened to suffocate me.
Noah Black, President and owner of Diamond Hotels has purchased beach front property on Key Island. An inside source confirms that hotel/condo plans have already been drawn up and submitted.
This comes as a blow to local scientists who had been hoping to turn the property into a nature preserve and conservation area. A city council member, who has asked to remain nameless, stated that, “the increase in tourism and tourism related dollars is worth far more than another nature preserve. We are simply looking out for the economic well being of our island.”
I handed the paper back to Adele, my hands shaking. I didn't want to read any more. I actually couldn't because of the tears I was struggling to keep inside. Adele held the paper up and frowned at it.
“Isn't this the man you came in with the other day?” she asked. My stomach clenched.