Serena met his eyes again, studying him in the gathering shadows while a single candle flickered near the center of the table, casting them both in a dim, warm glow. They were alone on the veranda, with Gracie inside with the sitter, and for that moment in time, it seemed like only the two of them existed in the whole world. A gentle breeze blew and the occasional bird sang from the trees and suddenly Serena couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else except right there with Noah.
“You’re very good at your job,” she said, putting her napkin on the table and getting up to move closer to him. “Very, very good.”
As if sensing the shift in mood toward sensual, Noah scooted back his chair and tugged her forward, until she sprawled across his lap. “Oh, I am. I’m excellent,” he said, before kissing her.
She clung to him, unable to get close enough, unable to get enough of him. His smell, his taste, those low groans that issued from deep in his throat letting her know he wanted her as much as she wanted him—they were all irresistible. Before she could stop herself, she straddled him, grinding herself against his ever-growing erection, riding him toward her own peak of pleasure. He dug his fingers into her hips, keeping her close, increasing the contact between their bodies, even as he arched up to drive his hardness into her softness, as close to actual sex as she’d ever been with all her clothes on. It was shameless. It was scandalous. It was the most erotic, amazing experience she’d ever had in her life.
Her breath hitched in her lungs, and the heat and slickness between her legs grew nearly unbearable as she got closer and closer to climax. She needed this, needed him, more than she needed oxygen. Maybe it was the danger. Maybe it was the constant fight to stay alive. Whatever it was, Serena had never reacted to another man the way she reacted to Noah.
“Please…” she whispered, her mouth hovering over his, their ragged breaths mingling. “Please…”
“Please what, sweetheart?” he all but purred, rubbing his hard cock against her most sensitive spot through their clothes. “Tell me what you need. Say it.”
Sexy talk wasn’t her forte, but Noah made her feel like she could do anything. “Make me come. I need you to make me come. Now, Noah.”
“Whatever you what, baby,” he said, pulling her down on him as he arched up and stars burst behind her closed eyelids. Her whole body went taut as the orgasm washed over her, hard and hot, pulsing through her nerve endings in endless waves of pleasure. The whole time, Noah held her close and whispered into her hair, coaxing her to ride out her climax on him until she felt boneless and weightless and completely sated.
When she raised her head at last to look at him, he was grinning down at her like she’d just done the best thing ever. She started to straighten, but he held her in place, his arousal still hard as ever. Serena reached a hand between them to stroke him, but he caught her wrist. “No,” Noah said. “Tonight was about you, sweetheart.”
“But what about you?” She frowned. “Let me—”
“No.” He pulled her hand up and kissed her fingers. “Seeing you come apart like that in my arms was more than enough. I’ll take care of business later. Let’s go inside for now before the owners come out to see what we’re doing.”
10
The next morning, Serena woke up in bed, with Gracie still asleep at her side. After the great dinner and mind-blowing orgasm afterward, she’d slept better than she had in years. Well, in between the feedings. Noah was up and sitting at the table in their room, writing in what looked like a journal. When she stirred, he came over and dropped a kiss on her lips.
“Good morning,” he said, smiling down at her.
“Morning,” Serena said, followed by a yawn and a stretch. “Whatcha doing?”
“Oh,” he straightened and glanced back at the table, then shrugged. “Nothing.”
She frowned and sat up, careful not to wake Gracie, then swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. “Really? Because it looked like something. Looked like you were writing in a journal.”
Serena started toward the table, but Noah blocked her path, his grin dissolving and his dark brows drawing together. “It’s nothing. Honestly. Forget about it.”
Sunlight streamed in through the blinds behind him, silhouetting his ripped bod and for a moment, Serena just let herself enjoy the view. Damn, the man was fine. No two ways about it. But he was definitely hiding something. She could tell by that stern set to his mouth and the stiffness in his broad shoulders. Rather than going for a direct assault, she decided to try a bait and switch instead. “Fine. Whatever, I’m going to the bathroom.”
She turned to start that way, then faked a left, hoping to get around him and see what the hell he’d been writing. Noah was too quick for her, anticipating her plans and countering. They ended up in each other’s arms, laughing and kissing. It might have gone a bit farther if it wasn’t for Gracie waking up.
Noah peered over the top of Serena’s head toward the bed. “Looks like someone’s up this morning.”
“Yep.” She pulled away and started back to the bed, only to stop at the sound of a strange cry from her daughter. It sounded weak and hoarse and altogether troubling. Serena’s stomach dropped to her toes.
Her worry must have shown on her face because Noah asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Something’s not right with Gracie.”
She rushed over and felt the baby’s forehead, then picked her up and carried her to the bathroom where she flipped on the lights. “She’s got
