She settled a hand in the middle of his chest. He pulled back enough to peer down at her. “Are you okay?”
Alexis leaned against the wall behind her and held his gaze. “I have a confession.”
He raised an eyebrow, the gesture both amused and uncertain.
“I know where your shoes are.”
His mouth curled up in a smile. “You do?”
“Liv asked Mack to steal them so you’d be stuck in the hotel looking for them.”
He puffed out a laugh. “Is that what you meant by the plan?”
“So I could come to you and get you alone and tell you that I’m sorry.”
His smile faded into anguish. “For what?”
“I didn’t give you a chance to explain.”
“I should have tried harder.”
“I should have listened harder.”
Noah made a noise low in his throat and lowered his brow to hers. She felt something burst in her chest. Something that felt like joy.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered.
“I missed you too. You have no idea how much.” And then he hugged her. Hugged her. Tightened his arms around her, buried his face in her neck, and held her. It was so simple but so achingly romantic that Alexis feared she would cry.
She let him plunder her mouth again, but she finally grasped his head and held him steady. “I don’t want this to change anything.”
He cocked a grin. “Really? I hope it changes everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hope this means I get to spend the night instead of leaving you.” He kissed her throat. “I hope it means we get to take long showers together.” He nibbled her ear. “I hope it means lazy kissing in the car.”
She began to pant. “Okay, fine. I guess those things can change.”
He laughed, and his mouth found its way back to hers. Noah rubbed his lips back and forth across hers, more caress than kiss.
“So we’re going to do this, right?” she whispered.
“I sure as shit hope so.”
“Then take me to bed.”
A growl emerged from his throat. Then he bent and slid his arm beneath her legs. She laughed as he scooped her up. “Wow,” she breathed. “This is positively swoony.”
“Swoony?”
“You make me light-headed.”
Noah grinned as he carried her across the sitting area and into one of two bedrooms in the suite. He lowered her feet to the floor next to the bed and leaned in for a kiss, but she shook her head and pushed him back. “I want you to see me.”
He stepped back as if knowing instinctively what she wanted. As he watched, she reached behind her back and unzipped her dress. She slid each strap over her arm and tugged until the dress slipped off her body, leaving her in nothing but her strapless bra and panties and her heels.
He made a noise, a cross between a whimper and a growl. “Don’t stop,” he begged.
Heat flushed her skin under his gaze. She reached around again to unlatch her bra and let it fall. Her nipples puckered from the shock of cold air and hot desire. She kicked off her shoes and then tugged her panties from her hips.
And then she stood before him. Naked. Exposed. Fully. She curled her toes and propped one foot on top of the other. A nervous habit, even when naked.
He took his time, letting his eyes travel the full length of her and then back up. “You’re—” He cleared his throat. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Your turn,” she whispered.
He nodded, and then holding her gaze, he unbuttoned his shirt. It fell to the floor and was quickly followed by his white undershirt. His chest rose and fell with the same trembling quakes as hers as his hands went to his pants. His fingers shook as he undid the button and then lowered the zipper. When he hooked his fingers in the waistband of his pants and briefs, she held her breath.
Never breaking eye contact, he slipped both garments from his hips and let them pool on the ground. He lifted one leg and then another to free himself from them. And then stood before her, naked.
His voice was low when he spoke. “I’m not going to touch you until you tell me it’s okay.”
“Can I . . . can I touch you first?”
He stood stock-still but for the nearly imperceptible lift of his chin. Even the air locked in his lungs beneath the thick, matted hair of his chest. And that’s where she began her exploration. She reached between them until trembling fingers met the warm flesh of his pecs. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. Alexis splayed her hands wide, felt the rapid beat of his heart beneath her hand. So strong, so full of life and energy.
Alexis slid her hands wide across each nipple, and when he responded with a sharp intake of breath, she paused there to do it again. Rubbing her palm over the hard, pebbled flesh that poked through the hair. Would he like to be kissed there? Was it the same for men as women? With a sudden thirst for the taste of him, she dipped her head and pressed her lips to one nipple. Noah made a noise, soft but urgent. Emboldened by it, Alexis flicked her tongue across the hard pebble. Noah’s arm shot out to brace himself against the bedpost, leaning into her, urging her on. So she sucked the nipple into her mouth, twirled her tongue around it, as her fingers traced a slow path downward.
Every inch of him was hot, toned, tight. As if every muscle was engaged in the sheer act of restraint. But when her fingers circled his belly button,
