“Maybe I don't want to know. Maybe I like the illusion that you might stay.” I swallowed hard. I hadn't realized that the words were true until I spoke them. The idea of him staying was like being told I could have the moon. I wanted it so badly, but I knew realistically it wasn't going to happen.
“How about this, then? I'll tell you what I do when I leave.”
I thought about it for a moment. That was an acceptable answer. He could keep his secret, I could keep looking at him as though he walked on water, and when he left, both our illusions would be shattered, but in private. “Then I hope I never find out.”
I looked into his eyes and I wished that there wasn't a table separating us. I wanted to kiss him so badly. His refusal to disclose his job to me only added an air of mystery that I couldn't get enough of.
Noah's eyes reflected the candlelight.
“Did you know that my back porch has the best view on the island?” he asked quietly. I smiled. The man knew how to change a subject.
“Is that so?”
“Best view on the island.” He crossed his arms with a smug smile.
“And you've been everywhere on the island to check this?”
Noah grinned, standing up and offering me his hand. I couldn't refuse the opportunity to touch him, so I took it and followed him out onto the back porch. He only let me go so that he could close the door behind us.
I leaned up against the railing, looking up at the moon. Her silver light reflected down on the ocean waves, turning their white tips bright. The sky was dark purple now, and the air was humid, dark, and full of promise.
“Yup, definitely the best view on the island,” Noah whispered, making me turn. He wasn't looking at the night sky or the ocean. He was looking at me. It was slightly cheesy, but I enjoyed the compliment.
Noah moved forward, gathering me up in his arms. The masculine scent of his light cologne was exhilarating. His mouth slowly slanted to mine, sending small thrills up and down my spine. He went further, tasting me with his tongue like I was something to be savored. A low moan escaped my lips as he pulled me closer to him, his arms strong and demanding around me. His kiss was sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell.
I didn't want to fall for another tourist. You're not falling, I told myself. You're simply enjoying. I knew he was going to leave and I would be sad. But I would also be far more disappointed if I missed this. His kiss was insistent, intoxicating, and driving me insane. I wanted to melt into him and let him melt into me. I wanted to kiss every inch of his skin. Every inch.
I had never been so turned on by a kiss before. It was as if Noah knew everything I loved in a kiss and was delivering and then some. I had never felt this sort of connection with another human being before. I didn't want to get hurt, but I wasn't going to miss this either. Just one last tourist...
As if he could read my thoughts, he began to press into me more, leading me back toward the door of the house. I smiled as I walked backward, hoping that I wouldn't trip over a loose board on the deck.
Chapter 10
I, of course, did trip. But Noah was there to catch me. His strong arms wrapped around my waist, and he pushed me up against the wall of the house. I was pinned by his arms, and I had no intention of escaping. With slow, sensual lips, he nibbled down my jaw, kissing my throat as he made his way down to my collarbone. Each touch was erotic and hot. My body was responding with pure want and arching into him without me telling it to.
A soft breeze came across from the ocean, cooling the hot kisses on my skin. I wondered if people could see us, since we were still outside and not secluded by windows or walls. Noah's hand was planted firmly on my breast, his fingers massaging me through the fabric of my dress. I moaned quietly, realizing that the only people who could see us at this private villa would be boats out on the ocean. With the darkening night, that would be close to impossible, but the thrill of possibly being seen was still there.
Noah's hand slid down my side to the hem of my dress, tracing the lacy edge against my thigh. The light touch on the sensitive skin sent shivers up my spine. He chuckled, the sound reverberating deep in his chest as he slid his leg between mine. It was strong and steady, and I rocked against it. His hands went back up to the collar of my dress. With a feather-light touch, he grazed the skin right above the collar of my strapless dress. I sucked in a breath as he suddenly pulled down on the fabric, exposing both br**sts to the night air.
“Mmm,” he hummed into my skin as he bent his head to take one in his mouth. I didn’t bother to repress my moaning, making him smile against my skin. His five-o'clock shadow was rough against my soft skin, but I loved it. I loved when he touched me. I couldn't believe I was ready for this step in our relationship so fast, but I wanted him.
My hands tangled in his dark hair as his mouth worked magic. His tongue caressed and teased, pebbling my nipple into a tight ball which he bit gently with his teeth. A high-pitched thrum vibrated through my entire body as I ground against his thigh with my pelvis. My head fell back against the house, and my h*ps pressed into him with my back arched to give him the best access I could. I wanted him to take all of me. I felt his smile against my damp skin as he went to the other breast to continue his exquisite torture.
He shifted his weight, removing the thigh that was perilously close to getting me off and putting his hands on my waist. With a spin, he picked me up and set me on the thick balcony. He made sure I had my balance so that my arm wrapped around the support beam. Despite the width of the balcony rail, I was still afraid I might fall. It was higher than I was really comfortable with, and I wasn't sure just how deep the ocean was below, even at high tide.
“Don't let me fall,” I whispered, a little anxious as to what he had planned.
He responded with a kiss, wrapping one arm around my waist so that he pinned me to the support beam. His kisses moved down to the sensitive area just below my ear where my shoulder and neck joined. “I've got you.”
His free hand slid up my thigh, reminding me that I was wearing a dress and that my knees were splayed open. His hand didn't stop at the hem of my dress; instead, he continued up my inner thigh and sent heat surging through my core. His fingers caressed the lace of the little panties I had chosen. They were light blue like the dress and more lace and string than fabric.
“Pretty,” he murmured into my shoulder, moving his lips to nibble on my collarbone. The pad of his thumb stroked me through the lace, and I moaned. I wanted him so badly that I couldn't think straight. His clever fingers danced under the thin lace and touched bare skin.