Chapter 10

Raven opened her eyes and blinked at the dusky light streaming in through the balcony doors. She stilled and forced air into her lungs. She was at Noah's and everything was fine. And wow. She'd slept through the night. While sharing a bed. With Noah.

The night before sped through her mind and an ache began between her thighs as she smiled. Raising onto her elbows, she noted his side of the bed was empty. The scent of coffee filled the room and a clatter sounded from the kitchen. Rolling onto her back, she ran her hands through her tangled hair. She probably looked like a mess.

Stepping out of bed, she padded into the bathroom to relieve herself and looked in the mirror. Well, someone looked properly screwed. Red cheeks, swollen lips, whisker burn on her neck. She grinned. Finding some toothpaste, she brushed her teeth with her finger and splashed water on her face before going in search of her purse. She brushed the knots from her hair and tied it up in a loose ponytail with a band.

Then, wondering what to wear, she grabbed his T-shirt from the floor and shrugged into it. Pressing the fabric to her nose, she inhaled the spicy scent of him before realizing that was silly and-girly. She loved the smell of him, though. Like Christmas or warm baked goodies.

Pausing on the spot, she questioned what was happening to her. She didn't spend the night with her lovers or wear their clothing or get all soft when smelling them. She'd certainly never let them to touch her or allowed herself to drop her barriers to do something as intimate as bathe with them.

And hell. She'd promised to stay the weekend, maybe even the whole month-

Striding out of the room, she made her way through the living room and to the kitchen, where the sight of him stopped her dead. Wearing nothing but a loose pair of flannel pajama bottoms, he sat at the counter on a stool, phone to his ear and back to her. A cup of coffee was cradled in his large hand, perched halfway to his mouth.

Seeing the soft light skin over the hard muscles of his back and shoulders made her ache to touch him. Run her hands down his sinfully yummy body. Watch him come undone beneath her like he'd done last night.

His forearms flexed as he took a sip of coffee and set it down. "I'm sorry," he said into the phone, his voice low. "I can't make it for a few weeks. I know. I miss you, too."

The hairs on her arms stood erect. Dread coiled in her gut.

He had someone else.

She placed a palm to her forehead. Of course he did. They never said anything about exclusivity and neither of them did commitment. This temporary thing between them was no different. So why did her stomach clench at the thought of him doing these things with someone else? She wasn't the jealous type.

He turned suddenly on the stool, eyes widening a fraction. His gaze leveled on her, devoid of any recognizable expression. "I have to go," he said into the phone, still watching her.

Making her feet move, she walked deeper into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. Turning, she forced herself to face him and leaned her butt on the counter.

With his jaw tight, his gaze traveled the length of her. "Damn, Raven. The only thing better than the sight of you naked is you in nothing but my shirt." His voice, sleep-roughened and low, caused heat to replace the anxiety in her belly.

She took a sip of coffee, staring at him over the rim. "If you need to go, I understand."

"What are you talking about?"

Pushing off the counter, she rounded the island. "We never said anything about not seeing other people in this arrangement." Shame filled her knowing she probably hadn't satisfied him last night, hadn't allowed him to do half the things he'd wanted.

He grabbed her arm when she went to pass him. "I'm not seeing anyone else. That call was-regarding something else."

She'd never known him to lie, not up until last week anyway when she'd found out the past ten years had been false. According to him, it was one lie, just about his alter ego, but how could she be sure? "You don't need to make excuses. I won't break. If you need to get it somewhere else-"

He took the coffee from her hand, set it down, grabbed her hips and pinned her to the counter in one swift blur. Her breasts and hands trapped between their bodies. He shoved his face close, breath heavy across her cheek. His gaze bore into hers-a searing arctic blue seething with anger.

"I'm not seeing anyone else and I don't share. I may not be the forever guy, but I have never cheated when I'm with a woman. Not until it's run its course and I've ended it do I move on. Understand? There is no one else."

Remembering to breathe, she nodded. Her heart jack-hammered in her chest, but not in fear. In desire. This fierce, intense side of him, almost brutal in the animalistic stance, had her damp. Needy.

He flinched as if shocked by his actions. He swiped a hand down his face and expelled a breath. Shoving off the counter, he backed away.

She grabbed the ties of his pajama bottoms and hauled him back. "That was hot. You going all alpha and angry? Really hot, Noah."

His gaze was disbelieving.

Reaching between them, she palmed his shaft, satisfaction rising when he thickened in her hand.

His hands dropped to her hips, fingers flexing. "Raven, baby-"

"Have I also mentioned how much I like you calling me baby? Surprising, that. But I like it." Normally, she hated pet names. Her mother used them constantly. But coming from Noah, in that voice of his speaking through a haze of lust and skirting the edge of control, her knees weakened.

Sucking in a breath, he fisted the hem of her shirt, shoving it up to her waist. His gaze dropped. A groan rumbled from his chest. "You're not wearing anything under my shirt." His voice was breathless. Awed.

As if he needed confirmation, she shook her head.

Suddenly, they spun and her back was against the wall, him on his knees in front of her. Showing her his hands, he pressed one and then the other on the wall on either side of her hips, silently telling her he wouldn't move them. "Open your legs, baby."

The breath caught in her lungs, but she did as he asked, bracing her feet farther apart and using the wall for support.

He grunted his approval. His blue gaze held hers for a moment before dipping to her sex. Leaning in, he licked a path up her inner thigh and she shuddered.

Never, not once, had a man gone down on her. She'd never concede that kind of control and the vulnerability gave her pause. But this position, with him on his knees and her above him, didn't strike fear into her chest. Instead, she ached.

"Noah-please."

"Please, what?" He mumbled, licking his way up her other thigh, teasing her inches from where she wanted him.

Damn. Damn, damn. "Kiss me there."

Without hesitation, he brought his tongue between her folds and tongued her opening. Hot, wet strokes that had her eyes rolling back in her skull. The tip of his tongue flicked her clit and her head hit the wall.

"Oh God. Noah-"

"Right here, baby. You taste better than I'd imagined."

She whimpered, her hips bucking toward him. His tongue swirled, licked, penetrated, and she went mad. Her hands fisted in his hair, tugging, guiding, but he knew exactly what he was doing. In and out his tongue darted, easing back so he could nip her clit and then repeating the insanely delicious process again.

"Come, Raven."

She breathed his name, looking down at him. Something shifted inside of her, at seeing him between her thighs, her core aching. He was watching her, blue eyes severe, darkened by his own need. His hands flexed against the wall, as if the restraint were too much. The muscles in his forearms and biceps bunched.

A tingle shot through her, the only warning for the impeding explosion. She locked her knees, arched away from the wall and quaked through the onslaught.

He never let up, sucking and biting until the last of her tremors ceased and she couldn't breathe. When her legs gave out, he caught her.