Enchanted (The Accidental Billionaires #4)(28)

“So promise me that you’ll have more downtime now that you’re filthy rich and your family is all grown,” I pressed.

“I won’t promise that I’m going to become a beach bum,” he teased. “I do like designing apps and programs. I really like doing my own stuff instead of somebody else’s, but I’ll do it in moderation. I think I’d like to take the responsibility of managing my own wealth off Evan’s shoulders. He’s done it for long enough. I’d have to learn a lot to take it over myself, but I’m starting to look forward to that.”

I highly doubted that Evan minded. The guy was a financial wizard. But it would be good for Noah to take control of his own life. “Good idea,” I encouraged.

“It’s still pretty surreal. The whole money thing. Considering that Seth, Aiden, and I used to bust our asses just to put food on our table, that much money is almost a fantasy.”

“It’s real,” I assured him. “Don’t you ever check your bank balance?”

If he had, the money would probably seem a whole lot more personal to him.

“Not really. I avoided it when we were poor. We pretty much had everything stretched and calculated to our last penny. There was no point in looking at it.”

“You’ll get used to it,” I teased. “Owen kind of went through the same thing when he was trying to come to grips with being one of the richest guys in the world. I’m still not sure if he’s completely adjusted to it, either.”

“Everyone struggled with it,” he answered.

“Except you?”

“Except me,” he acknowledged. “I just ignored it for a long time.”

“So everyone else is over the shock, but you’re just now trying to figure it out,” I told him. “You’ll catch up.”

“Right now, I think I have more important things to do.”

I frowned. I didn’t want him to go back to burying himself and ignoring reality. “Like what?”

“Being with you.” He reached out and ran his fingers through my wet hair. “I can’t think about anything else when you’re this damn close.”

My heart skipped a beat as I saw the smoldering heat in his eyes. If they kept boring into me, I knew I was going to end up scorched.

Problem was, I just didn’t care.

The need to be with Noah had grown so much stronger than my fears.

He vaulted out of the water and moved until he was right in front of me. “You’re the only thing I see as real right now, Andie. Just this,” he said in a low growl right before he rolled me onto my back and covered my upper body with his.

I shivered as I felt his hand behind my head, protecting it from smashing onto the wood. I relished the feel of his muscular body pinning mine to the dock.

I’d wanted this since the first time I’d seen him on that jet.

In fact, I’d craved it. “Noah,” I said breathlessly, feeling overwhelmed, but not so much that I wanted to get away.

He lowered his head until I could feel his breath on my lips. “Don’t say no, Andie,” he said huskily.

I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m not saying no.”

His mouth crashed down on mine, and a needy groan was music to my ears, even though I had no idea whether it had come from him, or me.

I speared my hands into his damp hair, hanging on for dear life as every bit of the desperate need I’d been experiencing for the last week poured out of me and was put into the sensual connection of our fevered embrace.

He kissed me like his life depended on it.

Fiercely.

Deeply.

And so hungrily that it stoked my own desire. I released a tormented moan against his lips.

Noah.

Oh, God, Noah.

I’d never felt as alive as I did at the moment.

I didn’t want that feeling to end.

But . . . it did.

It came to a halt the instant we heard the jarring sound of a gong close to where we were trying to climb inside each other’s bodies.

“Dinner,” Noah rasped harshly as he retreated. He seemed more angry than happy that he was about to be fed.

“Dammit!” I whispered sharply, my heart still galloping so fast that I couldn’t move.

We’d been told that the gong would sound as soon as our dinner was ready.

Our faces were only inches apart, but I could already feel the pain of the separation from Noah.

“Do you think we could convince them to give us another hour or two here?” he asked huskily, his breath warm as it caressed my cheek.

“Doubtful,” I said shakily as I tightened my grip around his neck.

I didn’t want to go anywhere, and I sure as hell didn’t want Noah to move.

“I’m not apologizing this time, either,” he said, his voice slightly irritable.

“Understood,” I said softly as I smiled. “Neither am I.”

I was never going to regret being close to Noah. Maybe my time with him wouldn’t last, but I was determined to enjoy it while I could.

He lowered his head and gave me a quick kiss, and then stood and pulled me to my feet. “Food, woman. We haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

I’d completely lost my appetite for anything except him, but I knew once I got my head together, I’d be more than grateful for some food.