One Last Time(28)

Noah doesn’t wait, his arms slip around me as if they are meant to be there and my hands rest on his chest. We sway to the sound of the ocean, and my pulse races. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something happening between us. It scares me more than I want to admit, and still, I’m not pulling away.

I’m leaning a little closer.

We move as the sun dips lower and the pink sky darkens more. Noah’s hands splay across my back, and I stare into his eyes. I want to say so many things, but I’m afraid to speak.

His hand moves to my cheek as he pushes a lock of my hair away from my face. “I don’t know what it is about you.” His voice breaks the silence.

Needing to shift the moment from intense, I take a step back and laugh. “It’s because of the best sex comment. That’s all; I promise it’ll pass.”

Noah chuckles, pulls me to his side, and then releases me. “We’ll see. No guy would pass up the chance to see if it’s true.”

He nudges me as we start walking back toward the car. “I know of one,” I say under my breath so low I know he can’t hear me.





Chapter Eleven





Noah





I fucking suck at this backing off thing.

Eli and Heather are going to kill me, but I’ll go down a happy man. Everything about this woman is intoxicating. She has no idea how beautiful she is, and when she laughs, her blue eyes brighten and make me want to drop to my knees. There’s no reason I can find as to why I feel this way about her, yet here I am, making the wrong choices.

Telling her shit I swore I wouldn’t.

Doing things I promised my friends I wouldn’t even attempt.

The way she smiles without any reservations, sings as if no one is listening, and danced with me without hesitation have all combined to make me well and truly fucked. I couldn’t walk away now if I wanted to.

The car ride has been quiet. Kristin seems lost in herself, and I don’t want to push her. I think through all the stupid shit I let fly out of my mouth, hoping I didn’t sound like a lunatic.

“You okay?” I ask as we pull into her driveway.

“Yeah, sorry, just piecing together the article in my head.” She smiles.

“I hope I gave enough for the interview.”

“You did. I think it’ll be great.”

I nod once and exit the car. I know this isn’t a date, but my mother would kick my ass all the way back to the farm if I didn’t treat a woman with respect and open her door. The few steps I take, I remind myself to back off.

After a deep breath, I pull the door open and help her out. She wobbles a little, catching herself in my arms. I pull her against me, holding her a bit closer than strictly necessary. Kristin’s eyes lift, and there’s no denying the desire floating in them. I can feel her pulse racing, but I lock myself down.

“Noah,” she says my name with a sigh.

“Tell me you don’t feel anything.” I give her a chance out of this. I’ll let her go if she says the words. “Tell me to stop coming around and that you’re not interested.”

“I can’t . . .”

My hand slides up her back, molding her body to mine. “I want to kiss you.”

She shakes her head, but her fingers move against my chest and find their way to the back of my neck. “We shouldn’t.”

“No, we shouldn’t,” I agree. “But if you don’t stop me, I’m going to.”

Kristin’s fingers play with the hair at my nape.

My restraint is slipping.

“Three.” I start to count.

“Two.”

Kristin moves a little closer to my mouth, and I’m done.

Our lips meet, and I lean her back against the car, pinning her so she can’t escape. I kiss her as if it could be the last kiss we ever share. My hands move higher so I can cup her neck. When she sighs, I take the opening and slide my tongue inside. Kristin kisses me back, meeting me in every way. She wants me just as much as I want her.

Each time her tongue reaches mine, she makes a sound that goes straight to my dick. As much as I wish I could’ve kissed her last night, I’m damn glad she can’t blame this on alcohol. My hands move down her body, loving every curve and dip.

Her fingers roam back to my chest, and her body tenses before she pushes me back.

“That . . .” She struggles to catch her breath. “That was . . .”

“Fantastic.” I finish for her.

“Yes. It was, but that shouldn’t have happened. Damn it. What is wrong with me?”

I take her face in my hands. “Nothing is wrong with you.”

Kristin’s eyes fill with regret. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You didn’t do anything.” This is all my fault. I’m the one who kissed her when I know all the shit she is going through. “It’s me who should be sorry.”

Kristin looks at the ground. “No, you shouldn’t. I wanted you to kiss me. I wanted to kiss you, and I want a lot more, but I can’t . . .”

My finger hooks under her chin, and I force her to look at me. “Because?”

I know all the reasons, but I need to be reminded so I don’t kiss her again.