RUSH (City Lights, #3)(68)

“I suppose. Just seems like an awful lot, awfully fast.”

“It only seems that way because I’ve been doing a whole of nothing until now. Until you.” He gave me a smile I didn’t return. “And I wouldn’t go just for the party,” he continued. “I’d go to see Yuri. To reconnect. I need a career. A purpose. And if I still had a job at PX, it might be good for me. To know my old life isn’t as dead and gone as I thought.” He smiled ruefully. “Like the book says, I can’t go back and I can’t stay here.”

“I know, it’s like Mendón is a psychic.” I gave Origin of Silence a dirty look. “Can’t you just meet Yuri privately? Do you have to go to this party?”

“I have to go. To show them all I’m not hiding anymore. To show me that I’m done hiding.”

I forgot myself and nodded.

“Charlotte?”

“I’m here,” I said softly.

“Yes, you are.” Noah moved close, slipping his arms under me and holding me tightly. His hazel eyes swept over me, searching, and then he lowered his mouth to mine in a soft kiss. “Until you, I was lost. Sometimes, you’re the only thing that ever feels real to me.”

I stroked his cheek. “I’ll always be right here for you, Noah.”

“Promise? Come with me, Charlotte. I want to walk into that ballroom with you. I’d be so f*cking proud to do it.”

“Oh, you and your f-bombs, you sweet-talker.”

He laughed. “Deacon’s an acquired taste, but Yuri is a good man. He’s a Russian version of Lucien. You’ll love him. And I promise the party won’t be terrible. For you. It’ll probably be a goddamn nightmare to me, but if you’re there, I think I can get through it.”

“For you,” I said. “But Noah, promise me if it’s too much or just…not what you think it is anymore, that you’ll leave. Okay?”

“I promise.” He kissed me and rolled over, taking me with him so that I was snuggled tight against him. “But will you make me a promise too? Actually, one promise, one favor.”

“Favor first.”

“Will you come with me to Connecticut next weekend? To visit my parents? I called Lucien this morning and—”

“You did? You are? You’re going to see them?” I felt like jumping up and down except I didn’t want to leave his arms. “I’m so happy for you. Of course, I’ll go.” Then the reality of it sunk in. “Wait. I’m going to meet your parents?”

“And Ava, my sister. Lucien says she’ll fly in.”

“Okay, so that’s not intimidating at all,” I laughed nervously. “When do you want to leave? Friday night?”

“Saturday morning. Friday night is your friend Regina’s party and that’s the promise I want from you. That you’ll go.”

I sighed. “So many social engagements, so little time.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes. But will you come with me?” I buried my smile against his shoulder. “I’d be so f*cking proud if you did.”

Noah laughed and I laughed with him until he kissed me. And then again. And again. Each kiss drew me away from my thoughts and deeper into him. His tongue plumbed my mouth in a way that made me ache between my legs. That kiss…like a promise of something more to come.

I gasped when he finally broke the kiss to trail his mouth hotly over my neck, generous with teeth and tongue. In seconds, I was dizzy for want of him. He took hold of me, lifted me and took me with him as he climbed off the bed.

“I’m going to make you feel good right now, Charlotte,” he whispered, then lifted off my shirt and flung it away. “You deserve to feel good…”

My heart clanged hard in my chest to think what he had in mind, and then I gasped as he pressed me against the bedpost.

“What are you doing?” I breathed.

“Putting these stupid posts to good use,” he said gruffly, and wrapped his arms around me, to unclasp my bra. He flung that away too and laid both hands on my breasts, fantastically rough and needy. He crushed his mouth to mine again, his tongue swirling circles, and I felt that unspoken promise again in the raw, wanton kiss.

“I love your breasts,” he said, moving to lick and suck at my earlobe, and the sensitive hollow beneath, his fingers teasing my nipples now.

“I noticed,” I managed, and reached for him, needing to feel his skin against mine. I lifted his shirt up and off, and greedily let my hands explore the tight muscles of his abdomen, and the hard planes of his chest. “And you…I’ll never get used to this.”

He cut off my words with another of those kisses that seemed to be crafted to erode my sanity, and he grabbed my wrists and lifted them over my head.

“Hold on and don’t let go,” he commanded and I nearly came with just those words, with the anticipation of what was coming next. It was so good to see him like this, full of confidence, aggressive, so sure of every move he made. A little voice whispered he’d been with countless women before the accident; he had experience to spare.

But he’s mine now, I thought, until my thoughts were swept away as Noah knelt before me, kissing my stomach while his hands gripped my hips.

“Oh god…” I whispered, as he tugged my panties down until they landed around my ankles.