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Chapter Six

Noah

Noah almost laughed at Jade’s enthusiasm for them to get back into the cave, until he remembered that she had no experience with men and her innocent reaction was based on her trust of him.After knowing each other for almost a week, it was heady to realize that Jade truly did trust him.She’d never even shared something as innocent as a kiss with another man.Although beautiful, she had no real understanding how truly stunning she was, but he had to make her understand that he didn’t want her because of her beauty.No, he wanted everything that encompassed Jade.

“I didn’t mean to pressure you into this.I wanted to tell you how I felt, and if we’re moving faster than you wanted, please, just let me know.”

Jade shook her head.“I’ve been drawn to you before I’d laid eyes on you.I scented you when I walked into Ghost’s building, and because I didn’t understand what my body was trying to tell me, I had no idea what it meant at the time.But I do now and when you touch me and kiss me, it feels indescribable and I want to feel that again.I know you’re not pressuring me into anything, because I want you.”

“And I want you.We’ll live in the moment.”

“Yep, and I don’t want to overthink this because I’ll start analyzing everything.And I want to enjoy everything we do.”

Knowing they were on the same page, they quickly ate up the miles back to the cave.When they reached the entrance, Jade turned around and scanned the area.He kept quiet, knowing that she would use all her senses to see if they’d been followed.When the wind shifted, he watched Jade’s face and noted that it remained passive as she took one large inhale.He had been watching her expression since they’d met and he would have known if she detected anything off.

“All clear?”

“Clear.”

He shrugged off his parka and gloves, and the thermal fleece jacket underneath, leaving him in a thermal Henley.With quick movements, he set up and switched on the two portable heaters and the three LED lanterns Jade had brought, giving a soft glow to their space.

As he finished setting up the last of the lanterns, he startled when he heard a deep rumbling, as if they were having an earthquake, but there was no movement under his feet.Noah turned around and watched as Jade easily dragged a boulder and partially blocked the entrance to the cave and kept their scents from drifting outside.He could still see the orange glow of the setting sun through the space between the boulder and the cave.

Noah hadn’t realized he’d moved, so when Jade turned back inside the cave, she was pressed against him, her warmth bringing a smile to his face.

He released her long hair from its hold and ran his fingers through the soft locks.Unable to stay away a moment longer, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips, savoring her taste as he gently explored.There was no rush in getting to know each other intimately.Rather, they wanted—at least Noah wanted—to map her body and find where she loved to be touched.

When they broke the kiss, he lifted her easily in his arms and while she was pressed to his chest, he buried his face against her neck, breathing her in.

“The more time we spend together, your scent seems to change.”

Jade leaned back slowly and met his gaze.

“When we met, I could detect a hint of peaches along with vanilla, but your scent becomes…well, it’s going to sound ridiculous, more earthy.I sometimes still smell the vanilla, but mixed in is lavender and pine.”

She shrugged.“Maybe we’re more in tune to each other and my scent is changing based on you, adapting to more familiar scents.I remember Kai telling me Liv’s scent never changed, but I don’t really know about the others.And to me, you smell like the earth dampened after a heavy rain.”

Noah, unable to stay away, captured her lips in another kiss.He had been holding her against his body and loved when she wrapped her legs around his hips, pressing them closer.Like the actions that came before, Noah felt as though everything elemental in him knew by this movement alone that they were made for each other.

Jade panted as she pulled back.The beautiful green haloed her blown pupils.“I’ve never craved a touch as much as I want yours, right now, but before we make love, can I explore you?”

Noah swallowed and absorbed a shiver that ran through him as she waited in anticipation of his answer.“I would love for you to touch me.”

He loved it when Jade took charge, and after his answer, she captured his lips in a searing kiss that had his cock throbbing against the zipper of his jeans.Noah felt the loss when Jade hopped down out of his hold.

They held each other’s gazes for a long moment before her fingers skimmed along the bottom hem of his shirt, and when she touched his already scorching skin with her soft, cool fingers, he sucked in a breath and bit his bottom lip to prevent the moan from escaping.It was a simple touch but it set his body on fire.

As her hands slid torturously slow up his clenched abs, Jade surprised him by standing on her tiptoes and nuzzling into his neck.When he sucked in a breath, she moved her hands around his sides and onto his back, all while nibbling on his skin underneath his ear and lower, to where his shoulder met his neck.This move sent heat and a pounding pulse straight to his cock.

“Fuck!”Noah shouted when Jade scratched her nails down his back, causing his entire body to shudder.He took a deep breath to prevent himself from throwing Jade onto their makeshift bed and ravishing her body.

With quick movements, she pushed his shirt up and off, groaning as she saw his naked chest for the first time.In the military, you had to be in shape.It was a matter of life and death.And in the months since his discharge, he’d been diligent with his exercise routine.Never in his life had he been as grateful for it as when Jade raked her eyes over his exposed skin and exhaled a half moan, half plea.

“Anything—whatever you want to do, just touch me.”His voice came out gruffer than he wanted, but he saw the flare in Jade’s eyes and knew she understood his desperation.

Jade started by kissing down his chest, taking her time as if her lips were exploring every curve and indent, while causing the most delicious ache to run throughout his entire body.Her lips explored his pecs, her tongue drawing across his nipples, before she traveled lower.She kissed his belly but he was distracted by her hands moving all over his exposed skin, but when she dropped to her knees, he sucked in a deep breath and prayed he wouldn’t embarrass himself.

Her fingers deftly opened the top button of his pants and he groaned when her fingers brushed his hips and she pulled the waistband down a couple of inches.That groan turned into a deep moan when she pressed her mouth against his skin.He hadn’t been aware, until that moment, his hips were an erogenous zone.