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But even as she lost herself in the pleasure he drew so effortlessly from her, Leia was scrambling for emotional safety. Noah King was slowly drawing her into his orbit. An orbit she was sure she wouldn’t be able to inhabit no matter how much she wished to.
The car pulled to a stop, and he slowly raised his head, pulling his fingers out of her. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve avoided answering me about Miami for the second time.” He traced her wetness over her lips, then licked his fingers. “It’s happening, Leia.We’rehappening. I’m willing to give you another day or two to get used to the idea. Then I expect to hear thatYes, Noahyou’ve become so perfect at saying.”
He kissed her hard, lapping at her mouth with broad hungry strokes before easing back to button her up. By the time they alighted she was once again respectable, albeit minus her panties, which he’d stuffed into his jeans pocket.
A party going on in one of the hotel event rooms had spilled out into reception. He kept her tucked firmly to his side and hurried them to the elevator. They were stepping in when his phone rang.
He looked at the screen and his jaw tightened. “About fucking time, Gabe. What the hell’s going on?”
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With each floor they climbed, Noah’s fury grew. “Wait a second. Are you saying Ashley’s inMiami?” He detested the vibrations in his voice but couldn’t stop them.
Gabe grunted. “Yeah. Has been for the three days. You must have missed each other by a few hours.”
Which was just as well. Noah wasn’t sure what he’d have done if she turned up unannounced at his front door. “What the hell does she want?” he rasped.
Beside him, Leia tensed. He looked down at her, but her eyes were averted. He tucked her closer and breathed easier when she slipped her arms around his waist.
“She won’t tell me. I tried to see her before I headed down here. She’ll only talk to you.”
“Fuck that. If she has anything to say, our lawyers can deal with it.” They exited the elevator, and he reluctantly let go of Leia to open the door. As they entered their suite, she started to move away. Catching her to him, he pressed his lips against her temple. She mouthedShowerand he nodded.
“Yeah, I tried that route. She hinted that it wouldn’t be something you wanted on the record.”
Ice cracked down his spine. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Jesus, man, I don’t know.” Gabriel sounded weary. “Hell, I thought this thing was behind you. Don’t think I don’t kick myself every fucking day for ever introducing you two.”
Noah wanted to be generous and reassuring and forgiving, but the fury bubbling in his bloodstream made that impossible. “Whatever the hell she’s after, she’s going to have to cool her heels until I get back. Then she’ll have to deal with my lawyer anyway.”
Gabe paused. “You think that’s wise? Whatever she wants made her leave New York to seek you out. Maybe a face-to-face will?—”
“Like hell that’s going to happen,” he snarled. “I stopped jumping through her fucking hoops a long time ago, Gabe.”
“I know. I’m just saying, we both know the shit she’s capable of. Antagonizing her may not be the best solution.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.”
“Which in your pig-headed way meansfuck no.” Gabe sighed again. “I don’t blame you, buddy. If she was my ex I’d probably start mixing Molotov cocktails at the sound of her name, too.”
Noah breathed deep and tried to calm his irate nerves. “How are things going down there with you?” he asked, seeking a distraction to his anger. He glanced toward the bedroom wherehisperfect distraction was waiting for him.
“Fucking impeccable. My girlfriend is determined to leave me unless I spend time with her. Now I’m here, she won’t talk to me because I’m not ‘committed enough’ to our relationship. Fucking women!”
Noah smiled despite his mood. “I’m sure you’ll rise to the occasion. For some odd reason, Angie’s nuts about you.” The two had fallen over each other like a ton of bricks the moment they’d laid eyes on one another. He’d been too cynical to trust that itwould last. He still was, but he wasn’t about to tell his best friend that.
Everyone was entitled to crash and burn their own way. And if by some miracle they didn’t, then kudos to them.
“I’m hoping she remembers that pretty fucking soon. There’s only so much powder-blue sky and sun-kissed sand I can take before I hurl something.”
“You live in Miami. Blue skies and beaches aren’t alien concepts to you. Besides, according to Damon, you’ve been there less than a day.”
“According… I can’t believe that asshole managed to give you the lowdown on my sex life and neglected to mention Ashley, the main reason for his call. He’s picking up the tab for poker night drinks for the rest of the year.”
The reminder of his ex’s name made his stomach roil all over again. He heard the faint sound of a shower, and his fingers tightened on the phone. “Call me if she contacts you again. Or better still, don’t. Deal with your shit. I’ll handle her when I get back.”
He hung up, deleted the texts and blocked Ashley’s number. He threw the phone onto the bar on his way into the bedroom, unable to shake the fury and underlying edginess clawing through him.