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He rose from his desk and strolled to the window.
He’d stood here less than a week ago contemplating the barrenness of his life, and the depths of his cloying hunger. In a few short days, Leia had changed that desolate landscape. She filled him with hope and possibilities that made him reel.
He knew a good investment when he saw one. He intended to hang on to her with everything he had.
Six hours later, Noah was pacing in front of another window, the vice around his chest tightening with each call that went unanswered. The food had long cooled on the dining table in his condo, and his appetite was non-existent.
Where the hell was she?
He scrolled through to the number he’d dialed earlier on in the day. He was about to dial it when the intercom buzzed.
Turning off the phone, he grabbed the handset. “Yes?”
“Sir, there’s a Miss Michaels here?—”
“Send her up.” He stalked out the door to the elevator, wishing for the first time that he didn’t live in the penthouse suite of a twenty-story building. He nearly tore open the doors with his bare hands when the car stopped.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
“Don’t yell at me, Noah. It’s been a rough day.” She wore the same clothes from this morning and weariness bruised her beautiful eyes.
He dialed his voice down a notch. “Okay. No yelling. Why is your phone off?”
“I didn’t get done until half an hour ago. And my phone was off because I was in meetings all day. The board wants me to take over as CEO now or hand over the full reins to Warren?—”
He frowned. “You just stepped off a plane. You’re exhausted. They couldn’t wait a day to hit you with this?”
“Everything sort of snowballed into each other.”
He sliced his fingers through his hair. “Leia, I’ve been going out of my mind worrying about you.”
“I’m sorry.” Exhaustion lined her voice and face, and he swallowed his frantic worry that had consumed him.
The elevator doors started to shut. He slammed it back. “Come inside. Dinner is cold, but I’m sure I can—” He stopped when she shook her head.
“I’m not coming in. My car’s waiting downstairs.”
“What the hell for?”
“I just think this is a bad idea. You said we could withstand the baggage. But your ex turned up the moment we landed?—”
“And you left with a guy who looks at you like you’re his private possession,” he snapped.
She recoiled. “No, he doesn’t.”
He stalked in and caught her up against him. “I know you’re not that blind so let’s talk about something more relevant. What happened today?”
She pushed against his chest. “Nothing. Let me go, Noah.”
Panic surged. He strode into his condo and kicked the door shut. “When I left you this morning you were okay. Now you’re dumping me? I think I deserve some answers, don’t you?”
“I need a little distance. That’s all. Maybe we can pick this back up when?—”
He slammed her against the wall. She moaned and her pupils dilated. His rough treatment turned her on. Just as much as it turned him on.
For them, the rougher the better. The thought that she wanted to take this from him,from them, nearly sent him into orbit. When her tongue flicked against the corner of her mouth and her eyes devoured him, he forgot his own name.
“Noah, what are you doing?”