“Hmm. Do I need to be worried about what you do? I mean, if you're a hit man, I'd like to know.” I felt a little bit of anxiety at the fact that he didn't want to tell me exactly what he did for a living. I was getting the very clear impression that he had a good deal of wealth, but there were a lot of shady ways to make money. I wasn't nearly as afraid as I should have been, though. For some reason, every fiber of my being already trusted him completely. Even the little worrywart fibers that liked to whisper things in the wee hours and didn't fully trust that gravity existed, trusted him.
“You only need to worry if you're a distressed property,” he answered, leaning back in his chair and pushing his empty plate forward.
I patted my chest. “Nope, still a human.” I played with my fork in the last remnants of egg on my plate.
“I'll tell you this,” he said, relenting slightly. “I have several businesses, and they all deal with real estate in some form. I am very successful with what I do. And the reason I don't want to tell you, is because I'm afraid you'll be tempted to go Google it and you'll find out about those failures I was telling you about earlier. The press hasn't been very nice to me, and there are a lot of lies being spread around.”
I set my fork down. “So why don't you just tell me now? Then I'll know the truth.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “If I tell you, I'm afraid you won't look at me like you are right now. I'm afraid you'll look at me the way everyone else does, and that would kill me.”
His eyes focused on mine, the candlelight flickering and bringing out the handsomeness of his face. There was an energy to him that I couldn't escape. Didn't want to escape. At that moment, I didn't care what he did. I just wanted to be with him. Besides, it didn't matter what he did anyway. He was leaving soon.
“You haven't asked me when I'm leaving yet,” Noah remarked as if he could read my mind. For all I knew, he could.
“Maybe I don't want to know. Maybe I like the illusion that you might stay.” I swallowed hard. I hadn't realized that the words were true until I spoke them. The idea of him staying was like being told I could have the moon. I wanted it so badly, but I knew realistically it wasn't going to happen.
“How about this, then? I'll tell you what I do when I leave.”
I thought about it for a moment. That was an acceptable answer. He could keep his secret, I could keep looking at him as though he walked on water, and when he left, both our illusions would be shattered, but in private. “Then I hope I never find out.”
I looked into his eyes and I wished that there wasn't a table separating us. I wanted to kiss him so badly. His refusal to disclose his job to me only added an air of mystery that I couldn't get enough of.
Noah's eyes reflected the candlelight.
“Did you know that my back porch has the best view on the island?
” he asked quietly. I smiled. The man knew how to change a subject.
“Is that so?”
“Best view on the island.” He crossed his arms with a smug smile.
“And you've been everywhere on the island to check this?”
Noah grinned, standing up and offering me his hand. I couldn't refuse the opportunity to touch him, so I took it and followed him out onto the back porch. He only let me go so that he could close the door behind us.
I leaned up against the railing, looking up at the moon. Her silver light reflected down on the ocean waves, turning their white tips bright. The sky was dark purple now, and the air was humid, dark, and full of promise.
“Yup, definitely the best view on the island,” Noah whispered, making me turn. He wasn't looking at the night sky or the ocean. He was looking at me. It was slightly cheesy, but I enjoyed the compliment.
Noah moved forward, gathering me up in his arms. The masculine scent of his light cologne was exhilarating. His mouth slowly slanted to mine, sending small thrills up and down my spine. He went further, tasting me with his tongue like I was something to be savored. A low moan escaped my lips as he pulled me closer to him, his arms strong and demanding around me. His kiss was sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell.
I didn't want to fall for another tourist. You're not falling, I told myself. You're simply enjoying. I knew he was going to leave and I would be sad. But I would also be far more disappointed if I missed this. His kiss was insistent, intoxicating, and driving me insane. I wanted to melt into him and let him melt into me. I wanted to kiss every inch of his skin. Every inch.
I had never been so turned on by a kiss before. It was as if Noah knew everything I loved in a kiss and was delivering and then some. I had never felt this sort of connection with another human being before. I didn't want to get hurt, but I wasn't going to miss this either. Just one last tourist...
As if he could read my thoughts, he began to press into me more, leading me back toward the door of the house. I smiled as I walked backward, hoping that I wouldn't trip over a loose board on the deck.
Sandcastle Kisses: Chapter 10
I, of course, did trip. But Noah was there to catch me. His strong arms wrapped around my waist, and he pushed me up against the wall of the house. I was pinned by his arms, and I had no intention of escaping. With slow, sensual lips, he nibbled down my jaw, kissing my throat as he made his way down to my collarbone. Each touch was erotic and hot. My body was responding with pure want and arching into him without me telling it to.
A soft breeze came across from the ocean, cooling the hot kisses on my skin. I wondered if people could see us, since we were still outside and not secluded by windows or walls. Noah's hand was planted firmly on my breast, his fingers massaging me through the fabric of my dress. I moaned quietly, realizing that the only people who could see us at this private villa would be boats out on the ocean. With the darkening night, that would be close to impossible, but the thrill of possibly being seen was still there.
Noah's hand slid down my side to the hem of my dress, tracing the lacy edge against my thigh. The light touch on the sensitive skin sent shivers up my spine. He chuckled, the sound reverberating deep in his chest as he slid his leg between mine. It was strong and steady, and I rocked against it. His hands went back up to the collar of my dress. With a feather-light touch, he grazed the skin right above the collar of my strapless dress. I sucked in a breath as he suddenly pulled down on the fabric, exposing both breasts to the night air.
“Mmm,” he hummed into my skin as he bent his head to take one in his mouth. I didn’t bother to repress my moaning, making him smile against my skin. His five-o'clock shadow was rough against my soft skin, but I loved it. I loved when he touched me. I couldn't believe I was ready for this step in our relationship so fast, but I wanted him.