As fate would have it, Helga isn’t home, but my mother is.
Lips parted, eyes wide, and that unruly lock of hair in his face again, Noah watches me. “What did your mom say?” he asks, rubbing his hands along my thighs.
“She told me to toughen up and get over it.”
His hands stop. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. She said men like Mathis need to sow their wild oats before settling down and that I shouldn’t really care anyway because Mathis was going to give me everything I’d ever dreamed of.”
“And what did you say?”
Pursing my lips, I shrug. “I told her I didn’t want to hear it, and I walked out.”
“Well, I’m proud of you for standing up to her, and I’m sorry that happened,” he says, his fingers now fiddling with the bottom of my shirt.
“Don’t be. Finding Mathis and Lizzie in bed together was the wake-up call I needed. I moved on with my life, and really started to live. I quit caring about pleasing my parents and started to do things for me.”
“What kinds of things?”
“Well, I quit my job as a CPA and started to focus on sewing and design. I’ve built up quite a portfolio, but there’s always room for more.”
“Tell me about your designs.”
“Do you find it odd that you’re wanting to talk and all I can think about is getting you naked?”
Noah captures my wandering hand, bringing it to his lips. “Don’t think for a second that I don’t want you naked beneath me.” He kisses my knuckles. “But like I told you before, I want us to date, and talking and getting to know each other is part of dating.”
“Yes, I’m aware, but so is getting naked. In fact, if you strip me down, I’ll let you get to know me on a much more personal level.”
With her hand wrapped in mine, I lead Lennon down the hall and push my bedroom door open.
What else is a hot-blooded man to do when his woman practically begs to get naked?
“Tonight’s going to be a little different, sweetheart.”
Lennon steps into my room and turns toward me. “What do you mean?”
“My daughter is down the hall.”
“I thought you said she slept like a log?”
“She does, but this is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this with her in the house, and I don’t want to take any chances.”
“We don’t have to do anything tonight, Noah. I’m more than happy to go back to the couch and talk.” Lennon closes the gap between us and runs her hands up my arms. “As long as there will be kissing involved.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
“All the blood has already rushed from one head to other, then?” she asks, flicking the button on my jeans.
I nod. “The second you said you wanted to get me naked.” Gripping Lennon’s wrist, I remove her hand from my pants and lock the door. “Now I want you to get naked for me, beautiful.”
My eyes trained on hers, I see the exact moment my request registers. Her breath quickens, desire flickering in her beautiful blue eyes—the same desire that’s pumping through my veins.
Leaving Lennon standing in the middle of my room, I sit down on the edge of my bed and cock an eyebrow. She swallows, and with a smile designed to bring a man to his knees, she lifts her shirt over her head and tosses it to the floor.
The breath catches in my throat.
She’s a blessed fucking angel. From her pouty lips to her perky breasts, all the way down to her tight ass. Biting on her bottom lip, Lennon steps out of her shorts and stands in front of me in nothing but a pink, lacy bra and matching panties.