“Nobody will see a damn thing,” I grumble, tugging down the hem of her dress and adjusting my hold to keep it in place. “Now, behave.” I give her a playful swat on the ass.
She blows out an exasperated huff. “The least you can do is buy me a Bootylicious Blitzen for putting up with your mood swings.”
“You’re enough trouble sober,” I mutter.
“Funny, I thought it was because I’m accident-prone,” she retorts.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Noelle is dismantling my last frayed nerve. Goddammit, why does she have this power over me? One look at another man’s hands on her, and I’ve lost my damn mind. Our age gap, her fleeting stay, and her city roots mean nothing in the blur of my envy.
I don’t slow my pace as I stride out of the main room. It’s no surprise to find Casey waiting in the hallway, hands stuffed in his pockets, and a cheeky grin plastered on his face.
“Thatcher Hall is banned,” I bark.
Casey tips his hat. “Got it, boss.”
“You said he’d only be banned if he didn’t walk away,” Noelle chimes in unhelpfully.
“I changed my mind.”
“Sounds like a reasonable response for him dancing with yourfriend.” Casey smirks.
I grunt, stalking past him to my office, glancing in the mirrors lining the wall as Noelle pushes off my back to look at him. “Thanks for ratting me out. You’re a lifesaver,” she exclaims, blowing him a kiss.
Casey chuckles at her enthusiasm. “Sure thing, sugar. Don’t push the old man too hard. He doesn’t handle stress well.”
“You’re really fired this time,” I growl as I enter my office.
“I’ll clear out my things before I leave tonight,” he deadpans, then adds, “Have fun, you two,” as I shut the door behind me.
I lower Noelle to her feet, and her mouth presses into a thin line as she studies me with an unrelenting gaze.
She’s so damn beautiful it hits me like a punch, stealing my breath. In the span of a few days, she’s torn down the last of my walls, leaving me defenseless and wanting. I was stupid thinking I could rein in her effect on me by holding back. Instead, it’s intensified the longing and fueled the fire of jealousy raging through me.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispers.
I take a step toward her. “Like what?”
“Like I belong to you.”
I walk us backward until she’s pinned against the door. “Let’s get one thing straight, sweetheart. As long as you’re inmybed, wearingmyclothes, you’re mine.”
She shakes her head with a dry laugh. “Hate to break it to you, cowboy, but I’m not doing either of those things right now.”
I put my hands on either side of her head. “Are you forgetting whose hat you’ve got on?”
Noelle grips the collar of my shirt, then runs her hand down my chest.
“Yours.” She exhales softly. “Does this mean you’re done pretending you don’t want me?”
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you on my porch, peeking through my window.”
Her breath hitches, pupils blown. “Then why fight what we both want? Or am I imagining how strong this connection is?” She rests a hand over my racing heart. “Maybe I’m better off tracking down Thatcher before he’s booted from the premises. I’m sure he’d have no problem giving me what I want.”
I let out a low growl. The woman has another thing coming if she thinks I’d allow that. She’s off-limits to every other man as long as she’s here with me.
I’m down to two choices: I can play the coward, hiding behind my fears, or I can make the most of being the lucky bastard Noelle wants and not waste a single minute I’ve got with her. The decision is made for me when her stormy blue eyes catch mine, holding me captive.
“Fuck it.” I frame her cheeks with my palms. “The only man who can give you what you need is me.”
