On that happy note, I called it a night and paid my share of the check.
I drove back to the farm. It was late, so everyone would probably be in bed. Probably for the best, because messy or not, I hadn’t been able to get Noel off my mind.
He’d burrowed under my skin, into my fantasies, and I couldn’t help wondering if the connection we shared might be the closest I’d ever come to what Lyle and Truman had or what Evan and Dawson shared.
Maybe it wouldn’t be forever. Maybe it’d be complicated, and I’d regret it.
But damn, I was so tired of going to bed alone.
I parked the pickup and trudged across the yard, walking through slushy, melty snow that would probably be gone by morning. I pulled out my key and quietly unlocked the back door, rubbing my feet on the mat before taking off my shoes and hanging up my coat.
I tiptoed into the kitchen…and startled at the sight of Noel at the table.
He jumped, too, hand flying to his chest. “Oh, geez. Don’t sneak up on me.”
“Didn’t mean to,” I said, gaze dropping to the pan where he was breaking up peanut brittle. “You’restillworking?”
Noel picked up a handful of broken brittle and dumped it into a Tupperware. “I want to be free to work on other things tomorrow.”
I took a few steps closer, drawn to him and unable to resist. I stood, conflicted, burning for Noel and trying to fight it, as I watched him finish packing up the last of the brittle.
“Are you just going to watch me all night?” he asked lightly.
“I like watching you.”
He turned in his chair, eyes meeting mine. “I wasn’t sure you’d be home tonight.”
“Why not?”
“Thought you might hook up with someone…”
“Noel, there’s only one person I really want, and he’s sitting right here in this kitchen.”
His lips curled up, eyes sparking. It was the only warning I got before he surged up from his seat and kissed me hard.
His fingers threaded through my hair, holding tight, pulling a little, and I gasped as Noel nipped my bottom lip.
“Take me upstairs,” he murmured, “and let me show you how much better I can be than those fucking toys.”
I groaned, cock hard and aching, ass clenching, at the thought of Noel pushing inside me.
It might be a mistake, hooking up with the Grisolds’ son, but in that moment, I couldn’t care about anything but the taste of Noel’s tongue in my mouth and the sound of his voice, offering to make all my fantasies come true.
CHAPTER 13
NOEL
I lacedmy fingers through Hopper’s thicker, rougher ones and pulled him toward the stairs. He came easily, letting me take the lead, just as he had when I kissed him.
My pulse rushed in my ears, my whole body flushed hot at the thought of what we were about to do. I’d reacted impulsively when he admitted he wanted me—but damn, I’d had nothing but time to think about him tonight.
About what he might be doing and who he might be doing it with. Jealousy had eaten me up. Maybe I was only here for a short time, and maybe I couldn’t reallyhaveHopper forever, but I wanted him too much to pretend otherwise.
I bypassed my room and went to Hopper’s, further down the hall from my parents’ bedroom. He made a surprised noise but otherwise didn’t argue as I pulled him inside and shut the door.
“How do you want me?” Hopper asked in a husky voice.
“Naked and begging,” I said instantly.
