Page 30 of Inn To You

Stepping up to him, I place my hand on his forearm. “Talk to me.”

His head lifts, and he stares at me. Those silver eyes spark. His chest rises and falls. His hands form fists.

Risking his anger, I step even closer to him.

“What are you doing?” His nostrils flare. His jaw clenches. A vein strains on his neck, and I set two fingers there. He scans my face.

With my other hand, I cup his cheek. “I’m taking your worries.”

“Not unless you kiss me,” he huffs, tugging his face from my hand.

Feeling bolder than I’ve ever felt, I grab his chin and draw him to me. “Then let me kiss you.”

His mouth crashes to mine, the force nearly knocking me backward. Only he catches me with his powerful hands at my lower back. Pressing them along my spine, he draws me to him at the same time. Our chests press together, hearts racing. His mouth leads mine in another mind-numbing kiss that takes all my thoughts other than our lips connected. His tongue rushes forward, and mine meets his, tasting a hint of coffee and mint. With my arms wrapped around his neck and his hands pinning me to him, my back meets the wall, and Noah grinds against me. It wouldn’t take much to tip me over the edge.

He’s been lingering in my apartment all week. He’s been caring and concerned about Jonas. Every little thing has been too much. I’m muddling the issue that he’ll leave with how much I’m enjoying his presence. And his mouth against mine is further proof that he’ll be difficult to let go when the time comes.

“We shouldn’t be doing this here,” he mutters against me, not removing his lips from mine. His hips thrust forward again, and I lift my leg, wrapping one around his thigh. “Fuck.”

I take the expletive as his approval of the position, only I’d like less clothing and more skin contact. As if reading my thoughts, his hands slip under my shirt, skimming up my back. The heat of his touch adds to the arousal of his mouth. I want to feel him everywhere on me.

“God, I want you.” He moves to my jaw, sucking at my chin. “Why do I want you?”

I choke around the questioning tone. “Would that be a bad thing?” My fingers are in his hair.

He nips my neck where my shoulder meets it, and my knees give. I buck forward, and Noah pulls back. His eyes roam down my body where our centers are flush. His hard length is wedged against my eager clit.

After staring a moment at our position, Noah cups my face and takes control of my mouth once again. We kiss like we’ll never see one another after this interlude, and I’m suddenly afraid we won’t. I might never kiss another man like he’s kissing me, and I don’t want to miss one lick, one nip, one tug of my lips. I cling to him until…

Ding-ding.

The old-fashioned bell on the counter rings, and Noah and I break apart like we’ve been caught. Our chests heave. Our breathing heavy.

“I can’t go out there like this.” He waves at his zipper region and swipes a hand down his face.

I nod, unable to speak. My legs shake, but I comb my fingers through my hair, fix the messy bun at my nape, and straighten my shirt. With a final glance at his swollen length, I press off the wall and enter the front desk area.

+ + +

“So the bank called,” Noah says to me a few hours later as I stand behind the veranda bar looking for the paper towels I know I stashed here.

“Oh, you heard that, did you?” I huff, still frustrated from our make-out session and his lack of appearance for hours afterward. Also, where are the damn paper towels?

“What did they say?”

I tip my brow at Noah. “Apparently, I suddenly have a lawyer, and the bank manager would like to meet with us in two weeks to discuss my options. Unfortunately, that puts me only two weeks out from Joe’s deadline.” The timing doesn’t leave me much wiggle room. I don’t have a plan B for Jonas and me.

“My brother is a real estate attorney. He said he could help.”

“That certainly explains how my new-found attorney has the same last name as you.”

Noah doesn’t even crack a smile.

Chewing on my lip, I stare at him. God, he’s so good looking and a phenomenal kisser. “Thank you. It was nice of you to speak with him.”

“Yep.” He tips his chin and starts to walk away, but I’m quick to round the bar.

“Did I do something wrong?” I hate that I’m asking. I hate the whine in my voice. But I don’t understand. He kissed me earlier like I was his last breath, but now he’s so distant.