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He let her go.
It took a moment for that act to register.He let her go.Noelle’s breath came too quickly. Her heart raced too hard. Her panties were wet, just from a kiss because she was that turned on. And he’d simply let her go.
“That’s why,” he growled, “I knew I had to stay away when you were eighteen.”
She didn’t get it. Probably because her brain was a wee bit foggy.
“I want you too much.” His voice rumbled and rasped and seemed to scrape along her nerve endings in the best possible way. “You weren’t ready for me back then.”
She was the one who got to decide what she was ready for.
His hands fisted at his sides. “Not sure you’re ready for me now.”
Anger shoved past her desire. “You have no idea what I’m ready for.” Her hair slid over her shoulder as she straightened her spine.
“Noelle…” A warning. “I’ve held onto my control for years. If it breaks…”
Let it.“Maybe you’re not ready for me.” Her gaze raked over him.Oh, yes, he is ready.Clearly, very ready. And large. Her gaze jumped back up to meet his. After a quick swallow, she continued, “Maybe you can’t handle me.” A deliberate taunt. She wanted his hands on her again. Wanted his mouth. Wanted him.
But he’d pulled away and spewed some BS about being ready.
Brady shook his head. “You don’t understand.”
No, she didn’t. Her night had been crazy, and she could still taste his kiss. “Are you playing some kind of game with me?”
“What?” His jaw dropped, only for him to hurriedly snap it closed.
“You kiss me one moment, then pull away the next. I’m not the one who stopped.Youdid.” She huffed out a frustrated breath. “New rule. Don’t ever kiss me again unless you one hundred percent mean it.” Noelle spun on her heel. This night just sucked.
“Ididmean it.”
She stopped in the doorway.Don’t say it. Don’t say it…She opened her mouth and said, “Fine. Then how about this?” Noelle glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t kiss me again unless you’re ready to domorethan kissing.” Noelle knew exactly what she wanted. It was the same thing she’d wanted for years. Him.
His eyes glittered. “Once we cross that line, we can’t ever go back.”
“Go back to what? Being frenemies?” Was that even the word to describe them? “Being carefully, almost excruciatingly polite around each other? Walking on eggshells?” She turned to fully face him. “Because let’s be honest. You and I aren’t exactly best friends. Sometimes, I’m not even sure you like me.”
Surprise flashed on his face. “Of course, I like you.”
There was no “of course” about it in her book. “You spend most of your time glaring at me. You leave for months at a time, and you don’t ever write to me.”
“Youwantedme to write?”
Was he serious? She took a step toward him, then caught herself. “I do like to know if you’re alive or dead. Call it a quirk I have.”
“And I want to know about you.” Deep. Low.
Was that true? “When we are together, when you come to my brother’s place for events or we all get together for whatever random event is occurring, you barely speak to me.”
“Because sometimes you have a dumbass date at your side.” He stalked toward her. “And I’m trying not to punch the guy, grab you, and carry you off into the night. Keeping conversation to a minimum is how I keep my control.”
What?Now it was her turn to have her jaw drop. “Excuse me?”
Brady stood right in front of her. “You really don’t get it, do you?” His hand lifted. His fingers slid under her chin. His thumb brushed over her lower lip.
A shiver skated down her spine. Odd, because she didn’t feel cold. Quite the opposite. “How about you just spell things out for me?”
“I want you.”
