Page 86 of Catching My Dreams

Noah rolled his eyes. “Wow. That’s a great reason.”

“You also give amazing massages,” she added.

He chuckled. “Oh really?”

She nodded. “And with the state of my neck and jaw, that skill certainly comes in handy.”

“So glad I can be of service,” he drawled.

“Trust me,” she replied, patting his chest. “Me too.”

“Now I’m starting to wonder why I’m with someone who just uses me,” he retorted, unable to contain his grin.

She hummed, her lips curving up. “It’s a real mystery.”

“I guess you’re just lucky,” he mused, turning onto his back and tugging Ella on top of him.

“Very lucky,” she agreed, supporting herself on her knees and placing her hands on his chest. “Lord knows how you put up with me.”

“Must be your pretty face.”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “How superficial of you, Warner.”

He lifted his hands to her hips. “Well, aside from the way you use me for personal gain, your personality isn’t too bad either.”

“Gee, thanks,” she said.

“If you wanted me to keep telling you how amazing you are, you shouldn’t have revealed your real reasons for being with me.”

“Damn,” she muttered, her tone infused with feigned frustration. “I should have kept my mouth shut.”

He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “It’s too bad. Now you’ll never know that I love how nervous you were to have dinner with my family because it means you care.”

His hands ran down her legs, coming to a rest on her outer thighs.

“Or that I think you’re at your sexiest when you’re reading and have to bite your lip to hold back your smile when you get to something funny or cute. Or that I think you’re the bravest, most incredible woman in the world.”

She was fighting back that same cute smile she got when she read one of her romance books—the one that was accompanied by a faint blush on her cheeks.

“What a pity I’ll never know those things,” she sighed.

“That’s what you get for being so cruel to me,” he informed her in a teasing cadence.

Ella smiled, but the curve of her lips wavered and fell after only a few seconds. “Noah...” She swallowed. “If Brett comes after you because of me—” She shook her head, her eyes fixed anywhere but on him.

He breathed out audibly and tugged her down so that she was lying on his chest, her cheek on his shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

“You don’t know that,” she said, and she was right. “Maybe...maybe we should think about putting some space between us.”

Noah froze. Her words were like razor blades cutting into his flesh. She couldn’t be serious.

“If he hurts you, I’ll never forgive myself,” she told him.

“Montgomery,” he said through gritted teeth, “don’t even think about suggesting something like that ever again.”

“Noah—”

“No,” he interrupted, sitting up and forcing her to sit up with him. “I know you’re scared, and I love you for wanting to protect me, but there’s no fucking way we’re ending things.” He cupped her face, his fingers delving into her hair. “Not when I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

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