Page 50 of Negotiating Tactics

There was no way I should be able to recognize someone by the way they knocked, but I recognized this one.

Smiling bright, I pulled open the door and waved Noah in. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

He closed and locked the door, took off his heavy jacket, and then looked down at me. The look on his face, that funny little not-smile that was so very Noah, made my heart soar. “But are you happy to see me?” he asked.

He stared down at me with an intense expression that made my heart flutter.

I didn’t understand how he could make me feel nervous, horny, and completely safe at the same time, but he somehow managed to do all that at once.

“I’m not sure how to answer that.” I decided to respond honestly, though my smile was still on my face.

Noah’s dark eyes flashed with something, and I again cursed myself for still not being able to read him. “Explain.”

His voice was demanding in a way that should have grated more than it did. But even with that flair of annoyance came the desire to be honest with him.

It fucking terrified me how easy Noah made it for me to be vulnerable.

How instinctually I trusted him.

I laughed, trying to cover my emotions as I trapped my mouth, pretending to be deep in thought. “Hmm…this is a tough choice. Should I break your balls, or say that I am?”

He huffed a little laugh. “Go ahead and break my balls if you want. We both know the truth.”

“And what truth is that?” I asked.

He pulled my hips roughly, crushing my body against his. “That you’re as happy to see me as I am to see you.”

I smiled up at him, wondering if I would ever get used to how Noah could handle me so roughly and at the same time make me feel so safe and so treasured.

It was a disorienting combination, just like everything else about the man.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me even closer. I clung to him, not even trying to pretend that I wasn’t.

Noah gave the best hugs.

I would miss them when he was gone.

I was sure I hadn’t done anything to give that thought away, but like always, Noah seemed to sense the change in me.

He pulled back, staring down at me with those dark, expressive, but still unreadable eyes.

Then, he leaned close and smiled gently.

My mind raced as I thought of what I would say, how I could deflect away from the conversation I wasn’t yet ready to have.

Yet again, Noah saved me. “Something smells delicious,” he said before he grazed my cheek with his lips.

“I…made vegetarian lasagna,” I said, the angst of just seconds ago fading to nothing.

I sounded like a fucking moron, but I had a good excuse. Noah was distracting me, his hands roaming my body as he touched me, moving down my hips, then easing a hand into my pants.

“No,” he said, his voice a rough rasp, “that’s not it.”

He kissed his way down my body, then settled on his knees in front of me and roughly pulled my pants down.

My eyes slammed shut, and I braced myself, practically trembling with need.

Almost lost it when he leaned close and breathed in deep. I stared down at him, the shine in his dark eyes piercing my soul.

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