Page 48 of Gossip Game

The man she’d been longing for since before she even knew he existed. There was something about him that felt so true. So perfect. It was as if he was the missing piece that she’d been longing for her entire life. She’d known that rightness the moment she woke up beside him that long ago morning in London.

And, just like that, she knew she wouldn’t mess this up. Because this was Noah. The only person she could be herself around. The only person who gave the impression of liking her for herself. Not her trust fund.

He closed the door and Charlotte’s knees quivered slightly. She drew in a deep breath, squaring her shoulders and jutting her chin up. A sly smile formed on his lips as he closed the distance between them.

A low, almost-feral sound escaped his mouth when he stopped mere inches from her.

“You have no idea how many nights I’ve dreamt of this,” he said before lifting one hand to delicately finger the collar of his jacket she was wearing.

She canted her head so she could lean her cheek against his wandering fingers. “Actually, I have a pretty good idea.”

He smiled at that, this grin relaxed and perhaps a little awestruck. His fingers moved to feather over her cheek. “I need to know this is what you want.”

Of course he would ask that now. Most guys waited until both parties were hot and bothered before asking for acquiescence. Not that Charlotte wasn’t already bordering on combustible. Still, she appreciated that Noah’s character ran deep.

She rested her palms against his abdomen, letting a finger slide beneath his sweater. He flinched when she traced along the taut skin just above the waistband of his jeans. “I want this,” she whispered. “With you.”

The last word was barely out of her mouth before he kissed her. Only this kiss was unlike any he’d given her before. The hunger was still there, sure. Yet this kiss was different.

More reverent.

More tender.

More devoted.

Charlotte swallowed a sob of joy as she kissed him back, eager to convey the same emotions. It didn’t take long for things to heat up, though. They’d started down this road a time or two before, and their mouths were becoming attuned to each other.

Tongues tangled as their hands wandered. Her hips swayed into his. A moan escaped the back of her throat when she brushed up against his hard length.

He tugged the jacket down her shoulders. She moaned again, more plaintive this time, when she was forced to remove her hands from his body so she could shrug out of the jacket. Noah had the nerve to chuckle against her mouth. It turned into a groan when her palm found the bulge in his jeans.

Noah nipped at her lip in response before soothing it with his tongue. His hands skimmed along the arms of her turtleneck, moving up and over the silk until his thumbs were torturing her nipples at the same time as he ravaged her mouth. When she began to fumble with the button on his fly, he dropped his hands to her waist, gripping her firmly so he could put some space between their bodies. Charlotte let out a tiny cry of frustration.

He dropped his chin to his chest. “We’ve got all night,” he mumbled, sounding as if he was giving himself a little pep talk.

“Yes, we do. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her whispered reassurance was all the encouragement he needed. He yanked the hem of her shirt up her torso. Her arms and hair got tangled in the silk. Noah wasted no time taking advantage of her captivity, bowing his head, and scraping his teeth over her nipple, already straining through the satin fabric of her bra. Charlotte swore, frantically working her arms free, then pulling the fabric from her hair.

Their eyes locked. The hunger she saw in his expression took her breath away. It also had her feeling a tad self-conscious. She reached up to tame her wild hair.

“Don’t.” He brushed her hands away before working his fingers through what had to be a riotous mess.

“I’m sure I look like a troll,” she mumbled.

He chuckled. “Your hair is exactly like you. Wild.” He tugged her closer. “Unpredictable.” His tongue teased one corner of her mouth. “Exciting.”

She tried to capture his lips with hers, but he was having none of it. Instead, exploring the tender skin beneath her ear.

“Unique.” He nibbled along her collarbone.

Her knees did that wobbly thing again, while the rest of her grew taut with longing. She dug her nails into his shoulders.

“And unbelievably gorgeous,” he whispered before giving her what she wanted.

He ravished her mouth at the same time as he edged their bodies closer to the bed. Seconds later, they toppled onto the mattress, their mouths still fused, their arms and legs tangled together. He rolled her beneath him, aligning his body between her legs. She gasped into the kiss at the feel of him rubbing against her aching core.

“On second thought,” she panted once she managed to coax her mouth from his. “I’m not willing to wait all night. I need you naked. Now.”

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