Page 32 of Play On

I crush his mouth with mine. A groan escapes his throat, causing me to shiver in response.

“Christ, Violet,” he moans into my mouth. “You taste so good.”

I suck in an excited breath. Then he kisses me again. And again.

I can’t explain everything I’m feeling. I can’t believe this is happening. Noah Darby not only wants to kiss me, butconsumeme. Right here, right now, in this darkened alcove of Wisteria House.

I move one of my hands down his back, skimming over the fabric of his T-shirt and feeling the muscles glide underneath my palm. I can feel the heat of his skin and all kinds of thoughts roll through my head. I want to feel more of him. See his beautiful inked skin again. Run my hands over his arms and feel every cut muscle of his athletic body.

Noah’s hand moves to my waist, pinning me to him. Suddenly I have a desire to lift my leg and hook it over his hip, so I can get even closer to him. I envision drawing his lower lip between my teeth and his hand on my bum—

He abruptly tears his mouth away from mine, leaving me bereft for a moment. My lips feel swollen, and I take a moment to catch my breath. I’m shaking, but in the best way possible.

I have never felt desired by a man like this in my entire life.

Just from a kiss.

Noah lifts his hands to my face and begins to gently caress it, which takes me by surprise. It’s such a shift from that intense kiss! But now his eyes are searching mine, and I see something different in them, something that makes my breath catch in my throat.

Reverence.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, gliding his fingertips along my jawline. “So beautiful.”

Then his fingertips trail underneath my chin, and he tilts it up towards him. He dips his head and presses a gentle kiss upon my lips. “Thank you for letting me kiss you,” he murmurs.

Oh my.

“I’m glad you wanted to kiss me,” I say, rubbing my hands up and down his back. “And thank you for giving me a second chance.”

Noah drops his forehead to mine. “It’s all I wanted. Another chance at this.”

I smile as I link my hands around the back of his neck. “This is all I’ve thought about since I shoved you away.”

He lifts his head so he can look at me. “We can start that date now.”

“We can?” I ask, my heart jumping inside my chest.

“Why not? I’m here. You’re here. Why don’t we go back to the bar and have a drink?”

I can’t believe how happy I am right now. Just a few moments ago, I felt I had lost any chance to date Noah, and now he wants to spend more time with me.

“I would love that,” I say happily.

Noah steps back from me, but takes one of my hands in his, lacing his fingers through mine. My heart melts from that sweet gesture, and he leads me back down the hallway and into the bar, where we reclaim our seats on the sofa we were on before. But this time, we’re sitting right next to each other, our thighs touching, and Noah takes my hand and rests it on his thigh, our fingers still entwined.

“I’m so glad you told me the truth,” he says, lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a kiss upon my knuckles. “So glad.”

“Me too.”

A waiter appears, setting down two cocktail napkins on the coffee table in front of us.

“Good evening,” he says, smiling at both of us. “May I get you something to drink?”

“Please, go ahead,” Noah says, deferring to me.

“A Coke, please.” I’ve already had two cocktails. I want all my focus to be on this conversation with Noah, and I don’t want to be drunk or buzzed for that.

“Very good,” the waiter says. Then he shifts his attention to Noah. “And for you, sir?”

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