Page 23 of Light Me Up

“Ah…OK. But unless you’re more specific about them, I reserve the right to change my mind. Or to have my own strong opinions about them.”

His mouth tightened. “Caro—”

“And if we’re going to do this, we have to get moving, because I have urgent things to do,” she continued, crisply. “Like figuring out what I’mgoing to wear.”

“How long will that take?” There was a note of exasperation in his voice.

“As long as it takes,” she replied coolly. “Maybe all day.”

He threw up his hands, not quite ready to concede. “We need to be there by late afternoon so Morelli can vet us first,” he said. “It’s about an houroutside Rome.”

“OK, then.” Her voice was brisk. “Another shower, some fresh coffee, and then I need to go shopping.”

He shook his head, uncomprehending. “For what?”

“I’m thinking a floor-length gown,” Caro mused. “One that goes with the rubies you got me the other day. Something slinky, in a sexy dark red. Silk, maybe.”

He shook his head again. “You’re too damn beautiful,” he complained. “You don’t blend in when you dress up.It’s not safe.”

“Oh dear,” she murmured. “Sosorry. My bad.”

He shrugged. “Whatever. I’ll be the one sweating bullets. But the other women will probably go floor-length, from the looks of this thing. So what the fuck. You should wear whatever kind of dress the other women will be wearing.”

She looked at him suspiciously. “Wait. Why are you agreeing with me all of a sudden? It’sdisorienting.”

“To keep yousafe,” he said.

“That’s all it takes? A gown? Maybe you should wear one.”

He put his fists together and flexed his massive chest. “I can never find one that fits,” he growled.

Oh yes. She enjoyed the display of rippling muscles. “You are sofull of shit.”

“Maybe, but I’ll go with you while you shop.”

“That’s not necessary, Noah,” she told him.

“Sure it is. I love watching you try on hot dresses,” he said. “It does something to my parasympathetic nervous system. Chills me right out. But mostly it does something to my dick. Something truly wonderful.”

“Shut. Up.” She smacked him on the shoulder.

“It’s the truth,” he assured her. “You’re my eye candy. Give me some of that…then you get your eye candy of choice. The Cross of Orazio. Seems likean even trade.”

His grin was apparently relaxed and lazy, but she knew better. Nothing about Noah was ever relaxed or lazy.

“I could just dress up and drape myself in rubies and go without you.” She twisted her hair up into a loose, messy knot. Keenly aware of his interested eyes on her body as she did so. “We’re not both required to attend.”

“You and I both know that willnever happen.”

She put her hands on her hips and gave him a heavy-lidded, sensual smile. “Sounds like a plan. And right now, I’m taking a shower.”

“I’ll help,” he said swiftly. “I’ll be your bath slave.”

She watched, unsurprised, as his cock thickened and rose at the suggestion. “Hmm,” she said. “That was predictable.”

“Your fault,” he said. “For being so damn beautiful.”

Oh, wow. His rare, gorgeous smiles just melted her.

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