Page 54 of Light Me Up

“Nice, standard reply,” Caro said.

“He’ll choke on it, though,” Noah said.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I know Stefano’s type. He’s a macho man. Taking credit for something I did will stick in his craw forever. He’ll be overcompensating for the rest of his life.”

“You sound way too pleased about that,” Caro said, trying not to smile. “What have you got against Stefano?”

“Nothing. I respect the guy. He kept his head on straight in a crisis. But this is gonna bite his ass. AndI don’t mind.”

“Oh, shush.” She flapped her hand at him. “What’she saying now?”

Noah listened. “That he had an instinct and had to act on it. He says he felt compelled. Goddamn right he was compelled. By me.”

“Uh-huh.” Caro tried to figure out the rapid-fire Italian on her own, but no luck. Stefano and Red talked even faster.

“Now the redhead is gushing,” Noah went on. “Telling him he’s a national hero. That all of Italy is proud of him for staving off a terrorist attack, possibly the worst in recent history on European soil, blah blah blah.”

Stefano looked intensely uncomfortable. Poor guy.

“You’re right,” Caro said. “He is suffering. Still, I bet this makes his career.”

“Better him thanme,” Noah said.

“You’re being awful,” she told him. “He did us a solid.”

“We did him one, too. Like you said, he’s Italy’sfavorite son.”

“Yes. He deserves it. You did the heavy lifting, but still, he’s gotwhat it takes.”

Noah was eloquently silent.

Caro gave him a sidewise glance. “Of course, nothing like you,” she added demurely. “But it’s unfair to compare him to you. It’s unfair to compareanyone to you.”

“Quit it,” he growled. “My ego isn’tthat fragile.”

“Sorry,” she murmured. “But since you won’t accept being celebrated as an international hero, will you consider a consolation prize? Say, for instance, having your cock licked, sucked, and played with for hours. Until I climb on top of you and take you inside me. And then just ride you while you go crazy, bucking underneath me. Until we both come…really hard.”

“Yes,” he said swiftly. “To everything. You’re on.”

* * * *

Buzzz. Buzzz.Noah’s smartphone vibrated on thebedside table.

Noah made a sleepy sound of dismay and rolled away from Caro, staring at the thing. “Damn,” he muttered. “Should haveturned it off.”

Caro propped herself up onto her elbow and looked at the buzzing phone. “You should see who’s calling, at least,” she said. “You don’t have to answer.”

Noah reached for the phone and studied the display. “Unknown number,” he said.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

“Answer it,” Caro urged. “I’d rather know.”

He tapped Talk.“Chi é?”He listened for a moment. “Stefano,” he said, glancing at her.

Noah swung his legs over the bed and sat up, hunching over as Stefano talked. Noah responded in Italian and they talked for a while, her own name frequently in the mix. It sounded like Stefano was coaxing him, and that Noahwas resisting.

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