Page 87 of Defend Me

She blushes then glances at her phone. “Shoot, I’m late tomeet Maria.” She gives me a little wave and disappears out the door. I look at the boxes and decide to go get Noah. I’m going to need help with these.

I take the French doors in the kitchen and walk down the stone steps of the terrace, wishing I’d brought a coat. The night air is chilly and damp, and the breeze leaves goosebumps over my skin. The lights are on in the guesthouse, the curtains drawn. I knock on the door.

When it opens, I feel a rush of heat travel up my spine to blossom at the nape of my neck. Noah is freshly showered, his hair damp and a little curly, and his face lights up at the sight of me.

“Hey,” he says. “Come on in.” He steps aside and I walk into the snug room. He’s started a fire, and Penny is curled up in front of it.

“I didn’t know that fireplace worked,” I say, as Noah settles himself on the couch.

“Mountain man need fire,” he jokes.

I laugh. “Listen, there are about a million logbooks. They’re a mess. Stan needs to learn how to make things digital.”

“Welcome to Magnolia Bay. We’re old fashioned out here in the sticks.”

“I want to start looking through them tonight,” I say, trying to stifle my yawn. “But I need your help. Then tomorrow, I’ll tackle that witness list.”

He pats the space beside him. “Why don’t you sit down for a second? It’s been a long day.”

I cock one eyebrow. “Trying to seduce me?”

Noah holds up his hands. “My intentions are pure. You look really tired.”

“Gee, thanks,” I say, but I kick off my heels, my arches aching, and settle down next to him. He lifts my feet onto his lap and starts to massage them. “Oh,” I moan, sinking into the sensation.

“I don’t know how you wear those things all the time,” he says, his thumb hitting a sore muscle and making me gasp.

“They are fashionable, they give me extra height, and they are the expected footwear of my profession,” I say, my eyes drifting closed. “And they make my legs look fucking amazing.”

“Now that I agree with.” I hear the lazy smile in his voice. “So, what’s your plan for the witness list?”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” I say, as his fingers move to dig into my heel. “I feel likesomeonemust have seen you that morning. Someone from town. You can’t have been the only one awake.”

“At six am on a Sunday?” he says, one hand caressing my calf. “After that crazy-ass party? I don’t know, Von.”

“Patrick puts you too far away to get to the estate in time to have shot Mom. But maybe there’s someone else who, I don’t know, saw you run a stop sign or something.”

“Excuse me,” Noah says, aghast, pausing my massage. “I do not run stop signs.”

I open my eyes and chuckle, wiggling my toes at him. “If only you weren’t so law-abiding.”

He leans forward, his hand moving from my calf to my knee. “One of my many flaws,” he teases, slipping his hand under my dress to stroke my thigh. I gasp.

“This is a work visit,” I croak.

“I’m very focused on work,” Noah says, crawling toward me to brush his lips against mine. My skin feels like it’s on fire, his scent invading my nose, his hardness pressing against my belly. Noah is achingly soft as he teases my lips, one hand moving to cup my breast as I hike up my skirt.

There’s a whine from the fireplace and I turn to see Penny watching us.

“Oh no,” I say. “We can’t—we’ll scar her for life.”

Noah chuckles against my throat and stands. The next thing Iknow, I’m thrown over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift and carried into the bedroom. He shuts the door behind us.

“Put me down!” I squeal, and he gently places me on the ground then presses me against the wall, lifting my arms over my head and catching my wrists together in one of his giant hands.

“Turn around,” he growls, and a shudder rips through me as I follow his commands. He hikes up my dress, revealing my lacy black thong, then runs his fingers over my stomach before pressing them between my thighs. “So wet,” he groans as he begins to rub me. I push my ass against his hardness, writhing as he hits just the right spot. With my hands still pinned above my head, Noah yanks the thong off with a loud rip and then I hear his zipper come undone.

“Do you want to get fucked?” he murmurs in my ear.

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