Page 17 of Noble Neighbor
Sunny took a deep breath, and Oliver felt her stomach muscles contract against the backs of his fingers, shooting a pulse of desire straight to his groin as she lowered to her haunches.
Great time to develop a hard-on, Armstrong.
Especially when Sunny had a frontal view of the bulge growing behind his zipper. Maybe she wouldn’t notice.
“Seriously?” Her voice dripped sarcasm as she removed her hand from his shoulder and placed it behind her, lowering her body the last inch to the roofing.
“It’s the adrenaline,” he lied.
She snorted and followed it up with a disgruntledmeow. Her sweatshirt moved above his hand. Wait …What?
“Is that acat?”
“Kitten. And the reason I’m up here in the first place. He’s in the pouch and clawing me to pieces.”
“You risked your life for a cat?”
“Oliver,” Sunny started, but he shook his head.
“Stow it. Let’s get down. I’m letting go of your pants. You stable?”
“I’m good.”
Oliver gripped the gutter on either side of the ladder. “I’ll make space between my body and the ladder. You move into that gap and straighten your legs. Scoot down, put your arms around my neck, slide your legs around my waist, and hold on tight.”
Sunny squinted at him, mouth dropping open. “Like a monkey?”
He managed a half grin. “Like a monkey.”
“Surely there’s another—”
“Sunny,” he growled, looking her in the eye. “I want off the ladder.” He was sweating buckets; his fear of heights very real.
She stayed silent for a beat, returning his serious stare. “Okay, Oliver.”
And with painstaking precision, she followed his instructions. Oliver wondered at the perverse enjoyment he took in having her cling to his body like her life depended on it.
Which it did, he thought soberly.
He transferred his grip from the gutter to the ladder and started the slow descent to the ground with Sunny Jones wrapped around his torso.
*
She was one sick woman, finding pleasure in being hauled off a roof. Fear heightened a person’s senses, Sunny knew, but she was also smart enough to admit her blood wasn’t pounding through her veins like a speeding locomotive just from fear.
The feel of him — muscles undulating with strength as they flexed with each move; the smell of him — earthy, natural, a hint of citrus mixed with the day’s sweat; the sound of his voice — a rich baritone, magnetic even when hitched with concern. Even when yelling at her.
She’d experienced such relief, knowing the turning vehicle belonged to Oliver, knowing she was going to be okay and not tumble to the ground and break herneck — as he very rightfully accused — and orphan her girls. Seeing the determination stamped on his featuresas he climbed to rescue her, despite the fear he admitted to,was forever etched in her mind. Did she really need to cling to him like a barnacle? Of course not. Once she was on her backside, getting off the roof was easy, but she just couldn’t resist the temptation of being so close to him.
His hitched inhale the moment he stepped off the ladder echoed Sunny’s breath of relief, but she tightened her arms around Oliver’s neck. Now was the time to let go, but wow, it felt incredible wrapped around his body. And instead of Oliver relaxing his hold, his arms closed around her, tight bands as if he, too, couldn’t bear to part from her. He buried his head in her neck and exhaled. It was simply wonderful.
But she could do without the kitten ripping her stomach to shreds.
Sunny unhooked her feet and dropped her legs to the ground, flinching as the cursed feline dug in, fifty-five-thousand claws tearing into her skin. She hissed. Oliver let her go, and she stumbled back, reaching for the bottom of her sweatshirt, desperate to rid herself of the torture device.
“Sorry. I … What are you—? Sunny!”
She pulled her top up and over her head, holding it out at arm’s length.
