Page 38 of Red Zone Realizations
I sit primly on the edge of the couch facing the stairs and whip out my phone. I’m not even checking emails. I just need something to do while I wait. Maybe five minutes pass when I see just a peek of feet coming down the stairs.
I see more.
Legs that are toned and tanned. No surprise there. I’ve seen all that before. Wow, it feels like a million years ago that we were at yoga together.
All thoughts are simultaneously wiped from my mind as Noah finishes his descent. My eyes bug out like a cartoon character. I’m pretty sure my jaw falls to the floor and my tongue rolls out of my mouth in shock.
Noah’s wearing nothing but tight black briefs. They’re not cotton, the fabric is something more athletic. They cling hella fucken tight to his thick thighs that flex and move as he finishes his stairwell catwalk. The band around the top hasSEDUXIONwritten in white lettering. My eyes continue their heated stroll up his body. The V above the waistband of the briefs. Abs on top of abs on top of abs. How can a human have that many abdominal muscles? They’re tanned just like the rest of him and—did he oil them down for this?
My eyes finally meet his and I’m stunned into silence. Very hard for me, by the way. I realize just how long I’ve been staring, and my cheeks ignite. I can feel the heat touching the tips of my ears, the flush over my cleavage. No way he didn’t notice me giving him the eye fuck of a lifetime. Noah doesn’t miss a beat, though. “You like what you see?”
I more than like. I’m tempted to search for the outline of his cock in the blackness of the fabric just to satisfy my curiosity, but I clear my throat instead. “What is this?”
He puts his hands on his hips, obviously proud of himself. “It’s my first brand deal.”
I put my elbows on my knees. “Let me get this straight. You skipped over all the normal athlete brand deals and went right to 1992 Marky-Mark for Calvin Klein?”
He points his index finger at me. “Exactly!”
I drop my head in my hands, shielding my eyes. “We can discuss this after you find some more clothes.” He flexes his biceps at me, teasing. “Put that shit away.” I wave him off. I can’t think with him half naked like that, much less carry on a conversation.
He turns and heads back up the stairs. I mean, I’m only human, so I take a looonnnngggg last look as his tight ass ascends.
I need a second to catch my breath. Get my head on straight.
He set me up.
I’m one hundred percent sure no one else’s Adonis client isprivately modeling products for them in their home after a nice dinner.
What is his angle here? Has he decided that since I’m so cut off from an emotional relationship that he may as well try and tempt me physically? Is it an act to try and make me break my business schtick?
Noah comes back down, pulling a white T-shirt over his head. “Okay, boss, let’s discuss.”
“You can do whatever deal you want, but keep in mind that the more family-friendly ones might not be as interested if you start with Seduxion right off the bat.”
“I’m not worried about the family-friendly ones. My choices can reflect that.”
“Whatever you say.” I pause, giving him an out in case this is all a bluff. When he doesn’t admit anything, I say, “We can get the ball rolling.”
“Sounds good, but in the meantime, I think you should come to a preseason game. You’ll have a better understanding of me, my image, and what kind of stuff I should be posting if you came. Maybe meet some of my teammates.”
My smile is soft. Spending more time with Noah is what I want. As far as he knows, my agreeing to this is just business, so it can’t hurt. “That would be nice.” I cough quickly. “I mean helpful. That would be helpful. For me. To help you.” I cringe. I can hear how bad I sound. Noah doesn’t acknowledge my word salad and I’m grateful for it.
“We play the Phoenix Pirates at home this week. I’ll send you the badges you’ll need to get in.” He guides me toward the front door. I’m ready to leave, but I’m not. I’m so at ease in Noah’s presence. Like after the stress of everything, I can finally relax. I have to hold myself up against my clients andmy parents and my sister. But when I’m with him, he’s the one supporting me.
I also feel sped up, like everything between us is going one-hundred miles an hour on the highway and I’m not in control. But the thing is, putting business between us was supposed to help me get control back. I’m not sure that this is the outcome I was hoping for.
I turn around to get one last glance at his pine eyes.
This has been the overarching theme of my life. The loss of control. I’m a mistake, made with no maternal instinct. In order to make up for that, I need to be perfect in every other way. The perfect businesswoman. The perfect daughter. I will never be the perfect wife.
I can feel my mind fighting. The side that knows I’ll never be good enough versus the side that doesn’t care and just wants to take whatever it can have.
This man has the audacity to chuckle at me. He lifts his hand and touches a piece of my hair that’s come loose from its ponytail. I look at his handsome face as he tucks it gently behind my ear. I inhale and it brings his cool, crisp smell to my senses. My hands itch to run through his hair and pull him to me.
I’ve got to get out of here.
I find my words. “I think that’s my phone. Better grab it.”
