Page 57 of Noel
She sighs into my mouth.And I feel it.
Like something clicks back into place.
Like the ache in my chest makes sense now because this is what I needed.
Her.
This moment.
This heat.
This right here.
When I finally break the kiss, I rest my forehead against hers.Breathing hard.
“You okay?”I ask, my voice still rough.
She nods slowly, dazed.“Y-Yeah.I was just stretching.My back’s a little sore from sitting so long.”
My gaze drops to her mouth.Then her throat.Then back up again.
“I’ll take care of that tonight,” I promise darkly.
Her eyes widen.Her breath catches.
And I swear to God, the only thing keeping me from taking her right here and now is the fact that someone out there wants to hurt her.
That fucker is still out there.
Still watching.
Still a threat.
But not for long.
Not if I have anything to say about it.
Chapter18
Holly
The gala is tomorrow night, and I have to go to this final tasting.
It’s not optional.
It’s my name on the line, my work, my reputation.
I need to make sure the dessert is perfect, the table layouts are locked, the playlist finalized, the floral installations greenlit.
All the tiny, invisible details that make or break a million-dollar charity event.
Noel tried to argue.Hard.But this is my job.
My responsibility.
And I’m not letting anyone else step into the line of fire for me.
“We just have to stop by my office first,” I tell him when we make it down to the private parking garage beneath Volkov Towers.
