Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
NOAH
As we walked back into the lobby of the hotel, Alicia appeared.
‘Just the people,’ she said with a satisfied smile. ‘Evie, I’ve sorted the Swanson lounge for you. You’ve got it,’ she flicked a glance at the watch on her wrist, ‘for the next two hours.’
‘Brilliant,’ said Evie and tugged at my arm pulling me in the opposite direction of the lift.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked.
‘I have a plan,’ she said with a triumphant grin.
‘Am I going to like this plan?’ I asked, smiling back at her because she was so full of fun.
‘You’re going to love it,’ she replied, linking her arm through mine and leading me to a small lounge. In the centre of the room, surrounded by a dozen Christmas trees covered in gold lights, was a glossy black grand piano.
‘Fabulous Baker Boys? Pretty Woman?’ I asked, several famous movie scenes involving pianos flitted through my head. All of them from memory pretty hot. I grinned at her.
‘No,’ she sighed. ‘I wish I’d thought of them. We … are going to recreate the piano scene in the movie Big for when we go to the toy store.’
I stared at her, amazed by her ambition. ‘We are?’
‘Yes. You could do the easy bit on the right-hand keys and I’ll do the fancy bits with a C chord, although I’ll have to improvise because I’ve only got two feet but it’ll still sound okay.’
I was completely confounded by her evil genius. ‘You’re either mad or brilliant.’
‘I know,’ she said, ‘but you’ll nail it. I’ve seen your fancy footwork.’
‘You have?’ It was a throwaway remark, but I was surprised to see that she turned red.
With a shrug she said, ‘Might have checked you out on YouTube. Cracking assist for that goal against Crystal Palace earlier in the season.’
‘Why thank you,’ I took a bow, feeling more pleased than I should that she’d checked me out.
Half an hour later, surrounded by flip-chart paper with the notes emblazoned on them, Evie having run back and forth between the piano, playing the notes and then writing them down, we were well into practice.
‘Count of three,’ she said cueing the music, which she’d recorded on her phone.
This was our fourth attempt, and it went well until we got to the post-C octave, when of course Evie couldn’t remember what she was supposed to be doing.
But Evie, being Evie, didn’t stop, she just improvised, skipping along the paper singing, ‘Dee dum da da da,’ and then tripping over her own feet as she stumbled and, mid-jump, cannoned into me and I slipped on the smooth surface of the paper and went down taking her with me.
As if we’d been playing Twister, we landed in a tangle of arms and legs, with Evie’s curls tickling my nose as she giggled helplessly.
‘S-s-sorry,’ she spluttered, trying to get herself upright and putting her hand right on my crotch.
Her head shot up and her eyes widened as she looked at me.
‘Sorry.’ She moved so quickly her shoulder hit my chin.
‘Sorry,’ she said again, and then tried to pat my chin but dug her elbow in my ribs at the same time.
I clamped my hands on her waist, touching bare skin where her jumper had ridden up. ‘Stop moving,’ I growled, wincing in anticipation at her next potential jab.
‘Sorry,’ she said again and went limp, making me aware of the soft curves of her body pressed against mine.
Her skin was so soft and I couldn’t help myself, my fingers grazed the surface of her back.
Her eyes, bright and full of laughter, met mine. So, Evie. There was just something about her. She was always so alive. Right now, there was a hint of challenge in her eyes, as if to say, go on, I dare you.
Why was I fighting this? It had almost been inevitable since the moment she’d given me that cheeky salute in the airport lounge.
I tried to remember all the reasons we shouldn’t be doing this as the world around us receded and it was just the two of us.
I wondered if she could hear the thud of my heart, or feel it banging against her ribs as she nestled against my chest. With a calculated and deliberate move, I dipped my gaze to her mouth, but I still held off.
I wanted this kiss. I wanted it to count.
I was going to be in control. If I was going to give in, this wouldn’t be one of Evie’s spontaneous, go-for-it, fun-girl moments.
She moistened her top lip with her tongue and her eyes widened.
I heard her tiny inward gasp of breath. Anticipation danced lightly over my skin.
The silence was loud in my ears, a rushing noise as I slid my hand into her hair and pulled her head down to mine.
Her body softened against mine as our lips touched in a slow, silken glide.
The touch sparked a flicker of heat lower in my belly.
I wanted to go slow but now that her mouth was on mine, I wanted more.
My fingers massaged her scalp in tiny circles as I fought the urge to open my mouth and ravish hers.
I slanted my mouth with a teasing kiss, a gentle exploration but my control was slipping.
Beneath me, Evie groaned and that sent me over the edge, I opened my mouth and gave her a deep searching kiss, trying to capture some elusive something.
I’d never felt this pulsing need before.
Evie matched me, move for move, pushing me on.
My blood was thudding in my veins. Even as I kissed the pale skin of her neck, my lips trailing down the smooth column, one hand skimming up her ribcage, the other anchoring her against me, I wanted to touch her, hold her, with a need more desperate than I’d ever felt before.
As my hips rocked against her, she responded, pressing against me.
‘Noah,’ she murmured, her fingers tangling in my hair.
Her head was tilted back, and I could hear her harsh breaths as I palmed her breast. I took my time, gently massaging her through the fabric of her bra, my fingers stroking the skin just beneath the lacy edge.
She squirmed beneath me, pushing as if driving for more, but I captured her mouth again, slowing the kisses, slowing the pace.
I wasn’t going to be hurried about this.
I wanted to take my time, tease, taste and savour.
I wanted to be in the driving seat for once and give Evie time and attention.
I felt it, the moment she gave in, when she finally conceded, gave up the battle for control. Her body calmed beneath mine and I heard her sigh in pleasure as I worked my fingers into her bra and began to tease her nipples, all the while kissing her, my hips keeping up a gentle nudging pressure.
She wriggled out from me, rose to her knees, wrenched off her top and threw it on the floor.
With dishevelled hair, eyes bright and almost feverish, she glared at me. ‘For fuck’s sake, Noah.’
Her impatience fired my blood, but I was determined to lead. Evie needed someone who would stand up to her, not roll over at her command all the time.
I kneeled in front of her, holding her gaze before dropping it to look down at the creamy swell of her chest.
‘Take your bra off,’ I demanded. I could play my own game. I saw the flash of surprise in her eyes. She lifted her chin and put her arms behind her back to unclasp it and let it drop.
She had perfect breasts, round and firm, with tight pink nipples. I leaned forward and touched them one at a time, watching her face the whole time.
‘I’d say these are exemplary breasts,’ I growled, watching her face. ‘And I lied when I said I wasn’t a boob man.’ When I grazed my thumb over one tight bud, she caught her lip between her teeth, and I heard her gasp.
‘Like that?’ I asked, coolly.
She nodded, uncertain now. It made a change. I liked seeing her that way.
‘Want my mouth on you?’ I asked, my thumbs skimming around each nipple, watching her squirm.
She nodded.
‘And what about here? Are you wet for me?’
I let my hand drift down to the juncture of her thighs. Her sharp inhalation was almost a squeak and I felt myself harden even more. Talking dirty had its downsides. I was running out of patience myself.
I took her tight nipple into my mouth, licking and sucking, quickly falling into a rhythm as she began to moan, alternately panting my name and saying please.
With my other hand I rubbed at the seam of her jeans, feeling her trying to grind into my palm.
Each time she did, I removed the friction until she learned that she wasn’t going to be taking control. Not this time.
Her hands went to my waist, and I could feel her tugging at the top button of my jeans. I put a hand over hers, sucking her nipple harder. This time her moan was louder, and she arched her back, pressing her breast against my mouth. I grinned to myself, eased off and licked the taut skin.
‘Oh, Noah, please,’ she said.
I moved back to her mouth and murmured against her lips, my hand still pressed against the seam of her jeans. ‘What Evie? What?’
‘Oh God, I don’t know. You … you.’
I kissed her, feeling like I’d won for a change. My hand moved to the front of my jeans…
Suddenly there was a distant bang. And then the sound of heels on the tiled floor.
‘Shit,’ said Evie, lurching away and grabbing her top. I stuffed her bra down the back of my jeans as she pulled on her T-shirt.
I picked up a sheet of paper and held it up as if I were studying it.
‘Hey. you two.’ Alicia, her voice bright and bubbly, appeared in the room.
‘Hi, Alicia,’ said Evie with a fake smile and a very strained voice.
‘Hi,’ said Alicia. It was like a Mexican stand-off.
‘Thanks for all the stuff. It was perfect,’ said Evie, referring to the flip chart, paper and marker pens that Alicia had arranged.
‘No problem.’ Alicia’s eyes were darting around the room trying to work out what we’d been up to. Evie hadn’t told her the plan. Alicia stepped over to the taped-together sheet of paper, which Evie had turned over to hide the letters that she’d scribbled on there.
She glanced over at Evie who suddenly grinned at her. ‘Still not telling you.’
Alicia huffed out an irritated sigh. ‘I’m not good with surprises.’
‘It’s not a surprise, surprise, is it, Noah?
‘No,’ I said. ‘More like making sure we get it right.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ asked Alicia.
‘All in good time,’ said Evie winking at me.
‘I’m starting to regret pairing you two up, now,’ she said sulkily.
‘No, you’re not,’ said Evie, still clutching a piece of paper in front of her braless chest and giving the other woman an awkward hug.
‘No, I’m not. Although do you think you might manage an on-camera kiss? You know, give them want they want?’
‘We’re working on that, too,’ said Evie with another cheeky wink at me. ‘Aren’t we, Noah?’
I rolled my eyes, but inside I wasn’t so sure I wanted whatever this was between me and Evie being documented so publicly.
These bright, sparkly, exciting feelings were too special to put under the social-media microscope.
I wanted to nurture them and see where things between us might go.
Whatever we had was special, I was sure of it.
I just needed to convince Evie because I knew emotion and commitment scared her.