Chapter 7
Noah’s entire body was on fire for the small female, and he’d reacted instantly to a perceived threat. Once he’d knocked Monte down, by pulling his punch no less, he pivoted and put his body between the terrified human and the asshole on the ground. “Get up.”
The jerk shoved to his feet, brushing dirty water off his slacks. “Get away from my wife.” His lip had already started swelling, and his words came out with a lisp.
“Ex-wife,” Noah retorted, scanning the area. “Did you slash her tires?” No doubt the jerk had done so and then returned to save her. Or pretend to save her.
Monte’s eyes widened, fury and feigned surprise glowing bright in their blue depths. “Of course not. In fact, if her tires are slashed, it was probably you. Thinking she’d get in bed as a thank you, which obviously she would.”
Oh, the jerk was going to get hit again. “Lies smell like sulfur to me,” he muttered. To most immortals, actually.
“I’m sorry,” Abby said, scrambling to get out of the truck. “It was an accident. He didn’t mean to hit you, Monte.”
The panic in her voice nearly sent Noah over the edge.
He pivoted and turned her fully into the truck before shutting the door before she could get out.
Her fear smelled like lemons and awoke the beast deep down inside himself that had lain dormant since the last war.
Since he’d last fought for home and family.
“She’s afraid of you. I’m not. You want to come at somebody a decent size? ” he drawled.
Monte brushed his dirty slacks. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
True. And he needed to rectify that. Noah reached for a phone in his back pocket and quickly speed dialed a number he’d just gotten.
“I need help and will owe you one. Abby’s tires have been slashed, and I need somebody to get and fix her car.
And I may need the name of a good lawyer.
” He waited for the response. “Thanks.” Then he hung up.
Monte sneered. “Oh, you’re definitely going to need a good lawyer. You just committed battery.”
Noah shrugged. “I knocked you on your ass with one pulled punch. You sure you want your buddy the sheriff to know that?”
Monte’s nostrils flared. He faltered.
“Oh, I’ll make sure every detail ends up in my answer to the complaint,” Noah drawled.
“In fact, I may even note that you cried like a baby.” Bullies always liked the darkness and not the light.
“You want to play, asshole? I’ll write a blog and letters to the editor.
And hey. Just how did her tires get slashed? ”
“You did it,” Monte spat.
“Really?” This would be so much easier if Noah could just tear off the human’s head.
But that’d scare Abby, and considering she’d just rocked his entire four-hundred-year-old existence with one kiss, he didn’t want her seeing that part of him.
Not yet, anyway. “I guess we’ll see. That is, if you go crying to the police because of a simple fat lip.
” He let the contempt he was truly feeling show in his expression.
Monte tried to look past him inside the truck, but Noah blocked the way. “Fine. We’re not done, asshole,” he spat, turning on his heel and stomping back to his car.
There wasn’t much chance of that. Noah waited until Monte had driven away before turning and opening his door.
“Scoot over. Please.” He wasn’t a guy who said please very often, but it seemed like much had been out of Abby’s control, and he had to make sure she knew she had it.
After she’d moved over, he paused. “This is up to you. You can take my truck, and I can wait for my friend to come for your car. Or I can drive you home. To either your home or mine.”
She blinked, her eyes huge in her pale face. “Your home?”
He held up a hand. “Guest room. It’s all yours if you want a safe place to stay.”
She scooted away. “Listen. You’re a nice guy, but you’re way out of your element. You have no idea who Monte is in this town. You just made a huge mistake, and it’s my fault. I can’t stay at your house.”
Great. Just wonderful. “Okay. I’ll drive you home.
” He slid inside the cab, trying not to take up as much space as usual.
He couldn’t help being big, even for a demon-vampire hybrid.
Starting the ignition, he drove slowly away from the parking lot.
“Though it’s going to be kind of lonely without Ivar there.
” The ring of truth in his words caught him off guard.
He had liked having the Viking around for a bit.
She wrapped her arms around herself as if freezing. “Oh, Noah. You just don’t get it. What are we going to do?” She released her torso and buried her face in her hands. “You’re gonna get arrested.”
He glanced sideways. She was incredibly small.
Human and fragile. The idea that anybody would frighten her so much pissed him off beyond belief.
It took several seconds for him to get his voice under control and not scare her.
When he’d finally released his death grip on the steering wheel, he turned to watch the road. “What exactly did he do to you?”
Her body jerked, but she didn’t answer.
That’s what he’d figured. He could smell the fear coming off her. Maybe he should’ve let Ivar kill Monte. Oh, he could do it himself, but something told him Abby wouldn’t like that. “Why haven’t you gotten help?”
“Help?” Her head lifted so suddenly, her entire body shook. “From whom? I’m sure the world seems safe from where you are, but in this town, there is no help. And I can’t leave because of the probation.” She shook her head, her hair flying around. “I was so stupid, Noah. So damn stupid.”
“No.” He didn’t know her story, but she wasn’t dumb. Intelligence shone in her eyes. “It’s okay, Abs. I’ll take you home.” And then he’d figure out what to do with Monte. Once he’d tracked down the whole story.
She looked outside at the darkness flying by. “I don’t want to go home,” she whispered.
His body heated to a full burn. Had she just said what he’d thought? “Okay.” He’d have to put clean sheets on Ivar’s bed.
Abby turned toward him, her chin firm and her skin pale in the lights from the dash. “And I don’t want to stay in your guest room, Noah. Not tonight.”
What had she done? The words came from a piece of personality inside Abby that was tired of hiding.
Of being afraid and lonely. Once upon a time, she’d craved adventure.
Now that Monte had seen her with another man, her days were limited, anyway.
Or maybe his were. It was time to fight back, and while she wasn’t quite sure of her path, she was done being a mouse.
This was a first step.
The impressive man driving the truck with such fierce control drew her in a way she couldn’t define. A feeling, down deep, beyond need. Straight to hunger. She deserved to appease that craving at least once.
He turned into a luxury condo development and parked at the far end of the row.
“Why are you here?” she asked. He didn’t fit in the small town.
“Business,” he said, opening his door and holding out a hand.
She hesitated for the briefest of seconds and then scooted over, sliding her much smaller palm against his warm one.
He drew her out, shut the door, and kept her hand as he led her up a flight of fancy stone stairs to a thick wooden door, which he nudged open.
“You don’t lock your door?” She tried to walk as casually as possible inside.
“No.” He shut the door behind them, and she jumped. Releasing her hand, he leaned back and crossed his arms, looking way down. “Why?”
She didn’t bother pretending to misunderstand. “I’m tired of not living. I like you, you like me, and that kiss earlier still has me reeling. I want more. While there’s a chance of having it. Of feeling something good.” When she started talking, she couldn’t stop.
His eyes glittered with a lust he didn’t bother concealing. “Don’t be sweet.”
Huh? She frowned. “I’m not.”
“You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen, and I can’t handle that right now.” His lips tipped up in a way that made him look like a slightly amused and very hungry lion.
“Okay.” She returned his smile and stepped right into the fire, pressing her hands against his elbows and tugging, making his arms uncross. “I won’t be sweet. How about seductive?” Where her courage came from, she’d figure out later.
“Baby, you’re seductive just breathing.”
The words shot right to her heart. Warming her. Helping her. Healing her. “You don’t have to say things like that.” She leaned up and nipped his whiskered chin.
“I don’t have to do or say anything.” He grasped her arms and partially lifted her, waiting until her startled eyes met his before continuing.
“When I talk, it’s the truth. No ulterior motives.
I think you’re sweet and sexy, and I want to be inside you so badly my ears are ringing.
But I’m not going to coax you, and I’m not going to persuade you.
If you say no, the guest room is yours as long as you want it.
If you say yes, your body is mine for the rest of the night.
” The tone was raw and possessive. Powerful.
Her knees almost gave out. She swallowed and swayed even closer to him.
“But—”
“No but,” she responded instantly.
He grinned. “But, this is just a night or two. I have business, and it’s probably not going to be pretty, and I can’t give more than this.”
She wasn’t complete enough for more than this.
Right now. She would be someday, however.
“This is all I want.” She meant every word.
Well, kind of. She’d never met a man like him, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to be a part of his life.
Of his heart. “Take me or leave me,” she quipped.
“I’ll take.” He clamped his hands on her hips and lifted her, his mouth descending at the same time.
She yelped and latched on to his shoulders, her knees gripping on his ribcage.
The kiss overtook her, and she shut her eyes, trusting him to hold her aloft.
This was crazy but she just didn’t care any longer.
If she was going to jail, she was taking this memory with her.
They moved backward, and she went willingly.
His mouth was firm and warm and commanding.
Flames licked down her neck and over her breasts, making them ache with need. Electricity zipped through her, landing between her legs and pulsing. She moved against him, seeking relief, and found herself flat on her back on a large bed, his mouth still working hers.
The mattress was like a steel beam, but she didn’t care. She ran her hands through his thick hair, tugging and playing.
He growled into her mouth, and the vibration shot through her entire body. He grasped the bottom of her T-shirt and she helped him, ripping the material over her head. “Race you,” she challenged, laughing, reaching for the button of her jeans. When had she been this aroused and free? Never?
“You win.” He removed his shirt and revealed a smooth and muscled chest. Was he even real? Then he helped her with her jeans and panties, tossing them over his shoulder. A quick flick of the front clasp of her bra, and that too, flew across the room.
Cool air brushed across her nipples. She paused, suddenly vulnerable.
He leaned over, a huge specimen of a man, and kissed her gently between her breasts. “You’re beautiful, Abby. Don’t ever doubt it.” His warm breath and lips moved against her skin, spiraling desire right to her clit.
She felt beautiful. For the first time in way too long, she really did. “Noah,” she murmured, reaching for his hair again.
“Yeah. You’re going to be saying that a lot.
” He levered up and kissed her. Hard and fast and demanding.
She took what he gave, letting him go deep, letting him take whatever he wanted.
Their touches were frantic, and he knew just where to touch.
Her hips, her nipples, even the backs of her knees.
He played her like he’d been doing so for years.
He reached her ribcage and paused.
She stilled.
Bending, he looked closer. “You were hit.”
She winced. “I’m fine.” The bruises were almost gone. “Really.”
He lifted up, his eyes burning. “Monte.”
She so did not want to hear that jerk’s name right now. “Let it go, Noah. Here it’s just you and me.”
The expression that crossed his face defied description. Anger, acceptance, sorrow. Just what was he going to do? “All right,” he murmured, leaning down and kissing each bruise with a tenderness that pricked tears to the back of her eyes.
She pulled him up, caressing over his hard shoulders. “Don’t stop. Don’t hold back.”
“I won’t.” He nipped her chin and then kissed her. Hard, fast, deep. Licking along her neck, he kept moving down again.
Desire cut deep, making her forget all about those bruises. She rubbed against him, her body alight, her head reeling. The guy still was wearing jeans. “Now, Noah.”
He laughed around one nipple, sending sparks through her breasts. “You’re not ready.” He nipped and kissed down the middle of her torso and then continued, pausing to lick her clit in one smooth motion.
She moaned and arched off the bed, her eyelids closing. It was too intimate. “Noah, I?—”
He licked her again, his tongue rough. Then he went to town, licking and nipping, sliding one and then two fingers inside her. His wide shoulders forced her legs farther apart, and she caught her breath, spiraling higher and higher as he worked her over in the most delicious of ways.
His finger rubbed a place inside her she hadn’t realized existed just as he nipped her clit, and she detonated, crying out his name as pleasure took her away. The orgasm lasted forever, and finally she came down, her body going soft, his name still on her lips.
He kissed his way back up, a satisfied smile on his face. “Now we get serious.”
She shivered. “Your jeans are still on.” They had to fix that fact.
His phone rang out some weird song about zombies and he stilled. “Sorry.” He reached for it, keeping her in place, and quickly read the face. He blanched.
“No,” she said, partially sitting up. “No way.”
He rolled off her and reached for his shirt.
“I’ve been waiting for this call for two months.
I want you more than breath, but I have to go.
” He tugged the material over his head, an obvious and rather huge bulge in his jeans showing he really did want her.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay here, where you’re safe, and we are definitely going to pick up where we just left off. ”
Then he bolted from the room.