Sandcastle Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story (13 page)

Beth set her stack of papers on the table. She grinned at him, her hands busy picking up the various files scattered on the chairs and adding them to her stack. “You don't have to tell me twice. I'm out of here as soon as I get this put away.”

Noah put his hand on my shoulder, his touch adding to the warmth in my lower section. He put his mouth near my ear. “Let's go outside and let Beth finish in here,” he said, his words causing my hair to tickle my neck and sending sexual currents straight down my spine. I nodded and followed him happily outside onto the porch.

He leaned nonchalantly against the wall. I loved the way his shirt hugged his broad shoulders, then tapered into his waist. He looked good, and he knew it.

“What would you like to do today?” I asked as his blue eyes watched my every move with a slight smile. He looked me up and down, obviously liking what he saw and stoking the fire growing in my belly.

I went to the wall beside him, pressing my shoulder blades into the wood. He shrugged. “I didn't have any plans.”

He pushed himself off the wall and placed his arms on either side of me, pinning me in place. My breath caught a little bit. He smelled like clean sunshine and soap with just a hint of something masculine that drove my feminine parts into a frenzy. He came in slowly, taking his time as his mouth covered mine. His tongue probed gently at my lips until I let him in. I heard a low moan that I realized was mine. The man could kiss.

“How's that for doing something today?” Noah asked, his voice low and rough. I wanted him so bad.

“Wow. That sounds good,” I gasped. I was already halfway to the bedroom in my head when I heard a thud followed by an “Ouch!” from inside. “I think the room is currently occupied, though.”

He chuckled and kissed me again. I wondered if I would be able to walk after this, because he was melting all my bones into liquid desire. He pulled back again, giving me enough space to breathe but still keeping me pinned against the wall.

“Where's she staying anyway?” I asked, desperately trying to gather my wits together. He scattered them so effortlessly that it was difficult. “I happen to know there isn't a pull-out sofa in there.”

His mouth twitched in a smile and he kissed my forehead. His eyes were glowing with desire and making my thoughts scatter again. I loved that look. “The main house is practically empty. Owen went home after the party, Jack met a girl on the island, and his secretary is leaving this afternoon.”

“Jack brought his secretary?” I asked. “I didn't see her at the party.”

“That's because she wasn't invited.” The note of disdain in his voice made it evident he didn't think too highly of the secretary. “The party was just for the boys.”

“Oh,” I said with a nod. Then I processed the first part of his statement. “Jack met a girl?”

“Inquisitive, aren't we?” he teased, nuzzling my hair. He laughed softly, anticipating my next questions. “She's a tourist. He wouldn't shut up about her. I saw him for all of five minutes before he dashed off to see her again.”

“Is that so?” I murmured. I loved the way his lips felt as he nibbled down my neck.

“Oh, Noah, Emma's so perfect! She's so pretty and smart and sexy and...” Noah said, raising his voice several octaves to sound like a girl. I giggled. “It was actually kind of cute, but in a sickeningly sweet kind of way.”

“What's the secretary think about that?” I tipped my head to give him better access to my neck. “I'm guessing she wasn't here to work.”

“She threw a vase at my head this morning when I went in the house,” he said. I pushed his shoulders back so I could look at him, feeling a worried expression shaping my face. He smiled at my concern. “She thought I was Jack.” He must have seen the concern in my face, so he followed up with, “Don't worry, she missed.”

I punched his shoulder lightly, glaring at him through my eyelashes. He chuckled again and kissed the tip of my nose. “Good. I'd have to go beat her up if she had hit you. Poor girl, getting dumped on vacation.”

He pulled back, a frown creasing his face. “Don't feel sorry for her. She brought her pick ax to dig for gold on this trip. She didn't actually care about Jack, and everybody but him knew it.” He shook his head as if to banish any further thoughts about her before he smiled at me. “At least this Emma chick seems to like him. He says she doesn't know who he is. That she thinks he’s just some guy visiting his wealthy friend on the island.”

“That sounds familiar...” I said, exaggerating a thoughtful twist in my mouth and tapping my chin with my index finger. “Handsome man meets girl and keeps his job a secret.”

“Ha ha,” he said, rolling his eyes at me good-naturedly before going back to kissing his way up and down the side of my neck, his hands pulling my hips into him.

“I'm happy for them,” I said softly, pressing myself against him. I could feel him harden at my movement. I really wanted Beth to finish up in there. “You still haven't told me what you want to do today.”

“There's a great little touristy area to buy stuff from local craftsmen over by the resort,” Beth said, coming out the door. Noah and I both turned to look at her, and she blushed a deep red when she saw the position we were in. “Oh, but you weren't actually asking the question...”

She hiked her very full messenger bag higher on her shoulder, and gave a nervous giggle. I glanced over at Noah to see his eyebrows raise at her. Her face somehow became an even darker shade of crimson.

“Pretend I said nothing. Bye!” And with that, she scurried away and back to the main house. Noah groaned, putting his head on my shoulder.

“Well, at least the house is ours again,” I said, arching my back to press my hips into him again. His hands tightened on my waist so I couldn't pull away. He lifted his head and looked into my eyes.

“Actually, before we get to that, I have something I want to give you.” His eyes searched mine, and his handsome mouth curled into a smile as if he liked what he saw.

“You don't have to do that,” I replied. An impish smirk crossed his features, making him devilishly good-looking.

“Do what?” he teased.

“Give me things. I mean, I know you can afford it, but you really don't have to.” I was having a hard time concentrating on our conversation. I wanted to be naked with him, not discussing gifts.

“I know I don't have to.” He moved one hand to cup my cheek. “I want to. I want to give you everything.”

Before I had time to say anything, he kissed me, his mouth sending me to heaven. I was giddy with happiness. It wasn't the gift that made my stomach do joyful flip-flops; it was that he wanted to give me everything.

He stepped back, releasing me from his grasp and the wall. He grinned, excited like a proud child, and grabbed my hand to pull me indoors. I giggled and followed him, floating on air.

The room was clean of all traces of work. The laptop on the desk had even been neatly stored in a bag off to the side of the room. Noah dropped my hand and held his up for me to stay while he ran into the bedroom. I heard a drawer open and close before he came out, grinning like crazy.

He held his hand out to me, a small silver box with a shiny silver bow resting on his palm. It looked fancy. I took it with trembling fingers.
Please don't be expensive jewelry,
I thought. Since I worked on boats and in the ocean, I could never wear anything nice. I wanted to be able to use this gift, not just leave it to collect dust on my nightstand.

I bit my lip and looked up at him. His eyes danced with excitement as I pulled the bow free and opened the lid. I pulled out the necklace inside slowly. It was a shark tooth hung on a strong, simple black, cotton cord.

He took it from my fingers and undid the clasp before wrapping his arms around me to put it on. The point of the tooth hung right at the dip of my collarbone. I played with the smooth tooth between my fingers. This was something I could wear even at work.

“The tooth is from a lemon shark,” he explained, watching my reaction. “The guy selling it to me told me to get the black cord instead of a chain so you could wear it in the water. Something about it not sparkling.”

I smiled up at him. “Barracudas and sharks are attracted to sparkly things,” I stated, my brain going into Science Mode without me realizing it. “The flashing looks like a distressed fish to them.”

“You are such a teacher,” he said with a chuckle. “Do you like it?”

“I love it,” I answered honestly.

He put his hands on my shoulders, admiring the necklace. “In the South Pacific, it's legend that a tooth from a man-eating shark will bring the owner a prosperous and long life, free of any evil, especially that of the sea.” He shrugged like what he was giving me was nothing special, but the thought was beautiful. “It will keep you safe in the water.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, lifting my eyes to reach his. He beamed at my thanks and I kissed his cheek. I played with the tooth in my fingers, unsure if I wanted to tell him that lemon sharks weren't man-eaters.

“What?” he asked, frowning slightly. I wondered if he could read my mind.

“Lemon sharks...” I took a deep breath. “They don't eat people.”

“You said one bit you.” His face split into a grin and he bounced on his toes with glee. He had been anticipating this. “So, while technically it's more of a woman-eater, I'm pretty sure it still counts.”

I giggled. “Then it really
is
perfect. Thank you.”

I stood up on the tips of my toes to kiss him. I had meant it to be sweet and full of thanks, but as soon as my lips touched his, I wanted so much more. I wanted him.

He cupped my face in his hands, drawing back and smiling. There was sunshine and warmth in those blue eyes, and I couldn't look away. With gentle fingers, he brushed a strand of hair from my face, tucking it neatly behind my ear.

“I love you, Izzy.”

My world spun in happy circles. I was giddy and lightheaded and about to float through the ceiling with joy. “Really?” I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

He caressed my cheek with his finger. “Yes, really. There was supposed to be flowers and candles...” He frowned slightly at himself. “I meant to tell you in a far more romantic way, but-”

“I love you too, Noah,” I said, cutting him off. His face shifted into an ecstatic grin. I loved the way his eyes lit up as he looked at me. I raised my lips to his and we shared a breath before kissing again. “This is more than romantic enough for me.”

He wrapped his strong arms around me and picked me up, spinning me in a circle. My feet swung out in a wide arc, our laughter and kisses mingling as we spun. I couldn't believe how fast this was all happening, but in my heart I knew it was all true. Loving Noah was simple and easy. It felt right, like he was always supposed to be a part of my life. Like the universe had meant for us to be together and had just waited until the timing was right. I was happier than I had ever been in my entire life when I was with him. This was what life was all about.

I
nstead of setting me down, he scooped me up in his arms, carrying me to the bedroom like a fair maiden. He held me gently as if I were a delicate flower, his strong shoulders and biceps not even struggling with my weight. His knees bumped against the big bed, but he didn't set me down. He just kissed me more, holding me close to him.

I wiggled for escape, and he reluctantly released his hold on me with one arm so I was kneeling on the bed, our heads at the same height. He nipped at my lower lip, growling with want. The sound sent an electrical current through me. That noise had the unique ability to send me into a shudder just a millimeter below orgasm.

Not taking my eyes off him, I reached for the hem of my dress, lifting it smoothly overhead. Just before the fabric cleared my eyes, he captured my arms in his. I struggled to free myself, but his grasp was too strong. I couldn't see through the blindfold of my dress, my arms stuck in its straps.

All my senses seemed to heighten with the loss of my sight. His tongue was wet and hot on my skin as he teased my sensitive flesh and then blew cool air on the wetness he left behind. I shivered, more with want than cold. Noah's breathing was ragged with longing; his every jagged breath made my body ache to soothe his.

“You're all mine now,” he growled as I struggled slightly to pull the fabric off my eyes. He strengthened his control over my arms by wrapping the dress tighter. There was no way I was going to escape my cloth confinement.

He kissed me, his lips soft at first, as the two of us melted together like butter. One hand trailed down my outstretched arms, down the curve of my neck, down to the stretch of skin exposed out the side of my swim-top, down to my hip where he undid one of the string ties of my bottoms. The fabric sagged away, barely still covering my nether regions as it clung to my other hip. His fingers gently caressed my bare hipbone. I moaned softly, wanting more.

His hand left my hip, and went to the swimsuit tie at the nape of my neck, and gave it a gentle tug. The top fell forward, exposing me to his gaze. I shifted my weight on the bed, waiting as he looked his fill, my arms still tangled up in the air. He took my left breast into his mouth, making me gasp with the surge of pleasure.

My nipple hardened under his warm, teasing tongue. It was like I had guitar strings running through my body and he was using my hardened nipple as a pick to strum them. I arched my back to give him better access, and he bit down lightly. It wasn't enough to cause pain, but just enough to make my core heat like a furnace.

“Lay back,” he commanded. Even if I had wanted to resist, his voice left no room for argument. Happy to give him complete control, I surrendered my body willingly.

I fell to the bed, his arms guiding me down as my own were still tangled above my head. Once I was flat, he grabbed my hips and pulled me toward him so that my ass was just hanging off the edge of the bed.

“No peeking.” That commanding, powerful tone again. Without even meaning to, my arms froze. I wouldn't have lifted that dress off my eyes if I heard a marching band go by. But then again, I was so captivated by Noah that I probably wouldn’t have heard a marching band at all. I shivered with anticipation as I contemplated the wonderful things he was going to do to my body.