Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,15

wanted to say more. Glancing up at the ceiling, he sighed and then returned his blue gaze to hers. "I want you to pose for me."

"What?"

"I've imagined it in my head a thousand times. My ultimate muse. Your black hair against a snowy backdrop. I have several places in mind, several poses."

She snapped her mouth shut. "I'm not a model." She was attractive, sure. But sexy in the way he wanted from his girls? Not a chance.

"Most of my models weren't professional when they posed. Some I stumbled on in my travels and went with it."

"No, Noah. I'm not…I hate the idea." To be the focus of all those eyes when the photos went public, to be the center of all that unwanted attention made a violent shiver tear through her body.

He shrugged. "I have a month to change your mind."

And that was the other thing. But first…"Do you sleep with all your models?"

"Not all, no. The women I've been with, the ones from around here, were a one night only deal. I couldn't risk anything long term to draw suspicion to them. You're a friend and were around before…" He shook his head. "Hoan's arrangements are different. The shoots take a week or two, and he's under an undisclosed identity. I could be a little more lax with him."

Her head was spinning and it wasn't from the wine. "Lax, how?"

Frustration marred his brow, his patience waning. "They all signed confidentiality agreements and never knew me as Noah. When, if I took them to bed, I had the opportunity to have a week or two with them before parting."

She nodded as if this all made sense. It didn't.

He stood and collected their dishes. "Take your wine over by the fire. I'll get this cleaned up and be right in."

Manners had her wanting to argue and help him clear the table, but she wasn't sure what to make of their conversation and needed a moment. Picking up her glass, she made her way over to the balcony doors next to the stone fireplace. The flames crackled and hissed, creating warmth to contrast the drafty hardwood floors.

Unable to sit, she looked out past the balcony at Mount Spurr's range. From this distance and so high up, the appearance seemed like they were at peak level. On top of the world. Which just made it that much easier to crash down.

What in the hell was she doing here? With Noah, of all people? Solid, stable, perfect for her peace of mind, Noah. Had she ever really known him at all? Was everything they'd shared all these years just a means to sex? The kind of sex she couldn't possibly give him.

A tight band squeezed her throat, making her head pound and her vision sway. Her chest constricted. She couldn't draw air.

Then Noah was behind her, taking the wine from her hand and setting it aside. She leaned back into him, into his irresistible heat to stop the tremors. Solid hands dropped on her shoulders, kneading the tense muscles and easing the edges of panic from her body. His thumbs traced up the curve of her neck and into her hair.

He leaned closer, his breath hot against her jaw. "Breathe, baby. It's just me. Breathe."

Yes, it was just Noah. Noah was safety.

But he'd called her baby. A pet name or term of endearment he'd never used.

She sucked in a lungful of air and held it precious seconds before exhaling. He smelled like cinnamon and a trace of spicy aftershave, the scent equally a turn on and a comfort.

His hand trailed over her ribs and around her body, drawing her closer to him. The hard ridge of his erection pressed into her backside and the realization of the past week caught up to her. In a daze, everything that happened seemed like a story in a book, not her life. Reality, her reality, never unfolded like this. Handsome billionaire artists didn't sweep her off her feet, write her scorching secret admirer letters, and claim they wanted to ravage her body from top to bottom.

Not even when that person was her best friend.

Slowly, he turned her around and, with hands on her hips, backed her up against the balcony doors. The cool glass behind her and the heat in front was an electrifying contrast. He pressed in closer, trapping her with hard muscle and enough testosterone to melt her panties.

Never taking his gaze from hers, he went in for the kill. She let her lids drift