Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,23

go to bed aroused could only help break the ice, so leaving them both unsatisfied after round two in the bath seemed like a good plan. She'd ache and want and perhaps make her own move toward more.

Making their way into the bedroom, he picked up the remote to turn on the fireplace and close the drapes.

When they'd swished shut, she touched her throat. "Can we leave them open?"

That's right. She had a thing for enclosed rooms. Without a word, he pushed the button to reopen them and shut off the light. He tugged the sheets down and held them up for her. She climbed in, taking one side of the bed and laying stiffly on her back. Swear to God, he was getting a picture of her in his bed before the month was through. The contrast of her dark hair against white sheets, her red lips and pink nipples…

He wondered if his dick would ever go back to normal.

Sliding between the sheets, he lay on his side, facing her. Firelight flickered over her profile, her wide eyes as she stared at the ceiling. If it was the last thing he did, if it took every hour of their thirty days together, he was going to wipe the hesitancy from her features. A sexual creature by nature, she was fantasy wrapped in daydream. Time she opened herself to all she was capable of being.

Unsure of proper bed-sharing etiquette, he sighed. He wasn't the cuddle type. Smothering in any form stole his breath. But this was different. This was…"Raven."

She turned her head.

"Come over here."

When she hesitated, he rolled to his back in the hopes that the position was non-threatening. After a moment, she scooted closer and rested her cheek in the crook of his arm. There was an awkward shuffle of arms and legs before they finally settled with her hand on his chest and leg covering his thigh, with his hand low on her back.

Silence stretched while he took stock of the situation. Her soft, warm body fit against the hard edges of his, as if made to be there. The scent of him clung to her, instead of her usual rain, and he found himself oddly liking it. His chest didn't restrict and he didn't want to back away for a semblance of space.

"This isn't so bad."

She laughed, pressing her face into his arm. "Goodnight."

***

Raven opened her eyes and blinked at the dusky light streaming in through the balcony doors. She stilled and forced air into her lungs. She was at Noah's and everything was fine. And wow. She'd slept through the night. While sharing a bed. With Noah.

The night before sped through her mind and an ache began between her thighs as she smiled. Raising onto her elbows, she noted his side of the bed was empty. The scent of coffee filled the room and a clatter sounded from the kitchen. Rolling onto her back, she ran her hands through her tangled hair. She probably looked like a mess.

Stepping out of bed, she padded into the bathroom to relieve herself and looked in the mirror. Well, someone looked properly screwed. Red cheeks, swollen lips, whisker burn on her neck. She grinned. Finding some toothpaste, she brushed her teeth with her finger and splashed water on her face before going in search of her purse. She brushed the knots from her hair and tied it up in a loose ponytail with a band.

Then, wondering what to wear, she grabbed his T-shirt from the floor and shrugged into it. Pressing the fabric to her nose, she inhaled the spicy scent of him before realizing that was silly and…girly. She loved the smell of him, though. Like Christmas or warm baked goodies.

Pausing on the spot, she questioned what was happening to her. She didn't spend the night with her lovers or wear their clothing or get all soft when smelling them. She'd certainly never let them to touch her or allowed herself to drop her barriers to do something as intimate as bathe with them.

And hell. She'd promised to stay the weekend, maybe even the whole month…

Striding out of the room, she made her way through the living room and to the kitchen, where the sight of him stopped her dead. Wearing nothing but a loose pair of flannel pajama bottoms, he sat at the counter on a stool, phone to his ear and back to her. A cup of coffee was cradled in his large hand, perched halfway to