Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,39

Lights reflected off the choppy water. Truly beautiful, a sight she'd never grow tired of??f her heart wasn't stuck in her throat and her limbs blocks of ice.

There was no deluding herself anymore. Though nothing had come of being followed tonight, Max's reaction was a slap of reality. He wouldn't have made her lie down if he hadn't thought bullets were a possibility. He wouldn't have called backup for a simple tail. Noah's security wasn't a precaution or because of his parents' old ghosts. He was living with a very real threat and had been since before they'd met.

The car stopped and she glanced up. They'd parked at a private pier on the edge of The Sound where a large yacht bobbed on the water. Lights illuminated the interior. Max came around and swept his hard gaze across the area before opening her door. On unsteady legs, she rose and hunched against the wind. He took her elbow and walked her to the edge of the pier.

A door snapped and Noah emerged by the railing of the boat. With one smooth, fluid motion, he leapt from the bough to the pier and stalked toward her, his blond hair catching the wind. She halted to watch him eat the distance, her relief so heavy tears blurred her eyes. He strode right to her, palmed her cool cheeks in his warm hands, and kissed her soundly.

"Are you all right?" His gaze swept over her before he crushed her against him. Tension radiated off of him. He shook from it. Cupping the back of her head, he held her to him and spoke in her ear. "I was fucking worried sick."

"She handled it well."

Noah spoke to Max over her head, his hold on her unrelenting. "Details."

"Dark blue or black Ford pickup. Newer model. It tailed us halfway enroute." There was a pause. "It was the same vehicle from two weeks ago. This time he wanted me to know he was there. After a mile, it turned off before Hintz could arrive for backup."

This had happened before? And she hadn't known?

"Fuck. We need to go back to the condo. We're too wide open here."

"Agreed. Hintz is meeting us here. I'll redirect him." Max's shoes crunched as he walked away.

Noah pulled her away from him, his hard, glacial blue eyes scanning her face.

Tears filled her eyes again, falling and freezing on her face. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm so upset. Nothing happened--" Her legs threatened to buckle.

"Ah, baby." He crushed her to him again, as if unable to let her go. "It would scare anyone. Hell, I still can't...Swear to God, I think I died when Max called." Bending, he swept an arm under her legs and carried her to the SUV with long, determined strides.

Her legs were frozen under her dress by the time they were driving again. Or maybe it was the shock because her whole body was ice. Keeping her sideways in his lap, Noah absently ran his hands up and down the length of them, cheek resting on the top of her head. He ordered Max to turn up the heat.

"I want you back at the condo. It has more security and we can protect you better." He paused when she didn't respond. "If you'd like, you can stay in the guestroom. If you don't want??o sleep next to me." His voice was strained and low, on the cusp of snapping like he'd done that day in the shower.

As her gaze transfixed out the window, her chest swelled. He wanted her to stay. Except it was just to keep her safe, not because he wanted to retract the agreement. At least, that was the impression she got from him. But then why bring up sleeping together? Did he??ant to continue?

When had she started hoping for more? Between dinner a month before, when he'd blown their friendship out of the water, and right this moment, she'd found a semblance of normal with another person. Not just someone, but Noah. Her best friend, her anchor.

Stupid. People like them weren't capable of picket fences and ever-afters. Both believed fairy tales were full of crap. Marriage, kids, monogamy were fine for those that sought the lifestyle, believed in it. She and Noah weren't those people. At least, they hadn't been. Was she reading too much into his request?

"Raven?" He said her name like a prayer.

"Okay," she said, her voice dull even to her own ears. "I'll??tay. I need to stop by my apartment