Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,61

was to strip him out of that tux. Tall, rippling with lean muscle and confidence, he ate the space toward her.

"He usually cuts out after the first dance. The charity means a lot to him, but he hates these functions."

It grated her nerves Veronica knew that, but it wasn't exactly a state secret and she did work closely with him. As a matter of fact, according to Noah, Veronica pretty much managed most things about Gallivanting Adventures so he could be free to do other things. It dawned on her just how successful Hoan Dwell was, and that meant traveling a great deal. In the past, she'd always assumed he was doing something for the company or on vacation when he'd been gone for those short spurts. Instead, he'd amassed a fortune taking brilliant photographs.

Noah nodded at Veronica and leaned over the back of Raven's chair to speak in her ear. "Dance with me?"

"Sure," she said, rising and taking his hand.

He led her onto the dance floor, where several other couples were swaying, and gently tugged her to his chest. "Did you like the reminder that you're mine while you were fawning over my men?"

Resting her hands on his shoulders, she smiled up at him. There was a seductive draw to how he said mine that caused a shiver through her body. "I wasn't fawning, I was conversing, and I see your point on the jealousy thing now."

Grinning, he spun her around and brought her back. "We can leave after this song." They moved a few slow turns while his gaze swept over her face, her hair. "We've never danced together."

Thinking back, she nodded her agreement, acutely aware of the gorgeous body against her and the spicy scent of him. "Not much opportunity. Our friendship wasn't really like that anyway, was it?" She much preferred how things had evolved.

His expression sobered, jaw hardening and eyes heated. "There's a reason I didn't touch you often, and it wasn't to torture myself. In the back of my mind, I knew it would be like this. That I wouldn't be able to stop."

Heart thundering, she glanced away and forced a swallow. "I'm not complaining and I'm not asking you to stop."

"Look at me." He waited, his eyes intensely blue when she met them. "I don't think I'm capable of stopping."

"Then don't." She stilled. Held his gaze. And decided for all in. These feelings were raw and scary, but she was with him, so nothing could be more right. It wasn't a declaration of love or forever, but it was a step closer. Proof he wasn't alone in this adventure.

Wary relief flashed in his eyes before he shook it away. "I want to take you home now."

"No complaints from me." An idea sparked. "I'll meet you by the door. I have to stop at the restroom."

He nodded once. "Don't be too long. You've had me in pain half the night with your antics."

Leaning up on her toes, she brushed a kiss over his mouth. "And you've had me on the brink of orgasm the whole night. Give me five minutes."

In the restroom, she took off her panties and shoved them in her purse. She stopped in one of the stalls and then washed her hands, getting a good look at herself in the mirror. Her features were the same, but her reflection was different. Softer, perhaps. More open.

Happy. That was it, exactly. After a lifetime of battling depression one way or another, or settling for safe and content, she hardly recognized joy when she saw it staring back at her.

All she had to do was hold onto it. A task she'd yet to manage.

Squaring her shoulders, she left, determined to try. And when she found Noah standing by the door, her coat on his arm and lazy smile on his face, she knew she was walking in the right direction.

Chapter Fifteen

Noah climbed in the back of the limo after Raven, waiting until Max shut the door and had them underway before speaking. "Did you have fun?" He closed the partition for privacy.

She grinned, her face in contrasting shadows and moonlight. "It had its merits."

He pulled the remote for her thong from his pocket. "Like this?" Suspicious of her grin, he pushed the button, but instead of her writhing in her seat, his other pocket vibrated. "You took them off? And put them in my pocket?" He grabbed her waist and slid her across the seat. "Nimble little minx. When did you do this?"

She nuzzled