it, moved--she backed into the bedroom. Rooting through her suitcase, she found her pajamas and stepped into them. She lifted her head and her gaze landed on a picture on the wall she hadn't noticed before. Between him telling her about Aubrey and everything after, she hadn't paid much attention to the suite.
Stepping closer, she realized it was a black and white photo of her on the couch in her apartment, knees drawn to her chest, a glass of wine in her hand and head thrown back laughing. It must've been from her surprise party a few years ago, because that was the last time she remembered him with a camera. There was another next to it of her from college, wearing a red coat and beret, standing near a snow bank on campus. Another of her sitting on a kitchen stool in his condo, looking over her shoulder at him with a wry grin. That had to have been his housewarming.
Pressing her fingertips to her lips, she started to shake. There were no other pictures in his bedroom. Just??er. His condo in Anchorage had photos he'd taken of Gallivanting Adventures, but here??ere was personal.
She strode into the living room. More pictures. Of Aubrey, his parents, a couple she assumed to be his sister and her husband. Her. The only one of him and Raven together was a selfie she'd taken last year with his new phone. He grinned over her shoulder at the camera, arm wrapped under hers and hand over her collarbone.
Her heart tripped in her chest. Doubt edged, even though the obvious was staring her in the face. Attraction was one thing. Friendship another. This seemed like??ore.
The floor creaked behind her. She turned to find Noah leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom wearing a pair of flannel pants and nothing else, arms crossed over his chest.
It was criminal to be that attractive.
He studied her as if gauging her reaction. After a moment, he swallowed and glanced at the pictures. "I couldn't have any personal photos in Anchorage, in case he came looking for me." He shrugged and pushed off the doorframe, closing the distance. "But that's not what has your pulse tripping." He skimmed his fingers over her throat, gaze watching the path. His voice dipped lower when he spoke again. "What are you thinking? I'm having a hard time figuring it out."
She released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "There are a lot of me." She pointed to the wall.
She immediately regretted the slip the minute the words left her. She didn't want to know the reason. Really, she didn't. Facing that, while everything else was happening, was another complication she couldn't handle. Denial, her old friend.
One corner of his mouth lifted, his eyes softening. His thumb slid over her lower lip, releasing it from her teeth. "You're an important part of my life. Why wouldn't I have pictures of you?"
Well, when he put it that way. "And what about the pictures in your bedroom?"
His grin was a weapon of mass destruction. She'd swear it. "You're an important part of my fantasies, too." His gaze raked over her face, sliding into photographer mode. "Pose for me." When she tried to say no and back away, he hauled her right back. "Pose for me, not Hoan."
"You're the same person."
A slight shake of his head told her just how wrong she was. "No one will see them, if that's what you prefer. I've wanted you in front of my camera from day one, Raven. Don't deny me. Please."
God. How could she argue with that? "No one will see them?"
"Just you and me." He stepped closer so that their bodies brushed and shared heat. "You're too fucking beautiful to share with the world anyway."
A gale force wind expelled from her lungs. "Hell, you're smooth. No wonder women go all gooey around you."
Leaning in, he slid his mouth over hers and spoke against her lips. "I'm honest. And there's only one woman in this room. Pose for me."
Did her knees just go weak? Yes, yes they did, damn it. "Okay."
Chapter Twelve
They woke late in the morning and, though Noah wanted to burrow under the covers and make love to Raven, Aubrey was no doubt anxious for them to come down. He didn't get to see her near as often as he wanted and Skype just wasn't the same.
Aubrey drilled Raven with questions while they ate breakfast. Raven took them in stride, patiently answering each one. He'd never