Page 14 of Seven Night Stopover

She glared at him, her luscious lips pursing. “I’m twenty-three.”

Noah closed his eyes and breathed deep.

She was more than old enough to do whatever the hell she wanted with whomever she chose. At the same age, he’d been indulging in ways that would’ve shocked most people. Ways he’d had to abandon when he’d met Ashley.

But Leia was blushing at what was happening a few feet away, which spelled out her innocence loud and clear. And it wasn’t just the blushes that made him pause.

Granted, this place was unique enough to induce a few blushes. But her reaction to touching him earlier and the panic he’d seen in her eyes tweaked a few more alarm bells.

“Why are you here, Leia?”

“Excuse me? Isn’t it obvious?”

“I thought it was, but now I’m not so sure.”

Her face tightened. “What makes you say that?”

“You blush at the drop of a hat or at the sound of a simple moan. Your eyes widen every time I sayfuck. There it is again.”

“Maybe I’m not used to hearing men swear as frequently as you do.”

“No, baby. That’s not it. It’s not the word. It’s the image it evokes for you. Am I right?”

Her nostrils flared. “I thought we were going to kiss, not dissect my reactions.”

“Oh, we are. Very thoroughly. But not just yet.”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and Noah nearly lost it. “Why not?”

“Because I want you to tell me what you’re doing here first.”

Stormy grey eyes met his with a mixture of anger and arousal. “What does it matter? I’m here for the same reason you are.”

“Oh, sweetheart, I sincerely doubt that.”

“Why are you here then? If not to… fuck, then why?” Another fierce blush swept over her face.

The couple grew even louder. Gagging sounds filled the hallway as the guy pushed himself all the way into his partner’s mouth. Leia’s lashes fluttered, a giveaway that she was nervous. And turned on.

The plane jerked again, and Noah’s grip tightened. She sucked in a sharp breath, and he froze.

Hell. Deliberately, he dug his fingers deeper, enough to cause pain. He watched her face. Waiting for the reaction that would force him to back off.

Her mouth dropped open, her breath fractured and her pupils dilated.

Jesus. No.

Surely she wasn’t the one? Not this half-innocent with the tight body that screamed at his senses to make her his in every possible way?

The thought that he could break her and force her beyond her comfort zone surged to the front of his mind, starting an uncomfortable tingling in his hands that made him loosen his grasp.

He could take it slow, start with a kiss and see where it took them. But at what cost?

He had too many demons of his own to fight without taking on someone else’s. He looked into her eyes, felt himself begin to drown again and shook himself.

“I’m here to fuck, yes. But I won’t be fucking you.” He smashed down the regret biting hard inside him and started to rise to his feet.

Long nails dug into his arms. “Wait.”

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