Page 19 of Seven Night Stopover

To the right, the DJ was setting up on an elevated platform at the back of the room. From the ceiling, large strobe lights slowly twirled, casting psychedelic lights over the furniture and the floor.

A delicate shiver floated down Leia’s spine. On paper, the Indigo Lounge had seemed like a truly unique experience. Reality offered so much more. And she knew the reality with Noah King would be even more exhilarating.

She rubbed her tongue on the roof of her mouth—a childhood habit she’d never managed to break—and peered deeper into the room.

A studded leather rack table had been erected within another grouping of sofas, complete with restraints.

In the middle of the third grouping, a four-poster bed stood, complete with black and indigo satin sheets and countless pillows. One member of staff was winding white silk ropes almost innocently around the posts. She looked up and smiled as she laid the end of one rope in the middle of the bed. Leia swallowed against another strange sensation skittering beneath her skin.

“Your pulse is racing again.” His lips grazed the spot. “Time to have that drink, I think.”

They passed another door markedVICE.It was completely blacked out, but Leia noticed several oddly shaped goggles hanging by the door. “Are those night-vision goggles?” She brushed her fingers over one.

“Close. These are specially adapted to show heat as well as cold. Want to try them later?”

The temptation to play safe welled up, but she pushed it away. “Maybe.”

“We’ll add that to yourhighlist.” Again, that imperious tone, denoting a man used to taking charge.

“How do you know there’s enough room for morehighson my list?” she challenged, just for the hell of it.

He glanced back. “You wouldn’t have chosen yet because there’s little point choosinghighswithout a partner.”

“Fair point. I just didn’t want you assuming.”

He laughed and led her into the bar at the farthest end of the plane.

It’d been designed into the tail and appeared triangularly shaped. Aptly named Tail Bar, it was the most ordinary space on the whole plane, if pure luxury at every turn could be classed as ordinary.

Noah led her to the bar and ordered a glass of champagne for her and a shot of Glen Fiddich on the rocks for himself.

Like most of the seats on the plane, the bar lounges were large enough for two or more.

Choosing a golden velvet one farthest from the bar and the couples gathered around it, he sat and patted the space next to him. “What shall we drink to?”

Several thoughts jumped through her mind, all too vivid to say aloud. In the end, she just pressed her lips together and shrugged.

“Should I be hurt that you can’t find a single positive thing to drink to?”

“I have toasts, just not very clean ones.”

His deep laugh made her grin. He raised his glass. “To the next seven days, and to however many highs we manage to cram in.”

She touched her glass to his. “You think it’s going to be more than seven?”

His eyes consumed her. “Baby, seven is the minimum number I plan to reach when it comes to the list ofhighsI intend to achieve with you.”

7

Noah watched her cheeks burn and wondered again if he was doing the right thing by setting his sights on such an innocent. Then the bite on his mouth throbbed, and he remembered the sass that had followed, and his pulse pounded all over again. Every nerve inside his body screamed at him to grab her and rush them to the nearest private area, preferably his suite. But he cautioned himself to take it slow.

It was important that he arm himself with everything he needed to know about her before he made another mistake. Another mistake would be unthinkable.

He’d known her for a short time, but he couldn’t imagine causing the woman in front of him any upset. He watched her sip her drink and waited for those fascinating grey eyes to meet his.

“I’ve only seen hairstyles like that on rock stars. Are you an undercover rock star, Leia Michaels?”

She laughed. “What’s the point of being a rock star if you choose to be undercover?”

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