Page 54 of Seven Night Stopover

He received an unapologetic grunt. “Give me a break, man, I drew the short straw for this phone call. Biting my head off doesn’t help either of us.”

“Speak for yourself. I feel like tearing chunks out of it right about now.” He flicked on the bedside lamp and turned back toward the bed. Its emptiness unsettled him. “And what the fuck are you drawing straws about? I’m beginning to worry that you three have nothing better to do.”

He headed for the sitting room, a part of him thankful that they were on a plane and thus finding her would be easy. A greater part of him was even more thankful he’d had her movedinto his suite before they took off from Geneva. He wanted her close.

At Damon’s silence, he paused, apprehension gripping him. “Has something happened?”

“Nah. We called your office. Maddie said you hadn’t been in for a couple of days, so we’re guessing you made the trip after all?”

He resumed walking. “You called me at three in the morning to ask me that?”

His friend sighed. “Don’t jerk my chain, I knew you’d be up. Or are you saying you’ve found a cure for your chronic insomnia?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

Noah strolled into the living room and drew to a halt. On the oversized sofa, Leia sat with a large pad balanced on her knee, tapping a pencil against her cheek as she frowned at the page. She was wearing a forest-green slip. From what he could see of her upper half, the design was seriously sexy, cut daringly in places that made his mouth water and his hands itch to explore.

“If you want a blow by blow of what I’m doing right now, you’re out of luck.”

Leia glanced up and her eyes connected with his. Whatever expression he wore—and he had a feeling it was one of bone-deep hunger—made her eyes widen and her lips part.

Christ, just looking at her intoxicated him.

Keeping his gaze pinned on hers, he answered Damon’s question. “If you must know, the experience is proving to be worth it. Why don’t you go and report that to your knitting committee?”

Damon’s laugh held a touch of uneasiness and his nape tightened. “Yeah, sure… I’ll do that.”

The easy agreement and the fact that he wasn’t griping about Noah’s jibe made alarm bells ring harder. He reached the sofa,crouched in front of Leia and slid his hand over her knee. Her smile tugged at his heart.

“Damon, what the hell is going on?”

“Fuck, forget I called. It’s nothing that can’t wait until you get back.”

Noah watched her lips part wider, her need for air growing as he explored the silky flesh of her thighs. This close, he could see her slip was made of the same material as the panties she’d worn in Switzerland. And that the bits covering her breasts were made of decadent lace triangles.

He forced himself to concentrate on the call. Something wasn’t right, and as much as he loved his childhood friend, Damon had never been good with getting to the point fast. Taking into account the time difference, the day of the week and the music in the background, he said, “It’s Tuesday so you’re at The Sphere. Let me to talk to Gabe.”

“He… uh, he’s not here.”

“Where is he?” he snapped. The pencil dangled from Leia’s fingers. Reaching out, he took it and slowly traced the blunt end over her collarbone. She shuddered and her nipples pearled against the lace.

“Bora Bora, I think.”

“What the hell’s he doing there?”

Damon cleared his throat. “Angela broke things off with him. Or she’s trying to, anyway. But you know how stubborn they both are. She’s pissed that he’s refusing to let her dump him and she’s gone into hiding at Savage’s place. Gabriel hopped on his plane and hightailed it down there first thing this morning. I’ll have him call you with an update when he gets back… Hold on a sec,” he interrupted himself. Noah heard heated murmurs, then Damon said in a rush, “I gotta go. So everything’s going great, right?”

Noah’s eyes trailed the stunning vision staring back at him with a hunger that almost equaled his own, and he swallowed before he could speak. “Yes. It is. And Damon?” He leaned down and drifted his mouth over the soft curve of her shoulder.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.” No matter the reason behind the call, Noah was thankful his friends were looking out for him, albeit in ways that irritated the hell out of him.

“No problem, buddy.”

He hung up, tossed the phone away.

Leia looked from the phone to his face. “What was that about?”

“Hell if I know. Come here, baby.”

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