Page 78 of Seven Night Stopover

Leia scrambled through clouds of sleep and warm sheets. “Don’t you mean breakfast?” She sat up and brushed back her hair. Lean, gentle hands replaced hers and took over the task.

She almost didn’t want to open her eyes because that breathlessness that knocked her sideways each time she looked at him was getting out of control.

“Open your eyes, Leia.” Unlike when they fucked, this was a gentle command.

She opened her eyes, and he smiled at her. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

His gorgeous face made her chest ache, especially when he smiled at her like that. “Hey. What time is it?”

The sun blazed through the bedroom, bathing him in white light that accentuated broad shoulders, wavy hair. Unable to resist, she caressed his face.

“It’s nearly one o’clock.”

“What?” She glanced out the French windows and frowned. “I’ve been asleep for six hours?”

His smile widened. “City-hopping and insatiable sex catches up with you eventually. You dropped like a log almost mid-orgasmic scream this morning.”

Her face flamed. They’d barely checked into their hotel in Cannes last night before he dragged her into the bedroom where he surprised her by letting her go on top and giving her free rein over her orgasm. The power of her position had gone to her head. She’d ridden him with every last ounce of energy she had, which had been nearly depleted after the bathroom episode in Vienna and the dash two hours later to the airport to board the jet.

“Come on, the food’s getting cold.” He drew back the sheets and held out his hand.

She got up, semi-conscious of her disheveled state next to the sharply pressed black slacks and open-necked white shirt he wore. He caught her close, curled his hand around her throat and kissed her deep and long. A little of her agitation evaporated.

Pulling away, he tugged her to the dressing room of their Louis XIV decorated suite and grabbed another pristine white shirt from the hanger. He waited till she pushed her arms through and buttoned it up. “That should do for now. You can get dressed after we eat.”

The Indigo Lounge Cannes sat on La Croisette Boulevard and overlooked the perfect blue waters of the French Riviera. From their penthouse balcony, the view to the marina on the right was picture perfect, small sailboats and launches slipping between fuck-off yachts with practiced ease.

Noah pulled out a chair and she sat down. At the far end of the table, a laptop and papers were spread where he’d been working. He strode over, picked up the hotel phone and spoke in rapid French.

She watched him pad back to her, his body relaxed but no less smoldering.

He nodded at her plate. “I took a gamble and aimed for somewhere between frogs legs and escargots, and burger and fries.”

“I’ve braved the former and yep, it’s an experience I’d rather pass. The latter is a weakness I’m trying to stay away from.” She lifted the lid on her plate, inhaled the aromas and smiled. “Almost perfect.”

He relaxed in his seat and raised a brow. “What did I get wrong?”

“Stuffed peppers with chicken and the truffle scrambled eggs—yum. The roasted zucchini, not so much.”

He picked up the serving spoon, lifted the zucchini off her plate and onto his, and replaced it with two of his stuffed peppers. Then he poured a glass of chilled Sancerre and passed it to her.

“Is this going to cost me?” she joked.

He winked. “Of course, baby. But nothing you won’t be dying to pay.”

Leia thanked her lucky stars she was seated. The power behind his smile hit her like a blow to the gut and radiated throughout her body.

She’d noticed that he’d been smiling more in the last twelve hours, and she couldn’t help but think the bathroom episode had something to do with it.

His words rushed through her head, filling her with equal parts excitement and apprehension.

Could she survive Noah King in the outside world, away from this ephemeral bubble they’d created with sex?

Despite what she’d revealed so far, he didn’t know nearly enough about her to make the declarations he’d made in Vienna.But telling him any more risked bringing the ugly outside in. Not just yet…

“You’re frowning. We can order something else if you want.”

She shook her head. “No, this is great.” She picked up the cutlery and took a bite of the stuffed peppers. With a groan of pleasure, she tucked in, not stopping until her plate was clear and the wine half finished. She sat back against the cushioned seat and basked in the sun’s warmth. “How long do we have before the zero gravity experience?”

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