Page 72 of Purchase Power
“Yes.” This time, Noah wasn’t hesitating. “I suppose I don’t mind kissing you, but I wouldn’t get used to it.”
“You’re an excellent kisser.” Lucy could get lost thinking about those kisses now. “Don’t suppose I could get a good morning kiss right now.”
She figured the best she could get was a quick peck to the lips, and that was only if Noah was felling frisky. Instead, Lucy was soon pushed down against the pillow, her lips crushed by an unprecedented morning kiss.
This wasn’t a kiss, honestly. This was pure makingout!
I could get used to this, though.A life where she pressed her mouth against this man’s and didn’t let go? Where he enticed her with fantasies of a future of nothing but domestic bliss?Mrs. Lucy Gabriel. Damn, that has a ring to it.Even Lucy Craig-Gabriel was sexy. Of course, she would keep her maiden name for professional purposes, but Lucy was already imagining the fundraisers and charity galas where her name was announced asMrs. Lucy Gabriel.
Her imagination turned her attention back to making out with this man. Noah was relentless with her. As Lucy’s arms slipped around his neck, she wondered if this would end with her helping him take care of the “thing” after all.
Things were certainly headed that way. Until a familiar voice gasped at the end of the bed and released them from their reverie, anyway.
“Ah!” Lucy fell back against the pillow as Noah jerked up. There was no time for Lucy to grab the covers and make her chest decent. Candace got a full eye-load of breasts, but that wasn’t what startled her as she looked her boss in the eyes.
“Mr. Gabriel… I didn’t know…” She cleared her throat.
“Can Ihelpyou, Candace?”
“I… you said to wake you up if there was an emergency. I apologize for interrupting.”
Noah’s face instantly softened. “There’s an emergency?” Panic tinged his voice. Only then did Lucy’s attentions turn from covering herself up to wondering what was on Noah’s mind.
“I highly suggest you get Ms. Craig out of sight, Mr. Gabriel.” Candace hustled to his side of the bed. If she saw the morning erection slowly losing steam beneath the covers, she didn’t let on. She definitely didn’t stare. “You have a visitor, and she’s on her way…”
“What?”
“Noah! Rise and shine! Don’t tell me you’re still in here sleeping…”
Noah’s face was so pale that Lucy only had a few seconds to worry about him before another woman barged into his chambers. This time, Lucy did not recognize her. Neither her posture nor her voice as it rang through his room, rousing him from his stupor and nearly shoving Lucy beneath the covers. She barely had enough time to take in the ruby red day dress, the sharp nails, and the healthy dark hair that sported one streak of aged silver.
“Ms. Merriweather!” Candace cried. “I had no idea that Mr. Gabriel…”
“Oh, God. Candace, please, leave us.”
Footsteps clamored out of the room as Lucy fought to find some air – and a sliver of her own dignity.Come on, Noah, we’ve been found out.Not just by Candace, but this woman she had never seen before. Or, at least, she was pretty sure shehadn’tseen her before…
“What are you doing here so early?” Noah barked. “I didn’t think you’d be here until later this afternoon.”
“You know I like to get up early. Unlike you and your…” The woman lifted her nose. “I don’t know who this is, and I don’t want to know. For God’s sake, though, Noah, what if Stacey had seen this? You and your whores always go the extra mile. You’ll traumatize her.”
Who the hell is Stacey?Lucy didn’t have time to ask that. It was bad enough she almost thought this woman saidLacey.
“What I do with my personal time is my own prerogative, Mother.”
Mother!Lucy gasped. Suddenly, this was much more embarrassing than she thought!
Tonya Merriweather grabbed one of her son’s robes off the back of a chair and tossed it at Lucy. “Be a dear and go wash yourself off in the bathroom.” The way she spoke declared that Lucy was far below the dirt beneath their fingernails. “I need to talk to my son. In private.”
Lucy was aware of everyone’s eyes on her as she attempted to get into the robe beneath the covers and hurry to the bathroom. Even so, she must have flashed Noah’s mother at least ten times in the humiliating process.
***
There was much for Noah to process, and he was looking forward to at least a full morning of peace, tranquility, and breathing room to contemplate what his newfound feelings for Lucy really meant.I kissed her, for God’s sake.Could he deny that he had wanted to do that since the moment he met her? No, but he could also rationalize it as his base instincts instructing him to do something his forefathers had done since time in memoriam. Last night was also a blip in his behavioral history. Noah had been taking greater and greater risks with Lucy. This was a man who didn’t make anal sex a constant in his love life. Sure, he had done it before. Sure, he had enjoyed it. But there was much to consider, and unlike some of his peers, he often thought it more work than it was worth.
Then Lucy was in his bed. No, he had been thinking about it long before that.
Noah should have had the whole morning to gaze into her sleepy face, to shower with her in his private chambers, to slowly dress her in a simple outfit sure to woo him back to bed, and have breakfast with her on the balcony or in his living area. Fresh coffee. The chef’s Sunday morning Santa Fe scramble that delighted Noah’s mouth every weekend. He wanted to share it with Lucy. He wanted to share many things with her.
