Page 67 of Rookie Season
“I might just call it a night,” Noah says quickly, with a surreptitious glance in my direction.
“Me too, I’m tired,” I add immediately.
Fisher shoots us both a withering look. “Stop pretending you hate the show when you clearly love it, Downsby. Andmake yourself a coffee or something if you’re sleepy, Callahan. Roommate bonding time is mandatory, not optional.”
Noah heaves a heavy sigh, but doesn’t argue, and the four of us take up our usual positions on the couch—Harry Styles curled up in Penn’s lap tonight—as Fisher turns the show on.
I sit with my legs curled up and pull a fluffy white blanket over me. Noah sits by me, his body only inches from mine. About five minutes into the show, he casually adjusts his position, and his thigh bumps against mine. Instead of pulling away, he leaves it there.
A minute later, I feel movement beside me, and I look down in time to see his hand disappear under the blanket and his fingers find my knee—thank goodness I shaved my legs.
His gaze stays firmly focused on the TV in front of us, his expression impassive as below the blanket—unseen to everyone else sitting here—he slowly,deliberately, runs his rough fingertips over my bare skin. The sensation that runs through me is so heady, that I have to sink my teeth into my lower lip to stop myself from audibly gasping for breath.
Still watching TV like nothing is in any way untoward, his fingers begin to work, drawing circles around my knee before he begins to move, dragging his hand all the way up my thigh, then skimming along the hem of my shorts which makes me suck in a sharp breath I disguise as a little cough.
Fisher looks over. “Okay there, Ally?”
“Just, uh, drank some water and it went down the wrong way.” I lamely wiggle my water bottle at him as he nods and turns back to the TV.
Beside me, Noah’s chuckle is quiet. Low. Meant for my ears only.
I shoot him alook,and in response he smirks at me beforehis fingers return to their path along my legs. His touch is soft yet loaded with intention. He’s teasing me…and Ilikeit.
The rest of the episode ofMatchmaker Mansionfeels like it takes forever, and I don’t take in anything that’s happening, nor any of the guys’ running commentary on what’s happening on screen, as all the blood in my body (and apparently my brain) has rushed to the point of contact of Noah’s fingers on my skin.
When the show is finally—finally—over, I’m on my feet in an instant. “Well, I’m off to bed.”
Fisher frowns at me. “You were really quiet all evening, Ally. Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, just tired. I need sleep,” I say lamely.
Noah smiles at me lazily, and heat licks through me. “Me, too.”
“K, well enjoy being lame, you two,” Penn rolls off the couch, phone in hand. “I’m going to call Natalia, see if she’s up for hanging out.”
“Ooh, see if her friend, the hot one—Sarah?—is available too.”
“I got you, Fishy,” says Penn, already tapping out a text.
“Enjoy your double booty call,” Noah says with a shake of his head.
“Enjoy your beauty sleep,” Fisher responds sarcastically, giving him the middle finger.
“Oh, I will,” Noah says softly, like it’s a promise, and for the millionth time this evening, my insides curl with the thought of what’s to come.
CHAPTER 28
ALLEGRA
Once Pennand Fisher head out, I immediately turn to walk down the hallway towards my room.
I can hear the pad of Noah’s feet, just a few paces behind me.
Stopping when I reach my door, I turn and find Noah standing across from me. His muscled arm is reaching up and resting on his door frame, accentuating the bulging muscles along his arm and making him look edible.
His eyes sear into mine. “Hi,” Noah says softly, his tone totally counteracting the look in his eyes.
“Hi,” I whisper back, the word catching in my throat.
