Page 10 of Her Frosty Billionaire
“I’m twenty-three,” I said, taking a breath. “I’ve dated, but… I’ve never doneit. I’m a virgin—and I’m tired of being one.”
Oh God. Had I actually just said that out loud?
Noel went very still. His eyes darkened, and something flickered across his face that I couldn’t quite read.
“Hope.”
“I know it’s weird. Most people my age have already?—”
“It’s not weird.” His voice was rougher now, lower. “But why are you telling me this?”
My heart was hammering so hard, I was sure he could hear it. “Because I want to change it. And because…” I forced myself to meet his eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
The air between us seemed to thicken. Charge with electricity.
He took a step closer. “That’s dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you either.”
My breath caught. He reached out slowly, giving me time to pull away, and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His thumb brushed across my cheek, and I shivered—but not from the cold.
“If I kiss you right now,” he said quietly, “I’m not going to want to stop.”
Every rational thought in my head told me to be careful. To slow down. To think this through. I ignored all of them.
“Then don’t stop.”
He kissed me. Slow at first, testing—his lips soft against mine, his hand cradling my face like I was something precious. But when I responded, when I rose up on my toes and grabbed the front of his shirt to pull him closer, everything changed.
The kiss deepened. His other hand slid to my lower back, pulling me against him, and I gasped against his mouth. He took advantage, his tongue sweeping in, and oh my God, I’d beenkissed before but never like this. Never like he was claiming me. Like he’d been starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. His forehead rested against mine.
“Hope.” My name was a rough whisper. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.”
“Because if we do this, if I take you back to my place?—”
“I don’t want to go to your place.”
He pulled back slightly, confused. “What?”
“I mean—” I was blushing furiously now. “I do. Eventually. But not tonight. Not for…that. It feels too—I don’t know—planned? Like I’m going back to some guy’s apartment because that’s what you’re supposed to do.” I was rambling again. “I want it to be spontaneous. Real. Not just going through the motions.”
He studied me for a long moment, then a slow smile spread across his face. The first real smile I’d seen from him.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere private.” He took my hand. “Trust me.”
I did. Which was probably insane, but I did.
He led me to a small door at the far end of the terrace, nearly hidden behind a large planter box. I’d never noticed it before. He pulled out his phone, tapped a few buttons, and I heard a soft click.
