Simultaneously, my chin lifts as his dips, but only the slightest bit, his warm breath now feathering across the sweat-slicked skin at the nape of my neck. It’s as if fire meets ice and has me gasping. I’d swear his chest swelled at the sound.
He pulls our joined hands away from my body, lifting them above my head, his fingers never once leaving my skin. He trails them oh so slowly down my form, until he reaches my hips. Abandoned in the air, somehow my hands know what to do, know what he wants them to do.
They dance down in time with the beat, my fingertips meeting the tips of his short, soft hair. While my right hand glides across his neck, latching on there, my left lowers, now clasped over his strong knuckles this time.
His grip on my hips twitches in response, and my body decides to push into his in return, my head falling back, the sudden weight unbearable.
As if sensing my next move, his right hand flies up, gently stopping me from looking his way.
He can’t see my face, but somehow senses my pout, his chuckle giving him away, and my eyes close, soaking up the deep, raspy sound.
His smile is evident in the way he breathes, his amusement in the way he’s dancing. It’s as if his exhilaration runs through my own veins, and when he unlinks his hand from mine, sprawling his fingers across my ribs, his curiosity is written in the way his heart beats, peaking my own.
I want to see you.
He knows I do, so when the song rolls into another, it’s no surprise we both stop moving.
My toes curl in my heels as I begin to pull from his grasp, but I’m rooted in place in the next second when his lips press gently to the edge of my ear.
“You can turn around now, beautiful.” He speaks in a deep whisper, and an airy sensation whirls through me.
I suck in a breath, biting my lower lip as I turn, but I don’t short myself of the fun by darting straight for his face; instead, I drop my gaze slightly, coming eye-level with a strong, corded neck, tan skin and the collar of a simple gray T-shirt. I don’t tip my chin but allow my gaze to travel down as much as the position allows, finding a hint of ink settled under his right sleeve.
His hand lifts from his side then, and I admire the way his muscles grow more pronounced. He chuckles again, and I close my eyes, readying for the touch I sense is coming, and it does.
Strong, rough to the touch fingers press on the underside of my chin. He gives a small nudge, wordlessly asking for my attention, and my lids fly open.
His jaw is firm and flawlessly curved, his lips drawn into a side smirk, but not the kind that says he’s full of himself. It’s soft, charming.
Familiar?
His chest rises with a full breath then, his free hand twitching beside me, and finally, my eyes rise.
When I meet an open metallic blue gaze, I stop breathing.
He doesn’t say a word, just stares unblinking, and when his mouth hooks higher, I snap out of it, my wide smile breaking free.
He laughs, allowing his hand to fall to his side. “Hi, Juliet.”
“Noah.”
Chapter 13
Arianna
* * *
“Wait a minute!” Cam chokes through her laughter. “She convinces you to take her home, then what?” Her brows shoot up. “Says hang on a sec, let me pull the plug to my red river, but hurry so I don’t make a mess?”
Noah laughs into his fist while my palm slaps over my mouth to hold back a giggle, so I don’t spit water all over, as tears of laughter leak from my eyes.
Trey grins. “No. She waited until I got sheathed, reached between her legs, pulled the shit out and tossed it to the floor like it was fuckin’ normal.”
My mouth drops open, and Cam laughs so hard she does spit water… all over Trey’s lap, but he only smiles, nudging her shoulder with his.
“Okay.” Noah frowns in amusement. “No more of your frat stories tonight.” He smiles, not a hint of judgment present.
“Let’s hear some of yours?”
Noah’s gaze darts to mine, eyes bright. “Me?”
I nod, taking another small drink of water.
His chuckle is low, and he licks his lips, but it’s Trey who speaks.
“Unless you want a detailed description of the practice field, gym, grocery store and maybe a local gas station or two, you probably want to stick to me for entertainment.” He laughs, whipping his head to the side to avoid the peanut Noah throws his way.
Noah grins good-naturedly, throwing his arm out along the back of the booth as he settles more into it.
“A homebody then?” I wonder.
Noah brings those eyes back to mine, a hidden grin threatening to slip. “Depends.”