Chapter Nine
Noah
It worked.At least for a while. Throwing myself into the work I had come here to do made me forget about the clusterfuck that happened this morning. Who was I kidding? Acting like a goddamn knight in shining armor wanting to beat Oakley’s ass for acting like a dick toward Sienna. I just couldn’t help myself. Every second that ticked by with him standing so close to her, breathing on her, intimidating her, all I could think about was how her lips felt on mine and that kissing her had given me some bullshit claim over her. It was stupid, and I needed to pull my shit together—which was why I had planned on working my ass off on this project to get it done as soon as possible so I could be on my way.
After my trip to the dumping site, I parked my truck and got out. It was just after noon, the grueling heat beating down, making me wish I had stopped by the liquor store for a beer or six.
I approached the front door when I heard music coming from inside. I stopped and narrowed my eyes. It wasn’t exactly a riddle-me-this challenge to figure out who was inside playing some song about raising glasses and nitty-gritty dirty little freaks.
Biting my bottom lip, I rolled my eyes and cranked my neck from left to right before walking inside.
The music was even louder on the inside, and something smelled like pancakes…only burnt.
I rounded the corner to the kitchen and found the perpetrator dancing around using the spatula as a microphone instead of flipping the pancake which had been burnt to a crisp, yet she didn’t even notice. She was too busy jumping around, shaking her ass, singing, and just being…free.
I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms as I watched Sienna dance. Red curls bounced around her shoulders in wild disarray. The denim shorts she wore were torn just above the hem of each leg at the back—a not-so-subtle way to show more skin. As if the way it showcased her firm ass wasn’t enough to get the male species’ blood pumping.
Her white strapless top hugged every curve of her body perfectly—her lighter skin tone complemented by her fiery red locks. Sienna Whitlock was a classic beauty no cliché could touch. From where I stood, I could totally understand how her ex had the urge to lose his cool with this woman being close to another guy. God knows that’s exactly how I felt.
She raised her arm, holding a glass of what I hoped was a virgin Bloody Mary, the celery stick slipping from side to side as she danced around with it in her hand.
While I watched her, I envied her. Her freedom. Her zest. Her energy. She moved and swayed her hips as if she didn’t have a care in the world. As if nothing could get her down.
Not her mother’s death.
Her recent breakup.
Her new stepmom.
I knew more about her than any stranger should. But it came with the burden of being me—to always know every single person around you. To never get caught off guard.
Sienna turned as she sang a high note and yelped when she saw me, tomato juice spilling from her glass. “Shit. I didn’t know you were back.”
“Clearly.” I gestured to her drink. “Virgin, I hope.”
“Yeah. Although, I was tempted to add a little something. You know, hair of the dog and all that.”
I grabbed a dishcloth, crouched down and wiped the spilled tomato juice from the floor. Sienna stepped closer, her slender legs inches from my face. Her legs seemed to go on for miles as I leisurely stood back up, my gaze sweeping along her toned thighs. The torn fabric of her denim shorts showed more of her smooth skin, and I caught the beautiful scent of rich, creamy vanilla.
As I straightened, her neck craned so she could look me in the eye. Her irises were every green hue of the forest and just as easy to get lost in. Red curls caressed the side of her face, her cheeks going from a pink undertone to an enticing blush, and I wanted to reach out and gently ease the back of my hand down her jaw. Touch her. Feel her. Take her.
Plump, perfect lips glistened with temptation, a wicked reminder of how they felt against mine the night she so boldly kissed me. There were no complications, no consequences. There was just this kiss between two strangers that seemed to stretch for eons, yet it didn’t last nearly long enough.
“What are you doing here, Sienna?” My words were soft so there was no need to increase the distance between us.
She stared up at me through thick lashes. “I made you breakfast.”
“It’s one o’clock in the afternoon.”
“I made you lunch then.”
I stared into her eyes before looking down at her mouth, the tension between us palpable. I let myself linger in the moment where it was just us and this intense attraction that seemed to grow stronger every time I saw her. And by the way her lips parted slightly, her cheeks still blushing and body curving toward mine, she was feeling it too.
It would take just one moment, one breath, one touch for all this electricity between us to explode.
I reached toward her shoulder, my fingertips hovering over her collarbone.
One. Touch.