Chapter Five
Elli
Noah’s eyes narrow on me. “When you kissed me?”
I nod, my cheeks heating at the admission. “Or more to the point, when you kissed me back. If a man like you wants to kiss me, I must be worth something.”
Noah looks at me in disbelief. “Sweetheart, you don’t need me or anyone else to prove you’re worth something. No one has that power but you.”
I grimace. “Maybe, but it’s hard to have any kind of self-belief when you’re told you’re useless on a daily basis. But I’m working on an escape plan.”
I look around me to check no one is listening before pulling my phone from my pocket. Tapping it several times, I hand it to Noah. “This is my hobby, which I’m trying to turn into a small business.”
Noah swipes through the photos, looking at the intricate jewelry designs. “You did these?”
“Yeah, and they’re starting to sell online. I’m saving the money in a separate account. It’s nowhere near enough to afford my own place yet, but one day it will be.”
“I’m no jewelry connoisseur, but these are good. You’re talented,” Noah says, impressed.
His praise warms me. “Thank you. It’s one of the few things I can focus on for any length of time. I start working on a new design, and before I know it, hours have passed.”
“You remind me of my cousin.”
“Your cousin?” I ask, confused.
“Nelson was diagnosed with ADHD when he was twelve.”
I press my lips together. “Is it that obvious?”
I know the answer before he replies. Of course, it’s obvious. He caught me dancing around his cabin like a whack job before I kicked him in the unmentionables and then hit him with some spectacular verbal diarrhea about the bionic woman. Oh, and then I kissed him after knowing him for all of ten minutes.
“Only because I’ve seen Nelson go through it. He says it’s like he can’t switch his brain off, even when he’s sleeping. He had night terrors when he was a kid and still has vivid dreams. Certain foods can make things worse, like additives or colorings, or if he has too much sugar in his diet. He found school particularly difficult because he had a short attention span for most subjects.” Noah pauses, capturing my gaze. “Sound familiar?”
“Very,” I whisper. “I never got a medical diagnosis, but I’ve always known I’m too much for most people. Too energetic, too chatty, too ‘Elli.’ Even Mom struggled with me. I could see it in her eyes, sometimes. She loved me. I never doubted that, but she told me I was a handful when I was little. Maybe that’s why she married Harold. Maybe she thought it would be easier to share the parenting. But Harold wasn’t interested in being a parent, not even to his own sons.” She pauses, smiling wistfully. “But I was never too much for Harmony. She calls me her little energizer bunny. She says there’s always a part of me on the go, even when I’m asleep.”
Noah leans forward, cupping my face in one hand and smoothing his thumb across my cheek. “You’ll never be too much for me, Elli Dancer.”
“Easy for you to say when you’re only here for two weeks,” I tease, unable to resist pressing a kiss to his warm palm.
His eyes darken at the small caress, and he rubs his thumb over my lips. “What have you done to me? Did you perform some witchy magic on me when you kicked me in the balls?”
“No witchy magic here,” I say breathlessly, darting my tongue out to taste the pad of his thumb.
Noah’s eyes darken further, kindling with desire. “Let’s get the fuck out of here, so I can make good on the second part of my promise.”
He stands and tosses a bunch of bills on the table. Grabbing my hand, he tugs me from the Tavern and out into the night.
I turn to face him as we reach my car, but before I can say anything, Noah presses me against the driver’s door. I look up at him shyly, and his gaze drops to my lips as I wet them with my tongue.
Slowly, he lowers his head, brushing his mouth against mine. I release a little moan and loop my arms around his neck, urging him closer. With an answering groan, he tunnels his hands through my hair, tilting my head where he wants it and sealing his mouth to mine.
I sigh as he flicks his tongue against my bottom lip, opening up so he can lick into my mouth. He tastes like beer and mint and Noah, and I’m instantly addicted. No, I was addicted after our first kiss earlier today.
I melt in his arms as he continues to kiss me for endless minutes, his strong hands keeping me upright as he licks and strokes inside my mouth.
Finally, he pulls back, looking at my swollen lips as my breath comes in sharp pants. “Fuck, Elli. You’re so goddamned sexy.”
I lift onto my toes, pressing my lips to his in a rough, inexperienced kiss. Noah smiles against my mouth and dives back in, taking his time as he tastes every inch of me, devouring me. I whimper as he presses his hips to mine, rubbing his hard cock against my core.