For once, Noah was not reassured.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“You look amazing.”

Alexis turned one more time to look in the full-length mirror in her hotel room as Liv peered around the corner. This dress was the reason she’d driven herself. Because she needed to do some shopping, and even though Alexis had to admit that she looked pretty damn good in her new dress, she hesitated about actually wearing it.

“You’re sure it’s not too much?” She smoothed the red formfitting skirt and turned to stare at her butt. A deep V-neck exposed most of her back. She paired it with some new leopard-print pumps. It was so outside of her ordinary style that she was afraid Noah wouldn’t even recognize her.

Alexis puffed out her cheeks and let the air seep out. Nerves turned her stomach to a turnstile.

“It’s perfect.” Liv squeezed her shoulders from behind. “And hopefully you won’t be wearing it very long.”

Alexis elbowed Liv, who jumped back with a laugh.

Liv’s phone buzzed, and Alexis held her breath as she watched her friend check the screen. Liv looked up with a coy smile. “Showtime.”

Adrenaline made Alexis’s knees weak. “This plan seems sort of childish in hindsight.”

Liv shrugged. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

“But stealing his shoes just to keep him in the room?”

“We’re all fools in love.”

“You’re sure you don’t mind us missing dinner?” Us, assuming Noah was receptive to her groveling.

“If either one of you show up at dinner, I’ll kill you both.”

“But this is your big weekend and—”

Liv slapped a hand over Alexis’s mouth. “This big weekend is about celebrating with our friends, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than you and Noah finally getting together.”

“What if he says no?”

Liv snorted. “He won’t.”

“What if he turns me away?”

“In that dress?”

“What if—”

“What if an hour from now you’re collapsing naked on his chest?”

Heat shot up Alexis’s cheeks. Liv laughed. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

Alexis bit her lip. “You’re sure Mack didn’t tell anyone about our plan?”

“I’m sure. As far as anyone will know, you have food poisoning from some bad sushi, and Noah lost his shoes.”

“I can’t believe I’m resorting to lies and subterfuge.”

Liv laughed and kissed Alexis’s cheek. “Good luck. Text me all the deets.”

Liv walked out with a giggle, leaving a trail of perfume behind her. As soon as the door clicked shut, Alexis walked to her bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. She pressed a hand to her stomach. She could do this. All she had to do was go knock on Noah’s door and tell him—

A quick, efficient knock brought her back to her feet. Liv must have forgotten something. “I’m coming. Hang on.”

Alexis opened the door. “Did you forget something?”

Her voice died on the last note. It wasn’t Liv. It was a man. “I’m sorry. You must have the wrong room.”

But then her brain caught up with the details. He wore a dark suit with no tie. He was looking at the floor. His hair was pulled back in a bun, and his feet were bare.

Noah lifted his face. “I can’t find my shoes, but I was afraid you’d head down to dinner before I could talk to you. And I can’t go one more second without talking to you.”

She had an entire speech planned for when she saw him, but now that he stood before her, she forgot every word. “This wasn’t the plan. I was supposed to come to your room.”

“Lexa,” he rasped.

She took a single step forward, and in an instant, Noah did the rest. He wove his fingers into her hair and tugged her into the hallway. She went willingly, eagerly. And when his mouth found hers, she wrapped her arms around his neck where his hair tickled the hot, exposed skin of her wrists.

He lifted his lips just enough to moan, “God, Lexa. I’ve missed you so much.”

Then he kissed her again, hands in her hair, mouth wide over hers. Their kiss before had been a mere flirtation compared to this. With one strong arm, he hauled her firmly against his chest and then backed her against the hallway wall. He devoured her mouth like he could get drunk from her, and she gave as good as she got, tangling her fingers in his hair, slanting her head so he could go deeper. It was a no-holds-barred kiss. Openmouthed and soul-searching.

His hands suddenly cradled her face, forcing her to step back and look up at him. His gaze scorched her from the inside out. “I need you to listen to me. Don’t talk. Just listen.”

“O-Okay.”

“I should have said this that night, and I’ve done a shitty job of trying to say it ever since then.”

“Say what?” Her voice was as breathless as a Taylor Swift ballad.

“Do not ever think I regret what happened between us that night.” His thumbs caressed her cheeks as he swallowed. “There are a million things in my life I regret, but kissing you will never be one of them.”

Alexis leaned into him, pressed her lips against his. But then a quiet click made her suck in a breath.

His mouth hovered an inch above hers. “Your door just shut.”

“My key is in there.”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Then come to my room.”

She held his gaze. “And do what?”

“Whatever you’re ready for.”

She dug her fingers into his arms. “I made the first move before and look what happened. Tell me what you want. Please.”

His brow rested on hers. “Then let me spell it out for you like I should have done a long time ago.” Noah palmed the back of her head. With gentle pressure, he urged her face up toward his. They traded breaths, lips hovering over lips. “I want you. All of you.”

A thousand words hung in the space between them. A shared, unspoken recognition that this would change everything once again, but that this was always where they’d been heading, before either of them had even been willing to admit it. That this was the turning point from which they could never return. A bridge connecting two worlds—the world of friendship and the world of lovers.

“Let’s go to your room.”

He kissed her. Hard. Fast. But then he slipped his hand into hers and began to pull her down the hallway. His free hand dug into the pocket of his pants to withdraw the key card to his room. His fingers trembled as he pressed it against the key reader. When it flashed green, he yanked the handle and pushed open the door.

They barely made it inside before Noah turned to her.

“Come here,” he rasped. He opened his arms to her. She fell into them, and it felt like coming home after a long trip. Home to a place she belonged, where she was safe and desired and cared about.

It felt like the first time, this kiss. It was slow and deep and . . . decisive. The word was an abstract thought, drudged up from the haze of desire and longing, but that’s what it was. It was as if Noah had made some crucial decision and was communicating it the only way he could. Deeper and deeper, he feasted on her mouth as if kissing alone could satisfy his hunger. But every thrust of his tongue sent her closer and closer to the edge of an almost painful precipice. She wanted to fall. Fast. Fully. Without fear.

She settled a hand in the middle of his chest. He pulled back enough to peer down at her. “Are you okay?”

Alexis leaned against the wall behind her and held his gaze. “I have a confession.”

He raised an eyebrow, the gesture both amused and uncertain.

“I know where your shoes are.”

His mouth curled up in a smile. “You do?”

“Liv asked Mack to steal them so you’d be stuck in the hotel looking for them.”

He puffed out a laugh. “Is that what you meant by the plan?”

“So I could come to you and get you alone and tell you that I’m sorry.”

His smile faded into anguish. “For what?”

“I didn’t give you a chance to explain.”

“I should have tried harder.”

“I should have listened harder.”

Noah made a noise low in his throat and lowered his brow to hers. She felt something burst in her chest. Something that felt like joy.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered.

“I missed you too. You have no idea how much.” And then he hugged her. Hugged her. Tightened his arms around her, buried his face in her neck, and held her. It was so simple but so achingly romantic that Alexis feared she would cry.

She let him plunder her mouth again, but she finally grasped his head and held him steady. “I don’t want this to change anything.”

He cocked a grin. “Really? I hope it changes everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“I hope this means I get to spend the night instead of leaving you.” He kissed her throat. “I hope it means we get to take long showers together.” He nibbled her ear. “I hope it means lazy kissing in the car.”

She began to pant. “Okay, fine. I guess those things can change.”

He laughed, and his mouth found its way back to hers. Noah rubbed his lips back and forth across hers, more caress than kiss.

“So we’re going to do this, right?” she whispered.

“I sure as shit hope so.”

“Then take me to bed.”

A growl emerged from his throat. Then he bent and slid his arm beneath her legs. She laughed as he scooped her up. “Wow,” she breathed. “This is positively swoony.”

“Swoony?”

“You make me light-headed.”

Noah grinned as he carried her across the sitting area and into one of two bedrooms in the suite. He lowered her feet to the floor next to the bed and leaned in for a kiss, but she shook her head and pushed him back. “I want you to see me.”