Page 76 of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad World

“And you were too afraid to touch me, but now you aren’t?”

“Nope. Still terrified.” He smiled. It was slow and sensual, making her shiver with longing. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“You mean in the future, right? Not like with kissing and touching and stuff. I mean, you haven’t forgotten how to do all of that, have you?”

Noah grinned widely. “They say it comes back to you, no matter how rusty you are. I think we’ll be fine. And yeah, I’m scared of what will happen in the future.”

“Oh, Noah, you idiot. We’re all scared of that.”

“Yeah, but I’ve decided to feel the fear and do it anyway.”

Her eyebrows shot up her forehead. “Do it anyway? As initwithme?Your romance skills are seriously rusty.”

“Hey, you just called me an idiot; that isn’t exactly seductive.” He fought to suppress a smile, and the last of Annabelle’s weak resistance crumbled.

“Youarean idiot,” she said softly.

“How do you feel about kissing idiots?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.

“Fortunately for you, my standards are low.” She leaned into him.

“Thatisfortunate for me.” His hand cupped the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair.

Their mouths were only a whisper apart now.

“Still scared?” she teased.

“Terrified,” he whispered before his lips met hers.

They were warm and smooth and firm. Deliciously confident as they teased her to deepen their kiss. Annabelle’s arms wound around his neck as he gently urged her closer.

For a moment, suspended in time, there was no threat hanging over her. No court date pressing ever closer. No anxiety about what she should and shouldn’t be doing. There was just Noah, skillfully teasing her lips with his.

Suddenly, the scant distance between them seemed unbearably vast. Before she knew it, Annabelle climbed into his lap and straddled him without ever breaking their kiss.

That same sense of rightness she experienced whenever she hugged him enveloped her again. Only this time, it was even better. His hand flattened on the small of her back, holding her tight, and she reveled in the sensation of his strong, muscled body against hers. He felt solid. Powerful, yet tender. Holding her reverently, tempering his strength with control and care. His other hand tightened in her hair as they devoured one another.Her breathing became panting, and a small moan of need escaped her throat.

The room spun around them, and she never wanted it to stop. No, she wanted it to go faster and faster until they flew completely out of control. Lost in each other. Oblivious to anything else.

“Okay,” a female voice said, bringing her back down to earth with a thud. “I knowthisisn’t part of the job.”

Annabelle whined in complaint when Noah’s mouth left hers.

“Go away, Violet,” he said, sounding breathless and needy.

“You go away,” came the annoyed reply. “I’m on watch duty, and I sure as hell don’t want to watch this.”

“There is no such thing as peace around here,” Noah muttered, making Annabelle bark out a short, startled laugh.

Carefully, hands on her waist, he lifted her and placed her on her feet in front of him. She swayed slightly, overly aware of his hands on her body, her mind desperately chasing that sense of wonder she’d experienced only moments earlier.

“Come on.” He stood and held out a hand. “It’s late, and Violet, although rude, is right. We need to let her do her job.”

As Annabelle took his hand, her mind began to clear, and the ache in her body eased somewhat.

“I need a shower,” he said as they made their way toward the back of the loft. “Long day rolling in the dirt with criminals.” His smile was private, just for her.

“I’d better get ready for bed too. It’s late.” Even saying the word bed made her shiver with awareness. Would Noah sleep with her again tonight? Would there be more?