Exposure (20 page)

"Do you feel that hard little button over
your clit?" He brushed his knuckle over the dime-sized mechanism
sewn into the thong. She drew in a breath. "Put your hands on my
shoulders. Good. Now, hold on."

He pushed the switch on the remote, sending
shallow pulses through the thong and right to her core. Her eyes
went wide, fingers digging into his shoulders. She moaned and then
whimpered, slowly grinding her hips. Heat scored her cheeks.

He cut the switch. "You like, baby?"

Air rasped between her lips. "Oh, my
God."

"I'll have the remote in my pocket. Anytime
I see that you're thinking too hard, or if I just want you to
remember what comes later, I'll flip the switch."

"That's entirely unfair." Her breathy
response and heavy lids were answer enough. This step didn't upset
her. She was willing to try new avenues.

"I'd like to push more from you. Nothing
that makes you uncomfortable or that will hurt." He cupped her
mound, pressing his heel against her clit. "You like this." Not a
question.

"Yes." She swallowed and met his gaze. "I'm
going to embarrass us terribly. Something tells me it'll be rather
awkward to orgasm between dinner and dessert at a table full of
strangers."

Dropping his forehead to her stomach, he
laughed, the sound almost rusty. The tension and worry over earlier
disappeared. Hands on her hips, he reluctantly eased her back.
Helping her step into the dress, he zipped the back and shooed her
to freshen her makeup while he got dressed.

They didn't have much time before the event
started, but when she walked out of the bathroom, he wanted to make
them late. Very, very late. The dress fit her slender body
perfectly, the heels adding a sexy punch. She'd put her hair up in
a twist at her nape, exposing the long column of her neck. Even
now, he couldn't wait to unleash the knot and wrap her strands
around his fist.

She stopped and raked her gaze over him. "I
don't need vibrating panties. You in a tux is orgasmic enough." The
carnal look in her eyes as she stepped closer had his pants too
damn tight.

"Stop, baby. We're going to be late."

Pressing her body to his, she grinned and
grabbed his ass. Hard. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get
back." She nuzzled his neck and licked a path to his ear.

His hands fisted, wanting to touch. "Have
mercy, Raven."

***

T
he charity
function was in a ski lodge hotel on the northern tip of Anchorage.
People were bustling about and socializing as she and Noah walked
into the open lobby. A massive fireplace was lit in a corner, the
inlaid stones traveling up to the thirty foot ceiling. Exposed
beams and crystal chandeliers added to the rustic chic décor.
Several round tables were scattered through the room, covered in
white linen. The centerpieces were pinecones in a lead glass bowl,
dusted with silver glitter. A bar was set up on the far wall with
an amazing ice sculpture of a whale's fin.

"Geez, Noah. You really go all out." She
liked that it wasn't pretentious. Classy, not pompous. Her
shoulders relaxed. She took a glass of champagne from a passing
waiter. "So, what goes down at this shindig?" Having not attended
his event before, she didn't know what to expect. In the past,
she'd donated money on behalf of the gallery and waited for him to
tell her about it the next day.

"There's a table in the back with silent
auction donations. After dinner, people dance, I say a few words,
and hope to get home before the smile freezes on my face." He
slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, his other
hand dipping into his pocket. "You give me even more incentive to
get home."

A slight pulsing shot between her thighs,
vibrating her core. She drew in a sharp breath and leaned on him as
her panties grew wet. The sensation stopped as soon as it started,
leaving her knees weak and her humming with need. This was so
unfair. Fun, but unfair.

"Payback's a bitch, Noah," she murmured. "I
can torture you for hours." Leaning in, she whispered in his ear.
"I'll kiss my way down your chest and take you in my mouth so deep
you hit my throat. Then I'll stop to lick circles around your tip.
Can you feel me humming around your cock?" He tensed and sucked a
harsh breath through his nose. "And my hands? Oh the places they
can roam--"

Someone slapped his back, making him jump.
"Noah! How are you?"

Noah swiftly drew her in front of him, hand
on her shoulder and erection against her ass. "Jack, good to see
you as well. How's the lumber business?"

"Can't complain." As an older gentleman in
his sixties, he had a nice smile and a shock of white hair. "And
who's this lovely creature?"

"I'm sorry," Noah rasped. "Where are my
manners? This is Raven Crowne. She owns Elements Gallery down in
Tartok Crest. I'm lucky to have her as my date for tonight."

She held out her hand. "Nice to meet
you."

His handshake was firm. "You, too. The wife
and I were in your gallery last year. Beautiful building."

"Thank you." She smiled and covertly stepped
back against Noah's straining erection to tease him again. His hand
gripped her shoulder hard. "You own a lumber yard?" When their
guest started yapping, she bent slightly, pretending to adjust the
strap of her shoe, thrusting her ass even more firmly to Noah's
crotch. And wow, he grew thicker as he inhaled a sharp breath.

So, so much fun.

After Jack walked away, Noah leaned over her
shoulder, breath hot against her ear. "If you move from in front of
me before I get control of this hard-on, I'll set the switch for
your thong to go off every five seconds." A fast vibration of her
clit punctuated his point.

Squeezing her thighs together to ebb the
throb, she almost regretted the tease. Almost. "In case you were
wondering, I'm drenched right now. All for you. I can't wait to get
you between my legs so you can feel just how wet."

He cursed under his breath, fingers
tightening on her shoulders. "You drive me insane."

"Likewise." She smiled, deciding to have
mercy on him, and took a tiny step forward to break their
below-the-belt contact. Her gaze scanned the room and spotted a
woman at the bar eying them curiously. "Who's that woman in the
black dress?"

He followed her gaze. "Veronica, my
assistant. You've met her before."

That was Veronica Fields? Legs that went up
to the moon and a rack barely contained in her dress? Raven had met
her before, years ago, long before she became Noah's right hand in
business. She didn't remember her being this…sultry. Her blonde
hair was in a loose, sexy knot on top of her head, fingernails red
as she strummed them on the bar. Even her eye makeup was applied to
enhance her mysterious, smoky lure.

"What's wrong?"

Raven turned away from the woman, not liking
the surge of envy. "Nothing. She's beautiful."

Noah glanced over at Veronica as if
considering her statement. "Yes, she is. Does that bother you?"

She was shocked to find it did. Day in and
day out, he worked beside that woman who was everything Raven
wasn't. Not better, just different. Veronica called him at all
hours, too.

"Have you slept with her?" Swiftly shutting
her eyes, she rubbed her forehead. Her cheeks heated in
mortification. Dear God. She'd just become one of
those
women, too insecure to release her claws from her man. "Don't
answer that. It was out of line."

Turning her to face him, he rubbed his
thumbs under her jaw. "Have not slept with her and never plan to. I
keep business and personal separate." He studied her face and
slowly shook his head as if awed by what he found. "I never thought
I'd say this, but your jealousy is hot. It bothers you that I may
have been with her."

She drew in a slow breath and exhaled.
"Jealousy is not hot. It's a cover up for lack of confidence."
Which she'd never had before. How unbecoming. And all over a ten
second glance from halfway across the room. "I don't know what's
wrong with me." For all she knew, Veronica was happily married. Or
a lesbian. Or asexual.

A smile softened his eyes. "Jealousy means
you're invested. In us, in this. And though you have absolutely
nothing to worry about, I like knowing you don't want me with
anyone else. Reverse the roles and I might go a little caveman if
another guy hit on you." He kissed her forehead. "Relax, baby.
You're the only woman on my radar."

Well, hell. Someone mop up the puddle she
just melted into.

They got separated later when he went to
refresh his drink and she got pulled into a conversation with the
wives of some crab fisherman. Just before dinner, while among of
group of men who worked for Noah, he set the vibration off in her
panties. Engrossed in the story one of the guys was telling, she
was too shocked to hide her gasp.

"Are you okay?" The youngest one, an
attractive young man in his early twenties who did fishing
charters, touched her back.

Noah set off the panties again.

She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath.
At the last minute, she grabbed her ankle. "I'm good. Just twisted
my ankle. Darn heels." She laughed to play it off, and the
conversation continued.

She narrowed her eyes at Noah in warning. He
raised his glass and grinned.

Dinner involved discussions on the increase
in seal population. The salmon was delicious, along with wild rice
and steamed broccoli. Noah hated the vegetable and she could tell
he was itching to move it to her plate like they'd do if at home.
Afterward, while he was called up to say a few words, Veronica slid
over to claim the spot next to Raven.

"We met a long time ago, but I'm
Veronica."

She forced a smile. "Raven. I remember. You
did a nice job planning the event." Noah wouldn't have been
involved in the fine details of the evening, which meant this was
Veronica's doing. Raven respected how much time and effort went
into putting together these affairs.

"Thanks." She watched Noah, tilting her head
toward Raven. "You’re the first date he's brought in the five years
we've been doing this." She paused to flick her a glance. "I know
how close you guys are. I'm glad you came."

It kind of made it hard to dislike the
pretty vixen if she was nice. Focusing on Noah, who asked the
orchestra to begin, she fumbled with what to say. "How late do
these things usually go?" Because as Noah strode closer, all she
wanted was to strip him out of that tux. Tall, rippling with lean
muscle and confidence, he ate the space toward her.

"He usually cuts out after the first dance.
The charity means a lot to him, but he hates these functions."

It grated her nerves Veronica knew that, but
it wasn't exactly a state secret and she did work closely with him.
As a matter of fact, according to Noah, Veronica pretty much
managed most things about Gallivanting Adventures so he could be
free to do other things. It dawned on her just how successful Hoan
Dwell was, and that meant traveling a great deal. In the past,
she'd always assumed he was doing something for the company or on
vacation when he'd been gone for those short spurts. Instead, he'd
amassed a fortune taking brilliant photographs.

Noah nodded at Veronica and leaned over the
back of Raven's chair to speak in her ear. "Dance with me?"

"Sure," she said, rising and taking his
hand.

He led her onto the dance floor, where
several other couples were swaying, and gently tugged her to his
chest. "Did you like the reminder that you're mine while you were
fawning over my men?"

Resting her hands on his shoulders, she
smiled up at him. There was a seductive draw to how he said
mine
that caused a shiver through her body. "I wasn't
fawning, I was conversing, and I see your point on the jealousy
thing now."

Grinning, he spun her around and brought her
back. "We can leave after this song." They moved a few slow turns
while his gaze swept over her face, her hair. "We've never danced
together."

Thinking back, she nodded her agreement,
acutely aware of the gorgeous body against her and the spicy scent
of him. "Not much opportunity. Our friendship wasn't really like
that anyway, was it?" She much preferred how things had
evolved.

His expression sobered, jaw hardening and
eyes heated. "There's a reason I didn't touch you often, and it
wasn't to torture myself. In the back of my mind, I knew it would
be like this. That I wouldn't be able to stop."

Heart thundering, she glanced away and
forced a swallow. "I'm not complaining and I'm not asking you to
stop."

"Look at me." He waited, his eyes intensely
blue when she met them. "I don't think I'm capable of
stopping."

"Then don't." She stilled. Held his gaze.
And decided for all in. These feelings were raw and scary, but she
was with him, so nothing could be more right. It wasn't a
declaration of love or forever, but it was a step closer. Proof he
wasn't alone in this adventure.

Wary relief flashed in his eyes before he
shook it away. "I want to take you home now."

"No complaints from me." An idea sparked.
"I'll meet you by the door. I have to stop at the restroom."

He nodded once. "Don't be too long. You've
had me in pain half the night with your antics."

Leaning up on her toes, she brushed a kiss
over his mouth. "And you've had me on the brink of orgasm the whole
night. Give me five minutes."

In the restroom, she took off her panties
and shoved them in her purse. She stopped in one of the stalls and
then washed her hands, getting a good look at herself in the
mirror. Her features were the same, but her reflection was
different. Softer, perhaps. More open.

Happy
. That was it, exactly. After a
lifetime of battling depression one way or another, or settling for
safe and content, she hardly recognized joy when she saw it staring
back at her.