Noble Love (The Nobles of Sweet Rapids #1) (7 page)

"
T
onight was great," Tessa said as Isaiah walked her to her door.

The light from the porch revealed a sexy grin on his lips. "It was," he said. "Thank you for joining me tonight."

"Thanks for asking."

Tessa looked down at their intertwined fingers. After he'd planted that mind boggling kiss on her in the parking lot, he'd helped her into the car, and once he was in, he'd taken her hand in his and kept it there for most of the ride back to her house.

It felt good when he touched her. It felt...right.

And she wasn't ready for it to end.

"Would you like to come in?" she asked at the door, before she lost her nerve.

"I'd like that a lot," he said with that panty melting smile.

Tessa nodded, and then turned to unlock the door.

They entered the house and Tessa tossed her clutch onto the foyer table.

The second Isaiah shut the door, the energy in the room became charged. Every cell in her body felt electrified from Isaiah's desirous gaze on her. Tessa wasn't usually a take charge kind of girl. But the way Isaiah kept staring at her made her want to jump into arms. He had that strange, yet sensual effect on her.

Slow down girl,
she told herself. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Would you like something to drink?"

"Sure."

Tessa turned and made her way to the kitchen and she could feel Isaiah right behind her. She opened her fridge and the blast of air did very little to cool off her heated body.

"Tess..."

One of Isaiah's strong arms slid around her waist, while the other pushed her hair out of the way, giving him access to her neck. Her head instantly tilted to the side, and when she felt his mouth on her skin, her hand gripped the handle of the fridge tightly.

"I–Isaiah," she whispered.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured against her neck, before moving up to kiss her behind her ear. He pulled her even closer to his body and she could feel his hardness pressed into her lower back.

Feeling the way she affected his body made her own body tremble with even more need. He was merely holding her and showering her neck with sweet kisses, but she was already quickly spinning out of control.

She'd never craved a man the way she did Isaiah Noble. It was a little frightening, but even more exhilarating.

She released the door handle, letting it slam closed, the wine now forgotten.

His lips were on her neck again.

"I want you..."

She turned in his arms and looked into his hooded eyes. He leaned down, running the tip of his nose up her jaw to her ear before he whispered his request. "Let me have you."

"Ye–"

Before she finished her answer, his lips were on hers, drinking her in. His tongue pressed against the seam of her mouth and she readily let him in. A small gasp fell from her lips when she felt her body being lifted into the air. Isaiah wrapped her legs high around his waist before he turned.

"Bedroom?"

She managed to somehow get the directions out as he kept devouring her mouth. As he carried her to the bedroom, his hand reached for the zipper on the back of her outfit. By the time they reached her bedroom, he'd tugged it down and the top had fallen slightly, while she'd shoved off his suit jacket and undid several buttons on his dress shirt.

He gently sat her on the bed, and he eased his body over hers, causing her to lean backward. His hand slid down her leg and his touch was so hot, she thought her clothes would go up in flames. He reached down, pulling one heel off at a time, before he reached up and finished taking off her outfit. She lifted her hips, helping him pull the jumpsuit down.

When she was down to nothing but her white lace bra and thong, Isaiah stood and looked down at her, his eyes roaming her body.

His tongue darted out, licking his lips, and his eyes stayed locked with hers as he took off his shirt. When his hands went for his pants to undo them, Tessa's eyes went there too. His erection sprang out when he shed the rest of his clothes.

Isaiah leaned down and pressed his lips to Tessa's knee and her body jerked at the sensation. He continued kissing his way up her body until he was on top of her. Her body lifted up slightly as he reached behind her to unhook her bra, before removing it and tossing it away from them. As his mouth found hers again, she felt his hand slide into her thong.

When his finger dipped inside of her, discovering how wet she was for him, he groaned against her mouth. He added another finger and moved them in and out, causing a warmth to build in her belly.

He pulled away, and she whimpered, already missing his touch.

"Isaiah," she moaned.

"I know, sweetheart," he breathed. She realized he'd grabbed a condom and was covering himself. Once he was done, he went for her underwear, yanking them down. She could sense that he was trying to take his time with her and be gentle. But there were moments when he just couldn't seem to control himself and the roughness was turning her on just as much as the gentleness.

He grabbed her legs, spreading them wide.

"You ready?" he asked, chest heaving.

She was beyond ready.

"Yes," she moaned. "Hurry."

He eased inside of her and her head fell back against the bed. He pulled back, then slid in again, a few more inches going in.

She arched her back beneath him and heard the air hissing between his teeth. His hips rolled into hers, and it was heaven. His head dipped, and his tongue swiped her hard nipple before pulling it into his mouth causing her to cry out.

She grabbed the back of his head, keeping his mouth on her breast with one hand, the other one going on top of his hand that was palming the other breast.

He continued feasting on one breast, massaging the other and she knew she was on the brink. His hand slid down her body, and his thumb pressed on her clit.

Her eyes rolled back and her head thrashed from side to side.

The sensations were overwhelming.

"Don't tense up now, baby," he demanded. "Let it all go. Come with me."

His pumps sped up and he continued teasing her nub.

He gripped her hips, slammed into her and she shattered in his arms.

"Tess!"

She felt a growl rumble in his chest so damn erotic that it caused her walls to clamp around him again.

Tess couldn't remember a time she'd ever felt so satisfied, she thought as she watched Isaiah roll out of the bed and amble to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he returned and slid back into the bed, pulling the covers over them.

He pulled her into his arms, and began to kiss her again.

"That was...extraordinary," he said.

"Yes," she sighed. "It was. Are you staying?"

He stopped kissing her and looked down at her.

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Miss Everett?"

"No!" she said quickly, and then buried her head in his chest to hide her face.

"Don't go shy on me now," he teased, lifting her chin.

"I know it's late. And I didn't know whether or not you have to get up early."

"Don't you?" he asked, a curious look on his face.

"Yes," she said. "But that doesn't change the fact that...I'd like you to stay."

"Good, because I'm nowhere near finished with you tonight," he said, before he rolled on top of her and kissed her again.



Isaiah rolled on to his stomach, burying his face into a pillow. He took a deep breath and a burst of floral scents filled his nostrils and caused his morning erection to twitch.

Tess...

Spending the night with her had been spectacular. He didn't know what it was about her, but something in her brought something so primal and possessive out of him. Even now, his desire for her was nearly overpowering.

From the moment he'd kissed her last night after she'd agreed to him staying the night, something in him had been unleashed. His craving to be inside of her was borderline addictive.

He stretched his arm out, reaching for her warm body and his eyes snapped open when he realized Tessa was gone. He sat up in bed and looked around the empty room. He listened for sounds coming from the bathroom, and when he heard none, he grabbed his boxers from the floor, slid them on and went in search for Tessa.

A few minutes later, he found her in her spare bedroom, which she'd obviously converted into an office/gym. He watched her as drops of sweat rolled down her back and her ass jiggled every time her running shoes hit the treadmill.

The sound of her heavy breathing reminded him of the way she sounded beneath him just hours earlier, as he slid in and out of her for the third time.

She must have sensed his presence because she turned around and gave him a sheepish grin.

She slowed her run to a walk as she caught her breath and pulled out her earbuds.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked apologetically.

He shook his head as she stopped the treadmill and hopped off. She grabbed a towel and began to wipe the sweat from her brow, then neck and finally her chest. He grabbed the bottle of water sitting on her desk and handed it to her when she stopped in front of him.

"Thanks," she said, taking a long swig.

He leaned against the door jamb and grinned as he said, "If you still have enough energy to get up and jog..." He looked over her shoulder at the display screen on the treadmill. "...Eight miles," he said, impressed, "Then I must have not done as good of a job as I thought."

"You did a fantastic job," she assured him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before backing away. "It's just a habit I suppose. But it wasn't without difficulty that I got out of the bed this morning."

As she began to do her post-workout stretches, Isaiah sat in her office chair. "So, running is your thing?"

"Yep," she said. "Started in college."

"Is that how you got so toned?"

A throaty laugh floated from her lips. "If by getting toned, you mean losing about thirty pounds of 'baby fat' as my parents affectionately called it, even in high school, then yes. But you're sweet for being kind with your words."

"I meant no harm–"

"Oh, I know, Isaiah," she said, waving off his comment. "No harm was done. I've always been comfortable in my own skin, no matter what size it's been."

Her confidence showed in every aspect. The way she walked, talked and carried herself. He'd remembered that same confidence when they were younger. To him, she was beautiful no matter the size of her body. It was the size of her heart that was pulling him under her spell.

He nodded and asked, "Do you just run on the treadmill or do you run outdoors too?"

"I love running outdoors," she said.

"If you don't mind the company, maybe I can join you some time."

Tessa stood, and Isaiah did as well.

"That would be great. I knew you were a runner," she said, smiling at him. "I need to get in the shower, and get ready for work."

His mouth spread into a wide grin. "Another place I'd like to join you."

Tessa yelped when he scooped her up in to his arms and her laughter floated through the house as he carried her back to the bedroom.

T
essa hurried into the bakery over an hour late. Dana was in the shop area putting fresh desserts in the display case. The bakery was set to open in twenty minutes.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Tessa said, tossing the apron over her head. "Mama's not here, is she?"

Dana spun her finger in a circle, ordering Tessa to turn around. "No, oddly enough," she said, helping Tessa tie her apron on. Tessa turned back around when Dana was done and headed toward the kitchen.

"Good," she said. "The last thing I need is Mama questioning why I was late this morning."

"Why
were
you late this morning?" Dana asked, right on Tessa's heels.

Tessa grabbed the hair tie off of her wrist and gathered her hair to the top of her head before getting a hair net. It had reverted back to its normally curly state once she took her shower that morning.

Her very long, very sexy shower with Isaiah.

"I...uh...overslept," she lied.

Dana studied her for a minute. "Overslept, huh?"

"Mmmhmm." Tessa turned away from her sister's inquisitive gaze.

"Late for work...glowing skin...not to mention that big ass hickey on your neck..."

Tessa gasped and her hand flew to her neck, causing Dana to break out in a fit of laughter.

"You got laid, didn't you?"

"Dana!"

Dana was still laughing. "He must have really knocked your bottom out if you couldn't even get up to get to work on time."

Tessa huffed at her sister, who was still laughing, as she put the hair net on her head.

Dana hugged Tessa from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Oh, you know I'm just teasing. But seriously though, did you and Isaiah..." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Tessa had told Dana she was going out with Isaiah and had promised to give her all of the details. After another moment of silence, Tessa nodded her head. Dana squealed and squeezed Tessa tighter.

"I knew it! Lucky. At least one of us is getting some," she said, finally releasing Tessa.

"What about Aiden?" Tessa said, as Dana went to the other side of the island.

Dana's face scrunched up into a disgusted frown. "No way," she said, shaking her head.

Tessa studied her sister for a moment before saying, "There's obviously some kind of attraction between you two. Hell, you've already kissed him once..."

At the look of embarrassment on her sister's face, Tessa realized Dana just may have locked lips with her neighbor more than once.

"Twice...?"

When Dana cringed, Tessa laughed. "How many times
have
you kissed Aiden?"

"Only three!" she insisted.

"
Only
three?"

"Yes, but they were meaningless."

"They can't be all that meaningless if you keep kissing the damn man," Tessa challenged.

"Can we not talk about this right now?" Dana said. "We're
supposed
to be discussing you and your date with Isaiah."

"Fine," Tessa said, throwing her hands up. "But one of these days, we're gonna figure out what is going on between you and that neighbor or yours."



Isaiah looked up at his parents and smiled.

"You guys ready?"

His mother smiled and nodded.

He hit 'record' on the camera and asked his first question.

"How did the two of you meet?"

Irene's smile widened and she looked over at Isaac, who cleared his throat.

"Irene...and I...met in..."

"Cut."

Isaac blinked and narrowed his eyes at Isaiah.

"What do you mean 'cut'?" he grumbled. "We just started."

"Pop," Isaiah sighed, trying to find the right words. "You've gotta relax. You're kinda sounding like...a robot. There's no script here."

It was obvious that Isaac wasn't comfortable in front of the camera.

"Just pretend like the camera’s not here," Isaiah advised.

"But the camera
is
here," Isaac griped.

"Okay," Isaiah said. "You've told us this story a million times. Just tell it the same way you've always told it to us."

Isaac nodded his head and began to speak.

"I met Irene when we were freshmen at the University of Nevada in Reno."

"I was originally from Georgia," Irene threw in.

"It was so funny to me," Isaac said. "Watching this Southern girl trying to get used to the desert."

Irene laughed along with him as she placed her hand in his and gazed lovingly at her husband.

Over the next hour, they continued talking, telling their story of how they met and fell in love.

"That's good for now," Isaiah finally said.

"What's next?" Irene asked, as she stood.

"I've set up interviews with some of your old college classmates and friends, as well as people in town. I've also begun reaching out to some employees, specifically the few who have been around since the beginning. But we're done for now. Some time in the next week, I'll come back to interview you more about how you took Nana Noble's homemade concoctions, reinvented them and turned them into the success they now are."

"Sounds like a plan," Isaac said.

As Isaiah packed up his camera, his mother asked, "Are you staying for dinner?"

"Can't," Isaiah said. "Already got plans."

"With Tessa?" she sang.

Isaiah grinned as he slung his bag over his shoulder. "Yes, with Tess."

He'd been so involved in preparing for the start of the shooting of the film that he didn't get a chance to see Tessa that much. She'd texted him earlier that day and told him she would be going to hot yoga later that night and asked if he was interested. He told her he'd meet her there.

"Oh! So it's just 'Tess' now?" Irene teased.

Shaking his head, he kissed his mother on the cheek. "I'm late. I'll see you guys soon."



The class was already starting the standing deep breathing practice when Isaiah slipped into the studio onto the mat next to Tessa, which she'd saved for him. She peeked over at him as he interlaced his fingers together and placed his knuckles under his chin.

Seeing him in his compression shorts made her wish she'd have just invited him to her place instead of this damn class. The heat of the room already had his skin glistening, and he'd only been in there for a couple of minutes.

His eyes met hers and he gave her a sexy wink before turning back to the front of the class as the teacher ordered them to inhale deeply, as they lifted their elbows to the sky.

It had been bad enough taking the same class with Isaiah when he was across the room from Tessa. Taking the class right next to him was torture.

When the class finally came to an end ninety minutes later, he whispered that he'd meet her after they took their showers.

Tessa waited impatiently for her turn in the shower. When her turn arrived, she showered quickly and then threw her clothes on. She grabbed her bag and rushed out of the ladies room in search of Isaiah.

When she didn't see him right away, she moved down the hallway of the studio. She gasped when a hand reached out and pulled her back around a corner hidden from the rest of the studio. She went from startled to aroused in an instant as Isaiah's lips covered her. Her bag fell from her hand as she reached up to grip his shoulders.

Finally breaking off the kiss, the flashing of his teeth lit up their hidden little cove.

"You were late for class."

"Did you miss me this week, Miss Everett?" he whispered.

She gave him a saucy grin as she shrugged nonchalantly. "I might have."

"Hmmm," he murmured. "Let's see how much you missed me."

Her eyes stretched wide as his hand slid past the waistband of her yoga pants and underwear.

"I think you missed me quite a bit," he rasped, as his fingers danced around her pussy lips. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he spread her lips and slipped two fingers inside. "I missed you," he said, continuing to tease her.

She could tell by the way he was making love to her with his hand, with people in hearing distance. It was so scandalous; the thought that if someone had the notion to come to the back of the studio and turn that corner, they'd get caught. But she couldn't seem to stop him. She didn't want to.

She felt his tongue on her neck as his fingers pressed deeper inside of her and her hand pressed against the large pillar that kept them hidden.

"Tess," he breathed against her neck.

"W-what?" she moaned.

"Spend the weekend with me in Tahoe."

"Yes," she whimpered.

His fingers moved faster and her breathing sped up as well. Her head fell back, lightly thudding the wall behind her. He pressed the heel of his palm to her clit and her body exploded. He covered her mouth with his free hand to stifle the scream that threatened to spill from her mouth.

Once she quieted down, he wrapped his arm around her waist as her body continued to convulse, and covered her mouth with his own in a scorching kiss. When he finally ended the kiss, he pulled his hand from between her slick thighs and licked his fingers.

"Let's head to your place so we can finish what we started," he crooned.

They couldn't get out of the studio fast enough.