Pure Seduction by Frank, Ella (first ebook reader .txt) 📕

been the last thing I was thinking about this morning. I’d been too busy focused on the way he’d kissed and touched me the night before.

Heat curled in my stomach at the memory, and the ache I’d managed to ease this morning returned tenfold.

Great. This was hardly the time or the place for that to happen. I was here for baseball. Good, fun, family-friendly, PG-rated baseball. The last thing I needed was my body to start wishing it was off somewhere having a good time.

After a quick pep talk with myself, I tugged the bill of my cap further down in the hopes of covering my flushed cheeks, and cursed my fair complexion. I might as well have a GUILTY sign stamped across my forehead. It didn’t need to say of what, because I had a feeling everyone in town would draw their own conclusions after five minutes in Noah’s presence.

The fact that they’d be spot-on was enough to make me rethink my appearance today. I mean, would it really be so bad if I left? It wasn’t like I actually got called up to play all that often.

Just as I’d talked myself into making a break for it, I turned and ran straight into—yeah, thank you, God—Noah. Shit.

“You know, we really need to stop meeting like this.”

I brushed at the crumbs decorating my shirt and looked at the squashed basket of muffins I’d collided with. “It does seem to be a habit these days.”

“Not one you’ll ever hear me complain about.”

Aaaand there go my cheeks again.

“But how about we try this the right way?” There was that killer grin that seemed to have increased in potency over the years. “Good morning.”

“Uh, yeah, hi. I mean, you know, morning.”

I could’ve kicked myself for my rambling. My eyes flicked to Willa and Ryan, who were looking at me as though I was acting really weird—which I was.

“Hey, guys.”

Willa clamped her teeth into her lip, barely containing her laugh. “Hey.”

Ryan—the much nicer of the two—winked at me then bumped into Willa’s shoulder. “Hey, Laurel. How goes it?”

“I’m good. Just heading to the game,” I said, gesturing to the field I’d been in the process of running away from.

“Then aren’t you going the wrong way?”

My eyes shifted to Noah, whose grin had turned smug. Of course he’s smug. I’m acting like a high school girl with a crush—and he would know.

“I, uh, left something in the car.”

Noah looked like he believed that about as much as he believed in the tooth fairy. “What?”

“Huh?” I asked.

“What did you leave in the car?”

I narrowed my eyes, but when he didn’t react, I realized my death stare was being hampered by my glasses. “My water bottle.”

“You’re playing today?” Willa said, and when I aimed the death stare her way, she seemed to get it—glasses or not. “Oh, would you look at that? I see Miss Betty calling us, Ryan. We better take her the muffins.”

As they started off toward the gathering crowd, Noah called out, “I’ll be there in a few. I’m gonna keep Laurel company.”

Alarm and something much more inappropriate hit at the prospect of being alone with Noah. But before I could protest, Willa waved and walked off, dragging Ryan with her.

“Did you really leave your water bottle in the car?” Noah asked.

I turned to see he had moved a step closer, and with the midday sunlight shining down over us, it was difficult to look anywhere but at him. His eyes were magnetic, but it was his expression that made them extra hypnotic.

“I—”

“Yes?” Noah reached out and pulled my glasses down my nose.

“What are you doing?”

“I couldn’t see your eyes. It was bothering me.”

Deciding removing my glasses was a better option than having him reach for me again, I folded them in my hand and glared his way. “Better?”

“Much. Now, did you really leave something in the car, or are you running away?”

My mouth fell open. “And why would I be running away?”

“Because you heard I was coming to the game.”

“And you think that would make me run?”

“If it doesn’t, maybe it should.” Noah lowered his head until his mouth was by my ear. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you last night, and that sexy little sound you made when I—”

“Stop.” My voice sounded breathy even to my own ears. “I can’t do this. Not here.”

I was precariously close to losing sight of where I was, and with Jake only feet away, I could feel my two worlds beginning to collide.

“Then where?” Noah fingered the hair curling out from under my cap. “I want to kiss you. Taste you again. Last night wasn’t enough, Laurel.”

Okay, he needed to stop talking to me like that or I was going to overheat in the middle of Chamberlin’s baseball field.

“Come with me,” I said. Oh God, am I really about to do this? As I led him away from the field and past the amenities block to the football stadium, the answer was obvious—yes, yes, I was.

I looked around to make sure no one was near, and then directed him in under the bleachers. When I came to a stop, Noah looked at our surroundings and chuckled.

The low, sexy sound vibrated through me, sending a shiver up my spine. When his eyes landed back on me, it was all I could do to not reach between my thighs and ease the throbbing pressure that appeared anytime he was near.

“Well, it’s been a long time since I was under here…”

As his gaze roved over me, I stood tall and let him look. “Me too.”

“Oh yeah?” Noah licked at his lower lip, raised his eyes, and began to stalk my way.

I took in a breath and backed up a step. “Mhmm. The last time was with you—”

“The day of our SATs.”

I nodded as my back hit the cool metal of the stands. Noah stopped mere inches from me, and I swallowed. He hadn’t even touched me yet and I could already feel myself getting wet. This was crazy.