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

another bite, and when a rumble of laughter came from Noah, I looked over to see him watching me.

“What?”

“Nothing. I was just…enjoying the view.”

How I could still blush after some of the things he’d said and done to me already this evening was beyond me. But this arrogant confidence, coupled with his honesty, had me shifting a little in my seat. Something that wasn’t lost on him, judging by his smirk.

“How do you like it?” I asked, determined not to let him fluster me. Sure, I was turned on; I had been since last night. But I’d made it clear under the bleachers that I wasn’t going to go down without a fight—or at least not until after he did.

Noah pulled the fork from between his lips and finished off his final bite, then nodded. “I’m almost disappointed no dare will be issued. But that right there is another winner. There’s nothing I’d change about that.”

Pleased, I reached for my wine and finished off my own glass.

“You’re good at this,” he said.

“You sound surprised.”

“Not surprised. I knew you were after that first day when you showed me around. I guess a better word for it would be intrigued.”

Noah sat back and looked at me, his brow furrowing as though he were mulling something over. “In all the time I knew you, we never talked about the winery. You never asked for a tour. Actually, you didn’t even ask me to sneak you any alcohol. So yeah, color me intrigued. How did the girl I thought was destined to become an English or history teacher end up as a sommelier? And a damn good one at that.”

“People change their minds all the time,” I said, trying to brush it aside, but Noah wasn’t having any of that.

“Change their minds? Was it or was it not you who I ran into the other day with an armload of books? Clearly you still love to read everything and anything, so I guess I’m just curious what changed your path.” Noah reached for the bottle of wine. “God knows Harry changed mine.”

My spine stiffened at the mention of Harry’s name. Noah’s question hitting a little too close to home, as I sat there trying to decide how to answer. Did I give the same spiel about the summer job that I’d first given him? Or something closer to what had really happened? This was what I’d been most afraid of when Noah had shown back up in town: my past and present colliding and the damage that would inevitably cause.

Luckily for me, I found a convenient escape for myself when I saw how much wine he was pouring into his glass.

“Hey.” I took the bottle from him. “You said there were two dishes we were sampling tonight, didn’t you? Don’t fill up on this.”

“Good point, and yes, the second one is the herb-crusted lamb chops.”

“Nice pick, Mr. Chamberlin.”

Noah smiled. “You love lamb. That one was a no-brainer.”

My chest tightened at the sincerity in his eyes, and some part of me recognized the fact he’d remembered such a small detail should probably freak me out.

“That’s right. It was always something special whenever Mom made it.” I smiled. It wasn’t always easy to do that when thinking of Mom, because I felt so robbed by her early passing. But this memory was a good one.

“I remember. You used to always ask her for it on your birthdays and at Christmas.”

“Also at Easter and Thanksgiving. Don’t forget that. When I want something, I make sure to take full advantage.”

Noah eyed me and then took another sip of his wine. “A trait I hope you kept as an adult.”

And just like that, all talk of the past fell away between us and was replaced by the present, as Noah stood, reached for my empty plate, and winked at me.

“Don’t go anywhere.”

Don’t go anywhere? Where would I go?

I was about to be served my favorite meal by the sexiest man I’d ever been on a date with. I wasn’t going anywhere, and he knew that. At least not tonight, anyway.

“Well, here it is,” Noah said as he re-entered the dining hall and placed a plate down in front of me. “The herb-crusted lamb chops with rappini, arugula, and spinach.”

My mouth watered at Pete’s top-of-the-line cooking, and when Noah gestured to the wine bottles, I immediately pointed to the 2012 Merlot. He handed it to me along with the corkscrew, and then retook his seat.

I was more than aware of his eyes on me as I uncorked the wine and reached for the proper glass.

Noah closed his eyes and took a sip. “Hmm.” His sound of pleasure made my nipples harden and the throbbing between my legs return full force. “Now this is nice.”

So was the red-hot sensation coursing through my body. I tightened my thighs beneath the table. Noah opened his eyes and locked them with mine, and I felt the proof of my desire soak the thin strip of lace I wore beneath my dress.

“Laurel?”

“Huh?” My breathing accelerated as I imagined him making that same sound of pleasure down on his knees, and suddenly the last thing I wanted was to eat herb-crusted lamb.

Noah placed his glass on the table and pushed to his feet. My eyes fell to his lap, and oh shit, the material of his pants did nothing to hide the thick erection inside. He crooked a finger my way, and the meal sitting in front of me was completely forgotten.

25

Noah

SOMETHING IN THE air had shifted between Laurel pouring me a glass of Merlot and right now, and if I were a betting man, I would say it was my enjoyment over the bold flavor of the wine.

Whatever it was, I didn’t much care. Laurel was getting to her feet and moving around the end of the table. I reached for my jacket where it hung loose off her shoulders and slowly removed it. After tossing it over the back of the chair I’d