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Chapter 26
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Exposure Chapter 27
Noah checked his watch and pulled Raven closer to his side in the backseat. "We only have an hour until we need to be at the charity event." He wanted to say fuck it and cart her back to Aubrey Castle until all this blew over, but too many people were depending on him. His company hosted this event every year. Proceeds went to a battered women and children's shelter. A twisted way for him to try and save Melissa and Aubrey, a decade too late."Do we have to go?""You don't, but I do." He kissed her temple and closed his eyes, imagining all the damn things that could've happened to her. "I'd really like you to come, though. It might take your mind off everything." He'd get a few glasses of champagne in her and take her home, where he'd fuck the memories from her head. It was a good plan."I'll go, since it'll make you feel better."She didn't like crowds and, after her day, the fact she'd do this for him stirred emotions to the surface. "Thank you," he whispered against her hair
Exposure Chapter 28
The 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
Exposure Chapter 29
Noah climbed in the back of the limo after Raven, waiting until Max shut the door and had them underway before speaking. "Did you have fun?" He closed the partition for privacy.She grinned, her face in contrasting shadows and moonlight. "It had its merits."He pulled the remote for her thong from his pocket. "Like this?" Suspicious of her grin, he pushed the button, but instead of her writhing in her seat, his other pocket vibrated. "You took them off? And put them in my pocket?" He grabbed her waist and slid her across the seat. "Nimble little minx. When did you do this?"She nuzzled his neck, her nose cold from outside. "Just now as we were leaving." Her voice dropped an octave. "But don't worry. I'm still wet. Know what else?"After spending the night fighting a raging hard-on, he wasn't sure he could take anymore. "What?" He closed his eyes and fought to keep his hands to himself until they got home. It was only a fifteen minute drive."I bought you something, too." She nipp
Exposure Chapter 30
With her arms trapped behind her, Raven's breasts thrust forward, her back arched, and her hard nipples brushed against Noah's broad chest. Her pulse hummed, her heart pounding. There was a trace of apprehension under the surface but, mostly, she was aroused. Curious.Still holding her wrists, Noah reached for the whipped cream and spread a generous amount on each breast. She held her breath when he dipped his head to lick it away, hot mouth against cool skin. Her nerves fired, creating sensual heat over her body and throbbing between her legs. When he finished lavishing one breast, he moved to the other, just like she'd done to him.She was panting by the time he was finished and he grabbed the can again. He made a long vertical line between her breasts, to her naval, where he sprayed two additional lines to create an arrow pointing down.Without looking up from his task, he rumbled, "In case there was any doubt what direction I was headed."She smiled and quickly gasped when his
Exposure Chapter 31
Raven hadn't moved one muscle. She lay on her stomach in his bed, eyes wide and lips parted in disbelief. He'd thought about holding back until she was ready to hear the words, but he'd lied to her for too long. Lied to himself. No more. And since they couldn't build a relationship if they kept halting any forward progress, he decided to say it all. If she ran, she ran. He'd chase her. To the ends of the earth and back. "I don't want a few months with you, I want a lifetime. You're all I want. That doesn't mean deciding right now and we don't need to rush whatever's happening to get to the end game. We can keep doing this for the next fifty years, if that's how you want it, Raven. As long as you're here with me."Slowly, never taking her gaze from him, she sat up and hugged the sheet to her chest. He didn't move because something told him she needed the position above him to feel safe. So he remained on his side, head in hand, calmly watching her as his heart jack-hammered out of
Exposure Chapter 32
While Noah slept, Raven dressed in jeans and a black turtleneck sweater and padded into the kitchen. Coffee brewing, she leaned against the counter and bit her lip.Her head was woozy with everything he'd said but, oddly, she didn't feel trapped or pressured. Being with Noah was easy. Maybe too easy. Sometimes, she kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to say he'd hit his emotional limit. After all, for his entire adult life, he'd had no one close to him to latch onto. There were security people and caretakers. And her. But he was used to being alone, depending on only himself.Logically, he should be as wary as her. Instead, it was the opposite. He knew what he wanted and went for it with courage she wished she had. She didn't even know why she was like this. Her mother was a sweet, compassionate person who'd given Raven everything a little girl required. They didn't have a lot of money, but she'd never gone without.The missing element was inside of her, and she had
Exposure Chapter 33
Noah groaned and rolled over in bed, assessing if anything new hurt before opening his eyes. Alas, his bones were no longer liquefying from fever and nothing seemed to be aching. Thank Christ. He hadn't been sick like that in ages. Hell, what day was it?Instinctively, he reached out for Raven and found the bed empty, the sheets cool.Vague memories of her force-feeding him chicken soup and aspirin sprang to mind. He remembered waking periodically to find her watching movies or reading next to him. And the text. She got that damn threat-when?Shit. He sat up too quickly and grabbed his head as the room spun. Stumbling to his feet, he made his way into the living room. "Raven?"His housekeeper, Mildred, came out of the guest bathroom. "She's at work, Mr. Caldwell. Are you feeling better?""Yes. Thank you." He didn't like Raven being at the gallery. All those windows and- He closed his eyes and bit back a curse. He couldn't run her life. That gallery meant the world to her. If
Exposure Chapter 34
"What would you like to do for dinner?"Raven glanced up at Noah, leaning on the doorframe to her office. He wore faded jeans and a black Henley under his thick down jacket. And she thought him in a tux was sexy. "Hi. You look better." She closed her program and reached for her coat.He nodded to Max, who stepped out. "Don't put that on yet.""My coat? Why?"From her office viewpoint, she watched Max and Jones set the alarm code, cut the lights, and went out the front door."Alone at last." His grin was wicked. He shoved off the doorframe, turned off the lights, and strode toward her with only the dim hall light at his back."What are you up to?" Was it possible to swallow your own tongue? In his predatory gait, he drew closer, and her heart pumped. How did he do this every time?He tossed his coat on a chair and rounded her desk, setting his hands on her hips until her ass met the edge. "I told you I had a fantasy about you and this desk."She forced an exhale. "You can't mean
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Exposure Chapter 53
Raven closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun, basking in the glow of summer that was too short-lived for Alaska. Brine and cut grass blended with the lingering scent of rain to remind her how much life was around her. Letting the warmth consume her, she tugged Aubrey closer to her side and fought the small wave of insecurity that sometimes still rose.It had been four months since she'd almost died, but she'd come a long way. The nightmares from her kidnapping had become infrequent. Noah was always there when she woke with a soothing voice or his solid arms enveloping her to quash the fear. Fear didn't belong in happily ever after, and today was an ever after day.The ceremony had been short, with her and Noah reciting their own vows. Only about twenty people had been invited, and they were currently lingering on the other side of the island. It had turned out to be such a great day, but it wasn't about the wedding. Not to her. No, it was about all the wonderful things that w
Exposure Chapter 52
"Sir, you came in hypothermic. You need to lay back."Noah withdrew his arm from the nurse's clutches with barely restrained homicidal impatience. "Someone fucking tell me something! Is Raven okay?"Sighing, the nurse relented. "Let me cap off the IV and I'll go find out."Gnashing his teeth, he jerked a nod.She removed the tubing from his arm, flushed the part still inserted in his vein, then taped the exposed portion. "All set. I'll go hunt up a doctor for you."As she stepped out of the cubicle, Hintz strode in and tossed some clothes and shoes on the foot of the bed. "They don't know anything yet, sir."Now that he was detached from the IV and heart monitors, Noah rose from the bed. Pain shot up his stiff legs, but he managed to keep upright. Shoving into the sweatpants Hintz brought, Noah shucked the hospital gown and pulled the tee over his head."It's been two hours." Noah fisted his still damp hair. He couldn't focus on anything but getting to Raven, seeing her with his
Exposure Chapter 51
Max cut through the southern strip of town and onto the port access. The SUV screeched to a halt several yards before the bend where the road ended. Noah got out and met McCannon at his car behind theirs. The rest of his security team followed.McCannon's gaze swept the perimeter. "It's up that hill?"Noah nodded. "If you follow the curve, the shack should be visible."They ran in silence to the dead end and crouched at the base of the hill. Lowlight peeked through the slats of the shack, but he couldn't make out any sound or movement.McCannon looked at his agent. "You go in from that end," he said, jerking his chin toward the open expanse just left of the location. Trees and boulders would offer them some cover. He pointed at one of Noah's guards. "Take him. Stay low. No shots, no one moves, unless I command."The two men, veering left, climbed the hill in a low crouch and ran for the cover of rock.McCannon pulled out his cell. "Cops and medics are on the way." He shoved the p
Exposure Chapter 50
"That's how I knew it was you." Nicole grinned and sipped her champagne. "Raven would never let anyone but you see her that vulnerable." She pointed with her flute to the displayed photo in front of them. "I won't tell anyone."Noah shoved his hands deep in his pockets. "I appreciate that." He wasn't adverse to coming out as Hoan now that the trial was over, but he'd rather things settle down first and allow the feds time to catch Soreno.She sighed wistfully. "Such a shame, though. I harbored a secret crush on you. We would've had such beautiful babies."He couldn't help but laugh. Just in case, he skimmed his gaze over her to avoid insult or hurt feelings. "You are quite lovely, Nicole. But I'm taken." Completely and without bounds. Would this night never end?"I was only kidding-" She trailed off, eyes rounding.He tracked her gaze. Two FBI agents followed McCannon through the front door. One stayed there while McCannon and the other strode across the room to Max near the rear
Exposure Chapter 49
Raven had finally broken free of a few customers and was determined to rescue Noah from his conversation when Nicole stepped in her way. Raven fisted her phone in her hand, banking down the irritation."Two things." Nicole flipped her hair over her shoulder. "First, the caterer is asking for more small serving plates. Which I'll go get from storage in a moment."When she paused, Raven lifted her brows, unable to hide her amusement. Nicole's cheeks were flushed and she had an uncanny twinkle in her eye. Which had nothing to do with caterers or plates. "And second?""I find it interesting that Hoan is Noah spelled backwards. Or almost. A nice anagram." Her eyes narrowed playfully.Briefly closing her eyes, Raven fought a grin and failed. "I'll get the plates from storage. I need a break from the crowd anyway." An hour into the showing, and they were back to back with people. "As for the other thing, do keep it mum. He has a pen name for a reason.""I knew it," Nicole ground out, eye
Exposure Chapter 48
Jet-lagged, Noah folded himself into the chair behind his desk and glared at all the messages. When he'd started his business, it had been out of love for the outdoors and being in the elements. Nature soothed. Took no prisoners. Never pretended it was something it wasn't. Since all the success, he'd spent more time behind a desk than out doing what he wanted. Being Hoan on occasion allowed for reprieve, but it wasn't the same. Maybe it was time to sell.He scrubbed his hands over his face and leaned his head back. Ten days away from Raven on his recent photo shoot had done nothing to alleviate his need for her. He thought some distance would clear his head or offer up some direction. It hadn't. He still didn't know what the fuck to do.For a decade, he'd lived in fear, had his life whittled down to a skeleton and doing little more than going through the motions of existence. The women, the cameras, his company-nothing filled the void.And then he'd had Raven. In his bed, his home,
Exposure Chapter 47
Her throat closed, but she picked up her glass and forced a sip of water to cool it.Mom blathered through the rest of the meal about her current boyfriend, and by the time Raven got back to the gallery, she'd been so shaken she didn't even say hello to Nicole. Walking past her assistant, she climbed the steps to her office and sank behind her desk, shaking. She had no idea how long she'd been staring at her blank monitor when Nicole strode in later."You have a lot of explaining to do, missy."Raven looked up, taking in Nicole's blonde locks and green eyes. Now that was the kind of woman Noah deserved. Nicole was kind and gave her all in everything she set about doing. She loved hard and often, was pretty and sweet. And she was talking to Raven, but she hadn't heard a thing."I'm sorry. What were you saying?"Nicole sighed. "I said Michael Hawthorn dropped off Hoan Dwell's photos for next week's exhibit. You never mentioned you were one of his models. You little skank." She grinn
Exposure Chapter 46
Raven closed her computer program and flagged Max outside her office door. "Ready for lunch with my mom?"Her bodyguard's eyes narrowed a fraction, but his lips curved in what passed as a smile. "I'll sit off to the side, Miss Crowne, if it's all the same to you."She patted his shoulder as she passed him. "Smart man."He chuckled as they descended the steps. At the bottom, he held the door for her and scanned the sidewalk before falling into step with her.The restaurant was only a couple of blocks away and she needed the air. By the tension in Max's gait, he didn't like her out in the open, but she wanted a clear head for lunch with her mom. Plus, her recent troubles with Noah were bothering her, so best to walk it off.After they'd made love last weekend and he'd taken her to incredible new heights, Noah had-shut down. There was no other word for it. He'd mentally vacated and hadn't come back. She had no idea what had spurned the shift, and when she'd hinted at the freeze, he'd
Exposure Chapter 45
He picked her up and set her in the middle of the bed, then grabbed what he needed from the nightstand and joined her. Leaving the items next to her hip, he rose over her and kissed her. It took restraint not to plunder and seize. What he was about to do, where he was going to take her, required time and patience. If done right, the reward would be worth it, for both of them.She met him, deepening the kiss and arching her back so that the rosy peaks of her nipples grazed his chest. Her fingers clutched his hair, tugging in desperation. One of many reasons why he loved her was her response to him, his touch. No man before him had been allowed, and it left him humbled. Honored.Kissing his way down her throat, he stopped to suck her nipples on his descent. With every lash of his tongue her breathing grew more shallow, needy. He settled between her thighs and stared at her plump folds."Already so wet for me." He met her gaze and flicked his tongue over her opening.She bore down, th
