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Chapter 52
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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 1
To WantFebruary 14th:I have never been anyone of great significance. I was raised in an Anchorage shack of a house to a woman who collected more men than things, and through the years her heart had been broken so many times I had to wonder why she bothered. To her, love was an eternal hope, a way to make this bitter life shine like the many little trinkets she collected. To me, love was something a person gave up a piece of themselves for and never walked away from. I quickly learned that if I wanted anything, I had to work for it. Where my mother fruitlessly dreamed, I preferred reality. That's not to say my mother doesn't love me. She does, with every fiber of her flighty, spirited being. Our family dynamic left me more the parental figure than her, but I never lacked for anything and my need for control didn't mind. I worked my ass off to get a scholarship to college and earned a Fine Arts degree so I could move us out of nowhere to somewhere. And I did. In a beautiful loc
Exposure Chapter 2
Noah knocked and strolled in, closing the door quickly behind him. He chucked his coat and shivered. In his hand was a mountain bouquet of wildflowers, his customary birthday present. Where he got them in January in Alaska was a mystery, but with as much money as he'd acquired, he could afford the luxury.A thick grey Henley stretched across the muscles of his shoulders and chest. His jeans were faded in all the right areas and low on his hips. He kicked off his boots and offered a grin, sexy as all get out with the light stubble on his jaw. It really was a crying shame they never slept together when they first met. Just to test the waters. After all this time, though, it would be awkward. He never seemed interested in her that way, and her curiosity had been fleeting back then. Noah was the only man in existence she trusted. It would be unwise to focus on anything other than what they had. Soul mates in best friend form. She wondered what made her think of old memories now. Perhaps
Exposure Chapter 3
Noah Caldwell stood facing the rear window of Salvatore's and resisted the urge to run his fingers through his hair again. Instead, he smoothed his tie down and shoved his hands in the pockets of his Armani suit. He despised suits. A privileged upbringing and a lucrative business meant they were required, but he didn't have to like it. He'd much rather be in Raven's apartment in his jeans but, for what was going down tonight, it was vital he use class and distance from their usual routine. He'd had Gino set up their table in the private room and threw enough money at the man when he'd booked the reservation to close the restaurant tonight just for them.He blew out a breath. Raven was going to flip out. She hated surprises, hated anything that didn't fit into her perfect order. And wasn't this the biggest whopper of them all? Yes, best friend of mine. I am the famous photographer you've admired for years, and the man who's admired you. For going on ten fucking years. Six of which he'd
Exposure Chapter 4
"But-you don't do serious relationships."Tricky point. He didn't. With reason. And she would be no different. He loved her, lusted to the nth degree for her, but he wasn't in love with her. He was pretty confident he was incapable of the emotion. If he couldn't fall in love with Raven, he was lacking the genetic makeup to do it at all."You don't enter into relationships either." He'd yet to see Raven with a man. He knew she'd had them, many by his calculation based on their conversations, but they were short lived and she always walked. She was only in it for the release. She'd also been extremely unsatisfied with her sex life. She'd said so herself.Oh, the things he could do to her."What is all this about then, Noah?" A hard glint lit her eyes. She was bouncing back from the shock. Good. "Letters and a private dinner and rogue secrecy. What are you after?"Now they were getting somewhere. He barely had time to register the relief. When all was said and done, he didn't want to
Exposure Chapter 5
Halfway through Monday, any progress in regards to work was shot. Raven couldn't get what happened with Noah out of her head. Ten years they'd been friends, and she'd never once suspected. Never suspected his alter ego or his attraction to her. Worse, she couldn't decide what to do about Friday. Should she go to his place?She remembered when he'd bought the condo, right after his company took off, around the same time she started looking into investors for hers. She hadn't been there since the first walk-through other than a handful of times. Noah knew she preferred the comfort of her apartment, and rendered her that small vice.God. He was Hoan Dwell. Rich, mysterious, sexy Hoan Dwell. The man who captured women through his lens with innate skill. Noah had liked photography back in college. He used to carry a camera around wherever he went. It had been years since she'd seen him with one. So he could better hide what he was doing? Who he was?The tight ball in her stomach clench
Exposure Chapter 6
The drive to his condo was roughly twenty minutes. He lived in Anchorage in the wealthier area away from the ports, so she used the time to think some more. Not that arguing with herself solved much. She sat inside her SUV for a few minutes and stared at Noah's building, wondering why she had the suspicion everything in her orderly world was about to drastically change if she entered. Shaking her head, she exited the vehicle and stopped at the security desk to check in. She recognized the attendant from previous visits and smiled. "Well, Miss Crowne. Long time no see." The wrinkles around his eyes deepened when he grinned. Lyle, an elder black man and skinny as heck, couldn't offer much by way of security, she assumed, but guests needed a key just to enter the building, never mind to use the elevators. He was probably there for appearances."Okay if I go up?""Yes, ma'am. Good to see you again.""And you, as well," she called over her shoulder. She keyed the pad to access the
Exposure Chapter 7
The yes from her lips nearly brought him to his knees, but Noah forced his body to slow down and take her mouth with the time he wanted to give the rest of her body. Brushing his lips across hers, he smiled when her sigh mingled with his. Applying more pressure, he licked the seam of her mouth and coaxed entry. Hesitant at first, as if she'd never kissed before, she trembled against him. After a brief moment, she softened and opened. The second their tongues met, sanity was a memory.He dove in, exploring her in ways he'd only fantasized. She met him match for match, warring for possession of the kiss. The taste of the wine she drank hit his tongue, the scent of rain floated in his head. Fuck. He knew she'd be his downfall. He pressed his hips to hers, pinning her to the balcony door and sliding his hands under her sweater, up her sides to brush his thumbs over her bra. Soft satin against his rough, callused hands.She moaned, arching into his touch and fisting her fingers in his h
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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
