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I tried to push the thoughts away, I truly did, but my mind kept coming back to him until I was finally able to distract myself by playing with Elijah. He’s an amazing kid, and spending time with him is so fun.
That’s when Noah got home. I could sense the tension brewing underneath his skin, so I attempted to keep this totally platonic.
It had worked for a while, but seeing him so distraught about his work and the divorce broke my heart. For as much sass as I give him, Noah is a good guy. He loves his son and works hard to provide for him.
The idea that he’s being rewarded for all that hard work with a messy breakup and late nights in the office doesn’t seem fair.
I would have been satisfied to keep it right there, though. Just feeling compassion for someone who’s been given the short end of the stick.
But he’d called me a brat.
It was true. I knew it was exactly what I’d been doing. But hearing it out loud was an entirely different thing, igniting something inside me that wanted to show him just how bratty I could be.
Liv, what are you doing?
But the rational side of my brain was too far away, too quiet, to listen to.
“I want you to…”
I hesitate and take a deep breath. I can still avoid striking the match that would stoke this fire between us.
No, you can’t.
With Noah’s arms framing me, I push off the counter just enough to whisper in his ear.
“The truth is, Mr. Steele,” I breathe across his neck, “I think that was your best effort last night. There’s no way you could top it.”
I know I’m in for it when I hear Noah suck in a deep breath and his jaw clenches. I should be nervous or overwhelmed by the intensity coming off him in waves, but I’m just excited and thrilled to see what he has in store for me.
In a flash, Noah’s hand comes up my back and threads through my hair, squeezing. The burn in my scalp fuels the desire building in my core.
His beard scrapes across my cheek as he lowers his lips to my ear. “Challenge accepted.”
He steps back from the counter, holding my hair and pulling me along with him. I have room to walk, but the fact that he’s dragging me with him lights a fire in my veins.
I recognize the trip as Noah takes me to his office once more. It’s quickly becoming my favorite room in the house.
Noah walks me to the chair in front of his desk.
“Stay.”
I quirk a brow, testing him.
“The door.” He gestures with his head, and I nod, understanding the precarious situation we’re in.
When he closes things up, locking the office for good measure, Noah returns to the chair, towering over me, and I smile.
He leans in, dwarfing me as I sit in the leather chair. His eyes rake over me, and every inch of my body is burning with heat.
“Pull up your skirt.”
Reaching for the hem of the loose-fitting exercise skirt, I eye Noah, squeezing the fabric between my fists.
“No, please? Bossy, bossy, bo—”
Noah takes my chin in his firm grip, stilling my words. I can’t help the devilish grin or the way I bite my lower lip.
“Keep being a brat, and I’ll have to punish you.”
