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I lift my face and bark out a laugh that has several people turning toward us.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she groans, pulling herself together.

“Sure, sure,” I chuckle. “I would give it to you if that’s what you wanted. Ugh, I'm going to shut up now. Everything I can think to say is dirty.”

Noor shakes her head, groaning as she presses against me.

“Thank you for buying my painting. I don’t often get to go to showings for my own art.” My jaw drops as she looks up at me from underneath her eyelashes. “Zayn always wants to come with me.”

“You… what… You’re N. Z…”

Noor presses her finger against my lips, nodding.

“Scmoly fucks,” I mumble as she drops her hand. “I think I’m broken.”

“Can you be broken and make our dinner reservation?” she asks hopefully with a wide smile.

“Minx,” I breathe, pointing at her purse. “Water and then walk.”

My mind is reeling as I watch her dutifully sip her water, while I open and close my mouth several times, unable to get any words out.

“I was in hiding,” she reminds me innocently.

“Pretending to be a man does make sense,” I admit. “I think you should continue. I’m just… rebooting. I don’t think we’re going to be able to stop buying your art.”

“Were you trying to?” she asks, closing up her water and putting it away.

I stand with her and nod as we begin to walk.

“I went to see if your art still moved me the same way, knowing you were alive,” I say softly. “It hit me right between the eyes like a two by four. Your talent is so fucking special, baby. Please, don’t ever stop.”

“Thank you. Um. Thanks for not being mad,” she adds.

I snort, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “You’re an angel,” I reply. “Why the fuck would I be mad?”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

NOOR

I don’t remember what I ate, since I was so focused on the curve of Ciaran’s lips and the happiness in his eyes as he watched me. What I am, is horny, and I’m wondering if it’s considered rude to scale my boyfriend like a tree after this. I sigh as I dry my hands in the bathroom, not really wanting our date to end.

He was extra growly at the waitress when she asked if I was celiac or if I was gluten free as part of a trend. I haven’t had gluten in years because I feel better when I don’t. My blood sugar doesn’t spike as high, and my body doesn’t have to work as hard to break down my food. There are many reasons for dietary restrictions, and none of them have to be fad related.

The door behind me slams open and I gasp, dropping my purse on the ground as I whirl around to find Ciaran breathing hard. I watch as he carefully pushes the door shut, and the tension in his muscles tells me he’d much rather slam it. His fingers twist the lock while I hold onto the sink behind me, his eyes moving over me possessively.

“Tell me you don’t want me,” he whispers, his footsteps moving closer. “Or that you need more time.”

My eyes move over his body and I lick my lips as I find that I can’t tell him any of that. His suit fits him perfectly, and his thighs have me whimpering in need.

The years have been very kind to him as he’s bulked up for hockey.

Sitting next to him tonight has been torturous, because his hand has been on my thigh all night. My panties are completely ruined because I can feel the memory of the heat of it against mine, intensifying how much I want him to cross the space between us.

“What if I don’t want or need that?” I ask, my eyes snapping back toward his.

“Then I’m going to make you mine,” he says, stalking closer. “I’m going to fuck you so hard, you’ll feel me tomorrow. I swear I wasn’t planning this, even though I have something in my pocket to keep my cum from dripping out of your sweet cunt. I want to breed my babies into you, Noor. I want to experience what we missed… Fuck, I’m talking too much.”