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Caleb walked away, going in the opposite direction froather histo do and not much time left to do it before Mr Lark sent someone else Someone competent this time

The tiirl

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Noelle was still euys, so while they ate dinner, she sat off to the side, trying to be invisible David and his buddies talked about strategies and perilaze over She tuned them out and let her mind focus on her work until they all fell silent and looked expectantly at her as if so for a response

"What?" she asked

"Do you want anyin his tone led her to believe that wasn't his original question

"No, thanks"

Caleb looked from David to Noelle and spoke in a low, even voice "Grant and I will clean up Why don't you two go for a walk?"

Noelle went soft at the thought of being alone with David again, and when he stood and reached his hand out toward her, she found she wasn't able to refuse She wanted to touch, him too much

Silently, he helped her strap herself inside her vest and coat and led the way outside into the reht of sunset

David led her down the steps toward a small footpath she'd seen him use several times before The windj smelled like fallen leaves and frost and it sarmth and moisture from her face and hands as it blew by Her steps seeh she had no idea how a ht could make, half as much noise over dry leaves and sticks

He led her a short way into the concealing cover of then surrounding forest before he stopped "We have to talk," he said, his voice griht have to say She just wished she could finish her work and be on her way Her poor heart was in jeopardy of being lostminute she spent with David

"Go ahead and talk, then," she told hiht I know, things got out of hand between us I won't say I'" He pulled his hand away and, took several steps, putting distance between therets, and Irealization to knoas true She didn't regret sleeping with hiardless of the consequences Life was too short and precious to waste even a minute of it

His back was to her, and she could see the tension flowing down his ar between us is, but I wanted to ht, Iof low curses "I'm not sorry, that's all"

Noelle went to hi with fire She laid a cold hand on his sleeve and he flinched "We don't have to talk about this now Things are still crazy, und we'd be foolish to make any decision based on our current situation Let's just try not to think about it and get through this"

He whirled around so fast she juer and so more intense

"Try not to think about it? It's all I can think about! Every time I look at you, all I can think about is how it felt to slip hot and hard into your sweet body over und over again I see your mouth and remember the way you moaned, the way you tasted I see your hands and reernails clawing at me as you came"

His words lashed over her like a whip of flaht and way too intense Her body tre all too well how it had felt as he'd taken her over the edge again and again She wanted more Now, here in the forest in the cold wind She didn't care that there were people not far away She didn't care that there ht be spiders or poison ivy All she wanted was to feel hiain--to feel the pleasure only he kne to coax from her body

She reached for him, but he took a step back "You'd better be sure before you touch me," he demanded "I don't have one"

Noelle was sure She wanted hiardless of the consequences Maybe it was self-destructive Maybe it was even wrong She simply didn't care anyht

With slow, deliberate movements, she reached out and touched his cheek The ritted his teeth She could see a fine sheen of sweat break out over his brow

And then all his control vanished She could see it in his eyes, the way his expression changed from one of pain to acceptance Victory

He reached for her and pulled her in for a kiss It was hard, deue into her ripped her hips, lifting her until she could feel his erection between her thighs Noelle's world collapsed in on itself until it included only the space between them, the sounds of pleasure and the scent of David's skin and her own arousal

She felt his hands squeeze her botto her limbs She ripped her mouth away from his to find the salty heat of his throat She loved the way he tasted She licked and bit gently, right below his ear, where she kneould rowl in pleasure She loved the feel of his body, the way his hands clenched on her bottoue

He pressed her up against a thick tree to support her weight, freeing his hands to explore His body held her tight, his hips pivoting slowly, grinding against her in a way that ainst his neck "Now"

His long fingersthes wrapped around his waist so she was open to him vulnerable The cold wind chilled her overheated flesh and she whi him to keep her warm