Under His Billionaire Roof novel Chapter 15

Noah's hand slid out from under her shirt. He stepped back, putting space between them. His chest heaved. His lips were swollen from their kiss.

Leighton pressed against the wall, trying to catch her breath. Trying to slow her racing heart.

The doorknob turned.

"Yeah," Noah called out, his voice rough. "I'm up. Come in."

Chloe pushed the door open. She was in pajamas, her hair in a messy bun. Her eyes went from Noah to Leighton, standing on opposite sides of the room.

"Oh. Leigh. I didn't know you were in here."

"I was just asking Noah about something," Leighton said. Her voice came out breathless. She cleared her throat. "For work stuff."

"At eleven at night?"

"I couldn't sleep."

Chloe's eyes narrowed. "Are you okay? You look flushed."

"I'm fine. Just warm." Leighton moved toward the door. "I should let you two talk. Good night."

She slipped past Chloe and practically ran down the hallway. Her lips still tingled. Her whole body hummed with unfinished need.

She'd kissed Noah Knight.

Finally.

And it had been everything. Everything she'd dreamed about and more.

In her room, she pressed her fingers to her mouth. She could still taste him. Still feel the way his hand had fisted in her hair. The way he'd pressed her against the wall like he wanted to climb inside her skin.

Her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

She opened it.

*My room. One hour. After Chloe goes to sleep.*

Her pulse skyrocketed. She knew who it was. Knew what it meant.

She typed back: *Okay.*

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Then: *Don't make me wait.*

She set her phone down with shaking hands.

One hour.

She showered. Changed into clean pajamas. Not the ratty ones she usually wore, but the matching set she'd bought months ago and never worn. Soft cotton shorts and a tank top that showed more skin than she was comfortable with.

But tonight, she wanted him to see.

She brushed her teeth. Put on lotion. Her hands trembled the entire time.

At midnight, she crept down the hallway. Chloe's light was off. The house was silent except for the pounding of her own heart.

Noah's door was cracked open. Light spilled into the hallway.

An invitation.

She pushed it open slowly.

He was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees. Still dressed. He looked up when she entered, his dark eyes tracking her movement across the room.

She closed the door behind her. Locked it.

The click echoed in the silence.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Hi."

They stared at each other. The air between them thick with tension. With want.

"We should talk about this," he said.

"Okay."

"About what happens if we do this."

"Okay."

"Leighton." He stood up. "I need you to understand. If we cross this line, there's no going back. Everything changes. Chloe. Your job. All of it."

"I know."

"And you still want this?"

"Yes."

He moved toward her. Slow steps that ate up the distance between them. "Why?"

"Because I've wanted you since I was sixteen years old. Because I'm tired of pretending I don't. Because every time you walk away, it feels like I'm losing something I never had." She met his eyes. "Because I think you want me too. And I'm done waiting for you to admit it."

He stopped in front of her. Close enough to touch. But he didn't.

"I do want you," he said quietly. "I want you so much it scares me."

"Why does it scare you?"

"Because I don't know how to do this. How to be what you need. I've spent the last six months trying to figure out who I am without being that guy. The one who takes what he wants and walks away. And now you're here, and all I want to do is take."

"Then take."

"It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is." She reached up, her hand cupping his jaw. "I'm not asking you to be perfect. I'm not asking for promises you can't keep. I'm just asking for tonight. For you to stop fighting this."

His hand covered hers on his face. "You deserve better than me."

"Let me decide what I deserve."

"Leighton..."

"Kiss me."

"We already..."

"Kiss me again. Like you mean it. Like you're not going to walk away this time."

Something in him broke. She saw it happen. Saw the last thread of his control snap.

He hauled her against him and kissed her.

Not the desperate, frantic kiss from his office. This one was slower. Deeper. A claiming. A promise.

His hands slid into her hair, angling her head. His tongue swept into her mouth, tasting. Learning. She melted against him, her hands gripping his shirt.

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