Under His Billionaire Roof novel Chapter 22

They fell into a rhythm.

Days, they were strangers. Leighton stayed in her room or left the house entirely. Noah worked in his office. They passed each other in hallways with nothing more than a nod. Professional. Distant.

Nights were different.

After Chloe went to bed, Noah would text. One word: *Now.*

And Leighton would slip down the hallway to his room. Lock the door behind her. Let him pull her into his bed and make her forget every reason this was a bad idea.

Tuesday morning, she had her second interview with Catalyst Creative.

"You're going out?" Chloe asked over breakfast. Noah was in the gym. Safe.

"Just errands."

"Want company?"

"No. I'm fine."

Chloe's eyes narrowed. "You've been weird lately. Sneaking around. Keeping secrets."

Leighton's heart jumped. "I'm not sneaking."

"You are. But whatever. I'll find out eventually." Chloe grabbed her bag. "I have meetings all day. See you tonight?"

"Yeah. Tonight."

After Chloe left, Leighton changed into her interview outfit. The same black dress from last time. Her lucky dress now.

She drove downtown. Found the building. Took the elevator to the fifth floor.

Mark Chen greeted her with a warm handshake. "Great to see you again. Come meet the team."

The next hour was a blur. Meeting designers. Seeing their workspace. Talking about projects, timelines, and creative philosophy.

It felt right. Like a place she could actually belong.

"We'll make our final decision by Friday," Mark said as she left. "But I have a good feeling about this."

"Me too."

She floated back to her car. Pulled out her phone to text Noah. Stopped.

He didn't need to know. This was separate from whatever they were doing. Separate from him.

She put her phone away.

That night, she knocked on his door at midnight. He pulled her inside before she could say anything. Kissed her hard against the door.

"Missed you," he muttered against her throat.

"You saw me at dinner."

"Doesn't count. Couldn't touch you."

His hands were already under her shirt. Impatient. Hungry.

She should tell him about the interview. Should mention she might be leaving soon.

Instead, she kissed him back. Let him lift her. Wrapped her legs around his waist.

Words could wait.

Wednesday, Chloe worked from home. Which meant no stolen moments. No texts. Nothing.

Leighton felt the absence like a physical ache.

She caught herself watching the clock. Counting hours until Chloe would go to bed. Until she could slip down the hallway and feel Noah's hands on her skin.

This was supposed to be just physical. Just sex.

But somewhere along the way, it had become more. At least for her.

Thursday afternoon, Noah found her in the kitchen. Chloe was out shopping.

He didn't say anything. Just pressed her against the counter and kissed her like he'd been starving for it.

"We shouldn't," she breathed between kisses. "Chloe could come back."

"She's gone for hours. I checked."

His mouth moved to her neck. That spot below her ear that made her knees weak.

"Noah..."

"Tell me what you want ma'am."

"You."

He lifted her onto the counter. Stepped between her thighs. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer.

"This is dangerous," she said.

"I know."

"We agreed to be careful."

"I know."

"So why are you..."

"Because I can't think straight when you're around." He looked at her. Eyes dark. Intense. "Because every time I see you, I want to touch you. And I'm getting tired of sneaking around in my own house."

"That's not just physical."

"I know."

"Noah..."

A car door slammed outside.

They jumped apart. Leighton hopped off the counter, smoothing her shirt. Noah moved to the fridge, grabbing a water bottle.

Chloe walked in carrying shopping bags. "Hey! Didn't know you were home, Noah."

"Just grabbing water." His voice was steady. Casual.

"Cool. Leigh, want to help me try on these dresses? I can't decide which one to wear."

"Sure."

Leighton followed Chloe upstairs. Her heart still racing. Her lips still tingling from Noah's kiss.

That was too close. Way too close.

In Chloe's room, she sat on the bed while Chloe modeled dresses. Her mind elsewhere.

"Earth to Leighton."

She blinked. "Sorry. What?"

"I asked which dress you like better. The blue or the black?"

"Black."

"You didn't even look."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify