I turned again to him as Josette said, “I’m ready. I just need to go grab my bag.”
She squeezed out of the space while I took in Noc’s expression.
Tonight was our dinner with Dax Lahn and the director of the organization he supported.
A dinner I’d arranged that Circe would attend.
She was attending, however she didn’t know Dax would be there.
I knew Noc was not anticipating this evening with glee.
Now, studying him, I saw he was actually dreading it.
I moved to him, lifting a hand and laying it on his chest, swaying close.
“You don’t need to go,” I told him softly.
“We’ve had this discussion,” he replied.
“We have, but Josette and I can easily take a taxi—”
He shook his head, his jaw getting hard. “You’re not gonna be sitting at a table with this Savage guy without me sitting right beside you.”
My Noctorno.
So protective.
“I don’t know him,” he carried on. “That means I don’t trust him. And that means you or Jo or Circe are not gonna be sitting at a table with him unless I’m there. And since you all are gonna be there, I’m gonna be there.”
Oh, my Noctorno.
So protective of all of those who had a place in his heart.
I smiled up at him.
“Babe, that dress, that smile, your perfume, your hand on me, knowin’ I can get right to your nipple just sliding a hand inside that slit because I can tell you’re not wearing a bra, you want this done tonight, you best go get your bag too. You don’t do that and fast, you’re gonna be bent over the sink, Jo is gonna get an earful and we’re gonna be way fuckin’ late,” he growled.
I felt a lovely tingle as my eyelids lowered and my smile changed, but, wisely, I moved away from him to enter the bedroom where my reticule was on the bed.
I did this deciding to share with him that I’d very much like to engage in the activity he’d threatened me with.
However, I’d do that later too.
I was making sure I had everything I needed, screwing the cap shut firmly and sliding the lip gloss I still held into a side pocket of the little clutch when Noc spoke again.
I looked to him as he did so and saw he’d turned my way and was leaning his shoulder into the doorjamb, watching me.
“You wanna tell me why Valentine has all but disappeared?”
I did.
Yet I didn’t.
“She’s seeing to business, Noc. She’d been in my old world training me for some time. Being home, there’s much she needs to catch up on.”
This was not a complete lie for Valentine had told me that same thing.
I watched Noc’s regard turn penetrating.
“Just to say, gorgeous,” he started in a low tone, “anytime you keep somethin’ from me, no matter what it’s about, you better have a really fuckin’ good reason.”
“She’s lost a lover,” I whispered.
I saw Noc’s body come alert as he bit out, “Fuck. Breakup? Or…lost?”
“I don’t believe he’s lost lost,” I answered. “Just lost to her. She’s quite heartsick.”
That, he looked like he didn’t believe. “Valentine? Heartsick?”
I nodded.
“Fuck,” he repeated, quieter this time.
“I, well, women tend to—”
He shook his head, pushing away from the jamb and coming to me. “Say no more, Frannie.” He made it to me and put a hand to my waist. “That’s you lookin’ after your girl. I don’t need to know her business. In other words, you keepin’ her situation to yourself is a really good reason.”
He understood.
And I loved that.
I smiled up at him again.
He looked to my smile then he dipped his head and put his lips to it.
When he lifted away, he asked, “You ready to go?”
“I have been for several days now, my dearest.” I tipped my head to the side. “Are you?”
He gave a slight shrug, stepped away but grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door stating, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
We collected Josette.
Noc helped us both into his SUV (for Josette was wearing heels as well this night and she actually needed his assistance as she didn’t have near as much practice as me).
Then he drove us to the restaurant where Dax Lahn would meet his Circe.
I sat mostly in silence as we rode, listening with half an ear to Josette chattering and Noc interjecting every once in a while.
I did this because I was relishing my anticipation for what was to come and tamping down my impatience that it would not come faster.
There was nothing better than the time before your carefully laid plans played out.
In other words, I could not wait.
* * * * *
I aimed my behind toward the seat as Noc held out my chair for me.
Drinks and final explanations to Dax out of the way, my generous donation would be anonymously forwarded to First Mother House in the next week.
We’d met Patricia, and a check Noc showed me how to write for fifty thousand dollars that I’d be presenting to her that night was in my bag.
All seemed to be going well.
Dax was being friendly and respectful.
And after some circling of the savages, Noc and Dax seemed to settle in with each other.
I wasn’t certain if Dax had worn him down and gained his trust with his manner, but Noc was no longer eyeing him with unhidden intensity. This was something that Dax, at first, seemed to take as his due (likely as he’d expect I would share the awkwardness of our first meeting with Noc and Noc would react to that). When his friendliness to Josette and myself didn’t diminish Noc’s focus, it caused Dax’s alertness to increase until the sheer maleness wafting around us felt like it might cause me to choke.