6. Nora

CHAPTER 6

NORA

W hat the hell am I doing?

The taxi pulls up to Ronan’s building and I have half a mind to ask the driver to take me back home. The whole ride, I reminded myself that we’re just going to talk. Since my sister, Lettie, is staying over, it would’ve been safer for him to come to my flat—she’d be a human chastity belt.

Taking a deep breath, I type in the predictable three-digit code he gave me to let myself up. The building is new, at most a year old, has high ceilings, and still smells of fresh paint. It’s sterile, void of any life, but there’s beauty in the coldness. I’m dressed casually, wearing tight dark blue jeans and a black form-fitted tee—severely underdressed based on how sleek this building is.

I raise my fist to knock, half expecting a butler to open the door. Rapping my knuckles twice, it opens and it’s so much worse than a butler. Ronan stands before me wearing nothing but a pair of light grey joggers, riding low enough on his hips to expose an inch of his black boxer briefs.

My lips part in surprise as my gaze lands on his perfectly sculpted stomach, and a small whimper escapes me. “ Fuck .”

“‘Fuck’ is right, Nora. You asked if I would behave, but you show up lookin’ this? And I’m supposed to keep my hands to myself?” He rakes his hand through his hair, the small movement pulling my eyes to meet his bright green ones.

I blink once, twice, and I can’t stop my heart from racing. It finally registers what he said and I bark out an unattractive laugh. Tugging at my top, I dare ask, “Am I underdressed? You’re the one answering your door shirtless.” I gesture up and down his torso, which is a huge mistake; I can’t stop staring. He has those lines that run from the top of his him down to his?—

“Are you fucking kidding? You’re gorgeous, Nora. I thought I had more time to get dressed, though. Come in, I’ll grab a shirt.” Ronan opens the door wider, nodding into the flat for me to enter, but my feet refuse to move. “Should probably get two.”

“Two?”

He takes my hand, pulling me inside. As the door clicks shut, I’m walked backwards a step until I’m pressed against it. “Two,” he repeats.

Ronan’s fingers are still laced with mine, his other hand is braced against the door, caging me in. He’s only a few inches taller than me, so this isn’t intimidating—my nipples certainly aren’t pebbling due to fear. I’ve never been so thankful for a padded bra to hide myself.

If he wasn’t Ronan, I’d climb him like a tree.

Swiping his thumb against mine, he sighs, “We’re supposed to talk. How can I do that with you looking this good, and not want to taste every inch of you?”

My voice shakes as my breath catches and I try my best to make light of it. “So, covering me in more clothes is the best solution?”

“It’s the only solution. Then again, I’m sure you’d look even more beautiful in my clothes.”

“We’re just friends, Ronan,” I counter. There is zero truth in that statement, and he knows it. I don’t know what this is between us, but it certainly isn’t friendship.

“ Fuck , say that again.”

My brows pinch. “We’re just friends?”

“No,” he laughs. “Feel free to never say that again.”

“What? Ronan?” His name comes out as a whisper.

He releases my hand and snakes his arm behind my back, bringing me flush against his solid body. I gasp, noticing his chest isn’t the only thing that’s hard. Leaning in closer, he whispers beside my ear, “Say it one more time and I’ll show you exactly how friendly I can be.” His warm breath fans my neck, causes goosebumps to erupt down my arms. If he tried to kiss me, I’d let him.

Ronan doesn’t pull back and I can’t think, can’t speak. Being this close, I’m enveloped by his pine-scented cologne, body wash, shampoo—whatever has him smelling so damn good. My instinct is to slide my hands up his chest, but I’m unsure if it’ll bother him. After his announcement to the press, I came here to tell him about Leo, with no intention of anything happening between us. I don’t know if he’s facing any negativity from it, and the last thing I want to do is cause him physical discomfort.

I swallow hard, resisting the urge to touch him, and make light of this incredibly compromising position. “You’ve had me at your door for a while now…”

“I’m afraid if I let you go, you’ll walk out of it.”

“Ronan,” I sigh, and am startled when a purr comes from him, strong enough to vibrate his whole chest.

“Don’t say I don’t warn you.”

“What do you?—”

In a swift motion he releases me, lowering enough to sling me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. It steals all of the air from my lungs and he chuckles darkly, “I may not have a knotted cock, Nora, but by the time I’m done with you, you’ll never want to moan another man’s name again.”

“Put me down!” I giggle, swatting his toned back. “And stop reading my books!”