Perfect Picture [The ShadowDance Club 7] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Avery Gale Page A

and compassion are remarkable, cara . And there are changes being made in this part of the world, but they are so little and centuries too late.” He pulled back again and smoothed his fingers over her bottom lip and watched as her eyes dilated at his touch. “I promise, we’ll take her shopping at our very first opportunity. Is that fair?” He was relieved to see her smile and nod. “Now, we need to get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. Drake Foster is meeting us tomorrow at the first site we’ve set up to shoot. Do you remember him?”
    “Yes, well, we’ve never actually been introduced. But I remember he and Cash were on the same mission just before Cash met Layla. And I know that mission didn’t go well and from what Cash told me, he and Drake both had a hard time bouncing back. I didn’t know he was back working for the Lamonts. I have seen him at Red Clouds a couple of times, but haven’t spoken to him.” She seemed confused by the fact Drake was here and Noah was anxious to explain.
    “Drake asked to help with this rescue. He and Cash didn’t make it in time to save the young girl they were trying to rescue on their last mission. He sees this as a chance to do something to honor that child’s memory. Alex and Zach agreed it would be a healthy step in his recovery. Cash found Layla and she has healed his heart—Drake needs this.”
    This time her tears did fall and he used his thumbs to wipe them away. “I wanted to tell you tonight so you wouldn’t be surprised tomorrow when you see him. His story is that you two were lovers and he’s followed you here to try to make up after you had a fight. We’re hoping it’s a good enough cover and that if we need it, you two can provide some much needed dramatic distraction.” He nearly laughed out loud when he saw the mischievous grin that spread across her face. Oh she would know exactly how to play this one, of that he was quite sure.
    “But just a word of warning my sweet cara . This plan is only if needed ….and I would suggest you not make that act too convincing my love, because you do not belong to Red Clouds Dancing’s Surfer—you belong to me.” He smiled at her and then crashed his lips over hers and kissed her letting all of the frustrations of the day drain away as he melted into her.

Chapter 10
     
    Lainy had gone from exhausted to sad and then straight to a rush of pure lust that felt like she was being swept out to sea in the span of just a few minutes. She had to give Noah credit, spending time with him was never dull. She had seen the sadness in his eyes when he had realized how she was interpreting his comment but she had resisted the urge to placate him. She wanted him to understand how she felt and even though it was her nature to always be the “peacekeeper” she had felt it was important to clear the air.
    Her brothers had always just assumed she needed to be sheltered and that she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself. She had tried to explain it to them thousands of times and Cash had finally only very recently started to understand. It had helped when she had pointed out that they did after all share the same DNA. Collin had always been the most distant from her and she’d been pleased to hear him say that one of his goals was for them to establish a closer relationship now that their lives had brought them back together again.
    But as soon as Noah had explained that he considered her his own, she’d felt a rush of desire she was afraid she would drown in. And when his lips had pressed against her own with an unrestrained hunger she was lost. The feeling of his hands sliding up her ribcage was like having pure white heat pressing in from both sides. And then when he moved to cup the undersides of her breasts with his calloused palms she couldn’t hold back her moan. He kissed with the same attention to detail that made his photographs works of art. And in that moment her need for oxygen was taking a distant