CHAPTER FOUR
He towered over her with fury. Dammit! Noah clenched his fists. How could I be played like this? By a woman no less. Making up a memory that never happened. He now knew she was at some game and in his life—there was only one kind of game. Kill or be killed.
Grabbing her up from the sofa, he tugged her to him, breathing his words to her lips, “How in the fuck did you remember something like that?”
Her round blue eyes looked fearful, as she didn’t speak.
He stared at her mouth. Don’t do it Noah. Don’t. He ignored his logical side as he lowered his mouth and smothered hers. Forcing his tongue in, he took over, as was his way. He sucked on her tongue, and gathered her tight to his hard body, to his hard cock. The things she’d said had him so hard he thought he might burst. He punished her mouth as he grasped that fabulous ass and squeezed.
Her body simply melted to him. No fight, no resistance. Her mouth had opened to him as if she’d been used to his rough taking. Her eyes closed as she kissed him back like she was starved for him.
He finally came to his senses as he pulled his lips from hers and set her down. “How the fuck did you remember that?”
Panting and gasping, she shook her head.
He grabbed her arms. “Talk!”
She gulped and spluttered, “J-just a moment…”
He let out a frustrated sigh and fought to get a hold of himself. Dammit, kissing her and almost taking her—
“Y-you don’t remember fucking me?” she asked.
He stilled. “What?”
“Y-you said we came up here and we…” Her eyes were huge in her face.
FUCK! He did lead her to believe that. Yes, he had. But what was all that description?
“I-I thought that was what we did. I mean, why are you so mad?” she now shouted at him her body trembling.
He took a long look at her. Nipples erect through her lacey bra. Chest heaving. He stepped closer and eased a hand between her thighs. Yes, wet as wet gets.
Her body leaned toward his at the contact.
Noah stepped back abruptly.
Her body swayed like it had when she’d passed out.
He grabbed her. He was so fucking hard and so fucking pissed. But now it was at himself. The woman was picturing what she wanted them to do together. Obviously. Then something else hit him. Her descriptions fit the way he truly did have sex. Forceful, demanding. Commanding. She’d revealed herself in her details. So much for the quiz. She fucking passed.
You’d think he was a teen boy with his first chance at pussy. He felt disgusted at being shaken from his usual self control. Gently, he set her down and took a step away. He god dammed well better or he was going to strip her down and take her in all the positions she described and then a few others…
Noah shook away the elation of finding a woman so compatible to him, along with any other personal feelings, and his own images. Then he heard it.
Crying, a soft crying. His gaze dropped to her lowered head.
FUCK! Shit, shit fuck. He’d gone too far again. He’d always gone too far. In everything he did. The SEALS. Training, his missions. It was one of the reasons the military used him so often.
After all, he was the one who’d led her to believe they had sex in the first damn place. He opened his mouth to apologize. Then he shut it. “Look. I handled this all wrong. I-I’m…”
She raised her face finally, tears streaking her cheeks. “I just do not understand anything. What is happening? Why?” She swiped away her tears. “What happened to me? You know! I know you do. Did I hit my head while up here with you? Was I drunk and then fell? WHAT?”
He studied her. So, now do I tell the truth? I can see she is what she claimed…without a memory. If I tell her, I fooled her then she won’t trust me. He shoved his fingers through his hair in frustration. Well, after what I just did, she may not trust me anyways.
“What is my name?” she asked.
He halted and his troubled thoughts halted.
“I-I mean I couldn’t have just slept with you without even telling you my name!” She stood up looking upset. “I’m not a slut!” Pausing, her expression changed. “Or maybe I am? How am I to know? Did we meet at a club and I just said ‘yes, take me home, I’ll do ya!’ Then you took me all the way up here? It makes no sense. But then again, nothing makes sense right now.” Her chest was heaving and her face was getting paler by the dammed second.
Damn, I’d better get a handle on this. “Sit down,” he ordered.
She stared at him for a moment then did as he said.
He sat next to her. A name…her name… He looked up and out of the picture window. “Ridge. Your name is Ridge.”
Blinking her eyes, she looked over at him. “And your name?”
Yeah, that. He hadn’t thought of that. He couldn’t reveal anything true about himself. It was his rule now. He couldn’t bend that for anything or anyone. His life depended on it. “Harris.”
Nodding, she looked a bit calmer. “Harris. Nice name. Though a bit unusual.”
Yes, it was his call name. Not that anyone except a few people ever knew this and those people were now dead.
“So, how did it happen?” she asked in a quiet voice.
He turned to look at her. “Look, right now you are weak, still with a possible concussion. How about we try to get you well, then we can explore this.”
Looking hesitant, she asked, “Then you’ll tell me how we met? How I got up here and how I got this concussion?”
He nodded. Yes, he was stalling for time. He needed her to remember first. Then when she did…What? She would know he was a lair. Then again, he would know why she was climbing up his dammed mountain. She could still be an enemy, she just doesn’t remember it. He let out a breath. Then there was something more to this whole thing. He wanted her, badly. He’d felt hot for women before. Attracted even, but never with this gut wrenching want.
He stood up. “First, you can now rest in one of the bedrooms.” Yes, good idea, get her out of reach. Her, in her bra and panties. No wonder he wanted to throw her down and fuck her till he was spent. “Then you can shower, when you feel a bit stronger. You’re upset right now and weak again. Then maybe dinner.”
Releasing a breath, she stood up and looked a bit wobbly again.
Against his better judgement, he simply scooped her up. “You’re tired and weak. Let’s shelf this subject for at least a day.” He strode to one of the bedrooms, through the door and set her on the bed. “There are clothes in the closets and dressers. Most are guy’s clothes but there are various sizes, so you might find something to wear. We can’t have you parading around in your underwear forever,” he joked. Though, I sure as hell seemed to like it a bit too much.
“O-okay. It sounds like a good plan.” She suddenly laid back and was out like a light again.
He stepped close and looked down at this mystery woman. God dammit, was she beautiful. A slut? Like she’d said. He hardly thought so. This woman could have any man she wanted.
He wondered now, as he felt a bit sick at the thought. Did she have someone out there? A woman who looks like her and the way she just speaks her mind. He shook himself out of these kinds of wanderings and pulled a blanket over her.
He walked over and started the fire she needed in the fireplace. He would feed her, let her rest and shower. Then tomorrow, he hoped her memory would return.
He, himself hadn’t slept at all in the last 2 days. It didn’t mater, as this wasn’t anything new. He had nightmares. Or should he say Living nightmares that were actually real memories. So, he never slept more than 4 hours at a time in any case.
Fire made, he stood and looked over at Ridge. He winced at the lie. Well, he had no real name for her, so Ridge it would be. Until…Yes, until she remembered her real name and when that happened, he would face whatever she’d been after while climbing his damn mountain.