“I’ll join you, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind. I promise to be quick.”
We went inside and I threw some items into a small suitcase, like makeup, shampoo, a blow dryer, and then clothing I’d need for the next day for work. It didn’t take long at all.
On the way back to Hugh’s, I said, “Good thing I don’t have a cat.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’d have to bring him along.”
“You could’ve done that. I like pussy,” he said with a poker face.
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe you said that.”
“It’s true.” Then I noticed the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“You don’t laugh much, do you?” I asked.
He gave me a sidelong glance for a second, then turned his gaze back to the road. “Why do you ask?”
“Because you seem so serious.”
“I laugh.”
“Not much. Admit it.”
“All right. You’re correct. I don’t,” he said.
“Why not?” It made me curious about him.
He drummed his fingers on the wheel. “I’m usually preoccupied with work.”
“Stressful, huh?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t know where to begin, but you don’t need to hear it.”
“If you ever want to talk, I’m available. I’m pretty sure my picture appears under the word ‘stress’ in the dictionary, so I can probably relate. Maybe not in the same sense, but stress is stress, yeah?”
He checked me out again and nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
I became aware of the part of town we had entered when Hugh turned into a parking garage. “Is this where you live?”
“In the building adjacent to this. Pay close attention because if you ever drive here, you’ll have a designated parking spot.”
I watched to see where we went and noticed that every spot was numbered. When we got out of the car, Hugh pointed to the space that would be mine. “Right there. That will be assigned to you for as long as we’re together.”
“Okay.” I couldn’t imagine driving my clunker up here. It wasn’t exactly a clunker, but compared to all the other cars it was. There was more money parked here than I’d ever have in my bank account for the rest of my life.
Hugh placed his hand on my back and led me to a walkway that connected to the next building. Then we stepped into an elevator. He used a key card, passed it over an electronic pad, and pushed the PH button. Shit. He lived in the freakin’ penthouse.
The elevator opened up into a foyer, which led to another set of doors. On the wall was a keypad, and he entered a series of numbers. When we heard the beep, we walked through into the most magnificent room I’d ever seen. It rivaled the house where I’d met him.
“Whoa. This is unreal.” I headed straight to the glass wall that overlooked the city. The room was huge and very modern, but it was the view that captured my attention.
“This is exactly why I bought the place. Once I saw the view, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.” Then he turned to me and said, “You enhance it that much more.”
Gone was the businessman and in his place was the guy who’d swept me away. Contracts were forgotten as his mouth took possession of mine. The only thing spinning around in my head was that I wanted—needed—this man.
Both of his hands gripped my ass and lifted me up. My legs wrapped around his waist as he walked me to his bedroom. I was so into the kiss, I didn’t notice my surroundings. Damn, the man could kiss. His tongue tangled with mine, twisting up my emotions in the process. My stomach was alive with a million fluttering butterflies, and my skin was on fire for his touch.
He set me on the bed, and I kicked off my shoes. My dress was up to my thighs as he spread my legs wide. Heat rolled off me as the passion flared between us. His smooth skin was begging to be touched, so I sank my nails into the collar of his shirt and pulled with all my might. The buttons went flying, pinging off the wooden floor.
“I really liked that shirt.”
“I didn’t,” I said. “It was in the way.” His throaty chuckle sent shivers racing across my skin. “See, I knew you could laugh.”
He tugged my dress and bra down, exposing a diamond-hard nipple. “Only you seem to be able to make me laugh.”
“Your laugh does this to me.” I pointed to my erect nipple.
“Then I’ll have to laugh more. I didn’t know it had that kind of effect on you.” His lips clamped down, sucking hard, and I moaned. I pinched the other one, because I was so ready for him to make me his. This dress was too cumbersome and only getting in the way, so I shimmied my hips, trying to get the thing off.