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He shot her another of those smouldering looks. ‘You know once we start, we’re like a runaway train. So out of control.’
‘Yes,’ she breathed.Exactly. That was the bit she liked best, actually.
‘So we need to slow down,’ he muttered.
‘Why—’
‘Because you deserve more than a quick—’
‘I like quick,’ she interrupted.
He closed his eyes. ‘Not helping, Skylar.’
Good. ‘Haven’t I waited long enough?’
He gazed at her fiercely—a picture of hungry, virile man. ‘All the more reason to slow down and do this properly.’
She really didn’t want this whole slow approach. ‘I said yes, you don’t need to woo me with dinner.’
He paused. ‘Maybe I’m ensuring you have adequate fuel on board.’
‘I already have more energy than I know what to do with,’ she said. ‘I can hardly sit still.’
‘Damn it, Skylar.’ But his smile suddenly flashed.
She couldn’t resist provoking him a little more. ‘You just don’t believe in boring Saturday nights at home.’
He gaped at her for a moment. ‘This one isn’t going to be boring.’
He stood up, tossed a sheaf of cash on the table and jerked his head towards the exit. ‘If you don’t want more of a scene, move now.’
Skylar grabbed her purse and half skipped to keep up with him. Delighted.
But then the chauffeur didn’t drive fast enough for her. She was aware of Zane watching her, that half smile on his face, but keeping his damned distance the entire ride.
Finally they turned into the basement parking lots of one of the needle-thin, super-tall, billionaire tower blocks on the southern edge of Central Park. The chauffeur held the door for them then Zane led her to the elevator and punched several numbers on the keypad. Moments later, they stepped into the elevator. Unable to resist, she looked up at him, met his wild gaze.
But he shook his head. ‘No. Not yet.’
They whizzed skywards in the smooth, silent lift. The second the doors opened, Zane stepped forward. For a split second she watched him—a tall silhouette against floor-to-ceiling windows. Her pulse trebled its tempo. She drew a steadying breath and followed.
‘Your apartment is incredible,’ she said. It was like a palace in the sky. The city and Central Park stretched below them for miles. ‘The view is amazing. So is the one from your Belhaven beach house.’
‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘I’ve been to beautiful beaches all around the world—the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Hawaii, off the coast of Australia, but none of them beat that one.’
‘Because it’s home.’ She zipped and unzipped her little purse, desperately burning just a smidge of the energy that had been firing around her body for days. ‘I’ve never been to any other beaches. Never been overseas. Not even out of state.’
‘Not ever?’
‘No.’ She paced, taking in other details with hyper-awareness. There was a vast computer screen set-up in the place others might have as a dining area. There was a stunning open plan kitchen. Intricately woven rugs on the beautiful wooden flooring. Glancing back, she saw he’d not moved from the window. He was as still as before, still just staring at her.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ she teased. ‘Are you glued to the floor?’
‘Apparently.’
The strain in his voice emboldened her and she walked back to where he stood. ‘What should I do?’
He released a deep sigh and shook his head again. ‘I’m not going to teach you how to please me.’