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“Mhmm.”
“And how would you do that?” she asked, her eyes intent on mine.
I reached my hand up and cradled her chin between my thumb and index finger, tilting her face up toward mine slightly. Her eyes fluttered closed just as I pressed my lips against hers. Her lips were moist against mine, and tasted salty and sweet as I ran my tongue across them. She let out a little moan and I took the opportunity to explore her open mouth.
She pulled back slightly and looked at me, and her caramel eyes looked as if they had been lit ablaze.
“Your place or mine?” she asked breathlessly.
It was probably the most forward a woman had been with me. No playing hard to get. No games. No coyness. It was straight to the point, and sexy as hell.
“Mine,” I said as I threw a few hundreds on the bar top before taking her hand and leading her to the door, passing an open-mouthed Jeremy on our way out.
Chapter 3
Monica
As I held this practical stranger’s hand—a very handsome stranger at that—I felt a rush of excitement and nerves run through my body as he pulled me through the bar. This was so not like me to make out with a man I had just met at the bar. At least not thirty-five-year-old me. The Monica in her twenties was a different story. Yet, here I was, following him out the doors to the sidewalks of Manhattan with his taste still in my mouth.
Troy. It was a good name. And fitting for him. He was like a Greek god with thick, dark hair that parted to the side effortlessly. I would give anything to run my fingers through it, and I fully planned to tonight. His eyes were a kaleidoscope of green and amber and their intensity sank through me like a hot coal.
I knew nothing about him other than he was sexy as hell. He knew next to nothing about me. Something about that fact made me that much more turned on by him. The fitted charcoal suit he wore and the size of his strong hand around mine also increased his appeal.
He held onto my hand as he hailed a cab with an assertiveness that caused three yellow cars to pull up to the curb. He chose the first and opened the door, helping me inside. After the door closed behind him and he told the driver his address, I expected some sort of awkward silence where we both questioned if this was a crazy idea. Instead, his hands were suddenly in my hair and his forehead was pressed against mine as he looked at me with that same intensity. There was no awkwardness. Just tension. A lot of it.
I tilted my chin up as an invitation and he took it with a slow eagerness that made my insides burn with desire. His lips grazed against mine lightly and his eyes never left me. I felt my breath hitch as my eyes closed, waiting for what came next. He kissed me more firmly, his fingers getting tangled in my hair. I felt his tongue against my lips, parting them and meeting mine in a slow dance.
I didn’t know how long we were kissing before I felt the cab pull slowly to a stop as the driver put it into park. I reluctantly pulled away and looked out the window to see a large glass building that lurched into the sky so far that I couldn’t see where it ended in the haze of the late-night sky. I looked at Troy, who gave me a smile that said this was home. I swallowed hard as I wondered who the hell this guy was.
He paid the driver and opened the back door, sliding out and coming around to my door. He opened it and offered me his hand. My heart felt like it was skipping several beats. I somehow knew tonight was going to be good, which was why the anticipation was getting to me. I hadn’t had good sex in years. You know the kind where your toes curl up as the wave washes over you? That was something I had been missing in my last relationship.
Troy leaned in and gave me a quick kiss before leading me into the building.
“Good evening, Mr. Gunner,” greeted the doorman.
Troy. Troy Gunner.
His name was even sexy.
“Good evening, Manny,” said Troy.
He led me to the elevators and pressed the button, waiting for the doors to open and never letting go of my hand. Once inside, he pulled a keycard out of his wallet and held it up to the sensor before pressing the button marked PH.Penthouse. He had a penthouse. Who was this guy? I tried not to let my curiosity show on my face as we rode up several dozen floors.
The elevator came to a slow stop and the doors opened to a large, dark room with windows for walls. The city lights against the inky sky was our only light. It was breathtaking.
Troy stepped out of the elevator and gently pulled me to follow behind him. We walked across the room toward what felt like the edge of a cliff. My heart started racing. I didn’t know if it was because we were so high up or the way he was looking at me as I took in the view below.
“Wow,” I whispered.
“I could say the same thing,” he whispered, but he wasn’t looking at the city.
I swallowed hard, a warmth rushing through me as his words landed like music on my ears. He stepped behind me and put his hands on my hips as we looked out the large expanse of windows. I felt his breath against the back of my neck and I allowed myself to get lost in the calm steadiness of it.
His lips brushed against the side of my neck, and with soft kisses, he moved up past my jawline to my ear. I felt his teeth graze against my earlobe before his tongue ran against it slowly. Torturously. I let out a soft sigh as I reached my arms up and wrapped my hands around the back of his neck, giving his hands the freedom to roam as they pleased. And they did.
His strong hands grazed up my sides until they found my breasts through the soft material of my sweater dress. He cupped his palms and massaged them as he began kissing my neck. I pressed my body firmly against his and felt his erection against me. I sucked in a breath at the size.
I turned my head slightly toward him and our eyes met. I tilted my face up to meet his and his mouth found mine. He kissed me deeply as I pressed further against him. I felt him groan into my open mouth and suddenly his hands reached up and pulled the top of my dress down, revealing my bare breasts. His hands grabbed them eagerly and I moaned with pleasure as his fingertips grazed against my nipples.