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She looks at us with an even bigger smile; this one has a knowing tinge to it. But she doesn’t comment on the moment we had. She nods at the basket that Tyler is holding, and the other one at his feet. "I’m so pleased you found our self-help section. I added it recently. Shall I ring up your purchases? And if you give me your address, I’ll have the books delivered to you."
8
Tyler
"You shouldn’t have paid for the books." She slides onto the passenger seat of my car. I make sure she has her seat belt on before I shut the door, then walk around and get into the driver’s seat.
"I absolutely should have." I turn to her. "It was my pleasure, Cilla."
"Cilla?" She blinks slowly. "Are we on nickname basis already?"
"Aren’t we?" I allow myself a small smirk. I pleasured her, tasted her, and watched her come. I saw the delight in her features when she picked out the books she wanted. And the happiness in her eyes as she perused the selection in the bookstore. So yeah, I think I’m allowed to have a nickname for her. I don’t say all this aloud. But surely, she must read my mind, for she blushes.
"A gentleman wouldn’t be so crass as to allude to what happened earlier between us." She waves an admonishing finger under my nose.
"Ah, but I’m not a gentleman, am I?"
"You took me to the most exclusive coffee shop in the country, then to a hidden London bookshop, which I had no idea existed. And shut both of them down in advance so we could have privacy. I’d say there is a gentlemanly streak in you."
"I did it so I could have my wicked way with you," I say bluntly.
"Oh, my God." She throws up her hands. "Do you have no filter?"
I laugh. "Was that too much?"
She rubs at her temple. "I want to say yes, but strangely, I find your brand of being this open"—she waves her hand between us—"strangely endearing and definitely arousing."
"I findyouarousing."
The blush deepens on her face and extends down her neckline. "Stop." She fans herself, then looks away before clearing her throat. "Where are we going next?"
It’s a clear attempt to change the topic, but I let her have it.
"I want to take you to my place."
The pulse at the base of her neck speeds up. “You did say you wanted me to spend the night with you. So, I shouldn’t be surprised that you want to bring me to your place. It’s just—” she laughs lightly, “it feels so intimate.”
"Itisintimate that I want to take you home.” I shoot her a sideways glance. “What I feel for you isveryintimate.”
I don’t bother to hold back the emotions I already feel for her. The one thing my life in the Marines has taught me is that life is short and when you find something or someone who makes you feel the way I feel for her, you don’t want to waste any time.
Her eyes flash. Her lips part. Guess she heard what I’m trying to convey to her. I have a feeling she reciprocates what I’m sensing. That this chemistry, this connection I sense between us goes both ways. I have an idea that she wants more; I want it, too. But I want to make sure I take each step forward with her with great intent. Make each move carefully, so I don’t spook her.
No matter that being surrounded by her scent in the enclosed space of my car is playing havoc with my libido. No matter that she made it clear that she wants me. For the first time in my life, I want to go slow, even as the primal part of me wants to take her to my bed and bury myself inside her.
I turn the wheel of my car and take the turnoff leading to my place.
* * *
"A penthouse on the top floor of the tallest residential building in the city?” She looks out at the view of the city spreading out before us. “Dare I say how predictable this is?"
I hear the laughter in her voice and acknowledge it. “Couldn’t resist being on top of the world.” My ego is my weakness. And I have no problem admitting that.
I pop the cork on a champagne bottle. The sound catches her attention, and she glances at me over her shoulder. I pour the bubbly liquid into two flutes and walk around the bar toward her.
When I proffer her a glass, she smiles. "What are we celebrating?"
"You." I clink my glass with hers. "To the sliding doors of the tube train which brought the most beautiful woman in the world to me."