"Oh my god. We can see the Bay Bridge?" I run to the window to get a better look at the cargo ships crawling across the water. "I always wanted a view!"
"Yeah, I saw you were missing it in your apartment," he says behind me, and I hear the smile in his voice. "Here you'll have it, baby."
I turn to him, unable to contain the excitement on my face.He got me a view.
"Ben! This is perfect." I don't even think, just run.
He catches me midair, my laughter breaking between us as his hands lock under my thighs, spinning me once around the island.
He takes off his sneakers by the heel and crouches to scoop them up, then drops them neatly in the rack next to the door.
Then he slips my shoes off while I hang on him, my legs wrapped around his torso, and he does the same, lining them in perfect symmetry.
“No shoes in our house. Ever. It’s unhygienic,” he says in that boss-doctor voice that probably gets surgical teams obeying before they even think.
"Our house," I echo, glassy-eyed. "Any other commandments?"
"Yeah. We never leave the house arguing. Always wash our hands when we come in. And your dress code is always naked, ready for me. Non-negotiable."
I let out a thrilled laugh and take another look. "Is this real? You don't do these kinds of things."
"Told you I've changed." His voice softens, insistent but tender. "Seeing you lit up like this? Hell, I should get another apartment just to see that look again."
"No. This place is top floor, renovated, probably stupidexpensive. What is it?"
"One bedroom, two baths," he says, walking with me toward the door that separates the open space from the bedroom. He stops there, crooked smirk in place. "Bed's solid enough for what I do to you. And I got a soft mattress for you, you whiny little thing."
I grin so hard my cheeks ache, and my eyes fall on the writing desk by the window. "The golden hour here? I declare this my writing corner."
"Then I'll come here to watch you."
I grimace like that's not exactly what I wanted him to say. "You'd get bored in ten minutes."
He shakes his head, the city flickering behind him. "Never," he says with certainty. Then something sinful flickers behind his eyes. "Besides, I'd give you a better ending."
I tilt my head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Mmm. I could use a tip."
He looks at me like he knows I'm baiting him and his grip turns territorial now. "I want to give you more than a tip. If you can take it."
I blink at him. No way. He's joking. He has to be joking.
"Wait, you mean... I haven't even finished the job?"
He huffs a laugh, tongue pressing to his upper lip. Shakes his head. "Close, but not really. We'll get here. I just have to remind your body it's made for me."
My mouth parts, stunned. If that's true I'm not sure my body's made for him. Ben isn't built like any man I've had before.
I purse my lips. "So you've been holding back just to tease me?"
He rolls his eyes. "No. I hold back because I care too damn much. My brain's wired to protect you, even from my cock."
That should sound preposterous, but doesn't. It makes me ache in ways that feel right.
I smile. "That's sweet, but I told you—I want all of you. Even your monsters."
He huffs an amused laugh. "Monsters, huh? Thought you called hima thing."
"Eh-eh." I shake my head, my smirk shy and wicked. "Too alive to be a thing. Definitely dangerous. Should I be scared of him?"
