I pushed her.
“Auschwitz. I know it’s not the happiest of breaks, but I’ve wanted to visit since I studied the Holocaust at school. After that, probably something beachy – like the Maldives.”
We kept the questions coming, each one taking longer for us both to answer as we discussed and disagreed or asked more. Dinner came and went, and I succumbed to one glass of champagne.
“Let’s go outside.” I stood up, food demolished, a scrap of strawberry meringue the only thing left.
She led the way to the deck, the dimmed lights catching the glimmers of gold in her hair. I followed, pretty sure I’d have followed her into the dark waters of the Thames if she’d called me that way, with her siren song I was happy to be captured with.
“I’ve never thought London pretty.”
I stood behind her, watching the south back as we sailed past, allowing my hands to rest on her hips, feeling soft curves under tight denim.
“It’s never been meant to be pretty.”Not like you.
“It is tonight. Look at the lights on the water.”
She was right. The lights from the buildings set next to the Thames reflected on the river, making it look ethereal. I could believe in mermaids and monsters right now.
Maybe Cupid too.
“Working here every day, living here, you forget how amazing this place is.” She hadn’t lived in London as long as me, hadn’t spent as long having her senses dulled by the dust and the darkness of pavements and snickets.
Seeing sites I hadn’t properly noticed for years, or maybe ever, through her eyes made me remember the history of the place and the magic it held for visitors and tourists.
She rested her back against me, relaxing into my chest and I took the chance to wrap my arms around her waist, catching the scent of her perfume. I pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, moving an arm to shift her hair out of the way, and I felt her shiver.
Her movement in my arms made me worry she wanted space, that I’d overstepped, but she turned to face me, her hands sliding up over my chest to my shoulders.
“I like this sight best.”
I knew my grin was half dirty and half smug.
One of her hands moved up and she rubbed a thumb over my lips. “Thank you for the most amazing night, Joseph.”
I leaned down and captured her lips with mine, feeling her respond with the grip she had on my shoulders and the way her mouth opened when I begged entry.
Cool night air wrapped around us, but I didn’t feel it. I burned from the inside out, feeling something from having her next to me, closer than colleagues should be, more than friends. It was different than what I’d felt before, something seismic shifting beneath my feet.
I swallowed hard when we eventually separated, desperate to know if she’d felt something different than usual too, but I couldn’t ask.
“Hey.” She whispered the word.
“Hey back.” I smoothed her hair away from her face.
“Why don’t I plan our next date?” She punctuated the question with a kiss, one that had my dick harder than it’d ever been before and we were still both clothed and outside in a cold city night.
“When will it be?”
“Rose is sleeping at her friend’s on Friday.”
“Friday then.”
She nodded, her hands in the pockets of my jeans, obviously getting a good feel of my arse. I wasn’t going to complain.
“Can I trust you to book somewhere?” I murmured the words, knowing they were going to set fire to that kindling temper I’d seen.
Her fingers dug harder into my backside.
