“Let’s go,” I said as I turned back to the entrance. This was going to be the fastest apartment tour and lease signing in history.
We rode the elevator to the sixteenth floor in silence, standing on opposite sides of the ascending box. I could see him clearly in the elevator’s mirrored doors. He stood stiff in his spineandthose fucking jeans with his legs slightly spread. His eye smoldered, and he breathed low and deep as though working to control his inhalations. Around floor eight, he reached for his denim-covered dick, massaging himself through his jeans.
I groaned. “Fucking tease.”
He smirked and continued to fondle himself until the elevator beeped at the penthouse floor. The doors required a code to open at this level, so I keyed in the four-digit guest code given by the leasing agent, making sure to rattle off the numbers for Alex to hear. Never know when he’d need it.
“After you,” I said, gesturing as the door slid open.
He grunted a half-laugh. “Don’t trust me behind you?” he asked as he strode past.
“I do. I just want to stare at your ass while I imagine all the things I want to do to it,” I whispered, which made him stumble.
“Oh my goodness.” A petite blonde woman with a sharply angled bob and lavender power suit rushed our way. “Are you okay, sir? Did you trip on something?”
I couldn’t help but laugh as Alex scowled my way.
Payback was a bitch.
“No, ma’am, I’m fine. Just clumsy.” His face turned as red as the stripe in my Burberry scarf.
“You must be, Charlotte. I’m Ryder.” I stepped forward with my hand outstretched to put the poor guy out of his misery, especially since I was the one to cause his embarrassment. No way would I risk pissing him off and jeopardizing my orgasm.
“Yes, hello, Ryder. So nice to meet you.” She shook my hand, having short, manicured nails that matched her suit.
“Likewise.” I gestured to Alex. “This is a coworker and friend of mine, Alex.”
He stepped forward to shake her hand with a nod, then returned to my side. It was nice having him there. It felt nice not to have to sign the lease alone, but also having his presence by my side.
I liked it.
“I know you said you’re all in and prepared to sign the lease and pay the security deposit and first month’s rent today, but let me give you a tour before we get to that, just in case.” She chuckled a light, tinkly laugh. “Trust me, it’s much easier to change your mind now rather than after we’ve signed. So, follow me.” She turned and click-clacked her way down the hall in beige, heeled boots.
I nearly groaned out loud. All I wanted was to sign the damn thing and send Charlotte on her way so Alex and I could get down to business.
He must have sensed my urgency because he snorted a laugh. “Chill,” he muttered too low for Charlotte to overhear. “You’re going tolivehere. You need to at least look at the place. And I’m not going anywhere. You made me some promises I plan to collect on.”
“Well, if you’re going to be all logical and mature about it…” I strode after Charlotte with the sound of Alex’s dark chuckle at my back.
“Holy shit,” he muttered as we turned left into a spacious kitchen. “This is insane.”
White marble countertops, rows of light gray cabinets, and gleaming Wolf appliances greeted us. Everything screamed brand new, never used, and costly. The space was modern with clean lines and an airy feel. The kitchen opened on one end to a dining area with a six-person wooden table surrounded by windows with a gorgeous view of the snowy city far below. The opposite end of the kitchen flowed into a sprawling denwith a massive television, tan leather sofa, and roaring electric fireplace.
The vibe was completely different from my parents’ ornate look, which included dark wood, heavy furniture, and patterned wallpaper.
I loved it.
“This place is insane.” Alex’s eyes were twice their normal size as he did a slow turn, taking it all in.
“It’s perfect.”
He snorted. “This kitchen is humongous. Do you even cook?”
That had Charlotte and me laughing. “No, do you?”
He nodded. “Some.”
Huh. I never would have guessed.
