Bastion’s grin says he’s happy with my answer. “That’s great. I’m glad you’re settling in. I’d be crushed if you told me again that you intend to leave.”
“You would?” My chest warms.
“Very much so.” Bastion takes the cloth napkin off his lap and sets it beside his plate, glancing at my empty plate. “Are you ready to head home?”
“Don’t you have to pay the waiter for our meal?”
He rises up off his chair and comes around to pull mine out for me. “They have my card on file.” He drags his hand over my bare shoulder, and I suppress a shiver at the electric current that runs down my spine.
I stand and turn to face him. “Thank you for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” He kisses the corner of my lips, then slides his fingers between mine and leads me toward the exit.
I take one last look at the view of glittering lights below before we head out.
Once the valet has brought Bastion’s car around and we’re both seated inside, I turn to him. “Do you think we can ride with the top down this time?”
He looks at me with a grin, then presses a button, and the roof recedes over our heads. “Your wish is my command.”
Once the roof has retreated entirely, he steps hard on the gas, and we race off into the night. I yelp and close my eyes, raising my hands as the air rushes over me. I can’t help but let out a gleeful shout, and Bastion chuckles next to me. I’ve never felt so free and unencumbered.
The drive home is exhilarating. I’m sure I look a hot mess by the time Bastion brings the convertible to a stop in the condo’s parking garage, but I don’t care. That was so much fun.
Bastion looks at me with amused affection as he opens the passenger door and extends a hand to help me out. He rubs his thumb against mine on the elevator ride up, and by the time we’re walking through the condo’s door, I’m breathing heavily in anticipation of what will come next.
The moment the door closes, Bastion places his hands on either side of my face and backs me up against it, pressing his lips to mine. I sink into the heat of our kiss until he slides one hand to the top of my head and fists my ponytail, using the leverage to angle my head to the side. His lips trail a path down my jawline to my neck.
My nipples pebble in my dress, and I press my thighs together to stem the tide of need that rolls over me.
“We can each go our separate ways, to our separate bedrooms, or you can join me in mine.” He bites gently on my earlobe, and I shiver. “The choice is yours.”
I delve my hand into his hair, pulling him back so that we lock eyes. “Take me to your bedroom.”
31
HATTIE
Ithought I would be more nervous as Bastion leads me by the hand to his bedroom. But it’s only excitement and anticipation swirling inside me. When we’re inside the room, he turns the lights on, but only enough that we can see each other.
The look he gives me as he slips off his suit jacket and tie, laying them across the long, padded bench at the end of the bed, makes my knees wobble. It’s full of promise and all the wicked things he plans to do to me.
There may have been a time when that would have intimidated or even frightened me, but now I look forward to discovering this side of me—with him.
“Your turn.” He nods at me as he slips out of his shoes and socks.
“I could use some help with my zipper.”
He chuckles as he pads toward me, as though he knows I need no help at all. It’s true, I can undo the side zipper myself, but I want his hands on me.
Bastion stands in front of me, and I move my arm away from my side so that he can slide his hand underneath and slowly slide down the zipper. When the zipper is at the bottom, he leans in and kisses my collarbone as his hand strokes my shoulder, sliding the strap down my arm until the dress rests at my waist.
I didn’t wear a bra, so my breasts are bare to him, nipples peaked, begging for his attention. I’m desperate for him to touch them tonight.
He takes half a step back, his eyes glazed with lust, then runs the backs of his index and middle fingers down the curve at the side of my breast. “You’re like a fucking goddess, so perfect.”
He bends down and lifts my breast to his mouth, enveloping the nipple and swirling his tongue around the rigid peak. I gasp, and my hands fly to the back of his head, lacing my fingers through his thick hair to hold him there. The sensation runs straight from my nipple down between my legs, and it’s almost as though he has me spread on the kitchen island again with his mouth on my clit. Each pull against my nipple is a pull between my legs.
His free hand takes the weight of my breast in his hand, and he thumbs my nipple. I arch into him, wanting more, and when he pinches the taut bud, I gasp and grip his hair harder. He bites down on my nipple, and the lash of pain melts into a warm sensation as his tongue swipes over it.
