Cole peers around me to get a better view. “What kind of art do they have?”
“I have no idea,” I admit with a shrug. “But I do know that the largest art theft in US history happened there. A hundred million dollars’ worth of art was never recovered.”
His laugh mixes with the steady thump of the blades and the whir of the engine. “Let me guess. You read about that in a book?”
“Yup.”
He rests his chin on my shoulder, and we watch the skyline get farther and farther away as we cruise over the North Atlantic coastline. “You were right, you know.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I’m always right, but could you specify?”
“That when you talk about books, I envision a very beautiful, sexy librarian.”
I shoot him a dirty look, though I don’t mind in the least that he’d use words likebeautifulorsexyto describe me. I’d never attribute adjectives like that to myself, but the way Cole’s looking at me makes it hard not to believe him.
“I said when men hear about myjob,” I huff, though there’s no fire behind the words. “Not when I simply speak about books.”
With a chuckle, he places a kiss on my temple. Then he settles back into his seat. For the rest of the ride, the helicopter maneuvers over and between buildings like it’s an eagle while the captain points out historical landmarks. Overall, it’s impressive, though I squeeze Cole’s hand in panic every time we drop even the slightest bit.
I’ve known from the start that Cole is an affectionate person. But now that I’ve stamped his passport, allowing him to leave the friend zone, his attention has only amplified. The entire ride, he finds any excuse to touch me. Massaging my nape when I lean forward to get a better look, brushing hair away from my face, and toying with the silver rings on my fingers. It’s intimate without being sexual. And by the time we land, every part of my body is attuned to his, desperately waiting for the next touch.
He helps me out of the helicopter, then rests a hand on my lower back as we crouch and scurry away, squinting against the gusts of air caused by the blades. I shiver in the cool night air and unabashedly use Cole’s height and body to block me from the bulk of the wind. I don’t feel bad in the slightest, considering he uses the cold as an excuse to keep my hand clasped with his.
“That was amazing,” I remark as we enter the heated parking garage. “Thank you.”
“Pretty cool, huh?”
“Very cool. You’re going to have to thinkwayoutside the box for our next date if you want to top this.”
“So there’ll be another date?”
A smile plays on my lips as my heart thumps a little wildly against my breastbone. “I guess so.”
Cole spins me around and slams his lips against mine. It’s unexpected, since we’re standing between two cars in the middle of the garage, but I sink into it, nonetheless. The intensity of his need overwhelms my senses and coaxes all the air out of my lungs. He backs me up until I’m pressed against a black sedan, his body molded against mine.
A car alarm blares in the relative quiet, jerking us apart. “We’re going to be late for our dinner reservation if we keep this up,” Cole pants, his breath hot against my neck.
“We should skip dinner,” I suggest, my tone needy. “Head straight to dessert.”
Cole snorts at my very lame come-on but tilts his head in consideration. “You’re sure?”
His deep amber eyes search my face, looking for what? Hesitation? Uncertainty? The only thing he’ll find is a deep longing to feel him everywhere. I can’t get enough.
“I’m sure,” I confirm, keeping my attention locked on him. “Of you. Us. I want this.”
He groans as if the words themselves have been wrapped around his cock. I could most definitely get used to hearing that sound. With his hand tight around mine once more, he drags me behind him, weaving through vehicles, until we find his Porsche in the back row. Even in his frenzied state, he still opens the car door and waits for me to buckle before heading to the driver’s seat.
The trip to his condo is fraught with tension, a match just waiting to be lit by the sparks between us. The radio is on, but the volume is low, making it possible to hear every uneven breath he takes. He speaks once, but only to say that Goose is at his sitter’s because he wasn’t sure how late we’d be out. I’m too turned on to tease him about how I know that’s code for he didn’t want his dog there in case he got lucky.
The drive to his condo is short, but it feels as though it takes hours. Unlike the last time I was here, I’m not focused on what’s in his junk drawer or whether there’s a secret sex doll in his closet. All I’m focused on ishim. The way his eyes grow hungrier with each second that passes. The calloused hands gently gripping my waist. The rapid rise and fall of his chest.
But despite how clearly turned on he is, I need to be the one to initiate this. Cole’s taken the lead in every aspect of our relationship so far, but this next step? It has to be my choice.
I place my hands on his chest and glide them upward until they’re resting beneath his jaw. The tips of my fingers tangle with the hair brushing his nape as I pull his lips to mine. The kiss starts off gentle, but slowly, I lose myself to the softness of his mouth. I let my hands wander down the slope of his shoulders, then his arms. Then I trace the contours of his chest and abs.
I’m exploring lower, headed for his waistband, when, without warning, I’m scooped into his arms bridal style. This isn’t the first time he’s held me this way, though, unlike the last incident, I don’t attempt to wiggle away.
He charges through the apartment like a man on a mission, but the moment we step into his room, his demeanor turns reverent. He peels each article of clothing off me like he’s unwrapping a present, and by the time I’m fully naked, I’m too aroused to even consider being self-conscious. Especially when his eyes rake over my body like I’m a five-course meal.
