PENELOPECOULDNOTBELIEVESHEWASDOINGthis. Stripping down to her underwear outside, where pretty much anyone could see her…
Yes, she was aware her underwear wasn’t much different than a bikini. But still. It felt strangely taboo.
Yet she’d been firmly on board from the instant Obsidian made the suggestion. After all, this was a rare opportunity, right? To overlook the Vegas strip while submerged in water with a sexy man by her side.
Plus she was being bold. Taking chances. It was the promise she’d made herself before she left for work last night. She’d done little more than think about Obsidian since they’d had dinner at her apartment, and she’d been eager to see him again. She’d come to the decision that she wasn’t going to shy away from what she wanted. Not ever again.
So, the last thing she intended to do was tuck her tail between her legs and run when she could enjoy a sexy encounter with an equally sexy man.
Then again, it was likely her hormones dictating her actions, making her reckless. From the moment Penelope saw him downstairs, she’d been set on simmer, warming the longer she was in his presence.
Deep breath.
Clad only in her bra and panties—thankfully it was one of her nicer sets—Penelope stepped down into the warm water, sinking as deep as she could, most of her hair getting drenched in the process. Good thing it was in a ponytail.
The body of water surrounded by two dozen candles wasn’t so much a hot tub as it was a small heated pool. There was a smooth concrete ledge that ran the length of the rectangular tub on both sides, providing seating for at least ten. And being that it was in the heart of Vegas, she could only imagine what sort of action this thing had seen.
As she eased onto the ledge across from Obsidian, her gaze caught on the enormous tattoo that covered his back. An absolutely stunning design, expanding across the entire breadth of his shoulders down to his narrow waist. Two feathered wings, one white, one black, looked almost lifelike thanks to the skill of the artist. There was a shield in the center. The wordsAngels of Darknesswere inked inside while a ribbon curved beneath it, with his name in big block letters.
Angels of Darkness, huh? A motorcycle club, maybe? Seemed fitting.
“Can I turn around?” Obsidian asked.
“Yes.” The breathless quality to her voice surprised her as she jerked her attention away from the tattoo.
It was Obsidian’s fault. She’d gotten an eyeful of his ridiculous physique and her cardiovascular system had taken a hit. Never in her life had she seen a man that well-built. Every inch of him was muscular, from his neck down to his defined calf muscles. But his upper body was what she was caught up in now. Those thick arms looked strong enough to move mountains, his wide shoulders powerful enough to carry the weight of the world, the hard planes and angles of his chest were cut to perfection, the delicious ridges of his abdomen made her mouth water.
Penelope had an overwhelming urge to use her tongue to outline every single angle of his body. Twice.
The sound of the patio door opening put an end to her ogling, brought her out of that ridiculous fantasy and back on solid ground.
Footsteps echoed on the concrete, drawing her attention to the butler moving toward them. He had one hand tucked neatly behind his back, the other carrying a tray. Without looking at her directly, he set everything down near the edge of the pool. Two champagne flutes, a dish of strawberries, a small bowl of what appeared to be chocolate sauce, all arranged artfully.
Not exactly the breakfast of champions, but she had no complaints. Her nerves were rioting, so Penelope doubted she could eat much anyway.
“Is there anything more I can get you right now, sir?”
“That’ll be all,” Obsidian told him, though his attention never shifted away from her. “Something troubling you?”
She smiled, allowing her arms to float to the top of the water. “You mean besides the fact I’m nearly naked in a pool with a complete stranger?”
Another laugh, so dark, so rich Penelope suddenly wanted to kiss him again. Her thoughts drifted back to that kiss in her apartment, to the way his mouth had covered hers, owning her for several breathless seconds. She’d actually dreamed about it, waking to disappointment because Obsidian hadn’t been there to reignite that passion she was craving.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a complete stranger.”
Her eyes inadvertently dropped to his mouth. “No. I guess not.”
Obsidian held out his hand. Penelope stared at it briefly, then put hers in his. He pulled her toward him with ease. Not that she resisted. Touching him was about the only thing she cared about right then.
“Turn around.”
Swallowing hard, she turned away from him, the Vegas strip laid out before her. He pulled her backward, settling her on his lap. The second his arm came across her midsection, just below her breasts, a warm tingle skimmed over her flesh. He kept her there, reclining against his muscled torso.
“Relax, Penelope.” The dark rumble of his voice had her nerves dancing. Every inch of skin that met his warmed. It felt good to be in his embrace, made her feel safe.
“Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve done something like this,” she admitted.
“Like what?”
