Never Not Been You (The Chicago #5)

Prologue

JORDAN

Ten Years Earlier

“Where are we going?” I ask again, my smile growing wider as Matt’s hand lands on my bare thigh and gives it a squeeze.

“I told you, it’s a surprise.” His fingers linger, warm and steady.

I can’t see anything except a faint flicker of light slipping in beneath the blindfold.

He sent a gift earlier: a black Dolce & Gabbana dress, a BVLGARI gold necklace with a diamond pendant and matching earrings, and a La Perla silk eye mask with a note that read, Put this on when I tell you to.

Very Matt. When he texted that he was two minutes out and to cover my eyes, I obeyed—slipping the fabric over my perfectly done hair and letting him take it from there.

We come to a stop.

“Are we there?”

“Red light,” he replies.

His hand slides farther up my leg, each inch adding to the anticipation. His fingertips graze my skin, light and deliberate, every touch stronger than the last. A flash of heat sparks low in my core as my legs fall open, hips tipping toward his touch, my bottom lip sliding between my teeth.

A low chuckle fills the space around me as he pulls his hand away. “Patience, babe.”

I can hear the satisfaction in his voice, and the smirk that’s no doubt on his face.

A few minutes later, we come to a stop again, and Matt cuts the engine. Fully reliant on my other senses, I listen as his door opens, then closes. Ten seconds later, the warm night air rushes in and Matt’s hand finds mine.

“Watch your head,” he says, guiding me out of the car.

I’m airborne a moment later, laughter spilling freely from my lips as his arms slip under my knees and around my waist. I loop mine around his neck.

“Oh my God. This is so dramatic,” I say through a laugh.

“Everything a twenty-fifth birthday should be.”

The walk is short, from what I’m guessing is a parking garage to a door, where Matt curses under his breath as he fumbles with it, trying to hold me and walk us through at the same time.

He sets me down, stands behind me, and grips my shoulders.

An elevator dings, followed by the sound of doors sliding open.

“Let’s go,” he murmurs low against my ear, guiding me inside.

We jolt upward, and he steps in close behind me. His arm slides around my waist, pulling me tight against him as his lips press behind my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “You look really beautiful, babe.”

“Thank you.” I grin. “I’d return the compliment, but I haven’t seen you yet.”

I can only imagine what he looks like—the dashing young multimillionaire he is.

Matt’s hot. And if I had to describe him in one word?

Sin. Pure, unapologetic sin… and God help me, I’m about to do a lot of it.

“Is this where we have sex in the elevator?” I ask, joking, but not really.

He chuckles, lips trailing down my neck. “Not enough time for what I have planned to do to you.”

Goosebumps ripple down my arms as his tongue flicks against my pulse point. I shiver, every part of me primed for whatever surprise he has planned. “Jesus, Matt.” My voice is breathy, needy.

The elevator slows beneath us and finally stops. He guides me a few steps forward, my arms stretched out in front of me.

“I’m not going to let you run into anything,” he says with a laugh.

“I know, but you try walking around blindfolded.”

There’s a beep, the swing of a door, then his strong arms are sliding under my knees and around my waist again, lifting me effortlessly.

We ascend a short flight of stairs. When he sets me down, his hands move to the back of my head. He lifts the mask gently, his breath skimming my ear as he whispers, “Happy birthday, babe.”

He presses a soft kiss to my cheek, then drops his hands to my shoulders.

I blink, letting my eyes adjust. Then I gasp.

We’re on a rooftop. Fairy lights drape from the pipes and walls, and candles flicker everywhere. A sea of blankets, pillows, and champagne lies in the center. My fingers lift to my lips as warmth spreads through my chest, wrapping around my heart.

All these years, and he still finds ways to surprise me, still knows exactly how to make me feel special.

The view of the Hudson River stretches wide, the city skyline glowing beyond it. Judging by the angle, we’re in Tribeca.

“Oh my God.” I spin around, eyes wide. “Matt!” I throw my arms around his neck and laugh. “This is incredible.”

“Yeah? You like it?”

“Like it? I love it.” I press my lips to his, firm and appreciative. “I can’t believe you did this. Thank you.”

One kiss turns into two.

“You deserve it,” he murmurs.

Then two becomes three, and before I can really take it all in, Matt’s mouth is sliding across my jaw.

Down my neck.

His tongue lingers at my collarbone, and I tilt my head, granting him access.

My hands slide past the collar of his shirt, palms pressed flat against his chest as I tuck them inside his jacket.

His thumb toys with the thin strap of my dress, dragging it past my shoulder, his lips replacing it with soft kisses that turn the slow thunderstorm of desire into a full-blown hurricane.

He pulls me closer, fingers tracing the length of my bare back.

Matt loves an open back. He goes wild over it. Makes perfect sense it’s what he picked for me to wear.

“God, babe, you’re too fucking sexy.” He palms my breast, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Then he presses his body into mine, hard and wanting, before pulling back with a low groan.

“Shit.” His hands cup my cheeks as he kisses me deeply once more, then draws back, eyes meeting mine.

“I don’t want to have sex yet. Let’s go sit. Have a toast. Celebrate you.”

“What if this is how I want to celebrate?” My smile turns sly, teasing.

His chuckle rumbles through him. “Oh, I fully intend to ruin you for your birthday. Just… not yet.”

With that, he takes my hand and leads me toward the pile of blankets sprawled across the rooftop.

We sit, and Matt pops the champagne as I kick off my shoes, stretching my legs out in front of me, crossing one ankle over the other. He pours us each a glass, handing one to me before lifting his in the air beside mine.

He turns his head, gaze catching mine. His grin’s wide and genuine and sexy as hell, making it hard not to jump his bones this very moment. “To the most gorgeous woman in every room,” he starts, and I laugh softly, shaking my head. So cliché.

He nudges my foot with his and keeps going. “May you keep kicking ass at work, finally stand up to your yiayiá, and continue sucking dick better than anyone I’ve ever met.” He huffs out the last part through a laugh, and I swat his arm.

“Matt!”

He licks his lips, smothering that grin of his. “To twenty-five being the best year yet.”

He tips his glass toward mine, and I clink it against his as I take a sip, bubbles fizzing against my tongue.

“Thank you,” I say. “This is really amazing.”

He grins. “It was nothing.”

My gaze sweeps over the rooftop, taking it all in. It’s so Matt. Thoughtful. Intentional. Everything he does has purpose behind it, and he never stops until he’s the best or he has what he wants.

I push up from the ground, itching to take in the view. Matt trails behind me as I wander toward the edge. The old brick wall hits just below my chest as I lean forward, smiling, and rest my elbows on the ledge.

It’s beautiful. A perfect summer night—warm, with just enough breeze to breathe.

Turning, I lean my back against the wall and let my eyes devour him. His whole look screams I’m someone that matters. Designer suit. Thick, tousled hair. Perfectly scruffy beard. And everything underneath? Pure man. Muscle. Hair. Tattoos. And a cock you never recover from.

He sets his glass on the ledge and closes the distance between us, hands sliding to my hips.

“So how’d you pull this off—the whole rooftop thing?” I ask, even though I already know.

He’s a Grayson.

He grins, glancing out at the skyline. “I bought the building.”

My jaw drops. “Holy shit! Are you serious? The deal went through?”

He nods, shifting his gaze back to mine, excitement practically radiating off him. That’s about as much of a high as Matt ever shows, at least to the rest of the world.

I squeal, pride bursting in my chest. Matt’s been buying up real estate for a while now, working under his dad’s empire, mostly condos and smaller commercial spaces.

But he’s been planning to branch out, to build his own legacy.

This is his first multi-story building, and the location couldn’t be better.

“Wanted you to be the first to see it.”

“Congratulations!” I slide my palms up his chest, nodding toward the bottle of champagne. “Looks like we’re toasting to more than just me tonight.”

“No. Tonight’s not about me. It’s about you… and new beginnings.” His hands find mine, fingers weaving together. “There’s a three-bedroom condo on the top floor I’m having renovated... for us, babe.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it, eyes never leaving mine.

I love when he does that.

“Move in with me.”

I try to smother my smile. “We’re not even together.”

“So be my girlfriend. Say yes.”

My pulse beats a little harder. “Matt,” I whisper, fingers toying with his tie. “Come on, we’ve tried that before… a couple times. It never works.”

“Yeah, but we were young. Stupid. We didn’t know what we wanted then.” He drops my hands, cupping my face instead. “I’m focused now. Starting my own company. I’ve got everything I could ever want lined up.”

He kisses me, slow, the kind of kiss you feel all the way down to your toes.

When he pulls back, his thumb drags along my jaw. “Well… almost everything.”

My lips break into a grin. “That kiss was perfect, but that line was cheesy as hell.”

He chuckles. “Well, shit. You’re really making me work for this.”

I tug at his tie, pulling him closer. “I like watching you squirm,” I say softly against his mouth.

Grinning, his fingers find the hem of my dress and pull it up slow until he reaches my underwear. Then he leans in close to my ear. “Not as much as I love watching you squirm.”