Chapter 3
Three
“So, is the Empire State Building experience everything you hoped it would be?”
Aspen could hardly focus on the panoramic views of the city spread out below her because she was too aware of her companion.
Brooks stood behind her, shielding her from being jostled by the crowds with his bigger bulk, bracketing her in with his hands braced against the railing.
They weren’t touching, but she could feel the magnetic presence of him just a few inches from her back.
She’d been achingly aware of it all afternoon as he’d taken her to two different bakeries for truly exceptional cheesecake, before they’d made their way to the Empire State Building.
He’d somehow magicked up VIP passes that enabled them to skip the miles long lines, though he’d fully denied it when pressed.
Sweet. Brooks was incredibly sweet. And fun and funny and charming.
Aspen absolutely understood what had made the woman at the hotel throw herself at him.
She was more than tempted to do the same.
But propositioning a man she’d known for only a few hours was a much scarier thing than traveling on her own.
Still, she’d vowed to be braver for whatever time she had left, so she leaned back into him as she answered. “Well, yes, and no.”
That big body relaxed against her, and one hand dropped from the wall to wrap around her waist, holding her to him in a loose embrace.
Aspen sighed and closed her eyes, absorbing the sensation of body touching body, easily able to feel the impression of each finger where his palm wrapped around her ribcage.
“What missed the mark?” The warmth of his breath tickled her ear, and she fought back a shudder.
“The views are truly spectacular. But there’s a part of me that’s a little bit disappointed that the lobby doesn’t look exactly like it did in Sleepless in Seattle. I’ve had that image in my head for most of my life.”
His laughter rumbled against her back. “That’s one of my mom’s favorite movies.” He paused, tensing. “Was.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d noted him slipping in and out of present and past tense.
Aspen knew without asking that he’d recently lost his mother.
She knew exactly what that was like. It gave them a kinship on top of the outrageous attraction, but he hadn’t brought it up, and she understood well enough that he didn’t want to talk about it.
In all likelihood, this time here with her was a form of distraction.
She was okay with that. Especially as he was serving in the same capacity for her.
“Mine and my mom’s, too.” Wanting to see his face, she turned in his arms, lightly gripping his waist so he didn’t pull away. “My dad always promised to bring her up here some Valentine’s Day, and they never got the chance.”
Recognition and understanding flickered over his features. An unspoken acknowledgment of mutual loss. “Is that what this trip is about? Doing some of the things that your mom didn’t get a chance to do?”
“Partly. I’m trying to do better about living my life without fear. That was a promise I made her that I’ve been very bad at keeping.” It wasn’t the casual flirtation they’d been bandying about all afternoon.
But he didn’t pull back from her. “That’s a pretty bold and important goal. I’m honored to be able to help out with that in whatever small way possible.”
If Aspen hadn’t been so intent on his face, she might have missed when his gaze dropped to her mouth.
Was he thinking about kissing her? God, she wanted that.
Wanted to see if this crazy attraction was more than one-sided.
And wouldn’t kissing a relative stranger at the top of the Empire State Building be an amazing story to add to her collection?
Before she could talk herself out of it, Aspen cupped his cheek, then rose to her toes and brushed her lips to his.
They both sighed at the contact. Brooks’ arm tightened around her, his free hand sliding into her hair so that those long, strong fingers cupped her nape.
She might have initiated this, but he was the one in control here.
Everywhere they touched, Aspen’s body came alive, vibrating with need.
Every cell, every atom, aligned itself toward him.
And yet, for all the underlying heat sparking between them, his kiss felt comfortable and weirdly familiar.
As if they’d come together like this hundreds of times before.
Would going to bed with him be the same?
Even as the thought flickered through her mind, Brooks eased back, grinning.
“I like the brave version of you a hell of a lot.”
Heat bloomed in Aspen’s cheeks. “Me, too.”
“Are you ready to go?”
For a moment, she only stared at him, wondering if he was fully on the same page about continuing this somewhere more private.
“We’ve still got one more cheesecake spot on the list.”
Cheesecake. Right.
“As delicious as the first two rounds were, I’m not sure I need more cheesecake.” After a decade without sugar, any more and she was likely to be sick. “Are there any other New York foodie institutions I need to try?”
He winked. “I’ve got you.”
And wasn’t that a heady promise? Though Aspen knew that wasn’t what he’d meant. She let Brooks tow her through the crowd and back to the elevator, giving herself a silent talking to.
Ask him for what you want. He’s clearly not indifferent to you.
But she didn’t manage to give voice to her proposition by the time they got to the bottom of their very long elevator ride.
Nor did she bring it up during a truly stupendous meal of dim sum in Chinatown.
His engaging conversation distracted her during a twilight walk through Central Park, where her hand found its way into his as if it belonged there.
But she thought of it again as they crossed the lobby of their hotel and stepped into one of the elevators.
They pressed the respective buttons for their floors and the doors slid shut, leaving only the two of them.
These hours with Brooks had made Aspen realize exactly how lonely she’d been.
Every single thing they’d done had been more fun because he was with her.
She didn’t know how long he was in New York or where he was from or where he was going.
They hadn’t spoken about any of that. Today had been purely about being in the present.
And the present had brought this incredible man into her life.
Even if he wasn’t meant to stay, surely she could manage to invite him into her bed?
“It’s been a really great day.” She flashed a shy smile up at him. “I’m glad you came with me.”
“So am I.”
They stared at each other. Aspen’s heart kicked into high gear as she struggled to find the words.
Maybe her wanting showed on her face because suddenly his mouth was on hers again, desperate, hungry.
As if some switch had been flipped, every reservation fell away, and she opened for him, her hands fisting in his shirt.
He backed her against the wall of the car, his hips pressing into hers in a way that left no doubt he was on board.
“Come up to my room.” She gasped it against his mouth.
“Hell yes.” The words were a delicious growl as his hands streaked down her back to cup her ass and lift.
Aspen wrapped her legs around his waist, delighted and aroused by how easily he handled the weight of her.
She used the higher position to thread her own fingers into the shaggy strands of his blond hair and took his mouth again in another greedy kiss.
When the bell dinged to indicate they’d come to a stop, they pulled apart only long enough to verify it was the right floor before Brooks was striding off the elevator.
“Which way?”
“Left. Room 1463.”
He practically sprinted down the hall. Aspen laughed, the joy of the moment overflowing.
At her door, she fumbled out her keycard, slipping it into the lock with a shaking hand. The light turned green, and she opened it. Brooks surged inside, spinning as the door fell shut and pressing her against it, his hardness nestled against the softness between her thighs.
Her head dropped back against the door with a soft thunk. “Oh, God, yes.”
His mouth found her throat, suckling on the tender flesh just above her collarbone. “I need you naked, Aspen.”
“Likewise. But I think we have to leave the door to accomplish that.”
His chuckle was low and rough as he spun them away and staggered further into the room to drop her onto the nearest bed with a bounce.
Aspen giggled and watched as he stripped his shirt up and off, tossing it onto the floor. At which point, she stopped laughing. “Holy hell, you’re built.”
She’d known he was fit. Had felt the hardness of him when he’d held her earlier. But she hadn’t imagined the six-pack abs or those indentations below his waist that made her just a little dizzy.
Brooks grinned and held out his arms. “Like what you see?”
“I might have to pay tribute to all your hard work with my tongue.”
His blue eyes went dark as he set one knee on the bed and bent over her. “Only if turnabout is fair play.”
Aspen cupped his cheek, feeling the rasp of stubble against her palm as she tipped her mouth almost to his. “Let me be clear. I want you. I want your mouth and your hands on me. And I really, really want to ride you until we both scream.”
With a little nip of her lower lip, he gripped the hem of her shirt. “As you wish.”