Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tapping my favorite fountain pen against the stack of folders on my desk, I chew on my lip as my thoughts stray to a mental checklist for this evening rather than looking through the potential client files I’ve been avoiding all day.
Raina and I have been seeing each other for weeks now, have said I love you, and yet I still haven’t taken the woman on a proper date.
Like us, our time together has been messy, raw, and intense. We went from zero to sixty, and although there was some hesitation on my part considering this is a giant ethical nightmare where my job is concerned, nothing in my life has felt more right.
Having had no time for romance, I’ve been wanting to do something to show Raina I can be a gentleman who is worthy of her love. So, unbeknownst to her, I planned a flawless dinner for two on her rooftop.
Flowers, candlelight, and a delicious catered meal by a Michelin-star chef who owes me a favor will be served overlooking the city, and of course, I spared no detail. Because it’s now December, I couldn’t forgo bringing in outdoor heaters, and those should be delivered within the hour.
Now, if my workday would move a little faster…
Discarding my pen to the side, I pick up my phone and text Raina simply because I can’t stop thinking about her.
Penny for your thoughts?
I don’t even place my phone down before those three little dots appear, letting me know she’s responding. Grinning like a fool, I eagerly stare at the screen.
Royal Pain
How about a nickel for yours?
I can’t wait to see you.
Still not going to tell me where we’re going to dinner tonight?
No.
How will I know what to wear?
Dress warm. That’s all you need to know for now.
Warm? Warm isn’t cute.
Neither is hypothermia.
Snowsuit it is.
Barking a laugh, I stand and toss my phone on top of the files before going into the reception area.
“Mr. Paladino, everything okay?” Lydia raises an eyebrow. “I thought I heard, dare I say, laughter.”
My lips purse in a smirk. “Perhaps. Can you cancel my meeting with Gamble later? I’m heading out early.”
“Laughter and leaving early? Who are you and what have you done with my boss?” She beams at me, hand still on her computer mouse.
“Just say what you’re thinking. I can see you’re bursting at the seams.” My tone is all business, but I know she can tell I’m being playful—a side of me that rarely emerges.
“She’s good for you, that’s all. Consider your meeting moved.
I’ll take care of it.” She shuffles a few things around on her desk, picking up a sticky note.
“You also received a call from the clerk’s office while we were both out of the office for lunch.
Something about a discrepancy with one of your filings, but they didn’t specify which one, only asked that you call back at your earliest convenience. ”
That gives me pause, briefly wondering which client it may pertain to, but with a quick glance at my watch, I decide it can wait until Monday. “Thank you, Lydia.”
“My pleasure,” she calls as I walk back to my office to gather my belongings. “I hope you two have a wonderful evening.”
If everything I’ve planned comes to fruition as I’ve envisioned it, wonderful won’t be a strong enough adjective for how our evening will go.
The frigid December air nips at my skin as I supervise the final details being placed on our table, making sure everything is exactly how I hoped it would be.
After I left the office, I went straight to her apartment and had my way with her against the inside of her front door, not willing to wait until we made it to the bed. I was desperate to be inside her.
Then I took her again in the shower when we both decided to save time by cleaning up together.
Once we were clean and had dried off, I backed her against her floor-to-ceiling bedroom window and sunk to my knees, supporting her with her legs over each of my shoulders as I devoured her perfect pussy and feasted as though my life depended on it.
Finally, the clock reminded me I needed to leave if I wanted to look halfway decent this evening, so I went back to my apartment to change, as difficult as it was. She looked far too tempting where I left her satiated and naked on her bed.
As far as I know, Raina is still none the wiser on the whereabouts of our dinner plans, not realizing that where I am about to take her is only a quick elevator ride away.
I’m anxious to see her again, ready for the opportunity to wine and dine her. We could both use a sense of normalcy in this relationship—something we have yet to experience.
With the waitstaff tucked away in a nearby alcove adjacent to the roof access elevator, we’re equipped with everything needed for a lovely evening, including appetizers, main courses, and dessert, as well as a few bottles of my favorite wine I had shipped over from Italy earlier this week.
Various floral arrangements and votive candles of different heights decorate our table and the ledges nearby.
New York’s sparkling skyline offers the perfect backdrop for what I hope is a night we’ll both remember. If she didn’t already wear my engagement ring around her neck, I’d have a hard time not proposing to her tonight.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell one of the waiters, pulling my gaze from the table. There’s nothing left for me to attend to. It looks great. “When I return, please begin serving us. I’m hoping we can make it through the evening without having wind to fight against.”
“Of course, sir.” He nods.
Exiting the roof, I take the elevator down to the penthouse and stop when I’m standing outside of Raina’s door. My heart rate increases in a rush of excitement and nerves.
Knocking my knuckles against the wood, I hear her dog bark moments later, then the faint sound of heels as they approach. The door opens and she takes my breath away.
Dragging my greedy eyes down her body, I take in the way her long peacoat cinches at the waist, then her leather pants and stiletto ankle boots. I rove them back up and admire her slicked-back ponytail, tied up on the crown of her head, and her cherry-red lips that I want to press against mine.
“Wow,” I compliment appreciatively. “You look…I can’t even find an adequate word to describe it.”
She flashes me a bright smile and steps forward to kiss me. “Thank you.”
“Hungry?” I pull her against my body, splaying my hand against her lower back.
“Starving.” She giggles as I inhale the crisp floral of her perfume and nuzzle my nose against her neck.
It doesn’t take long before my body reacts to hers being so close, and instinctively I grind my hips into her, groaning when I feel her heat.
She hums, then takes a step back, pulling from my grasp. “There’s a good chance we’ll never leave this apartment if I don’t put a little distance between us, Luce.”
“You’re right,” I grumble, smiling at her as I reach out and dust my finger over her cheek. “Although…”
She laughs, then walks over to her entryway table to where her Birkin handbag is perched.
At my feet, her fleabag, Mickey-D, sniffs my shoes. I’m not particularly an animal person, but if I were to have one, I’d prefer a dog as a pet over anything else. Bending, I pet the mutt on top of his head, scratching behind his ears like I know he likes.
“Ready?” I ask when I’ve heard her stop rustling with her bag behind me.
Walking over to where Raina’s standing by the door, I offer my arm and she takes it easily, placing her palm at the crook of my elbow.
“Sure am.” She locks her apartment, then lets me lead her to the elevator. When I push the call button, the doors open immediately and we step inside.
Raina’s eyes track me as I press the button for the roof. “Where are we going?”
Bringing the back of her hand to my lips, I kiss her soft skin. “You’ll see. How was the rest of your day?”
“You mean the hour we were apart?”
“Sixty-minutes is a long time.”
She rolls her eyes playfully and swats at my bicep with her free hand. “It felt like forever. It was fine. Mickey-D watched me get ready.”
“You look exquisite. Have I told you that yet?”
“More or less.”
“I’m like a moth to the flame, baby,” I tell her, cupping her cheek with one hand. With my thumb, I tip her chin, gently forcing her head back. My lips hover over hers, less than a breath away. “I can’t help but gravitate toward your light.”
The tension between us grows, and I know I could press my mouth to hers, but the sweet temptation is just as gratifying as the kiss itself.
“I love you,” she whispers, tilting her head just slightly, begging without words for me to close the distance, and I want to. Fuck, do I want to. But I also want to bring her to ruin later, so wanton and hopelessly in need of my touch, I can watch her come undone with a simple caress of my tongue.
“I love you,” I promise as the elevator dings and announces our arrival, the doors sliding open.
The temperature drops tremendously, and I lace my fingers with hers as we step out onto the rooftop.
My eyes are glued to the woman who’s captured my soul, hoping to catch every emotion as it dances across her features, and I’m rewarded with the pleasure as a small gasp leaves her.
Then, her face turns from awe to anger in the blink of an eye. My spine stiffens as her face pales, and she mutters one word that’s the last thing I expect to hear.
“Javier.”
At the sound of his name, my head snaps to where Raina is looking across the rooftop, landing on the smug bastard sitting at our table.
Radiating confidence, he swirls my wine around in a wineglass meant for the woman of my dreams as if he isn’t the object of both of our nightmares.
He has one ankle crossed over the opposite leg as he leans back in the chair, smirking.
“Motherfucker.” I stride over to him. With our fingers still laced, Raina trails behind. “What are you doing here, Javier?”
“I’ve come to see my wife,” he counters smoothly, pulling his gaze from me to Raina. “My, my. You look positively lethal, my dear.”