He leans in. “I know how your pussy tastes, but aside from that, I know very little about you. Is that how you'd like to keep it,Demi?”
“I'm not sure.” My heart pounds, and while that answer may sound flirtatious, it's the truth. Barely knowing each other keeps me from having anyexpectations.
“You like us as strangers?” He smiles before touching my knee, then moves in closer—so close I can't breathe without drawing his scent deep into my lungs. “Because, there are only so many lines one can cross before a person is no longer a stranger. And I want to cross all of them with you.” His lip barely brushes mine and, just as I close my eyes, practically begging for a kiss, he settles back against hisseat.
The tires bump over the road where it meets the start of the Brooklyn Bridge. I tense, my hands instinctively makingfists.
“Are you all right?” heasks.
I nod, forcing myself to ignore the tightening in my throat. “Yep.”
“Not a fan ofbridges?”
“Nope. I avoid them at allcosts.”
“Avoiding the things you're afraid of only gives them power overyou.”
The arrogant bastard. “Yeah, well, I've acceptedit.”
I stare at the floorboard until we've crossed the bridge, then I take a deep breath. The vehicle winds around the exit and stops at a green light, the driver honking at a group of jaywalkers. Finally, we stop in front of a looming building. The door promptly opens, revealing a man in a suit waiting at the curb. He lends his hand to help me out while Elijah struts around the back of thecar.
Dusting invisible lint from his shirt, he leans through the passenger window. “Thank you, Simon,” he says. “I'll see youtomorrow.”
Elijah guides me along the tree-dotted pathway that leads to thebuilding.
I stare at the line zigzagging around the corner. “That's an impressiveline.”
“It is a rather exclusive, rooftopbar.”
We amble past the waiting crowd, garnishing several nasty glares in the process. Uneasiness tightens my chest as we go straight to the front of the line. Part of me wants to turn and apologize to the people behind us, but that would only make this moreawkward.
The doorman nods at Elijah. “Mr. Banks. Pleasure to see you this evening.” He slides a black velvet rope out of our way and allows us through. As if on cue, the glass door in front of us glides open. A heavenly mixture of lavender and vanilla envelops me as Elijah escorts me thru the stylish lobby filled with sleek, stainless steel tables and lounges with faux fur. We pass a suspended stairwell held by nearly invisible cables. Behind the concierge desk, water trickles down a concrete wall. This is urban elegance at itsfinest.
A bellhop waits beside the elevator. The doors ping open. He reaches inside and presses a button. “Enjoy your evening, Mr. Banks.” He backs away with a slightbow.
“Wow,” I mutter once we’re closedinside.
Elijah shrugs a single shoulder, that sexy, arrogant smirk nearly permanent on his face. “I aim to please. On most days atleast.”
“How do you know that was an impressed wow, and not a ‘wow this isridiculous’?”
“Wasit?”
“Maybe…”
His teeth rake over his bottom lip, his gaze dragging across my body like I'm something he intends to ruin. I shift on my feet when he takes a step toward me. All the sordid text exchanges run through my mind. And I'm not ready for…whatever's going through hishead.
“So, you're a regular here?” Iblurt.
His gaze drops to the floor on a half-laugh. “Yes, we're becoming less of strangers by themoment.”
The elevator opens, and the warm, summer breeze creepsinside.
“After you.” Elijah holds out his arm, allowing me to exitfirst.
An unobstructed view of the East River and the glittering Manhattan skyline greets me when I step onto the rooftop. Lady Liberty stands to the side, dwarfed by the massive structures. From here, I can appreciate the size of thecity.
“You never realize how big it is when you're in the middle of it,” I say, hypnotized by the sight in front ofme.
