He dipped her low, and she looked up into his face, his blue eyes sparkling at her with the depth of a clear Arctic stream. He was everything she could have ever wanted – if only her father weren’t in the way or his father’s expectations. If only things were different. He pulled her back to his chest, and the warmth of his embrace made her feel safer than she’d ever felt, like she could never bear to break away. Looking over his shoulder, Jessica could just peer out and see the crowd looking at them. The paps were taking a million photos, the flashes sparking in her eyes and blinding her. It made her feel like a celebrity, too.
So very impossible, all of it.
So much like a dream.
He drew her closer to him, and she felt the press of his erection against her hips, more intimacy between them. It could have been just the two of them swaying in time to the music, together in the lost, slow rhythm of the jazz around them. Even with all the bright light bulb flashes and all the prying eyes, the world fell away, and it was if she were alone with her Prince Charming.
The song came to an end, and Brent grinned. The next song was a more raucous blues number, something more fun but they danced together through it, him spinning and dipping her like a pro. Then the next dance. And the next. Half the night seemed to fly by in a riot of colors, feelings, and emotions. All of it based on being drawn to him, being consumed by him.
After what felt like hours, he kissed her temple and gestured toward the far end of the room.
“There’s a balcony out there overlooking the San Diego harbor. I’d like to show you everything.”
She followed him, almost floating off to the balcony as if she were in a dream. He shut the door behind him, and she was surprised to see how remote it was. No one else was on the wide veranda, and the windows behind them were tinted so darkly she couldn’t see back through them. A growth of ivy sprung up around the edges of the railing and cast large corners of the porch in the darkest shadows. However, in the middle of the balcony, she and he were able to walk out and see the most beautiful view of the harbor. Large sailboats glided through the sea silently, power boats puttered around, and lights danced on the surface like fireflies.
She leaned against him, relishing all of it.
“It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said. “This might seem nuts, but the balcony was set up tonight to lock behind us. No one is supposed to be out here but us for a little bit. I wanted to just have some privacy with you.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
He reached down and slid his fingers under the fabric of her dress, sliding his hands up the slit in her thigh and teasing at her hips. “You’re beautiful, and you’re mine, and I wanted to have you all to myself as much as I could. Not hiding at all.”
She gestured to her mask, “Within reason.”
“Yes, but my security detail has the balcony blocked off from guests and, as you can see, it’s easy to be discreet here.”
She swallowed again, that cotton ball sensation in her throat warring with the heat flaring through her belly and surging to her core. She needed to tell him about the twins, but tonight was the last night they’d have as just two lovers. Tomorrow the burdens and choices of being parents (God, if he even wants that) would be upon them. She wanted to enjoy this. So far, she had been. Jessica had allowed herself to be swept up in the fantasy; now, she was open to anything else that Brent wanted.
Any pleasure they could share for possibly the last time.
“Then what did you have in mind?”
He smirked toward the darkest corner of the balcony, one obscured not just by ivy but by the stone wall of the hotel as well. “I want to make love to you out here, in the open air.”
“Your bad boy ways?”
“Oh, I don’t intend to get caught at all, sweetheart.”
She smirked. “I don’t either, but I want to do something else for you.” Reaching down, she let her hand stray over the bulge of his erection. “Do you trust me?”
“With everything.”
They scurried to the darkened, secret corner with all the calm and restraint of two teenagers. She couldn’t help it. Her whole life, she’d been the good girl. Now, she was blatantly aware that Brent brought out her impulsive side. Weren’t the twins proof enough of that? One more night of throwing caution to the wind was probably all she had left, and she hadn’t done one thing for him yet.
She wanted to.
Jessica wanted to make him scream in every way possible, in every way that left his blood pumping in his veins and him begging for more.
She smiled up at him and pushed at his shoulders, cajoling him up against the way. The hint of mint and ivy hit her nose, and the foliage around her was adding to the whole wildness of the experience. Slowly, she got to her knees and grinned up at him.