A rush of euphoria fills me at his confession, and I rise on my tiptoes to press my lips against his in what is definitely an “I adore you forever’ kiss. The boys return shortly afterward, and there are no more kisses.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Victoria
As I predicted, dinnertime comes and goes, and we're still at his parents’ house. We all hoped that by forgoing a dinner break, we'd finish sooner, but we're all starving. Blake caves in first, threatening to go on a hunger strike if we don't order food. Twenty minutes later, we're wolfing down tacos. Another two hours later, the gazebo is completely done.
Christopher and I drive to his apartment separately since we're both here with our cars. The new plan is for both of us to shower and then go out to explore the city, because we had some after-dinner places we wanted to visit. But once we've showered and changed—I have an overnight bag with me—it's clear we're both bone-tired.
"We can just stay in," I suggest.
"Well, I did have an indoor, nocturnal activity planned."
"You don't say. And what might that be?"
"You'll see. Follow me."
To my surprise, he leads me out of his apartment. We walk down the corridor in the opposite direction to the elevator. I've never been this way. He pushes open a door that leads to a staircase. We climb a flight of stairs and arrive in paradise.
"I completely forgot you had one of those fancy rooftops."
Christopher's building has a veri
table garden on top, with several lounge chairs and cozy sitting areas. There is also a possibility to grill up here. But the pièce de résistance, in my opinion, is the indoor heated pool, surrounded by glass walls so you can swim and have an amazing view at the same time.
"How do you already have access?" I inquire as he lets us in the pool house. When I picked up Christopher's keys, the building management said that it would be another sixty days before the residents would have access to the rooftop.
"I called in some favors for tonight." He offers me a cheeky smile.
"Of course you did. Can we use the pool?"
"Absolutely."
"Why didn't you tell me to bring a swimming suit?"
"That would’ve ruined the surprise."
Tiptoeing around the edge of the pool, I start taking off my clothes. "Underwear it is, then."
“No skinny-dipping?”
“Sorry, not gonna happen. My wild days are behind me.”
Christopher lifts an eyebrow in a silent challenge. Once we’re in our underwear only, we lower ourselves in the water.
"This is amazing," I tell him honestly, walking around in the pool. The water is pleasantly warm and covers me up to my neck. The glass walls around the pool area offer an amazing view. "I can't believe they actually build these things on top of a residential building."
"Why not?" he asks, swimming away.
"Well, it's more difficult. Sorry, just nerdy stuff. I don't want to bore you."
He smiles, swimming to back to me. "Nothing you ever say bores me."
"Aren't you a charmer," I say softly, drinking him in. Taut skin covers his torso, with shapely muscles—lean and strong—showing off just how much he likes to work out. I can barely believe this is my life now. I’m in a heated, indoor pool on a rooftop, with a gorgeous and kind man. What did I do to deserve this?
"I'm actually serious. Intelligent conversation turns me on. It also helps that your bra shifted, so your boobs are practically in my face."
I look down and groan, quickly rearranging my bra. "Just my luck, having a wardrobe mishap in front of you.”