The truth was, Ineverdid one-night stands, and the thought of dating gave me cold sweats. I hadn’t let a guy completely into my life since Christian, and that entirely ended when we went into business together. On the rare occasion that I did date, the guy normally wore a suit, not neck and knuckle tats.
Jethro pulled up to the front steps of my condo block and twisted in his seat. “See you in a few hours, Miss Landon.”
“Thanks, Jethro, you’re a true gentleman. Tell Shanna I said sorry for keeping you out so late.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He exited the car and opened my door. No matter how many times I insisted on opening it myself, he remained admirably persistent about doing his job to the best of his ability. So, if that meant my door had to be opened, he was doing it whether I wanted it or not.
I rushed a quick conversation with Roxiee while shouldering my handbag. “Take a late start tomorrow. You’ve earned a few hours' extra sleep.”
“You know I won’t,” she countered.
I swung my feet to the sidewalk. “I know, but the offer is there. Goodnight, Jethro.”
“Night, Miss Landon.”
He waited until I was safely inside the building before pulling away from the curb to drop Roxiee home.
I leaned against the elevator wall as it smoothly guided me to the third level. A buzz lingered in my veins. The atmosphere tonight was indescribable. It left me pinching myself as if it had all been a dream.
And then there was Rafael. The self-made King of the street-racing world. Idolized and lusted after. Gazed upon like he was dipped in gold. Awakening and stirring desires deep within my soul. As much as he left me acutely aware of what I was missing out on, people like him and I weren’t meant to be anything more to each other than a fleeting fantasy. A lingering impression—a mystery left in our minds that would never be solved.
I snorted and pushed off the rear wall, exiting into the long corridor. Each step of my stilettos was muted by the clean, gray carpet that led to my condo door.
Removing my heels once I got inside, I welcomed the relief of my bare feet adjusting to their normal form. I flexed my toes against the cool, wooden floorboards and sighed aloud. The reprieve on my arches was nothing short of bliss.
I passed through the shadows cast by the moon as I made my way to my bedroom. Standing at the window, I looked out over the street. The city never slept. Even at three in the morning, it was as wired as I felt.
I contemplated tonight, along with the smooth stranger I’d met. Men like him were panty-melters in search of nothing more than a good time. Yet still, tendrils of lasciviousness wove low in my abdomen. He’d looked at me like no other man had; not caring to hide the blatant desires that left my thighs clenching.
Itskedto myself and drew the curtains. My mind ran a mile a minute as I peeled off the skin-tight clothes and tossed them aside. I reached for my silk negligee and welcomed the cool fabric floating over my curves as I tugged it on. Thoughts of Rafael’s words whispering over the shell of my ear and his touch ghosting across my waist made me shiver.
My nipples pebbled against the silk as I climbed into bed, and although my body was already alight and yearning to spark, I refused to give into the needy ache that tempted my hand to travel further down my body.
Rafael Ortiz had a lot to answer for.
Although Roxiee had Googled him during the car-ride home, I lifted my phone off the nightstand and typed in his name, silently cursing him as I waited on the search to yield results.
My pulse jumped as soon as his picture appeared. The white light emanating from the screen was bright and dazzling, but it was his cocky smirk that caused my breath to snag.
Sexy. Lop-sided. The same one he wore tonight while looking me up and down. Licking places of my body that shouldn’t feel exposed under a layer of clothing.
I lost an entire hour to Rafael Ortiz—finally putting my phone down as the time clicked over to four.
In merely two hours' time, I would rise to tackle another day, propped up on Louboutin stilettos and fueled by caffeine.
Chapter 7
-Greer-
The barely-audible, double-time click of high heels hurried my way with surprising speed.
“Greer!” Roxiee hissed, arriving in my open doorway, all wild-eyed and out of breath.
I laughed, immediately knowing from her reaction that Colton had arrived. “Thanks, Rox.”
When she didn’t move and kept staring, I turned from the mirror and frowned down at my clothes.