He grinned. “Change the definition. You’re now purging relationships from your life. That leaves wiggle room for many, many other things.”
She widened her gaze, her eyes dancing with delight. “It does, doesn’t it?”
Yeah, he liked this woman. “It means you can come home with me tonight and we can have some fun.”
Her tempting tongue swept over her bottom lip again. “In your bed?”
He nodded, his fingers toying with her hand, his thumb pressing into her palm. “And out of it.”
Her eyes dilated, a haze of desire washing over them. “No strings.”
“None.”
“Just one night?” she asked for confirmation, her voice firm.
He grinned because he’d already won. These negotiations were just foreplay. Damn, he loved an easy win—not that he considered Jade at all easy. Just well worth his time.
“One night only,” he assured her. “Agreed?”
She leaned close, her lips inches from his. The scent of coconut aroused him more than any expensive perfume he’d ever smelled.
“Get the check, Mr. Sinclair. We have a deal.”
***
No second thoughts.Jade repeated the mantra as she accompanied Knox to the Uber he’d called to take them to his building. Her palms itched with the need to put her hands all over his muscular body, and the urge to kiss him and taste him for the first time was strong. So no apprehension, no changing her mind. She planned to enjoy tonight. Enjoy him.
Knox confirmed the address with the driver, an apartment building on the Upper East Side, a few blocks from hers. Her heart pounded hard, anticipation building inside her.
On the ride, Knox held her hand, running his thumb over the pulse point in her wrist. “Nervous?” he asked.
She let out a laugh. “Not nervous. It’s just… I don’t do this often.” Or ever.
His smile put her at ease. “I never took you as a one-night-stand kind of woman.”
“And yet, that’s all this can be.” She needed him to believe her intentions. Jade was the type of woman who usually couldn’t have sex without her emotions eventually becoming involved. But knowing what this was, and wasn’t, up-front should help.
“Because you’re on a man fast.” To his credit, he didn’t sound like he was making fun of her.
She grinned. “That and I tend to fall easily,” she admitted. “And there is no way I’m getting involved in another relationship. But one time should be safe enough.”
His sexy grin had her heart kicking harder in her chest. “Who said anything about just one time?”
She caught the naughty look in his eyes, and her panties grew damp. “You know what I mean. Tonight only.”
The car came to a stop and Knox nodded. “Don’t worry, beautiful. We’re on the same page.”
Her stomach fluttered at the endearment. He opened the door and climbed out, extending his hand to help her out of the car.
Tension built inside her as they passed the doorman, who smiled at her and acknowledged Knox by name. They took the elevator to the penthouse, the ride seeming to take forever.
Flashes of the movie Fifty Shades of Grey passed through her mind, but Knox didn’t push her against the wall and ravish her. And that was too bad—her body was hot and ready for his.
The doors opened and he pulled out his phone to scan, allowing him access. Then he extended his arm, indicating she should enter ahead of him. After stepping inside, she looked around his apartment, which was decorated professionally but with a heavy accent on the masculine feel. She loved the open space, and though she’d prefer lighter accent touches to the darker color scheme, the place was gorgeous.
“I love the decor,” she said, taking in the far windows overlooking Manhattan at night and the mocha-colored sofa, which had a comfortable, beckoning look.
“Thanks. I pretty much got what I asked for.” He glanced around the space, as if seeing it from her perspective.