I smiled as Patrick growled again as I kissed him. To a degree, I could even control Patrick.
He pushed me against the elevator wall and kissed me harder, his hands roaming my body, and I gasped at the perfect mix of roughness and respect as he palmed my breast and found my nipple through the fabric of my black knit dress with the pad of his thumb.
I wanted to bare all of myself to him and see how well he could make my body sing. Already, I didn’t doubt he could do that.
“Not here.” He stepped back, and I choked on a giggle.
How far would I have been prepared to go inside the elevator? That was definitely unlike me. I was a creature comforts kind of girl, usually wanting a mattress at least. Or the soft back of a couch to bend over.
The thought made me wet, and Patrick’s nostrils flared.
“Come into my condo.” His voice was rough as he grabbed my hand and jabbed the button to get the doors that had probably been open once already, but the machine had grown bored waiting and sealed us back inside.
His hand was warm and I entwined my fingers with his, grateful for his presence when I’d been so adrift earlier. I was still separated from myself, but this was a different kind of feeling because I wanted it. I was setting myself off course, and trusting Patrick to help navigate.
Transferring some of the responsibility to someone else helped.
And there was definitely something between us. Curiosity. Chemistry. A trust level I couldn’t really explain. I felt safe and I wanted him to want me. To know me in ways others hadn’t.
I was ready to let my guard down tonight. There was definitely freedom in being anonymous. And maybe a kind of acceptance I hadn’t expected.
I trusted Patrick. On an instinctive level, everything was okay with him. I’d known that even in the bar. There was power within the man that my wolf responded to.
But when I entered his condo, directly from the elevator, I stopped. His scent surrounded me, and I relaxed into it.
The view through the windows was incredible, too. We weren’t in the highest building in the city, but the huge floor to ceiling windows made it seem like we were right back outside, part of the sky and among the stars. It captured my attention, stealing me away from the moment.
I wandered closer to the door that led to the balcony, aware of Patrick following behind me, his gaze white-hot on my back. My skin prickled with his proximity as I took in everything around me. This was a truly incredible space and I turned in a slow twirl, enjoying the way Patrick watched me, like he was a predator. His gaze raked over me, and the sensation was almost a physical touch.
Shivers ran through me as he reached past to unlock the balcony door with a simple flick of his wrist, the key silently turning.
He pushed the door open and I leaned against the frame as he wandered back to a bar close by. His footsteps were silent as he padded across the floor, and again, he gave the impression of something predatory. His presence filed the whole space.
Lust and desire and pride shone on him as he lifted a drink to his lips, his gaze still on me as I alternately looked between his expectant face, and the incredible view from his balcony. The best towers and monuments in the city were being showcased here, like someone had captured them in a picture frame. The park lay, spread out at ground level, like a carpet of green, and lights twinkled everywhere. The sky was dusky violet, with a sprinkling of stars.
I glanced towards the other side of the balcony.
“Wow.” I stepped closer to the pool. It glowed blue from the tiny lights between the tiles beneath the surface, and heat rose from it in plumes of twisting steam.
It tempted me, and I took another step closer.
“You can use the pool any time.” Patrick’s voice was low. Another source of temptation.
And his words held just the right amount of challenge and permission.
I glanced over my shoulder, and he nodded.
Mischief took me, and I peeled my dress over my body, unclipped my bra, and stepped out of my panties. Without facing Patrick, I dove into the pool, slicing cleanly into the water, and I coveted the warm embrace of the liquid surrounding me, luxuriating in it, as I swam below the surface.
I glanced up, taking note of Patrick’s shimmering form walking closer, before stopping at the edge. He still wore his suit and he looked down at me.
Watching me again.
As I broke the surface, I turned onto my back and floated lazily away from him, enjoying his gaze on my body. Hie eyes lit with desire, and he took a long, slow sip of his drink, the crystal tumbler catching the light and scattering rainbows through the air.
I twisted and turned in the water, enjoying the sinuous movement of my body as I swam slowly to the side flanked by doors that opened into a bedroom, before swimming back to the edge where Patrick stood.
He took another slow sip of his drink as his soft green eyes met mine. There was something sage-like about them. Woodland sprite rather than anything electric. Like I could fall into them and be safe and comforted in my soft landing.