He wrapped his arms around my waist. “Oh yeah?”
I nodded.
Christian’s eyes dropped to my mouth, and we both moved at the same time, closing the distance between us. The minute our lips fused, my entire body lit up. Slow lasted all of five seconds. One of Christian’s hands slid up to my neck and squeezed, while the other hoisted me closer to him. Neither one of us seemed to be able to get close enough. We’d taken too long and had so much pent-up frustration to let loose. My hands curled into the back of his T-shirt, bunching the material into my fists as Christian used the hand at my neck to tilt my head and deepen the kiss. Oh God. We’d definitely waited too long. Way, way too long. I wanted to strip the man naked right here in the outdoors and climb him like a freaking tree. Christian groaned, and the sound traveled through our joined lips and straight down between my legs. His body hardened beneath me, and I knew it would only take sliding back and forth a few times for the friction to set me off. And I was considering doing it, until Christian wrenched his mouth from mine.
“No…” I panted. “Don’t stop yet.”
Christian’s breathing was harsh. He leaned his forehead against mine. “Someone’s coming.”
“What?” I glanced around to find a car pulling over next to the picnic table we were making out on. I hadn’t even heard them coming. “Shit…” I went to climb off, but Christian hauled me back. Instead, he turned me and positioned me to sit between his legs.
“You need to stay right here, sweetheart,” he whispered. “Or we’re about to greet whoever this lady is with an extra arm.”
A blond woman parked and got out of the car. She had on a pair of high heels and dangled a purse from her forearm, walking toward us like she was Elle Woods. “Hi. I’m sorry to interrupt. I’m Cat Block, the real estate agent you spoke to.”
Christian’s head dropped, and he groaned quietly. “Great.”
I stood and reached out my hand. “Hi. I’m Bella, and this is Christian.”
Christian stood and did the same, but was careful to keep his body positioned behind mine.
She looked over at the bicycles. “Are those yours?”
Christian nodded. “I wanted to see the entire property, including the areas the car can’t make it to.”
Cat smiled. “Smart. Well, I just thought I’d stop by and see if you have any questions. How do you like the property so far?”
He squeezed my hip. “I like it a lot.”
“Great. I’ll let you finish your tour and give you a call tomorrow to see what you’re thinking.”
Christian nodded. “Thank you.”
We waved as she pulled away.
“Did she say her name was Cat Block or Cock Block?” Christian groaned.
I laughed. “I didn’t even hear her pull up.”
I turned around and rested my palms flat on Christian’s chest with a sigh. “That was some kiss.”
Christian smiled warmly and stroked hair away from my face. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I met you.”
“Uhh, the first time you met me, I lectured you about sexually harassing women.”
He grinned. “I know. You were so cute and serious. And your glasses were crooked. Sort of like they are now again.”
“Are they?” I reached up and righted them, or at least I attempted to. “I fall asleep with them on all the time, and then they get a little bent. I should just wear contacts.”
“Nah.” Christian leaned in and dropped a sweet kiss on the tip of my nose. “They’re like you, a little warped.”
We spent another hour riding bikes before we ventured back to Christian’s car. As we got on the highway and headed back to the City, Christian entwined our fingers and lifted our joined palms to his lips, dropping a sweet kiss on the top of my hand. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m actually starving.”
“Would you want to come back to my place? We can order in? I liked it being only the two of us today, and I’m not ready to share you with people yet.”
How could I say no when he asked like that? Plus, I didn’t want to share him either, and there was a good chance that would happen based on how often he got recognized when we went places. I looked over and smiled, doing something I never do—answering without any internal debate. “I’d like that.”
CHAPTER 16
* * *
BELLA
Christian’s building was nothing like mine. He lived in a modern high rise with a doorman and lobby that had thirty-foot ceilings. We’d walked in at the same time as a guy about our age wearing a suit. It wasn’t lost on me that the staff called him Mr. Waxman, while I noticed Christian was just Christian.
Inside the elevator, Christian inserted a keycard into the panel, and thirty-four illuminated without needing to push any buttons. When we arrived on that floor, Christian put his hand on my back so I’d walk in first. I’d expected to enter a hall, but the foyer we stepped into was actually part of his apartment. And it opened to a jaw-dropping view of Manhattan.