by Kitty Cox
"Parking garage is on the right. What kind of kiss was it?"
"The kind a girl remembers and compares others against."
She slowed down and turned in, following his directions to a parking spot. Adam didn't try to rush around to get her door, he just stepped out, grabbing the pair of dessert boxes. Somehow, it made her feel like an equal, not a possession. She wondered if he was like that with all his dates. Probably not, since he never brought them home. She was seeing the real man, not the one that played the part of the millionaire playboy.
"So, do you always wear a suit?" she asked, reaching up to take his arm.
"Fuck, no. I usually game in my underwear. Jeans and a t-shirt when I'm not at work." He leaned back and looked at her ass. "Yeah, glad I told QQ to get the tiny shirts. That's gonna be a nice view in Columbus."
"Perv!"
"I did warn you." He pulled open the door and led her into a lovely reception area.
Before they got halfway across, a sharply dressed man hurried to press the button for the elevator. "Good evening, Mr. Degrass," he said with a bob of his head.
"Thanks, Allen."
The door slid open just as they reached the doors. It was probably an art the staff had perfected. Kate couldn't help but look around, shocked to see how the other half lived. Quite a few people were looking back, sizing her up. The men seemed simply curious, but the women glared, daggers in their eyes.
When the doors closed and the elevator started to move, Kate breathed a soft laugh. "Wow, it's like walking a lamb before the lions."
"Yes, but they usually keep the crazies out of my apartment." He turned to face her, twining his finger in one of the dangling curls. "You know someone is calling the local tabloids already, right?"
"No, I didn't even think of that."
He shrugged. "Welcome to my life."
Then the elevator chimed and slid open. The hall was long and empty, only a pair of doors at either end. Adam turned her to the right, shifting his hand to the small of her back as they walked the length of it. When they finally reached the door, he unlocked it but paused before pushing it open.
"I think you're the only person, outside Nancy's family, that's ever been here." Then he turned the knob and let her in.
Kate stepped into a world of dreams. The far wall was nothing but windows, looking out over the town. The living room was decorated in shades of white, black, and grey, the colors strong and stark, and the space was large enough to host a basketball game. She made it a few steps in and shrugged off her shoes, but didn't stop looking around wide-eyed.
"This is huge!"
"Yeah." He tossed his coat across the arm of a chair and started loosening his tie. "Lemme put our dessert in the fridge."
"Sure." Kate kept walking to the window. "You can see forever. And there's a deck?"
"Yeah, half the building. Infinity pool on the other side, off the bedroom."
She moved into a formal dining area, following the sound of his voice. "How many bedrooms?"
"Four. Two living areas. I call one the study." He stepped around the corner. "Wanna see?" He gestured for her to follow, heading down a long, hardwood hall. At the end was another open space. "Heaven."
Kate stepped into the room and gasped. Again, the wall was floor to ceiling windows, but in the center was a media station. "Desk" didn't come close to describing it. Massive monitors bent around the chair creating a panoramic view. The computer sat on a shelf, lights twinkling as the fans whirred. Behind it, facing the view, was a thickly padded leather chair, the kind a person could live in.
"That's amazing," she breathed, moving closer.
Adam chuckled and bent to press the power button. "The secret to my success. I can see bad guys in surround." The screen blazed to life and Windows loaded quickly. "All the toys, from the practical to a few things that are just stupid."
"You are going to have to let me run a few lives."
"Later. First, you get to see my second love, and the reason I put up with the shit downstairs." He crooked a finger and backed out.
Heading the other direction down the hallway, he turned left, pressing a button on the wall. The glass slid back, granting access to the deck. "The wind up here can get chilly."
"I think I'm fine," Kate assured him, stepping outside.
Adam gestured to the side, pointing out the shimmering floor that was really made of water. It was the infinity pool. The water was so calm it almost looked like glass, reflecting back the stars in the sky. "This side is cold, but over there it's heated. Coming out here, it's like entering limbo. Just me and the sky."
"And the whole world below," she said, moving to the rail. "This is lovely."
He moved behind her, gently rubbing her shoulder. "So are you. Kate, I'm scared to touch you, afraid I'm going to hit a bruise or lean too far into your space."
She looked back at him slightly. "I'm not made of glass."
"No, but that doesn't mean you aren't allowed to be fragile."
The backs of his knuckles slid across her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into it, turning toward him. His other hand moved to the side of her jaw, and he stepped closer, his body just brushing hers.
"I don't ever want to hurt you," he whispered, then his lips found hers.
Her hands twined around his back, pulling him closer, and she leaned into the heat of him. Every man she'd ever known would have taken that as permission to start groping, but not Adam. He focused on her mouth, tasting her, sampling, teasing her until she was breathless, then he kissed across her jaw, his mouth following the scar until he found her throat. There, his tongue flicked against her skin, then his teeth just taunted her flesh, and she leaned her head back. A soft moan escaped into the night.
"You need to be told you're beautiful." His voice was deep and sensual. "You deserve to be spoiled." He found her mouth again. "God, Kate, you're fucking perfect, and I'm not going to stop proving it to you until you believe me."
"Ice," she whispered clinging to him.
He smiled against her lips. "That's my girl. I might not be doing so badly after all. Now lemme take you back in before you get cold. Time to get your balance, darlin'."
Chapter 22
If she'd still been wearing heels, Kate would have tripped across the floor like an idiot. As it was, Adam wrapped his arms around her and guided her back inside while gently kissing her neck. For this moment, everything had worked out perfectly. She was living in a fairytale.
Her divorce was final. The sweet gamer guy she'd been talking to was really the sexy man she couldn't keep her eyes off. He'd bought her a car. A car! Any minute, she should be waking up - but she wasn't.
This was really happening. The brush of his lips on her throat wasn't just her imagination. The press of his rock-hard body against hers wasn't a dream. It was all too good to be true, but she wouldn't overthink this. Not tonight. Not after waiting so long.
Inside, the walls of his apartment sheltered them from the high-rise wind, and the rooms seemed to stretch on forever. With one last kiss, he released her to close the door. She missed his touch immediately.
"I think I like the balcony even more now," Adam teased, then changed the subject. "Kate, why do you always wear your hair up? I don't even know how long it is."
"It turns into a monster if I don't tame it." She shrugged and reached up, pulling out the four clips that held it in place.
Long, loose waves tumbled down, falling to the middle of her back, and she shoved her fingers against her scalp to work out the bends and kinks from having it up so long. Adam's eyes followed, greedily taking it all in. For a moment, she just stood there, the silence stretching on as his eyes roamed over her. The sexual tension was heavy in the air, almost as if they were daring each other to make the first move, but he made no effort to touch her.
With a groan, he leaned back against the wall. "Darlin', if I come any closer to you, I'm not going to act very respectably." He tried to keep his eyes on hers, but they s
lipped, dropping to her neckline before he sighed. "Kate, I really wanna impress the shit outta you, but that dress?"
What? He was just trying to be a gentleman? Well, she could fix that.
The way his eyes devoured her gave her courage. The dress made her feel sexy. His honesty empowered her. Mimicking him, Kate let her eyes slide over his body, not even trying to hide it. His expensive suit hugged every line of his chest, proving just how many muscles were under there. That vibrant magenta tie pulled her eyes lower, accenting his trim waist as it guided her inspection to the long, hard ridge visible in his pants. Yep. He wanted her.
Two steps closed the distance between them. "You like this dress?" She stood with her feet just outside his.
Adam's lips parted, and his arms moved to her waist of their own volition. She felt the bruise on her ribs, but it was no longer painful. When she didn't wince, he grew bolder, one hand moving around to the dip just above her ass, pressing her into him, the other sliding up, between her breasts, over her bare clavicle, to her neck. His fingers just grazed the surface, sending chills across her skin that raced to her nipples, making them ache for more.
His hand kept moving up to her jaw, tracing along it to pause just under her chin, holding her eyes to his. "Kate, listen to me." When she opened her mouth to say something, his thumb brushed her lower lip, and he shook his head. "No, darlin', listen. I've seen fashion models, actresses, and porn stars." He shifted his hips closer, his erection pressing into her soft belly. "But none of them could get me so hard it hurts. I told you, this game we're playing, whatever it ends up being? Yeah, you're the one makin' the calls." His voice was rough with desire. "But if you don't stop me, I'm gonna touch you in a very inappropriate manner."
She never looked away from his deep brown eyes as her hands followed the smooth planes of his chest until they stopped at the buttons near his throat. Slowly, she worked them free, moving lower with each one. "You assured me that you're not my boss, Mr. Degrass."
His eyes closed and he moaned in the back of his throat. "Yeah, it's still there." Then he kissed her.
Everything Adam did was calculated. He never lost his patience. He refused to let anything rush him. He was the IceMan. Her lips parted, and his tongue slid across hers, teasing, barely touching, exploring her mouth. His lips marked each attempt with a silken caress, the sound subtle, drowned out by the volume of their breath. Her body screamed for its own share of the attention, and just when she was ready to demand, his hand moved to her shoulder, gently guiding the delicate strap down her arm.
His fingers grazed her skin, tingling with electricity as a prelude to the flames of his mouth that followed. Kate leaned her head back, granting him access to her neck and shoulders, and he worshiped each inch of skin he could reach, the touches feather light. She'd never felt anything like this. She'd never known such simple contact could drive her so delirious. She wanted it to never end. She wanted him to rip her clothes off and throw her into a bed.
She just wanted him.
"Adam," Kate begged, her voice raw with need. "Please."
"I'm not fucking you in the hall," he whispered. "But if you let me, I am going to make you feel so good tonight, darlin'."
His arms moved her back, turning her gently, and he guided her down the hall with the pressure of his body. With each step, his hands explored sensually, tracing a line down the inside of her arm, caressing the edge of her pelvis, or sweeping across her collarbone. His lips moved across her neck, taking their turns with a flick of his tongue or the hint of his teeth, finding the sweetest spots. Each touch was erotic torture, a promise of what he could command her body to do. She could barely think, barely breathe, and they were both completely clothed!
Then he turned her into a darkened room, the only lights coming from the city that made up the wall. She saw the dark shadow of a bed and looked over her shoulder, finding his eyes. They reflected back the pinpricks of light like stars. He looked at the bed, then back to her.
"Kate, please don't do this if you don't want to. I'll wait. I'll back off. I'll prove to you I'm serious, but..." He took a deep breath and stepped around to face her. "I don't just want you for one night. I want you, and I want all of you for as long as I can keep your attention."
She barely nodded, hearing his words without truly understanding them. It felt like someone had just placed her in a story that was too good for her to star in it. "Ice, I'm still shit in bed."
Adam smiled. "I'm willing to take that risk. Are you?"
Yes! Oh yes, she wanted him to keep touching her, but she had to be smart about this. "What happens Monday?"
"I'll play any game you want me to, darlin', but I'm still not your boss. I'm actually allowed to date you."
She bit her lip. "Then I think you're wearing too many clothes."
Grabbing the end of his tie, she pulled him closer for another kiss, not even caring that she had none of the restraint he showed. The sound of his voice drove her wild, the feel of his hands made her want to beg for more, and she had to see what was really under that suit. His fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her head back. While she pulled the loose knot of his tie free, Adam devoured her neck, his nails trailing a line down her spine to the zipper of her dress, pushing it lower at a maddeningly slow rate.
"God," she growled, "I know where you got your name." She shoved open his shirt.
He laughed against her shoulder before kissing her again. "My cold calculation in combat?"
She caught his mouth, their lips tangling for a moment before her teeth captured his lower one. She held it for a split second. "Cool under pressure?"
"Definitely under pressure." He got her zipper all the way down. "Trying not to explode."
Adam pulled his hands away only long enough to yank off his tie, then grabbed her again, caressing the bare skin of her back. Slowly, piece by piece, they worked each other out of their clothes. Kate slid off his shirt while Adam teased her dress down, caressing every inch of flesh as it was exposed. His mouth found her breast, sucking at it through the lace of her bra as his feet shoved off his shoes, his tongue distracting her completely. She gasped, arching into him, and her dress hit the floor.
"Holy shit," he breathed, pulling back to look at her.
She knew her ribs were still bruised, but his look wasn't one of shock. It was awe. He took in every inch of her, consuming her in a way no man ever had, and her body responded to the devotion. He made her feel beautiful, and she relished in it. As Adam leaned away to pull his arms from his sleeves, Kate stepped back, reaching behind her to free her bra.
He smiled. "The panties too." He unbuckled his belt, watching.
Like a temptress, she hooked her fingers in the straps over her hips, easing them ever lower, watching as his chest heaved with each panting breath. She'd always thought bodies like his were airbrushed, painted to perfection, but he looked like a statue cast in reflected starlight and the glare of the city below. She wanted to touch him, to cling to him, to feel him pin her beneath his mass. While he worked his pants free, she wanted to remember every line of his perfect body. Her heart was pounding, her pulse throbbing between her legs, demanding its share of attention. She was ready to start begging.
He knew. He knew what every glance, every touch, every passionate breath was doing to her. He tried to say she was in control, but she wasn't. Adam was playing her body like an instrument, driving her higher than she'd ever been, yet he'd barely done more than kiss her.
Finally free of his clothes, he stepped into her, wrapped his arms around her back, and kissed her harder than he ever had before. Deep, demanding, needing, their mouths clashed as he stepped her back, lowering her into the soft faux fur comforter. His mouth moved lower, soft moans caught on his breath. She tried to cling to him, but he moved even lower, teasing her stomach, kissing the dimple of her belly button. His breath caressed the hollow of her hip, then his tongue lapped gently at the crease of her leg, begging. His shoulders shifted, one arm moving under h
er knee.
Kate tensed, knowing what came next. He'd lick, suck, and nibble. She'd have to pretend, wishing for what she really wanted, while he slobbered all over her. But he changed the rules. His tongue slid across her clit, needing no exploration to find it, and sparks shot to her core. Kate gasped, her hips pressing into him as her legs opened, and he rewarded her. She felt his fingers slide deep inside as his tongue worked harder, faster, his hand following the rhythm of her hips.
It had never been like this before. Her hands fisted in the dense material beneath her, clutching at the fur to hold her in reality. "Adam! God, I'm gonna..."
Two fingers pressed against her core, stroking her from within. "Yes, darlin'. You're gonna cum so hard." He blew gently then increased his efforts.
It was too much. She couldn't tell where one part of him ended and the next began. Every lick, suck and thrust blurred into continuous pleasure, building to something amazing. Just when she thought she couldn't take anymore, he proved her wrong, shifting his hand or his mouth until her body simply surrendered, shattering at his command. Every muscle tensed, waves washing over her, and Kate didn't even try to contain the primal sound ripped from her lungs.
As the ecstasy subsided, she panted, her body limp in his arms. Adam kissed the inside of her thigh and pulled away, sliding off the end of the bed. She felt his weight leave and opened her eyes, about to sit up.
He chuckled softly. "Relax, I'm not done with you."
"Dear, god," she breathed.
"No, darlin', not even close." He pulled open a drawer in his nightstand, reaching inside.
Kate closed her eyes and shook her head. "You're such a player, aren't you." Oddly, she was amused, not offended.
At first, the sound of the condom packet ripping seemed to be the only answer she'd get. He said nothing, rolling it on, then pressed his knee into the bed before crawling across her body.
"I never know what answer you're going to like the most." He kissed her jaw, his body held above hers, out of reach. "So I'll just be honest. Kate, I bought those yesterday. I've never had a woman in this bed." His mouth moved down her neck.
