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“It’s fine. I’ve been better for ages, not a single twinge.”

“Yes but—” Before I could say more, everyone began chanting, “Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!” and then she was gone, squat kicking her way towards Lou like some traditional Slavic folk dancer.

“Ah, hell,” I groaned, powerless to prevent their idiocy. If she seriously hurt herself, we’d have a personal injury claim to deal with. She’d just escaped the hospital last time, but it spooked Uncle Fred enough that he officially banned this song.

Well, there was nothing I could do to stop them now. Besides, it always cracked me up when they started lip syncing to the lyrics, somehow coming to the decision that Lisa would do the male part, while Lou did the female. Even Katy, who stood on the periphery of the circle, was smiling in amusement. Like a dog with a bone, Lou saw her watching and started dancing towards her, but when she saw him coming, her cheeks flamed bright red before she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

“That is quite the dance routine,” Tristan said, his heat suddenly behind me, scorching through my dress.

“They got it from some video game, practiced it for weeks before showcasing it for everyone. They were so proud of themselves,” I replied, chuckling at the memory just as Tristan brought his arm around my waist, his hand pressing to my stomach. Everyone was too busy watching Lou and Lisa to notice the intimate way he was touching me.

“Want to get out of here for a little while?” he asked, and I was powerless to do anything other than nod my head.

Moments later, we’d left the disco and headed for the elevator. Ever since Tristan and I had gotten stuck on it, I’d been taking the stairs, though oddly, tonight I wouldn’t mind if it got stuck. Luckily, it didn’t. We had just enough time for Tristan to pull my body into his, pressing his face to the hollow of my neck and breathing in, sending a riot of butterflies through me before the doors slid open. We’d arrived on the top floor, and Tristan guided me towards the roof terrace. I hadn’t been up here in a while, mostly because my workdays were flat out, and I didn’t have time. I also hadn’t been here at night yet.

When I stepped out onto the dark terrace, my breath caught because I could see so many stars shining in the sky. Tristan walked over and flipped a switch, turning on a few low lamps. Then he walked back over to the door, digging in his pocket for a key before turning the lock.

My heart hammered like a drum in my ears.

When he turned back around, his eyes practically glittered as bright as the stars above us.

“We won’t be disturbed,” he said, and my feet were moving of their own accord, closing the distance between us.

19.

Erin

My mouth crashed into his desperately, my arms reaching up to wrap around his neck. Tristan’s arms slipped easily about my waist, tugging me close enough to feel the stiff length in his pants. His tongue sank hungrily into my mouth, his breathing rough in my ears.

From his chest came a deep, sensuous rumble, and I yelped when he suddenly picked me up, carrying me over to a sun bed before laying me down. He knelt at the foot of the bed, taking me in, his eyes eating me up as his gaze traversed my body.

“Not quite my office desk,” he said, his lips curving into a smile full of masculine satisfaction. When he looked back at me his eyes were sinful. “Eating you out under stars will be memorable though.”

I gasped when he reached for my boot, deftly lowering the zip and pulling it off before going for the other one. His palm slid over my ankle, and my skin ignited at his touch. Then it went higher, massaging my calf and sending a flutter of need right between my thighs.

Oh, this? This. I was so done for.

It was a warm, balmy night, and I closed my eyes, savouring the feel of his careful fingers undressing me while the air caressed my skin. I was struck with the sudden understanding that this powerful, self-assured man was perfectly happy to make me the centre of his world. Not only that, he wanted to be the one to make me feel good and not just be on the receiving end.

The mattress dipped when he came to kneel between my legs.

“Open your eyes, Erin.”

His voice was pure gravel. I felt his heat just as I opened them and his face was right there, more handsome than should be humanly possible. He kissed me once, gently, then asked low, “Do you want me to make you come?”

I nodded, barely able to form words when I breathed, “That would be … nice.”

Bloody hell, why did my brain refuse to come up with a different word? I was a mess. A hot, horny mess.

His smirk was intolerably charming. “Do you know what?” he said, confident and sexy and completely irresistible. “It will be nice.”

Then he brought his mouth to my neck before nuzzling my cleavage, letting out a deep groan as he did so. He continued his descent, just as he’d described to me earlier, his hands pushing up the hem of my dress to reveal the black lacy underwear I’d put on underneath.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t put them on hoping that Tristan might see them, especially since I’d come to the hotel intent on telling him my decision. That I wanted to be with him.

He dragged a palm over his face as he looked his fill. “Fuck.” Now he was the one getting flustered, and I felt a shimmer of power float through me. A moment later, both his hands lifted the waistband of my underwear and tugged them down my thighs. I lifted my bottom, allowing him to pull them completely off, feeling exhilarated and free to be doing this out in the open air. It was illicit yet safe. Not only because I knew the door was locked and that no one could walk out here and catch us in the act, but also because this was Tristan. I’d always felt so protected with him, like nothing bad could happen while he was near.

We were also up high enough that none of the nearby buildings overlooked the terrace.