“Ah, but there’s a roof, and whoever lives on the top floor has access to it from this stairway.”
“Excellent.”
“I’ll go first. Just stay close.”
“Can I leave my purse down here?”
“Sure. Hang it on the railing and we’ll pick it up on the way down.”
Hooking the purse strap over the rail, she followed him up the metal staircase. Cool air rushed out when he opened a door at the top of the tiny landing. He stood outside on the roof and made sure she didn’t trip on the sill as she stepped through.
Just like that, she was outside and four stories above the bustle of the city. Because she was in New York City, a town bristling with lights, she couldn’t see stars overhead. She could barely make out the moon, but it was there, a silver crescent shining directly above them.
She smelled freshly turned earth and blooming plants before spotting the shadowy outline of a roof-top terrace. Four sturdy posts supported a lattice cover that would provide dappled shade by day. The terrace was furnished in rustic cedar, including a small table, two chairs, and two lounges.
Stepping onto the wooden decking, she marveled at the array of fragrant flowers in pots and young trees in oversized planters. Quentin must have hired a crane to get the trees up here. Canvas cushions on the chairs and lounges smelled and looked new.
“Hang on a second.” Releasing her hand, he opened a small chest that served as an end table and took out a butane lighter. In seconds he’d lighted several votives. “That’s better.”
The flickering candlelight allowed her to see the yellow of the cushions and the color of the flowers, which were vivid red, yellow, and purple. She turned to Quentin, who looked quite pleased with himself. “This is a very romantic spot, you know.”
“Thanks.”
“If there’s no girlfriend, then I assume you’re looking for one so you can wow her with this hideaway.” Nadia hoped that future girlfriend would appreciate how much work had gone into Quentin’s little bit of paradise on the roof.
He laid the butane lighter on the chest and drew her into his arms. “Maybe I just want to wow a prospective tenant.”
“If I thought I’d spend enough time in New York to justify the cost, I’d rent it from you in a heartbeat. You had me with the chandelier.”
He nestled her closer. “So do it.”
He was aroused, his erection straining the denim of his jeans. Moisture gathered between her thighs as her body reacted to his. She wound her arms around his neck and breathed in his woodsy male scent. “I won’t be here often enough.” Although more frequent trips would be a great excuse to see Quentin . . .
He cupped her bottom and brought her in tight. “I could make it worth your while.”
Heat flooded through her at the thought of coming to New York to enjoy more nights like this. “You’re tempting me.”
“That’s the idea.” His mouth found hers, and the time for discussion was definitely over.
CHAPTER THREE
Kissing Nadia was like Christmas and his birthday rolled into one. Quentin had fantasized about kissing her for so long that the reality could have been a letdown. It wasn’t.
Savoring her mouth and using his tongue to tell her of his ultimate intentions, he gave thanks for his dual nature. Being able to take either human or wolf form meant he’d have twice the pleasure of making love to her.
Weres enjoyed a rich sex life. Besides being able to experience both wolf and human sex, Weres had no need for condoms. They were immune to disease and couldn’t create offspring unless they’d committed to a mate for life.
He wanted to begin their sexual adventure in human form so that he could appreciate her hot mouth and her soft skin. But he also craved the deep satisfaction of joining as wolves. That might not happen tonight, but maybe, just maybe, there were other nights in their future.
Having her rent this loft was a new and exciting concept, one that could work out nicely for both of them, at least until she chose a mate. In the meantime, he could be her very accommodating landlord.
But that was a future dream. The present was far more tantalizing as he began undressing her. She was heaven to touch as he skimmed away the orange number that had been driving him crazy all night.
It came off easily, as if she’d designed it that way. After he’d unfastened a couple of ties, it slid down to pool at her feet like melted sherbet.
Releasing her for a brief moment, he leaned over, gathered up her dress, and laid it on the arm of a chair. Something that special should be treated with care.
He turned back to discover that she’d unfastened her bra. His breath caught. Holding his gaze, she slowly revealed her high, perfectly formed br**sts. They quivered slightly as she tossed the bra to the same chair that held her dress. Her lithe beauty robbed him of speech.
As he watched in total fascination, afraid that at any moment he’d awake from this dream, she shimmied out of her silk panties. They joined her other clothes on the chair.
That left her standing before him, a vision of rosy skin and dark glossy hair, wearing only her very high, very sexy, silver heels. She started to slip them off.
“No, don’t.” His voice was hoarse with lust. “I love those shoes on you.”
She laughed, a husky sound filled with feminine power and desire. “I thought you loved the dress on me, too.”
“I do, but the dress was in the way.” His gaze swept over her, memorizing each slender curve gilded by candlelight. “The shoes aren’t.”
“If you say so.” She gestured toward him. “You’re way behind.”
“Easily fixed.” He pulled his shirt over his head without unbuttoning it and nudged off his loafers.
“Wait.”
“Wait?” He paused in confusion.
“What if I want you to keep your shoes on?”
She was teasing him, and that was okay. They probably needed to dial back the intensity if they expected to come out of this in one piece, able to walk away from each other when circumstances changed. “You wearing high heels while I do you is provocative. Me wearing loafers while you do me, not so much.” He unzipped his jeans.
“Says you.”
“Says anybody with any sense.” He shoved his jeans and briefs down over his almost painful erection and stepped out of them. Then he quickly pulled off both socks, which weren’t any sexier than the loafers had been.
Her eyes shone as she gazed at him. Then she took a long, shaky breath and smiled. “You’re right. Don’t change a thing.”
A gentle breeze swirled around them, immersing him in her exotic scent. If he were in wolf form, he would have howled at the moon. Then he could have taken her without worrying about where they were standing.
But he was not a wolf at the moment, and that meant they needed a soft surface. “Sorry, but I have to change one thing.”
“I hope you’re not planning to tie me up, because wearing my heels is about as far into kink as I go on a first date.”
He snorted with laughter. “No ropes.” Turning toward the chaise, he pulled the yellow cushion off and laid it on the cedar decking.
Then he held out his hand. Despite the way she’d joked around earlier, her hand trembled in his. He focused on her beautiful gray eyes as he guided her down to the cushion.
Her hair spread out over it, strands of black silk against the yellow canvas cushion. He marveled that she was here, and that a moment he’d decided might never happen was unfolding.
Leaning over her, he began a slow exploration with his mouth and tongue. All the while, her heady fragrance assailed him, tearing at his careful restraint. Then she began touching him, stroking with her magical, creative hands.
She caressed his shoulders and ran her hands down his biceps as he braced himself above her. With deliberate intent, she pressed her palm to his heart. “Your heart’s beating very fast.”
“I know.” He looked into her eyes. “I’ve wanted this for a long, long time. I’ve dreamed of you, Nadia.”
She brushed her thumbs over his n**ples. “Wet dreams?”
“Wench.” Laughing, he lowered his head to her br**sts, but as he kissed her there, all laughter faded. She was amazing, and she’d allowed him to worship her nak*d body. He was humbled.
But not so humbled that he couldn’t enjoy the bounty she offered him. Arching upward, she lifted her br**sts as if begging for more.
His c*ck ached with the need to bury itself deep within her, but he held off so that he could feast upon her br**sts. He felt himself going a little crazy as he nuzzled her satin skin and the nubby enticement of her n**ples.
She’d opened the gates to her private playground, and he wanted to sample every wonder there. Kissing his way down the valley between her ribs, he flicked his tongue into the tiny indentation of her navel and was rewarded with a soft moan.
She might expect him to seek the treasures beneath her dark curls next, but he wanted to save that for last. Instead he nibbled the inside of her thighs and caressed the length of her slender calves until he reached . . . the shoes.
They were designed with a series of straps that left her toes bare. Kneeling by her feet, he circled her ankle with his fingers and lifted her foot so that he could plant kisses on each delicate, polished toe.