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My smile widens. “Go for it.”
The hours pass easily as Aiden and I go over more ideas for the Maria King Foundation art show. He pulls out lists of names to invite, event companies to hire, and I go over art show protocol, speeches, and auction etiquette. We choose a date at the end of the month. I worry it’s too soon, but Aiden assures me he can rally up enough attendees. Besides, he reminds me, the foundation’s art shows are going to be a regular installation. A new part of the fabric of King Tech and the Maria King Foundation.
“What about the actual art?” Aiden asks at one point.
I nod, thinking. “There are lots of options. We could find a local artist willing to donate some of their work. Or we could showcase some of the students’ art.”
“This first show has to be good,” Aiden presses. “It has to be really impressive.”
I find myself laughing. “You don’t believe in the students here?”
He snorts. “I’m sorry, it’s not that. It’s just … I really want this to succeed.” He pauses for a moment, looking at me. “I want you to succeed.”
Slightly taken aback at the sincerity of his statement, I look away, smiling. “It’ll succeed,” I assure him. “Don’t worry.”
Chapter 15
Aiden
As the day draws to a close, I glance up at Lilly from across the desk. Last night had been incredible. I’d spent the rest of the evening imagining her naked body, the sounds she’d made, and jerking myself off to it in the shower. I hadn’t asked for any return of the favor. In fact, when she’d asked if I wanted her to, I’d simply shaken my head. She’d looked so confused, so shocked. It almost made me laugh.
But I hadn’t wanted her to feel uncomfortable, out of place. All I’d wanted to do was pleasure her. To focus on her. And that’s exactly what I did.
And spending all day with her today—going over work stuff, at that—has been so … easy. Like breathing. I find myself laughing over the stupidest things. Things that don’t matter. Things that are just silly.
I see Lilly glancing at the time on her phone. It’s definitely past 5 at this point.
“We should probably call it a day,” she says, glancing up at me.
“Come to my place,” I say without thinking. I don’t know what’s come over me, but I’m desperate to see more of her, to spend as much time with her as possible. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. Not like this. “We can have dinner and wine.”
Her eyes widen in surprise, but then she smiles, to my relief. “I suppose I could be convinced,” she says coyly.
I chuckle. “Oh, I’ll convince you.”
Delighted surprise flashes across her face before she stands, gathering her coat and purse. “Okay, Casanova,” she says with a laugh. “Lead the way.”
I insist upon a driving, and her slight protests are met with, “I’ll call you an Uber home and another one to work in the morning.”
“You own stock in that company or something?” she asks with a smirk, settling into the passenger seat of my Porsche. I chuckle.
The drive to my place isn’t long. I live downtown—technically the same building as Asher and Alec. We’d all bought penthouse suites in the same complex. It was one of our first big purchases together once the company took off. We’d toured places together and when we’d happened upon a building with three penthouses available at the same time, we’d thought it was fate or something like that. Or at least an opportunity too good to pass up.
I pull into the garage, park the car, and we head toward the main doors. When we enter the lobby, I can see Lilly’s eyes go wide.
We ride up the elevator, and after I punch in a keycode, we step into a lavishly decorated lobby. My unit is to the right, so I open the door and step inside, holding the door for Lilly.
Her mouth drops open when she takes in the sight of my apartment. I’ll admit it—it’s pretty nice. Floor-to-ceiling windows cover the entire living area, showing off a beautiful view of downtown Seattle. I can even see the Space Needle from here.
I had an interior designer put together my furniture and décor, so it definitely feels homey and aesthetically pleasing, although I never could have come up with it on my own.
Lilly quickly shuts her mouth, turning to me and smiling softly. “This is place is … very nice,” she says.
I laugh. “You can say it. It’s a little over the top, I know.”
She laughs too. “I’m just surprised. I suppose I shouldn’t be, though. You are, after all, Aiden King.”
I purse my lips. “That’s me.”
