I gawk at her. “Two hours is a little more than a few minutes.”
Shrugging off my reply, she moves to the dashboard of the elevator. My bewildered eyes shoot to hers when she presses the P button at the top and enters a four digit code into a security panel at the side.
Swallowing to clear the tumbleweeds lodged in my throat, I ask, “Where is Hugo’s apartment located?”
A broad grin stretches across her face, and she rocks on her heels but remains as quiet as a church mouse. My heart pounds furiously against my chest with every floor the elevator glides past.
When it reaches the very top floor, Jorgie grasps my free hand in hers and strides out of the elevator. The wild beat of my heart kicks up as we pace towards a door at the end of the hall. My jaw drops when my vision is swamped by sharp edges of steel, crisp clean lines of gray linen, and a large gathering of people mingling in the vast space.
My ridiculously high stilettos shuffling on the marbled floors overtake the ringing of my pulse in my ears. “Hugo lives inmyapartment building? In a penthouse?” I ask, my bewilderment heard in my voice.
A rush of giddiness clusters in my head when Jorgie waggles her brows. Her grip on my hand firms when we step into the sunken living area. Plush, body-hugging dark gray sofas with giant red scattered cushions line the edges of an extremely large space. A colossal TV hangs above the open wood fireplace and a glass bar full to the brim with bottles of liquor sits in the corner.
“Did you want a drink?” Jorgie asks when she notices the direction of my gaze.
Even though my throat is parched, I shake my head.
“Maybe later?” I stumble out, my voice riddled with nerves. Even though I’m seeing it with my own eyes, my brain can’t comprehend that Hugo lives in my apartment building.This could be both an ingenious and foolhardy move.
My eyes shoot in all directions, absorbing the space when Jorgie continues to move us through the extravagantly large apartment.Calling this place an apartment seems a little understated.
When we enter a well-decorated hallway, I notice three full-sized guest bedrooms painted in pastel colors on the right and a large set of black wooden doors halfway down the hall on the left. I stumble in my stilettos when Jorgie’s fast pace has us reaching the doors in two heart-fluttering seconds.
After securing my grip on the wine bottle, I peer my eyes around the impressively sized den. A sleek, black full-size slate billiard table sitting in the middle of the room is surrounded by black round bar tables. An air hockey table is on my left and a pinball machine on the right. My face scrunches when I notice the five full-sized plasma televisions lining the back wall.Why in the world would one room need five TVs?
Even though my very first kiss I shared with Hugo was over seven years ago, the vibrancy in the room tonight makes it feel like I’ve step back in time. That night was full of playful teases, and sneaky feather-like touches before the night hit a climax with a once-in-a- lifetime kiss. I can only hope tonight follows a similar path.
My heart launches into an excited rhythm when Hugo enters the den from a second entrance on my left. He looks delicious in a dark t-shirt and a pair of jeans. His shaggy hair is wet and pulled back, exposing his breathtaking face. He is smokin’ hot!
The nape of my neck prickles in excitement when his eyes drift around the room and he spots me standing at the side, gawking at him. The smile that morphs onto his face gives no indication of being annoyed at my tardy arrival. His eyes glide over my face before lowering down my body. When his eyes return to mine, I jingle the chilled bottle of wine in my hand.
“Fridge?” I silently mouth.
He holds up his index finger, requesting a minute. When I nod, he turns to speak to a blond-haired gentleman at his side. Once they have finished their brief conversation, he gestures his head to a door on the far right of the room.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I say to Jorgie.
A childish giggle parts my lips when she rubs her index finger under her nose. After bumping her with my hip, I weave my way through the intimate crowd of people gathered in the den. Just like the last Marshall party I attended, the gathering of people is diverse. A shy grin twists on my lips when, from the corner of my eye, I spot Hugo making his way through the room. His long, efficient strides have him reaching the swinging door before me.
“Thank you,” I say when he holds the door open for me.
I stare wide-eyed at the massive grandeur of the kitchen. “This is ten times bigger than the one in my apartment.”
Hugo chuckles at my reaction while pacing to a large bank of cabinets in the middle of the ginormous space. My lips quirk when he opens a cherry oak door, revealing a large built-in fridge. A refreshing blast of air cools my overheated face when I pace to the double-doored fridge and place my bottle of wine inside. A grin tugs on my lips when I see how well-stocked the fridge is. Mrs. Marshall’s fridge was always packed to the brim with food. It seems Hugo is following in his mother’s footsteps. My heart rate revs up when I notice a majority of the items in the fridge are breakfast foods.
“Are you expecting early morning guests?” I question, excitement heard in the quiver of my voice.
A large grin etches on my mouth when Hugo replies, “No harm in being prepared. One day you might decide to fulfil your debt.”
My heart lurches forward when he unexpectedly leans forward and presses a kiss on the nape of my neck. I inhale deeply, dying to secure a full breath when his lips remain on my neck, peppering my skin with feather-soft kisses. I’m practically panting, the anticipation of his next move too much for me to bear.
I slant my head to the side, giving him full access to my neck. He ravishes every inch of my skin, biting and sucking it in a soft, playful kiss. The scratchiness of his five o’clock shadow intensifies the sensitivity of his kiss. I close my eyes, riveted beyond comprehension from his devotion. His hand slithers around my body, splaying across my lower stomach.
A husky moan parts my mouth when he pulls me backwards, allowing me to feel the enormity of his excitement, proving I’m not the only one captivated and in a trance. He is just as spellbound as I am.
I spin on my heel, the desire to taste his lips again spurring my bold move. A knee-buckling groan rumbles from his lips when I seal my mouth over his. A low moan escapes my mouth as I run my tongue over his lips, absorbing his delicious cinnamon flavor before plunging it into his mouth.
I stroke my tongue along his, coaxing him to return my embrace. My heart leaps out of my chest when he fists my hair and tilts my head back, demanding control of my mouth. I give it to him. Giddiness overwhelms me from the demanding control of his kiss. I'm in complete awe.
