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We left the bar and walked arm-in-arm down the street back to the building. My entry key worked 24/7, of course. We waved at the security guard and took the elevator up to the penthouse.
As soon as the doors closed and we were alone, I pushed her against the elevator wall. Her eyes widened, and I remembered her fear when the elevator jerked to a start earlier in the day. But she didn't push me away. Instead, she blinked rapidly when I took her hands in mine and confined them above her head. I leaned closer, my lips brushing over hers.
"Damn elevators," I murmured.
We kissed deeply, our bodies pressed together. All too soon, the elevator came to a stop and the doors behind us opened.
"Come in," I said and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the apartment.
"I can't believe this view," she said once we were inside. She went right to the window overlooking the cityscape. "It's amazing."
"It is," I said, and went to the refrigerator to remove a couple of iced glasses from the freezer. I poured us each some vodka and tonic, then squeezed some lime into them. I carried them to the balcony where Ella was standing, the breeze blowing her long hair.
"Here," I said and handed her one. We toasted and took a drink, standing side by side, watching the city. Down below, cars drove along the streets surrounding the building, their taillights glowing red in the distance.
"This is what I came for," she said. "The city. The sounds and sights. The energy."
She turned and smiled up at me. It seemed like the perfect time to finish my drink and move things forward into the bedroom.
So I did.
"To us," I said and held out my glass.
"To us," she said and clinked hers against it.
We both finished our drinks and I took her glass from her, then took her hand in mine.
I pulled her against me and slid my arms around her, bending down to kiss her. In response, she slipped her arms around my neck and kissed me back.
That was all the encouragement I needed.
Chapter Thirteen
Ella
When I decided to move to Manhattan, I had dreams of meeting a gorgeous man – ambitious, funny, and good in bed. Someone who would sweep me off my feet and make me forget the heartache I left behind in New Hampshire.
Josh fulfilled the order perfectly. He was ambitious, gorgeous and in fact, at that moment, he was definitely sweeping me off my feet. He picked me up, his arms under my butt, and in response, I wrapped my legs around his hips and felt his erection pressed against me. It wasn't like me to just hop into bed with a man I just met. In fact, it wasn't like me to do any of the things I had done since breaking up with Jerkface. Moving to Manhattan by myself. Getting a new job. Going home with a gorgeous man.
Jerkface had been my one and only serious relationship.
It wasn't like me at all, but that was my goal – to become someone I hadn't been before, no longer a doormat who let the powerful men around me try to control my fate.
Josh kissed me as he carried me through the apartment to the bedroom, where he laid me down on the side of the bed. I kept my legs wrapped around his waist as he leaned over me, kissing me intensely. His kiss was passionate from the start, his tongue exploring my mouth while his hands explored my body.
Finally, he pulled away and removed my sweater.
"I need you naked," he said in a husky voice. "Now."
I stood up and reached behind my back, trying to unzip my dress. He helped, then I let it slide off my body to puddle at my feet.
/> "That's better," he said as he pushed me back onto the bed, his mouth moving down my throat, lingering over the tattoo. "I've been waiting to do this since you showed me," he said and licked the tattoo, the sensation of his tongue, warm and wet on my skin, sending a shock of desire right to my clit.
He eagerly attacked my bra, and it opened much more easily, my breasts spilling out of the cups, my nipples budding in the cold air.
While he was busy licking a trail from my chin to my left breast, I heard a faint noise and glanced at the bedroom door where a blonde woman stood, her mouth open and an expression of pure hatred in her eyes.
"Oh, my God," I said and pushed on Josh's shoulder.
