“I’ve never been in an actual penthouse. I have a friend who has access to a communal rooftop deck and that seemed amazing enough. When I picture a penthouse, I am imagining a private elevator and a giant glass box where you stand at the corner and stare down onto Manhattan with your hands behind your back while curtains mysteriously blow even though the windows don’t open.”
That amused me. “That’s a very specific visual. I bet I could do that here.” I set down my own burrito and went to the windows, which were still open from burning the stir-fry. I spread my legs, stared out the window and put my hands behind my back. “I’m the King of Manhattan,” I said. “Everything I see I own.”
“You’re an idiot.”
Leave it to Leah to refuse to enjoy my bad acting. I stared her down over my shoulder. “Only my mother is allowed to speak to me like that. You will be punished.”
“I’m really scared,” she said cheerfully.
“I can see that.” I went back to the island and invaded her personal space with my body.
Leah paused with a chip halfway to her mouth. I took the chip and ate it.
“Hey.” But she sounded more turned on than pissed off. “That was mine.”
“I’ll order you more chips if you want. But right now, you’re going to answer a question for me.”
“Is this you being Robert De Niro or someone similar or are you being yourself?”
“I’m being me.” I spun her stool so she was facing me and I rested my palms on her bare knees. I had her boxed in and I could hear her breathing deepen in arousal.
Everything about her drove me crazy. Even now, as she dragged her tongue over her bottom lip to moisten it, and stared up at me defiantly, I thought she was the hottest thing I’d ever seen.
I wanted to ask her why she didn’t have a boyfriend. There had to be thousands of men in New York who would love to spend their days and nights with her. She was a ray of sunshine with a hefty side of sexy. But asking that would never sound anything less than rude as fuck and I wasn’t that stupid. I also wanted to ask her why she wasn’t a star, because that too seemed like a mystery. But if she knew why she wasn’t a star, presumably she’d change it and be a star. So again, another question that would just annoy her.
/> So I asked what I still didn’t have total confirmation on. “Were you really flirting with me at the diner or just screwing with me?”
“That’s an easy question. I thought you were going to ask something difficult. Yes, I was flirting with you. But my skills as a temptress in real life are not renowned.” Leah put her hands on my arms. “Why does it matter?”
“I’m trying to figure out actress you versus real you.”
“Maybe I prefer to keep you guessing.”
I didn’t like that answer. I decided to take control. I scooped her up off the stool. “I know one thing you aren’t faking.”
“Prove it.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a challenging smile.
“Game on.” I took Leah into my bedroom and set her down on the bed.
She looked good there. All dark hair and naughty smile. The sweatshirt was so oversized, her lean legs descending below the bulk, her fingers wrapped around the sleeve cuffs, it looked like it could be my shirt. Something about that concept made me feel turned on and male and dominant. Territorial. I liked the look of her in my bed.
I took my shirt off and tossed it in the direction of my bathroom.
She was looking around the room. “Very nice. Like a hotel. You’re very tidy.”
“I like order.” I undid my pants and was getting on the bed when she put her hand on my chest. “Yes?” I asked. She didn’t look like she planned to stop me. But more like she had a request.
“What’s your view like? Is it private? Or is it like the living room? I’d love to see the city view.”
Given that she didn’t have a window at all in her bedroom, it seemed like a reasonable request. “It’s a similar view. I’ll open the blinds.” I had a remote control so I reached over her and picked it up off the nightstand and hit the correct buttons.
“Now that’s handy,” Leah said. “I like it.”
“You take in the view.” I tugged her sweatshirt up over her breasts. She was on her back, gazing at the windows. “I’m going to take you.”
“Deal.”
That made me laugh under my breath. It was such a Leah response.