Was it something I’d said? Maybe a little confession would bring her mood back up. “You probably won’t believe this, but I’ve never been here, either.”
She cocked her head to the side and peered at me curiously. “What? How can that be? I know you travel here pretty frequently.”
I shrugged. “I’m always so busy, I’ve never had time to play tourist.”
Shaking her head in mock disappointment, she smiled, and as I’d hoped, her disposition lightened again. “All work and no play,” she mused. “Well, this will be even more fun since we are both going to be experiencing it for the first time!”
Without thinking, my hand found hers, and I wove our fingers together. I froze, a little shocked at myself for instigating such an intimate gesture. But I couldn’t deny how right it felt.
Kinsley’s eyes widened just a fraction, but she didn’t say anything. She simply smiled at me, then began walking toward the entrance.
We took an express lift to the Skywalk, an alfresco glass-floor viewing platform, and took a few minutes to simply enjoy the view. When my stomach growled loudly, Kinsley broke out into a fit of giggles.
“Good thing we have lunch reservations at the 360 Bar,” I told her a little sheepishly. We ate a delicious meal with the city skyline surrounding us, changing ever so slightly as the restaurant revolved.
I asked Kinsley what she’d been up to while I’d been working, and as she told me about all of the places she’d visited, I noticed that most of them were museums and other attractions that were not known for their shopping. My opinion of her was steadily growing, and it only added to my attraction. However, it also fueled my desire to spend time with her, in and out of bed, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. If I gave in to those urges, I would be taking focus away from my work.
I decided to put those confusing thoughts aside for the time being and just enjoy our day out together.
After lunch, I took her to the Sydney Opera House, and from there we strolled to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Kinsley’s excitement was contagious, and I found myself more relaxed than I could remember being since I was a teenager. She also kept me entertained with a fount of obscure but interesting facts about the places we visited.
I found myself using any excuse to touch her and keep us physically connected. I also had to constantly remind myself not to ogle her, especially since her ass looked spectacular in those jeans and her top dipped just enough to give me a tantalizing tease of her fantastic tits. It didn’t do my libido any good, and I was sporting a semi for most of the day. But I couldn’t seem to help myself, and Kinsley hadn’t questioned or protested my actions.
We ended our little tour at Hyde Park and Queen’s Square, where I was absolutely fascinated by the architecture of the Georgian buildings. It was my turn to spout knowledge as I ogled the techniques and incredible workmanship.
“Why didn’t you become an architect?” she asked.
My eyebrows slid up into my hairline at the question. “How did you know I wanted to be an architect?”
“It’s obvious in the way you look at these buildings,” she explained. “You don’t look at them as a real estate investment or simply at the overall beauty. Your focus is on the structure itself. All the little things that actually make it a unique work of art.”
I was surprised she’d picked up on it, but a little part of me was pleased that she’d been paying such close attention to me. I couldn’t help wanting her to be battling the same struggle I was having, to stay unattached and aloof in our relationship. Clearly, I was failing miserably.
“My degree is actually in architecture, and I contemplated going that route. But where would that have left the family business? So I got my MBA and master’s in real estate, then continued on with my parents’ legacy. I love my job, though, and I’ve never regretted my choice.”
“Hmmm,” she murmured, drawing my attention to her plump, pink lips. I hadn’t kissed her since the hotel, and fuck, I was dying for another taste. We were stopped at the Hyde Park Barracks, and I wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her around the side of the building where there was some relative privacy.
Pushing her up against the wall, I placed my palms on either side of her head and gave in to temptation and took her mouth in a deep, tongue-thrusting kiss. Her hands fisted in my shirt, and she kissed me back with similar need. It was all I could do not to grab her ass and lift her up so I could grind myself against her. My dick was about to burst from my pants, and I knew I was seconds away from losing my fucking mind.