“Yes.”
He turned to look out of the window. He could see the lights of the hotel in the distance. “You’ll wear a gown to the ball. I’ll pay for it.”
“I can buy my own clothes.”
“I know. But I’m already in your debt. I don’t want to be any deeper.”
The driver climbed out to open the door. Daniel took Becca’s hand and led her from the car, sliding a tip into the driver’s palm as he shook it.
“You hold my hand a lot,” Becca said as he nodded at the concierge.
“Do you want me to stop?” He flexed his fingers. Her skin was soft and warm. It made him wonder what the rest of her felt like.
“No. I like it.”
Pleasure pulsed through him.
He wasn’t sure what he was doing here. Or what Becca was doing, for that matter. Since she’d started touching and kissing him in the restaurant, his mind was firmly in one place. It was taking a force of will not to pull her against him, so he could feel the softness of her curves against his firm chest.
“Can I ask you something?” Becca said, as he pressed the button for the penthouse elevator.
“If I said no, would it stop you?”
She laughed. “Probably not. Why didn’t you just tell your family to go to hell? You don’t usually have a problem speaking your mind.”
His eyes caught hers. “Because I want something from them. And that desire outweighs the need to tell them they’re assholes.”
“Are you always so singular when you want something?”
The elevator pinged as the gold patterned doors opened. He gestured for Becca to walk inside first. He joined her and the doors slid closed, the car gently beginning its ascent.
“Nearly always,” he said, in answer to her question. She was leaning against the side of the car, her arms behind her, fingers wrapped around the rail. In the warm light of the elevator, her skin looked almost luminescent.
“What’s the exception?” Her gaze held his.
“When I want something I can’t have.” His voice was low. Thick.
Her lips parted as she exhaled softly. “Can’t have? Or shouldn’t want?” Her eyes reflected the overhead light. The tension between them grew and twisted. He could feel it deep inside him, churning. Damn, he wanted her. Needed to feel the softness of her skin. Hear her ragged gasp as he kissed her until she couldn’t remember her name.
“Both.” He hit the stop button, halting the elevator. He wasn’t ready to end this conversation. She looked at him with hooded eyes, her skin blushing and pink and so damn touchable. “I have a question for you.”
“You do?” She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. He could feel a muscle ticking at the edge of his jaw.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Now?”
“Right now.” His eyes bore into hers. He wanted her to say it. To tell him. To give him the green light his body was aching for. Her consent was the key, and he needed her to turn it over willingly.
Otherwise he’d walk away. Even if it killed him.
“I want you to kiss me.”
He was mere millimeters from her before the last word had escaped her lips. Sliding his hand behind her neck to angle her face to his, he pressed his body to hers with sweet relief.
Her eyes closed as he traced his finger down her back, following the dip of her spine and the gentle curve of her ass. He brushed his lips against her neck, her jaw, drawing a line of fire to the tender skin beneath her ear. Her breath escaped in a rush as she curved into him.
“Do you know how much you rile me up?” he asked her, dragging her earlobe between his teeth.