“Daniel who?”
“Daniel Armitage.”
“I know of him, but I’ve never met him. Why do you ask?”
“Your driver seems to know his driver.”
“Leah’s boyfriend is Daniel Armitage?”
I nodded and he nodded in response.
“Where are we going?” I asked, slightly panicked. Why hadn’t I asked before? I’d just got into a car with a stranger without asking any questions. What was I doing? I pulled out my phone to text Leah.
“Columbus Circle. Mandarin Oriental,” he said to the driver.
I told her where we were going and that I’d text her later to let her know I was ok. I swallowed and leaned forward to unwind the window to let the warm air of the New York summer spill in. OK, well if we were going to a hotel. He meant business. And when I say business, I mean sex. I’d never been into one-night stands. I didn’t like the idea of a stranger seeing me naked. But this stranger was particularly attractive and I was here in New York City to blow off some steam and have some fun, right? It was the city that didn’t sleep, and when in Rome …
My right leg started bouncing. A nervous habit. I only noticed as I caught Ethan noticing. He dragged his eyes from my leg up to my eyes and smiled.
“There’s no need to be nervous. We won’t do anything you don’t beg me to do to you,” he whispered in my ear.
Wow. My stomach tilted and I shifted in my seat, and went back to staring out the window.
Chapter Two
Ethan already seemed to have the key to a … our … the room. We made our way up in the elevator without speaking. Without touching. I was more nervous than I wanted to be. I could do sex with no strings attached. What was the big deal?
When we reached the door, it swung open to reveal a huge living room overlooking Central Park. It was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen. The ceiling was decorated in what looked like gold leaf. The floors were dark and gleamed against the lights of the city. It looked like a place where a Roman god would live.
“Fuck,” I said, failing to keep what was in my head in my head.
“It’s a great view, isn’t it?”
I nodded and walked toward the window, placing my hands on the glass as I stared out. I wanted to know who this guy was. He certainly wasn’t in construction. Maybe he was a gangster. I reminded myself that it didn’t matter. I wasn’t here for romance or to get to know him. I was here for fun. Distraction without complications.
“Can I get you a drink to go with that view?”
“Whiskey, please,” I replied without turning around. I heard him clink about behind me as I tried to make out various landmarks. “I think I can see the Dakota Building,” I said, as if I were sightseeing, forgetting I was talking to a stranger I was about to have sex with.
“It’s unusual for women to drink whiskey,” Ethan said.
“I guess you’d know.” Again, I didn’t mean for the comment to slip out of my head. Or maybe I did. Maybe I wanted to see what response it would solicit. But there was no response.
“Show me what you’re looking at,” he said, standing behind me, close. I could feel his body heat rolling off him. He handed me my whiskey and dropped his arm around my waist to pull me against him. I stiffened slightly and then relaxed. This was nice. The drink, the view, the Roman god. He smelled of something. Something intoxicating. I couldn’t think what it was. Money. Sex. Power.
My finger stabbed the glass. “There. Is that the Dakota Building?” I pointed at the green-roofed building on the west of the park.
“I don’t think so. I think the Dakota is on the East side.”
“Oh.” I tipped my head back slightly and it fell on his chest. He was tall. Very tall.
He pushed his cheek against mine and lowered his mouth to my neck, his breath tickling my skin. I wanted him. I really wanted him.
“I have more rules.”
He kissed my neck. “Tell me.”
“You have to wear a condom.”
“Right this moment?” he teased.
“No, later when … if.”
“What else?” He kissed my neck again.
“We’re not exchanging numbers or email or saying we’re going to see each other again.”
He moved to the other side of my neck and kissed me again. I could feel myself soften slightly with each touch of his lips.
“Ok,” he replied. “Is that it?”
“For now,” I said. My brain was fuzzy and I couldn’t think of anything else.
“Good.” He pulled away from me and I turned to see him sit down on the sofa opposite the window. “Undress for me.”