“Goddamn, I like you sitting at my desk. Consuming meals I made myself.”

Talking of spaghetti, my knees all of a sudden have the consistency of moist noodles. “I like it, too,” I handle. “Form of like…the grown-up model of taking part in home.”

“Much more grown up, in order for you, magnificence,” His eyes are sizzling on mine, glittering and darkish. Hungry. “I’m going to take you someplace we may be alone. You good with that?”

I’ve barely nodded earlier than North is pulling me alongside, to the sting of the roof.

“Watch your step, Gracie,” he says, holding me by the waist and serving to me step throughout the slight hole between buildings. After which we’re merely strolling throughout rooftops within the fading orange mild of sundown. It’s magical. Holding the hand of this younger man I’m quickly falling in love with, permitting him to guide me on an journey on this unfamiliar place, so removed from my upper-crust zip code and all of the expectations that comes together with it.

We’re strolling for about 5 minutes when North stops outdoors of a metal door positioned on one of many roofs. He lets go of my hand and produces one thing steel from his pocket, utilizing it to jimmy the lock. It pops open, groaning on its hinges, and North guides me into the close to darkness, smirking again over his shoulder. “Having second ideas?”

“No,” I admit quietly. “Is that loopy?”

“In the event you have been with another person, yeah. Letting them take you into a wierd constructing at evening could be loopy. However you’re with me.” He squeezes my hand. “And also you’re not going locations with different guys anymore. Not whilst buddies. Are you?”

His possessive tone causes a lustful twist beneath my stomach button. There’s part of me that is aware of I ought to pump the brakes on his possession of me. I’m not like this. I don’t let anybody deal with me like property. Collier tried to do this very factor earlier than and I refused to permit it. In truth, it outraged me. With North, although…I like the way in which he claims me. I wish to be claimed by him. To be unquestionably his. Is it okay to be possessed by somebody so long as you’re selecting to be? Sure, I feel so. And thank God for that, as a result of I’m undecided I might deny what’s occurring between us even when it was improper.

“No,” I say to his again. “I’m not going anyplace with different guys anymore.”

“Say the remainder.”

My nipples flip to spikes. “Not whilst buddies.”

“Good woman,” North says, stopping abruptly, turning and pulling me up towards him. I count on to be kissed and I’m dying—dying for his mouth. So I’m shocked when he touches one thing behind me on the wall and the lights come on.

A pant turns into amusing as I register our environment.

We’re in a large, windowless house.

There’s a pool. A number of of them. Steam rises from their surfaces.

There are massive, outsized lounge chairs across the perimeter of the room. Stacks of fluffy white towels on racks. The mild hum of jets releasing bubbles beneath the water.

“What is that this place? A…tub home?”

“Extra like a elaborate membership. I discovered it by chance. There isn’t even an indication downstairs to mark the doorway.” He seems round with a raised eyebrow. “I feel it’s in Southie for a purpose—whoever comes right here desires to be off the radar.”

“Oooh. You assume a number of clandestine conferences happen in these heated swimming pools?”

He shrugs. “You’ll be able to’t put on a wire if you happen to’re bare.”

I snort, letting him pull me alongside slowly. “Do you come right here lots?”

“Solely after I’ve had a very unhealthy battle and I want to appease a muscle or one thing.” We cease on the fringe of a small, ornately tiled pool, steam rolling off the floor to twist round us. “Or if, say, I meet the woman of my goals and wish to impress her.”

“Who me?” I say, appearing shocked.

“Yeah,” he rasps, brushing again my hair. “You, Grace Foster. Solely you.”

I lean into his palm when he cups my cheek. “Nicely you’ve already succeeded. That is the most effective date I’ve ever been on. Consuming spaghetti, assembly your sister. Doing science? The entire day, the whole lot about it, has been good.”

He hums, tracing the road of my mouth together with his thumb. “We haven’t even gotten to the most effective half but.”

My breath runs quick. “Are we? Going to get to it?”

“If we don’t, I’m fairly positive I’m going to die, so yeah. We’re attending to it. I simply…” He blows out a breath that stirs my hair. “That is necessary. You’re…God, you’re so necessary. I’m ensuring I do that proper. I’m ensuring you’re locked down earlier than we go any additional.”

A breathy snort puffs out of me. “How rather more locked down can I get?”

North’s eyes monitor over my face, his gaze taking over much more depth—and I didn’t assume that was even potential. However now? His power is…grownup. Male. Dominant. Somewhat darkish. And it excites me. Past my wildest creativeness. “I’m going to undress you whereas we speak, Gracie.”

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