A Reckless Note

Chapter Twenty-Two

I knew Kace lived in Tribeca. I knew that meant money and power.

But when he pulls us to the door of one of the newest, tallest, most unique half-moon shaped buildings, I'm fighting a fish-out-of-water sensation. This is not my world, and yet somehow this man lives inside exactly that: my world. A world, or at least his home, he swears he's invited no one inside, and yet, he's invited me. And I believe him. Perhaps that is yet another of the many ways Kace appeals to me. Despite a recognizable name, he's private. He chooses privacy, thus it feels that he will understand mine.

Kace opens his door. "I'll come around and get you," he says, but already someone is opening my door, the chill of the evening permeating the warm cocoon of the car. A new season is upon us, the old fading into the past, and it feels as if I'm a part of that change. I'm changing. I can feel it happening.

It's then that I realize I'm here, at this place I don't know, without even a full-sized purse. Even my coat is, in fact, Kace's coat. That's how much I've allowed myself to step out of my comfort zone, how much I'm changing. Gio told me this had to happen and then pressed my hand and ensured it did by simply leaving me alone. My brother is a man that pushes limits. For all I know, that was his intent: to push mine. For now, I'd like to believe that to be true. He left so that I could be found. If that's true, I'll hug him and hit him, in that order.

Shifting, I settle my feet on the ground. Already, Kace is there, towering above me, offering me his hand. I steel myself for the impact of his touch, and when my palm touches his palm, I'm a moth to a flame, and he is that flame. He eases me to my feet and grips the lapels of my jacket, his jacket, and steps in close to me. The cold air swirls around us, but inside this new cocoon he's created there is nothing but heat.

"Once you go upstairs with me," he says, his voice low and rough, for my ears only, "you're all mine. And I don't promise to be a gentleman about it." His hand slides under my hair, his lips finding my ear. "I promise to kiss and lick you in every one of the many places I've been thinking about kissing and licking you since the day I met you."

He's been thinking about kissing me and licking me from the day he met me?

Yes.

Please.

He pulls back to look at me, those eyes, God those eyes, pinning me in a stare. "Unless you'd rather me be a gentleman and take you home?"

Home.

I don't even know what that means right now. And I don't want to think about it. I'm not fooling myself into thinking Kace is my Prince Charming. I'm not fooling myself into thinking I dare to have a real relationship, but I dare to have this night. I dare whatever this night brings.

"I want to be right here," I say. "With you. Tonight."

On the word tonight, his eyes narrow and he studies me, his expression indiscernible, before he leans in and kisses me. "Let's go upstairs." He catches my hand and only then do we step away from the vehicle.

"We're in for the night," Kace calls out to one of the two men working the front door.

We're in for the night.

I could be embarrassed by the way this announces that I'll be naked with Kace tonight, but I'm not. The way Kace said those words—they fell from his lips as if me being a part of "we" was natural. He didn't say "I." That's what stands out to me.

His arm slides around me and we enter a large lobby that is stunning with brown wood floors streaked with black. Fancy leather seating areas are accented with drop lights above each. A half-moon shaped security desk is to our far left, a wide distance between it and us, but Kace waves at the tall, dark-haired man behind the counter before we cut right and enter a bank of elevators. He punches a button and the doors to the nearest car open.