Page 2 of Bossy Bred

She smiles. “So do you.” With a glance toward the elevators, she adds, “Should we…?”

“You can finish your drink first.”

“I can bring it up to the room.”

Fine by me. I nod and she slings the strap of her purse over her shoulder and scoops her glass into her hand. As we leave the lounge and cross the lobby, she takes two steps for each one of mine.

“This is a beautiful hotel,” she says as we wait for the elevator. “I saw a plaque on the wall that said it was built in 1927.”

“1928,” I correct her.

She laughs. “Either way, I love that it’s still here. I don’t know about some of the modern changes they’ve made to it, but at least they didn’t change it all.”

A semi-amused smile lifts the corner of my mouth as we step into the elevator. I push the button for the top floor. “You have an interest in old buildings?”

“I do. I think the history of buildings is so fascinating. Have you seen the exhibit at the art museum about Brutalist architecture? It’s really good.”

“Can’t say I have.”

“Oh, you should go. There’s also areallygood Hawaiian place just a few blocks away. Their pulled pork sliders are—” she says, finishing the sentence with a chef’s kiss.

Is she just nervous right now or is she always like this? Is she going to be chatty the whole time? I didn’t initiate this hookup for conversation.

The elevator eases to a stop and we step out onto the highest floor. Leta is still talking about her favorite local restaurants, but when we step into the hotel room, she cuts herself off and draws in a breath. “Oh. Wow. It’s gorgeous in here.”

She sets her drink down on a table, lets her purse slide off her shoulder, and walks over to the window that looks out over downtown. Then she turns and smiles at me. “I don’t usually get to see the city like this. You’re probably used to it, though, huh?”

She’s right. The view from my office is different than this one, but not any less impressive. But right now I could give two shits about talking about the view.

I cross the room, closing the space between us. Her eyes sparkle at me again as I move close to her, and when I cup a hand around the back of her neck to pull her into me, she leans forward, pressing herself against me.

I’ve forgotten how good it feels to kiss a woman. I’ve forgotten how soft and smooth they are. I’m so used to my hands touching paper, glass, wood, leather. My mind sparks with static as our lips suction together.

Yes. This is absolutely what I need.

When I pull my lips off of Leta’s, she’s breathless. She stares up at me, stunned, looking needy for more. But when I dip my head down again, she presses a palm to my chest and says, “Wait.”

I freeze where I am, my lips hovering over hers. “Yes?”

“There’s something I need to tell you. Promise you won’t laugh.”

“You can’t ask someone to make a promise like that. Just say it.”

She blows out a quick breath. “I’ve never done this before.”

Bythis, I figure she means hooking up with a man she only just met on an app. “And?”

“No, what I mean is that I’m a virgin.”

Is she kidding me? I feel my jaw tighten as I steady my thoughts and decide how to respond. “Was I not clear about what I was looking for?”

“No, you were. You want a night of no-strings-attached sex. So do I.”

It’s starting to feel like I’m in a dream that doesn’t make any sense. I’m in a hotel room with a beautiful woman who wants what I want but doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing.

“This isn’t how you should lose your virginity,” I mutter.

“Oh? How should I lose it? On a bed full of rose petals with soft jazz playing in the background?” she says with a laugh.

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