Page 27 of Natasha
"I know, I know." Silas wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her close. "Daddy just doesn't want to push you," he whispered, lips grazing her ear, "because there's so much you don't know yet. So much you haven't experienced, little girl."
"Then show me." Natasha pulled back and looked up at him with burning green eyes. "Show me."
Silas licked his lips. His fingers tightened on the material of her denim jacket. "We'll go to my place. It's closer than yours."
He moved then, sliding her away from him and standing up from the bench in a single graceful movement that Natasha's trained dancer's eye didn't miss. He reached a hand down to take hers and pulled her up after him. Natasha followed him, her bouquet of daisies clutched tightly in hand while he cleaned up their half-eaten breakfast. He paused and held her burrito back out to her. "Finish your breakfast."
Holding back a roll of her eyes, Natasha took the burrito and made a show of biting into it. "Better?" she asked.
"Much. And that better be gone by the time we get to my place," Silas said with a nod.
"How long is that?"
"Few blocks."
Natasha looked at Silas with new eyes. "You can afford a place around here?"
He shrugged. "I do all right. Now eat."
Natasha said nothing but did precisely as Silas asked. Eating the burrito was just the right amount of distraction she needed to keep from acting like a lovesick girl at Silas' side. The pair strolled along and were just about to step out of the cocoon of Central Park into the bustling energy of the city when Natasha paused to toss her foil wrapper away. Silas waited for her patiently and held out his elbow to her when she was by his side again. Natasha tucked her hand into his arm and leaned into the solid strength of him. She knew that she was grinning like a fool, her bouquet of daisies clutched in her free hand. Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard an older woman to the side of them let out a little sigh.
"Will you look at that? That's how you romanced a woman in my day," the woman tittered.
Natasha looked to the side to see two of the park's elderly power walkers staring at them with approval and affection.
"You two make a fine couple," the woman closest to them said with a little wave of her hand.
Silas tipped his head to Natasha. "Thank you, but I'm afraid I only look half as decent as I do because she's on my arm."
"Don't sell yourself too short there, young man." The other woman laughed with a wink.
The first woman swatted at her friend. "Phyllis, control yourself."
Natasha laughed at the ogling look Phyllis shot Silas, and they thanked the women on their way past.
"It's just up here, to the right." Silas nodded once they were on the sidewalk and set off at a brisk pace up the street.
Natasha raised an eyebrow at his suddenly much quicker pace now that they were so close to his apartment. "Did you leave the oven on?"
Silas laughed. "Just eager to get you home. I wasn't kidding when I said it was close."
"How close is close?" Natasha asked. They crossed the street, still arm-in-arm. She found that being tucked close to Silas served as adequate protection against the rush of other New Yorkers. She hadn't been bumped once, and that, coupled with the beautiful weather, made for the most perfect day in the city she could remember in a very long time.
"You'll see," Silas remarked, still moving along at a decent clip. The park was still on their right, and she turned to look at it. She loved seeing so many trees in one place. It was a refreshing oasis with all the skyscrapers and subways. She loved Brooklyn, but there was something magical about just sitting in a space as grand and sprawling as Central Park.
"We should come back for breakfast here again," Natasha commented, eyes still on the trees.
"We can come here as often as you like," Silas replied, leaning close to press a kiss against her temple.
"As often as I like? That's dangerous language," she teased.
Silas shrugged. "I think you'll see that it won't be inconvenient for us."
Natasha's mind went to the solid thirty-minute commute she'd taken that morning to get to the park and asked, "Is that so?"
"Yup. Not hard when you live close by."
"You mentioned that, but how close?"
"Well, we're here," Silas said, slowing his steps in front of a soaring red brick and burnished metal building. The bottom level was all glass with views into an inviting and posh-looking sitting area, and next to that was a set of gleaming elevators. Natasha stopped short and looked up at Silas in shock.
"This is your building?" She whipped her head back around to look at the park, which was still to their right and swallowed hard. "You liveonCentral Park?"
Silas shrugged his big shoulders and looked down at his feet. "Always had a soft spot for the park," he said, his voice soft. He tugged her up the steps to the building and opened the door for her.
Natasha grinned at him. "It's a beautiful location. Can you see the park from your apartment?"
They were now standing in front of the elevators. A security guard nodded at Silas, who gave him a friendly wave and punched in their destination on the 30th floor—very nearly the top in this beautiful brick building. Silas wrapped his arms around her waist as they waited for the elevator and leaned close, his hips pressing against her.
"You can." His lips brushed her ear as he spoke, breath warm on her skin and making her shiver. "From the bedroom."
