“Sweetheart,” I say, caressing a finger over the apple of her cheek. “Time to get up.”
Her eyes begin to flutter and slowly open up to me, the softest of blues. Her lips part as she smiles at me with complete trust on her face. She has never looked more beautiful. I place my fingers under her chin, stilling her movements so I can mark this moment like a photo in my mind.
I can’t help myself and stare at her face, looking deep into her eyes. But her smile fades.
“What is it, Sin?”
“You. Just you.” I lean forward and kiss her on the forehead. “I was thinking, what if I hadn’t come to Rochester?”
“But you did.” She covers her hand over mine.
“Yes, I did.”
It’s taking everything I have not to lean forward, take her in my arms, and ravage her—kiss her until this ache inside me is satisfied. But I won’t want to stop. That’s the dilemma. Once I let loose, there will be no pulling back for me.
“Time to get up, sleepyhead. I have something fun planned. I thought I could take you out on a date tonight.” She tilts her head and eyes me.
“A date?” she asks.
“Yes. I think you’ve heard of them. It’s when a couple goes out to, say, dinner, eats a good meal and has a drink. Ring a bell?” I tease, taking her hands in mine and helping her out of the bed. “We have things to do and money to win, princess.”
I make the mistake of looking at her chest and swallow hard before looking away. She fell asleep in a thin T-shirt without a bra, and her hard nipples push against the material. She’s going to kill me before it’s time for us to be together.
“Money to win?” She scrunches up her face in an adorable way, like she bit into a lemon.
“While you were being Sleeping Beauty, I pulled out the trusty hotel guide. I have a surprise,” I say, grinning in a way that tells her I have a secret and there’s no way I’m telling.
“Okay, be that way,” she scolds. “Let me take a shower first. What should I wear?”
“Casual. Jeans are cool.”
“So nothing fancy?” Her voice sounds hopeful.
“Absolutely not.”
“Good, I don’t want anything stuffy.” I have a feeling she’s referring to all the dinners she had at James’ club. The atmosphere was pretentious and snobby. I may be a trust fund kid from Manhattan, but I don’t give two shits about money. That being said, I don’t mind having it either.
I can hear the shower running and the faint sound of Harlow singing in the background. Everything about her calls to me, and dammit, I wish I could join her in that shower. Instead, I’ll be taking another cold one alone.
We have slept side by side in a bed for two nights and they were hell. Her sweet smell would hit me every time she moved, driving me insane. A couple times, when she was long asleep, I buried my nose in her soft hair. How I wanted to let my fingers run through the strands, but I can’t, for her sake.
I asked if she wanted me to book another room for her and with a twinkle in her eye, she said no, stating it would be too expensive. But I think it’s costing me my sanity instead.
Harlow comes out of the bathroom, fully clothed and ready. I’ve never known a woman who can pull off looking so divine in such a short time. She has a natural beauty that doesn’t need fuss.
“Ready,” she proclaims while walking toward me with a smile on her face and a swivel to her hips. I shake my head and laugh.
“Feeling feisty tonight, babe?”
“Very. I haven’t been on a date with someone I care about in forever. Definitely not with someone so hot.” She drags a finger across my chest as she walks to the door.
I grab the room key off the desk, stuff it into my pocket, and move to the door. “I like this side of you,” I say, standing next to her. “Where has it been?”
“I save it up for cool, hot guys like you.” She bites her lip and raises her brows.
“What other hot guys?” I ask, half kidding, while also wondering who she was with before James.
“My heroes were on the pages of books until you came along.” She gazes at me without blinking.
“Not going to lie, I’ve always wanted to be someone’s hero.”
“You’re mine.” She reaches up and kisses me on my cheek. “Maybe even my superhero.”
“Like Superman?” I ask, puffing out my chest.
“No, like Batman. He lived in Gotham City, like your Manhattan, and drove the girls wild.” She giggles and walks out of the hotel room. I follow behind her, enjoying the view of her ass in tight jeans.
There’s only one girl I want to drive wild, and I can’t—yet.
***
Harlow has no idea where we are heading until I take an exit off the highway marked for Rivers Casino. I glance over at her in the seat next to me and she looks at me with a question in her eyes.
“A casino? I’ve never been to one before.” She starts to laugh. “I thought we would be going out for a nice, quiet dinner.”