Steven winked at me. “That’s why he keeps me around.”
Seeing the brother and sister pair so close together, I finally caught the resemblance I’d missed before. I sagged into my seat and narrowed my eyes at Mark. “That was rotten. I thought Steven was going to blow a gasket.”
Mark held up his hands in a show of surrender. “It was all his idea. He’s the drama queen, remember?”
Rocking back on his heels, Steven grinned and said, “Now, Eva. You know Mark’s the idea man in this relationship.”
Shawna dug a business card out of her pocket and handed it to me. “My number’s on the flipside. Gimme a call. I’ve got the inside dirt on these two. You can pay ’em back really good.”
“Traitor!” Steven accused.
“Hey.” Shawna shrugged. “Us girls have to stick together.”
After work, Gideon and I went to his gym. Angus dropped us off at the curb and we headed inside. The place was hopping and the locker room crowded. I changed and stowed my stuff; then met Gideon in the hallway.
I waved at Daniel, the trainer who’d talked to me on my first visit to CrossTrainer, and got a smack on the ass for it.
“Hey,” I protested, swatting at Gideon’s chastising hand. “Cut it out.”
He tugged my ponytail and gently urged my head back, tilting my mouth up so he could mark his territory with a deep, lush kiss.
The way he pulled my hair sent electricity sweeping across my skin. “If this is your idea of a deterrent,” I whispered against his lips, “I have to say it’s much more of an incentive.”
“I’m quite willing to take it up a notch.” He nipped my lower lip with his teeth. “But I wouldn’t suggest testing my limits that way, Eva.”
“Don’t worry. I have other ways to do it.”
Gideon hit the treadmill first, affording me the pleasure of seeing his body glistening with sweat…in public. As often as I saw him that way in private, it never ceased to be a major turn-on.
And God, I loved the way he looked with his hair tied back. And the flex of his muscles beneath lightly tanned skin. And the graceful power of his movements. Seeing such an elegantly urbane man shed the suits and show off his animal side hit all my hot buttons.
I couldn’t stop staring and was happy I didn’t have to. He was mine, after all; a fact that sent warm pleasure sliding through me. Besides, every other woman in the gym was checking him out, too. As he moved from station to station, dozens of admiring eyes followed.
When he caught me ogling, I shot him a suggestive glance and ran my tongue along my lower lip. His arched brow and rueful half-smile made me tingly. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so motivated while working out. An hour and a half just flew by.
By the time we got back in the Bentley and headed to the penthouse, I was squirming in my seat. My gaze slid repeatedly to Gideon in silent invitation.
He linked his fingers with mine. “You’ll wait for it.”
That pronouncement startled me. “What?”
“You heard me.” He kissed my fingers and had the nerve to give me a wicked smile. “Delayed gratification, angel.”
“Why would we do that?”
“Think of how crazed we’ll be for each other after dinner.”
I leaned closer so Angus didn’t overhear me, although I knew he was professional enough to ignore us. “That’s a given, waiting or not. I say we go with not.”