Warm steel that soaked into Sacha’s palms and nearly derailed his power of speech. “Was this date everything you dreamed it would be?”
“I didn’t dream about it. I didn’t know you existed until an hour before you got here.”
“Yes, but you have dreamed of bringing a date here with you, haven’t you? What was that like?”
The final strands of tension melted from Jonah, and his frown became one of amused speculation as he considered Sacha’s question. “I don’t date, so I never thought it would happen, but…”
“Yes?”
“But, when I did think of it, it wasn’t as easy as tonight has been with you. This feels like…” Jonah rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. Like we’ve done this before. I barely know your name, but it doesn’t seem to matter.”
Sacha soaked in the words. They were sweet and made him feel good, and there weren’t many people in the world who made Sacha feel that way. Actually, he couldn’t think of anyone who made his stomach flutter quite the way Jonah did.What a strange thing indeed.“I am glad you have enjoyed your evening. And your mother too. That was your intention, yes? To make her happy?”
“I suppose.” Jonah slid his hands to where Sacha’s were still grasping his shoulders. He twined their fingers together and laughed. “I can’t actually remember what I was thinking when I invited you here. It doesn’t make much sense now.”
“Or maybe it does and that is the confusion.”
“Maybe. This isn’t where I would bring a date, though, for the first time or otherwise.”
“Where would you take them?”
“Anywhere but here. You?”
“Me?”
“Yes, Sacha Ivanov. Where do you take your first and only dates?”
“To the wine bar close to my home, and then…”
Jonah’s auburn eyebrow ticked. He squeezed Sacha’s hand and closed the minuscule distance between them. His whole body was as hard and warm as the handful of places Sacha had already touched him. “And then…? What do you do next?”
“I take them home and fuck them, Jonah Gray. Would you like me to do that to you?”
3
Jonah was high. There was no other explanation for the speed at which he’d yanked Sacha out of the Dorchester hotel and into the waiting limo. It would explain his stampeding heart too. And the sweat sticking his clasped hands together.Calm down. It isn’t like you’ve never had a one night stand before.
It really wasn’t, but this felt different. Perhaps it was the misplaced intimacy they’d already shared. The light touches and lingering stares. Sacha’s gentle, guiding hands, and rapt attention to every word Jonah had spoken. He’d played his part to perfection, so much so that Jonah had almost forgotten it wasn’t real. But…here they were, huddled on the backseat of the limo, gliding along the streets of London on their way to Jonah’s penthouse apartment.Maybe he didn’t mean it. He’ll come in for a drink. We’ll laugh. Exchange numbers for no reason whatsoever, then see each other on Monday and pretend this never happened.
It made more sense than the heat gathering pace in his veins.
“Jonah.”
“Hmm?”
Sacha gave another of the deep chuckles Jonah had become addicted to as the evening had progressed. “We don’t have to do anything. I can go home.”
“I don’t want you to go home.”
“Then you should probably look at me.”
Jonah turned in his seat. Sacha was spread out beside him, the picture of roguish relaxation. His grin was easy, and his obvious amusement was kind, not mocking. “Sorry,” Jonah said. “It’s just not how I expected this night to go when I woke up this morning.”
“But the unexpected can be good, no?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Then let it happen. If you’re worried you won’t be safe with me, tell someone where we are going, and that you are with me.”