"So, have you thought about what might work on this wall?"
"No, but I know I want it to be something that says 'Tristan Stone lives here' instead of something so gorgeously common and expensive that it could be in anyone's home."
"And what would this piece say about me?" he asked, his interest obviously piqued.
"The man who lives here is intelligent—a man of few words but those he does speak are meaningful."
"I knew I'd like your choices in this. I look forward to seeing what you have to offer, Nina. I'll leave you to your work and be back at five sharp. My hotel and my home are at your disposal. When you get hungry, simply call the concierge and they'll take care of you."
He stood and I moved to kiss him, as I would any other boyfriend of mine who was leaving for work, but he merely nodded and silently walked by me as I stood watching him leave. All I could guess was that I was truly on the job now.
Chapter Nine
By five o' clock, I'd narrowed the potential choices for Tristan's room to three, and I was surprisingly tired. While I hadn't done any physical work at all, my mind had been working overtime all day about what piece would be perfect for the man who lived in this expensively furnished yet characterless penthouse. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to show him that he hadn't made a mistake having faith in me. Most of all, I wanted to give him something that would show what he was in my eyes.
He returned right on time at five sharp looking exactly as he had when he'd left all those hours earlier. Never wrinkled or rumpled, he looked as he always did in his suit, even though that day's was black instead of the variety of shades of grey he tended to wear. The tan dress shirt was different too, but whatever he wore, he looked gorgeous.
"Did you have a good day at work?" Tristan asked in a teasing voice as he walked into the bedroom loosening his tie.
"I did, dear. And how was your day at work?" I asked as I sat on the bed watching him get more comfortable.
"You know how it is. Another day, another dollar."
Opening the closet, he removed his suit coat and tie and turned to face me once again in just pants and a shirt. "What would you like for dinner?"
"Don't you want to know about the choices I have in mind for your blank spot?" I was eager to see what he thought about my ideas.
He shook his head. "No. Once five comes, I don't want to think about work anymore. All I want to think about is you. I don't want you thinking about work anymore either."
Jesus, when he said things like that, my stomach did somersaults. He didn't want to hang out and watch TV. He didn't want to play video games. He didn't want to go to some place with his friends and never consider if I wanted to really go.
He wanted to think about me. Just me.
I was lost. And damn, I didn't want to be found.
He knelt in front of me, running his hands over my thighs and nearly driving me crazy with his touch. "So what should we have to eat? One of your favorites or something new you've never had? Feeling adventurous?"
He looked up at me, his eyes searching mine. The old me, the me before I met Tristan, would have chosen one of my favorites, but as he knelt there looking up at me, I wanted to be someone different than who I'd always been. I wanted to be worthy of feeling sexy and desirable.
"Let's try something adventurous."
"Next question—eat in or out?" he asked as he dipped his head to place a single kiss on the inside of my thigh.
My head was swimming, but I found the ability to squeak out, "In."
He nipped at my skin, sending shivers of pleasure racing up my body. Against my leg, he murmured, "In it is," before he stood and disappeared from the room. A rush of heat covered me and I crashed back onto the bed, barely able to breathe.
The way he was made me crazy. Crazy for him. Crazy because of him. Fucking crazy. He'd left this morning without a word or even a gentle brush of his hand against mine to say goodbye, and he'd returned wanting nothing but me. What was with this guy? How did he do it? I could barely keep my hands off him, and there were times he stood close enough to touch me and never did.
It was maddening. And I loved it. Without force or any restraints, he'd taken over my every thought and feeling, and I was helpless to fight against it. Hell, I didn't want to fight against it. I wanted to let my mind and body give in to everything he offered.