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Matty swallowed hard, like he was new to this sort of thing.
“If…if you’re sure, Ciaran,” he said, looking at me like I’d offered myself as a sacrifice to the gods. “I mean, it’s been a long night and I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted some privacy to be alone with your thoughts after, you know, everything.”
Matty was as sexy as sin but he was also just so fucking adorable. I wasn’t experienced when it came to romance and things like that, but I knew him.
Matty was nervous. And Matty was never nervous.
“Why, did you want to be alone?” I asked with a touch of uncertainty.
Had I read him wrong?
“No,” he rushed out, his voice an octave higher than usual. Then, in a more practiced tone, he said, “No. I don’t want to be alone at all. I want to be near you…all night.”
My stomach did funny things at his words. My cock twitched, too.
The elevator opened to reveal a magnificent two-story penthouse apartment.
“Whoa,” I said as I walked into the glorious space.
Low lights were strategically placed throughout the apartment so that overhead lights were not needed upon entry. I was afraid to blink, lest I miss something.
The main floor was one large open space consisting of a living room with oversized creamy couches, an elegant dining table long enough to hold twelve guests, and a kitchen with a large island. The bedrooms must be on the second floor.
In the far corner, where the two windowed walls met, sat a baby grand piano. Two wide marble columns, possibly part of the building’s infrastructure, added another layer of sophistication to the unit.
The entire far wall was a series of continuous windows and balcony doors. It was still very dark outside. From this angle, I could see where the moon hung low in the sky as it kissed the top of the mountainous peaks of the Red Rock Range.
Without ceremony, I dropped our bags near the stone staircase and went straight for the windows to take in the breathtaking view. I didn’t go outside since I couldn’t distinguish the windows from the balcony doors in the low light, but given the wraparound windows, I had a clear view of multiple mountain ranges west of Las Vegas, the lights of the Strip, and even parts of Nellis Air Force Base.
I thought Drew’s place was spectacular when he’d first invited me, but this…this was impressive.
“I could get used to this,” I said to myself.
Behind me, Matty chuckled. While I’d been ogling the view, he’d stored the statue in the closet and secured the elevator entrance. Not even the cleaning crew could barge in on us.
A moment later, as he came to stand next to me, he handed me a chilled bottle of water.
“Have I finally found something that impresses you?” he joked. His hand found my lower back and I took a steadying breath as heat spread through me. Matty added, “Thought I’d never see the day Ciaran Galbraith was dazzled by Vaulteneau wealth.”
“Technically,” I said, turning to meet his gaze, “I’m impressed with the view. Surely you’re not suggesting the Vaulteneaus created the mountain ranges?”
“Ouch,” Matty scoffed like he’d been wounded, though his bright smile belied the action. “You always keep me on my toes.”
That gave me pause. “I have been giving you a difficult time ever since we met, haven’t I?” I cracked open the water and drank it in one go. I didn’t realize just how thirsty I was because it was the best thing I’d ever drunk in my life.
“You’re not an easy customer,” Matty agreed. “But that doesn’t mean I want you to change. You challenge me.”
He smoothed the hair off my forehead. I felt little drops of heat everywhere his fingers touched me.
“I suppose being torn away from my home made me a little cranky those first few days. Sorry.”
I didn’t know precisely when we were in each other’s arms, but we were looking at each other instead of the view. There was nothing urgent or sexual in our embrace.
For my part, it seemed like we were becoming reacquainted before we took the next logical step. Perhaps Matty sensed I wanted to go slow. I think he wanted to go slow, too. I liked that we were in tune. So much had happened in the last few hours that neither of us were the same person since leaving Malibu.
“It’s not like I was a delightful host when you arrived. In your defense, Ciaran…” he whispered, his fingers hooking into the belt loops at my hips. There was no mistaking the bulge growing in his pants. “I was hungover that morning.”
I laughed. “Terrified of meeting your new stepbrother?”
