Christian

There was a knock on the adjoining door, and when I opened it, I smiled as I saw Eloise standing there looking as gorgeous as ever.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“I am. Where are we going?”

“You’ll see when we get there.” I smiled.

I rented out the Skydeck Chicago for the two of us, a private dining experience on the 103rd floor. I’d had dinner there once before with my family and it was an amazing experience. An experience I wanted to share with her. I wanted to make this a night she’d never forget, and with any luck, she’d be waking up in my arms in the morning.

When we arrived and stepped into the elevator, I could see the look of nervousness across her face.

“Are you okay?” I lightly grabbed hold of her hand.

She looked down and then up at me.

“I am now.” She lightly smiled.

A feeling of contentment washed over me hearing her say those words. I was breaking through to her. Maybe my last text message as Mobile Man got her thinking. When we arrived to the 103rd floor, we stepped out and she looked around, her hand tightly clenched in mine.

“I really hope you’re not afraid of heights because this is something everyone should experience in their lifetime,” I spoke.

She took in a deep breath.

“It’s not that I’m really afraid. I’m just unsure. Why are we the only two people up here?”

“I rented out the entire room for us so we could have a private dinner and enjoy the view in peace.” I smiled. “Come over here and look out at the city.”

“Umm. I’m not sure I want to get too close to the glass.” She stopped behind me.

“It’s okay, Eloise. I have you and I promise I won’t let go.” I smiled.

****

Eloise

My heart was beating a hundred miles a minute. No wait, make that a thousand miles a minute. Not only because our hands were locked together, but because we were up really high and I wasn’t sure how to deal with the anxiety I felt. I couldn’t believe he rented out the entire Skydeck for the two of us. That had to be the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. After taking in a couple of deep breaths, I let him lead me to the window.

“What’s that?”

“That’s the ledge.”

“You mean people actually walk on it?”

“Yes.” He chuckled. “Would you like to give it a try?”

“Nope. I’m good right here.”

We took a seat at a round table where a bottle of wine sat. After Christian took the seat across from me, he poured us each a glass of wine.

“Dinner will be served shortly.” He grinned. “Here’s to a successful photo shoot and to your successful blog.” He held up his glass.

“Thank you.” I smiled big as I clanked my glass against his. “So, tell me again why you’re single?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the right woman hasn’t popped into my life. You do have to be careful whom you choose to want to spend the rest of your life with.” He smirked.

“True. So you want marriage and a family?”

“One day in the future. That’s if the right woman comes along and sweeps me off my feet.” He winked and my lady parts quivered.

I gave him a small smile as the waiter walked over and served us dinner.

“It really is beautiful up here. Thank you,” I spoke as the anxiety seemed to have dissipated.

“You’re welcome.”

We ate, talked about the photo shoot, and when dinner was over, music from the overhead started to play. Christian got up from his chair and held out his hand to me.

“May I have this dance? The night wouldn’t be complete without dancing on the skydeck.” He smiled.

I placed my napkin from my lap onto the table and put my hand in his.

“We’re going to dance on the ledge and I don’t want you to be afraid,” he spoke.

A nervousness settled in the pit of my stomach.

“Do you trust me, Eloise?” he asked with seriousness as his eyes stared into mine.

“I think so.”

He let out a chuckle.

“You think so?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

With our hands clasped together, he led me to the ledge and I gulped.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

We stepped onto the ledge and he wrapped his arm securely around my waist as I placed my hand in his and my other hand on his shoulder. We swayed back and forth to the music as I looked out at the brightly lit city from the 103rd floor.

“Are you okay?” Christian asked.

“Actually, I’m fine. It’s beautiful up here.” I smiled. “And you’re right, this is something everyone should experience in their lifetime.”

“I’m glad you like it. I somehow knew you would.” He smiled.

He let go of my hand and wrapped his other arm around me. Bringing both arms up, I secured them around his neck as the two of us stared at each other, getting lost in one another’s soul. The corners of his mouth were slightly curved into a seductive smile that sent shivers down my spine. He wanted to kiss me. I felt it. And in a matter of seconds, his lips gently pressed against mine. He looked at me and I smiled, letting him know that I was on board with whatever he was thinking about. He leaned in again, but this time, his kiss was more sensual and not just a test. I returned it and our tongues met with satisfaction. His hands roamed up and down my sides as mine tangled through his hair. If we didn’t leave now, we’d end up having sex on the ledge. Would that really be so bad? I was sure the staff would mind.

“Shall we go back to the hotel?” he asked as he broke our kiss.

“Yes.” I swallowed hard.

With a grin on his face, he took my hand and we left the Skydeck. Our hands never left each other’s all the way back to the hotel. Once we stepped into the elevator, and being the only ones in there, he pushed me up against the wall and savagely kissed me as we traveled from floor to floor. The doors opened and he grabbed my hand and led us to our rooms.

“Which room? Mine or yours?” he asked.

“Yours is fine.” I smiled.

He inserted the cardkey, opened the door, and swept me up in his arms and over to the bed where we made passionate love. I lay there, wrapped in his arms, my head on his chest and his finger stroking my bare skin.

“I want to see you on a regular basis when we get back to New York,” he spoke.

Fear and confusion rose inside me. I gave serious thought to what Mobile Man said about just letting go and spending the rest of my life wondering what could have been. Christian Blake was everything I was looking for in a man and my intuition was telling me to go for it. I failed at listening to my intuition before, but this time, I knew better.

“I’d like to see you too.” I lifted my head and looked at him.

“Really?” A smile grew across his face.

“Yes, really.”

With one swift move, I was flat on my back and Christian was hovering over me.