I’m sitting on Tessa’s couch. Again. Although I have no recollection of how I decided to end up here. You’d think I’d stop asking these questions by now, but no, I keep wondering.

I glance at her, sliding my arm along the edge of the couch.

She’s bouncy, her eyes excited and cheeks flushed. She appears to be on some sort of high and has barely sat still since I got here.

“How was your day?” She beams, bright and dazzling, shifting around in her seat.

It’s not a polite question, she seems genuinely interested in my life as a trauma surgeon, instead of like most girls I date, who only like that I’m a doctor. I love this about Tessa, but she’s clearly got something on her mind, and that interests me much more than my day. “All right, what’s going on?”

She straightens her shoulders. “What? Nothing.”

“You seem excited about something.”

She fluffs her hair, and waves a hand at me. “It’s nothing, you wouldn’t be interested.”

It bothers me that she believes this, when it’s not true. Everything about her fascinates me. Isn’t it obvious to her? I brush my fingers across her wrist. “Tell me.”

She shakes her head. “It’s nothing, I promise.”

I narrow my eyes. “Do I have to tickle it out of you?”

Her gaze widens in anticipation mixed with horror. A look I absolutely adore, because it’s so goddamn cute. Tessa equally loves and hates tickle torture and I’ve used it to my advantage many times over the last couple of weeks.

She points a finger at me. “Oh no you don’t!”

“Oh yes I will.” I shrug. “Unless you tell, of course.”

She bites her lower lip. While it’s still lush, it’s not pink and swollen from my mouth yet. “It’s silly.”

I grab her ankle and tug. “Tell me.”

She slides down the couch as I pull her closer. “Oh my god, it’s nothing! I had a fun shopping trip with Ashley is all!”

“Shopping?” I chuckle. “You don’t seem like a giddy shopper. So there must be more.”

“It was only shopping.”

I lunge for her, covering her and digging my fingers into her ribs until she squeals and twists under me. “Tell me.”

“No!” She gasps, fighting for breath.

I double my efforts, and she starts thrashing under me. “Tell me!”

She pushes at my chest. “Okay, okay, stop and I’ll tell you.”

I ease my torment, but make no effort to move from on top of her. Because the truth is, I enjoy her softness under my hard frame. Enjoy the way she yields into me far too much. “I’m listening.”

She sighs. “I bought a dress I really love. See, I told you, it’s nothing.”

It’s something. I understand her enough by now to know she’s not a clotheshorse. She isn’t filled with all that crazy girlishness over a new outfit. So, she must really love that dress. I scoot up and point to her mystery bedroom. “Go try it on.”

Her expression flashes, with either terror or excitement, it’s hard to tell which. “I will not.”

“None of that, go.”

She sits back up and smooths her hair, and her eyes dart toward her bedroom. “Don’t be silly.”

Oh, this is good, I can tell by her nervousness. She wants to, but she thinks I’m just saying the words. Which I am not, I can’t think of anything I want more than to see her in a dress that has her this excited. I look her straight in the eye and say in my most serious, and sincere, tone, “Please. Let me see you in your pretty new dress.”

Again, her gaze flutters towards the closed door. “It’s silly.”

“It’s not. I want to see you in it.”

“I don’t want to.” Her arms cross and her expression becomes a full-blown pout.

Good god she’s fucking adorable. I tilt my chin. “Do it. I’m not going to stop or let it rest until I see you in that dress.”

She huffs and lets out a big sigh. “Fine.”

“Good girl.”

She scowls at me, flounces off the couch and stomps into the bedroom.

It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

It takes her fifteen minutes to emerge and when she does, I merely gape at her.

It’s a complete departure from anything I’ve seen her in outside this apartment.

One, it actually fits her.

Two, it’s fun and flirty and sexy.

Three, it accentuates the natural curve of her body, showing off her spectacular tits and small waist.

And four, she looks incredible.

Staring at her, I have a hard time remembering why I ever thought she was cute.

When I remain silent she shifts on impossibly high heels, and her brow creases. “See, I told you it was silly.”

That snaps me out of my stupor and I clear my throat. “It is not silly. You look gorgeous.”

Her cheeks flush. “You don’t have to say that.”

I shake my head. “I am not saying it. I mean it.”

Her expression clears a little. “You like it?”

I crook my finger. “I love it.”

Slowly she walks until she’s standing in front of me.

Not taking my eyes off her, I slide a finger up her leg, starting at her knee, and moving up to her thigh. “So fucking pretty.”

“Thank you,” she says, her voice soft.

“You should wear things like this every day.” At the statement, my hands still their crawl.

Wait a minute.

Why did she buy this? Did she buy it for someone? Is she going on…a date? It’s a date dress. But…would she?

My throat goes dry, and my stomach tightens. Was it possible all this time she’s been going out with another guy? I hate the thought. Hate it more than I have any right to.

She touches my cheek. “You’re scowling.”

I gaze into her face and ask the question I’m dreading the answer to. A question I have no business caring about, but do. “Are you going somewhere special in it?”

Before I can stew too much she shakes her head. “I saw it and thought it was pretty.”

Relief loosens the strain in my shoulders. “It’s very pretty.”

A small smile flits across her lips. “I want to wear it somewhere, so I bought it on faith.”

“On faith?” My fingers squeeze her leg.

She nods. “Yes, on faith that if I bought it, maybe I’d find myself going on an adventure that would call for it.”

Right then and there my heart does a strange little thump against my ribs. Tessa likes adventures, and she’s had far too little of them. She deserves them, and here I am keeping her holed up in her apartment. In that instant, it becomes unacceptable to me.

I make a split-second decision. “Finish doing whatever it is you need to do, we’re going out.”

Surprise splashes across her features. “No, I wasn’t hinting. I just wanted to buy the dress.”

That she doesn’t expect it from me irks me. Not that I blame her. “We’ll have to stop by my apartment so I can change, but, Tessa Jordan, we are going out.”

“But…it’s a Thursday night at nine o’clock.”

I smile. “Sounds like the perfect time for adventure to me.”

* * *

My mom always told me that if I wished hard enough, it would come true. I wished for adventure, and hours later my wish had come true, so maybe she’d been right all along.

At first, I’d wanted to protest, to insist he didn’t have to take me anywhere, but after my initial rebuke, I thought why not. I didn’t ask him, and why shouldn’t I trust that he wanted to.

I was worth it and I deserved to have fun.

So, after a mad dash around my bedroom to get ready, we were out the door and on the way to his apartment. He dressed in a pair of black pants and shirt that made him look dark and mysterious, and so delicious I wanted to attack him.

Now we’re standing outside, waiting for an Uber. I look up at him. “Where are we going?”

To my astonishment he slips his hand into mine. “It’s a surprise.”

I stare down at our laced fingers, liking the look of his darker skin contrasting my paleness. I smile at him. “Thank you.”

An expression I can’t decipher flashes across his features and he turns toward me, brushing a finger across my cheek. “You kill me sometimes, Tessa.”

Before I can ask what he means, he sweeps in and kisses me, leaving me breathless.

Our driver pulls up and we get into the car. Xavier’s body is close to mine as we drive through the city, heading toward the heart of downtown. Fifteen minutes later we pull up to an office building and get out.

As we walk into the complex, I question again. “What is this?”

His fingers squeeze mine. “It’s your adventure.”

On our way to the top floor we ride in a silent elevator. I have no idea what we could possibly be doing here. But since he’s not going to tell me, I keep quiet and wait for whatever he has in store for me.

We exit the car, and walk down a hall toward glass doors. I squint, wait, is that a helicopter?

When we don’t deviate into an office, my heart starts to beat fast. We walk through the doors into the cold night air and a man steps out of the machine.

He’s big, at least as big as Xavier, and handsome with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He strolls over to us and when Xavier shakes his hand, he grins. “You owe me one.”

“Big time. Thanks.” Xavier turns to me. “Tessa, this is Grant, a friend of mine from way back.”

Grant holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Tessa. You ready?”

A bit stunned, I shake his strong hand and ask, “Ready for what?”

Xavier chuckles. “Grant owns a tour company that does helicopter rides over the city.”

“But, how? We didn’t have plans.” I have no idea how this has happened.

“X fill your girl in while I get the copter ready.” Grant points to a waiting area inside. “You can keep warm in there.”

His…girl? My chest squeezes at the suggestion. Of course, I’m not his girl, but at the pilot’s words, I’m confronted with the truth that somewhere during the last couple of weeks, I’d developed a secret hope.

A hope I’ll be forced to look at.

Xavier tugs me over and as soon as we’re in the small room, I ask, “How did you arrange this?”

As though it’s not a big deal, he shrugs. “He’s a friend of mine, and when you were getting ready, I took a chance he’d be available since it’s not a weekend. I asked him for a favor and it paid off.”

I blink up at Xavier, my eyes tearing a little. It’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. It’s a grand gesture. I say softly, “You did this…for me?”

“Yes, for you.” He wraps an arm around my waist and our bodies press flush together. “I wanted to give you a night you deserve.”

“I can’t believe you did this.”

He brushes his mouth over mine. “It’s only the beginning.”

I’ll think about that hope…later. Much, much later.

* * *

After we’d flown over the city, fully ablaze with lights—which was as thrilling as it sounds—Xavier took me to a club called The Violet Hour. There we drank champagne and laughed until we were tipsy. I’d thought we’d call it a night after that, but he still wasn’t done. We stopped off and got Chicago hot dogs and fries before he dragged me into Millennium Park where we sit on a bench looking at the bean sculpture.

I’ve seen it, of course, but never during the night when it’s empty and quiet, the skyline shining in its reflection.

Xavier takes a bite of hot dog before smiling at me. “Did you have fun?”

I answer honestly. “I think this is the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“Me too.” He smiles at me. Then leans over and licks the corner of my mouth. “Mustard.”

I laugh, using a napkin to wipe my face. Without thinking too much about it, I admit, “I’m surprised you’d say that.”

“Why?” He crumples up the waxy paper and tosses it into the bag at our feet.

I shrug one shoulder. “I’d think your life would be full of adventure.”

He puts his elbows on his knees and glances at me. “My life is full of work and long hours and bone-deep tiredness.”

I study the rows of high-rise buildings in the metal sculpture. “That’s a point.” I clear my throat. “So this is a first for both of us.”

“Yeah, it is.” He seems quiet now, not pensive exactly, but thoughtful.

I tilt my head. “Is something wrong?”

“No, everything is perfect.” He straightens and stretches his arm in back of me.

“You seem thoughtful.”

He twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. “Tessa?”

“Yes?” My palms are suddenly sweating, even in the chilled air.

He stares at me, and I have no idea what he’s thinking, but I’m afraid he’s going to tell me we have to end this. Whatever this is. The kernel of hope that has been swelling all night, threatens to dissolve into nothing.

Nervous, I titter. “Do I still have something on my face?”

He shakes his head. “No.”

Even with the fear, I don’t let it stop me from the confrontation. “Tell me?”

He sits there for several long seconds before he says, “There’s something I want.”

“What’s that?” I smile, hoping to ease the tension that’s thickened the space between us.

“I want to see your bedroom.”

That off-limits space. The last boundary between us. The hope begins to pulse again, hot, almost throbbing. I gulp. “You do?”

He nods. “I do. It’s become an obsession.”

“It has?” He’s probably seen hundreds of female bedrooms, mine can’t be any different.

“Yes.” He leans closer, and whispers in my ear, “I want to slide my cock inside you.”

I flush, excitement spiking in my blood, mixing with the champagne we’d drunk, and the hope attempting to implant itself in my heart. I don’t deny the truth. “I want that too.”

Had been dreaming about it. Some days I want it so badly I scare myself. I’m heading for a fall, I know that, but I don’t care. He’s an adventure I don’t want to pass up.

“You do?” His voice is dark now, heavy and raspy like when we’re fooling around.

“I do.” Smile at him. “Do you want to come home with me?”

Our eyes meet, lock and hold together.

“Yeah, I do.”

“My bedroom is even more girly than the rest of my apartment.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” He kisses me, long and deep before pulling away. “I’d like nothing better than to do filthy things to you in your sweet, innocent bed.”

“Will you corrupt me?” Not that he already hasn’t.

“Yes.”

“Do you promise?” It’s what I want, to surrender to him completely.

His eyes search mine. “I promise.”

I stand and hold out my hand. “Then come with me.”

He rises, and does.