Page 63 of Some Saviors Can Break You

“No, I kissed you to get you to relax,” he told her, settling her against him as his driver headed off into the traffic. “Rough day?”

“Long day,” she replied on a sigh, nestling closer and tucking her face against his neck. “Thanks for picking me up.”

Women! First she was annoyed that he was there to pick her up, and now she was grateful, he didn't think he would ever figure out the way their minds worked.

“You're welcome.” Eli kissed her forehead and then just wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He liked this, just holding her in his arms, and all too soon they were pulling up outside his building.

“Where are we?” Florence asked, suspicion sliding into her tone. “This doesn’t look like a restaurant.”

“I said I was buying you dinner, I never said I was taking you to a restaurant,” he reminded her as he took her hand and tugged her from the car, excited to show her what he had planned.

“So, are you going to tell me where we are?”

“My place. Well, my new place, I’ve been staying in a hotel since I moved back to the city, but I thought no time like the present to rectify that.”

With a puzzled look on her face, she asked, “We’re moving your stuff into your new apartment for our date?”

“Nope,” he answered simply. He used his key to let them into the building, then nodded to the doorman on the way to the lift.

“So, what are we doing?” She sounded more curious than annoyed and he couldn’t help but grin, he got the opinion that Florence was like a dog with a bone, she wouldn’t let things go, it was what made her a great cop, and an interesting girlfriend.

“Dinner and shopping,” he replied vaguely, fighting a laugh.

Her nose scrunched up. “Shopping? In your apartment?”

“Online shopping, princess, it’s been around for a while now.”

“I know what it is,” she said with an accompanying eye roll. “I was just wondering what we’re shopping for.”

Before he could answer, the lift opened to the penthouse and Florence gasped, dropped his hand, and took a step into the space, eyes wide as she spun in a slow circle, taking in the impressive entrance hall. Then she noticed the windows in the living room and practically ran to them, staring out at the exquisite view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

“Thisis your place?” she asked, turning back to examine the room.

“Yep, all mine.” For some reason he felt proudly pleased by her enthusiasm for the penthouse. He’d bought it because the owner had been in financial trouble and anxious to sell, so he’d got it for a steal and been able to take possession of it almost immediately. Although he had liked the place and the view, it hadn't really felt like it was anything special until this moment when he saw the joy on Florence’s face, and knew that one day soon this would be the home they would share. Eli could imagine the two of them living here, curling up in front of one of the fireplaces on cold winter evenings, going to bed together each night, and eating breakfast in the kitchen before heading to work. It was all so perfect, and he was so glad he had planned this date.

“Is this a real wood fireplace?” she asked in awe as she strode over to the one in the living room.

“It’s one of four of them in the place. There’s herringbone floors, plaster moldings, five ensuite bedrooms, a formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, library, its own laundry room.”

“It’s amazing,” she gushed as she hurried off into the next room.

He followed her as she ran from room to room exclaiming over the features and the views, and by the time they were back in the living room, he was ready to tell her what he had planned for their date. “As you can see this place is empty, I sold my furniture before I left London intending to buy everything newfor my new place, and I was hoping you would help me choose furniture and furnishings.”

“Me?” Those blue eyes of hers widened, making them look like two huge glowing blue orbs, staring into them was like staring into a summer sky, you could get lost in them.

“Yes, you.” He leaned over and ruffled her hair. “After all, you're going to be living here too as soon as I can convince you to move in with me.”

“Eli, we’ve only been going out a few days, we haven't even known each other for two weeks, don’t you think it’s way too soon to be thinking of us living together, even if you are joking.”

“Honey, I couldn’t be more serious.”

“Still it’s too early, we don’t know what's going to happen with us.”

Catching her chin, he forced her to look at him. “Are you telling me that you don’t feel what I feel?”

“N-no,” she said hesitantly.

“You feel this, Florence.” He pressed his free hand to her chest where he could feel her heart pounding. “Your heart feels it.” Curling his hand gently around her neck he could feel her pulse fluttering wildly. “Your body feels it.” His fingers touched her temples. “Stop letting your head deny what the rest of you already knows. We belong together, Florence, and I don’t care if we’ve known each other for a minute or a decade, I want you, I know you want me too, don’t fight it, princess.” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he drew her in close, melding her body against his, and kissing her long and slow.

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