Page 68 of Fresh Tracks
I look over my laptop, watching him and Sutton talk about the restaurant and the plan for the night. The only thought that runs through my mind is that I wish he’d grab my hand again.
When the elevator door opens,I step right into the kitchen of the penthouse. God only knows how many stories up we are in this building in downtown Seattle, right on the edge of the Puget Sound.
Tommy rests his hand on the small of my back, ushering me into the sprawling space.
I spin around on the toes of my Doc Martens, taking in the open floor plan. Floor to ceiling windows on every side of the apartment showcase views of Mount Rainier, the water, and the Seattle skyline and Space Needle.
“This place is crazy. I can’t imagine what something like this costs.” I look back at Tommy, still standing just outside the elevator.
He smirks and shrugs, flaring his eyebrows up.
“No, don’t tell me. You own this place too?”
He stepsinto the open kitchen with me, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sort of.”
“What do you mean sort of?”
He grimaces. “I mean I technically pay rent, but I pay it to myself. Or I guess I pay it to the holding company I own that owns the building. At least that’s how Jake explained it.”
“Got it. So total normal people stuff,” I say with a laugh before dropping my bags.
Looking into the sprawling apartment, it’s hard to choose where to start. The views in every direction are stunning. The floors are gorgeous, colorful terrazzo. In the living area, there’s a large, slate fireplace. What finally catches my eye though are the trio of large swings facing the fireplace. I walk over to them, running my hands along the thick hemp ropes holding up the wooden planks. I sit down on the buffalo plaid cushion of the middle one and find Tommy watching me with amusement.
“Why do you have swings in your living room?” I ask, kicking off of the floor, swinging myself up into the air.
“I always wanted a treehouse and a swing set as a kid.” He steps toward me and grabs the ropes, stopping the swing in front of him. “A treehouse didn’t seem practical as a grown man in the city, but the swings seemed like a cool idea. I’m glad you like them.”
“They’re cool,” I say, leaping out of the swing and finally heading into the dining area with its wall of windows looking out over the Cascade Mountains to the east and south. Even after growing up in the Tetons in Wyoming and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, the view of Mount Rainier is absolutely breathtaking. I feel like a kid, pressing my face to the window, drawn to the scenery.
When someone says million dollar views, this is what comes to mind.
I can’t even imagine what a place like this costs, much less thewhole building. Then again, that seems to be a recurring theme with Tommy. The jet, the beautiful houses in Bend and Jackson. I can’t imagine what any of that costs. My mind drifts back to the way he tensed at my offhanded comment before. ‘Giving eight figures a year is unheard of unless you’re a billionaire or something.’
Holy shit. Maybe this is a billion dollar view. If that’s true though, I’m starting to realize why he enjoys his privacy and anonymity so much. Still, that’s an incredible thing to keep hidden for so long.
“What are you looking at?” Tommy’s low voice grabs my attention. I turn to see him, leaning against the window, looking like an absolute meal.
“Right now,” I reach over, running my finger down his arm, over his toned biceps and the veins in his forearms, looping it into one of his leather bracelets, “just you.”
He steps closer to me, dropping his hand and cupping my ass. “You can look at me whenever you want.” He gives my ass a light slap, making my thighs clench. “Now go on, check the place out. Make yourself at home. You can throw your stuff in the guest suite if you want.”
“What if I want to stay in your room?” I flick my eyebrows at him, leaning into his warmth.
He lets out a low, satisfied hum, practically a growl. “You don’t even have to ask.”
He pulls me in closer and I love the way his strong hands feel on me. I’ve been craving this contact with him, but both of us have constantly been busy. My body buzzes with excitement and I nuzzle into his neck.
“You can show me now,” I breathe the words against his neck.
He lifts me into his arms and I wrap my legs around him, giggling when he starts to walk toward what I assume is his room.My body molds to his. And for once, I don’t feel lanky or awkward or too tall. Instead, I feel like he was built for me.
He nips at my ear, sending a jolt of electricity through me. My hips buck, grinding on his hard length I can feel through my leggings. I run my hands under his shirt, pulling it up to his chest so I can feel the toned lines and warmth of his abs.
“I can’t wait to—” he rasps against my neck, stopping in the middle of the living room. I feel his body go rigid, but he grips me even tighter.
“Fuck,” he says through gritted teeth.
I laugh, planting a kiss to his stubbled cheek. “Well yeah, I was hoping that’s what you wanted.”
