After a while, I realize I’ve been talking about myself nonstop for probably over an hour.

“I’m sorry,” I say, looking away. “I’ve never done that before.”

“What? Why are you sorry?” Oz leans in and wraps his arms around me again. “Don’t ever be sorry. For anything. I love hearing you talk. Don’t ever apologize for that.” He gives me a quick kiss on the lips, but doesn’t deepen it. Instead, he stands, holding his hand out to me. “I think they’d like to close this place up.”

I take his hand, and he leads me away from the beautiful jellyfish room and out of the aquarium. Once we’re outside, the limo is there, waiting on us. He reaches out, opening the door and helping me in before sliding in after me. As soon as the door is closed behind him, he’s pulling me onto his lap.

He rests his hands on either side of my neck and looks into my eyes. Something flashes there, but again, I don’t know what it is. Longing? There’s a need there, but I can’t place it.

“Come home with me,” he whispers so softly I almost don’t catch it.

I hesitate, wanting to give him what he wants, but unsure if this is what I’m ready for.

“I—”

“When I get back,” he interrupts, giving me a sweet smile that shows one of his dimples. “Maybe then. We don’t have to do anything, Mallory. I want you in my bed.”

Before I can answer, he leans up, kissing me softly, but it’s not enough. This time, I’m the one sweeping my tongue into his mouth and deepening the kiss. I want more, but it’s so fast. Maybe these couple of days apart will give me some time to clear the lust-filled fog from my brain.

Oz runs his hands down my back to my ass, pulling me closer to him. I rub my breasts against his chest, wishing there was nothing between us. Breaking the kiss, I’m about to tell him to take me to his house, when the limo stops. It’s then I realize I never felt it start. I was so lost in our kiss that I didn’t realize the car was moving, let alone that we’d traveled so far as to reach a destination.

“Can I take you for breakfast in the morning?” he asks, kissing down my neck.

“If it’s anything like breakfast this morning, yes.” My words are breathy. I love the heat of his lips on me.

He pulls back, smiling, both dimples out in full force. “You need only ask, my sweet Mallory.”

With one final kiss, he helps me out of the limo and watches me enter the lobby of my apartment on wobbly legs.

Chapter Ten

Mallory

* * *

“Someone is about to get throat punched!” I hear paige bellow. The shout is followed by a loud pounding on the front door. I roll over and look at the clock. Five a.m. shows in bright neon blue. I spring from the bed, chasing paige down the hallway before she ends up arrested for assault. It’s way too early to bail her out of jail.

I catch up to her as she flings open the door to reveal Oz with a smile on his face that drops instantly.

“Did you look through the peephole?” he barks at Paige, taking me by surprise.

“Oz,” I snap before Paige can say something and an argument sets in. They’ve only met once and for a very brief moment. I want them to like each other, and this isn’t a good start. She’s the most important person in my life, and Oz is beginning to mean a lot to me. It’s important they get along.

Oz’s eyes snap to mine and go soft again. He eats up every inch of me as he looks down my body to where my legs are bare. I’m only wearing a pair of panties and a worn-out Yale T-shirt that drops to midthigh. I’ve had the thing since my freshman year of college, and I always sleep in it.

“It’s 5 a.m.,” Paige says, releasing the door. Oz catches it, stopping it from shutting. “I’m going back to bed.” Paige shakes her head, clearly annoyed, but I’m glad she didn’t lay into Oz about the peephole comment. She must be tired.

Oz steps in, shutting the door behind him and flipping the lock. Placing a bag and drink holder with coffee down on the table next to the door, he turns to me. Like always, he’s in a suit and looks incredibly handsome. Way too handsome for 5 a.m. His dark waves are pushed back, and his short stubble is clean and polished. His suit today is a light gray, and he’s wearing a baby blue crisp dress shirt with a blue-and-gray-striped tie. He’s gorgeous.

I don’t even want to think about what I look like right now.

“You can’t talk to Paige like that. This is her home, and she can answer the door however she likes.” Not that I don’t agree with him. Paige should’ve checked to see who was at the door before swinging it open, but in her defense, it’s early and she was pissed. Not to mention this building has crazy good security. It makes me wonder how he even got up to our floor.

“Whose shirt is that?” he asks, changing the subject. His tone is a little firmer than normal.

“You’re clearly not a morning person. What are you even doing here?”

“Baby, whose shirt is that?” he asks again, taking a step toward me.

I look down at the shirt. “Well, I’m wearing it, so clearly it’s mine.” I place my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes at him. What the hell is going on here?

“It’s really big on you.”

“So?” I’m clearly not understanding the problem with my shirt.

“It looks like a man’s shirt.” He takes a few more steps until he’s standing right in front of me. I have to lean my head back to look up at him. His jaw is set in a firm lock, almost like he’s clenching his teeth.