His nose scrunches. “Fuck, I don’t even know what I was going to say, but now that you said all that shit about belly buttons, I think I agree.”
I laugh, shaking my head and turning to the ledge. “Well, that’s your three questions.”
“Mm-hmm.” He stays beside me, quiet for a minute, watching me kick my feet in the water.
Below us, the city sparkles. A mirage in the desert that lures in the tourists. If only they could see what’s beneath the shine.
“You’ve got a lot on your mind tonight,” he says, breaking the silence.
“What makes you say that?”
“Just a feeling.”
I glance over at Hayes. “Do you ever have one of those nights where you know everything in your life is about to change? Like you got something a little too good, so now something bad is coming. Like that little bit of good is the last you’re going to get.”
He must think I’m losing my mind.
Maybe I am.
Below us, hope and pleasure stretch for miles. A city of sin and possibility. And yet, I know when I leave this room, the chains will wrap so tightly, I’ll say goodbye to all of it.
Hayes’s eyebrows pinch as he looks me over. But when his gaze meets mine, there’s no judgment, just understanding.
“Do you ever feel like that?” It’s nearly a whisper.
“All the time.” His stare drops to my mouth. “Guess that’s why when it’s good you have to grab onto it.”
I peel myself off the ledge and move toward him. If this is all I get, then he’s right. Why not take what I came here for? I might have walked up to him in the casino only wanting a kiss, but the moment his lips landed on mine, I needed all of him.
Following him up to his room was never about the view. I’ve seen it a thousand times from my own room. This is about how Hayes makes me feel. And if I’m about to give up my life—my soul—then I should claim something for myself one last time.
Hayes snags my hand, pulling me to him. Water waves between us as our chests collide.
It’s gravity.
Magnetism.
Something greater intervenes as I wrap my arms and legs around his body, and his mouth meets mine. The world could fall apart around us, and I’d be unable to tear my attention away from him. He’s a need, and I’m aching.
Hayes spins us so my back is to the pool ledge, and I’m overcome with emotion.
Fear.
Desire.
Hunger.
My fingers dig into the back of his hair as my kiss turns greedy. He meets me with equal desperation. He’s out to devour, and I want to let him.
Until his forehead presses to mine, breaking the kiss so he can catch his breath.
“You’re too fucking good for a man like me, freckles.” Hayes traces the dots on my cheek, so gently it’s as if he’s scared what will happen beneath his touch.
“You don’t know that. You don’t know me.”
“I know enough to know you should tell me to stop.”
“I can’t.” It’s a whisper.
