After floating for a moment, the water moves, and I blink my eyes open to find him stripped down to his boxer briefs and stepping into the pool. Every inked musclemoves with strength and precision. He might as well be carved from stone. It’s a sight that has my breath lodged in my throat.
Hayes is lean but strong. His thighs flex with every step. I’ve never thought twice about thighs, but his muscles are practically pornographic.
Hayes smirks when he catches me staring. He lowers into the water and moves toward me. But like in the elevator, he doesn’t touch or come too close. There’s a safe distance filled with so much tension I’m practically vibrating.
We move to the edge of the pool, where a glass ledge is all that sits between us and the many stories below. Resting my arms on it, I gaze out at Las Vegas.
“So, tell me something about you.” I watch him from the corner of my eye, but he’s looking out at the view.
Water beads over his round shoulders, slowly dripping over his inked skin.
Is it possible to be jealous of water?
“What do you want to know?” He catches me staring, so I look away.
“You’re in a motorcycle club.” I clear my throat, gathering my composure.
“Is that a question?”
“No.” I glance at the leather vest draped over the chair. “Your vest thing gave you away.”
“My cut.” He smiles. “The vest thing. It’s called a cut.”
“Oh, right.” I bite my lower lip. “Why?”
“Why is it called a cut?”
“No, why are you in the club?”
He drags a hand through his blond hair, water darkening his strands. “There wasn’t really another option. I was born into it. Raised by it. It’s who I am.”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s not really about liking it or not. It’s my life.”
“You can hate your life, and that would still be true.” I frown, looking out at the city again—at the markers towering in the night that define my own life.
Towers I’ll never escape.
Even though I’m not looking at Hayes, I feel him watching me. Heat sears as if he can see straight through the wall I’m used to keeping up around people.
“I guess you’re right. I like being in the club. They’re my family.” He shifts a little closer, making waves in the water. “What about you?”
He turns so only one arm is propped on the ledge now. His knee brushes my leg, and heat floods my cheeks.
“What about me?”
“I told you something about myself. It’s only fair you return the favor.”
“You didn’t tell me anything. Your cut did.” My eyebrow hitches. “Besides, I’m boring. There’s nothing to know.”
“I highly doubt that, Emery…” He trails off, eyebrows pinching. “You haven’t told me your last name.”
“You’re right. I haven’t.”
I can’t. There isn’t a person in Vegas who doesn’t know my last name. It’s on the largest casino downtown. And even if Hayes is a biker and might not care about my uncle or his casino business, I like that I’m nobody to him. I’mjust a girl out to party for the night. The second anyone finds out my last name, everything inevitably changes.
“I’ll tell you what…” I turn to face him, and I swear he’s moved closer because I can see every droplet of water running over his skin. “I’ll answer three questions, but none of them can be too personal.”
