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I open my eyes, then promptly close them tight. I don’t want to remember any of this. The carabiner hisses as it slides down the rope. I glide through the air, toward Zeb, who waits for me on the other side, ready to catch me.
It feels like forever but is less than a few breaths when strong arms wrap around me and I come to a sudden stop with bone-jarring force. As soon as both of my feet are firmly planted on the roof, I open my eyes.
Zeb works to unclip me from the line. I step free, and he releases the anchor. The line slips over the roof, falling to the ground, where Rafe and Hayes gather it in.
I breathe a sigh of relief as my entire body shakes. When Zeb wraps his arms around me, his skin is warm. His muscles tense. The strength of his body makes me feel sheltered and safe.
“I never want to do that again.” I look up at him, trying to make light of that terrifying ride, and find his dark eyes glittering with admiration.
“It takes a brave person to do what you just did. Never doubt yourself.”
He releases me but holds my gaze for a moment longer. His smile turns into something else—something warm and tender that burns all the way through to my soul.
I’ll never forget this.
For the first time, I feel truly alive.
The cool evening air brushes against my skin as I stand on my toes and loop my arms around Zeb’s neck. His dark eyes twinkle and a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips.
“Admit it,” he says, “you secretly enjoyed that.”
“Never.”
He breathes out and the heat of his breath tickles my skin while sending shivers down my spine. He dips his head until our lips crash together, soft at first, but the kiss transforms from heated passion to a beautiful harmony where we’re perfectly in step.
As if we’ve done this a thousand times before.
He cups the back of my neck, controlling my head, and uses his hand on the small of my back to obliterate any space between us. Deepening our kiss, each flick of his tongue sends sparks of pleasure coursing through my body, and a delicious trickle of heat builds in my core.
I cling to him, as tight as I can, never wanting this feeling to end.
And while it feels as if time stands still, as we lose ourselves to the kiss, we finally break apart to catch our breath.
“Now that was definitely worth the wait.” His dark eyes smolder with desire. His gaze lingers on mine before he takes a step back and releases me. “As much as I want more of that, we should probably get off this roof.”
We share one last lingering gaze before he reaches for my hand.
With night falling, the lights of the city make the sky glow, twinkling like a million tiny stars. It’s not much different from the night we met. All around me, life goes on as if I didn’t experience the most intense few minutes of my life.
I wish I could stay right here, right now, with the whole world on pause.
But time rushes on. Zeb escorts me off the roof. We head down three flights of steep stairs. He makes me pause at the door.
“Stay here. Let me check the street.”
“You don’t think he’s here?” My stomach clenches with fear.
“I don’t, but I’m still going to check. If I wave, it’s clear to come out. If I head back, that means it’s not safe.” He lifts my chin with his finger and places a tender kiss on my lips. “Yeah, way better than anaccidentalkiss.”
With that, he heads outside where he parked his motorcycle. He glances up and down the street, taking his time, then pulls two helmets out of pannier bags draped on either side of the back wheel. He waves and I exit the building.
Without wasting time, he dons his helmet, then helps me with mine. Swinging a leg over the bike, he gestures for me to get on the back.
This is another first for me.
“It’s about a two-hour ride to HQ from here. If you get too cold, let me know and we’ll stop and get you something warm to wear.”
Why would I need a jacket when I plan on leaning against him the entire time?
