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Minutes seem to expand into hours. The influx of the Upper Tier guests transforms Nocté from a quiet hum to a symphony of laughter, chatter, and music.
More guests trickle in—no sign of Carlie yet. Though, a part of me is excited to know what she thinks … If she likes what we’ve done.
Or if this will be taking things too far.
Just when the crescendo of my anxiety is about to overwhelm me, a familiar touch on my shoulder pulls me back.
I turn slowly, meeting London’s intense gaze.
A small sob threatens to unleash from my throat but I swallow it down.
"Lily," he begins, his voice lower than the ambient lighting, “will you come with me?”
CHAPTER36
Lily
My heart hammers in my chest as London takes my hand and leads me to the staff elevator.
I glance back just in time to witness Stefanie giving me two thumbs up and a quick wave before we slide behind the curtain.
The commotion of the Upper Tier event fades into the background and the only thing keeping me from falling apart is the single point of contact I have with London.
His fingers are intertwined with mine and pray it’s not for the last time.
The elevator ride is painfully silent, doing nothing to quell the thrumming of my pulse in my ears.
“London, I’m sorry,” I blurt out, turning to him. “I didn’t mean to—”
Just then, the doors ding open, but I refused to move a muscle.
Confusion floats across his face as he reaches for the doors to hold them open for us. My gaze drifts to his hand, then beyond the elevator.
I double-take.
Once again, he’s taken me to the roof—not his office, as I anticipated. Throughout the rooftop, it’s a wonderland of flowers, lilies mostly, just like downstairs, and the romantic flicker of candles all across the space.
The Adirondack chairs that had once circled the fire pit are gone. Instead, a single air mattress rests on the floor. It’s covered in blankets and pillows.
“What is …” I begin, narrowing my eyes and shaking my head, “this?”
We step out of the elevator and London turns to face me, taking my hands in his.
His handsome face is filled with complexity and he hesitates slightly before saying, “Lily, last night …”
“Please,” I shake my head and squeeze his hands. “Please don’t say it was a mistake.”
He chuckles darkly and his eyebrows tug in. “Lily, it wasmind-blowing.”
A rush of breath escapes me. “Really?”
Again, he laughs softly and places a kiss to my forehead. “Yes, really.” Raising a hand to my cheek, he brushes it with the back of his hand. “But I need you to know, it wasn't just about how it felt physically. Last night ... it was a culmination of everything we've been dancing around. Every look, every touch, every unspoken word between us. It wasn’t a mistake, Lily. It wasinevitable.”
I swallow hard, fighting the tears threatening to spill over.
“What I regret is how we didn't communicate much afterward. It was totally my fault. I let my own worries and insecurities make things complicated between us today. I'm sorry for that,” he replies, his words full of gravel.
I shake my head, confused. “What are you insecure about?”
