So, instead of making some smart comeback, I met his gaze and answered simply, “Yeah. I guess I do.”
He stiffened beside me, his face frozen for a split second before his grin spread wider. That hadn’t been the answer he was expecting. I kind of enjoyed surprising him. And with those shots of liquid courage now flowing through my veins, I stepped up onto the barstool, leaning over the bar and grabbing two bottles of beer before hopping down. I swayed slightly, and Ben grabbed my waist, steadying me.
“What do you think, O’Connor? Wanna break some more rules?” I held out one of the bottles.
He rose, taking the extended bottle of beer, and slid an arm around me. “I suppose someone has to keep you from getting into trouble.”
I pulled him toward the elevator.
“Where are we going?” he asked, following me with a bemused smile on his face.
I slammed the button that would take us to the rooftop pool, bending down to take my high heels off. “These damn shoes are killing me.”
“Were you planning on swimming in your bridesmaid’s dress?” He watched out of the corner of his eye as I stood back up.
“No, not in my dress,” I said coyly.
His eyes raked over me, the heat of his gaze making sweat bead across my skin.
The elevator dinged and, grateful to escape his gaze, I moved past him to the door that accessed the pool.
Ben grabbed my arm, pointing to the pool hours posted by the door. “Pool’s closed, princess.”
He made to go back the way we came, but I slid in front of him.
“I said we were breaking more rules, didn’t I?”
He chuckled. “So you did. You’re gonna need a room key to get in,” he said, digging into his back pocket.
“I have mine.” Ben’s gaze roved over my body, searching.
I smirked and reached into the bodice of my dress, giggling when his eyes widened and his lips turned up in amusement. I pulled the key card out of my bra with a wink, enjoying the way his eyes lingered on me as I slid it over the card reader. I pulled Ben through the door, eager to see where the night would take us.
Never Have I Ever
Eve
Blueripplesreflectedontothe stone wall from the pool. The night was balmy, and the cement was warm on my feet, not fully cooled from the heat of the summer sun.
I tossed my shoes onto a pool chair and made my way to the water, hiking my dress up so I could dip my toes in. The water was cool, and the smell of chlorine reminded me of my childhood summers spent at the pool.
I opened my beer as I sat on the ledge, feet kicking gently in the water. Ben hung his suit jacket across a chair, unbuttoned the sleeve of his dress shirt, rolling it up to the crease of his elbow. I watched the muscles of his forearm tense as he rolled up his other sleeve, swallowing down the desire to jump him right here. He kicked off his shoes and socks before rolling up his pant legs and finding a place next to me.
“So, was this your first time breaking into a pool or have you done this before?” he asked, twisting the lid off his beer, a mischievous tilt to his lips.
I cast a brief glance at him from the corner of my eye. “Never have I ever broken into a pool before tonight.”
His eyes held mine, hesitating only a moment before bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a drink.
“You rebel,” I teased.
“Never have I ever been arrested,” he said. Neither of us drank.
“Never have I ever been to a strip club.” He took a drink.
“Never have I ever flirted with a bartender so they would break the rules for me,” he joked.
I took a drink of my beer, a smile playing at my lips. “Never have I ever drunk dialed my ex.”
