When we finally sat up and got dressed, the city looked different. Or maybe I did. We’d crossed a line, and there was no going back.
Riot pulled the jacket around my shoulders instead of putting it back on himself. The leather was heavy, smelled like him, felt like a quiet claim without the need to say anything out loud.
He held me in his arms a moment, then kissed me again. Softer, more tender than the one that had started all of this. It felt right. Like it was coming not from his cock, but from deep within his heart.
“Come on,” he said, nodding toward the door. “They’re going to start looking for us.”
I took his hand, gave the skyline one last look, and followed him to the ladder, carrying the rooftop with me like a secret folded into my pocket.
When we reached the ladder, Riot stopped. “Ladies first.”
“I didn’t take you for the chivalrous type.”
“I didn’t take you for the kind of woman who believes stereotypes.”
“Good point.” I looked down at the ladder. “Here’s the thing…”
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”
I pressed my lips together.
“For fuck’s sake…” he muttered, running a hand through his jet-black hair. “You must’ve really wanted to see what I was up to.”
I stared down at the hatch. “Yep. Regretting it now.”
“Would it help if I went first?” he asked.
“Doubt it,” I replied. “Then I’ll just stay up here, frozen in place, until morning.”
“Well then. After you.” He gestured with his hand. The same hand that was palming my ass just a few minutes ago.
I tried to think about all the sexy stuff. Maybe it would distract me.
Down the ladder I went, clinging to the metal bars as if my life depended on it. Which it kind of did. I imagined Riot on top of me again, a lusty smile spreading on his face as he slid his hard length into me…
Before I knew it, I had reached the catwalk level. I immediately grabbed the railing and focused on Riot coming down the ladder, rather than at the huge open expanse of arena spread out beneath us.
“Not bad,” he said.
“I was distracting myself,” I answered as we walked down the catwalk to the next ladder. “Help distract me some more. What’s your favorite song?”
“Like, favorite Cherry Midnight song? Or favorite song, period?”
“Both.”
“Hmm. My favorite Cherry Midnight song isAvenue J.Which sucks, because nobody appreciates it as much as I do. It has the fewest Spotify streams on the whole fucking album.”
“I like that song!” I said while starting down the next ladder. “It’s sad and haunting.”
“And as for my favorite song overall…” He paused to begin descending the ladder when I was far enough down to give him room. “Beast of Burden. Rolling Stones.”
One rung after another. Slow and steady. “I… I don’t think I’ve heard that one.”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope. I don’t listen to much classic rock.”
Riot made a choking sound. “All right. That fucking sucks.”
