“Nice.” I emphasize the word. “Makes me wish I had a suit.”
Winger runs his eyes over me, and the tension from earlier returns like it never left. I’m taller than him since I’m positioned above him on the steps. It’s a nice change and makes me feel…something. It’s not like I’m in control, exactly, but there’s an unexpected sway in it.
“Find anything?” he asks softly.
“I was too distracted to even look,” I admit.
He lets out a soft, surprised chuckle. “I think I need to see this.”
I step to the side, giving him room on the stairs with me so my ass isn’t in his face when I turn. Winger is slow as he peeks into the rooms on this floor while I unlock the door and motion for him to go ahead.
He gives me a look that says,Itisn’t happening, and then he props the door open above my head. I duck under his arm and march straight up, where I stand back and let him get a good look at the space. After a quick scan of the area, he approaches the wall dividing the spaces and peers over to the other side, just as I did. We are two suspicious peas in a pod.
“I need to take a picture of this and send it to Iron. It will piss him off.” He snorts.
“Why?”
“He’s been trying to get roof access in his building for a couple of years. I told him to move, but he hates moving. I think he would rather buy the building first.” He walks over to the railing surrounding the rooftop terrace and peers over the side. I didn’t have the nerve to get that close, and I still don’t.
He looks back over his shoulder as if I telegraphed my thoughts to him. “I should have told you to bring extra clothes. I forgot,” he says.
“It’s not a big deal,” I reply truthfully. Wearing the same jeans for a couple days is normal for me. Other things would be nice, though, like fresh underwear, a toothbrush, and deodorant. “I usually keep a spare bag in my SUV because I always forget something too.”
“You have an SUV?” He pivots, leaning his ass against the low wall surrounding the rooftop.
It doesn’t look safe. “There’s a seat right there.” I point to the plush, pillow-covered furniture.
“SUV?” He ignores me, and his question registers.
A slow grin curls my lips. “Ah, something Iron missed.”
“Apparently.” He crosses his arms, leaning back even farther. My chest seems to tighten until I feel like I need to hold my breath. “How did he miss it? Where is it?”
“Come away from the edge, and I’ll tell you,” I bargain.
His eyebrows rise, and he stares at me for a long moment before he pushes off the ledge. “Don’t like heights?” he questions softly, passing the seating area to come stand way closer to me than I was expecting.
“I don’t know,” I answer. I didn’t have a problem coming up here or looking out from the safety of the interior space, but seeing him so close to the edge made me more than uncomfortable.
“Were you worried about me, Max?” he asks while looking at my mouth.
“I thought you wanted to know about the SUV?” I deflect.
“I want to know everything.”
Did he just move closer, or is it me? “It’s parked in a garage in Wayne. I pay cash for the spot. The building is nearly empty,” I confess.
“Interesting.” Winger’s voice is barely a whisper, but we’re so close, it doesn’t need to be any louder. “And why did you want me to get away from the edge? Was it so I could be closer to you?”
My nod is stiff. “I don’t want you to fall.”
The tip of his shoe touches mine as he inches closer, closing the small gap between us. The electricity is back, making my fingers ache to touch him and my lips eager for his.
I tip my head back in invitation, and he lowers his mouth slowly, giving me the option to tell him to stop at any second, but I don’t. Our lips touch, and he kisses me. It’s soft and sweet, an exploration of not just my mouth, but my soul. I reach for him first, sliding my hand into the space on the side of his waist, and I grip his shirt instead of scoring my nails into his torso.
The butterflies are back in my stomach, whirling and tumbling, so I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. My breaths are uneven, but that doesn’t matter. I feel alive, buzzing with exhilaration and desire. I lean against him, demanding more, and he finally wraps his hand around the base of my neck, clutching me to him just as feverishly.
My head feels light as I arch my neck, stealing a breath, but he continues to kiss me, running his lips, tongue, and teeth along the column of my throat. I palm the back of his head, encouraging him to continue.
