Page 32 of After Midnight

I kiss him harder, pulling him closer and shifting my hips, rubbing my clit against his knee through my jeans. He breaks our kiss, and my head falls back, eyes going to the night sky as he begins to work his lips across my jaw to my earlobe, then to the soft place right below my ear. His tongue traces my skin, which I’m sure is salty from the heat in the air, then makes its way back up to my mouth. He licks my lips, making me moan, then shoves his tongue back into my mouth, where it twists with mine.

I grind myself against his leg harder, wishing there were more friction, wishing his dick were out right now and he could bend me over this barrier and plow it into me, wishing—

Shit.

Like getting hit by a freight train, I realize with sudden clarity what I’m doing, realize that I really am letting the tide that is Sebastian pull me out to sea. And I really want to let it, to see where it’ll take me, but I can’t.

Because he leaves tomorrow. Because this is probably only a one-night thing. And because I’ve got way too many dreams and plans to get caught up with a California rock star.

Even if he is a really good kisser.

Hands on his chest, I push him back, breaking the kiss. We both pant hard in the semidarkness—it’s never truly dark in Vegas, not with all the lights bleeding across the desert. Sebastian’s heart beats hard under my palms, and the feel of it makes me want to kiss him again. Somehow, that heart feels vulnerable, like it’s telling me things his mouth hasn’t yet said.

And it’s way too tempting. So I drop my hands, placing them on the concrete barrier, and lean back from him so I can look up into his eyes.

When he meets my gaze, he smiles, his dimples making another appearance. “Hey,” he says.

Somehow, that makes me laugh, and I shake my head. “Hey.”

“You kiss all the guys like that?” he asks.

I bite my bottom lip, trying not to smile, trying not to make it obvious that he’s making me feel all kinds of ways right now. One of my shoulders rises in a shrug. “Just the cute ones.”

Even in the low light, I can see the slight tinge of color that comes across his cheeks.

Letting out a rumbly laugh, he steps away from me, giving me just enough space that I can breathe again without worrying that I’m going to grab him and refuse to let go.

“I’ll consider myself lucky, then,” he says. Then he takes a deep breath, like he’s trying to shake the sexual tension off, even if it continues to linger between us—and even if I can see an obvious bulge in his jeans. “Well, you said I had to convince you. So, you gonna teach me that kickflip now or what?”

My lips pull up into a smile, and I’m grateful for the distraction. I push off the concrete barrier and gesture to our abandoned skateboards. “Fine. Grab your board. And please try not to break anything.”

chapter 15

Sebastian

IT’S WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN Remi pulls the Jeep up to the drop-off area at the hotel. The lights in the city and on the building blaze bright in the darkness, cutting through Remi’s tinted windows as she puts the Jeep in park.

And I wish that drive had taken about ten times longer. Because now I have to leave, even though I really don’t want to.

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?” she asks, a small furrow in her brow as she glances down at my hands in my lap. One of them has a big pink concrete burn on it from where I ate shit trying to do an ollie. It stings like hell, but it isn’t bleeding anymore, and I didn’t break anything, so at least that’s not an issue. If I’d broken a wrist and couldn’t play my drums, that would’ve caused a whole slew of problems for the band. The guys would’ve been so pissed at me.

“I’ll be fine.” I flex my fingers, trying to show her it’s no big deal, but wince in the process as the wound stings. She narrows her eyes at me, not looking convinced.

“Do you want to go to the ER?”

I laugh and give a quick shake of my head. “Nah, it’s all good. But thanks for being worried about me.”

Her eyes lift to mine, and the furrow softens, just a little.

“Tonight was fun.” I smile at her. “Even if you did kick my ass at pinball and boarding.”

She settles back into the driver’s seat, and the concern on her face shifts to a smile. “I’ll destroy you at pinball anytime you want.”

My stomach and chest both pinch at her words. That’s twice now that she’s hinted at maybe wanting to see me again. And she’s the one who kissed me on the rooftop.

Best first kiss ever.

So . . . maybe I should just go for it.