Page 40 of Never Till Now

Adam

I beeline straight to the lounge piano as soon as I enter the lobby. There’s still time before our piano guy arrives and I have over an hour before meeting Lauren again. I’m still trying to sift through my brain and figure out who she really is beneath her beautiful features and wicked smart brain. Not to mention what’s beyond her sass. Piano covers to pop songs have my adrenaline going like a music junkie. I lightly tap a few notes to figure out the key and chords. I’ve always been able to figure songs out by ear. A few seconds to think about the song, and my brain unlocks each note before I hit the key. Lessons would have been great, but I never took the time to learn how to read music. I play around with the songs Lauren mentioned and notice a small crowd of young teens gathered by the bar door. I finish a few songs and close the piano lid to make my way upstairs.

“That was so cool!” A few young girls smile and clutch their phones as if their devices are comfort items.

“Yeah, I always thought those songs were for partying. Your version is something I could relax to.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” I nod with a smile. “Enjoy your evening.” I head to the elevator, hearing them gush and snicker in the distance.

I take a long shower, throwing on jeans with a gray Henley. I grab my leather jacket and the keys to a vehicle I don’t drive as often as I’d like to. Lauren steps out of her condo and it takes everything in me not to pick her up and take her back upstairs. It seems there’s nothing this woman can wear that doesn’t make my dick twitch. Her long hair is thrown in a messy bun and her black leggings cling to her toned legs. I can’t fight my smile when I see her swimming in my gray hoodie that she’s yet to return. Her mouth drops open as her head shakes.

“No.” Her arms cross as she makes her way over to my street bike. “No way.”

“I have an extra helmet. I promise I’ll drive carefully.”

“It’s not you I don’t trust. I work in the emergency room. Motorcycle accidents tend to be caused by cars.”

“Live a little. It’s only a few blocks over.” I wave the helmet in front of her. “We aren’t touching the highway.”

She takes a deep breath as her teeth toy with her lip. “If I die, I’m coming back to haunt the hell out of you until you join me on the other side.”

We zip through the streets and arrive at the parking lot within minutes. I love and hate how compact this city is. Everything is within a reasonable distance, but so many people are in one location. A few cars are parked in the lot facing the water. The sun is on the brink of setting as I lead the way toward the tower.

“It’s closed, guys.” A guy shouts out after us. “We wanted to go up top, but apparently they close before sunset.”

“Thanks, man.” I call back and Lauren pouts. Yeah, it’s pretty damn cute.

“At least we still have a good view from here.” She shrugs and I tug her hand up a set of stairs.

“It’s closed to the public.” I flash my charming grin I know she appreciates. “My last name can pull strings when I decide to use it.”

“Adam Wheaton,” she scolds playfully. “Did you bribe the city to let you up this tower?”

“I didn’t have to do much bribing. You wanted to see the sunset from up here and it’s something I’ve never seen either.”

“I guess I’ll accept how powerful your last name is just this once.” She smirks and we head up.

She leans forward over the open cutouts and rests her chin on her hands. The sun is a dark orange as the sky above us turns black. City lights glow through every window and Lauren looks up.

“How did I not notice the top is open?” Her mouth gapes as her head tilts back. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“If you haven’t noticed, you’re hard to say no to.” Her arms come up around my neck as her body pushes into mine.

“Probably because you’re scared that I’ll go buy that fake horse.” She yelps when my hands squeeze her ass.

“That horse has nothing on me when it comes to pleasing your damn body.” Our lips are so close to touching and I feel her heart pound against me.

Her breathing increases but her eyes are absent of their usual lust. Her body molds perfectly against mine and for the life of me, I can’t remember how to breathe. Her eyes hold something I can’t decipher and when I go to release her, my arms stay locked in place. Lauren’s eyes fall to my lips as her hand runs through the back of my hair. She looks beautiful and nervous with whatever she can’t say. Whatever it is, I can’t find words either.

Something is shifting between us, but the red flag of danger is absent. Nothing about this moment with the stars above, her body consuming mine and my urge to kiss her feels wrong. The moment is silent. Her green eyes are transfixed on mine as she argues with herself to keep her thoughts quiet. Our arrangement is too perfect for one of us to ruin it. So together, we silently enter into a new beginning. A silent level up from general friends to friends who crave the emotional closeness.

I lean forward to taste her soft, plump lips. As our slow kiss continues, I gently suck her bottom lip between mine and tug to deepen the kiss even more than I thought possible. Lauren’s soft moan sings through the tower. Her arms tighten around my neck, trying to get closer than she physically can with our clothes on. Our kiss remains gentle. Deliberate. Our lightning-quick rush of lust is absent for the first time. She pulls back and swipes her thumb under her wet bottom lip.

“Thank you for tonight.” There’s a softness to her voice before clearing her throat. “I can’t think of anything else I could want in life today.”

That’s a good thing, right? I wait for the icy chill of my gut warning me to stay away, but it never happens.

“Yeah.” I look out at the glowing city skyline and know we are still on the same page. “I have everything I need today.” I kiss the top of her head. “Thank you for this deathbed memory.”