Chapter 11

Eleven

Aria

D ancing with Finn was nice. I had to keep reminding myself that he was my roommate’s brother. He wasn’t a friend, much less a love interest. And even if he were, he wasn’t a good bet for me. He was just like my ex, a trust fund kid who’s had their life handed to them.

Of course, the voice in my head reminded me that he didn’t seem to flaunt his wealth. His home was nice but not ostentatious. He worked as a teacher and worked other jobs on the side. He wasn’t like Raymond, who worked for his father in his law firm and prided himself on buying the most expensive bottle of wine at any restaurant.

Raymond had drawn me in with expensive meals and charity events, but underneath the flash, he didn’t have any depth to him. He was all too willing to please his father. He’d let his father influence our relationship. His father said he was slumming with me. That had hurt and hit on every one of my insecurities, so it had been easy to walk away.

I wouldn’t change his or his father’s mind. I didn’t fit into his world, and I always knew it deep down. But Finn was different.

He was an incredible father to Paisley, and he worked hard for everything he had.

When the last notes of the song drifted off, Finn leaned down to whisper, “Can I show you something?”

I shrugged, my heart beating rapidly. I was pretty sure I’d follow him anywhere. “Sure. Why not?”

With a pleased smile, he interlaced his fingers with mine and tugged me behind him through the large crowd on the dance floor.

This felt a little wild. I was taking a break from my rule-following self and having a little fun. I deserved it.

Besides, I was usually on break toward the end of the reception until cleanup time. I had another thirty minutes before I’d need to get back to work, and Harper was here tonight too.

Finn opened the door for the stairs. “The owner showed me this spot when I worked a gig one other time.”

“You know where it goes?” I asked, hoping he’d give me a hint.

He winked over his shoulder. “You’ll see.”

We kept climbing until we reached the last landing. “There wasn’t an elevator?”

“What’s the fun in that?” Finn asked as he pushed open the door to what looked like the roof.

“There’s a bar up here, but it’s a bit of a secret. They only open it for celebrities and high-profile guests.”

I smiled as I took in the space. The edge of the roof was lined with thin glass so you could see everything. Twinkling lights hung over the bar and couches in front of it. “Wow. A secret bar.”

“You’d be surprised, but quite a few hotels have them. They’re for guests that don’t want to mingle with everyone else.”

He pulled me until we were near the edge of the roof and could see the entire town from here.

“This is gorgeous. Are you sure we’re allowed up here?” I asked, unable to take my eyes off the view.

“The owner said I could come up here to get a minute to myself between gigs, as long as he wasn’t hosting an event here.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” Then I shivered from the cool evening air.

He pulled me into his arms. It was similar to us dancing but so much better because I was pressed against him, my curves against his hard ridges, and there was no one watching us. I wrapped my arms around his waist and under his jacket to capitalize on his warmth.

I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent, aftershave and something else that was all him.

“I brought you up here to see the view,” he murmured against my hair, so I shifted so that my back was to his front, and he wrapped his arms around me, his chin resting on the top of my head.

I was supposed to be looking at the lights of the town and the water in the distance, but all I could think about was the sensation of being surrounded by him. Tingles ran down my spine, and warmth curled around my heart.

His voice rumbled in my chest as he told me the different buildings and what they were.

When his voice drifted off, I asked, “Do you know the constellations? I used to sit outside at night and point them out to my sister.”

“I probably did at one time, but not anymore.”

I turned in his arms again so I could point out the ones I saw. Each time I found one and said the name, he’d dutifully follow my finger and try to make out the image.

His lips quirked up. “I can’t see Orion. Where is it?”

I reached my arm over his shoulder to point it out, but he didn’t see it. I was very aware of my breasts smashed against his hard chest and his hand on my hip to steady me.

When I caught his smile, I slapped his arm. “Are you teasing me?”

Finn chuckled, his large hand moving to my back, making me feel small and delicate. “A little bit. It’s fun. Plus, you’re in my arms, and I like it.”

I swallowed. “I like it too.”

What was happening? The entire night felt surreal. Like we weren’t really here. It was a dream where all our responsibilities and worries fell away, and there was nothing but us. Two people who genuinely liked and respected each other.

I dropped down so that the heel of my shoe was flat on the ground again, my hands on his biceps. His forehead dropped down to mine. “What are we doing?”

Our breath mingled together, and he moved slightly back to see my face. “I’m not sure.”

Whatever it was felt reckless and a little bit wild. My heart beat erratically in my chest. His eyes searched mine as if he were searching for permission.

“I want to—”

I moved my arms, dangling them around his neck, and we both inched forward, our eyes closing. Sparks went off in my head, and every inch of my body tightened in anticipation. When his lips finally pressed against mine, I sighed into him.

I needed this. The connection. The soft press of his lips. And then he was moving, soft sweeps of his lips across mine until they parted, inviting him in. Hope bloomed in my chest as his tongue danced across my lower lip and inside, finding mine.

I pressed my body against him, feeling him from thigh to chest. Hard against soft. His hands gripped my hips, making me want more. His hands on me, his weight on top of me. I wanted everything.

But a horn beeped in the distance, reminding us of where we were. I was supposed to be working, keeping an eye on the reception, and available if anyone needed me.

I stepped back and smoothed my dress, poised to bolt. “I should get back.”

“Of course.” He watched me as if I’d run off at any second.

I should have walked to the exit door and walked down the steps to the ballroom, but instead, my body crashed against his as I pulled his head down to meet mine. This time, our teeth clashed, and his hand lifted my thigh so he could press against my core.

I moaned against his lips; it was too much, yet not enough. I wanted more. When he angled his hips a second time, letting me feel how hard he was, goose bumps raced over my skin.

No matter how crazy this was, I wouldn’t stop it.

His kisses were frantic now, wet and open, as he wrapped my legs around his waist and carried me over to the wall of the bar and pressed me against it.

I sighed into his mouth, lost in the moment. We were the only ones here, and I let everything go. Who he was to me, his sister, my job. Nothing else mattered except chasing this feeling. This growing knot of tension in my core. I needed him to ease it.

“Please, Finn,” I murmured against his lips.

“This is crazy.” His voice was strained.

Yet it was exactly what we needed. He ground against my core, and I felt every inch of his hard cock through his slacks and my panties.

I fumbled with his zipper, but he brushed my hand away, shoving his pants down and my panties to the side. My head fell back as he slid his cock between my folds.

“Do we need a condom?” His voice was low and husky, full of need.

I should have said yes, but instead, I said, “I’m on birth control, and I’m clean.”

“I’m clean too.” And then the tip of his cock slipped inside, and my mouth dropped open. How could this feel so good?

I’d never done anything so crazy in my life, but I needed more. I wiggled my hips, urging him to go deeper. With a single thrust, he was seated deep, and I bit my lip so I wouldn’t cry out.

“I want to hear you. Give it to me,” he said as he pulled back and thrust inside.

My back pressed against the unforgiving wall; I was teetering on the edge of an orgasm more powerful than I’d ever experienced before.

I chanted his name as he increased the pace, dipping his hips to press inside me. With each thrust, he rubbed against my clit. The friction built until I couldn’t stop myself from falling over the edge.

I cried out as his arms tightened around me. My forehead fell forward to rest against his as he thrust once, twice more, and let go.

“Fuck.” He filled me with his cum, the warmth sliding over my pussy and thighs. He slowly pulled out, helping me get steady on my feet before he reached for a napkin by the bar. When he cleaned me, a pang went through my heart. It was sweet.

What we’d just done felt like something more than I’d ever done with anyone else before, but it couldn’t mean anything. Not given who Finn was and what he wanted. I stifled the desire for more and pulled my panties in place, straightening my dress.

“I should get back.” I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if someone had walked in on us.

Finn stepped back, and I rushed past him, hoping he’d follow me but knowing he wouldn’t. I ducked into a bathroom to straighten my hair and fix my makeup. At the sight of my swollen lips and flushed cheeks, I felt a rush of pleasure. I’d never done anything like that, and it had been amazing. Was that what I’d been missing all my life by following the rules and being a good girl?

If so, I wanted to do it again, in every room and on every surface of this hotel. I wanted to do it over and over again until I forgot who I was and who we could be. I wanted to get lost in Finn’s body.

I quickly put myself back together and then rushed to the ballroom, hoping there hadn’t been any emergencies in my absence. When I rushed inside, Harper stood against the back wall. “Where’ve you been?” she asked, scanning me from head to toe.

I moved closer to her, relieved to see that everything was fine, worried she’d take one look at me and know exactly what I’d been up to. I still felt the evidence of Finn between my legs. “I went outside to get some fresh air.”

She smirked as she looked behind me. “I bet you did.”

If Finn walked in behind me, there would be no denying what happened. I was positive it was written all over my face.

Harper looked at the dance floor. “You didn’t miss anything. But it’s time to usher everyone outside to send off the bride and groom.”

“Let’s do it.” I was anxious for this night to be over. I wanted to be alone so I could dissect every moment of my time on the roof with Finn. It had been explosive. I’d never felt so out of control.

I couldn’t have resisted him if I tried. I smiled and guided the guests to the front of the hotel, where the white limo idled for the newlyweds. I couldn’t help but remember every touch of Finn’s fingers, every press of his skin against mine, and his cock seated deep. I still ached with the memory of him inside me, and my panties were wet with the evidence of our lovemaking.

I mentally shook my head. What we’d done wasn’t special. It was just sex. A onetime thing that couldn’t happen again.

I’d never had sex in a public location like that before, and I hadn’t even worried about being caught. Somehow, I knew Finn would protect me. That he wouldn’t have started anything if he thought there was a possibility of us being seen.

Warmth wrapped around my chest and curled around my heart. I couldn’t believe I’d been with Finn Evans. The musician with the talented hands and the mouth with the quick retort. I was obviously crazy to let loose like that with him.

But it had been amazing, a night to remember. I couldn’t wait to get home and relive every moment in my mind.

But first, the bride and groom needed their send-off. Harper produced the small vials of bubbles, and we handed them out. When they walked out hand in hand, with huge smiles on their faces, I wondered if this moment was in the future for me. I never thought I needed the ceremony or the piece of paper, but there was something about declaring your life for another person, vowing to love them forever, that had a certain appeal.

Why did Finn’s smiling face pop into my mind? He didn’t want a relationship or marriage. He didn’t want me.

I focused on directing the cleanup, knowing I’d need to stop by tomorrow to finish. When I was finally home, I kicked off my heels and padded quietly to my bedroom. Ireland’s door was shut, and no light showed from underneath.

From my short time living with her, I knew she went to bed early. We made good roommates.

I shut the door with a soft click behind me, washing off the makeup and brushing my hair in the en suite before jumping in the shower. My body still hummed from sex. My core was a little sore from him being inside me, but I wanted more.

My clit was tingling. It was like he’d ignited a fire within me that I couldn’t put out. As the water flowed over my skin, I circled my clit, easing a finger inside, needing to feel that high again. The memory of his cock inside me, pounding me, spurred me on. It wasn’t as intense, but it still felt good.

In no time, I was crying out as I spasmed around my fingers. My legs were shaky as I turned off the water and wrapped myself in a heated towel. Ireland had every amenity imaginable in her place.

The mirror lit up different colors as I gazed at myself in the mirror. I felt like a new person, even if I didn’t look any different. I quickly toweled off and slid a silky negligee over my tingling body.

I wished I had more to remember him by than the ghost of his hands over my body and the feel of his cock inside me. I wanted more time with him. I wanted to feel his body hovering over mine, pressing me into the mattress.

I wanted him in every position. I wanted to explore his body.

I rolled over with a groan, knowing sleep would be difficult.

Finn opened my eyes to the possibility of great sex with someone who didn’t expect anything in return. I wondered if he’d be up for it again.

For once, I wasn’t going to worry about the consequences. I felt alive, and it was the best feeling in the world.