Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

SIMON

R ylee's lips were soft and warm against mine. The instant mine touched hers, a surge of heat flooded through me. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her in close. She clung to me, her fingers gripping the collar of my shirt as if she never wanted to let go.

Our tongues dueled. Memories of our night in Houston played like a highlight reel in my mind, each moment more vivid and intoxicating than the last. My heart pounded. I couldn't deny how turned on I was. There was something about this woman that turned me inside out. All I wanted was to have her to myself again, to relive those moments of passion and connection.

But I wanted to do it right. Not that the last time was wrong, but it had certainly not ended the way I wanted it to.

I had to be careful, though. This wasn't just about me. It was about her too. I needed to remember her needs and wants, to ensure that I wasn't taking too much or pushing too far. And there was another important factor—we'd both had a lot to drink tonight. As much as I wanted her, I needed to be responsible. I didn't want her to think I was taking advantage of her.

When we finally broke apart, I stroked her cheek gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked up at me with those beautiful eyes, and I couldn't help but smile.

"This is nice, right?" she asked quietly.

"It is."

"I think you secretly like dancing," she teased.

I laughed. "No, I like rubbing against you."

She giggled, a sound that sent warmth spreading through my chest. "Well, I can't argue with that," she said, blushing slightly.

We danced for what felt like hours, lost in our own world as the music thumped around us. It wasn't long before her group of friends rushed out to join us on the dance floor. Things were a little rowdy with beer splashing and bodies bumping.

Despite the chaos around us, I found myself laughing alongside Rylee. Something about her infectious energy made it impossible not to join in. Her friends, too, had a way of drawing people into their fun-loving antics. I found myself getting caught up in the excitement. Something I had not done since I was in high school or before my father passed away.

"Simon! That was fantastic!" Claire shouted over the music as a particularly fast-paced song ended.

I chuckled, feeling an intoxicating sense of exhilaration. "I'm glad you thought so!"

Rylee looped her arm around mine, flashing me a grin that made my heart skip a beat. "See? You're not so bad at this after all."

"I wouldn't go that far." I smirked, trying to maintain my ever-cool exterior. But when she nudged playfully against my side, I couldn't help but laugh again.

As the night wore on, another round of drinks was brought to us. We sat on mismatched wooden chairs that were just a little sketchy. At that point, with as much as all of us had drank, I didn't think it mattered if we fell on our asses. We weren't going to be feeling much of anything.

Rylee rested her head on my shoulder, her soft hair tickling my neck. I stretched my arm across her, holding her close and listening as one of the guys told a story about skydiving. The scent of her shampoo filled my nostrils, something fruity and soft that made me want to bury my face in her hair.

"I'm exhausted," she sighed softly, closing her eyes.

"Me too," I admitted, glancing around at our friends, some of whom were still going strong on the dance floor. Despite the wild energy, I felt an odd sense of calm sitting with Rylee. It was a nice change after a long week of dealing with business affairs and negative press.

"Have you done much traveling?" one of the guys asked me.

"I've done some traveling." I nodded. "Not like this. I traveled with my family when I was younger for the typical vacations."

"Ah, the family vacations." He laughed. "Nothing quite like being crammed in a car with your siblings for hours on end with nothing but the open road ahead of you."

I chuckled. "In our case, it was a private jet, but the principle remains the same."

I knew there was no point in trying to hide who I really was or my family's wealth. The group seemed cool.

"Oh yes, the burden of flying private," Claire teased.

I felt Rylee squeeze my hand in reassurance. She knew I felt out of place with her friends, despite their warm welcome. I appreciated that she didn't try to make excuses for me. She accepted me as I was, and so far, it seemed like her friends did as well.

As the night wore on, the conversation shifted to stories about travel mishaps and general globe-trotting tales. Through it all, Rylee stayed by my side, her fingers tracing lazy circles on the back of my hand or her head leaning against my shoulder. There was always some kind of contact as if she needed it as much as I wanted it.

When the DJ finally announced the last song of the night, a slow melody filled the room. Without saying a word, I took her hand and led her to the dance floor for one last dance. I hoped it wouldn't be our last dance ever, but I wanted to make sure I got this moment with her.

She fit perfectly against my body as I pulled her close. The room spun around us, the laughs and chatter of the crowd a mere echo in the background as I focused on the girl in my arms. Other couples slowly swayed to the music. I felt a little clumsy after all the alcohol, but I wasn't trying to impress her with my dance moves. It was simply about holding her close and treasuring this moment.

"I love this song," she murmured, her head resting against my chest.

I hummed in response, my fingers trailing down her back. My hand slipped under the hem of her shirt at her back and slowly moved over her smooth skin. I closed my eyes, losing myself in the feel of her, the sound of her voice, the smell of her hair. The days she'd been gone and not speaking to me had been torture. But now that I was in her arms, all that uncertainty and frustration were gone.

Our bodies swayed together as if we were the only two people in the room. It wasn't a formal dance by any means—just slow moving and holding each other close—but it was perfect. There was an intimacy to it that took my breath away.

"Simon?" Her voice was soft, barely audible over the music.

"Yes?"

"I don't want this night to end."

I looked down at her, my heart pounding in my chest. "Me neither," I replied honestly.

After the last song faded away, we clung onto each other for a moment longer before joining the exodus of people leaving. The night was chilly as we stepped outside but I didn't think any of us were feeling it all that much.

As we walked back to the hostel, we hung back from the rest of the group. She started telling me about how her trip was going thus far. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she talked about Rome. "I don't think there is enough time for a place as beautiful as that city," she said dreamily.

"Did you see the Vatican?" I asked, curious about her experiences. "And the Colosseum? The Pantheon?"

She nodded eagerly. "Yes! Each and every one made me feel like I'd stepped off the edge of a cliff into another world entirely. It was incredible."

I knew she was drunk so I didn't stop her when she repeated a few of the stories she told me on the plane ride here. I loved listening to her. Seeing the world through her eyes, everything seemed so vibrant and full of possibility.

I walked her back to the hostel. I took one look at the place and shook my head, thinking about the luxurious hotel that wasn't far. "You're not seriously planning to stay in that dive, are you?" I asked Rylee. "Let's go to the hotel. Hot water. Large bed. Carpet."

She looked at me with a silly grin. "This is the trip I booked, Simon. Budget-friendly hostels and all. No fancy hotels for me."

"Okay, well, you have fun," I said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm not staying here," I said, shaking my head. "This is your trip. You can do what you want, but I'm going to be sleeping in a king-sized bed."

"Oh, no you aren't." She giggled. "You're staying right here."

I groaned, but her friends quickly jumped in, trying to convince me to stay. Their playful banter and infectious laughter made it hard to resist. "Fine," I muttered. "But I swear if there is a stained mattress or any sign of bug infestation, I'm out. You won't be able to drag me back."

Rylee took my hand and together we all made our way to the room. I couldn't believe I had agreed to this. "You've got to be kidding me," I muttered as I stared up at the bunkbeds.

"You get the top bunk," Rylee said.

"Like hell," I muttered.

"Sorry, but I've already claimed the bottom bunk."

"Rylee, look at me," I said. "Do I look like I belong in a bunk bed at all, let alone the top bunk? I'm not a small person."

"Sailors and military people do it all the time," one of the guys said as he prepared his bed on the other top bunk.

"I am neither of those things," I retorted.

Rylee laughed, clearly amused by my discomfort. "Don't break the bed and crush me in my sleep," she teased as she climbed into the bottom bunk.

I stared at my accommodations for the night. "I don't even know how to get up there."

Claire and the others laughed, offering me unhelpful advice that involved flips, jumps, and all sorts of potentially lethal maneuvers. But I didn't mind the joking. Instead, I looked at Rylee, lying in her bunk below me, her face the picture of happiness.

"Alright," I said, dramatically rolling up my sleeves. "Let's get this over with." I cautiously tested out the rickety ladder attached to the side of the bed, each rung giving a slight squeak under my weight. Inwardly cursing every squeaky rung and praying for my life, I managed to haul myself up to the top bunk without breaking anything, a small miracle in itself.

The mattress was thin and hard, the sheets scratchy, and my face was about three inches from the ceiling. The bed groaned under my weight, and I couldn't help but feel a little ridiculous. My feet hung off the end of the bed. I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. The whole setup was far from comfortable. But despite all of that, I couldn't bring myself to be unhappy.

I found myself smiling, of all things. This was far from my usual style of travel, but it was turning out to be one of the best days I'd had in a long time. I closed my eyes. The room had fallen silent with soft snoring from a couple of the guys and the deep breathing from the others. I was uncomfortable, sure, but I was also incredibly happy. As I drifted off, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, this was exactly where I was meant to be.