Page 44 of Her Devils

We’re in a quiet spot, the noise of the party reaching us from around the corner, and we’re alone in this empty part of the sky bar—our only company are the few stars that are visible farther away from the lights shining on the other side of the glass wall.

I let Jameson lead me a few steps toward the railing, where a trellis of jasmine provides privacy from the back of the indoor bar.

I stiffen when he doesn’t stop a few feet away from the railing, pulling on my hand.

“What’s wrong?” He sounds calm, which is in total contrast with the way my heart has gone from excited to frantic.

“I—” I swallow, working hard to keep from hyperventilating. “We’re forty-eight stories high, Jameson. You know I don’t like heights,” I finally manage to grind out.

He stops and cups my jaw, stroking the sensitive spot behind my ear with gentle fingers. “We have a solid floor beneath us, Lenley. There’s a glass and metal railing that comes to chest height, and I’m right here.”

My throat works as my control slips, and dizziness creates a tingling sensation that replaces my earlier excitement. “It doesn’t matter. I know it’s stupid, but I’m still scared. I can’t go near the railing.”

“You’re safe, princess. I would never let anything bad happen to you. Do you trust me?”

I fight the urge to squirm under the intensity of his gaze. “Last time you asked me this, you jumped into Darrius’s pool with me in your arms, and that was scary high.”

The corner of his lips lifts with a hint of a smile. “True, but did you get hurt?”

Damn it. “No,” I admit, remembering how I got Anna and Kiara to stop chiding me about my fear of heights thanks to his help.

“So do you trust me when I tell you that you’re safe?” he asks again.

“Are you going to jump off this building with me in tow?” I counter, narrowing my eyes, because while I trust him not to ever cause me physical harm, he did surprise me by jumping into the pool last time.

This time he smiles. “I’m not crazy, Lenley. I don’t have a parachute, so there’s no chance in hell I’d jump almost fifty stories to certain death. Come on, you can see the entire city from up here. It’s breathtaking.”

I swear to God, Jameson should become a lawyer when he retires from skydiving, because he’s persuasive as hell.

“See?” he says, stopping behind me and closing his strong arms around me as my fingers grip the metal railing for dear life.

I have to admit that the view is gorgeous, with the vibrant city lights shining as far as the eye can see and the dark sea of Azure Bay in the distance. “You’re right. It’s beautiful out here.”

His chest feels solid against my back, and his voice has a rare softness to it as he tightens his hold on me. “Then why are you so tense?”

I close my eyes for a second, and then I admit that I’m still scared. “I know it’s ridiculous for the daughter of the most legendary skydiver in the world, but sincePapà’s last jump—”

“I’m here with you, Lenley. I’d never let you fall. Do you believe me?”

I nod. “I believe you, Jameson.”

“Good,” he murmurs a second before his lips touch the spot right under my ear.

“Hmm,” I hum, closing my eyes and relaxing against him as he places soft, open-mouthed kisses down the column of my neck.

“The view has nothing on you, though, princess. You look incredible tonight.” His sweet words are immediately followed by the scraping of his teeth on the sensitive spot at the base of my neck.

“Jameson.” His name is full of the desire that’s causing liquid heat to collect between my thighs as he bites me softly again, soothing the sting he caused with a long, soft kiss.

My heart thunders in my ears, but it’s no longer because we’re so high up and close to the edge. Excitement makes my pulse quicken each time his lips touch my skin.

I turn in his arms just enough to look into his eyes, my back still against his chest. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you how amazing you were out there today,” I offer.

“Did you watch?” he asks, bringing his lips just a breath away from mine.

“A little,” I admit. “Through my fingers, because while I want to see what you guys do, I can’t watch.”

I don’t need to add that it’s been like this sincePapà’s final jump.

---