Page 147 of Offside Devil

The mountains are a black silhouette against the dark blue. Most of the stars are washed out from the city lights, but a few still manage to twinkle.

I’m frozen in the doorway, but Zane grips my waist and walks me out onto the narrow walkway. The retractable dome that sits over the ice is to the right. The walkway wraps around it.

I fold my hands over his. “Don’t you dare let go of me.”

“Scared?” he breathes against my neck.

Duh. Terrified. Of falling to my death, obviously.

But also of the weird way my heart thumps when Zane looks at me. And the way that, in his arms, I’m really not scared at all.

“Just hold on tight,” I say sternly. “I’m precious cargo.”

We stop at the railing, gazing down at the long line of cars trying to get out of the lot. It feels like we’re floating outside of time up here. Like we’ve carved out a space for the two of us.

“Why did you bring me up here?”

Zane wraps his arms around my waist, his stubble scrubbing against my cheek. “I like it up here, and I wanted you to see it.”

“Really? That’s swee?—”

“I’ve also always thought this would be a great place to have sex.”

I snort. “Okay. A little less sweet.”

He spins me around, pinning me between the railing and his body. “Does it help that I never liked anyone else enough to bring them here until you?”

“Only if it’s true.”

He fists my jersey, tugging me into him. “I always tell the truth.”

Must be nice.

The fantasy I’ve been building for myself the last few days starts to falter. I’m lying to Zane about a million different things. The worst part is, for the first time since I first ran away, I want to tell someone the truth.

If there was anyone I’d ever tell, it would be him.

But it’s not safe for him or Aiden. He could lose his son if people found out who I am… what I’ve done…

“Hey.” He grabs my chin and tilts my face to his. “Where’d you go?”

“I’m here. I’m here with you.” I press my lips to his, and I feel him hesitate. He’s been pushing lately, asking more questions that I can’t answer. One day, he’ll make me tell him, and then I’ll have to go. So I kiss him harder, breaking away when I’m breathless. “Fuck me up here.”

He rocks against me. “You want to?”

“You said you’ve been imagining it for years.” I slowly undo his pants, sliding my hand inside to stroke him. “I want to fulfill one of your fantasies.”

His thumb glides down my neck. His eyes are as dark and as bright as the sky around us. “We’re way past that, Mira. You’ve fulfilled countless.”

But he kisses me anyway, bending me over the railing, sliding his hands under my skirt until I’m shaking in his arms.

When he turns me around and fills me from behind, I’m not scared of falling.

I already have.

I fell for Zane hard and there isn’t any reality I can see where I don’t end up splattered on the metaphorical pavement.

So, for tonight, I let him hold me and fuck me. For tonight, I pretend I can have this forever.

---