Page 28 of Final Temptation (Alpine Peak #2)

When we got back to our room earlier, I was a nervous wreck—the memory from hours ago rushing into my mind with no way to escape. The room felt so tight and small with the two of us being the only ones in there.

Now that I’d given the reins to Myles, I was prepared for him to jump my bones the minute we got back. Instead, he insisted on showering before me to get ready for dinner.

The barrier of the bathroom door and the occasional noise from a video playing on my phone weren’t enough to block out the noise coming from the other side of the wall. I could hear every grunt and moan coming from the rasp of Myles' thick voice as he jerked off.

He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

My thighs squeezed together as I heard the sound of Myles when he orgasmed. The thought of how his strong hands felt between my legs only made me want to barrel through the restroom door.

When he came out of the bathroom, visibly more relaxed than when he went in there, I gave him an all-knowing smile.

“Have a good shower?” I asked.

“I needed some relief if you want me to last longer than fifteen seconds later.”

My cheeks burned pink again, only imagining what was to come.

If it weren’t for Paige and Declan, probably already downstairs waiting for us, our night might’ve ended right here, with Myles standing in front of me, a towel wrapped around his waist and every muscle and deep line on display.

With the way he looked at me, it would be so easy to say ‘ fuck the dinner plans’ and order room service. But Paige was my best friend, and I needed to get my ass off this bed, my eyes away from Myles, and get ready to eat a meal while pretending I wasn’t hot and bothered.

After our little pool rendezvous and tension-filled walk back up to our hotel room, we did our best to collect ourselves, most likely appearing completely frazzled. Luckily, Paige and Declan were a bit tipsy and didn’t seem to notice once we all sat down for dinner.

“Wow, so, you two are looking cozy.” Paige kicked my foot under the table, startling me from my thoughts. “You’re going to have to tell me everything before the boys get back from the bathroom.”

Maybe she’d seen more than I wanted her to, even in her drunken state.

“Don’t make it weird.” I gave her a stern look.

“You know I would never! I’m just pointing out the obvious, you guys look cozy holding hands and his hand resting on your leg and whatnot. All couple-like.” She giggled, sipping her drink.

“Not a couple. Friends with benefits. And if you must know, we had been taking things slow in that department. But I kind of just said ‘ fuck it’ today and handed him the control.” I shrugged, not wanting to dive deeper into why that was.

Paige didn’t need to know every detail going on behind the scenes.

All that mattered was that she was having a good time.

He admitted to me he was having a hard time, and it felt a whole lot like he was confiding in me.

The last thing I wanted to do was break his trust.

“Oh. It’s starting to make sense now. That little moment between the two of you at the pool earlier.” Paige wiggled her eyebrows.

Maybe she was more observant than I thought.

“W-what do you mean? What moment?” Sinking into my chair, I suddenly felt timid. I was so caught up in the moment earlier that I didn’t care where we were or who was around.

“Don’t play dumb. We saw you two making out pretty hard. Don’t worry, Soph, you guys looked hot as fuck.”

“You saw us making out? That’s it?” I questioned.

“Yeah, Declan pulled me away. Told me to give you guys your privacy. Which I thought was ridiculous because who needs privacy in a public place, you know?”

Glancing around for the boys, I sipped my soda, unable to locate them. I wished they’d hurry up and get back here, so I didn’t have to admit something I never thought I would say before.

“What’s up with you? Why do you look like you’re looking for an escape route?” My eyes shifted back and forth, wishing there was indeed a getaway car with a one-way ticket out of here.

I feared there would be no turning back if I let those words slip out. But if anyone could relate, it would be Paige.

“Okay, fine! I’m pretty sure I’m falling for him.

He has magical fingers, and he got a tattoo on his lip months ago for me, and his muscles?

Jesus Christ, he should be a walking billboard for the gym in town.

” I lowered my voice to a whisper, “I told myself this for years, and feel free to tell me, ‘I was right all along’ or whatever, but I’m two seconds away from falling head over heels in lust for Myles fucking Cooper.

” I gasped for air after admitting the unthinkable.

Paige had her jaw on the table when Declan came up behind her, moving her dark locks to one shoulder and placing a kiss on her collarbone.

It didn’t take seeing Declan to know that Myles was right behind him. I could feel his energy anytime he crept closer to me in any room.

“Why do you two look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Myles looked between Paige and me.

“We were just indulging in some girl talk while you guys were away, no big deal,” Paige answered, slurping on her almost empty drink, obvious that she had something to hide.

Her eyes shot daggers at me across the table, telling me she had a million questions, and she’d be on pins and needles waiting for each answer.

“Sounds juicy. Were you chatting about me, Princess?” Myles leaned over, whispering in my ear, but not low enough that the table didn’t hear him sweet-talking me.

I stiffened.

“You wish.” I rolled my eyes. “Anyone else getting tired? I think the sun completely wore me out today.”

“I think me and Declan will stay out for a while longer, but you two can head up to bed, and we can connect for breakfast in the morning.” Paige winked across the table.

“Sounds good.” I started to stand when Myles joined me. “Oh, you don’t need to come up if you aren’t tired yet.”

“Sober buddy, remember?” He crept closer, grunting in my ear, his woodsy smell going right to my head.

Fuck.

My mind raced back to earlier, knowing something would go down in the room between us by the end of the night. I was excited and terrified all at the same time.

My body was screaming for that kind of release. I needed it.

But every moment Myles and I spent together, I was one step closer to a broken heart. Going all the way with him? That would be the nail in my coffin.

“We’ll see you guys in the morning. Enjoy your night,” Myles said in such a smooth tone, and my words were lodged at the back of my throat.

My mind continued to panic as he hugged my shoulder, turning us around so we could walk side by side to the elevator that took us to our room.

The elevator ride was silent. Even the sexy man standing next to me, who took up all the oxygen in this confined space and had all the smart ass one liners for days, had nothing to say.

The tension between us was growing thicker with every floor.

The elevator doors dinged. As they opened, our room waited just down the hall for us. Myles used his key card to unlock the door, allowing me to walk in first.

“You gonna tell me what’s going on? Why you’re being so quiet?” He wasted no time once we were in our room to question my behavior.

“I’m just tired. It’s been a long day with all the travel and the pool. Not to mention the bowl of pasta I had for dinner. I’m in a carb coma.” I fake-laughed.

His eyes narrowed, calling my bluff.

“Nope. That’s not it.” I walked toward the large windows, taking in the view of Las Vegas at night for the first time.

He was steps behind me, staying close. His body heat radiating behind me.

I couldn’t breathe with him around. I was completely scatterbrained, like I was in a dizzy trance he seemed to get me in from time to time—simply by just existing.

“My mind is racing,” was all I could manage to get out.

His fingers trailed up my arms, the feeling of him touching me immediately turned me into putty in his hands. “Talk to me, Soph.” His breath was hot on my neck.

“Are we the talking type, though?” I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

“Of course, we are. From the very moment you reached out to me on that dating app. Maybe not every moment between us has been serious, but if there’s one person I feel like I’ve been open to having deep conversations with lately, it’s you, Sophie.

” He trailed a few kisses along my neck, waiting for my response, goosebumps covering me head to toe.

The feeling of his lips on my neck had every thought from dinner seem further away.

“I’m afraid.” Refusing to turn around and make eye contact with him, I looked across the way, getting lost in the lights sparkling off the Eiffel Tower in front of the Paris hotel.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” He toyed with the straps that held my dress up, letting his fingers fall to the open back of it. It wouldn’t take much to slip the tiny gold dress off me.

What’s there to be afraid of?

Everything where he was concerned.

“I’m afraid if I fuck you tonight, there’s no turning back for me.” I had nothing to lose by being honest. I could feel his chest moving, his breath speeding up.

“The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Soph.” The raspiness in his voice and the rough feeling of his hands gliding across my arms would be my undoing.

There I was, standing in the fanciest hotel room I’d ever stepped foot in, his intoxicating sandalwood scent wafting around me, and the overpowering need shooting through my veins to have him. Right here, with the windows wide open, for the wild city of Las Vegas to see.

I had to fall and allow Myles to catch me.

“Then take me,” I demanded.