Page 3 of Under the Lights (The Big Boys of BRU #2)

Three

Sierra

“Give me your address, and I’ll order us an Uber.” I pulled out my phone and looked at him expectantly.

“Nah, we don’t need one. I’m just visiting. My hotel’s less than five minutes from here.”

“Well then, shall we?” I flicked my hair over my shoulder and started off with long, confident strides, only to immediately come to a halt.

A glance over my shoulder told me that Dom was still standing where I had left him.

Resigned, I pursed my lips and looked up at the sky. “Wrong direction?”

“Yup.”

“Figures.”

After turning on my heel and walking back to him, we set off together. The warm air of early Tennessee summer wrapped around us like a soft blanket, thick with the scents of honeysuckle and freshly cut grass.

Crickets chirped from somewhere in the distance, and the hum of the occasional passing car echoed down the quiet, uneven streets. My heels clicked rhythmically against the worn asphalt, the sound sharp in the stillness of the night.

Most of the storefronts were dark now, except for the neon glow of the 24-hour diner and the buzzing “Open” sign in the window of a small tattoo shop. We passed ivy-covered brick buildings and old oak trees casting long shadows beneath the amber glow of streetlamps.

In the distance, the silhouettes of the mountains curved gently against the navy sky, the stars just starting to peek through the hazy clouds.

This was all completely out of character for me, and I couldn’t be enjoying it more.

It was just what I needed after today. I wanted to feel desirable and enjoy myself. This wasn’t about getting revenge on David; it was about me and me alone.

Warm fingers intertwined with mine, making me look down in surprise. His tattooed hand looked almost comically large compared to mine.

A breeze swept past, carrying with it the earthy scent of rain-soaked pavement. I didn’t know where we were headed, but for once, I didn’t care.

“So, if you’re just visiting, where do you go to school?”

“Georgia,” he said without hesitation, slowly stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. Back and forth, back and forth.

Why did that feel so good? So… intimate ?

“A good old Southern boy,” I teased him.

“What gave me away?” The smile that almost never seemed to leave his lips widened a little more.

“Darlin’,” I imitated him with my best attempt at a Southern drawl.

“That was awful ,” he laughed, and I shrugged. He’s not wrong. “Where’s home for you?”

“Colorado.”

“Really? I’ve never been any further west than Missouri. Do you miss it?” He kept glancing over like he was cataloging my reactions, like they mattered.

Like I mattered. It was unnerving. And kind of addictive.

Meanwhile, I’d dated a guy who once forgot my birthday but celebrated the anniversary of his singular hole-in-one. My ex only ever looked at me that closely when I had something on my face — or when we were in public, and he needed the photo op.

How the hell had I convinced myself that was enough?

Honestly, past me should be banned from making decisions.

“What a misery ,” I said, making a play on Missouri. “Just kidding. I do miss it, especially the lower humidity, but it’s definitely nice to see something different.”

He let out a snort of laughter at my poor attempt at making a joke. “Maybe I’ll get a chance to check it out one day. I hear those mountains are pretty to look at.”

“Absolutely. Although… if you’ve seen them all your life like I have, they’re probably more special to you. I love the mountains, but I’d give anything to see the ocean.”

“Are you shitting me? You’ve never been to the ocean?” is eyes nearly popped out of his head. It was as if the idea that someone had never seen the ocean was beyond comprehension.

“Colorado is landlocked, remember?” I couldn’t help but sound a little defensive. “Not every family can afford a vacation at the ocean, or shit, a vacation at all.”

“Fuck, sorry. That came out wrong,” he said hastily and stopped, bringing me to a halt as well.

“My hometown is only an hour away from the coast. Going to the beach is something that’s normal at home.

I just sometimes forget that it’s not a thing everywhere.

My family is definitely not the exotic beach vacation -kind. ”

“It’s okay,” I said, trying to reassure him, and flashed him a small smile. “Guess you always want what you can’t have.”

Dom’s eyes locked on mine, unblinking, before a soft chuckle broke the silence and he shook his head. “Guess so.”

He started walking again, our hands still intertwined. I followed him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

We passed under the glow of a streetlight, around which several insects were already buzzing. His rust-colored hair contrasted sharply with the black leather jacket that hugged his broad shoulders.

On the one hand, I was glad he was just visiting because I was definitely not ready for anything serious again. At the same time, part of me mourned the fact that we would probably only spend one night together.

His confidence brought out a different side of me, something I didn’t even know was there. Guess it was meant to be just one night.

Dom glanced back at me and winked. Goddamn . Something inside me clenched involuntarily.

What I would have deemed obnoxious coming from any other guy drove me wild when he did it. What was happening?

“Was brU your first choice?” he asked out of the blue.

I pursed my lips before shaking my head slightly. “Nope. But they offered me a full ride, so I couldn’t say no to that.”

His eyebrows shot up. “No shit? Academic or athletic scholarship?”

“Athletic. Volleyball.” I waited a moment for some stupid comment about my ass or volleyball shorts, but Dom surprised me again.

“Fucking awesome. Athletic scholarships are hard work. Respect.”

My eyebrows knitted, I gave him a sideways glance. Who the hell was this guy?

“What about you? You can’t tell me you don’t play a sport with a body like that.”

“ A body like that , huh?” he smirked smugly.

“You know exactly what you look like. Don’t expect me to feed your already humongous ego any more than that.”

“Eh, can’t argue with that.” Dom shrugged.

“So? I’m guessing football, considering your company back there.”

“That’s right, Darlin’.”

Normally, I would have found this term of endearment patronizing, but coming from his lips, accompanied by that accent, it made the butterflies in my stomach flutter.

He stopped again in front of the revolving door of one of the better hotels in town. Damn, I hadn’t expected such a fancy place. This was looking more and more like a night I wouldn’t soon forget.

Dom turned, pulling me closer. His hazel eyes locked with mine. “Still sure you want to do this?”

“Do you really think I would have walked even twenty feet in these heels if I wasn’t sure?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

He rolled his lips together, tilting his head, and his eyebrows rose briefly as he tried to hide his smirk. “Good.”

We swept past the scowling receptionist without so much as a glance. My heels clicked sharply against the marble, almost as if announcing we had every right to be there.

I didn’t slow down or flinch at her glare, which felt like it was drilling into me. I pressed the call button and stepped into the elevator with my chin held high and my pulse steady.

The doors slid shut behind us with a soft hiss. Silence wrapped around us, thick and electric.

He didn’t move, but I could feel him.

His hungry gaze roamed up my body like a flame — deliberate and slow — igniting every inch it touched. I shifted my weight onto one leg, held his stare without flinching, and arched a brow, pretending I wasn’t already burning from the inside out.

He let out a low, amused laugh. Then that feral, unfiltered grin lit up his face as he crossed the space between us in two steps. The mirror kissed my spine the moment he pushed me back.

His lips crashed onto mine, unapologetic and all-in, like he’d been holding on to his control by a thread. A shiver raced down my spine when I felt his calloused palm slide up my neck and grip me loosely, holding me in place.

Without hesitation, I opened for him, our tongues battling for dominance. The guttural groans that escaped him were captured by my lips, my arms wrapping around his neck, drawing him even closer.

Liquid heat rushed through my veins and gathered in my core, throbbing, and for the first time in forever, I felt truly alive.

Not just surviving, going through the motions, but alive . The world around us faded, my mind finally quiet.

The “ ding ” of the elevator and the unmistakable sound of the doors opening made us pull away from each other, breathless and flushed. The hallway greeted us with a blast of cool, recycled air carrying the faint scents of linen spray and industrial carpet cleaner.

We stepped through the doors, our footsteps muffled by thick, dark blue carpet. Wall sconces cast a warm, amber glow across the corridor.

Dom led me to the right purposefully, lightly brushing the small of my back with his hand. Then, he abruptly came to a halt. The hallway stretched on in both directions, lined with identical wooden doors and gold numbers that gleamed under the lights.

“What?” I asked, confused. “Forgotten where your room is?”

“Nope,” he shook his head and looked down at me with a devilish gleam in his eyes. “This way, come on.”

He headed in the opposite direction, which, according to the signs, led only to the pool.

What was he up to?

Dom opened the door to the infinity pool and motioned for me to step through.

The city’s nightlife rose to greet me — the low hum of traffic, a distant siren, and the occasional burst of laughter from the street below. The door swung shut behind us with a soft click, sealing off the quiet hush of the hallway.

A breeze swept across the open rooftop patio, tugging at my hair and cooling the heat lingering on my skin.

The infinity pool stretched out before us like a sheet of obsidian. Soft blue LED lights illuminated it from below, shimmering in the rippling water.

The pool’s edge blurred into the skyline, creating the illusion that it poured directly into the glittering city lights. Empty lounge chairs stood neatly aligned in rows, and sleek planters filled with ornamental grasses swayed gently in the breeze.

I scanned the area uncertainly, the stillness making the space feel even more private.

“What’s going on?” I crossed my arms over my chest and turned to face him.

The sign by the pool clearly stated that swimming was not allowed after 10 P.M., so it was deserted. The rooftop felt miles away from everything else — quiet, open, suspended between earth and sky.

“I can’t bring you the ocean, but I thought this might be the next best thing.” Dom shrugged, kicked off his shoes, and dug his wallet and keys out of his pockets.

“You want me to jump in there? Now? ” I stared at him with raised eyebrows.

“I know you’re gonna jump in there.” His unwavering confidence was astounding. “Come on, Darlin’. It’ll be fun.”

I shook my head vehemently. “There’s no way.”

Dom grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it up over his head with one hand in that weirdly sexy maneuver that only guys could somehow pull off.

More ink. It seemed like every square inch of his skin was tattooed. Thick lines and mandala patterns crawling down his arms, across his chest, wrapping his ribs. Nothing delicate about it.

Bold and unapologetic, just like the rest of him. He wasn’t shredded — he was massive all around. Broad, heavy, built like he was made to hold up the world.

One tattoo curled up the side of his throat, disappearing behind his ear and snaking around the back of his neck. I couldn’t stop staring. I wanted to explore the designs, trace the lines, find out why he’d gotten each one.

He nodded thoughtfully, his tongue tucked into his cheek, then a smirk formed on his face. “Yes, you will.”

I gaped at him, exasperated.

Why would I jump into a pool with him now, for no good reason? What was the point? People like me didn’t do things just for fun. We planned. We assessed risk. We considered the consequences.

I hadn’t spent years curating a spotless résumé and a reputation as the girl who always had her shit together, just to throw it all away for a midnight swim with a reckless stranger.

My eyes darted back to the sign, as if I needed more proof. There it was — bold and clear: Pool closed. No swimming after 10 P.M.

Exactly. Not allowed .

And yet… my heart thudded in my chest like it hadn’t gotten the memo.

Isn’t that what tonight is all about? whispered the little voice in the back of my head. Wasn’t that what I’d wanted? To do something forbidden, to be unpredictable, to be selfish for once — to have fun?

“Okay.” I uncrossed my arms and nodded once, as if to convince myself.

“Okay?” The grin on his face got even bigger, so infectious I couldn’t help but smile back.

Shit, it was really easy to make him happy.

He advanced on me, then his hands closed around my waist, and he threw me over his shoulder in one swift motion. My handbag fell off my shoulder with a thud and dropped to the floor.

“Oh my God, you lunatic, at least let me take off my shoes.” Doing the walk of shame in soaked shoes didn’t sound particularly appealing. The clothing situation could be remedied somehow, but the shoes had to stay dry.

Dom’s rough palm stroked down my calf before gently sliding the heel off my foot. Sparks shot up my leg, right to my already aching pussy. He repeated the process on the other leg before stepping to the edge of the pool.

Effortlessly, he let me slide down his front.

“Wrap those gorgeous legs around me,” he rasped.

Spreading my thighs, I hooked my ankles at the small of his back. We were face-to-face, our breath mingling as we stared deep into each other’s eyes.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice full of mischief, his eyebrows playfully arched.

I barely managed to nod before his lips were on mine again — a quick, blazing kiss.

For a split second, Dom pulled away, his stubble rough against my lips. Softly, he said, “Hold your breath.”

Then he jumped.