“Call yourself a cab. Never come back,” Leo says shortly.
“Dude...” the man groans, “That’s so harsh.”
“You think that’s harsh?” Leo laughs, “You’re lucky you caught me in a charitable mood, you piece of shit. Now beat it.”
“There goes my bottom line for the night,” Emma sighs.
“I’ll write you a check,” Leo tells her. “You don’t need that pussy’s money.”
“I won’t once Kelly makes us porn moguls,” Emma smiles, restored by Leo’s oath to reimburse her.
“What’s that?” Leo asks, raising his eyebrows at me.
“We can talk about it later,” I mutter, “For now, I’d rather make tracks. We were in the middle of something, weren’t we?”
“That’s right,” Leo says, a smile lifting the corners of his lips, “We were.”
He comes toward me, taking my hand in his. Our fingers entwine, and Leo leads me away from the Playpen. Emma shoots me a knowing wink as we depart, turning back toward the chaos of the club. I’m more than happy to turn my back on this place. Maybe, given time, I could learn how to be OK with this rowdy environment. Maybe I could figure out a way to feel empowered by the atmosphere of easy sex and easier money. But I have more important things on my mind right now. Or rather, just one thing: Leo.
We hurry across the lot together, jumping up onto the seat of his Harley like Bonnie and Clyde making some grand escape. I wrap my arms around his muscular torso, and we’re off at once. The blackness of the Las Vegas hills is deep and thick on this moonless night. We slice through the pitch blackness, our headlights the only illumination for miles as the Wraith’s Nest falls away behind us. I cling tightly to Leo’s steady, sure body, letting the night unfold as it will around us.
“What do you say we take the scenic route back?” Leo shouts over the roaring engine.
“What scenery is there to look at tonight?” I yell back, “I can’t see anything past your headlights, Leo.”
“Just trust me,” he says, glancing back over his shoulder with a smile.
Leo leans into a turn, and we coast off the main road once again. Off the beaten track we ramble, my arms wrapped tightly around Leo’s body. It’s amazing how much I do trust him, after a mere couple of days. Despite the protestations of my rational mind, I know I’d trust this man with my life. I’d have to, to climb on the back of his bike and let me lead me off into the deserted hills above Sin City like this.
We trundle along for a while longer, until a warm glow catches my eye in the distance. I squint ahead, peering over Leo’s leather-bound shoulder. There, above the horizon, is an aura of fantastic light. As we roll over a low rise, my breath catches in my throat. The view that sprawls out before us is unlike any I’ve ever seen. The entire city of Las Vegas lies like a living, breathing beast far below us. The wild mass of teeming lights pops and writhes, full of a lively and dangerous energy all its own.
Leo cuts the engine, and the Harley’s headlights are extinguished. The city glows even brighter now, and as my eyes adjust I can even make out the pinpricks of stars careening above us. I slide down off the bike, bewitched by the simmering swell of life before me, the canopy of tiny lights above. It really is one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever set eyes on.
“Somethin’, huh?” Leo says quietly, standing beside me in the near darkness.
“I’ll say,” I breathe, captivated by the view.
“This is one of my favorite spots to come and think,” he goes on, pulling out a pack of smokes. He lights a cigarette, cradling it between his full lips.
“What is it you come out here to think about?” I ask.
“Everything,” he shrugs, “The past, the future, and what it’s all for. You know, all the greatest hits.”
“Does it do you any good, mulling it all over?” I press.
“Maybe,” he says, “But even if it doesn’t, the view’s still great.”
“Can I get one of those?” I ask, nodding at Leo’s pack of cigarettes.
“You smoke?” Leo asks, taking a long drag.
“Used to,” I shrug, “Back in high school and college. These days I mostly just stick with weed. But what can I say? You make it look good.”
He slides a second cigarette out of his pack and holds it just before my face, tantalizing me. With a grin, I part my lips and close them around the filter of the cigarette. He lets go reluctantly, lowering the tip of his smoke to mine. I inhale, lighting my cigarette on his. The low, red light illuminates his sculpted features, and I feel my heart skip a beat or two. And I know it’s not because of the nicotine.
“I’m glad you get to see this place,” Leo says, slipping his arm around my waist, “I don’t bring many people here.”
“How many is not many?” I ask, savoring the taste of my first cigarette in years.
“Honestly?” Leo asks, looking down at me, “None. No one else has ever come out here with me…”
“Bullshit,” I say, shoving him lightly.
“Nah,” he insists, “Guess I never wanted to share it with anyone else. Before you, that is.”
“You’ve never driven some other chick out here, let the view woo her for you?” I tease.
“I don’t need to do a whole lot of wooing,” he drawls wryly, “In case you hadn’t noticed.”
“Well. I’m touched,” I shoot back, letting a thin trail of smoke escape my lips. “But now that you have me here, what do you plan to do with me?”
“What, you don’t like talking to me?” he keeps a straight face, “Isn’t this the part where we have some touchy-feely emotional conversation and get on each others’ level?”
“I like talking just fine,” I say, dragging on my cigarette, “But I prefer using my mouth in other ways around you, Leo.”
“I see...” he says, his voice scraping along the bottom of its register, “Well if that’s the case, you won’t be needing this.”
He plucks the cigarette from between my lips, tossing it to the dusty ground. He lets his own smoke fall beside mine, crushing them both under his steel toe. In one swift motion, he’s swept me up into his arms once more. We pick up right where we left off at the Playpen, only now we’re blessedly alone. It hasn’t been more than a few hours since I had him last, but I’m already craving another taste of Leo. Luckily, I don’t have to fiend any longer.