No Reservations - Megan Hart [89]
Well,' Brandon said. T mean it.'
And even in Las Vegas where so much was made of illusion, Leah had no doubts that this was all truth.
The last time Brandon pulled an all-nighter he'd been in college, pepped up on No-Doz and three pots of coffee, trying like crazy to cram far a Sociology final he needed to pass with an A in order to keep his scholarship. He'd fallen asleep halfway through taking the test, woken ten minutes before the hour was up, and managed to squeak by on the skin of his teeth. Tonight was nothing like that -they stopped to grab steaming cups of coffee from a vendor but not because he was in any danger of falling asleep. Being with Leah was enough to keep him energised.
She was tired, he could see that. Her hair had fallen out of the pretty hairdo she'd put it in for the party, but he liked it that way, tumbled over her shoulders. Her make-up had smudged, too, giving her smoky eyes and fucking incredible pouty lips he couldn't stop wanting to taste.
They had done everything they possibly could in the few hours they had left. Stopped for hot dogs at Coney Island, rode the roller coaster, visited the Eiffel Tower and viewed most of the free shows. Now the sky was finally turning light, though the thousands of lights still gleamed as bright as they had all night.
Vegas in the morning looked hung-over. There were still people on the streets and casino lobbies, a number of them dressed in formal wear. They were the ones who looked like they might pass out at any moment. There were other folks dressed in regular clothes, up early for the buffets or an early shot at the tables and slots. Tourists pulling suitcases towards taxis. Some gave Vegas a last, longing look while others tried slipping away leaving behind a few hundred bucks and probably some dignity, too.
I'm hungry.' Leah took a deep breath. They were leaning on the railing in front of the Bellagio, having made a full circuit of the Strip. 'Can you believe that?'
He put a hand on his belly. 'Sure.'
She nudged his side. 'You're always hungry.'
Well, yeah. But it's been at least an hour since we last ate.'
She laughed and tipped her face up to the brightening sky. 'Gawwwwwd, Brandon. Will you still love me when I'm so fat you have to roll me from room to room?'
They'd played this game all night. Will you still love me when . . .? It was sort of silly, seeing who could top the other, but he liked it. It meant she was considering the rest of their lives together, and, though she hadn't come right out and said, yes, she'd many him, he was more certain than ever that's where all this was leading.
Of course. Will you still love me when I lose my hair?'
'I thought you were going to grow hair.'
In my ears,' he said, ill probably go bald on top.'
She pretended to consider it. OK. So long as the hair in your ears is long enough to do a comb-over.' He cringed even as he laughed. She was rarely this silly. 'Dude. Gross.' She slapped his arm. 'Do not call me dude!' 'You and Kate call each other dude all the time!'
Kate,' Leah said archly, 'is my bestie. And a woman. Women can call each other dude. You do not call me dude. I have a vagina, not a penis.'
He slid his hand over her ass for a squeeze. 'Mmmm . . . vagina.'
She shifted until she was between him and the railing, her ass nice, round and shoved up tight against his crotch. Leah leant against him. Yes. I will still love you when you're bald.' Good.'
They swayed a little. Exhaustion should've weighted his eyes, but he'd gone past the point of being tired into being hyper-awake. Everything seemed too bright, too colourful, it's kinda like being high,' he said out loud. What is?' 'Being this tired.'
She twisted to look up at him. 'Sorry we stayed awake?'
Nope.' Brandon watched people going in and out of the hotel. People just starting their days, heading to work.
'What do you know of being high, anyway?' she said sternly. He grinned. 'Garsh, ma'am,