"Do you want to go somewhere?" Cage asked.

What an odd question. I stared at him. "What?"

Cage placed another magazine of bullets into a gun. "I said do you want to go somewhere? Tonight?"

I kept on staring at him uncomfortably. "I don't know what you're asking me."

We were in the front lobby. Cage was sitting crisscrossed on the glass floor and I was perched on the ledge of the platform that held the sculpture, watching Cage do whatever he was doing. I still hadn't figured out what the sculpture was, it had such a strange shape and faintly resembled a piece of paper that had been crumbled.

Cage had several guns and rifles in front of him and a pack of bullets. He spent the last ten minutes checking each weapon for whatever insane reason, and filling them with bullets. Nick took Fern and Diana out to dinner and Heath disappeared, as usual. He didn't tell anyone where he was going except for Cage. So basically, Cage and I were alone in a twenty story luxury hotel.

After what happened last night, I didn't think that was the best of scenarios. Nick spent the morning diligently avoiding me. I didn't make an effort to talk to him after what happened. We both needed time. I was pretty sure Fern already knew what I did. A broken jaw didn't go unnoticed, especially to her. However, she never bought it up so neither did I.

It was sometime around evening now. The sky was turning darker and Chicago was dulling down. No one seemed to be coming back to the hotel, and I was getting antsy. Being alone with Cage never ended well for either of us. He kept on giving me these unsolicited looks that bordered on the edge of danger. Cage looked like he needed to say something but he never did, and it was driving me insane.

"Everyone's out." He said. "We should be too. It's a beautiful night."

I looked at his hand. His wound was covered by another kitty-shaped bandage, courtesy of yours truly. "Remember how our last date ended?"

"If I recall correctly, you didn't consider it a date."

"Because it wasn't." I pointed out. "You basically forced me to go with you. You literally dragged me through the gates, Cage. And then you laughed whenever I screamed, which is the basic human reaction people have when something jumps out at them, you untickilish freak. So no, I don't consider it a date."

Cage chuckled. "You scream at everything, though."

"I do not."

"As the guy who stands beside you when you do all of your shouting, I can say with confidence that I literally can't hear anything with my left ear because you destroyed it."

''Yeah, well, I can say the same about all of those terrifying gunshots." I pointed out. "And you do not need so many guns, Cage. When you get arrested, I hope they file a charge for all of your illegal weapons."

He checked the back end of an assault rifle and gave me a smirk. When there is at least ten very illegal weapons in front of you, it's hard to approach the situation in a logical way. "I don't plan on getting arrested anytime soon, princess."

"That's cute. I almost want to visit you in prison."

"If I'm going to prison, I promise that you will too. Remember that time when you hacked into the Central Intelligence Agency database and deleted the files Jonah sent them?"

"Remember how you held up a gun to my head and forced me to do it? You are such a dick sometimes, Cage. Actually, not just sometimes. It's all the time. Everyday, you do something shitty. I dare you to go one day without hurting anybody."

"I'll accept that challenge if you do something for me." Cage suddenly announced. He put the last gun down and moved closer, getting on his knees. His hands rested on either side of the platform, and I was forced to adjust myself to take on the intrusion. In a flash, Cage was in front of me.

I watched him, an unease settling in my stomach. "What do you want me to do?"

His red lips tugged up in a teasing smirk that had me all hot and bothered in less than five seconds. Never underestimate the power of unintentional seduction. Or intentional seduction, but let's not bring that up now. Cage leaned in closer. With his height, being on his knees set perfectly with my seated position. We were at level with each other. Cage moved one of his hands and placed it on my knee.

The bristled edges of the medical tape from his bandage scratched against my bare skin uncomfortably. His hand was cold as anything. They always were, I never understood why. His eyes flickered from mine down to my lips. "First, I want you to kiss me."

My heart plucked out its little strings at his teasing words. But I honestly did want to see if Cage could go one day without hurting anyone. I was curious to see if he could be a normal man for 24 hours. For a murderer, it was going to be fascinating. So it was with avid curiosity and a desire to once again push his patience that I leaned over and quickly nipped him on the mouth.

Cage smirked, not satisfied with my minimal efforts. "Come on, princess. You can do better than that."

With his hand trailing up my leg and my cheeks all flustered, I pulled Cage closer and pressed my lips against his own once more. This kiss lasted about five seconds. It was all I could manage without losing control.

He moved back and surveyed me with an amused look. "What's wrong, kitten? I saw your talents back at the lounge. If you want me to do this, you are gonna have to prove it." I felt his fingers grip onto one side of my panties, angrily scratching my skin. His words danced across my lips, a seductive whisper. "Don't hold back now...kiss me like I'm Nicolas. Is that enough motivation or do I need to-"

I didn't let Cage continue his teasing. His words finally got to me. Grabbing the lapels of his leather jacket, I pulled Cage closer and pressed my lips hard against his. They were warm and wet, using the art of flirtatious flicks to make my stomach clench uncomfortably. How many girls had Cage kissed before me? He was way too good, a connoisseur in sex while I was nothing if not greatly inexperienced. Cage knew that and he loved using my vulnerability to his advantage.

As addicted I was to testing his limits, Cage was just as well in love with doing the same thing to me. His was purely sexual. Mine was mental. The two put together made for combustible operation.

His lips were rough against mine. Cage really was not gentle with anything, was he? All of his words had a certain truth to them. Except his words didn't hint at half the things his actions did. The way Cage kissed me was completely carnal. Nothing sweet about how hard his fingers dug into my thigh, how angrily his teeth bit down on my lips. His tongue felt like sandpaper, his day old stubble pricking against my cheeks.

Even if I wanted to move away, I couldn't. The grip he had on me was too tight to allow me to even move. At this point, I didn't even know if I wanted to. Kissing Nick was nothing to kissing Cage. Where Nick took his time, Cage didn't have the patience.

My fingers twisted through his hair, the silky strands slipping and tugging in my fingers. I waited with bated breath for a second...he didn't push my hands away like he had when we were in my bedroom. Gaining courage from the small victory, I pressed my lips harder against Cage's. He seemed to appreciate the effort and smirked.

By now, Cage's fingers had a firm grip on my panties. He didn't pull them off but he didn't move his hand away. It was a symbol of domination. He wasn't going to do anything but he wanted to tell me that the option was still here if he did want to do anything. The rough nails of his lacerated hand was an irresistible touch. I leaned closer, craving the feel of his mouth. I loved everything about it, and that's something I absolutely despised.

His free hand moved from the back of my neck and gripped my chin. Cage pulled himself back and pushed me away, giving a much needed separation for the both of us. But I didn't want to stop. Testing his limits was my only goal. I wanted to see if Cage Vickers had the decency to stop me. We both wanted each other. It was only a matter of who would accept the consequence first if anything did happen.

My lips moved from his mouth and back to his jaw, burning with the impact. As much as I loved how hard he kissed me, it did hurt. Cage exhaled sharply as I kissed down his jawline and under his ear, pressing soft, small pecks that gave me as much pleasure as it did him.

Cage pulled his hand out from under my skirt and stood up, not allowing me to continue my gambit. His dark hair was messed up from me running my hands through them and his eyes were bright and possessive, but other than that, Cage's face was composed and cold as ever. If I wasn't looking for those little things, I never would have guessed that he was as flustered as I was. As good as he was at hiding his emotions, I was getting better at catching them.

"Come with me." Cage held his hand out to me, waiting for me to take it.

A week ago, I would have cringed with fear and shied away from anything that had to do with Cage Vickers. Now, I welcomed it. It scared me that I didn't have to think twice about grabbing his hand.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

That was all Cage said. With a secret smile, he walked to the elevator. I trailed behind, curiosity getting the best of me. His arm wrapped around my waist and the other hand around my own, twirling me around. I would have fallen if he didn't have a grip of me. We stumbled into the elevator together, laughing at nothing.

I was too distracted by Cage to see what floor he pushed. As the elevator began to make its descent upwards, Cage leaned against the wall, hands behind his back and lips pressed together to keep from laughing. With a smirk, I copied his pose. We stood in silence, each obsessed with our thoughts but hyperaware of the other's presence.

The elevator seemed to go on forever. When it did finally reach its destination, I glanced up to see we were at the twentieth floor. Cage really had a thing for heights, didn't he? Smirking, he slipped his fingers through my own. We stepped out into the corridor of a blue-carpeted hallway. There was a window at the end of the hall, but the velvet shades were drawn.

"Keep up, princess." Cage let go of my hand and suddenly darted away. He was headed towards one of the doors.

"Wait, I can't, my legs are too short." I had to run to keep pace with his long strides.

Cage pulled open the door and laughed as I dashed in to make sure I wouldn't be left behind. There was a short set of stairs and then another door at the top. Since there were no lights in the small hallway, when Cage closed the door, we were left in darkness.

I felt him slip past me. "Wait, don't go. I'm scared." I grappled around for Cage. My hand bumped into something solid and I grabbed onto it without thinking.

For a moment, I was stunned.

"Is this your penis?"

"What?" Cage asked in surprise. He wasn't anywhere close to me. His voice sounded like it was coming from the top. Hesitant, I touched the object again until I realized what it was.

It was the freaking banister.

I couldn't see anything until Cage reached the top and pushed open the door. It led outside. He was already stepping through the doorway and I had to run up the last few steps. Laughing, I dashed out as Cage's arms caught me at the last second. He chuckled softly, having to hold me up again as I nearly tripped over his boots.

We were on the rooftop of the hotel. A thick barricade of cement bordered the spacious area. The moon hid behind carbon-coloured clouds and a few stars barely cut through the dark sky. The air was chilly and gusts of wind scattered the few dry leaves that had somehow made their way here around and around in circles. There was a table with a two chairs with a vase full of dead flowers in one corner and an underground pool with the white cover drawn. Lights carefully placed around the rooftop had thick sheets of plaster over for protection. As pretty as the hotel was, the signs of being empty for so long was beginning to show.

But it was the view that took my breath away. In the distance, tall skyscrapers lit up with a million different lights cut through the darkness. They were tall and proud, the heart of Chicago seeming so close yet so far off at the same time. Each building was a different size, reaching up with carefully constructed floors into an eternity. That was as far as I could see, but that was enough. Chicago nights were always so beautiful. No wonder Cage loved this city. Is this what his everyday life was like?

But the reason for such pretty sights wasn't so pretty in the end. Cage achieved all of this through manipulation, fear, and pain. I couldn't forget that.

I walked up to the balcony, enthralled by the view in the distance. Cage came close behind me and his hand pressed against my lower back, pulling me close. In the chilliness of the night, I appreciated the solid warmth of his body.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" He said, a quietness in his voice that I'd never heard before. It was sincere and honest. For the first time, Cage didn't sound as emotionless as he always did. He sounded...vulnerable.

Pretty was too small of a word to describe it, but I nodded.

Cage removed his hand and leaned against the ledge, staring out into the distance. He glanced down at his hands, one covered in a kitty-shaped bandage and the other pale and scarred. There was a small tattoo of a crow silhouette on his pinky finger. "There's something I need to tell you, November."

Suddenly, I felt my chest constrict with the honesty of his words. There were so many things I wanted to tell Cage too. Without giving myself time to hesitate, I forced the words off my tongue. "There's something I need to tell you, too."

If Cage was going to respond, I didn't hear it. The sudden roar of helicopter blades overheard interrupted the silence. We turned to see one, flying very low overhead. It was white with blue letters on the side that I couldn't make out. It looked similar to Cage's. The helicopter passed right over us, close enough to make me a bit frightened.

We watched as the helicopter flew away, heading straight for the skyscrapers in the distance. Cage didn't say anything, staring intently at it as it became a speck in the horizon. It disappeared over a tall skyscraper.

"Shit."

I turned to see Cage pull out a phone from his pocket. "What?"

His hand grabbed my own. Cage looked furious. Worry clouded his clear green eyes until they were dark. Something about that helicopter set him off. Cage cursed again, turning away from the ledge and dialing a number on his phone.

I looked back at the skyscraper where the helicopter had disappeared over. It took me a moment to realize that the helicopter hadn't disappeared around it. The helicopter had landed on top of the building. The building was a hospital. I still couldn't put the two and two together, and Cage's increasing frustration was starting up my own panic.

He began pulling me back to the door, pressing the phone up to his ear and using the other to hold my elbow in an unbreakable grip. I glanced back at the skyscrapers, completely confused. "Hey, what happened?"

"He's here."

"Who's here?" I asked. I got no response until I saw that Cage was talking on the phone, not to me.

"I'm gonna fucking kill him." Cage growled.

"Oh no, don't do that." I said, fully aware of the fact that his words were in no way directed towards me. Cage glanced at the buildings and shoved his fingers through his hair, angrily pulling with frustration. He cast me a perplexed look, one that clearly said 'shut up.' A voice on the other line spoke, but I only heard the deep undertone. It sounded kind of like Heath's voice, although I wasn't sure.

I looked at the buildings too, also I didn't see anything that could have upset Cage so quickly.

Cage turned away from me, talking low enough that I couldn't make out his words. He paced up and down besides the pool for a few seconds, lips moving out words a mile a minute. After about twenty seconds of this, I stood by in bewilderment as Cage ended the call and muttered out a string of colourful words.

I waited until he settled down to get answers. Hesitant, I watched Cage carefully for signs of a volatile reaction. His temper was dangerous, I knew that. It was always best to approach with caution when it came to dealing with Cage Vickers. "What happened?"

His eyes were a lucid green when they met mine. "That was Romeo's helicopter."