Neo sighed, punched his pillow and rolled over. The clock on the bedside table glowed bright, mocking him. 12:47 a.m., and he'd not had a moment's sleep. Thoughts and images of Gwen filled his mind, preventing him from relaxing. He'd thought he just needed to find release and had tried self-gratification while thinking about what he would like to do to her, but ended up just making things worse. Neo couldn't remember a time when he'd wanted a woman this badly.

“Fuck it.” He muttered as he threw the blankets back and climbed out of bed. Shuffling to the bathroom, he turned on the light and bent over the sink., staring at himself for several moments. “Why the fuck can't you stop thinking about her?” Neo asked his reflection.

She's ours, his dragon's voice echoed in his head.

Not possible, you know that. Neo shook his head and wondered where his dragon had come up with the idea. Maybe he needed to spend less time with mated couples and more on his own. The recent matings had given his dragon ideas. He seemed to have forgotten they were cursed.

Giving up on looking for answers, Neo splashed water on his face and decided to try what he normally did when he couldn't sleep - swim. After putting on his trunks and a t-shirt, he headed for the rooftop pool.

The elevator doors opened and Neo stepped out into the cool night. He took a deep breath and enjoyed the cool breeze he often encountered here, especially at night. After taking a moment to let the night air surround him and seep into his pores, Neo scanned the pool area and noted there was almost no one around. One staff member was skimming the surface of the water while another refilled towel racks. The bartender was at the bar, serving the one guest and washing glasses while he listened to the woman in the tiny pink bikini. Neo went to the towel cart and pulled one out for himself, then dropped it on the foot of the nearest lounge chair. He kicked off the sandals he'd worn and peeled his t-shirt off, dropping it on the towel.

The man skimming debris was done by the time Neo stepped into the water. He started at the shallow end, using the steps there as he made his way deeper into the water. He was a little more than waist deep when he dove forward and swam with practiced ease to the far end of the pool before surfacing only long enough for a couple of breaths before turning and swimming back the length to the other wall. He again paused for a couple breaths then turned again.

Neo had lost count of how many lengths he'd gone when he stopped to draw several deep breaths and blink the water from his eyes. Movement from the corner of his eye drew his attention and he turned to get a better look. He expected to see the bartender, but instead found Gwen. She stood beside the pool wearing an almost sheer, flowy top, which hung half way to her knees as she stared out at the lights of the city.

“Oh, hi.” Neo pushed the water from his face as he spoke. “You surprised me.”

“Hello,” Gwen glanced at him then looked back at the city. After a moment, she shook her head “Sorry. I wasn't expecting such a stunning view, especially at this hour. Most cities turn off the flashy lights before now.”

“Well, we are known as the city that never sleeps,” Neo watched her for several seconds, unable to turn away.

“Do you mind if I join you?” she waved one hand toward the water.

“Of course.” Neo realized his hand was trembling. “By the way, what time is it?”

“Almost three.” Gwen shrugged out of her cover-up, revealing a teal two-piece swimsuit hugging her body. It made Neo's mouth water.

It took him several seconds to realize she'd said three. He had been swimming for almost two hours without a break. Pulling himself up to sit on the edge of the pool, he signaled the bartender for a drink. Yes, a bartender at the pool at three a.m. was uncommon, but this was Vegas and the bartenders who worked this bar did double duty as lifeguards. This one was used to Neo's late-night swims and knew what he was after.

“I brought two, sir,” the bartender set two bottles of water on the edge of the pool. “One for you and one for the lady.”

“Thanks, Ike.” Neo picked up the bottle, opened it, and took a long drink as he watched Gwen go to the stairs and walk into the water. As she approached, Neo picked up the second bottle and offered it to her.

“Thanks.” Gwen uncapped the bottle and brought it to her lips. Lips that made Neo want to lick and bite at them. She took a sip and recapped the bottle before setting it back on the edge of the pool beside him.

“You managed to lose your guards.” He noticed for the first time that neither Isla nor Ellis were on the roof. 

“I did.” She smiled. “It wasn't easy to convince them, but we spoke with Sloan and he confirmed what you said about public areas being safe. Still, it took a call back to our alphas to get them to agree to let me off their tight watch. But it's only if I'm inside the MesoAmerican. If I'm leaving the hotel, even for another hotel, I'm to have at least one of them with me.” She glanced around the almost empty roof. “Do you often swim in the middle of the night?”

Neo shrugged. “I usually swim whenever I can't sleep.”

“Which is often enough he knows what you want without having to ask.” Gwen tilted her head toward the bar where Ike sat, his head bent over what looked like paperwork.

One corner of Neo's mouth lifted in a wry smile. “I don't sleep much.”

“I usually don't have a problem, but traveling disturbs all kinds of things.”

Neo couldn't relate. He'd done his share of traveling, but most of it had been when the only way to get somewhere was on foot. Jet lag was a new problem he'd not had to deal with much. “You hoping the exercise will help?”

“I'm hoping between another day and more exercise, I'll be able to sleep tonight.”

Neo finished his bottle of water and set the empty bottle aside before sliding back into the water. “Well, in the name of getting you some sleep tonight, I'll make a sacrifice. How about a race?”

“A race?”

“Yes, from here to the far side and back. Sound good?”

“Sure, why not.”

“Ready?”

Gwen nodded.

“Then on one. Three... two... one.” Neo dove forward into the water and poured every bit of energy he had into the contest. He hit the far side, flipped and gave the return trip just as much effort. When he touched the wall again, he surfaced to find Gwen already there. He knew he'd lost. “Congratulations. You're fast.” Neo smiled at the big grin on her face. Droplets of water in her lashes glittered as she leaned close.

“What's my prize?” her voice had gone deep and husky.

“I don't know. I guess it depends on what you want?”

“I think I have an idea.” She leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

The touch of her skin against his made all rational thought flee from his mind. His world narrowed until she was the only thing that mattered, the only thing that existed.

Ours. Neo wasn't sure his other half was right, but he knew better than to argue.

Gwen's lips moved over his and Neo couldn't help but respond. Their mouths opened and tongues tangled. Her arms wound around Neo's neck, and his wrapped around her waist as they moved into each other.

He had no idea how much time passed when the sound of footsteps nearby reminded Neo they weren't alone. This was a public pool.

“Let's get out of here,” he said against her lips, then looked around. While they'd been engrossed in each other, someone had arrived, a normal male in a tiny, skin-tight bathing suit was stretching at the far side of the pool.

“We can go to my room, but Isla and Ellis are there. How about your place?”

“My place is good, come on.” Neo reluctantly pulled away from her and lifted himself from the pool. He picked up her towel and held it for her. Gwen had gone to the steps to exit the water and now, as she arrived next to him, she turned so he could wrap the soft cloth around her shoulders.

“Thank you.” She took the edges and pulled the towel close as Neo fought the urge to pull her back into his arms.

Instead, he picked up his own towel and dried himself as much as he could before he wrapped it around his waist and secured it. Glancing over at Gwen, he couldn't help but admire her long legs as she ran the towel down each of them. His cock twitched and he knew if they didn't get out of there soon, even his long practice of self-control wouldn't prevent him from embarrassing himself.