“Nothing lasts forever.” I thought I caught a moment of melancholy in his voice, but before I could latch onto it, he carried on. “Can’t think of anyone I’d rather overtake me than you. I knew the moment I saw you singing online that I’d discovered a fucking diamond in the rough.”
A couple in their mid-to-late forties appeared, along with a teenager who looked far too much like Presley not to be related. His parents and younger brother.
“Oh, son.” The woman dashed forward, throwing her arms around Presley’s neck. “We’re so proud of you. So proud.”
“We are.” His dad came forward and shook his hand. “You were wonderful out there. You had them in the palm of your hand.”
Presley reached for his younger brother. They hugged briefly, then broke apart. “What did you think, Brax?”
“Couldn’t believe it was you up there. You did good, bruv.” He glanced down; a typical awkward teenager still discovering his place in the world.
“This is my boss, Ms. Kingcaid, and this is my friend Joz.”
“Aspen, please. Thank you for coming. I know it meant a lot to Presley for you to be here.”
“Thank you for arranging the travel and accommodation.” His father avoided my eyes. A proud man who hadn’t enjoyed taking what he’d told me in no uncertain terms was a loan when I’d called and offered to fly them here for Presley’s first concert for Kingcaid Music. “We will pay you back as soon as possible.”
“I’ll take care of that, Dad.” Presley almost puffed up with pride. “You’ve spent your lives taking care of me. Now it’s my turn. It can come out of my earnings.”
His dad muttered something. I didn’t catch it, but whatever it was caused his mom’s eyes to shimmer with unshed tears.
She met my gaze and tentatively smiled. “We’re going out for dinner. Would you like to join us?”
“Unfortunately, we have plans,” Joz said. “But thank you.”
Did we? I wasn’t aware of any plans. Not that I’d have intruded on this special family moment, regardless. Relaxing while the boss and one of the biggest stars in the world were sitting across the table wouldn’t be easy. Presley deserved to let his hair down and enjoy this moment with his family.
“Another time.” I shook hands with both his parents. “You did great, Presley. Now, go enjoy your evening. You’ve earned it.”
The four of them disappeared into the hallway, their excited chatter eventually fading away. Once I was sure they’d left, I turned to Joz.
“Plans?”
“Yeah.”
“And what are these plans?”
“Depends.”
I sighed. “Are you being purposely ambiguous, or is this a special treat for me?”
That panty-melting grin came at me again, and I almost groaned. I was so fucked. “Had any more thoughts about us?”
There was that dangerous word again. Us. Except this time, Joz had said it out loud rather than me thinking it to myself.
“There isn’t an us.”
“Not yet, no. But don’t you think we’d be fucking dynamite? You said you’d think about it, and I’m here on pins waiting for your answer.”
I nibbled the inside of my cheek. This was it. Decision time. “I think you’re trouble, but if I’m being honest, you’re the kind of trouble I want to get into.”
His eyes flared, and in less than a second, he moved into my body. Wrapping my face in big hands that shouldn’t have been capable of playing delicate strings, he tipped my head back. “I’ve been wanting to do this for far too fucking long.”
I expected a hard kiss, all clashing teeth and thrusting tongues. How wrong could a girl be? Joz pressed his lips to mine almost tentatively, enticing me to open beneath him. For several seconds, he just kissed me lazily, his lips moving slow yet with purpose. A warmth spread through me like the first embers of a fire being coaxed to life.
As I trailed my fingertips up his sides, he shivered, but it was when I buried them in his hair that a rumble echoed through his chest. Dropping his hands from my face, he clamped them to my ass, lifted me, and walked me to the nearest wall. He braced me against it, hooking my thighs over his hips. His gigantic erection pressed right where I needed it, and I groaned. So good. So fucking good. Better than good. Fucking incredible.
I pulled back slightly, smiling against his lips. “You’re going to destroy me, aren’t you?”
