Seconds after, his large hand tugged at her wrist so he could examine her neck before his gaze traveled down her shoulder.Is this his first time noticing?Maybe it is. He doesn't know me.
It took a minute before she could look at him, and when she did, she wasn't sure how to read his expression. It was curious but he seemed to be deep in thought. "What do you do?"
"Huh?"
Her nose crinkled and his loaded gaze held her captive.
"Sing, play, write? Ink like that is inspired by something. You didn't just show up and pick something out of a book."
Her teeth sank into her lip while she considered just how much she would expose. While she processed the thought, her head moved from left to right, which she followed with, "All of it."
"You're an artist?" She could see his mind working.
"Used to be?" This was a touchy subject for her. She felt a plethora of emotions when people who didn't know found out. Sad, cheated, devalued, but telling this man made her feel…raw, exposed, worthy, like he could somehow understand and help her through it.
"Why used to be?"
Inhaling, she let it go slowly. Her face fell and she directed her attention from him.
"I made a big mistake. One that cost me everything. I didn't know what I was doing when I got my first deal. I signed witha label more interested in using me than nurturing my career. I released a few singles. They went platinum then I got shelved."
"Sing for me." The demand was strong. He wasn't asking and the look in his eyes meant he wasn't going to accept anything other than his demand.
Her pulse quickened and she felt her breathing pick up in intensity. She was nervous. Forget nervous, she was terrified, which didn't make sense. She had performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people but something about singing for this very complex, beautiful, and sexy man had her palms sweaty and her stomach in knots.
"I don't think I can do that." She laughed nervously and looked down at her hand. Her eyes traced the notes inked there, and when she felt his finger graze the side of her face, she was sure she would lose it.
"Why not?"
Her eyes rolled up to find him staring intently, brows dipped in like he was frustrated. Maybe he was. Maybe he was used to getting his way and she wasn't following suit. With a face, eyes, and lips like his, she was sure he got whatever he wanted.
"You make me nervous. I don't think it will come out right."
He held that intense stare for a moment longer before that handsome face of his eased into a sexy grin.
"I'm harmless. I want to hear your voice. You have to be able to sing with this kind of commitment." His fingers brushed across her neck and shoulder and her eyes closed. When she opened them again, his were waiting, begging her to do as he’d asked.
Never, knew a love so strong until you
Never knew a love so dangerous, had no clue
Never knew I could feel so secure and then you claimed me
Never wanted anything more until you changed me
If only, if only, if only you could see
That your heart, your heart, your heart belongs to me
Kiss me once and it's guaranteed a life of sin
’Cause when your lips are on mine is when I let the devil in
Before she could find the courage to open her eyes and see what he was thinking, his mouth was on her. Her chin, her cheek, and lastly, her lips. It was soft and gentle and perfect until it grew intense and hungry and even more perfect. When he finally pulled back, her chest heaved, her eyes were low, and her lips were slightly parted. He simply stared like… Shit, she had no idea, but it felt good.
When he smiled again, her heart pounded in her chest so erratically that she was sure he could see it. Hell, he could probably feel it.
"You just gonna fuck up my whole world like that?"
