When the credits roll Liam lets out a long yawn and stretches like a cat who just won a battle with gravity. “That was solid,” he declares. “I’d give it a seven. Could’ve used more explosions.”
I snort. “Next time we’re watching a rom-com.”
“Fine,” he says. “As long as it has grenades.”
Ash smirks, then gets up and strolls over to grab his guitar from the corner, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like hedoesn’tknow that me and my entire nervous system are already frayed from an evening of secret touches.
He strums a few soft chords, the sound instantly filling the space—warm, effortless, addictive. Liam leans back, eyes half-lidded, like he’s about to fall asleep to a private concert.
“I wrote something new,” Ash murmurs casually, adjusting the strap. “It’s calledAfter the Photoshoot.”
My heart slams into my ribs like a car crash.
He glances at me, all innocent mischief and maddening restraint. His mouth quirks like he’s daring me to react.
Kill me.
Just kill me now.
He starts to sing, voice low and sinful:
Lips exploring like whispered fire,
Hands roaming with aching desire.
Heated bodies in tangled grace,
Riding waves of pleasure, face to face.
My mouth drops open.
I’m going to combust.
Liam chuckles sleepily. “Damn, man. That’s hot.”
You haveno idea.
He finishes the last chord with a flourish and looks directly at me, eyes dancing.
“Just a rough draft,” he says smoothly, like he didn’t just strip me emotionally naked in front of my brother.
Liam yawns again. “You’re getting sappy in your old age, man.” He stretches, then adds, “Anyway, this was fun. We should do this more often.”
I glance sideways at Ash, who’s lounging at the other end of the couch, strumming his guitar in the lazy way he does when he’s relaxed—and also when he’s being infuriatingly smug.
Ash plucks a final chord and sets the guitar down. “Actually,” he says casually, brushing his hands on his jeans, “we won’t be around next week.”
Liam frowns. “What do you mean?”
Ash shrugs. “We’re going away. For the engagement moon.”
The room stills.
I freeze mid-sip of my soda. Liam turns his full attention on us, eyes narrowing in a way that makes meverynervous.
“The… what now?”
Ash shifts in his seat, suddenly realizing his mistake. “Engagement moon. It’s—uh—a thing, apparently. A pre-honeymoon. I booked a place by the coast.”
