Is that why Sully’s cooking? To hide me from the prying eyes of cameras and fans to avoid another argument with her?
A shiver travels through me, almost knocking me off balance. I grab the railing as we walk down the stairs to keep from stumbling and falling onto Sully.
Maybe he’s romantic and this is what he does on a second date. It’s not unheard of to cook for someone. But it is a little suspicious.
Sully opens the back passenger door and gestures for me to slide in first. I bend my lips into a smile and climb inside. He explains the traditional German meal he’s going to prepare and how it’s his Oma’s special recipe.
“That sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it,” I lie through my teeth. Well, maybe it’s not a complete lie. What little I heard him say about the food over the voices in my head arguing did sound good and my stomach is growling since I skipped breakfast.
The hunger-inducing smell from the kitchen makes my mouth water. Despite us being holed up in his rented condo, he went all out to make it feel welcoming. There are tall, red candles on the table, casting the dining room in a flickering glow. Shadows dance along the walls, reminding me of long fingers reaching out to grab me. To pull me into the darkness and hide there forever.
Sully shatters my thoughts when he places two plates of food on the table. “I hope you like it.”
I grab my fork and shove some sausage and noodles into my mouth. “Delicious.”
After we finish eating, Sully catches me glancing at the bedroom. The door is shut, but I can still feel the silky sheets against my skin. The warmth of his strong yet gentle arms holding me to his chest. The lingering scent of mint and fresh laundry hanging in the air.
“I can’t apologize enough for Amy this morning. Please don’t take what she said to heart.”
“It’s alright.” I twirl a piece of hair around my fingers. At least it’s not my ring. “I get it.” I don’t really, but my bad habit is putting on a brave mask and burying whatever hurts me so deeply until the pain gnaws at my bones. “You’re the single one in the band and some random fangirl would ruin—”
He reaches forward, placing his finger against my lips, silencing my words. “What if I want you to ruin me?” His voice is deep and his eyes are dark with hunger in the dim light.
“Then I’d say you’re a fool.”
He smiles, and his hand cups my face. I lean into his touch, feeling like a street cat who found a friendly human with food to share.
“With you, I can be myself. I don’t have to pretend.” His other hand takes mine; he fingers my mermaid ring. “Amy likes control. It’s why she’s good at her job.”
I move closer, our thighs pressing together, skin on skin. Heat pools in my belly. “Sometimes loss of control is a good thing.”
A chuckle rumbles from his chest. “God, with you I want to do bad things.”
“Why don’t you?” I ask, pressing my forehead to his.
He fists my hair, tugging my face back until we’re nose to nose. My breath hitches as his lips brush mine, nothing but a touch of butterfly wings, but it causes a surge of hurricane winds inside my chest.
“Because I’d lose all sense of who I am. I’d blow off my music and ignore my band just to spend one more minute with you.” His eyes close briefly, and his lashes splash against his skin.
As if pulled by invisible strings, I’m thrust forward until I’m kissing him. His hands slide along my back until his fingers press into my hip bones. I tug on his hair to deepen our kiss. My nails sink into his flesh. The temperature has gone up ten degrees and we still have our clothes on.
“Should we…” I nod toward the bedroom.
Sully pulls me onto his lap. I can feel his length against my leg, but he shakes his head. “I want to savor you and there aren’t enough hours tonight to do everything I keep picturing in my mind.”
A blush burns my cheeks. I nip at his earlobe. “Okay,” I say, kissing along his throat.
He moans. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“You stole my line.”
He picks me up like I weigh nothing and switches our positions. I’m pinned against the couch as his legs are on either side of mine, pressing my thighs together.
“This weekend I’m going to take you out for real, and we’re not going to stop until you’re screaming my name.”
My heart somersaults, almost falling out of my chest. My teeth dig into my bottom lip as the corners of my mouth curl into an evil smirk.
“Has anyone told you how devious you are?”
