He nods, eyes flicking down to the bustling street below. “My job matters. My sister…” he pauses and blinks a few times, “… she needs me right now.”
I wonder what he means, but I don’t push. He’ll tell me when he’s ready. “So? What do you want to do? Try the ‘just friends’ thing? Or keep it strictly professional?”
“Fuck.” He looks at me, eyes burning into mine, then he takes both my hands, and sparks zing across my skin. “I don’t think I can do ‘strictly professional’ with you. I haven’t stopped thinking about you all day.”
“You’ve been on my mind too. Even during the concert, I kept thinking about you watching from the rafters. And about Jett… it was strictly business. We were finalizingSwift Division’sset. I swear, there’s no attraction there. It’s completely professional.”
“That guy gets under my skin.”
I slide my hands up to his chest, trying to ground the moment. Sparks fly through me instead. He catches my hands, pressing them flat to his chest as we stare at each other.
Our breaths grow shallow, and the moment pulses with raw energy. His hand slips from mine, trailing up my arm, the warmth of Merc’s touch leaving goose bumps in its wake. He reaches my neck, fingers fisting gently in my hair.
Aggressive Mercs.
But I like it.
His grip tightens as he tugs me closer. I gasp, stumbling forward, palms flattening harder against his chest. It’s electric, euphoric, and I feel dizzy from it all.
The music fades beneath the thunder of my heart.
His fingers tangle deeper in my hair, tilting my head up. I swallow, staring into those dark blue eyes blazing with lust. If he doesn’t kiss me soon, I might combust.
He leans in. I rise on my toes, clutching his shirt. He licks his lips, and then his mouth claims mine—hard, hungry, and desperate. Fireworks erupt inside me, lighting up the night sky. Every part of me ignites as he presses me back against the balustrade. I gasp into the kiss, and he grinds his hips into me. My thighs clench, my heart racing wildly.
He releases my hand, sliding his palm down to grip my hip with delicious authority. My other hand finds his cheek, fingers trailing through the stubble as our kiss turns urgent. My clit throbs, matching the beat of my heart.
He groans, his cock hardening against my belly, and I smile against his lips.
A wolf whistle cuts through the moment.
I laugh into his mouth, breathless and buzzing.
We finally pull apart, our foreheads resting together as we pant.
His grip softens, his hand moving to my cheek, and he kisses me once more, sweet and slow.
“You taste like berries,” he murmurs, smirking.
“Oddly enough, so do you.” I giggle, remembering our first kiss.
“Must be all that berry water I’ve been drinking.”
“My favorite kind,” I reply.
His hold on my hip softens, his thumb brushing gently.
“Mercs, this only works if we keep our communication solid. Touring is intense. It tests even the strongest friendships…” I smile. “And now we’ve added chemistry to the mix. We have to be honest. Always.”
“Agreed. But I need this to be exclusive. That’s non-negotiable.”
“I can do exclusivity.” I try not to beam.
“We’ve got four months ahead of us. Let’s make them count.”
“Yeah, but let’s take it slow. I don’t usually feel this drawn to someone. I want to see where this leads.”
“You’re not afraid to be honest, are you?” he states.
