Chapter 15 #2
I turned around, leaning on the edge of the fountain. She hoisted herself up, sitting next to me, her feet dangling in the air.
Gazing up into the dark cloudless sky, I noticed the stars were exceptionally bright next to the moon, a rare sight in the city.
It had always comforted me to know that no matter where I went on tour, I always shared the same sky as those who meant the most to me.
It helped bring me closer to them.
“I can’t believe you guys didn’t wear costumes on stage,” she said.
“You’re one to talk. You didn’t dress up, either.”
“Yes, I did! Can’t you tell what I am?”
I looked down over my shoulder at her. She wore a pink plaid flannel tied above her navel, showing off just enough of her smooth stomach to make me drool.
Skin-tight jeans hugged her toned legs, and if I didn’t already know she had a fine ass, there would be no denying it now.
When I finally took in her cowboy boots, it clicked.
“Are you trying to be a cowboy?”
“Um. Cow-girl!”
“I’m pretty sure all the girls in that era wore skirts.”
“Even Annie Oakley?”
“Even Annie Oakley.”
“Damn. I thought she’d wear pants along with her cowboy boots. She was such a badass, I figured that’s how she mastered her gun draw—pants.”
I laughed. “So, back to your historically inaccurate costume.”
“At least I dressed up.”
“What are you talking about? I’m a rockstar for Halloween. Can’t you tell?”
She rolled her eyes and pushed her shoulder against me. “That’s not a costume. That’s real. You are a rockstar.”
Leaning back onto my hands, I looked up at the dark sky again. “I wouldn’t consider myself a star. I’m just me. I told you before, I’m no one when I’m not on stage.”
“I still don’t believe that. You’re telling me when you’re at the grocery store, no one recognizes you?”
I shook my head. “Never.”
“No women scream your name or tell you they want to have your babies at the mall?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but no.”
“Okay. Okay. When you go home, no fans climb into your window or break into your house to smell all your clothes and steal your toothbrush?”
“What the hell kind of TV are you watching?”
“I don’t watch TV. I read books, remember? Big difference.”
“Smart and beautiful.” I turned my body toward her. “Now you, on the other hand, walk anywhere and get noticed. I don’t hold a candle to you.”
“Oh, stop. That’s not true. Look at you.”
“I’m too busy looking at you.” I closed the distance between us.
She stiffened. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“It’s not flattery if it’s the truth.”
I was in her space now, drifting even closer. My body was moving on its own. I smelled her sweet perfume. The same one she’d worn that night in her Jeep. I’d craved apples for weeks after that.
It had captivated me then, and I found myself still drawn in by it.
I couldn’t stop myself from moving between her legs as she sat on the fountain’s edge. Her muscles tensed, but she didn’t pull away. If anything, I swear she leaned into me, just as entranced as I was.
I didn’t touch her. Instead, I leaned down and set my palms on the fountain on either side of her, the cool stone giving my feverish body a slight relief. With my height, we were still eye to eye.
“Damien…”
“Hmm?” I let my gaze roam her face, watching her breath deepen and a light scarlet hue danced over her skin in the moonlight.
She didn’t answer as I let my head drop, my lips hovering over her skin. I breathed in her scent as her head tilted to the side, just enough to give me access to her delicate neck if I wanted it.
“What are you doing?” Her voice came out raw and weak.
“I’m not doing anything,” I whispered into her ear.
She shuddered, and I resisted the urge to run my nose along her temple and press my lips to her skin. I didn’t want to cross a line we weren’t ready to cross.
Was I ready to cross that line?
The inferno in my blood sang for only her.
My dick pressed tightly against my jeans, trying to break free and share precisely what I wanted to do to her.
I fought every instinct I had to reach my hand into her hair and pull her into me, opening up those delicious lips with my tongue.
To stop myself from sliding my hands down her curves and finally giving that fine ass a squeeze.
From spreading her legs and pulling her pussy up against me.
All this anticipation, seeing her in front of me but knowing she didn’t belong to me, was building inside me. Each moment brought us closer and closer to an all-consuming explosion.
I was usually a picture of perfect restraint, but this had me at the end of my rope. Her breath came faster, deeper, and the rise and fall of her chest captivated me. Her body hummed with electricity and if I touched her, I’d be done for.
I removed my hands and stood but stayed mere inches from her.
Cadence let out a shaky breath. “I don’t want you. I can’t want you.” And yet, her body told me a completely different story. Hunger appeared in her amber eyes as her gaze jumped to my lips.
“I don’t want you, either,” I whispered. Why not add one more lie to the equation?
In my fantasies, I could hear her moan as my body pressed into hers. The ecstasy that encompassed us, while we took all we wanted from each other, enough to make both of us see those stars in the sky up close.
I wanted her. I needed her. My hands ached to touch her. She was so close, her body warm and welcoming to mine despite the words she placed around herself like armor.
I held her gaze, her nose inches from my own. Her lips fell open as she lifted her chin, daring me to make my move. Our lips instinctively seeking each other out.
My hand betrayed me, and I reached up to touch her cheek. She leaned in, but I stopped the bastard before he made contact.
I couldn’t do it.
We both had our reasons for holding back.
She had someone—Elijah.
And I had an ex who made sure I’d never forget her. And not in a good way.
My sudden thoughts of Vanessa brought a chill down my spine.
Nothing like a theoretical ice bucket dumped on your head.
It was enough to clear the fog that had gathered around me from Cadence’s proximity.
I let my hand drop and took a step back, putting some distance between us, and ran a hand through my hair.
I cleared my throat. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think it’s hotter out here than inside. Unusually warm for October, isn’t it? Wanna head back in?”
Cadence nodded, and when I offered her my hand, she took it without hesitation.
That small amount of contact was everything after being in her space moments ago. I laced my fingers through hers and ran my thumb over her knuckles as we walked toward the restaurant with slowed footsteps, prolonging the inevitable separation.
When we reached the door, we wordlessly pulled our hands apart. I opened it and stepped aside, gesturing for her to go first.
Those amber eyes bore into me, trying to see everything I held inside before she turned and stepped in.
I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I let her see those parts of me I hid from everyone else.
I followed her back to her friends. Their table made the most noise in the bar, but no one seemed to mind. The opposite in fact. The other patrons looked like they wanted to join.
“Do you want to sit with us? We can pull up another table. Have the other guys come to. Unless you have to pack up and get on the road.”
I shook my head. “No, we have time. Let me go ask them.”
She nodded before sitting and grabbing her drink. She downed the entire thing as I walked away. Not that I needed any proof to show I had completely hypnotized her outside. Just as she had done to me.
Hudson was the first to notice me when I returned to the table. “About time you got back. Make any progress?”
“I was only talking with Cadence, nothing else.”
Hudson’s gaze narrowed. “Hmm.”
“Do you wanna go and sit with her friends?”
“If there’s beer, I’m there.”
I laughed. “I’ll make sure you’re stocked all night. Let me ask the other guys.”
After everyone agreed, I introduced them to Cadence’s friends. Thank God they took pity on me and didn’t expect me to remember their names.
I sat in the empty chair to her right. As I scooted to the table, my leg pressed against hers. I expected her to pull away, but as I turned to look at her, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and didn’t move.
Trying to calm the growing bulge in my pants once more, I focused on the chaos of conversations happening around me.
I was no closer to discovering the answers to my questions, but one thing I was certain about.
I was in trouble.