Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
H er heart fluttered like a dragon’s who’d spotted a new diamond for her hoard. Dylan looked diamond-level of good. “Thanks, but I’m not heading back yet. Oliver set up a meeting with the costume group. Over by the big palace.” The palaces were on her list of spots to see while she was here this go-around. “I’ll grab a taxi.”
“I’ve already got a car. I can drop you there.”
Mallory stretched her arms overhead and nodded her thanks. They went down a side corridor to a private parking level in the garage.
Dylan had picked up a large SUV. “Is Oliver overbooking you?”
“No. It’s exciting to see how everything works. The competition was stirring up some conflict, so it was time for me to step out.” They got in, and Mallory typed the address into the navigation system as Dylan pulled out onto the main road. Rain pelted the windshield. “Sorry to make you go out of the way.”
“No bother. Sorry that Seoul’s dumping rain on your trip.”
“I like the rain.”
He reached over and took her hand in his. “I do too.”
“Muses love the rain too.”
His fingers tightened on hers. “I’m definitely having more luck with the muse here than in Europe. Songs are coming to me now, I just have to get the time to record them.”
“That’s great.” She’d hate to be in the way of his process. “I don’t mind taking a cab, you know. I don’t want to be the one taking you from your schedule.”
“You’re not.” Dylan squeezed her hand. “We’re not going far.” He was right. It didn’t take long to reach the place. He let go of her hand. “I’ll go in with you, if that’s okay?”
More than okay. Mallory nodded.
The front window displayed a row of traditional Korean garb. Inside, more hanboks hung on the racks in a variety of fabrics and designs. Most were sheer chiffon, but many were made of a heavier silk.
“I want to see the costumes and hear how casting went, especially now that I’ve read your books.” Dylan went in with her. “But don’t tell Jenny you told me, or she’ll pester me for answers as often as she does you.”
“Persistence is her skill, but in a super charming way.” Mallory laughed. “I might have to give her some snippets.”
The assistant led the way to a large office, but there was only one designer present. A fifty-something woman with a short hairstyle wearing a bright orange dress that matched her lipstick. The designer put her hands on her hips and looked from Mallory to Dylan. “Did Texk send you about the costumes for the tour and Mallory about her movie costumes at the same time?” The designer shook her head. “Just like Texk to double-book me.”
Dylan gave her a charming smile. “Tour costumes can wait. I’m a fan of the book series, and Texk offered to give me a sneak peek of your designs.”
The woman twisted her lips left then right, as if trying to determine if she was flattered or annoyed.
Dylan kept his smile up, and the designer’s annoyance melted away. “Okay, you two have a seat.”
The rain didn’t let up as they sat at a large table and the designer displayed design after design on a smart screen. For all her confidence, the designer seemed to be holding her breath.
Mallory wanted to reassure her that the designs matched what was in her head. But amazingly, they were even better. “I love them all.”
The designer laughed. “You’ve just become my favorite client.” She powered off her computer and looked at the rain sheeting against the window. “If you want to wait until this lightens up a bit, you can hang out in our break room. Help yourselves to coffee or tea.”
“Thanks.” Dylan nodded.
They walked out of the room, and the designer pointed them to a small stairway. Then she grabbed an umbrella. “My house is just across the way. Give me a call if you need anything. If not, hit the lights on your way out. The door will auto-lock behind you.”
Mallory waved her off and then led the way upstairs. “This is exciting. In books, attics lead to all sorts of adventures.”
“I’ll be happy for a cup of tea.”
“No escape to another world?”
“I’m quite content in this one actually.” Dylan sounded almost surprised.
Mallory was too. Being with him was a weird combination of easy and exciting. She liked how he treated the people around him, and downstairs, he’d been appreciative.
The only person she’d seen Dylan get impatient with was Oliver. And part of Oliver’s job was to push until people pushed back, so that was understandable.
They reached the break room, which was a converted attic with a tiny kitchenette and two club chairs by a picture window that showed off the lashing rain.
Mallory filled the kettle, and Dylan snagged two purple packets of tea labeled from Jeju Island.
“Have you been to Jeju?” Mallory carried her tea over to the chair and sipped the sweet, warm liquid. Delicious.
“No stadium there, so nope.”
“Me neither. It’s on my list though. Jeju, Busan, and a ton of other cities.”
“I only lived here a few years in high school when my parents moved back. Many places are new to me too. I’d love to go.” Dylan blew out a breath. “I shouldn’t say that. You know what my schedule is like.” He put his cup down. “When I say I’m booked out the next two years, I’m being literal.”
“So, dancing around a Jeju volcano is not in the cards for us.” Mallory gazed out at the shimmering water. “Well, we’ll always have Seoul.” Thunder cracked and more rain beat against the window. “I think your band has the right name. The storms follow you.”
“I call them.”
Mallory giggled. “Nice. I’ll give my next character that power.”
Dylan reached out and took her hand. “Sit with me.” Mallory put her cup down. She looked at the stairway and hesitated. Dylan tugged, and then she was on his lap, warm and cozy.
“Should we sit so close?” she whispered, though they’d been speaking at normal volume until then.
Dylan’s arms encircled her. “We’d hear anyone coming up.”
True. Mallory put her head on his shoulder and ran her thumb over the back of his hand. “Names are powerful. How did you name your band?”
“Wasn’t me. Freshman year, Bax, Kane, and I had a class. Bax suggested busking for beer money. Rain and Tae joined in. It was hella fun. Then a downpour ended our performance and we took the few bucks we’d made over to a bar.
“Over drinks, Kane said we should form a band. Which is really not like him, the whole group thing. But he loves music. Rain said it would be called Rain’s band and he’d be the lead dancer. The drunk jokes escalated. Tae tapped out a beat to the sound of the rain falling. That’s how we got our name. Tempo Rain. Tae got us an audition at Texk. They took us on.
“We dropped out of college but finished remotely. We missed a lot, but we did okay, and we had each other.” He cupped her chin and stroked his thumb along her jaw. “How’d you start writing?”
“There was no start. Stories float in my head.”
“Like me with sound patterns. My grandfather spotted my fascination and got me into music classes.”
“My family did the same with writing.” Her parents first, then her grandparents during the time she lived with them. “And here we are.”
The rain had eased up but still made splashes against the window.
Dylan clasped their hands together. “And here we are.” He cuddled her closer. “Rain brought me another surprise.”
“That’s sweet.” Mallory gave him a smile. “But we met in a dressing room on a chilly Paris day without a cloud in sight.”
“I meant tonight. Rain delayed us and put you in my arms.” Dylan stared into her eyes as his arms tightened around her. “I wasn’t going to kiss you until we got back to my place.” He moved his lips to her neck and placed kisses from her jaw to her collarbone. “But I’ve been thinking about holding you all day, and I have to.”
Electric tingles shot through her, taking her from heart-full to heated in a moment. She loved sitting and talking with him. And when he added a kiss or caress, her insides swirled, making her restless, making her want more, and yes, she’d been thinking about him every day since she’d met him.
He tasted so good and felt amazing. “You’re such a tease.” Mallory ran her hands over his chest, down to his abs, and back up. She rubbed her fingers against him, and then her nails. “Does this feel nice?”
“Yes.” Dylan gave a quiet groan and repeated the motion on her. “Do you like this?”
“Yes.”
“Harder or softer?”
Mallory gasped. “Both. Your hands are warm and strong and clever. Your hours with a guitar have made you skilled.” She moved her lips to his and shared an incendiary kiss. No matter how many kisses they shared, the sparks threatened to ignite her anew.
Pulling back, she drew in a breath and stared into his heated gaze. How did he do that? Or was it as simple as chemistry? She shifted so she was straddling him, her knees on either side of his hips.
Dylan cupped the back of her thighs, bracing her through her skirt. “This would feel even better without clothes.”