Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
M allory put space between herself and Dylan.
Dylan dropped his arm from around her but clenched his fingers as if wanting to grasp onto her. “What about our cover art?” he asked, as if they had been talking about tour graphics.
A small group came through and passed by them with nods.
Mallory didn’t recognize the individuals and responded to Dylan. “Jenny gave me a hint, but I’m fairly certain I don’t get a vote.”
Dylan opened his palm. “I’ll lend you mine.”
“Erm, not the puddle?”
“Right.”
The group exited into a room, leaving them alone again, but Mallory didn’t know for how long. She leaned against the wall, still liking their separate little world, even if she had to stay seated away from Dylan, for propriety’s sake. “Honestly, the fans will love whatever you go with because it’s a symbol of you guys.”
“Ha. They don’t always.” Dylan eyed her steadily. “What if this tour doesn’t break records or sell out in seconds?” He said the words lightly, but she felt the weight in them.
“Meh. Everyone rises and falls at some point. But if you can’t enjoy the highs, what’s the point?” She made fluttering motions with her fingers. “And it’s music. As long as you love it, there’ll be someone out there loving it. Play it for them.”
“Will you be out there?”
“Holding a glowing light stick.” Mallory lowered her voice. “I want you to love it. Not think about the negatives. Let your company handle those.”
After a quick glance down the hall, ensuring it was empty, she clasped his hands between hers, and shifted to her knees to meet his gaze so he’d know she meant her words. “Be happy. Enjoy this . You’ll get help with the rest. Your band will vote on the art. Your band will veto the music or pull in support. You’re not alone.”
She smiled into his eyes. “Beyond those easier-said-than-done tips, feel this moment. An appreciative fan beside you, holding your hands, still reeling from your amazing concert. We’re warm, safe, and happy. How lucky are we?”
“Very lucky.” Dylan released one of his hands to cup the back of her head. He gently pulled her down for a kiss.
The shock of sensation flitted through her, making her want more of the softness of his lips. The sweet, appreciative kiss turned sexy with a flick of his tongue, shifting the chemistry through her. Dylan scooped her onto his lap.
The noise from another group headed their way forced her to move off him. She brushed her hair behind her ears and put her palms to her warm cheeks. This was torture. Her body had gone from tingling to alert to deprived and needy. “They’re messing with my carefree attitude. This is an exercise in frustration.”
“Stay with me anyway.” Dylan’s phone pinged. He pulled up the screen and crooked his finger toward her, indicating she should have a look. “The company wants an opinion before doing a media release. I have an hour to respond if I want a say in the photos they’re using.”
His phone was open to a gallery of images from the concert. He tilted the screen toward her. “What do you think? Did they capture the energy of the fan meet?”
Mallory leaned in and flipped through the stunning action photos of the band.
She stopped on a close-up of Dylan. In the image, he clasped the microphone with both hands and his mouth kissed the metal. “I love this one. The focus is on your mouth.”
“You like my mouth?”
“Everyone likes your mouth. What a perfect shape, as if your DNA knew you’d be a singer.” She could have stared at the image longer, but that would easily expose her serious weakness for him.
He made an appreciative murmur.
Mallory flipped to the next image. The stylized rendering showed Dylan’s back, mid-song, the crowd with their hands in the air in front of him, expanding tier by tier. “This is cool too. Music infinity. It’s a winner.”
“Nice caption. Tempos are the best.” Dylan tapped the screen. “When the spotlights sweep the crowd, their energy is palpable. When they dance to the music you created, the feeling is powerful. When they sing our lyrics back to us, that’s the biggest rush.”
He closed the screen and pulled up another email. “This one has prototypes for the next tour’s light sticks.” The first had an image of an umbrella with iridescent light chains underneath, another had rain falling over a musical note, a third, a puddle containing musical notes, and lastly, lightning in a globe. “What do you think?”
That Dylan could even make marketing fascinating. “I even like the puddle.”
“I like you.” He put his mouth to her ear. “Come home with me.”
Mallory awakened to the sensation of Dylan’s fingertips playing with her wrist. “Thanks for returning with me. Have I said that yet?”
“Thanks for inviting me,” she murmured.
An unfamiliar weight lay against her wrist.
Mallory blinked her eyes open. The morning sunlight revealed a new bracelet.
A rose gold chain held three charms: a golden dragon climbing a silver Eiffel Tower, a dragon atop a Korean temple, and a dragon entwined with a musical note.
“Do you like it?” Dylan’s question was soft and hesitant. He wore pajama bottoms and no shirt. He placed a glass of juice on the nightstand next to her.
Mallory brushed back her rumpled hair and sat up. She took a drink of the tart orange juice before replying. “I love it.” She tore her gaze from him and examined each of the charms again. “My bracelet just broke last night. How did you get this so quickly?”
“I had it started right after we arrived. It just came in from the jeweler.”
Mallory toyed with the charms, warmed by the gesture. He was so sweet. She reached up and tugged him down to join her on the bed. She leaned against his side. “You’re thoughtful.”
Dylan hugged her close.
“And sexy.” Relishing his warmth, she squirmed against him and put her lips to his ear. “Nod if your answer is yes.”
Dylan nodded.
She shifted her legs over his lap and felt him hardening at the sound of her voice. Words turned him on as much as touch. An instant rush of desire quickened inside of her. How was she already so ready? She eased back to pull her silk nightgown over her head so that she was bare against him.
She lowered his pajama bottoms and slid against him. Biting her lower lip against the sound of pleasure that wanted to escape her lips, she tossed her head back.
Dylan reached up and pressed his thumb against her lips. Mallory licked his thumb, made a circle with her tongue, and then lightly bit down.
His breath caught. He flipped them, so her back was against the mattress, and he settled between her legs.
Mallory tilted her hips up and widened her knees, pressing up with her toes to make the angle perfect. “Ah.” She squirmed. “There.”
Dylan reached between them and stroked her again and again until she was ready to scream. “Say yes.”
“Yes.” Her nipples tight, she rubbed them against his chest and whispered in his ear, “ Please . Now.”
He shook his head. He lowered his hot, wet mouth to her breast and suckled while his fingers circled her other nipple. He lightly pinched and tugged, setting her further afire.
She drew in a sharp breath at the sensations flooding her. The cool night air over her wet nipples, the warmth of his mouth. Both left her needy and aching.
She rocked her hips upward and clasped his hips, encouraging him to come inside her. Dylan resisted and kissed his way down her body.
He cupped her hips with warm hands and lowered his mouth to her clit. He circled it with the tip of his tongue. “Say it again.”
“ Yes .”
He flattened his tongue against her again and again, and then gently sucked.
The pull of erotic sensations made stars flash behind her eyelids.
Mallory opened her eyes, her view his silky hair, and threaded her fingers into the strands, keeping her mouth closed so that the whimpers wouldn’t escape.
He worked a finger into her channel, adding a plunging pressure to the wet stroke of his tongue.
“Ah.” Mallory arched her back, coming. “Dylan.”
He removed his fingers and moved up, plunging his body forward to join with hers as she came in hard pulses.
Dylan followed right behind her, releasing inside her, then collapsing against her in a heavy, warm weight, before shifting off her. He reached out and squeezed her hand.
“Wow.” Mallory returned the squeeze. She rolled onto her stomach, stretching against the silky, cool sheets, feeling amazing.
He slid his hand over her bottom and between her thighs. He circled her core, sending renewed flutters through her, even though she’d just come.
His touch inspired her body to greedy heights. He brushed his hand on the back of her thigh and parted her legs wide enough to make room for his body, then he slid into her channel again, filling her with a slow, smooth friction. Mallory arched up, and he moved his hands around her body. One hand reached her breast and gently squeezed. The other hand toyed with her clit.
Dylan lowered his mouth to the side of her neck and sucked, all the while moving in and out of her, the friction thrusting her forward and back. His exploring hands heightened the sensations.
Mallory clenched the sheet with her palms but was powerless to touch him in this position.
He shoved firmer, faster, in and out, in measured motions. Again, with a slow pace, then fast, controlled friction.
Mallory lost control, coming apart beneath Dylan.
He groaned above her, joining her in the realm of pleasure.
They collapsed together, entwined.
The bright sunshine of late morning awakened Mallory. Dylan was deep asleep, his hair tousled, the sheet low on his hips. She kissed his shoulder and went for a shower. The warm water pulsed over her in soothing streams.
She soaped up a fresh washcloth with French vanilla soap.
Why couldn’t she get enough of him? Even the sound of his voice was a turn-on. His fit body a visual delight. Their chemistry? So powerful. Was it the affection in his eyes, the appreciation? That was addictive.
This couldn’t be real, though, not permanent. Could it? Was he having these kinds of thoughts too?
The bathroom door clicked open, and she froze with warm streams of water chasing the fluffy white suds down her body.
Dylan, handsome, fit, and naked, stepped inside and joined her. “Don’t leave me so fast.”
Her knees weakened and she wanted him as if they’d been apart for longer than mere minutes. She reached out a soapy hand and tugged him closer.
Dylan gave her a drugging kiss that had her rubbing her warm, wet body against his. The water prickled against her skin, while he was solid in the steamy atmosphere. She wrapped her arms around his neck, bracing herself by using the strength of his broad shoulders.
He lifted her so that she wrapped her legs around his waist, and then he lowered her onto him.
She dropped her head back at the fullness, the satisfying stretch.
“There you are,” Dylan said in a low, husky voice. “Come for me again.”
Mallory shuddered, helpless at the pull of his voice, and came apart in his arms, squeezing him with her inner muscles, not letting go until she was done.
She panted.
“Again.”
“Dylan.” Her murmur was throaty. “We…”
He plunged into her again and circled her clit, and she burst apart. Stars and flames exploded in her vision, and she dropped her head to his shoulder as she cried out with the strength of her bliss.
The calendar had turned to October, and the temperature had lowered from the seventies that marked September to highs in the sixties. A camisole wouldn’t work for that level of chilliness. The built-in petals of the floral top didn’t call for a bra, but between the cool temperature of the apartment and being turned on by Dylan, the silky fabric teased against her nipples.
Mallory got dressed for the day in a flirty skirt and camisole. Both were too light for the weather, but she didn’t intend to go out and hadn’t brought many outfits with her. She’d stay in and write until Dylan returned from his workday.
The thought made her smile.
Tomorrow she’d leave the apartment and shop for seasonally appropriate clothes. She’d call Sunny and Jenny this afternoon and see who would be interested in a trip to the mall.
Dylan had missed his morning meetings but was getting dressed to head out to Texk for the afternoon. He stood at the nightstand putting on his watch. He wore jeans, a white, untucked button-down, and a jacket. The way he wore clothes, he should’ve had a spotlight on him at all times.
He walked over, kissed her cheek, slid his hand into her cleavage, and cupped her breast. His eyes widened at finding bare skin, and he rubbed his thumb over her nipple. “Soft.”
He circled his palm against the point, around and around. He pressed then released, again and again. “What else aren’t you wearing?” he asked in a low voice.
Dylan slipped his hand between her thighs and over the lace of her panties. “Ahh.” He rubbed his fingers over the top, pressing the fabric against her clit, then down to her core. He pressed inward, but the fabric only had so much stretch, just enough so that the heat of his finger teased and tormented with the promise of more.
Mallory shifted against Dylan in appreciation. “Ah.”
“Hold still.”
She parted her thighs.
Dylan groaned. He traced his fingers to the elastic leg of her panties and slipped them underneath.
Mallory gasped.
“There you go, creamy.” He pushed his finger inside her, then withdrew it. “Love how you feel and sound, both so soft and feminine.” He hooked the waistband of her panties and drew them down and off.
He put the dainty scrap of lace in his pocket.
“You have to go to work.”
“I know. You do too.” He carried her over to the desk in the living room and placed her on the edge. He eased her skirt up her thighs and ran his hands up and down her legs.
Mallory parted her knees and reached for the button on his jeans.
Dylan cupped her jaw and kissed her, using tongue and teeth. Then he gripped her hips and eased his erection into her. He groaned with pleasure. “Perfect.”
The full stretch made her pulse and clench and tighten against him. He withdrew and plunged forward. Out then in. Over and over until they combusted.
Dylan returned from his second shower that day and stood in the living room doorway, watching Mallory work. Though his thoughts weren’t on her typing speed.
She was so responsive, gorgeous, relaxing, and somehow fun too. Being with her was better than being with anyone else. Everything about her entranced, inspired, and excited him. Sex with her was transformative; worries dissolved, logic departed, and his soul left his body and returned euphoric.
He loved their time together on all levels.
A jolt of panic stabbed at his spine.
Not love.
Dylan swallowed. Appreciated. Like now. She could entertain herself, had a full life apart from him. He appreciated her.
Mallory was busy, caught up in her story world. Her fingers made rapid taps on her keyboard. She was burning a small cinnamon candle she called her dragon flame. Her spaghetti strap on her cami slipped down her pale shoulder. Lovely. He already knew what she had on under her skirt, or rather, didn’t have on. The thought made him hard again. Impossible after their morning. He should walk over and kiss her shoulder, taste her skin, lick his way down her body.
No.
He had to leave for work.
He rubbed his jaw. Should he cook for her tonight? He’d pick up a bouquet of daisies. She’d love that. Her face would light up like it had in her Paris hotel room, and her gaze would soften. He would be happy coming home to her forever.
Forever?
He couldn’t have forever. Not now. His heart thudded.
What was he thinking ?
His phone buzzed. A trillion messages had come through this morning while he’d blown off work. He never skipped work. His heartbeat switched to a fast, sick rhythm.
He couldn’t even handle his schedule this week, much less the idea of forever. Not now. This wasn’t about forever. He wasn’t in love with her. His heart thundered.
He walked to the middle of the room and stopped. “Perpendicular.”