Page 37 of Her Nightshade

Ana was curled up on the couch, her attention wrapped in her laptop, and I moved beside her, settling in close.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” I said, meeting her curious gaze.

Her eyebrows lifted, a look of hesitation on her face, as if she was bracing for more unexpected news. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell her, I was just so wrapped up in our bubble that I honestly forgot.

“I have to attend a Grammy pre-party tomorrow. My album’s nominated for Album of the Year.” I paused, watching her reaction.

She smiled, her face lighting up with pride. “Charlie, that’s incredible. I’m so happy for you!”

I nodded, but my excitement mixed with an urgency I couldn’t hide. “I need you to come with me, Ana. I can’t go a whole night, a whole weekend, without you. You’ve got to be there with me. Besides,” I added, reaching for her hand. “It’ll be the perfect opportunity to show you something I’ve been working on.”

She tilted her head, her hazel eyes intrigued, and I knew she wasn’t going to argue. “And what’s that?”

I hesitated, wanting it to be a surprise, but I couldn’t keep it from her any longer. “I’ve been writing songs for you,” I admitted. “And I want you to hear them, to understand everything I’m putting out there. But you’ve got to be there. It’s not an option.”

She smiled, a hint of surprise and warmth in her eyes. “Charlie, I…of course I’ll be there. That sounds amazing.”

It was all coming together perfectly, and I knew this night would show her that everything I did was for her.

* * *

The next morning, Ana and I headed to the airport for our first flight together to Los Angeles. We were flying first-class, held discreetly in a private lounge and whisked through a secluded entrance without drawing any attention. I was almost disappointed—I liked the attention we drew together, the world being reminded that she was mine.

“We need to get together with Callan and Sloane while we’re in L.A.,” Ana said, resting her head on my shoulder as we soared 11,000 meters in the air.

The last thing I wanted was to see Callan or to share any part of her attention. But I only nodded, resting my hand on her thigh. “Sounds like a plan.”

We landed at LAX with only a few hours to spare before the party. I didn’t want Ana to see how nervous I was. Always craving her approval, I couldn’t help but wonder if the songs would be good enough for her. She was a fan of my music, but that didn’t mean she’d love everything I’ve written.

After we checked into our guest cottage at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, we were instantly bombarded with stylists and makeup artists. I barely had a moment to appreciatemi diosain our own secluded retreat in the garden area of the hotel.

Before I needed to get ready, I slipped away to the bedroom and practiced the parts of the songs that felt the most important. After only a half hour, I stepped out into the living room and there she was—mi diosa, looking like the most perfect being I ever laid eyes on. With her hair pulled back, every feature of her face was accentuated, her red lipstick nearly causing my heart tostop. She wore an olive green fitted dress that traced every curve, and her leg peeked out through a high slit. When she looked up and smiled at me, it was impossible not to feel completely captivated.

A stylist knelt in front of her, holding up a black, strappy heel, and an irrational jealousy flared inside me. I strode over, kneeling beside the woman and extending my hand, flashing my most charming smile.

“May I?” I asked.

The woman smiled, handing it over without hesitation.

I looked up at Ana, my perfect, beautifuldiosa, and she smiled back warmly.

“Can we have a moment, please?” she called out. The room of four or five people stopped in unison, quickly scattering and leaving. The authority in her tone, the confidence in her stance, the gaze she held on me—it was enough to make me hard instantly.

As the door shut behind the last person, I lifted the heel to her foot, waiting for her approval to slip it on.

“I love seeing you on your knees for me,mi amor,” she murmured softly. “So much so that you need to fuck me quietly, right now, while they all wait outside.”

“Yes,mi diosa,” I replied breathlessly, the heel forgotten as I let it fall to the floor.

She leaned in, her voice a hushed demand. “Find the easiest way to fuck me and make me come without ruining all the work that went into making me look this glamorous.”

My gaze swept over her body, taking in the tight, elegant dress that clung to every curve.Impossible to fuck her in that.

“I’ll need to slip that dress off of you first,mi diosa,” I whispered, already calculating the quickest way to obey her command.

“Quickly,” she demanded.

I rose to my feet as she turned, revealing the zipper of her dress. I carefully slid it down, making sure not to wrinkle the fabric, and she stepped out of it, turning to reveal her beautiful body, bare in only her undergarments.

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