Page 6 of Pretty Obsessed

"I guess maybe I'm not there yet. I didn't connect with them. They spend money like it's nothing or are too busy to date anyone. I know I fall into that category too, but with competing schedules, it makes it that much worse. If I'm dating someone, I want to see them more than once a month." He seemed resigned.

I was starting to feel for him. "So, this is for the release?"

"Kind of, but not exactly. This is more I miss being touched. I miss intimacy. Of any kind really. Touring can be lonely. I can get off anywhere, but this is skin to skin, someone wanting to touch me." His green eyes searched my face.

Was he expecting judgment?

"I can imagine how much you might miss a real connection."

"And I can't get that with fans. It's too weird to be a connection, so I come here when I can—as weird as it sounds—just to be touched. Sometimes it's just someone sitting in my lap or holding my hand. Today…" He smiled at me. "It has been a long time since we were here last."

"No judgment man." I smiled and let myself look at him, all of him. "And do you like being watched? Why not use a private room?"

His skin heated and he broke eye contact. The first time I'd seen any sign he was uncomfortable. "It was a last-minute thing, and all the private rooms were filled. No one even gave me a second look until you."

"You mean no one was as obvious as I was?" I had to laugh.

"Maybe you're right."

"Sorry…" I offered.

"Don't be. I don't mind."

I looked between him and the girl blowing him. "You don't mind a guy watching?"

"I'd never thought about it until now, but I guess I like it." His tongue poked out between his lips.

"Never thought about being watched?"

A single shake of his head. "No, a guy watching."

That got my attention. "Oh."

"I'm River." He held out a hand.

A handshake felt a little formal considering the situation, but I went with it.

“Emory."

"Nice to meet you." He held onto my hand for a minute before releasing it. "Can I ask why you were watching?" he said, dropping his voice lower.

Fuck. "I think you know why."

"I want to be sure it wasn't going to be too forward of me to ask you to kiss me."

My brows shot up. I'd never in a million years expected that. "Like now?" I stared at the girl attached to him.

"It's been a long time since I've kissed anyone. If it bothers you, don't feel at all forced… No harm no foul, but I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t ask."

I almost said no—it was on the tip of my tongue—but I wanted to kiss him. A lot.

"Or if it's too weird—”

I cut him off. "It's not."

It was weird, but not too weird. Well, not weird enough for me not to do it. How often did one get to kiss a hot rockstar who'd been eye-fucking them all night?

He smiled. "Really?"

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