Page 60 of Hollow Heart

“It suits you,” I utter, pulling his attention.

He looks up from his strumming, bright blue eyes catching mine, pouty lips opening just the slightest as he jiggles his lip ring.

“You think so?” he asks, and the question isn’t sarcastic.

His fingers move over the strings lightly, black nail polish catching in the light. The sound is soothing.

I smile and nod.

“Yeah, really. You can, uh... you can keep it if you want,” I say awkwardly. “I’ve got a whole bunch of refurbs in my shed.”

Felix smiles, nodding in agreement. “Cool, thanks.”

The oven beeps and I waste no time pulling out the buffalo chicken dip.

Marci’s recipe is the best and definitely is a crowd pleaser.

I set it down on the counter as Felix absentmindedly keeps playing, though the music isn’t from his set list.

In fact, it is something I’ve never heard before. It’s softer, more melodic. Like a power ballad.

Letting the dip cool, I take my time, walking over to him.

“You’ve got a whole bunch in your shed?” he repeats the words as I take my seat next to him on the couch, pulling the guitarfrom his hands. My fingertips brush against his knuckles and he shifts his weight to make room for me, even though the couch is more than big enough to accommodate the both of us without issue.

“Started as a hobby, but kind of became more.”

I angle the instrument between my legs, strumming on it myself, trying to play the melody he just played.

I don’t need to look at him to feel the heat of his gaze on me, and so, I focus on the tangible string between my fingers, and not my excited cock, or my racing heart.

I focus on the music.

“I didn’t know you played guitar, too,” he says dreamily. His accent slips through, and the sound is like silk.

I shrug as I strum out a few notes that I think accent his impromptu melody nicely. His thigh brushes against mine as he gets comfortable on the couch, next to me, leaning his arm against the back cushion, his head resting against his tattooed knuckles.

I steal a glance from underneath my lashes, noting his focus on me is intense.

Fuck, why is it so God damn hot in here?

I chuckle with my own sarcasm. “There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, Felix.”

I half expect him to bite back at me with some snippy comment about my age like he usually does, but to my surprise, he doesn’t say anything bitter or sarcastic.

The faint edge of his accent slips through his words as he says, “I want to.”

Something about his words exude a vulnerability, a depth that feels monumental.

I stop playing, looking up at him. His bright blue eyes glisten, the setting sun shining through the window casting shadows on the planes of his face, illuminating his bone structure.

In the golden light, in my living room, he’s some perfect mix of masculine and angelic, his tongue jiggling his lip ring as he bites his lip.

“Felix...”

“I get that I’m a pain in your ass. I have been since the moment you threw me over your shoulder and tossed my ass in Lou’s car.” He punctuates the sentence with a laugh.

“I thought... I thought you were just some has been drummer who found God or something and just peaced the fuck out of music. Sully was always going on about howHollow Pointeneeded to get back together for a reunion tour, but he didn’t think you’d ever agree to it.”

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