Page 54 of A Billionaire Rebel

I sat in my car for a minute after parking, pleased with how busy the store was. Going inside would probably cause a minor disturbance, but if Jae was right, Starla wouldn’t mind. I only hoped I wouldn’t end up stuck for an hour while Jae had to wait around. Most of my fans were courteous, especially when they saw me outside professional settings, which meant the odds were in my favor at least.

Then again, maybe I should enjoy it while I had it. After the press release, all anyone would want to know was if I was going to keep singing, and then, once something else took over the news cycle, no one would care what I was doing at all. Right now, they wanted autographs and to know how the others were doing. I could handle that.

A little less than forty minutes later, Jae and I were in my car and on the road back to my place. It’d taken Starla’s intervention and a backdoor exit for me to give the customers the slip. I made a mental note to send her a thank you gift tomorrow.

Jae didn’t seem upset that we’d gotten stuck after her shift ended, but I apologized anyway. “I’m sorry we got tied up back there. I probably should’ve just texted you that I was waiting in the car.”

“It’s fine.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Your fans appreciate how personable you are, and Starla is loving all the attention the store is getting.”

“I just don’t want you thinking that fans are more important than our date tonight. I’m not the sort of man who blows off a commitment.” I threaded my fingers between hers. “Sometimes it’s hard to balance everything, but I try very hard to be present in the moment.”

She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You’re sweet.”

I raised an eyebrow. Sweet?

She laughed, the sound filling my car. “Sweet isn’t an insult, Damon.”

“It makes me sound like a puppy.”

“I’m picturing that now,” she said, clearly enjoying herself. “Floppy ears and big puppy-dog eyes.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re having a little too much fun with this.”

“You’re the one who put the idea in my head.”

Good humor carried us through the rest of the drive, and we were both smiling as we got into the elevator. The doors closed, and I crowded her into the corner, putting my hands on either side of her body. The mood between us shifted, not necessarily into something serious, but the humor had heat to it now.

“Did you think I forgot about the handcuffs you may or may not have in your purse?” I slipped my finger under the strap of her purse and tugged on it. “I can think of so many interesting uses for them.”

“Examples?”

I lowered my head and kissed the side of her neck. “I’m particularly fond of one scenario where I put the handcuffs on a hook so your arms are stretched out above your head, and you can’t touch me.”

“You don’t want me to touch you?” She made a pleased sound when I nipped at her throat.

“I want to be able to touch you all I want.”

“And you can’t do that without me being tied up?”

I raised my head and brushed my lips across hers. “I tend to get distracted when you touch me.”

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Impulsively, I swept her up in my arms, laughing as she squealed and threw her arms around my neck.

“I thought we were going to have dinner,” she said as I walked past the kitchen.

“After,” I said. “Unless you’re not in the mood.”

She pulled herself up to put her mouth next to my ear. “I’m pretty muchalwaysin the mood when I’m with you.”

Pain in my ear sent a bolt of arousal straight through me, and it took me a moment to realize that she’d bit my earlobe. She grinned at me, looking far too pleased with herself.

“If you bite, you’re going to get bitten back,” I warned her as I set her down on her feet.

“Promise?” She winked at me.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

“Handcuffs.” I held out my hand.

---