Page 2 of Patchwork
Every time I show up, I’m half expecting him to tell me he’s met someone else, that he’s found something realand permanent, something better than a passionate, sweaty weekend a couple times a year. But somehow, I keep getting lucky, and every time he greets me just like this, with his tongue and his lips and his strong hands all over me.
His stomach growls and I laugh.
“Do you want to go grab something to eat?” I ask between drugging kisses, tracing the pointed shape of his nipples through his drenched shirt.
“Do we have time? Or are you going to disappear on me before sunrise like you did last time?” He peppers hot, open-mouthed kisses along my jaw and down the column of my throat, his chest bumping mine, his warm breath evaporating the rain on my skin.
“We’ve got time,” I murmur, twisting a strand of his damp beard around my index finger and grinning at him.
As much as I want him to bend me over his tattoo chair and fuck me into next week, we actually do have some time for a change. If he wants it. Maybe we can slow things down a little and see what it would feel like to pretend this is real. I might be playing with fire even entertaining that idea, but fuck it. What’s life without a few risks?
“Alright, fuck it then, let’s go get a couple of burgers,” Hero says. “You mind driving? I’ll have to leave my bike here until the rain stops.”
“Yeah. You’ll just have to owe me a ride on your Harley tomorrow.” I smirk and lead the way back outside, sprinting back to my car in the rain that’s only gotten heavier in the last five minutes.
He has to take a second to lock up the shop, but then he’s right behind me, climbing in on the passenger side. I shake my wet hair out like a shaggy dog, and Hero grunts.
“You’re an animal.”
“You like it.” I shoot him a wink, and he just chuckles.
I pull out of the parking spot and Hero gives me directions to a burger place down the street, like I didn’t grow up right here in Fall Crosse. Granted, I ran out of here like my ass was on fire the day I graduated high school, moved to the West Coast, and answered an ad looking for a lead guitarist in a band. I never expected things would turn out the way they have, with a handful of hit singles, touring almost constantly. And Idefinitelynever expected to fall for a guy right back here in Fall Crosse. I guess fate has a sense of humor.
Hero rests one hand casually on the small of my back as we run for the door, trying to avoid getting any more soaked, even though we’re already drenched anyway. The waitress doesn’t look all that impressed when we step inside. Hero’s sweet enough to give her a sheepish smile and a muttered apology.
I duck my head as she leads us to an empty table. It only takes me a minute to realize that no one is paying me any attention here anyway. It’s not like I’m so big of a star that I can’t go out without being harassed by adoring fans. And in Fall Crosse I’m probably more likely to have someone recognize me as “that troublemaking Hart kid” who used to put cherry bombs in mailboxes and once broke into the pet store on Main Street to free all the snakes.
Hero and I slide into opposite sides of the booth, our feet bumping under the table. He gives me another flicker of a smile over his menu. His lips are puffy from our kisses, and fuck do I want to crawl over the table and make them even more swollen with my mouth. My cock throbs in agreement and I grin at him. He shakes his head and smiles back like he can see my dirty thoughts written all over my face.
“This is weird,” he says as soon as the waitress leaves us alone.
“What? Being out with a celebrity?” I joke, waggling my eyebrows.
“Kind of.” He laughs. “But no, I meant more the being out part. Other than coming into Ink Slingers, I don’t think we’ve ever spent any fully clothed time together in public. Definitely no more than a few minutes at a time.”
My heart thunders and my cock swells. I do love our very naked alone time. In fact, studying the outline of his nipples through his wet shirt is making me wonder why I didn’t suggest takeout instead. I flick my lip ring with my tongue and press my foot against his under the table again.
“Well, if you end up hating it, we don’t have to do it again.” I keep my voice light and teasing, my stomach giving a needy little flutter, starved for validation and reassurance. A fast-paced chord progression echoes in my ears to match the uneven beats of my heart. People think celebrities must be overflowing with confidence, but the dirty little secret is, the reason we seek the public eye to begin with is a deep well of insecurity that needs to be constantly soothed.
“And if I end up liking it?” He arches an eyebrow at me.
“Then we can make it a regular thing.” I look down at my menu, keeping my tone as casual as I can manage. “I’ll be around for three months, so plenty of time to go on some proper dates this time.”
“Three…” Hero sounds dazed. I take a chance and look up from my menu again. “Three months?” he repeats. “You’ll be here, in Fall Crosse, for three months?”
I shrug. “Only if you want me to be.”
A slow smile spreads over his lips, and my stomach flutters again.
“If I want you to? Don’t be a fucking idiot.”
I bark out a laugh. “I think that’s supposed to be my line.”
Chapter 2
FOUR YEARS AGO
HERO
