Page 55 of Not Another Rockstar
Her hand could probably benefit from some water therapy, and the cool water would be nice after working so hard. Without a second thought, Phoebe stripped off her dress, leaving her in her baby blue bralette and matching undies. His eyes widened, taking in every inch of her, and she concealed her flush by jumping into the pool. The saltwater pool felt like a breath of fresh air.
She playfully splashed up as she came up for air. Axel circled her, reaching for her hips. She giggled, trying to escape his grasp. He knew how to shift her focus, so she noticed the world around her instead of the small things.
Phoebe let him catch her, and he held her close. She melted against the heat of his body, captivated by the scent of salt on his skin. His lips brushed hers, and she gasped, her parted lips an invitation. The sound of birds chirping and the emerging stars above made her feel like they were the only two people in the universe.
“I don’t think you should overwork that hand. Let me help you to the shallow end,” he said, and gripped her thighs.
She nodded, brushing her hair from her face as he walked her to the edge of the pool. An ache grew deep inside her, and she squealed as he lifted her onto the pool’s edge with ease. His eyes raked over her body, and she’d never felt so seen. She was scared of how much she wanted him to see her, wanted to be with him. His hands rested on either side of her thighs, and he kissed each knee as he slipped her legs over his shoulders. Butterflies fluttered in her lower belly, and she shivered.
“It’s chilly,” she said as his lips ran along the inside of her thighs.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to warm you up.” His gaze darkened, and his hands went to her hips, hooking his thumbs into her underwear.
“Lie back,” he instructed with a wicked smile.
She lost all ability to speak as he kissed a droplet from her knee, and then the other, until she gave in. With a nervous smile, she rested on her elbows, watching him intently. His lips brushed the salty droplets from her inner thighs, and his hands prevented her from closing her knees. She’d been so focused on the heavenly sensation of his lips on her skin to think. The cool air brushing her sensitive skin only heightened the pleasure as his fingers slid over the seams on her underwear before he eased them down her thighs. His eyes tracked hers as she chewed her lip to silence her moans.
“Make all the noise you want, no one can hear you.” His devilish words ruined her.
His shoulders pushed her thighs wider apart, and she gasped as the cool air brushed her core. She lay back as he trailed his tongue along her inner thigh, teasing until finally he made her his. She gasped; he was impossible to resist, and his heady groans as he savoured her heightened the pleasure even more. Her breath came out in gasps, and he pinned her hips down as they moved on their own.
“It’s too much, please,” she groaned, gripping his shoulders.
She couldn’t stand the waves of pleasure coursing through her as he licked and sucked until her back arched off the stone border of the pool.
“Ride my tongue, Bee,” he ordered, holding her hips as she writhed against his mouth.
“Be a good fucking girl and come for me.”
His gravelly command undid her, and his fingers replaced his mouth, drawing out her pleasure until she didn’t know where reality began and dream ended.
“Now that’s the perfect way to end the day,” he said, kissing her thigh. Spent, she gasped for breath, like she was drowning. She stared down at him, and his hazy, self-assured smile only made her want more.
“If only every day could end like that,” she sighed as he eased her underwear back up her thighs and kissed each knee before easing her back into the water.
“Your wish is my command.” He winked.
Exhausted, she wrapped her legs around his waist and rested her cheek against his shoulder. He walked them out of the pool and up the garden. He set her down once they reached the sliding door. Her legs felt like jelly as he stood behind her, kissing her shoulder. He followed her inside, keeping her close, his hands on her waist, and it felt as if they’d been doing this their whole life. The realisation of how comfortable she was with him made her freeze. It felt so natural, too natural, and it suddenly terrified her.
“I’ll be up in a minute.” She let go of his hand, and he paused on the staircase.
“Are you okay?” He frowned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It eased her fear, and she didn’t want to let him go, but she had to find her balance.
“I just want to get some water.”
“Don’t be long.” He kissed her tenderly before he headed upstairs.
Phoebe took a moment to catch her breath and turn off the lights in the house. She brought some snacks and water to his room, and found him lying on the bed with his arm tucked behind his head, completely out of it. She couldn’t blame him for being so exhausted—shewas exhausted, and he’d done most of the work. She turned off the light and covered him with the light sheets to let him sleep.
After showering and slipping on one of his T-shirts, the bed dipped as she climbed in beside him. He rolled over and unconsciously tucked her in close. She smiled at his sleepy frown. Gently, she traced the tattoos on his ribs, unsure of how anyone could be so beautiful. The balcony door was open, givingthem a perfect view of the calm ocean and bright stars. She wanted to freeze this moment.
“We’re here.” Axel stopped, and Phoebe nearly walked into the back of him.
“I don’t think this place is open. Are you sure she gave you the right address?” Phoebe frowned, looking up and down the cobbled street and its quaint, brightly coloured shops. He understood her confusion since they had walked past other, more welcoming studios after their pasta feast for lunch—he wanted her well-fed before her first tattoo, and the restaurant down the street from Claudia’s studio had the best lasagne in Amalfi.
“Claudia likes to keep her pop-up studios discreet,” Axel pointed out. “She never stays in one place for long.” He stood by the painted black door. “You can find her studios by the all-seeing eye symbol drawn in gold pen along the doorframe.”
The small shopfront with blacked-out front windows and no name didn’t look all that inviting. It would be easy to pass the studio without even knowing what was inside, assuming it was abandoned and waiting to be rented out.
