Page 56 of The Devil's Tattoo

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Chapter13

Isatin the band room on a beat-up couch as the support band did their sound check. The sound was muffled, but their music filtered into the room regardless of thesoundproofing.

Leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, I rubbed my tired eyes, glad for the short reprieve from the drama. Ever since the other day after the pool, I’d been strung so tight it was no wonder I’d had such a violent dream. My life was spinning out of control, and I had no idea how to rein itbackin.

I still hadn’t confronted Will to apologize. Dee had said that I’d scared the shit out of him, and he was just as strung out as I was. The truth was I just didn’t know how to say what I wanted to. I didn’t know how much Ishouldsay. I knew I needed to tell him the entire truth, but I wasn’t ready to hear itmyself.

When I heard the door open, my gaze snapped up, and I caught sight of Will closing it behind him, his back pressing firmly against it. My breathing instantly picked up, and my heart thudded painfully inside my chest. His eyes were on me, and they were full of fire and anger, lust…Idon’tknow.

“Zoe.” His voice was low and husky, and I instantly felt my body respond.Dammit.

I didn’t say anything. I just watched him stare at me with a fierce look that seemed a lot like he wasstarving.

“What happened?” heasked.

I struggled with what to say. Either I didn’t want to say anything or I was that mesmerized by his presence. I didn’t count on the conversation going the way it washeaded.

His brows knitted together into a frown as he crossed the room, slowly and deliberately, to sit on the couch next to me. He was careful not to touch me, though I was aware that he had lowered his lips a mere inch from my ear. My heart thumped so hard in my chest, I was positive he couldhearit.

“I meant it,” he murmured, “when I said I’ve wanted you for alongtime.”

My breathing hitched as his hot breath tickledmyneck.

“I will never do anything to hurtyou.Ever.”

Somehow, I managed tospeak. “Will…”

“Zoe.” His hand was on my face, making me look up at him. “How do you go up to a beautiful woman and not have her think you’re only in it for the sex? I didn’t want you to think you were like those other women,” he said. “I want to know you. I want to know everything about you. I still don’t know what it was about you that night, but I saw you in the crowd, and you were different. I can’tdescribeit.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and gave into the feelings. The fact he might feel the same longing I felt for him almost undid me. At first, I thought I might have imagined it, but I felt the back of his fingers trailing down the skin of my cheek, and every place he touched burned. Despite all the things I had gone over in my mind to try to convince myself I wasn’t ready, I wanted him. I wanted him so muchithurt.

“Zoe,” he said again. “I can’t live another day and notknowyou.”

Opening my eyes, I found his stormy gray ones staring back, and it was a look so intense I couldn’tnotdo something about it. So for the first time since I’d laid eyes on him, I gave in. I slid my palm up his face, over the stubble that I found so irresistible, and into his hair. His mouth fell open slightly, lips parting. His breathing picked up as he leaned into mytouch.

“Zoe?” It was hardlyaudible.

“Yeah?” Iwhisperedback.

“If you don’t stop touching me, I won’t be able to stop myself fromkissingyou.”

I dragged my nails lightly down the back of his head, through his hair, and down his neck, pulling him toward me. “Then do it,” I murmured againsthislips.

This time, his kiss was slow and deliberate. He teased me with the tip of his tongue, lightly grazing it across my bottom lip before claiming me completely. My entire body came alive at the slightest touch, and it felt just as consuming asbefore.

His hand hooked under my knee, tugging me toward him. Following his lead, I straddled his lap, my hair falling around us like a curtain and shutting out the world. Grinding against him, he let out a deep moan, and I could feel how hard he was already. I felt the effect I had on him echoing deep inside me, and it took all of my strength not to guide his hands under myshirt.

“God,” he said in a deep and rumbly voice against my lips. “What have you donetome?”

I ran my hand along his jaw, delighting in the rasp from the stubble that always coated it, and I knew I was done. That kiss had just blown whatever strangled excuse I had tried to formulate right out of the water. I couldn’t stay away now. If this ended badly, then it would be a billion times worse than the last time, but I didn’t care. It was too late. Will had wormed his way into my heart, through all the walls I had built around it, and I wanted him to stay there. He had done it without me evenknowing.

“I’m sorry,” he said, breathing heavily. “For trying to make you jealous. I’m suchajerk.”

“You are.” My lips curved into a small smile, and the ghost of the lopsided grin I’d come to fantasize over tuggedathis.

“I like you, Zoe. So much. I didn’t know how to handle it, and I stilldon’t.”

“Neither do I,” I said truthfully. His hands squeezed my hips gently, making me squirmagainsthim.