Page 23 of Behind the Lyrics
Her face cleared. “Oh, I see. So, this is where you’re staying while you record the new album?”
“Yep.” I tugged her along, delighted with the feel of her velvety flesh under my fingertips. The night, mixed with her clean, floral smell, intoxicated my lungs. An image of me burying myself inside her, licking every delectable inch of that lovely dark skin beat inside my brain.
Control yourself, idiot.
I stopped at the door and listened. As far as I could tell, the nightly party hovered around the pool, judging by the splashes and squeals of several girls. “Come on.” I took us to the kitchen, releasing her arm long enough to snatch several sacks from the fridge and a cold bottle of white wine.
Glancing around the granite countertops, I located clean glasses. “Would you grab one, please, Love?” I jutted my chin towards the counter.
She nodded as she slipped her fingers around a stem and lifted it in her free hand. “Now what?” she whispered. A sparkle of excitement shown in her eyes, as if this were a game she enjoyed.
“Now”—I wiggled my eyebrows—“I get you alone in my room and prepare to eat.”
Scarlet flushed her neck and climbed to her cheeks. “Um…” Her stare slid from mine to the red roses.
I stuck my tongue against my bottom lip and pushed, keeping my laughter inside.So. Goddamn. Precious.“Keep your knickers on, Angel, unless you decide to take me up on the offer.” Without waiting for a response, I turned and strode for the stairs, trusting she’d follow, and trying not to think about what kind of underwear she wore under those jeggings. Thongs? The dreaded boyfriend cut? Or something classy?
Concentrate, man.The plan was for me to seduceher, not the other way around.
Chapter 21
Angela Morales
His room, compared to my place, was a freaking castle—and not the old, drafty kind, either.
In the middle of the area, headboard against the wall, sat the largest bed I’d ever seen. I think it was one of those California Kings I’d heard about, or it could’ve been custom-made—I really wasn’t sure. Whatever the hell it was, the bed dominatedthe room. Rumpled navy-blue silk sheets covered the mattress, and a plush goose down comforter lay piled at the end.
To the right, against the light-gray wall, a charcoal sectional couch provided a sitting area. A few shirts and a pair of pants had been thrown haphazardly on the farthest end. A coffee table, its acrylic surface transformed to look like the beach with crashing waves, perched on a fringed, teal rug.
On the opposite side, to my left, lay the bathroom. Instead of a door and wall, frosted sliding glass separated it from the bedroom. From what I could see, a square garden tub sat in the middle, and next to it—a gigantic shower tiled with natural river stone. Showerheads hung from the ceiling on opposite ends.Damn thing’s bigger than my entire apartment.
“Here, give me those.” Viktor slid into my view and lifted the flowers. “I’ll get them some water so they don’t wilt before you get home.”
“Okay, uh, thanks.” I tried not to sound like a dumbstruck fool, but it was impossible. All this opulence, from the elaborate furnishings, to the entire wall of windows looking out to the desert, reminded me of the poor country girl I was.
This is a mistake—what was I thinking? That he’d be interested inme?I didn’t know the first thing about his lush world filled with expensive, shiny things. He surely hung out with women who were much more refined than me, radiating elegance and class.
Dismay set in, and those tiny panicked butterflies kicked around in my stomach.I don’t belong here.
He returned from the bathroom with a cup of water, stuffed the bouquet inside, and put them on a massive oak dresser. As he wiped his hands on his jeans, he turned his sexy stare on me. His hair, disheveled from the ride, curled around his head and shoulders in cascading waves like liquid gold.
“What is it?” A line furrowed between his eyebrows. He ambled to me and took my hand.
“I… This…” Words wouldn’t form. How could I explain what I was feeling? I gestured to the bedroom, the bathroom, and the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Frowning, he tilted his head. “What about it? It’s just stuff, and it’s not even mine—not really. Just on loan until we get the album wrapped, so what’s the problem?” He bent toward me and brought his gaze level with mine. Worry flashed in the depths of his irises, turning that brown gaze darker.
I gave him a small shrug and frown, then took a breath and tried again. “It’s just… I feel so out of place. I mean, look at me.” I scowled and pointed to my shirt then my pants. “Not exactly celebrity material.”
“Who the fuck cares?” He pulled me closer and slid a hand against the side of my neck, letting his fingers cup the natural curve. “Not me. I think you’re adorable just the way you are, and I’ll fucking punch anyone who dares to disagree.”
A tiny laugh snuck out. His intensity radiated in waves, catching me in his charismatic webs. I stared at his face, transfixed on those plump lips.I bet they’re soft.
His eyelids drooped lower, reminding me just how gorgeous and masculine he was. The way he stared, a tiger waiting to pounce, sent heat from my head to my toes.
As he tightened his grip on my neck, his other hand slid around my waist and pulled me flush against him. Every part of him was hard—everypart. I couldn’t catch my breath, and I couldn’t look away.
He lowered his mouth and brushed his lips against mine, as if asking permission.
