Page 14 of Her Dark Melody
Happily, she began to warm up her voice, even though the performance was way too far away for it to make a difference yet. In the middle of a scale, there was a knock on thedoor.
Opening it, her heart began to beat faster. Atlas grinned at her. “Hey,gorgeous.”
She couldn’t help herself; she grabbed his tie and pulled him into the room, pressing her body against his as he bent his head to kiss her. She tangled her fingers in his dark curls, savoring every moment of the kiss, his lips firm and gentle, but with a fiercepassion.
Breaking away finally, gasping for air, Ebony laughed. “God, Atlas Tigri…what you do tome.”
“What I’m going to do to you later tonight,” he said, sliding his arms around her waist, “will put even a kiss like that in theshade.”
Ebony moaned in anticipation. “Am I in a dream? I think I mustbe.”
Atlas laughed, his green eyes shining. “Then I’m in it with you, beautiful. Now, tell me, did Felicity spoil you like I asked herto?”
It was Ebony’s turn to laugh. “Yes, she did. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, except for the whole hookerthing.”
“Just as long as you weren’t offended. I tried to have her explain, without giving itaway.”
“I got the message,” she promised as he kissed her again, then swept a lock of her hair over her ear. “Are younervous?”
Ebony shook her head. “No. Not aboutanything,Atlas.”
He groaned. “I’ve never wanted a party to be over so badly. I’m just going to be the worsthost.”
Ebony smiled. “I don’t believe that for asecond.”
Atlas grinned. “Hey, you hungry? I have pizzacoming.”
“You read mymind.”
Somehow they kept their hands to themselves as they ate, and Ebony figured they both qualified for some kind of sainthood by the end of the hour when Atlas kissed her cheek and left her alone to get ready. “Get dressed.” He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “So I can undress youlater.”
Leaving her utterly on fire, hedeparted.
Pulling herself together after he’d all but melted her bones, Ebony slipped into her couture dress and went through a full vocal warmup as she prepared to be called by the floor manager. As she approached the stage, she heard the chatter of the guests and peeked out at the crowd. Scores of beautifully and expensively dressed people, none of whom she recognized, were milling around, glasses of champagne in hand, talking and laughing with eachother.
She saw Atlas, breathtaking in his Armani suit and bow-tie, step up to the microphone. Ebony felt another curl of desire in her stomach as she listened to his low, sensual voice thanking the guests for coming. He talked with such passion about Haven and what his ambitions for it were that Ebony was almost moved totears.
She realized Atlas was coming to the end of his speech and was about to announce her. Her skin tingled as she registered the fondness in his voice as he talked about her, and when he announced her, she walked onto the stage to warm applause. Atlas kissed her cheek, winking at her. “Go get ‘em,kiddo.”
Adrenaline pumped through Ebony’s system as she greeted the crowd and introduced her band, and then, as the music swelled, she began tosing.
Atlas stoodto the side of the stage, unable to take his eyes off of Ebony. Her voice, low, tremulous and sensual, sent shivers down his spine. The way the gold dress clung to her body was driving him crazy, and when she glanced over at him and smiled as she sang, his heart thudded against hischest.
Atlas had questioned himself over the last two days whether he was doing the right thing, getting involved with Ebony. Not because of who she was, but because of who he was. Was he taking advantage? He would hate to think so, but Ebony was very young. His gut was telling him that she was special though and for now, he would go along with that. He had dreamed of her creamy dark skin and deep brown eyes since the moment he met her, and when he kissed her, he’d never been so sure aboutanything.
Last night, he’d told Mateo how he felt about her, and Mateo, ever the romantic, had been delighted. “Brother, as long as neither of you gets hurt, what’s the harm? Live, Atlas. You’ve been surrounded by sycophants and gold-diggers all your life. If your instinct is telling you this girl is different, go with it.Leap.”
Now, Atlas closed his eyes for a moment, immersing himself in the sound of her voice. It wrapped him as smoothly and softly as he imagined her body would later. Ebony made even much-performed standards sound fresh and original, her smooth voice with that touch of gravel entrancing the gathered party-goers. After every song, they applauded her loudly, some even whooping their approval, and Atlas could see the confidence in Ebony’s eyes growing. Her sweet smile, the friendly, easy way she chatted with the audience between songs…she was a star, that much was obvious. Atlas made a mental note to talk to Stanley – his step-father, with all his contacts, could help Ebony immeasurably, and she deserved everyopportunity.
He felt someone touch his arm and found Romy, beautiful in a midnight blue column gown, smiling beside him. “Girl did good,huh?”
“Unbelievably good,” Atlas agreed, still half wrapped in Ebony and her song. “How’re youdoing?”
“Very good. Blue’s grabbing us some drinks. Listen, I wanted to thank you for not spilling about the guy at Haven yesterday. I don’t want Blue worried about me every second – he does that enough,anyway.”
Atlas’s smile faded. “The detective called. Dude was bailed. Keep your security teamclose.”
Romy didn’t look worried. “We will, don’t worry. I can’t believe they bailed that motherfucker. Hekilledher.”
