Page 6 of Her Dark Melody
Somehow she forced herself back into the conversation. “I have a mix of jazz standards and original pieces planned, but we can arrange them any way you want. If you’d prefer a set of songs that your guests would recognize, we can do that. Or, as another idea, I could do jazz versions of modernclassics.”
“I love that idea,” Atlas nodded. “I can see you doing some jazz PearlJam.”
They both laughed, and Ebony nodded. “I never thought of them as classic, but if that’s yourjam, so to speak, I can make itwork.”
“I bet youcould.”
There was a pause, a beat where they just smiled at each other. Ebony laughed softly. “How is it I feel I’ve known you for more than a few hours,Atlas?”
He smiled. “That crazy thing calledchemistry.”
“That must beit.”
They gazed at each other for a long moment before Atlas leaned over and kissed the side of her mouth. “Mustard.”
Ebony snickered, her body tingling with anticipation. “Of course, thankyou.”
Atlas cupped her face in his palm. “Can I tell you you're beautiful without sounding like acreep?”
“You just did,” she whispered and moaned softly as he pressed his lips to hers again. This time, the kiss went on and on until they were both breathless and trembling. Atlas drew away, taking her hands inhis.
“I don’t want to take advantage,” he said in a low voice. “Nor do I want to behave unprofessionally or put you in a position where you feel uncomfortable. The party is in twodays…”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence. As much as Ebony wanted him right here, right now, she agreed with him. They needed to press pause on whatever this was until after the fundraiser. She kissed him again. “I understand, and I agree, Atlas.” She grinned. “After all, isn’t anticipationsexy?”
He nuzzled his nose to hers. “It is. As sexy as you are, and that’s so goddamn sexy I couldcry.”
They both laughed then. “Come on, Tigri, let’s go see this partyvenue.”
As they were walking out of the restaurant, Atlas stopped her. “We might be being grown-up and sensible about this, but I have to warn you. I’ll be stealing kisses whenever Ican.”
Ebony laughed, feeling so at ease with this gorgeous man. She slipped her hand into his. “You can’tstealsomething that would be givenwillingly.”
He immediately pressed his lips to hers. God, he tasted so good, and the way his lips moved against hers sent vibrations through her entire body. She wanted to tell him to fuck hernowand fuck herhard, but she kept her countenance – just. The thought of after the party, of being naked with him, of his cock plunging into her. She shivered. Atlas smiled at her. “Cold?”
“No. Just…anticipation.” Summoning her courage, she slid her hand down to his groin. God, he washugeand ramrod-hard.
His green eyes were now dark and hungry as he lifted her hand away and turned it palm-side up, kissing it heatedly. “Soon,baby.”
Her skin went up in flames at the touch of his lips and she immediately imagined them so many other places. “Soon.”
They made it across town somehow, their hands increasingly wandering over one another, their lips meeting frequently. Walking into one of Seattle’s most exclusive and expensive hotels, they were forced to stop until the elevator, at least, which they took full advantageof.
By the time they reached the penthouse, Ebony’s legs were like jello from his passionate, tender kisses. He held her hand with warm possession as they walked into the beautiful space and she immediately spotted the small but well-situated stage. Not much could have derailed her thoughts from Atlas at that point, but music had always held the upper hand in Ebony’s world and it reasserted itself just enough now that she managed to step away, assessing her performancespace.
Walking back and forth, she mentally mapped where she would stand, where instruments might be, the distance between herself and the audience…“Will I meet the bandbeforehand?”
“Oh, yes, I’ve arranged for you to spend the day with them tomorrow if that’s okay. The hotel will bring you all food and refreshments all day, but Juno said you might need the day to arrange things withthem.”
“That would be great, thank you. Just perfect—” Her eyes found the magnificent piano at last and she gasped. “Is that a Bösendorfer ImperialGrand?”
As she spoke, she was already walking over to run her fingers over the keys and knew as soon as she heard the depth of tone color that she hadn’t been mistaken. Swooning for an entirely different reason now, Ebony slid onto the seat and played a fewbars.
“My accountants had fits,” he whispered into her ear. “But after Romy told me about your magnificent voice—and when I heard it for myself—there was no way I could stand for anythingless.”
She sank into a slow melody, losing herself in the magic, as always, until he trailed his lips across hershoulder.
“Romy and Blue have asked me to come to dinner tomorrownight.”
