Page 40 of Audiophile

“The pleasure was yoursandmine,” he teases. He swipes his thumb across my cheek, and a flash of black near his inner elbow catches my attention. His tattoo is a rectangular, grayscale painting that extends halfway to his wrist—a mountain range lined with trees under a crescent moon and stars.

“What’s this?”

Reed stiffens until he could rival a statue. “It’s nothing.”

I brush my fingers over the ink, marveling at the texture. I expected bumps, but it’s only soft, smooth skin. “You don’t have to tell me. I understand tattoos can be private and personal.”

“They should be.” He lets out a shaky breath. “It’s a rough story, but the tattoo artist mostly chose it for me. The darkest hour before dawn.”

I can relate. “At least you have hope.” He snorts bitterly, and the sound is unlike him. “The stars? Points of light in the dark, helping you guide your way until dawn? Maybe I’m way off base.” I pull back, but Reed grabs my hand and holds my palm over the scene. His eyes shut tight, as if my touch hurts.

“Don’t let go. Give me a minute.”

Oh shit.This tattoo definitely isn’t nothing. “I won’t let go.” It’s unmistakable that this playful, teasing, frustrating, beautiful man has been hurt by something enormous. I trace my thumb over the ink. “Everyone deserves hope, Reed.”

Reed cups my jaw in his hands. “Including you. Your life isn’t over because some asshole hurt you.”

“He isn’t what hurt me, not really,” I admit. Somehow, Reed snuck past all my walls. I shut my mouth tight, unprepared to give him more. Reed doesn’t push. His thumb brushes the corner of my mouth, and the ache inside me begins anew.

“Will you stay? Just for the company?” he asks.

“My parents—”

“Know you’re a grown adult.” He’s got me there, but—despite contrary evidence—I’m positive Papa pretends I’m a virgin.

But one night with Reed has made me greedy for another. I break away to kiss his tattoo, and Reed presses his hand over it. An irrational part of me imagines he’s pushing my kiss under his skin. “I’ll stay.”

His hands slip over my shoulders, down my sides. One orgasm and he’s touching me as though we’ve been lovers for ages. “Want to sleep naked or borrow something?” he asks. “I’m in favor of one, but your choice.”

I should be sated, but my breasts don’t get the memo. They tighten into hard points that I’m sure he notices. I rest my forehead against his shoulder, blushing. “We’ll compromise.”

“We will?”

I nod, stepping away to dry off. “When you’re done watching the show, can you bring me a shirt and my purse?”

“It might be a while.” He smirks, and has to duck when I chuck my towel at him in response. Reed takes it with him while he fetches my bag. When he brings it and a clean shirt, his blazing eyes travel the length of me, and I forget to be nervous. In a moment of bold confidence, I hold his gaze and slip his shirt over my head. It smells amazing, and Reed lifts my hair out from under the collar before I can.

“You wearing my clothes is so sexy.” He tips my chin up with a finger to brush a kiss to my cheek. “What’s with the purse?”

I pull the underwear from a zippered pocket and slip them on. “Livi was hoping something much saucier was going to happen.”

His smile is dangerous. “It doesn’t get much saucier than that bath. How are you feeling? You should drink water, Pet. I’ll get ice—”

“I’ll go.” I search through my purse for my coin bag. “I saw a vending machine down the hall and I’d kill for chocolate. Want anything?”

Reed shakes his head. “I don’t want you to get dressed again. Compromise?” he asks, pulling a bathrobe from the closet. At my nod, he wraps it around me and ties the sash.

“You don’t want anything? I’ve got a million quarters.”

“Surprise me,” he challenges.

I give into my earlier urge and lick a stripe across his pec, punctuating it with a gentle bite. “Surprised?”

He reaches for me, but I run for the door. I snatch up my purse and the ice bucket while he laughs loudly and lets me escape. In the hall, I lean back against the closed door and let my smile out, ear to ear. I’d forgotten what it was like to have wings.

It’s magical.

The ice and vending machines are on opposite ends of the hall, so I spend twice as long walking around indecently. I bite my lip, debating my candy selection, but mentally, I’m still half in Reed’s bath. The things he said were proof that reality can exceed fantasy. And he only had his hands on me for a few minutes. Nothing else might ever measure up.

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