Page 94 of Wicked Rockstar

JUDD

Not yet. No movement on your end, right?

KILLIAN

Nothing. Got to go. Heading out with Tris.

The moment she stepped out, time froze as I took her in. That stunning burgundy dress from the night Lexi came to my penthouse hugged every curve, flowing from her waist to her knees. She made my throat go dry.

I stepped out of the car to open the door for her. “Wow,” I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. “You look … gorgeous.” Her cheeks flushed.

“Thanks, Killian. This dress … it’s beautiful. I still can’t believe you bought me all of those clothes.”

I tried to play it cool. She couldn’t suspect that she only had to ask and I’d do anything for her. “What’re friends for?”

Even if I had to force that f-word out of my throat over and over, I’d continue to say it.Friends. She couldn’t know what was really in my heart. It was bad enough I was setting myself up for utter devastation. Logic told me historywouldrepeat itself.

The drive to the club was filled with charged silence. I snuck glances at her, and each time forcefully dragged my eyes back to the window. The moments when I caught her looking my way only to turn away as soon as we made eye contact tugged at my heart.

Too long into the drive, I’d had enough of the silence. “How’s your week going so far?” I asked.

“Good. Peter’s sort of cooperating.” She gave me a hesitant smile, as if she hated to bring up Peter.

That was new.

I thought back to our text exchanges.When we texted and talked on the phone, I realized her few mentions of him didn’t twist my gut as bad as it used to. “Guess you better go along with that for as long as you can.” Even my sarcasm wasn’t as caustic now. I really was mellowing.

Tink laughed, a radiant sound, that I loved hearing. “I know, right? I’m sorry for blowing you off so much these past few weeks.”

“I get it.” I’d been busy, too. Although, not enough that I didn’t stop having recurring fantasies about storming over to wherever she was, throwing her over my shoulder, and carrying her out. “I figured a good boyfriend would make sure his girl had constant reminders of him if they weren’t together all the time.” After the disastrous delivery, I cleared with her how and when I sent items that made me think of her.

I’d gotten the impression that Peter wasn’t thrilled with my constant stream of gifts. Which should have made me fucking elated, but the victory in pissing off Peter after that first gift paled in comparison at how that move had tainted Tris’s enjoyment of something I knew she’d love.

Tris laid a hand on my knee, angling her body closer. I stirred, my dick stiffening at her light touch. “You know you’re not really my boyfriend. You don’t have to keep buying me things,” she teased.

I placed my hand over hers and intertwined our fingers, acutely aware of how easily our hands fit together. “I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”

Her cheeks flushed pink once again. I decided it was my new favorite color. “Killian. I loved all of it, and especially the books, and this exquisite necklace, but really, you can dial it back.”

“Why?” I had the money, and even though she broke my heart all those years ago, Tris still deserved to know what she should expect from the right guy.

Her gaze never left mine. It was like she was looking for something.

“Well … We’re not … You and I … ” She stumbled over her words. “We’re not real. You shouldn’t spend money on me as if we were.”

“Then clearly this lesson hasn’t gotten through to you.”

Her brow furrowed. “What lesson?”

I brought her hand to my mouth and lightly kissed her knuckles before placing our hands on my knee. Apparently, I enjoyed torturing myself. “You should expectthisfrom whoever you’re dating.” When she opened her mouth for what I assumed was a protest, I cut her off. “Real or fake. Until you figure out what you’re worth and how the guy you’re with should be treating you, the gifts continue.” I didn’t dare let her know that I’d made that up on the spot. I bought her those things because I loved seeing her face light up when she sent me videos of her enjoying them and when she called or texted to thank me. It was more than a dopamine hit. I truly enjoyed making her happy.

And I wished I could do it forever.

She rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

I grinned. “Mm-hmm, and I’ve decided our next date should be you reading me your favorite scenes in one of your new books.” I was pretty sure at this point I’d gifted her all the books that had been in her cart. Out of curiosity, when I was torturing myself thinking about her, I’d bought my own copies to read.

I hadn’t realized how steamy they were. I’d taken myself in hand more times than I could count as I read some of the scenes.

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