Page 57 of Undeniable Temptation

“I can’t convince you to stay?”

“I don’t want you to.”

“You sure? I feel like we should be celebrating or something.”

She snorted. “Celebrating?”

“It isn’t a regular occurrence for me to almost make love in a parking lot.”

She adored how he described it as love. Not sex. Not fucking. “Julie didn’t enjoy spontaneity?”

“Julie didn’t like much of anything.” He gave a sad smile. “Suffice to say, I’ve never had any sort of sexual experience anywhere other than our home or a hotel room for years.”

“Bullshit.” The denial came on an exhaled breath. “I don’t believe it.”

He reached over his shoulder and knocked louder on the door. “The lack of intimacy was never a warning sign because I had no previous conquests to compare our relationship to. Men always complain about a lack of sex, so I thought we were normal.”

“Not wanting to have sex with you every second of every day isn’t normal.” She grinned. “In fact, it’s damn crazy.”

“Clearly.” His lips curved. “I know that now.”

The sound of footsteps approached from inside, her heart hammering with the upcoming conclusion to their conversation. She wanted to smash his sexual to-do list, signing her name against each sordid achievement. “What else haven’t you done? I want to know it all. I want to do it all.”

He leaned close, his lips brushing her ear as the loud clunk of the lock released. “I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you.”

Chapter Sixteen

Ryan staredinto the rolling sea of people before him, the swinging overhead lights momentarily alighting parts of the moshing crowd. This is what he lived for—touring, music, inspiration—and yet the only sight he could see was Leah’s image in his mind.

The two days apart had been a painful limbo. No matter how many times they messaged or spoke on the phone, he still couldn’t convince himself she was in this for the long haul. He’d been on edge. Stressed. Annoyed. The usual banter from his friends had poked at his last nerve until he thought he’d snap. Then he’d seen her again. He’d kissed her. He’d almost taken her against a car in a café parking lot. And now he was on the other side of the spectrum. Thrumming. Adrenaline-filled. Pumped.

His final words at the café had made her blush. Those flawless cheeks had turned pink, her kiss-darkened lips had parted, and those gorgeous eyes widened. It was seconds of pure heaven before the waitress opened the door and stole the moment.

Now he was back to the emotional rollercoaster. Had he said too much, too soon? Was his time with Felicity likely to ruin his chances? Should he have taken her underwear out of his pocket before walking on stage? The damn material was burning a hole through his pants, the warmth sinking straight into his dick.

He was lucky the set list came naturally, otherwise Mason wouldn’t think twice about shoving him into the waiting arms of a cannibalistic crowd. The woman was driving him crazy. Literally. He was analyzing everything like a love-drunk fool. Especially her last cryptic text message—I’ll be making an appearance during the show. Play along.

He didn’t know what the last sentence meant. Or the first for that matter. She didn’t make a habit of watching their shows, and she certainly didn’t stand side-stage…although the thought of her hiding in the wings made blood surge to inappropriate places that shouldn’t be active while in front of an audience of thousands.

“…Kiss goodbye to your heart, sunshine. It’s time to make you mine,” Mason sang the closing line to the third last song in their set, making the sea before them erupt. Usually Sean would fall into the fast tempo beat of their next song, but instead Mason sliced a hand across his throat, indicating for them to hold up as he turned back to face the crowd.

“How you feeling, Chicago? Enjoying the show?”

The usual cacophony of noise responded—screams, whistles, cries, the offers of first-born children.

“We’re about to end the night with one of my favorite songs—” boos erupted “—but before we do that, I wanted to thank all those who helped our band manager with a special surprise tonight.”

Ryan’s stomach twisted. It didn’t take much these days to wring him dry.

“Have you met the smokin’ hot Leah Gorman yet?” Mason glanced side-stage and held out an arm for the flawless woman approaching with a huge wrapped box in her arms. “Come out here, boss lady.”

Now his stomach was dropping, the hollow organ sinking to his feet. He couldn’t stop himself from hungrily taking in the sight of her. His mouth dried in an instant as his focus glided over the black pumps accentuating muscled calves, to the knee-high charcoal business dress that fit her perfect body like a second skin, up to the perfection of her face adorned in light make-up. Had she taken the time to put on new underwear? Or was she bare, the smooth skin of her pussy easily accessible beneath her professional attire?

Fuck. He repositioned the base of his guitar to ensure the most enthusiastic part of his body was covered from all angles.

“Don’t be fooled by her aesthetic appeal.” Mason took the package from her hands to place it on the floor beside the microphone stand. “This woman can shrink a man’s balls with the raise of a brow.”

Leah inclined her head with a nod to the cheering crowd, unfazed by the taunts from the lead singer.

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