Page 46 of Blind Attraction

“I’m not…comfortable with violence.”

“I know, sweetheart. It was nothing.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb, then her lips. “We’re all stressed at the moment and… It doesn’t excuse anything, but I swear you have nothing to worry about.”

“You need to be honest with me.” Her voice sent a white-hot blade through his chest, destroying everything in its path. “I’m not familiar with this, with us, and I have no clue what’s going on. Have I done something wrong? Do you want me to leave? I...” She heaved a breath. “I really like you, Mitchell—”

“Hey.” He knelt between her thighs, and placed his hands on her hips. Her warmth surrounded him. The intoxicating mingled scent of her body and the hotel soap sank into his lungs like a hypnotic drug. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” The urge to pour his heart out became overwhelming. He could tell her how he felt, and she would comfort him and persuade him into believing things between them would work. That she would always wait around for him, always be willing to put her life on hold so they could be together.

And that was what he feared the most. That he didn’t have the strength to bite his tongue. To be a man and walk away for her sake. To give her the life she deserved.

“I’m sorry, Allie.” He pulled her closer to the edge of the bed and circled his arms around her back. “I’m tired, and stressed, and overwhelmed. I usually get a little weird before promo or concert tours. It has nothing to do with you.” The lie stung deep in his chest, like a back slap from God warning him of his inevitable trip to hell.

She didn’t reply.

“The last thing I want is for you to leave.”

Her hands slid to his neck. He held his breath, felt the pull of his cock as it hardened, and delighted in the buzz that ricochet through his body when her nails dug into the back of his head. A moan vibrated in his throat, and he leaned into her touch.

“You should go to bed,” she murmured.

“Mmm, maybe I should.” He moved to his feet and grasped her hands, pulling her up with him. “Want to join me?”

“Yes.” The word was a breathless whisper.

Leaning in, he brushed her nose with his and hovered his lips over the warm satin of hers. He closed his eyes and let everything seep in. Her smell, her essence, her emotion. He inhaled it into his lungs and locked it away deep in his soul, never to be released.

His heart continued to taunt him, to flash images of a perfect future into his mind. One with passion and commitment and love. He wanted to reach out and grab them. To open his mouth and kiss his love into her, but he straightened his shoulders and remained firm.

Alana would find a man. A better man.

And the realization hurt more than the thought of letting her go.

He ignored the turmoil threatening to tear him apart and bent over, lifted her, one arm under her knees while the other supported her back.

She didn’t protest, didn’t say a word as her arms came around to encircle his neck. He carried her around the bed and laid her down. When she scooted away, he pulled at the cover, working it to the foot of the bed as she maneuvered under the sheet.

He took his clothes off. One by one. His jeans. His underwear. His shirt. Until he stood completely bare in front of her—physically and emotionally. He didn’t know if she could see him, but her gaze burned his body, over every inch of his skin.

He grabbed a condom from the bedside table and placed it under his pillow. Climbing onto the bed, he moved under the sheet and positioned himself beside her. She lay on her side with her face turned toward him.

“You should get some sleep.” Her voice held no humor, only resignation.

Fuck sleep. His tiredness had been an excuse to cover for his crabby mood. He wanted to spend the whole night loving her, touching her, devouring her. For once his band commitments could come second. The last hours with Allie were all that mattered to him.

“Right now, I should be doing a lot of things, but the only thing I want is you.” He moved into her, placing an arm over her waist, letting the hardness of his erection push into the soft cotton of her shorts.

He heard her deep inhale and leaned in before she let it out, taking her mouth in a passionate kiss. Their lips meshed, their tongues danced and slowly the rigidity of her body seeped away, leaving her malleable in his arms.

Her hands found his hair, always his hair, always his undoing, and glided the strands covering his face behind his ear. He didn’t usually allow anyone to play with it. He’d never enjoyed the sensation, but with Allie, it was different. Every stroke made his scalp shiver, every tug and scratch shot desire straight through his body to harden his aching cock.

He ground into her, groaned over the delicious friction, and kissed her harder. He was crazy for her, his thoughts and desires making him insane.

Damn it. He wanted to go slow, to savor and sample every inch of her. Pulling back, he gasped for air and tried to calm himself. “Take your clothes off. I want to feel you...every part of you, against me.”

She complied, removing her shirt, then shuffling under the sheet before she dragged out her shorts and panties and threw them away.

They lay in silence, his erection pressing into her curls, his arm over her waist, her breasts resting against his chest. He played with the skin at the low of her back, ran his fingers around in intricate patterns while they enjoyed each other’s warmth.

One of her hands roamed his body. She trailed her fingers over his arm, down his ribs, along his thigh. His skin burned wherever she touched, turning his blood to lava, and his cock to stone. He wanted to change positions, to make her writhe in pleasure, to distract her with her own need instead of his own. Leaning down he sucked her nipple into his mouth, rolling his tongue around the stiffened peak. She mewled, rubbed her crotch against him, and dug her nails into his ass.

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