Page 131 of The Darkest Note

He lowers himself over my shoulder. Abandoning the piano, his coarse fingers grip my chin.

My heart races until I’m sure it’ll burst out of my chest.

Dutch leans down and speaks right against my lips. “Then I would have to show you how much I want you.”

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until his gaze drops to my lips and I exhale on impact. The moment he sees my mouth part, his amber eyes go dark. Then his lips crash down on mine.

Every vein in my body comes alive at the feel of his mouth parting, caressing, and teasing.

My hands leave the keyboard completely and band around his waist to drag him closer. He holds still, lingering, as if he wants me to get used to him being there. As if he’s giving me time to push him away if this isn’t really what I want.

He’s dragging out the moments.

Torture.

I need friction so much it’s tearing me apart. I want to scream with it.

“Wait,” I whisper.

He eases back immediately, looking down at me.

“Don’t touch my hair,” I demand. Then I surge forward and kiss him.

Even if all he can offer is pain, I want to get lost in Dutch tonight.

* * *

DUTCH

I press my mouth to hers and hold steady.

I just want to feel her for a heartbeat. Two.

Then she kisses me the same as she did in the changing room.

My resolve to be a gentleman shatters.

She gasps when I grab her hips and thrust her on top of the piano. Discordant notes play. Her fingers press into the keys while she wildly tries to find her balance.

I steady her with a hand on the back of her neck, pushing her into me so I can deepen the kiss. Her hand pushes against the keys as she meets my passion with her own.

More disjointed notes burst from the piano.

Pure chaos.

The tension before the crescendo.

“This is so…” she sucks on my bottom lip, “disrespectful… to the piano.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I breathe her in. “Be a bad girl tonight.”

My thoughts dissolve as my tongue explores her mouth. She groans low in her throat and I grip her tighter, needing to hear that sound again. Needing to be closer to her.

It’s not enough. I need more of her skin.

I try to step between her legs and bump into the lid of the keyboard instead. Frustrated, I grunt and ease back to assess.

She looks up at me, eyes half-closed and mouth wet. Moonlight shines on top of the red hair that’s off limits. Her green eyes are dark and sultry, like a cat about to pounce.

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