Page 36 of Hold Still

“So, are things better, now you’ve gotBans?”

“I think they’re turning around.” Because I wrote my first song, solo, ever. And McKenna’s here.

“Well, then, good.”

It dawns on me that I’ve been a crappy host. “Would you like something to drink? Our coffees went cold ages ago.”

“Tea would hit the spot.”

While I pour the water into mugs and put them in the microwave, she excuses herself to go to the bathroom. I haven’t been this creative since I can remember. Well, truth be told, I never was this creative. Luis and I would often go off for a weekend hiking and drinking and sometimes smoking, then come back with a couple of tracks. This song, the one I wrote all by myself, only needs a tweak here and there, and it’ll be ready for Ginger.

What changed?

McKenna returns to the kitchen and I have my answer. And neither of us is naked.Yet.

I wink and serve our simple dinners. We eat in silence for a bit. When her plate is almost finished, she removes the fork from her mouth and points it at me. “This was a productive day, huh?”

Swallowing my last mouthful, I reply, “Yup.” I place the tines of the fork onto my empty plate and ask, “Any chance you’d like to come over tomorrow and do it again? I got a lot done when you were here.” That didn’t make me sound too much like a pussy. Right?

She takes another bite and chews, leaving me hanging in anticipation of her response. I focus on breathing in and out in a steady rhythm. Finally, she responds, “It was interesting to watch you work. Like my own private show.”

Air rushes out through my nose. “Was it now?”

“Oh, you know. As in, I’ve never watched another creative mastermind at work before.” She smiles and a little piece of cilantro is stuck at her gumline. Adorable.

“I’m no genius, that’s for sure.” I indicate she has something in her tooth.

She closes her mouth tight and I can see her tongue going over her teeth. She smiles at me. The cilantro is now stuck in her bottom row. I laugh and shake my head. Walking over, I use the tip of my napkin to remove the green bit. Still up in her face, I say, “There. All gone.”

“Thanks,” is her throaty response.

We stay like this for a couple of beats, her lips looking plumper by the second. The pulse at her neck pounds in a staccato rhythm. I grab her shoulders, squeezing and releasing them in time with her body’s reaction. Faster and faster.

She emits a small gasp.

With deliberate slowness, I close the gap between us. Not once does she protest what’s about to happen.

My lips cover hers, and I taste the Arroz con Pollo and the tea, plus something uniquely McKenna. Her arms come around my shoulders and I pull her upward, aligning her body with mine. Extending my tongue to her lips, she opens for me. Her hands climb into my hair.

She moans softly and I wrap my arms around her back, her tits slamming into my chest. I groan at the impact. Pulling my lips away from hers, I trail kisses down her throat. Her fingers rake through my hair, scraping my scalp.

Biting the shell of her ear, I return to her mouth. My hand slides around and cups her tit through her blouse. My cock strains against my shorts.

All of a sudden, Bans barks, jumps up and licks my face, breaking our embrace. McKenna races for safety around the island.

“Bans, down!” I look over at McKenna, who’s hiding her beautiful face behind her hands. “I swear, she’s never like this.” Maybe because McKenna’s the first woman I’ve brought here—Ginger doesn’t count.

Bans obeys and sits at my heel. McKenna heads to the living room, where I hear the zipper on her bag close. Commanding Bans to stay, I join her there.

“I have to head over to the Jade in a few minutes. Want to come with?”

She shakes her head. She repeats a similar excuse as last night. “I can’t tonight. But knock ‘em dead.”

I smile and run my hand through her hair, playing with the purple streak. “You didn’t answer my question from before. Want to set up shop here while we’re working on the Project? You can get a pipeline to my new songs.” I don’t confess she’s my new muse, but I suspect she already knows it.

“So long as that’s the only pipeline I’m getting, sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ozzy.”

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