Page 85 of Extended Bridge

“Believe it or not, so am I.”

I rear back. “Pu-lease.”

“I am, Sweetheart. Sure, I’ve had sex with women who didn’t matter to me. You, on the other hand, mean more to me than anyone ever before. I want to make a good impression on you, so you’ll keep coming back for more.”

“I sincerely doubt that will be an issue. You’ve already made a good impression.” I guzzle my champagne and flip the now-empty glass. How did that happen?

“Have you enjoyed all the other stuff we’ve done?”

How can he even have the smallest question about it? “You know I have.”

“Good. Because we’re going to do all that, and then some. Tonight’s a big night for both of us, Jenna. I’m ready if you are.”

This is it. My last chance to turn around and return to Aroostook. Deal with the fallout Court’s handling on her own. My gaze takes in the man next to me, and I know none of that will happen. I belong here. With Bennett. Possibly forever. My breath hitches.

He asks again, “Are you ready?”

I sit up taller. “Yes.”

He doesn’t say anything, simply places my empty flute on the table. For the first time, I realize he doesn’t have a glass. Before I can say anything about it, he clasps my cold hand and brings it up to his mouth. Staring directly into my eyes, he kisses the back of my palm. “I love you, Sweetheart.”

“I love you back, Bennett.”

It’s as if speaking these words shot me with the strength I was missing. I want to be with this man. It’s time to prove it.

I lean forward, and rain tiny kisses all over his face. When I reach his lips, it’s like one of those meteors we watched the other nightexploding across the sky. The next thing I know, our shirts sail across the tiny room and my new black bra ends up on the floor.

“Wait,” I admonish. “Nese gave me that. Don’t you want to pay proper homage to her work?”

“It looks beautiful on the floor.” He pauses. “Wherever it is.”

Smiling, I shake my head. I’ll model it for him later. Not wanting to give the bus driver a show, I say, “Let’s take this to the bedroom.

Bennett complains, “Hey, that’s my line.” He stands and helps me to my feet, kissing every square inch his lips can reach.

By the time we enter the back room, my fingers have managed to unbutton his jeans, yet my miniskirt is still firmly in place. “Nese is a flipping genius. You’re the sexiest schoolgirl I’ve ever seen.”

“Then you got her vision. Your black leather pants onstage rock too. Not that these jeans don’t as well.” I roll the jeans down his muscular thighs. They come off, together with his shoes and socks. I suck in my breath. “If your fans could see you now.”

“Nope. For your eyes only.”

Plus the others who have been in my position before. Why am I thinking about them now? The ghost of his former bandmate tries to join our party, but he’s not allowed. Like his prior groupies. There’s no room for anyone else in this bedroom. Only us.

I break the silence by noting, “I like the sound of that.”

He seems comfortable in only his black boxer briefs. So relaxed, in fact, that he strips them off his body. If I looked like him, I’d be naked all the time. “You’re gorgeous.” My fingers work their way down his musculature, delighting at how his muscles jump in response.

His fingers skim the top of my skirt. “Can I take this off?”

“I don’t know, can you?” Sassy girl is back, but Bennett doesn’t seem to mind.

“Oh, I most certainly can.” His lips cover mine in a kiss unlike any other. Like a homing pigeon, his fingers unzip the skirt and it falls to the floor. He holds out his hand. “I needthose panties.”

“I don’t think they’d look good on you.” Where is this fresh mouth coming from?

“No, but they’d look fabulous in my pocket as I play for thousands.”

“You’d do that?” I squeak.

---