Page 540 of Rock Me All Night
"We talked about that imagination of yours." His voice is still light, still teasing.
"It's just… you're the bassist. I can't even name another bassist."
"Can you name a guitarist or a drummer?"
Uh… maybe. "Dave Grohl!"
"That's cheating. He's a singer now."
"Um… Tom Steele."
"Guess I didn't preclude Sinful Serenade." He laughs. "That was a real lawyer trick. You're gonna be a shark."
My heart sings at the thought of law school. I close my eyes and try to push the rest of my thoughts away. What is it I want, besides Pete's body against mine?
It's law school. My future.
I take a deep breath. I can ask him to pay for school. Somehow. Even if I feel sick over using him.
His fingertips brush my thigh. "You're right. I'm not as famous as Miles or Tom—he took it upon himself to became a social media star. Leaked nude pics. Long story."
"Are there any leaked nude pics of you?"
He cocks a brow. "You'd really invade my privacy like that? Cold."
"No, I wouldn't. I swear."
"I believe you."
His smile spreads ear to ear. I want to reach up and trace the lines it makes in his cheeks.
"Okay, you want the answer." He clears his throat and adopts a more prim and proper posture. Shoulders back, hands in his lap. "I'm grateful for every fan, every ticket or album or t-shirt we sell, every time someone streams one of our songs, cause it means I can focus on music and not on paying the rent."
"Is that true?"
He nods. "Mostly." His brow furrows. His shoulders lock up.
There's something else he doesn't want to tell me. I set my water glass aside and move close enough I can run my fingers over his palm.
"What about that isn't true?" I ask.
"I landed with my adopted mom, Ophelia, when I was a teenager, after my dad died." He clenches and unclenches his jaw. "She's middle class. Always knew I had my room waiting."
He skipped right over what happened with his dad. I want to know, but I can read his posture and it's screamingdon't ask.
He shifts backwards. "Have you decided?"
Okay, he doesn't like having this hanging over us. I'd like it out of the way too. But that means I have to ask for a hell of a lot.
Deep breath. I can do this. "Is it monogamous?"
He nods.
"There were a dozen models at the club who were picturing you naked."
"And?"
"And… it's not tempting?"
