Page 557 of Rock Me All Night
12
I'm stillin a daze when we get to Pete's place. It's the picture of an expensive Southern California home—gated neighborhood, flat tile roof, front yard of pebbles and succulents. Damn, there must be two dozen cacti lining the walkway.
He parks in the driveway and leads me inside. The main room is a huge open space—there's a couch and a TV near the entrance. The kitchen and dining area are behind that. The sliding doors to the backyard glow from the aqua light of the pool. And there are even more plants in the backyard.
"You must have a hundred cacti here," I say.
He chuckles. "That's what you've noticed?"
"What am I supposed to notice?"
"Three thousand dollar flat screen TV."
"I watch TV on my laptop."
His lips curl into a smile. "Two thousand dollar couch."
"I don't even have a couch."
"All stainless steel appliances in the kitchen."
"Now, we're getting somewhere."
He nods to the backyard. "Pool is heated year round."
"Get bikini models in there at your loud rock star parties?"
"Throwing parties is Tom's thing." His voice softens. "It's dead quiet here without him."
Sadness flares in his expression. He blinks and the vulnerability in his eyes is gone.
He clears his throat. "You want the grand tour?"
I watch his expression, the way he looks around the massive room like it's empty.
He's lonely here all by himself.
I get lonely some nights at my apartment. Plenty of nights. It would be nice to have company. It would be especially nice to have the gorgeous, glowing pool as my nightly hangout spot. The stainless steel kitchen, the expensive looking leather couch, the spiraling staircase straight out of an old Hollywood movie—it's all amazing.
But not amazing enough to convince me to give up my space.
"Sure, give me the tour," I say.
Upstairs is just as nice. There are four bedrooms. One is nearly empty, another is cluttered with musical instruments and notebooks, the third is totally furnished. It's all out—disco ball on the ceiling, star and moon decals on the walls, bondage restraints tied to the headboard.
Bondage restraints plus me plus Pete… Beautiful images flash through my mind. I want him tying me up. The thought never occurred to me but now it's clear as day.
"Is this your room?" I ask.
Pete nods to the restraints. "Getting ideas?"
Uh…
He clears his throat. "Jess. You're imagining me again. I'm right here. If you want me, take me."
I want him very much, but I'm not sure I'm ready for bondage restraints. I clear my throat. "After we finish the tour."
He nods and leads me to the balcony. It's beautiful—a perfect view of the backyard and beyond that the sprawling hills. I can already imagine a nice life here—lounging by the pool with my morning coffee, poring over my Kindle under the stars, sprawling out on the couch for aGilmore Girlsmarathon.
