Page 21 of Within Shadows
“I can walk.” Her protest is half-hearted as I step into the room, kicking the door shut behind me as I let her legs drop to the ground. Maeve’s eyes are locked on my mask, as if they can see my lips behind them, and her arms are still wrapped around my neck. I take slow, measured steps as I back her into the wall, one hand braced above her head and the other gripping the curve of her hip.
“What are you doing?” Her voice is a whisper, and I lean close until my mask brushes her nose.
“I’m dying to taste you, muse,” I groan, my very obvious erection rubbing the front of my jeans.
“We can’t do whatever this is. I have a boyfriend,” she says, and a flash of disappointment has her leaning away from me, pressing to the wall as her arms drop. I drop my forehead to hers as I sigh.
“Garrett?” I say his name with a bitter tone, and her eyebrows raise.
“I was worried you were going to think I was some kind of stalker for constantly showing up backstage. Here you are, knowing far too much about me.” There it is, finally. A trickle of hesitation, maybe even fear.
“I don’t see him here tonight. What kind of man stays home while sending you out, unguarded and into my arms?” I ask. Maeve shoves at my chest, and I take a step back, crossing my arms as I stare down at her.
“Garrett doesn’t control me or decide what I can and can’t do. He’s sweet, smart, and knows that I can take care of myself.” Her voice rises as she defends him, but I can only scoff as I turn away, grabbing a shirt from my bag to hold out to her.
“You don’t want kind or gentle, Maeve. You need somebody who will protect you. Somebody willing to burn the world to keep you warm with the flames. A man that would kill for you. Not somebody who refuses to touch you, as if you’re the sweetest forbidden fruit they can never have.” I turn my back, waving for her to change.
“Let me guess, you think you’re that man? You are just a singer with an ego. You don’t know me or Garrett, and I’m not going to be your flavor of the week.” Her tone is mocking, and I whip around. Maeve launches her shirt at my face and I catch it, tossing it aside as I step chest to chest with her. Her hands are pinned between us as she clutches my shirt to her chest, covering her bra as she glares at me.
“You are the only flavor I will ever taste, I knew that from the moment I met you. My heart beats for you, muse. I’ll happily kill Oliver right this moment for you; just say the word, and he’s as good as dead. Iknowwhat kind of man I am, and I know Garrett. He’s not who you think he is, but I’ve never tried to hide what I am.” I grip her jaw, tilting her head back as I shove my knee between her legs. Feeling her scorching heat against my thigh makes me groan as I crush my mask against her lips. I curse this piece of plastic that separates us, and Maeve shares the sentiment.
She whimpers, melting in my hands for a breath, until she tugs a hand free and reaches for my mask. I catch her wrist and forcemyself to step back, shaking my head. She rips her hand from my grip and pulls the shirt over her head with anger.
“Professing your obsession with me just to get into my pants is really romantic. Truly, bringing up my ex is the cherry on top.” She runs her hands over her hair, smoothing it down as she starts to pace. “What is Garrett hiding from me?” she asks.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” I cross my arms and watch her as she works through everything.
“Are you stalking me?” she asks.
I snort a laugh. “Define stalking.”
She stops walking to turn and pin me with an incredulous look, motioning between us.
“You know everything about me, Knox. Why is that?” She snaps her mouth shut, brows crinkling as an idea forms. My heart starts to speed up, and I clench my fists when she looks at me again. For a moment I think she’s figured everything out.
“Jess is a blab when she drinks, I bet she told Al everything after we met up at the bar. I’m such an idiot.” She smacks her forehead. Nope, never mind, not even close. But I don’t correct her as she takes a small step closer to me.
“Knox, I’m not sure why you’re so interested in me, but I’m in a relationship. I didn’t think you would even remember me, to be completely honest. I just assumed you flirted with all the fans that way.” She bites her lip and I reach out, tugging it free from her teeth.
“I’m not just interested, muse. You’ll see.” I drop my hand and turn back to the door, opening it and motioning for her to follow me. Jess pops her head out of their door, catching sight of Maeve and me as we stop halfway to the couch.
“You okay? I heard shouting.” She glares at me, with a shirt clutched to her bare chest.
“Yeah, just a disagreement.” Maeve smiles, and Al peers through the crack in the door, his body paint smeared and maskhalfway off his face as he raises a brow at me. I shake my head once and he glares at me, grabbing Jess and yanking her back as he shuts the door. Her loud laughter quickly turns into a deep moan, and Maeve snorts as she drops onto the couch next to me.
“A disagreement, huh?” I say, casually draping my arm over the back of the couch as I lean closer to her.
“Yes. You think you’re in love with me, I disagree and think you’re just horny.” I can’t stop the laugh that comes out from behind my mask as I turn to face her.
“You’re half right. At night I imagine you in my bed, begging for me to touch you, to savor you. Each time I stroke my cock, my mind conjures you, with your hands gripping me instead of my own. I think about how fucking delicious you’ll taste when I can bury my face between your thighs and devour you for hours. But not once did I say the word “love”. I won’t, until you’re ready to hear it.” I reach out, rubbing my thumb over her lower lip as her jaw hangs open.
“You can’t say shit like that to me when I made it clear that I’m not interested.” She pushes my hand away and shifts, clenching her thighs together.
“Did you make it clear you’re not interested? Because I heard you say that you’re committed to another, with nothing more than morals standing in our way. I’d be willing to bet those pretty blue panties are soaked, and that you’ve imagined me when you pleasure yourself. How many times have you called out my name, late at night, alone in your bed? Be honest, you haven’t said his name. Not fucking once.”
Maeve is pissed, and it makes my cock twitch. Her eyes catch a drop of sweat as it travels from my neck, down my chest, to continue until it hits the waistband of my pants. She stares, very obviously, at the outline of my dick, and I raise my hips a little to taunt her.
“You don’t have a pearl necklace to clutch, but I’d love to give you one.” The awful pick-up line is out before I can stop it. Maeve snaps her gaze to mine a second before she slaps a hand over her mouth as she bursts into laughter. The sound is more beautiful than any melody I’ve heard before, and my heart thunders to the beat.
