Page 63 of Feral Touch
“I'm a mess. I'm going to keep hurting you.”
“I don't care.”
Ren groaned. “Ivy…”
“I don't care! So you've got some shit you're still dealing with. Okay. I can handle it. It's not like I'm perfect, either.”
“Yes, you are.”
I nearly laughed in his face. “Ren, you have no idea. I've been a tangled mess inside since I saw you again. I'm always doubting myself. I get jealous of all your fangirls. I wonder when you're going to start getting sick of me. And hang-ups? I'm so worried about the distance in status between us that I was going to refuse your anniversary gift if it was too expensive.”
Ren looked dumbfounded. “It was just a key.”
“I know that now. When you first gave it to me, though, I thought it might be a ring.”
He cracked a smile. My heart lifted, happy that I was able to distract him from his guilt.
“I was worried three months was too early for a key,” he admitted, a slightly teasing smile on his face. “But if you're ready for a ring…”
“Stop,” I laughed. I thought he was going to continue teasing me, making me blush. He just gave me a sorrowful look and pulled me down to rest my head on his chest.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have freaked out on you. Seeing those tickets to the same concert my brother had bought for me, it just brought everything back all at once.”
“I understand. Just promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“The next time something like that happens, you won't run off.”
“I promise. We'll work through it together.” He reached into his pocket and took out his key ring. “I kept the key. I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't think we'd…” he trailed off, then took it off the ring. He placed it in my palm and closed my fingers over it. “Don't leave it behind again, okay?”
My heart fluttered as I nodded. “I promise.”
The vehicle stopped abruptly, jolting me off Ren's lap. He looked outside the window. “We're back at my place.” He turned to me, a slow heat beginning to burn in his eyes. “You want to come in?”
A shiver ran through me, down my spine and straight into my core. There was relief welling up inside me, but also an aching need. I hadn't known how the confrontation would go, whether Ren would even want to see me again. I shouldn't have doubted his feelings for me. I couldn't mistake that look on his face.
I was positive he couldn't mistake the look on mine.
CHAPTER 16
AILEYSCHEDULEDAcongratulations party for us about a week after our song was released. She wanted to throw it on release day, but our schedules didn’t match up.
The event was thrown in the same restaurant where they'd held their fan meeting, on the second floor in a closed-off private room. There were several dozen people in attendance, mostly friends and colleagues, although there were also some members of the local media.
Of course, those friends and colleagues just happened to be famous themselves. Musicians, actors, models and other celebrities were chatting to each other as they drank wine and nibbled on appetizers. Ailey made sure the event was a classy affair. None of the boozing and partying that apparently happened at their other, rowdier events. I gave her silent thanks for keeping it low key.
I'd dressed up a bit fancier than usual, with a simple black cocktail dress, the hem falling just above my knees and the neckline almost too low for comfort. I'd curled my hair to put waves in it, a change from my usual stick-straight blond strands. Add a little makeup and I almost felt like a celebrity myself.
Ren had wanted to pick me up, but he had a photoshoot scheduled right before, so I told him I'd meet him there. I felt nervous entering the restaurant myself, but when I gave my name to the woman standing guard at the door, I received a pleasant smile and hearty congratulations.
“I downloaded your song,” she said. “I loved it.”
Some of the nerves went away, replaced by a rush of something close to pride.
“Thank you,” I replied politely. She ushered me inside, where a doorman took my jacket and handed me a numbered ticket. I shoved it into the small clutch purse I'd slung over my shoulder. A second woman handed me a small piece of paper, then did a double take and laughed.
“I suppose you don't need this,” she said.
