Page 127 of Exactly What I Needed
“He needs stability. I know, Princess,” Asher inserted. His gaze lingered on the toddler whose eyelids drooped. “We can make this our home. I’ll slow down on tours, spend more time in the studio and focus on releasingsongs. I think the rest of the band wouldn’t mind slowing down a bit anyway.”
His eyes sparkled as he grinned and looked at me. “You know that Nova and Ava have kids and that Elysia is—”
“Pregnant? Yeah, I didn’t talk to them yesterday, but I saw them when I briefly showed up at your rehearsals.” I smiled as he stepped even closer to me.
“Shit!” He suddenly gasped. “Rehearsals. What time is it? We’ve got sound guys and all that are coming in today to put the final touches before the concert tomorrow.”
I glanced at the clock on my phone. “Twelve-thirty.”
“Okay.” His shoulders slumped in relief. “We don’t need to be there until two. How about some lunch while this little man naps?”
“Together?” I asked, hope surging in my chest.
Asher pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. “You know, that’s usually what a family does.”
I grinned and winked. “Come on.” As I turned toward the stroller, Asher’s hand shot around my wrist, and he spun me back around to face him. Before I had a chance to fight or resist, he jerked me into his side and slammed his lips against mine.
It was wet and sticky, messy and absolutely devouring. His mouth taking mine, the sweetness of his velvet taste mixing in with a hint of salt from the heat of the noonday sun. Sweaty drops that I didn’t care about at all, as I eagerly placed my hands around his waist while he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me as tight against his body as he could.
He briefly broke the kiss. “Cosette, promise me you’ll always be mine. You’re what I need. You and Xander and however big our family eventually grows.” His lips brushed against mine as he spoke, and I tipped up onto my toes.
With my eyes still closed, I nodded yes and felt his lips drift up into a smile. “You made the music come back,” I whispered and felt a warm tear of relief slither down my cheek. “I’m not afraid anymore. If people find out I’m Duvaldi, then fine. If Danny or Sydney or Tera try to come after me again, I’ll be all right. Because I have you.”
Lips brushed against mine. “I’ve got you. And Xander. But I think the publicist can help keep Duvaldi under wraps and steer…us in whatever direction we want. We’ll put out statements with just enough information to curb curiosity but to keep you and Xander out of the spotlight.”
I raised a brow and pecked his lips that still lingered against mine. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeated and captured my mouth in a kiss once again. “Oh!” He pulled away this time far enough that I opened my eyes in slightly annoyed curiosity. “I did something.” A mischievous grin widened on his face as he hoisted up a side of his hoodie to reveal the brand-new inked design I hadn’t been close enough to decipher yet.
“You didn’t!” I placed my hands over my red cheeks as his smile widened.
“Fuck yes, I did.” He wiggled his brows as I stared at the rather incredible tattoo ofme. Well, a silhouette version of the dirty music poster I’d made him with the word Duvaldi etched below my feet and the piano bench.
“It’s really well done,” I muttered, studying the incredible art.
He scoffed. “You think that my most important piece would be done by some shady dude in a back alley?”
I giggled. “I sure hope not.”
And his lips met mine again. I stepped tightly against his body as his fingers threaded through my hair and then slid around my shoulders again.
There was a lot of uncertainty ahead, but it no longer scared me. I was free. Because of him, I felt like I could fly.
