Page 58 of Anything but Mine

She curled into the middle of the bed, a huge pillow blocking her from him. “I’ve never actually had a nooner.” She twisted her watch. “All right, more like a tener. Whatever.”

“Next time,” he kneeled onto the bed and stroked her naked hip, “we’re both getting all the way naked. And there will be mac and cheese for dessert.”

She tucked her chin into the pillow so only her eyes and a fringe of bangs were showing. “Big, bad, rich rock star likes box mac and cheese as his after sex treat?”

He raised a brow. “Problem with that?”

Her eyes crinkled over the edge. “I’ve got a five pack in my cupboard.”

“Perfect.” He rolled her onto her back with a groan. “Salty and perfect, just like you.”

She stretched her arms over her head. “Sounds divine.”

God, in a minute she’d be purring. She was all soft and still flushed from his touch. He leaned down and licked the diamond pattern of freckles along the side of her breast. He nipped her lightly and she hissed.

“I’m supposed to be leaving.” He moved, sucking her nipple hard. When she gripped the back of his head, he circled the point with the tip of his tongue. He drew his hand down the middle of her, over her ribs and the slope of her belly to the completely bare lips of her pussy.

He’d tasted every inch of her and wanted more. He turned his hand and hooked two fingers between her folds, groaning at how wet she was.

His phone trilled out a text reminder as well as another clash of bells. “Dammit.”

She closed her legs around his hand. “No.”

He leaned over her. “No?”

“I don’t want you to go.”

He licked over the seam of her mouth and tangled with her tongue. She tasted of wild wind and cinnamon. How he’d gone so long without kissing her, he’d never know. With a groan he made himself lighten the kiss and pull back, both mouth and hand.

She trailed her fingers along the nape of his neck. “Who came up with the whole adulthood thing? Let’s run away to an island that doesn’t have cell towers or Wi-Fi. Pure hedonism for a month.”

He growled. “Don’t tempt me, woman.”

> She laughed and pushed at his shoulders and followed him off the bed. The sweet sway of her breasts and all that tanned flesh in the sunlight was going to kill him. She grabbed her robe from a crazy patterned purple chair and tugged it on. “Out. Go. I need a shower and to make sure everyone’s ready for the show tonight. Thanks to you and Cam I have two stages to keep track of.”

He dragged her against him. “Will you be able to come by the barn tonight?”

She toyed with the charm of his necklace. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good.” Relief hit him harder than he thought it would. He’d been able to focus on the set-up, the artists, and putting one foot in front of the other. Now, there was the show. He twisted the silk of her robe. What if he froze up? The intimate cluster of people had always been the lure, but what if she was there again? What if it became like every other show?

“Hey.” She raised her hand to his face and swiped a thumb over his cheek. “Leave the worrying to me. Your people know that setlist backwards and forwards. This is supposed to be fun.”

He nodded, hating that she’d seen through him. He brought her palm to his lips before stepping away. “Don’t worry about me. This is old hat.”

She tipped her head. “Of course.”

He bent and picked up his shirt, pulling it over his head as he walked toward her door. He stopped at the lever of the huge metal door and turned. Worry filled her gaze, so he added a smile. “I’ll be looking for you in the crowd.”

“You better.”

He slid the door closed behind him and rushed down the stairs. Luckily Nic and Adam were busy with customers, so he could slip out without explaining…well, anything.

When his pocket buzzed again, he dug out his phone. Three missed calls and four texts as well as a half dozen reminders. He hopped into his truck, stuffed his sunglasses on his face, and pulled out into traffic. Between the pedestrians and cars on the road, he’d have been better off walking up to the barn.

The festival didn’t officially start until four in the afternoon, but vendors setting up and curious townspeople meant a town overrun. The local stores were doing a booming business and the park was overflowing with foot traffic.

He grinned at the little girl pushing a stroller that had a doll sitting where she should be. Harried parents flanked her, steering her correctly. Logan nodded at Cam who waved from the main stage. His gaze flitted from person to person, absorbing faces, discarding others.

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