Page 19 of Reckless

“Wow. How did you feel about that?” he asked.

“It wasn’t like I was ten. I was twenty years old, and I needed to move out and start my life.” Her dad had been struck stupid with love and he deserved to have that time with Jenna.

“Nora and Brian and I decided to rent together because we could cover the rent on a nice enough place near the studios Brian and I were working at. He was getting solid engineering gigs. Nora worked at a law firm. We jammed regularly, but it was informal garage practice type stuff. Brian’s aunt has a really swank recording studio and she let us use it when it was open. But she used to sneak in and listen to us. Before long, she started to give us tips. Taught us things. Helped us learn how to write our songs together. She encouraged us to book some gigs. And we did. It took a while and more than one garage or backyard party. But I didn’t want to tell my dad until we had a real show booked at an actual venue.”

He smiled and nodded. “You wanted to know you did it on your talent and not who your dad was,” he said, telling her that he’d listened to what she’d said earlier.

“Yeah, that.” She shrugged. “Not that I haven’t taken his help plenty. It’s a great thing to have, don’t get me wrong. But when I called to tell him we were playing a show and that we’d been rehearsing and writing our own music for months, he could have been hurt or annoyed I hadn’t said anything. Instead, he said,right on, Punky. He’s a good dad, you know? We’ve played way better places since, and a few worse, but that was the start. My dad passed our music on to Jeremy’s agency and we signed with them. We recorded an EP. It did well enough that we were able to keep going. We decided to move up to Seattle after I booked a bunch of studio work there and realized we could thrive. Music scene is great as you know. At first Brian and I worked plenty of studio jobs to pay the bills so we could make music and play gigs on every break we got. About a year ago we began to put together material for a full length release and when we were ready, my dad’s studio had been remodeled—I suspect for us to use—and he offered it along with his rehearsal space and pool house. It was a whole family affair, I shit you not. But what we ended up with was good. The best thing we’d ever done by far and we didn’t have to go into a thousand years’ debt to the label. Jeremy has worked with enough small bands trying to break that he’s got a lot of great ideas. The label already wants more from us, but Jeremy is using the tour as a way to get us a better deal. So thanks for that. And for listening to my very long and convoluted story about how I decided to start a band with my art school best friends.”

“I like knowing things about you,” he said softly.

“Even if I never get to the point in a straight line?”

His smile made him even more attractive. Mainly because it was just for her.

“I like how you meander. You got there eventually.”

This was the oddest sexually charged conversation she’d ever had.

“God damn, you’re so fucking beautiful,” he said, and she nearly gasped with the unexpected pleasure of his words. Words she couldn’t un-hear. Her reaction something she wasn’t willing to forego a repeat of. Harlow let herself want him fully, damn the consequences.

“You should kiss me,” she said, all in. A real kiss. More than the sweet brush of lips he’d given her. She wanted heat. Craved his taste.

He moved ever so slightly and on a sweet exhale, his mouth brushed against hers and lit her system up.

Her lips opened as he moved to make another pass and his taste seemed to slide into her like smoke.

He slid his hand over her bare shoulder and around the back of her neck, holding as he deepened the contact, his tongue stroking hers, making her think of other things he could do with his mouth.

She had to squeeze her thighs together against the throb of her clit in time with her pulse as she turned enough to get her hands on his shoulders and then around his neck.

He sucked her bottom lip, grazing it with his teeth as he did, sending a shiver through her. Her skin tingled, hyper aware of him. Attuned to his presence and awaiting his attention.

The absolute mindless pleasure that washed over her as he kissed her like the world was going to end swamped her, left her nearly boneless in his arms.

Inside the house someone called his name, and he tore his mouth away on a curse.

Harlow blinked several times, coming back to herself and the realization that they were at a party full of people making out by the pool like teenagers.

Miles had to clear his throat. “Out here,” he called out. To her he said, “We’ll continue this soon.” He stole another kiss and then stood as he had to shift a little to move his dick. His hard dick with a piercing. “You taste better than I imagined. And I’ve imagined a lot.”

Glad it was dark enough to hide her blush, she took his offered hand and stood, heading back into the house.

CHAPTERSEVEN

“So you gonna share what happened between you and Miles last night or nah?” Nora asked as they ate their lunch by the hotel pool, lounging just out of the direct sunshine. “I think we can agree that I have demonstrated a great deal of self-control not making you tell me before now.”

“When I look up self-control in the dictionary, your photo is right there,” Harlow teased and then looked around carefully to be sure they weren’t overheard. There was a small, fan club only show for Earthquakes that night so Nora and Harlow had done their yoga and then headed out to the pool to enjoy a day off. Brian drove out to look at natural wonder type shit and hike a nearby canyon.

Harlow admitted, “He kissed me. Like a real kiss with tongue and teeth. He’s really good with his mouth.”

“God. You’re never going to get rid of a guy who’s good with his mouth,” Nora said. “Neither would I.” She waggled her brows and Harlow snickered.

Brian would pass out from embarrassment if he was part of their conversation.

“I thought he was going to pin you to his chest like a medal or a blue ribbon,” Nora said with a smirk.

“Miles? What? Why would you think that?”

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