Page 187 of Dirty Princess

“Amazing,” I whisper.

Cullen slides his hands up my back until he touches my shoulders.

“Anything for you, love,” he says.

I look back at him.

I start to turn, ready to make my move and make it known what I want from him.

“Jaci,” he whispers, as though he can read my thoughts.

“Cullen,” I say.

“Play a song for me.”

It’s weird.

I feel more vulnerable sitting on the edge of the bed playing guitar for Cullen than I would if I stood naked before him.

Him hearing me sing makes me more nervous than his eyes staring at my nude body.

I almost feel like putting the guitar down and just getting naked.

There. Perfect distraction!

I strum the guitar and look around the room.

I notice outside the window the sun is already looking ready to set.

The days are getting shorter by the minute.

Which means the nights are longer. Colder.

There’s a feel to all of this.

Cullen takes out his phone, turns on the flashlight and begins to wave his arm over his head.

Smiling at me.

I laugh.

And then I decide to just give it up and sing to him.

I’m not very good.

Or maybe I am.

I don’t know.

I play the same song I sang withPawn Charmsince it’s all fresh in my mind.

I only sing the first verse and the chorus.

Then I abruptly stop and stand up.

“There,” I say. “Anything else and it’ll cost you.”

Cullen turns the flashlight off on his phone and steps closer to me. “Name your price, love.”

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