Page 61 of Volatile

He clung to my shirt, and I could tell he didn’t trust it. He didn’t believe me, and maybe I deserved that.

“We should go back to the bungalow,” I said, not sure how to make this better. I’d never been a relationship guy. I’d avoided them after seeing how they’d fucked up everyone in this industry. A big part of me thought people like me couldn’t be in relationships. Both because of the fame and jealousy but also because of the lifestyle we led. I didn’t want to be home. I wanted to be on the road or making music. I didn’t spend more than a few weeks at a time in my apartment. I couldn’t do that to kids or a wife, and how could I ask someone to give up their entire life to travel with me?

“Why? Do you not want to be seen?” Attitude edged into Aspen’s voice.

“Do you want me to march you into the bar and kiss you, or take you back to the bungalow and fuck you again?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Put your dick away and choose. I sure as fuck am not letting anyone else see it,” I said in a growl.

He fixed his skirt and tried to look over his shoulder. “How bad are my stockings?”

I made a circle with my index finger, telling him to turn around. He turned, and I tilted my head, groaning, still hard from our fuck. I hadn’t been like this since I was in my early twenties. What had gotten into me?

Did I really like fucking guys that much more?

I cringed internally.

No, not guys.

Aspen.

Only Aspen.

My chest rumbled in a growl. “They’re bad enough that I will end up fucking you again right here if you show me your ass again.”

He smiled, coloring. “That easy?”

“I’ve been inside you now. What, am I going to double go to hell if I do it again?” I said flatly.

He laughed and held out his hand.

My heart skipped a beat, but I took it before I could hesitate. I wouldn’t do this halfway. Not when Aspen’s heart was on the line. The world had hurt him too much. I wouldn’t be another reason he wanted to die. Too many people who claimed to love him and he’d trusted had hurt him. I wouldn’t ever be one of them.

The smile that lifted his lips as he looked at our hands killed me.

“You really going to walk with me in public like this?”

“Do you not want me to?” I asked, leading him back towards our bungalow.

Since he didn’t object, the hand must have been enough. I exhaled as we wove our way through the winding boardwalks towards the ocean. The cool air rolled in from the sea, easing some of the humidity. I inhaled slow, deep breaths. No one gave us a second look, though there weren’t that many people out at this hour. They must have been closing out the bars or not allowed in them, so they had nothing to do.

We made it back to the bungalow, and Aspen stripped at the door.

“What are you doing?” I hung back to watch, still working out my feelings.

“Let’s swim.” He strolled through the bungalow and out the back, bare when he stood in the moonlight.

“Naked?” I said, my chest tight.

“You don’t want to be naked with me?” He turned, putting his hands on his hips.

“You’re not worried someone will see us?” I stepped outside, grabbing him by the hips to pull his body to mine. “I don’t want anyone to see you.”

“You don’t?” He wore a little smirk. Did he like my possessiveness?

“No, I don’t. People thirsting over you in the skirt is bad enough.”

---