Fucking a woman. It’s raw and visceral.
“Yes,” I say under my breath as I trail my gaze over his chest to his face. “That’s what a kiss tells a woman.”
He licks his lips and I hold my breath for a beat. I want him to show me. I want to feel his lips against mine.
He leans in and every nerve ending in my body fires. I almost lose my balance.
“Tell me you never want to kiss Rufus again.” His breath soars over my cheek. “Tell me you’re done with him.”
I can’t let him keep thinking that’s what’s going on. I need him to know that I haven’t kissed Rufus or touched him. “It’s not like that with us. We’ve never kissed.”
His brows spike as a sexy grin slides over his mouth. “You’ve never kissed? I take it that means that you’re not fucking him?”
I answer even though my better judgment is nipping at my common sense and telling it to slow the hell down. “Rufus and I are just friends. We’re not like you and the woman you were telling Brenda about.”
He searches my face with narrowed eyes. “You’re jealous again.”
“I’m not,” I protest, my voice small and unconvincing. I resist the overwhelming urge to bite the corner of my lip when I see his gaze slide there. “I don’t care about who you’re interested in. It has nothing to do with me.”
My eyes shoot to the studio door. I should leave. I should just thank the man for helping me figure out who robbed me, and I should say goodnight and leave my attraction to him behind.
“It has everything to do with you.” He leans closer. “You’re the woman I was talking about, Piper. You’re the only woman I’m interested in.”
Chapter 28
Griffin
Rufus has to have a sixth sense when it comes to Piper. He waltzed through the studio door just as I was about to kiss her.
She was open and ready after I told her that she’s the only woman I’m interested in. I could tell that my words didn’t shock her. Her shoulders relaxed, her lips parted in a soft smile and just as I was about to go in for a kiss, Rufus strolled in and stole the moment and Piper’s attention away.
“You ready to head out, Piper?” Rufus walks up behind me wearing torn jeans and a light blue hoodie. “My friend Brett wants to know if we’re down for sushi at this place in Hell’s Kitchen. He had such a good time hanging out with us on Saturday he wants to do it again.”
He looks like a frat boy who hasn’t seen a shower in a week. I get that he’s got to sell the male model look wherever he goes, but running a comb through his hair wouldn’t hurt.
I glance back at Piper. Her gaze volleys from his face to mine. If this is a battle about who is leaving with her, I’m coming out on top.
“I’ll take Piper home tonight,” I offer without glancing back at him. “We were in the middle of something, Rufus.”
“Sorry, dude.” He brushes his hand on my shoulder. “I need to talk to Piper too. I’m bummed about a job I didn’t get. She’s the voice of reason, you know. She lifts me up.”
As inspirational as that is, whatever job he didn’t get, he’ll get over it.
“You didn’t get the runway show for Berdine?” Piper brushes past me to stand next to Rufus, her hand resting on his forearm. “I’m sorry. I know you had your heart set on that.”
I had my heart set on tasting Piper’s lips tonight, but I’m not crying on anyone’s shoulders. I’m taking fate into my own two hands.
“Doing that show in London would have changed everything for me.” He lowers his head. “My career would have hit the next level. I can’t catch a break lately.”
Piper glances back at me with a sigh. I can sense what’s coming next. She’s about to bail on me to comfort Rufus. That’s not happening.
“Gabriel Foster owns Berdine.” I pivot to face Rufus directly.
“That’s not news to me,” he drawls through a frown. “I heard he has last say on the models. Guess I’m not his type.”
Gabriel’s type is petite, blonde and the principal second violinist with the New York Philharmonic. His wife, Isla, hired my brother, Draven, to renovate their main bathroom. When she offered him free tickets to a performance, he handed them off to me.
I spent two hours sitting next to Gabriel while his wife mesmerized him on stage. We talked during intermission and formed an unlikely friendship. The woman I took with me that night wasn’t impressed with the concert, but she did land a job working in one of the Liore lingerie boutiques that are under the umbrella of the Foster brand.