“What makes you ask that?” My hand slid up, tracing the underside of her bare breast. Maeve’s breathing stuttered for an instant, then she shoved my hand away and sat up, creating space between us.
“You know you’re photographed everywhere you go, right? And those pictures are readily available to the public?”
“I know I want your ass back over here.” I slapped the bench next to me, barely listening to what she said.
“I’ve seen the women you like to spend time with, and they looknothinglike me. Which leads me to believe whatever attraction you’re feelin’ for me is situational.”
A deep scowl pulled at my mouth and brow. I slapped the bench again. “If you’re going to talk nonsense, get your ass over here, Maeve.”
Defiant to the end, she shook her head. “No, I don’t want to.”
Out of patience and needing my hands on her, I moved fast, pushing her shoulders back. Bringing my knees onto the bench, I hovered between her spread legs. She shoved at me, but I caught her hands and pinned them over her head. Not hard. If she truly wanted to escape, I would’ve let her. But she didn’t put much effort into her struggle.
“You’re staying here until you listen to me.”
She writhed, bucked, shook her head back and forth. “This is not how you make me listen.”
Dipping my head, I rubbed my nose along hers, and she stopped, inhaling a little gasp through her rosy, parted lips. I did it again, eliciting the same, sweet response.
“That better?” I asked, nipping at her mouth.
“Maybe.” She became pliant, less feisty, as my teeth and beard scraped over her smooth skin.
“Tell me what you saw.”
Her fingers flexed, so I threaded mine with hers, making her sigh. “Before the tour, Haven wanted to remind me what a cocktopus you are, so I didn’t re-catch old feelings. She showed me a lot of pictures of you with model-types. There were alot, Santiago, all tall, thin, glamorous. You know, exactly the type anyone would think a rock star would be seen with.”
My chest hurt thinking about Maeve seeing those pictures. If I had to look at pictures of her with man after man, I’d break shit. I wasn’t even ashamed to say it. I’d never felt like tearing down the world for any other woman, but she was different for me. Always had been.
Holding onto her wrists with one hand, I moved the other to her hair. With long, slow strokes, I eased my fingers through her silky strands, getting lost in the shade of green this light brought out in her eyes. They were Spanish moss, hanging from antique trees, lining winding dirt roads.
“When we got signed, image was everything. Clark had us out where we’d be photographed, pretty girls on our arms. Most of the time, those women were dates set up by the label.”
She let out a dry laugh. “You want me to believe you weren’t sleepin’ with them?”
Lowering my face to hers, I kissed the corner of her turned down mouth. “Didn’t say that.”
“At least you’re honest.”
I held her face in my hand. “Should I look at pictures of every guy you’ve ever been with? Examine how different they look that me?” I sure as hell had stared at enough pictures of pretty boy Drew Rossi. “Or should I believe you’re attracted to me by the way you get all breathless when I touch you?” I slid my hand down, cupping her breast, and pressed my erection against her center. “Doesn’t matter who I’ve touched in the past. When I’m with you, I’m all aboutyou. You’re who I can’t stop thinking about. You’re the one I’m picturing when I jack off in the shower. It’s you I can’t stop looking at. You are stunning, Maeve. And the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. You’re not my type, because a Maeve-type wouldn’t do. Only you. I don’t know how to make that more clear.”
Her long lashes fluttered against her cheeks, and she bit her bottom lip. “That’s pretty clear.” Her fingers flexed, and she squirmed beneath me. “Let me go so I can touch you.”
I released my hold on her wrists, and she brought them up to touch my face. Her nails scratch my beard as her eyes searched mine.
“What are we doing?” she whispered.
I shook my head. “No clue. I only know I like you. Want to be around you, touch you. I want you to smile at me, call me stupid ‘dick’ names, make me laugh. I want to hold you, sleep in the same bed with you, make music with you. I like you, Maeve.”
Her breath caught, eyelids lowering to half-mast. “Seems like you have more than a clue.”
“Yeah.” I pressed another kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Maybe I know exactly what I want.”
Wanting Maeve wasn’t a question. Keeping her, however…that was what I was clueless about.