Page 102 of Animal Beats

It doesn’t register when someone yells “Refocused Destiny” won.

It doesn’t register when the manager tells him to accept his award.

I’m wrapped in my man’s arms, lips locked, exactly where I need to be.

Sounds from the stage creep into my happiness. Bennett’s tenor thanks the Academy, and that’s when I pull away. “I think you won,” I play with the hair at his shoulders.

“I sure did!” Río looks toward the stage and grins at me. “I’ll be right back!”

He races onto the stage and wrestles the microphone from the lead singer. In all of his half-naked glory, Río smirks at the audience of A-listers. He takes a deep breath. “This one means more than you’ll ever know. Thank you!”

The exit music plays UC off. Unable to process the moment, I stand watching the man I love, surrounded by his brothers of choice, carrying a gold statue.

As soon as he’s backstage, Río veers away from them and wraps me in his strong arms. “That thank you was for the public. You—this—is just for us.”

He didn’t need the world to see it. He only needed me to know.

He seals his declaration with a blistering kiss.

EPILOGUE – RÍO

From across my bedroom overlooking the Pacific Ocean, I throw back my head and yell, “I love you.” Even though only one night has passed since we attended the Oscars, I can’t stop telling Hayden this fact. I guess because I never told anyone else this before in my life.

Big blue eyes soften. “I love you, too.” She walks next to me. “If I didn’t mention this before, thank you for dinner last night. The Inn of the Seventh Ray was phenomenal.”

I raise my hands in the air. “Didn’t hurt that Cole and Rose Manchester were there, did it?”

She puts her hands around my neck. “It was cool meeting them. But you’re the only rockstar who’s caught my eye.”

“Right answer.” Putting my nose in her strawberry blonde hair, I inhale her orange scent, which continues to drive me insane. “I know how you could thank me.”

“With a kiss? I can do that.”

She gets on her tippy-toes and brings her lips to mine. Her sweet kiss blows out of proportion almost immediately. The next second, she’s opened my jeans and rolled them down around my ankles. She’s on her knees.

Her mouth engulfs my hard cock, and I’m done for. It doesn’t matter that I intended to lay her out on the bed and sample her secrets, now that I’m surrounded by her wet mouth, all other bets are off.

She slurps the precum off my tip and sits back on her haunches. “Usually, your top half is on display. I’m happy it’s the other way around now. Only for me.”

“Yes, only for you.” My hips push forward. “But he’s lonely.”

“Can’t have that, can we?”

I don’t have time to even shake my head before I’m engulfed in her mouth again. She sucks hard, causing all the muscles in my body to tighten. So. Good.

Her gaze shifts up to mine. There’s nothing more erotic than seeing my woman with her lips around my most sensitive appendage. I pump, soaking up all the pleasure she’s offering, putting my hand on the back of her head. “Exactly like this.”

Suddenly, I don’t want to come in her mouth—no matter how enticing she’s making it. No. I want her in my bed. Where I can look into her eyes as she comes for me.

With newfound determination, I command, “Stop!”

My desperate tone must have penetrated her haze, as my cock slips free. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Holy hell. No. You did everything right, but I want to make love with you. Not—” I motion to my upright body.

She puts her fingers in her mouth. “Well, alrighty then.”

“In my bed. Naked. Now.”