Page 60 of Animal Beats

“Come with me.” I extend my hand.

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Damn stubborn woman,” I mutter. “We need to discuss where we go from here, and I’d prefer to do that in the other room.” I indicate the bedroom with my head.

She sighs. “Do we have to do this?”

“Damn straight.” My hand bounces. “Come.”

“Fine,” she relents, putting her delicate hand in mine and we make our way through the empty plane. Thank fuck she didn’t put up a bigger fuss.

Once we’re inside the bedroom, I close the door. This already is more intimate. Sitting on the end of the bed, I say, “Tell me, Hayden, did you enjoy yourself in the hotel room?”

“How can you ask me that?”

“Because I want to hear your answer. Did you?”

She paces throughout the bedroom. “You know I did.”

I nod. If she had fun with me, why is she weirding out? “Me, too.”

“I’m glad we got that all sorted.” She points to the door. “I’m going to go out there. I have a lot of PR stuff for the band to catch up on.”

“Why?”

My question brings her up short. “Why what?”

An awful thought bounces through me. “Do you want to sleep with the entire band? For PR purposes or something?”

She pulls back. “What? No. Are you nuts?”

“Not yet, but you’re driving me there.”

Fists on her hips, she snaps, “I don’t sleep around! I’m usually a one-and-doner.”

I sort through everything she blurted. In a lower tone, I say, “You just had multiple with me.”

Her hands fly akimbo. “I know!”

Fighting back a smirk, I stand. “Want to see if it was a fluke?”

Her eyes round at my challenge. “Again? This soon?”

I’d like to high-five the losers she’s been with in the past. I step into her space. “Yes, Babysitter. Right here. Right now. I’m ready.” I pause a beat. “Are you?”

“I.” She looks to the right. “I’m.” She looks to the left. “I don’t do casual.”

“Thank fuck for that.” I stare at her talented mouth. “You challenge me to be better. You’ve shown me something truly extraordinary—love.” Dial it back Río. “I want to be in your orbit.” Forever sounds nice.

“Well,” she softens.

My hand lands on her waist, and I tug her shirt up and over her head, exposing the pretty blue bra. Not waiting for permission this time, I unhook it and roll it down her arms, then dip my head to greet both of her pink-tipped boobs.

“So good, Río.”

This is all the encouragement I need. The next thing I know, we’ve stripped the remainder of our clothes and lie on top of the bed. I kiss her, which she returns unlike any other French kiss I’ve ever experienced. I nip at her nipples, and her back undulates. My hand skims to her pussy, and her legs open wide for me, allowing me to touch her wet center. She’s perfect for me.

I reach over to my wallet and pull out a condom. She surprises me by saying, “Let me.” Stealing it from my fingers, she tears it open and pinches the top before rolling it over my cock. Which is only too happy to be cared for by her again.