Page 32 of Shatter

"You're really okay?" he asks me, sincerely, still looking so regretful. I slide up next to Harrison, and slide my arm around his waist, showing Marco where my heart is really at.

"I'm more than okay," I admit.

Harrison nods down the hallway. "Take a few minutes and catch up in private," he says as Parker slides his hand down Marco's and laces their fingers together.

"Extra towels are beneath the sink, and there's lube in the nightstand."

A shocked laugh escapes me as I swat his chest, but Parker's already tugging Marco down the hallway.

Harrison shrugs. "What? You think the first time they're truly alone together they're not going to rip each other's clothes off?"

I laugh again, and when Harrison turns back to the stove, I wrap my arms around him, hugging him from behind.

We eat in comfortable silence, letting my eyes eat up every inch of the delicious man in front of me.

It's the first time in twenty-four hours that things feel like things might actually be okay.

Until the doorbell rings again.

Chapter seventeen

Harrison

Isteel my spine.

"That's your parents," I say after checking the peep hole, but I stop the panic I see in her eyes by wrapping my hand gently around her neck. It's to focus her, ground her, keep her from spiraling mentally, and just listen to me. "I want you to go hide in my bathroom and shut the door. They'd have no reason to go in there. And if you're in Bali, I have no reason not to let them in. I promise you that you are safe. Can you do this for me?"

She licks her lips, lust thick in her gaze, and she drops her eyes to my lips. The things I'd like to do to her...

But I have to make her hear me.

"I know you want to lash out and rail against them, but for once in your life be a good girl and stay quiet, and I'll reward you later."

"Will you make it hurt?"

A grin causes my lips to twitch. "Of course"

The doorbell chimes again as they start pounding on the door.

I give in to my urge and drop a quick kiss to her pouty lips. "Do this for me, Little Bird."

She nods once and scrambles down the hallway. When I hear the quiet 'snick' of my bathroom door closing, I wipe my hands down my sweatpants and will the semi I'm sporting to die down.

When I open the door to an irate Athena and sheepish-looking Chris, my erection dies instantly. I suppress the urge to roll my eyes as Athena rushes past me, pacing in my living room and gripping at her hair like a crazed woman.

"You have to tell us where she is, Harrison! Call her right now and demand that she speak to us."

"No, the fuck, I don't. And who the hell do you think you are barging into my home and barking demands?" I'm disgusted, but a little impressed at the sheer audacity of the woman.

I may have had an idea of the control this woman had over her daughter's career, but maybe I haven't seen the full picture. Why would Melody taking an unexpected vacation cause this amount of panic? As far as I know, she doesn't have another movie she's shooting for any time soon.

I turn to see Chris has picked up my phone from the counter.

"Excuse you," I say, disgust evident in my voice now.

He ignores me and presses Mel's contact. Her phone is still off, so I know it won't ring through and give her away, so I let him, annoyed.

"Straight to voicemail," he says, giving me back my phone.