“Ithink you look more like a rock star,” I said, releasing his hand to rest mypalm against his face.
Helaughed gently. “If this is what being a rock star is like, they must spendtheir lives feeling half-dead.”
Ismiled sympathetically. “It’s worth it, babe,” I said reassuringly, stroking mythumb over his face. “Did Richard say when the EP would be released?”
Hisnod was accompanied by a yawn. “Yeah, he says it’ll be available in just a fewweeks,” and he nuzzled into my palm. “Fuck, I’ve missed you, baby, andI’m so horny, but I’m too tired to do a fucking thing about it. I don’t evenwant to move right now.”
“Well…” I bit my lip, leaning in to kiss him softly on the mouth, grabbing onto hisgroan and finding the energy to roll toward him. “Why don’t you just lay there,and I’ll take care of everything?”
Helaughed, lifting long enough to pull his shirt over his head. “You know,normally I’d protest and make sure you got yours first, but—”
Ishushed him with another kiss. “You’re allowed to be selfish sometimes.”
Devinstared at me as I sat up, moving my eyes and hands over his chest and stomach,familiarizing myself with the body I had been missing for a whole seven-dayeternity. I reached the waistband of his briefs and my fingers grazed lightlyunderneath. He sighed with anticipation and I looked back to his face. To seeif his lips had parted, to see if his eyes had closed. But he still held hiseyes on me, unwavering.
“What?”I asked softly, moving my hand lower, brushing my fingertips over the base ofhis erection.
Heshook his head, swallowing hard. “I’m not sure I’ve ever allowed myself to beselfish. Not sure I even know how to do that.”
Myhand stopped moving, resting in the nest of course hair at his groin. Those wordsthat weren’t meant to sting, pricked at my heart, knowing that a great majorityof his life had been spent being selfless—for me. He had put his dreamson hold to help me live mine. Working ajobhe didn’tlove, simply to pay his—ourbills.
Tohelp me heal. To be close to me.
Ihad been so selfish.
“I’llshow you,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss him hard as my hand wrapped aroundhim, and he sighed.
?
Afterbringing him to his release, he had passed out and there was still no sign of himwaking after I opened my eyes at ten in the morning.
Goodthing I had the day off.
Itiptoed out of the bedroom to feed Eddie and spotted the daisies on the table.I reached out to touch their soft petals.
Ismiled, walking into the kitchen to get the kettle boiling; he would wantcoffee when he woke up. I opened the fridge to grab eggs and milk, set onmaking him some French toast for breakfast, when I noticed a box on thecounter. I shut the refrigerator door, reached for the white box and when I openedthe lid, I was instantly slammed with the scent of fresh donuts. A dozen ofthem smiled at me in a variety of flavors, and I pressed a hand to my chest.Overwhelmed all at once by the flowers and the donuts he must have gotten thenight before, despite his exhaustion.
Withcoffee and donuts in my hands, I walked back to the bedroom and found Devin onthe phone.
“Seriously?Today?” He scrubbed a hand over his face before taking the mug of coffee frommy hand. “Thank you,” he whispered and puckered his lips. I leaned down to kisshim quickly before he wrenched away to speak into the phone again. “Rich … Ijustgot home, man.”
Ieyed him, keeping my expression neutral as I flipped open the box of donuts onthe bed. I grabbed for a Boston Cream and took a deliriously wonderful bite asDevin grabbed for a cronut. He put Richard on speakerphone as he ate.
“HeyRichard,” I said toward the phone, sitting down cross-legged in front of Devin.
“Well,hello there, Ky,” he replied cheerily before reverting to his business tone.“Dev, I get that you want to take a little time at home. You and Kylieunderstandably want some time together, but we need to interview some guys foryour band. I have a few in mind—actually, one of them actually almost playedback-up for Mayer a few years ago.”
Devin’smouth stopped working around his cronut as his eyes landed on mine.Starstruck.That’s what he was. “Mayer?”
“Yep,”Richard said. “Ever heard of Robbie White?”
Heswallowed, shaking his head. “Hell yes, I have. Oh my God, Rich, if he’s in,then why doIneed to interview him?”
“Youdon’t, but I’d like you to be there anyway. I need you to have a goodrelationship with the guy too, you know. I don’t want any heads butting, if Ican avoid it, and Robbie is … difficult.”
Myeyes never left Devin’s face as my ears listened to Richard’s professionalvoice. I was hearing a whole lot about whathewanted, whatheneeded, and I wondered if Devin’s interests were at all a factor in any ofthis.
“CanI just take today?” he asked. It sounded a little like begging. “I need sometime off, and—”
