Gus flips the lights on, and a room full of grand pianos comes into view. The place is modern with fabulous lighting like the best art gallery. A small pin spot illuminated the piano in the center of the room where a dozen roses sit in a vase.
Gus lifts his arm to the centerpiece, which is a beautiful black Steinway. “Stay as long as you like.” He passes the keys to Saint. “Lock up when you’re through.”
Saint pulls an envelope from his jacket and holds it out. “Thanks, Gus.”
The man takes it. “My pleasure. Goodnight.”
Gus leaves, closing the door behind him. I stare at Saint, opened-mouthed. “You did all this for me?”
“Happy birthday, Kami. You can play as long as you want.” He lifts his chin toward the Steinway. “Go on.”
I smile huge and fling myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he whispers with his mouth at my ear, and I feel his hands at my waist, pushing me back. He stares into my eyes. “Now play me something.”
I move to the bench and sit, lightly running my fingertips over the ivory keys. The Steinway is exquisite, and I give the keys a little run through to get the feel of them. Finally, I close my eyes and begin to play. I let the music roll through my body, naturally flowing out my fingers the way a typist just thinks a word and her fingers type it by instinct. I think the music, I feel the music, and it flows from my fingertips.
***
Saint—
I stand, transfixed as Kami plays the soft, beautiful music. The piece she chose is light and airy, and has such a calming effect on me—just like she has on me. It’s peaceful and good, and everything that’s right in the world, all wrapped up in that gentle, sweet sound.
I smile, soaking it all in as her graceful hands move over the keys. She’s completely focused on the notes, and lost in the music. It’s taken her away to somewhere else, and I love that I’m able to give that to her, if only for a few hours.
I sit on a bench and get lost in the sounds. I can’t get enough of looking at her. She’s beautiful, sitting there, doing what she loves most, and I’m jealous of the way she loves it. I’m suddenly jealous of a fucking piano, and the happiness it gives her. I want to give her that kind of happiness, and it makes me sad to know I’ll never be the one to do it. I can’t be. I can’t be what she needs, and that’s clear now more than ever.
She’s everything soft and beautiful and good, and I’m everything hard and ugly and bad. How could we possibly ever mesh together? But we do, a voice whispers in my head. We do mesh together into something amazing. I feel it in my bones, and know without a doubt we could be great together sexually. But what could I give her beyond that?
She deserves so much more. She deserves everything.
She ends the song and looks over at me, smiling. “That was ‘River Flows in You’ by Yiruma. He’s my favorite composer.”
“It was beautiful. Play some more.”
She does, and I listen for another hour. She looks over at me.
“One last song, and then we can go, okay?”
“We can stay all night if you want.” And in that moment I mean it—I want to give this girl anything she wants. I can deny her nothing, I realize, and that’s a bad place for a man like me to be, because I know I’ll fail her. How can I not, being at the beck and call of the club?
This last song changes in mood. It’s much more serious and contemplative. The notes touch me in a deeper way than the others. Its emotional, and it makes me lean in and pay attention. I’m captivated.
I can see it effects Kami as well. Her eyes are glazed with unshed tears as she finishes the last solemn notes, repeating them over several times, and it emphasizes the refrain until its burned into my soul.
Her hands still, and she turns to look at me.
“What was that called?” I can’t help asking.
“‘Love Me’.” She holds my eyes with hers when she replies. It may only be the title to a beautiful piece of music, but I can’t help responding.
“I already do, sweetheart.”
With that her tears spill over.
I stand and move to her. She rises, closing the top, and I take her in my arms and hold her.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “No one’s ever done something like this for me.”
I pull back and take her seat, pushing the bench back, giving us room, then take her slender waist in my hands and position her between my spread knees, facing me.
“Remember that piano scene in Pretty Woman?” I stare up at her.
She nods, and her lids drop and her mouth opens.
I smile, and lift her up onto the top of the piano. “Lie back.”
She does as I say, and I push her dress up to her hips. I drag her lacy panties down her legs, pulling them free of those sexy heels and shoving them in my pocket. I position her legs over my shoulders, and drag a thumb gently over the seam of her pussy. Her back arches at my first touch. “So pretty, baby.”
Then I lean in, my mouth comes down on her, and I give my girl what she needs.
She undulates, her hips lifting to meet my mouth, my every stroke. Soon she’s dripping wet, and I slip two fingers inside her. I stroke her clit with my thumb as I find that little trigger spot that has her calling out.
“Oh, God.”
“You like that.”
Her breath is panting now. “Yes, yes.”
I keep at her, giving her no respite until she’s about to explode. Then I drop my mouth to her and suck on her clit. She comes hard, and I lap up every drop.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Kami—
I set the vase of roses down on the table and turn. “Thank you for tonight. It meant a lot.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Come here.” I take his hand and pull him to the bedroom. He stops me at the door.
“This probably isn’t a good idea.”
“I’m eighteen now, and your wife.”
“Babe, don’t go thinking you can turn me into the good person you think you see underneath,” he warns.
“I know exactly who you are.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. You are that good person, Saint.”
He cups my cheek. “It’s sweet you believe that. You look at the world and see good.”
“I’ve recently seen the ugly, too. I think I know the difference when I see it now.”
His thumb strokes my skin. “I wish I was the man you think I am, the man you need.” He moves back, but I grab his belt buckle and pull him against me. I cup his face and kiss him, letting him see how I feel. I meet his gaze. “If you walk out now, you’ll never know what we could be. Stay. Please.”
He takes me in his arms and we kiss again. He’s gentle, searching, seeking. Then pulls back to stare into my eyes. “You sure?”
I nod, never more sure of anything in my life.
I feel his hands on my waist slide to my hips and his fists bunch a handful of fabric, then he’s dragging my dress up and over my head. And with a whoosh, I’m standing there naked except for the black strappy heels and the sparkling necklace. He backs me to the bed.