Ben placed the cake on my tongue, and I shocked him as my teeth nipped his finger. I closed my mouth and swirled my tongue around his fingertip in pleasure. The look of hunger in his eyes felt powerful.
He slid his finger out and swept it across his bottom lip.
“Are you still hungry?”
I was ravenous.
“Would you like some coffee, another dessert, perhaps?” He chuckled.
I shook my head. “This was wonderful, Ben. Thank you.”
He paid the check and took my hand as we exited to the car. Our hands stayed clasped during the drive home.
When he lifted my hand and kissed it, ripples swept over my chest. I blinked at him as he placed kisses along my inner wrist. My head felt light, and a feeling of euphoria came over me. I placed my head on his shoulder as his lips brushed back and forth over my wrist.
I didn’t want the night to end when the car pulled in front of my apartment, and Ben walked me to the entrance door.
My palms were sweaty, and I tried to control the pounding of my heart. I held my breath as Ben leaned closer and closed my eyes in anticipation. When his soft lips fell on my left cheek, I cringed.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, oiseau chanteur,” he said as he walked away.
Leaving me in the cold, wet, and confused.
Chapter Seven
Ben
My morning run was brutal, and the cold ached throughout my joints. Ever since my thirty-fourth birthday, I felt the impact more.
The cold didn’t ease the blue balls I’d been suffering. The shower work-out didn’t help much either, but that was all my cock was getting. Sorry, bud. I looked down at the tent I’d been sporting.
Thinking about Melody gave me a constant hard-on.
The girl was an angel; hell, she said a prayer before her meal. I understood cultures—I had clients in the south who would bless the food before lunch meetings—but I couldn’t shake-off the fact that she prayed out of my head.
It didn’t help that she’d had on a white dress. She looked like sin. I wanted to possess and devour her. She would be marked forever, and I didn’t care. Not after that asshole ex-boyfriend showed up.
My Songbird was hiding something, and seeing the fear in her eyes, I should have taken care of him there. I told her I would leave it, but if I saw or heard about him again, he would be handled.
Melody had been having a great night, and everyone in the coffee bar was talking about how talented she was.
The vibe she was throwing at me and those lyrics... She was singing about some heavy shit—things I wanted to do to her. When she sang, “rip it and own me,” I was ready to take her right there.
The thought of it made me hard as steel.
My pure little Songbird—with a dark side—held everyone’s attention, and she needed to be on a bigger stage.
The thought of asking him to help her wasn’t an option, but I had another idea, so I grabbed my cell and dialed.
“Graham Morgan’s office,” she said.
“Carol, this is Ben.”
“Carol no longer works here. My name is Kylie.”
It had been a while since Graham drove off the last assistant. I laughed to myself before continuing.
“My name is Ben Schilling. For the Vibe event, put me down for two.”
“One moment.” I could hear papers being shuffled and fingers typing. “I found it. The RSVP is showing one as a maybe.”
“Yes, that’s why I said put me down for two.”
“RSVP for two people?”
Shaking my head, I paused before I said, “Yes.”
This one won’t last more than a week.
Melody seemed off when I picked her up the next Saturday. She looked stunning as always, wearing a short, black, flowy, lace dress that showed off her sexy legs. She wasn’t her talkative self in the car. I wanted to surprise her with something she said she loved—desserts. The pastry chef at the French restaurant I took her to was world-renowned.
Throughout the evening, I found myself having to make small talk.
I don’t do small talk.
Melody gave quick responses during our four-course meal, although she did mention her appreciation for the food, service, and ambiance several times. I couldn’t take anymore and placed my hand on top of hers while she was cutting her steak.
“What’s happened? Has your asshole ex-boyfriend been bothering you?”
She looked startled before her shoulders fell.
“No, I haven’t seen him.”
She looked back down at her plate.
I took a few deep breaths. “Then what is bothering you?”
She shook her head with a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry I’ve been out of it.”
“Are you sick?” I placed my hand on her cheek; she didn’t feel warm. “You need to stop singing in the cold—it’s not good for your voice.”
When she placed her hand on top of mine, a spark shot through my fingers. Her eyes finally lifted to mine.
“Thank you, Ben, really. I’m fine.”
That beautiful mouth of hers was lying, exposed by the shadow over her irises.
“What are you doing next Saturday? I would like to take you to a work event.”
Her eyes perked up. “Really?”
I grabbed her hand and placed a kiss inside her wrist. Her eyelids fluttered as I released it.
“Finish eating before I eat you.”
“That’s unlikely,” she said, cutting into her steak.
Her tone wasn’t subtle, and I wondered what was really going on in her head.
“I mentioned my firm’s client list is very diverse. One of its clients is Vibe. We are hosting an event with the music executives next Saturday that could benefit you.”
Her fork dropped. “Are you freakin’ kidding me?”
I wiped the corners of my mouth. “I’m freakin’ serious.”
She leaped out of her chair and hugged me tightly. I felt like an ass. While she squeezed her torso in tighter, I sat there like a stiff in shock.
Melody released me with the widest grin. “That’s how you know so much. Of course, I’ll go. Genesis is going to flip.”
“I’m glad that made you happy.”
Her smile beamed as she sat back down to finish her dinner.
“You may want to have business cards printed.”
She laughed. “They’re not the flyer type of crowd?”
Her laugh was animated, and I loved hearing it.
“It’s semi-formal, cocktails, and all the pomp and circumstance you expect. I have a feeling people will love you.”
Her grin fell. “Hopefully, the right people.”
“Let me help you with that.”
The dessert course went off far better than the others. Melody’s mood had shifted, and she attacked the sampler plate with vigor. The woman liked her sweets.
In the car, she let me hold her hand, and I tasted every inch of it. She’d shiver when my tongue flicked against her wrist, her eyes closing a few times as I caressed her fingers.
It took some energy not to slip her hand onto my cock.