The joy on Charlie’s face was matched only by Sterling’s. “That’s my girl!” Charlie said proudly. “But I didn’t do this. You earned it.”
“Sure you won’t get sick of me, Charlie? You’ll be seeing a whole lot of me again.”
“I can’t wait.”
His faith in me had me feeling light, confident, on top of the world. So when Sterling caught me alone in the hallway after everyone settled in the living room, I decided to play a little.
“Is it okay I hid the interview from you? Your surprise when I announced it was adorable.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his chin, then melted as he hugged me.
“You’re allowed to have secrets, Zeppelin. I won’t always like it, but yes. It’s okay. And I’m happy for you ... and grateful to you. I’ll rest easier knowing a crazy woman is standing guard over my father.”
I cackled at his description of me and hugged tighter. “Will you rest easier knowing my interviewer was hot?”
There it is. Holy fuck, he gets tense.
“Did you tell him to turn the air conditioner on if he was so overheated?” he asked slowly, darkly.
I was happy he couldn’t see my grin. “No. I was hoping he’d take his shirt off.”
He flipped us so fast I nearly lost my footing, but the fire in his eyes as he pinned me to that wall was worth it.
“Did you now, Miss Bryce?”
I shuddered, my bottom lip between my teeth as I rolled my hips into him. “Maybe, Sir. What if I did?”
“Mmm. Then I’d be forced to tell our friends and family to leave, and I’d take you apart where you stand,” he muttered, kissing me roughly. “And then I’d put on one of those records loud enough for us to hear it and climb into the bathtub with you as I rubbed your back and kissed your skin and put you back together. I’d remind you that while your interviewer might look good without a shirt on, he’ll never be me.”
I was a goner. I wanted exactly that and I was five seconds from outright begging for it but I still wasn’t done having my fun. “Well then, good thing I was joking.”
“Were you? I suppose we can go back to your party then and I’ll just have to suffer wondering how wet you are for me right now,” he whispered. “Your choice, Zeppelin. This is your party to leave or continue. Just say the word.”
It was my party, and as I found myself surrounded by Sterling’s cologne, Sterling’s words, and Sterling’s strong, unrelenting embrace, it didn’t take me long to decide at all.
I knew exactly what I wanted. “Yeah... we’re good here.”