Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Violet

You'd think I'd be tired of watching Ethan perform by now, but I'm not. If anything, I enjoy watching his performance more every time.

He really does command the stage. He really is in his element with his guitar strap around his shoulders, his eyes on the crowd, his lips curled into a cocky smile.

This is where Ethan belongs.

He doesn't belong with me.

Don't get me wrong. I'm selfish enough I'd take him.

But we both know he would never choose me over music.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. It only has to be a compromise. A little less of music for a little more of me. That was all I wanted. I wanted him to care about my dreams as much as I cared about his.

But he didn't.

He threw me away.

I can't take him throwing me away again.

I have to pull back.

Only my feet won't move. My gaze refuses to budge. I hang out backstage, lost in the band's performance, until the lights go down.

In the blink of an eye, Ethan is here. He slides his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. His lips brush against my neck as they make their way to my ear.

"We're leaving first thing tomorrow." He nips at my earlobe. "Means we have the whole night to ourselves."

He pulls back enough to smile.

It's that megawatt Ethan Strong smile, the one that melts glaciers.

I should say no.

I really should.

But that damn smile is melting my reservations.

I nod yes and let him lead me back to the hotel.

I brush my teeth, change into a pair of his boxers and one of his t-shirts, and I fall asleep in his bed, in his arms.

The chirp of the alarm is loud. The light of morning is streaming through the curtains.

There's Ethan, lying next to me, his eyes still closed, his dark, wavy hair hanging over his face.

I don't want to leave.

I don't want to pull back.

But I don't have a choice. If I stay, if I keep up this level of intimacy, I'm going to fall hard and fast and I'm going to break when he doesn't catch me.

Ethan blinks his eyes open. His gaze goes to the alarm clock. He stares at it like it did him wrong then sighs with pleasure as his slap silences the alarm.

He turns to me.