Page 265 of Hot Mess
“Hmm. That was kinda cheesy, but I like it.”
He slipped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to him. Then he murmured, “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met.”
“Please, don’t say that. I know you’ve met supermodels.”
“Trust me,” he said, brushing his lips over mine. “Listen to me, and believe me when I say it. You, Danica Vola, are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, insideandout. I think about you all the time. It’s… gross.”
I giggled.
“I want you,” he said, “all the time. I fuckingcraveyou.”
“I crave you, too,” I murmured, smiling.
“Then kiss me,” he murmured back.
I brushed my lips over his, sliding the tip of my tongue over the sensitive inside of his upper lip, drawing a low groan from him. His arms slid up my back, tightening around me as he drew me against him. I deepened the kiss, melting into him as his mouth opened and I stroked my tongue against his.
His hips shifted restlessly against me. I felt his dick pressing into my hip as he lapped his tongue against mine, picking up the pace of our kiss.
Then, just when it was getting really good… I heard my phone jingle faintly in my purse. Wherever it was.
“Ugh…” I kissed him again, then whispered, “Why does it have to be my birthday right now? I don’t even care about my stupid birthday.”
“Yeah, but your friends do. I should really take you back to the bar before your sister launches a crusade against me.”
“You should. She’s been known to burn men at the stake for less.”
His pierced eyebrow rose.
“Metaphorically speaking,” I clarified. “Still, not so fun for those men.”
He snickered a little and released me, reluctantly. I flopped over on my back. My phone jingled with another couple of incoming messages. And I knew who they’d be from.
I’d texted Taylor from the hotel lobby to let her know I was with Ashley, that I’d be back in about an hour. And I’d asked her to keep everyone drinking and dancing and happy without me. There was a lot of booze going around; odds were good they wouldn’t totally notice my disappearance for a while and Taylor could cover for me.
But my sister would definitely be wondering where the hell I was. And if I was okay.
Ashley propped himself up on his elbow next to me. “Maybe they’re worried about you.”
“Maybe.” I sighed and peeled myself off the bed. I leaned in and gave him a lingering kiss. He squeezed my boob, and I almost ended up falling right back into bed with him… but I managed to wriggle away.
He slapped me on the butt and I grabbed my clothes, heading into the bathroom to clean up. When I emerged fully dressed, he was getting dressed, too. I dug my phone out of my purse and checked my messages. Most of them were from Dani.
I texted her back.
Me:All good. Sexual detour. Be back soon.
Ashley had picked his phone up off the floor, where maybe it fell when I stripped him down. He looked at it, thumbing the screen, and mumbled, “Cool.”
“What is?”
“Oh… Matt Brohmer. Dirty’s bassist. He just sent me his vortex playlist. You know, playlist of twenty songs, his musical guts and soul.”
“That’s the Matt you want in your band?” He’d mentioned him to me, in passing.
“Yeah.” He turned the phone toward me. “That was fucking fast. Summer just asked him for this like an hour ago.”
“Let me see.” I took the phone and we pressed together, Ashley’s arm slipping around me as we read through the list of songs. Then I looked up into his eyes and informed him, very matter-of-fact, “This dude rocks. And he has a sense of humor. And a high sex drive. And probably some deep-seated issues. And soul, which is a good thing.”
