Page 43 of Rock Me

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Summer

I am havinga blast.I can’t recall the last time I went to a carnival or festival for the pure fun of it, not to perform and entertain.The day is warm, the sun overhead as Ben and I walk around the site, arm in arm.Wanting to take advantage of my time here, I coax him on every ride imaginable, from the Ferris wheel I saw from the highway to the other rides like the Round Up and Scrambler, to the more sedate carousel.

Ben is a great sport, not once complaining about the type of ride I’ve cajoled him onto or all the junk food I eat.Our current stop is the cotton candy stand, where I watch a woman turn spun sugar into a coated sticky delicious treat.

Ben hasn’t let me pay for a thing, so after he takes care of buying my latest indulgence, we walk to an empty bench and take a seat.I scoop a finger full of candy and hold it out for him to taste.

His heavy-lidded eyes meet mine as he grasps my wrist, lifts my hand, and swirls his tongue around the soft, sugary treat, pulling my finger into his mouth and biting down on the tip.An electric jolt travels straight to my sex, and I am unable to control the low moan that escapes my throat, my nipples tightening, moisture pooling between my thighs.

“You’re a bad girl,” he says in a husky voice, his gaze hot on me.

I grin in reply.“You started it.”

“I’d finish it, too, if we weren’t sitting in a public place.”

I squirm in my seat, my sex damp and desire flooding through me.

“Excuse me.”Two young girls walk over, interrupting us.

“Yes?”Ben asks.

“Hi,” I say, using a tone warmer than my bodyguard had.

“Umm, aren’t you Summer Michelle?I saw you onThe Morning Show.”

I purse my lips in thought.A part of me wants to give the girls what they want, but this is my day out with Ben.I assured him we are safe, and I intend to keep us that way.

“No, I’m not.But you’re not the first people to think that,” I say, trying to lighten their obvious disappointment.They were hoping for a mini-celebrity sighting.

“Okay, well, sorry to have bothered you,” the other girl says.She nudges her friend as they walk away.“I told you it wasn’t her!You’re so ridiculous.”Giggling, they head off toward one of the rides.

I glance up at Ben.“See?We’re just a normal couple out for a day at the carnival,” I say, punctuating my statement with a bite of cotton candy.

He stares at me for so long I grow uncomfortable and wipe at imaginary pink sugar on my face.“What?”I finally ask.

“You just surprised me, that’s all.For someone who wants fame, you just turned down the chance for an autograph and photo op with fans.”

I shrug.“I think that would be obvious.I love to sing.I want to be recognized for my voice.It’s about the music, not being identified everywhere I go or losing my anonymity.”I blush as I say, “I’m really shy at heart.”

“I love that about you,” he says, his eyes softening as he speaks.“Promise me something?”

I run my tongue over my bottom lip.“What?”I ask softly.

“Whatever happens in the future, don’t change.”He leans closer, his lips hovering over mine.“Don’t lose that innate sweetness inside of you, okay?”

“Okay.”I can’t imagine being anything or anyone other than what or who I am.

My eyes flutter closed, and his lips touch mine, so gently it brings tears to my eyes.He prolongs the kiss, but it doesn’t grow hot, heavy, or hungry.Instead it is an honest, genuine expression of feelings.Feelings he holds inside and doesn’t express with words.

Emotions I feel building and growing inside me every day and wish I could set free, but I refrain.Given the constraints of the time we have together and the earlier promises I made, it is better to hold the words close to my heart.

“Hey, how about I win you that stuffed animal you wanted?”he offers.

I grin and place my hand in his, determined to focus on the here and now.Not the uncertain future.

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