Page 83 of Ravaged By Lust

“I just want you to cuddle me, Bishop.”

He wraps his arms around me, and with just that, the years melt away and we are back to being two innocent teenagers in first love.

37

BISHOP

I flip over the page, quickly scanning through the paragraphs.

“Looks alright,” I say to Chloe, pointing at the contract Mickey Miller has sent through to her. It’s been a few days since her performance.

My girl looks up at me with trusting eyes. She’s relying on me to make sure everything’s okay. “Yeah?”

“It’s similar to the one I remember from the early days of Ravaged,” I reply. “But I’ll send it to my lawyers to have a thorough look, anyway. Have them spot any of those legal tricks and loopholes Mickey Miller might be tempted to put in for an unsigned artist.”

“Okay. Thanks for that. I wouldn’t know where to start with a deal this big.”

“So,” I start. “You think you’re going to sign, then?”

Chloe bites her lip. “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. To be a full-time musician. No more working behind a till for me.”

“That’s a yes, right? Please say it’s a yes. This is all I want for you.”

She nods. “I won’t deny I’m freaking terrified of everything, but I’ll do it.”

I bring her in for a hug. “Everything is going to change for you,” I whisper. “But I’ll be there. Every step of the way. Next to you. I’ve been through this shit myself, so I kinda know what it’s like.”

“I’ll like to thank you, Bishop.”

I lean back.

“You can thank me by never leaving my side again.”

“Trust me,” she says. “I’ll never even think about it.”

“I know what to call your debut album,” I say.

Chloe’s eyes light up. “What?”

“Calm Storm.”

“Calm Storm?” she asks. “Why?”

“Because it’s you,” I say. “You remind me of something both raging and yet so serene.”

She nods. “I like it.”

I can tell she’s thinking of something.

“What’s on your mind?” I ask her.

Chloe bites her lip again and stares up at me with hungry eyes. Oh, how I like that look.

I have an inkling of where this is going to go.

“Maybe this,” she says before she lowers her hands around my belt and starts to unbuckle it.

“Is your gay roommate home?” I ask her.