Page 16 of Rising Star

Sam cleared his throat.

I blinked, trying to evade the enchantment.

“Thanks for the after-sun collection you got me. You didn’t have to go into that much trouble. One would have been enough.”

He cocked his head, looking so devastatingly handsome it almost hurt to not be able to do anything about it. “I had no idea what you usually use and what works. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

His tongue swept across his full lower lip. Did he do it on purpose, or were my hormones out of control?

“Anyway, thanks. I’m sure my skin will be better soon.”

Sam released his grip on me, and I rushed to my bedroom, closed the door, and leaned against it until my breaths evened out.

With a heavy sigh, I fell face first on the mattress, wishing I could go back two days in time.

Whatever I did to enrage him, this angry side of my boss had never looked so dangerous.

So enticing.

For me.

And my body.

6

SAM

The night had been a series of tossing and turning. Around two o’clock, I went downstairs. A golden glow illuminated the kitchen and had me curious. Instead of sauntering to my music studio like I meant to, I ended up staring at Madison’s ass clothed in night shorts while she rummaged through the refrigerator, bent forward. As if she could intuit me lurking behind in the shadows, she closed the door and swiveled until we faced each other, handing me a bottle of water. Her eyes bore into mine.

Hair stood on end over my arms.

Invisible magnets pulled us forward. We both took a step toward each other. The semi-darkness did nothing to conceal the delicious curves of her body or the gleam in her eyes.

I uncapped the lid and downed the liquid in one gulp, my gaze never drifting from the woman standing before me. She followed each undulation of my throat, her facial expressions doing nothing to hide the thirst seen there, desire overpowering. Madison Prescott was the reason behind my endless nights. Of my mind going haywire. That no-sunscreen stunt she pulled earlier had sent a pang of panic through me. Her flesh would hurt. She’d need care. And I wasn’t allowed to be the one providing it. Wrath boiled my blood thinking about it.

Tired and upset, I refused to be a gentleman and molded my hand to her waist, while I abridged the gap keeping us apart. Her breath whistled on its way in. She parted her lips. Her palm splayed over my heart, the pounding impossible for her to miss. The fingers of my other hand trailed the length of her bare arm. She shivered. My dick got harder. A moan crossed the brink of her luscious mouth. A guttural groan left mine. I had turned into a starving animal that had been refused its favorite meal. And I was famished.

Another step forward.

I backed her against the refrigerator.

My hand cupped her chin.

My mouth neared her ear.

Tremors worked through her.

Goosebumps blossomed under the pads of my fingers when my hand connected with the bare skin of her stomach. The tiny strip of flesh her tank top couldn’t conceal. The one about to drive me fucking insane. Or make me cross a line I’d been stopping myself at.

My thumb lingered over her juicy lips.

I pushed myself further into her space and smelled the faint perfume of the after-sun lotion she put on.

I hoped she could smell just how bad my pheromones soared at her closeness.

“I’m fucking starving right now. And I’m fucking furious with you. It’s not a good mix. I can’t decide if I wanna punish you right here on this countertop or hold and kiss you until that sunburn heals.”

Her devilish lips sucked my thumb into her mouth, the vision so hot my dick grew a couple of inches in my pants, begging to be freed. Madison twirled her tongue over the tip, her teeth toying with my digit. Oh, how much would I pay to have her reward my cock in a similar fashion? Sweat crawled along my spine. She never looked away, even when a loud moan straight from the depth of her broke the silence.