Page 45 of Lick
“Yes. Are you going to play the songs for me later?” I asked. “I’d love to hear them.”
“They’re not done yet. When they’re done, I will. I want them perfect for you.”
“Okay,” I said. He’d written songs about me. How incredible, unless they were the uncomplimentary kind, in which case we needed to talk. “They’re not about how much I annoy you sometimes, are they?”
He seesawed his hand in the air. “A little. In a good way, though.”
“What?” I cried.
“Trust me.”
“Do you actually state what a pain in the ass I am in these songs?”
“Not those words exactly. No.” He chuckled, his good humor returned. “You don’t want me to lie and say everything’s always fucking unicorns and rainbows, do you?”
“Maybe. Yes. People are going to know these are about me. I have a reputation as a constant delight to protect.”
He groaned. “Evelyn, look at me.”
I did so.
“You are a constant fucking delight. I don’t think anyone could ever doubt that.”
“You’re awful pretty when you lie.”
“Am I, now? They’re love songs, baby. Love isn’t always smooth or straightforward. It can be messy and painful,” he said. “Doesn’t mean it isn’t still the most incredible thing that can ever happen to you. Doesn’t mean I’m not crazy about you.”
“You are?” I asked, my voice tight with emotion.
“Of course I am.”
“I’m crazy about you too. You’re beautiful, inside and out, David Ferris.”
He lay his forehead against mine, closing his eyes for a moment. “You’re so fucking sweet. But, you know, I like that you can bite too. Like you did in Vegas with those assholes. I like that you cared, standing up for that girl. I even kind of like it when you piss me off. Not all the time, though. Shit. I’m rambling again…”
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “I like you rambling.”
“So you’re not angry at me for losing my temper?”
“No, David. I’m not angry at you.”
Without another word, he crawled off me and lay at my side. He pulled me into his arms, arranging an arm beneath me and another over my hip. “Ev?”
“Hmm?”
“Take your shirt off. I wanna be skin to skin,” he said. “Please? Nothing more, I promise.”
“Okay.” I sat up and pulled the tank top off over my head, then snuggled back down against him. Topless had a lot going for it. He tucked me in beneath his chin, and the feel of his warm chest was perfect, thrilling and calming all at once. Every inch of my skin seemed alive with sensation. But being like this with him soothed the savage storm within or something. It never occurred to me to worry about my belly or hips or any of that crap.
Never mind the lingering scent of booze on his skin, I just wanted to be close to him.
“I like sleeping with you,” he said, his hand stroking over my back. “Didn’t think I’d be able to sleep with someone else in the bed, but with you it’s okay.”
“You’ve never slept with anyone before?”
“Not in a long time. I need my space.” His fingers toyed with the band on my boy-leg shorts, making me squirm.
“Huh.”
